HEAVEN (he'v"n),(Heb. :,t), gal-gal', rolling cloud), the state and place of blessedness in the life to come.
As we can have no distinct conception of those joys which never have been and never will be ex perienced by us here in their full extent, we have of course no words in human language to express them, and cannot therefore expect any clear de scription of them even in the Holy Scriptures. Hence. the Bible describes this happiness some times in general terms, designating its greatness (as in Rom. viii:.18-22; 2 Cor. iv:17,18) ; and sometimes by various figurative images and modes of speech, borrowed from everything which we know to bc attractive and desirable.
(1) Terms for. The following are the prin cipal literal terms which are applied in Scripture to the condition of future happiness: Among such appellations we find g-urh, rut?, alamtos, eternal life, which, according to Hebrew usage, signify 'a happy life,' or 'eternal well being,' ( att. vii :14; x ix :to, 29; x xv :46): 56ta, 510 roD ecoD, ‘glory,"the glory of God' (Rom. ii:7, TO; V:2); and etpfri, 'peace' (Rom. ii:m). Also althytop pdpos 54-0, 'an eternal weight of glory' (2 Cor. iv:t7); and acarnpla, crcornpla aloivtos, 'salvation,"eternal salva tion' (Heb. v:9, etc.).
(2) Conditions in. Besides being exempt from all earthly trials, and having a continuance of that happiness which we had begun to enjoy even here, we have good reason to expect hereafter other rewards and joys, which stand in no natural or necessary conrection with the present. In the doctrine of the New Testament, however, positive rewards are considered most obviously as belong ing to our future felicity, and as constituting a principal part of it. For it always represents the joys of heaven as resulting strictly from the favor of God, and as being undeserved by those on whom they are bestowed. Hence there must be something more added to the natural good conse quences of our actions, something which cannot be considered as the necessary and natural conse quences of the good actions we may have here per formed. But, on this subject, we know nothing more in general than this, that God will so appoint and order our circumstances, and make such ar rangements, that the principal faculties of our souls—reason and affection, will be heightened and developed, so that we shall continually obtain more pure and distinct knowledge of the truth, and make continual advances in holiness. Some
theologians have supposed that the saints in heaven may be taught by immediate divine revela tions lumen gloriw); especially those who may enter the abodes of the blessed without knowledge, or with only a small measure of it ; e. g. children and others who have died in ignorance, for which they themselves were not to blame.
(3) With Christ. In the Scripture revelation respecting heaven, Christ is always represented as one who will be personally visible to us, and whose personal, familiar intercourse and guidance we shall enjoy. Herein Christ himself places a chief part of the joy of the saints (John xiv, xvii, etc) : and the apostles often describe the blessedness of the pious by the phrase being with Christ. To his guidance has God entrusted the human race, in heaven and on earth. And Paul says (2 Cor. iv :6), we see 'the brightness of the divine glory in the face of Christ,' he is 'the visible representa tive of the invisible God' (Col. i :15). According to the representation contained in the Holy Scrip tures, the saints will dwell together in the future world, and form, as it were, a kingdom or state of God (Luke xvi :22 ; XX :38 ; Rom. viii :to; Rev. vii :9; Heb. xii :22). They will there partake of a common felicity. Their enjoyment will doubtless be very much heightened by friendship, and by their confiding intercourse with each other.
(4) Knowledge of. All that we can with cer tainty know or infer from Scripture or reason re specting the blessedness of the life to come, miy be arranged under the following particulars:— We shall hereafter be entirely freed from the.suf ferings and adversities of this life. Our future hlessedness will involve a continuance of the real happiness of this life.