Texian Weblog: Our Idea of Heaven

Our old friend, Austin Cline, has recently posted an article in which he claims the Bible describes Heaven as a place of war and violence. To back up his claim, he offers five quotes.

And there was war in heaven; Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels. (Rev. 12:7)

It is important to note that Revelation was written by John of Patmos, who was imprisoned by the Romans for preaching Christianity. Revelation is a letter he wrote to the churches that were under his care. Knowing that his letters would be read by his captors, John often used symbols that would be understood by Christians, but would seem like nonsense to his captives. Therefore, it is important to read the book very carefully, keeping in mind that it is not to be taken literally.

This particular quote is taken out of context (sadly, that’s often the case). Wait a minute, isn’t that a fallacy?. Mr. Cline claims this verse says Heaven is in a state of war. However, chapter 12 of the Book of Revelation describes persecution of the Church. It begins with a description of “a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.(v. 1)” The writer goes on to say that the woman is in labor, and a dragon is poised to “devour her child (v. 3)” However, the child is rescued from the dragon and the dragon is defeated by Michael and the armies of Heaven.

The dragon, obviously, is Satan, the adversary and accuser. The woman is the Church and her labor represents the growth of the Church, which Satan is attempting to prevent. This chapter symbolizes the spiritual war that Christians must fight. Matthew Henry’s Commentary (a venerable book) interprets “in heaven” as “in the church of Christ, the kingdom of heaven on earth.”

The next verse quoted is made to appear as if it follows immediately after the last verse and within the same context, however it appears seven chapters later.

And the armies of heaven, wearing fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. (Rev. 19:14)

This describes the army of heaven which will fight the final battle against Satan and the forces of evil from earth and hell. Again, this is not to be taken literally. It is John’s reminder to his churches that, though the cause may seem hopeless now (with the whole power of the Roman Empire against them), Christ and His Church will win. This verse, as with the other, is not a description of Heaven, the Abode of God.

Next, Mr. Cline offers this quote:

From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. (Matt. 11:12)

Mr. Cline asks why we would “want to strive to reach a place where the “violent” can take over.”

As we have seen before, “kingdom of heaven” often refers to the Church, God’s domain on earth, the Body of Christ. For example, in Matthew 13:31&32 the kingdom of heaven is compared to a mustard seed which is “smaller than all other seeds.” Certainly, Christ is not referring to the Abode of God, but to the Church on earth, which starts out small but then grows. The term has a wide interpretation (too much to go into here), but here it does not mean the Abode of God, as Mr. Cline suggests.

This verse tells us how the Church is under attack from those who would see it destroyed. It is interesting that Mr. Cline would attack Christians (which is the intent of his article, indeed his entire website) for believing they are under attack.

Mr. Cline then quotes Matthew 11:11,

Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. (Matt. 11:11)

and asks, “Although God can create any sort of class system it wants, does that really describe your idea of a ‘perfect’ existence?” I suppose Mr. Cline believes that God should bend His will according to our likes, rather than we submitting to His will. If we believe that we have reached Heaven, and we find there a god and a heaven that fit perfectly with our idea of God and Heaven, we would do ourselves well if we question whether we have reached Heaven at all. We have attempted to construct for ourselves a world that fits with our idea of a “perfect” existence, and we have failed miserably. The failure is not the result of a flaw in construction, but a flaw in design. Do not be surprised if God isn’t quite what you expect.

Finally, Mr. Cline quotes,

Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. (Matt 24:34-35)

Mr. Cline’s tidbit of wisdom is, “Heaven will eventually pass away? Well, so much for the claim that heaven is a state of eternal bliss or eternal communion with God.”

The Apostle Paul wrote in 2Corinthians 12:2-4 of a man who “was caught up to the third heaven. . . caught up into Paradise.” Three heavens? Yes, there are the physical heavens, the sky (atmosphere) and stellar space, and the “heaven of heavens” as the King James Version puts it, the Abode of God, Paradise, where the blessed go. When Jesus says “Heaven and earth will pass away,” He means, of course, this physical universe. Just a little bit of study in Judeo-Christian symbolism would have discovered that.

Mr. Cline tells us that he was told about these quotes by Dennis McKinsey. I have never heard of this fellow, and Mr. Cline doesn’t provide any information about him. But, apparently he is an expert on biblical interpretation, since Mr. Cline appeals to him as such. But since Mr. Cline does not provide us with any data on Mr. McKinsey’s qualifications, then I suspect this is an appeal to an unqualified authority.

Mr. Cline ends with this:

So what is the basis for the idea that heaven is really a place worth striving for? That’s something worth asking the next evangelist who accosts you.

Well, I have never “accosted” anyone with my faith, but I’ll be happy to answer the question. Take a look at these verses for starters:

Psalm 16:11; Isaiah 49:10; Dan 12:3; Matt 5:12; 13:43; Luke 12:37; John 12:26; 14:1; 17:24; 1Cor 2:9; 13:12; 1Peter 1:4; Rev 7:16; 14:13; 21:4; 22:3

-J.E. Heath
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