The Heavenly City
Is Heaven Real?
Heaven is a real place described in the Bible. The word heaven is found 276 times in the New Testament alone. Scripture refers to three heavens. The apostle Paul was “caught up to the third heaven,” but he was prohibited from revealing what he experienced there (2 Corinthians 12:1–9).
Since a third heaven exists, there must also be two other heavens. The first is most frequently referred to in the Old Testament as the “sky” or the “firmament.” This is the heaven where weather happens, clouds float, winds whirl, and birds fly. The second heaven is what we call outer space, the region of the stars, planets, and other celestial objects (Genesis 1:14–18).
The third heaven, the location of which is not revealed, is the dwelling place of God. Jesus promised to prepare a place for His followers in heaven (John 14:2). Heaven is also the destination of Old Testament saints who died trusting God’s promise of the Redeemer (Ephesians 4:8). Whoever believes in Christ shall never perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).
The apostle John was privileged to see and report on the heavenly city, the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:10–27). John witnessed that the new earth will possess the “glory of God” (Revelation 21:11), and the very presence of God will be among men. In the eternal state, there will be no night, and the Lord Himself will be the light of the city. The sun and moon will no longer be needed (Revelation 22:5).
The New Jerusalem will be filled with the brilliance of costly stones and crystal clear jasper. The city has twelve gates (Revelation 21:12) and twelve foundations (Revelation 21:14). Paradise is restored: the river of the water of life flows freely, and the tree of life is available once again, yielding fruit monthly with leaves that “heal the nations” (Revelation 22:1–2). The Bible gives us a glimpse of heaven, but the reality of that place is beyond the ability of finite man to imagine (see 1 Corinthians 2:9).
Heaven is a place of “no mores.” There will be no more tears, no more pain, and no more sorrow (Revelation 21:4). There will be no more separation, because death will be conquered (Revelation 20:6). The best thing about heaven will be the presence of our Lord and Savior (1 John 3:2). We will be face to face with the Lamb of God who loved us and gave Himself for us. Because of His sacrifice, we can enjoy His presence for eternity.
Are There Really Pearly Gates?
The idea of there being “pearly gates” in heaven is based on a reference in the book of Revelation describing the twelve gates of New Jerusalem. The passage describes an immense and lovely city with a wall built of jasper (a kind of precious stone that can be red, yellow, brown, or green) and twelve foundations of different gemstones. Then it describes the gates themselves: “And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass” (Revelation 21:21).
In popular imagination, the “pearly gates” are often considered as the entrance into heaven, but Revelation shows the gates as belonging to the city of New Jerusalem. The city and heaven are not exactly synonymous; the city comes “down out of heaven” (Revelation 21:2) and is part of the new earth (Revelation 21:1). Also, contrary to the popular idea that the pearly gates bar heaven’s entrance, the Bible says the gates of pearl will always be open: they “will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there” (Revelation 21:22–25). The gates, made of a single pearl, will be entered by the redeemed in the eternal state: “Nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life” (Revelation 21:26–27).
The promise of entry to the New Jerusalem is both beautiful and daunting. The idea of such a city is wonderful to think about—a place where nothing false or unclean or harmful will ever be able to enter. And the pearly gates will be a dazzling sight. However, we have all done bad things and told lies. Does this mean that we will not be able to enter the New Jerusalem? The answer is “it depends.” We are all sinners, but those whose sin is forgiven by the blood of Christ are named in the Lamb’s book of life. “Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered” (Psalm 32:1). Those who are in Christ are the children of God (John 1:12) and will receive an eternal inheritance (1 Peter 1:4).
Will There Be Streets Of Gold?
Heaven’s streets of gold are often referenced in song and poetry, but they’re harder to find in the Bible. In fact, there is only one passage of Scripture that mentions streets of gold, and that refers to the Holy City, the New Jerusalem: “The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass” (Revelation 21:21). Earlier, John had described the whole city as being “of pure gold, as pure as glass” (verse 18). Do these verses tell us that the streets (and the city) will be literally made of gold in heaven? If so, what is the significance of having literal streets of gold?
The Greek word translated “gold” in Revelation 21:21 is chrusion, which can mean “gold, gold jewelry, or overlay.” To translate it as “gold” makes perfect sense. Interpretative difficulties arise when attempting to determine which parts of the Bible to take literally and which parts to take figuratively. A good rule of thumb when studying the Bible is to take everything literally, unless it doesn’t make sense to do so. In this passage there’s no reason the gold must be figurative. John isn’t just throwing out random descriptive terms; his mention of a “gold” street seems meant to be taken literally.
Earlier in Revelation 21, John is given a rod to measure out the city (verse 15), and he records precise measurements. Then he says, “The wall was made of jasper” (verse 18) and describes the city as composed of pure gold (verse 18). The foundations of the city walls are garnished with many specific precious stones and jewels (verses 19–20). The gates are made of pearl, and the main street is made of gold (verse 21). Everything in the description is specific as to composition, and there are no similes used—the street is not said to be “like gold,” but “of gold.”
So, if heaven’s streets are made of gold, what is the point? Why is this an important detail? First, the gold is valuable. The streets of gold in the New Jerusalem indicate the worth of that place. In this world, we walk on gravel or pavement or asphalt. There, we will tread gold as if it were a commonplace building material. Everything in the New Jerusalem will be proportionately finer, richer, and more precious than anything we can imagine here.
Second, the gold is beautiful. The streets of gold and the whole city will gleam with an unmatched luster. Twice, John compares the purity of the gold in heaven to glass: the street is “as pure as transparent glass” (Revelation 21:21), and the city is “as pure as glass” (Revelation 21:18). Commentator Albert Barnes takes this to mean “that the golden city would be so bright and burnished that it would seem to be glass reflecting the sunbeams. . . . It is certain that, as nothing could be more magnificent, so nothing could more beautifully combine the two ideas referred to here—that of ‘gold and glass’” (Notes on the Bible, 1834).
Third, the gold is transparent. According to Revelation 21:21, the gold comprising the streets in heaven is “clear as crystal” (CEV) or “like transparent glass” (NET). This quality would set heavenly gold apart from earthly gold, to be sure. In our understanding, transparent cannot be a descriptor of gold. But heaven (the new earth) will be a place beyond our understanding. “Excellencies will be combined in the heavenly city which now seem incompatible” (Jamieson, R.; Fausset, A. R.; and Brown, D.; A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, 1882).
Fourth, the gold is pure. Everything about the new earth is pure, as God is pure. “The words of the Lord are flawless, . . . like gold refined seven times” (Psalm 12:6). The streets of gold in heaven reflect the pure light of God’s blazing glory. And God’s ability to purify is not confined to gold; God has purified all who will enter heaven through the blood of Jesus Christ. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Not only is God’s holy city pure by His design, but so are the citizens of that city.
Fifth, the gold will last. The streets of gold in heaven denote the solidity and eternality of the new earth. The new earth will be a place of freedom from all sin and corruption (see Isaiah 35:8 and Revelation 21:27). Nothing will tarnish, rust, or grow dim. Everything and everyone will be forever flawless and absolutely impeccable.
Of course, there are some good teachers and scholars who do not hold to the idea of literal golden streets in heaven. It is a detail open to debate. However, taking the text at face value within the context of the whole chapter, there seems to be no reason to doubt the gold is literal.
Our focus in the New Jerusalem will not be the streets of gold. Perspectives will change, and what we treasure here will be trod underfoot in heaven. We may amass gold on earth, but one day we will see it as nothing more than paving material. Heaven will be a beautiful place, but nothing will ever be more beautiful or of greater value than the God who loves us and died to save us.