The Four Heavens
By LisaFairhurst on 04-26-2008
I have a different view of heaven. In fact, I just happen to have four views.
For Idealists, I see heaven as a place where people have forever to get to know each other. We will be able to meet many different people from many different times in history and share stories and insights into the human condition. Although we will be very different from each other and will view things through very different lenses, we will still have harmony. I’m looking forward to hearing everyone else’s stories about God’s work in their lives. Heaven is a place of mental wholeness and wellness. I will no longer feel fractured in my personality. Instead my personality will have the free expression God intended.
For Rationals, I see heaven as a place where we will forever be learning and understanding in new depth. I think we will be able to explore the farthest part of not only our galaxy but the entire universe beyond. Imagine being able to visit two galaxies colliding! Perhaps we’ll also be able to explore on the molecular level. We will have access to an unlimited amount of information. Rationals will be able to develop ever increasingly complex theories which take in more and more of the available information using minds that can comprehend far more than they can now.
For Artisans, heaven should be a humongous blast. Mountains to climb, water to surf, food to eat, animals to enjoy. The possibilities will be literally endless, and we will have the physical ability to do them. Personally, I’m hoping we’ll be able to fly like birds and swim underwater like fish. Artisans will find many challenges await them with lots of playmates ready to help and/or compete. The food will be better than the midnight buffet on a high class cruise ship with more variety, taste, beauty.
For Guardians, heaven is probably about as close to the boring version as any of the four. Even so, heaven will be a place to meet up with old friends, have a meal together, and exchange stories. Guardians will have productive, satisfying work to do with no worries about having to take care of those who refuse to take care of themselves. They will work for joy and not for money or status. Like Idealists, Guardians will be thrilled to learn about people in history and their stories.
I do not know if heaven is like what I have described above. I can say that I believe my views are consistent with the Bible. However, there is so much we don’t know. Heaven will be beyond anything we are currently capable of comprehending.
What would your heaven look like?
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Posted by Lesley on Apr 27, 2008
In her diary Saint Faustina says there is a heaven within heaven that only certain souls have access to. |
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Posted by Lesley on Apr 27, 2008
In her diary Saint Faustina says there is a heaven within heaven that only certain souls have access to. |
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Posted by mkb32 on Apr 27, 2008
This is an AWESOME blog, Lisa!!! As an Idealist, you've got my idea of heaven right on the mark!! |
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Posted by GroovyGhoul on Apr 28, 2008
The image of angels in white robes playing harps and sitting on clouds in a pop-culture image, it doesn't come from the Bible. If Heaven was like the pop-culture image, it would be very boring. We can only imagine what Heaven will be like, since when we go there, we don't come back to Earth to tell about it. I have two theories about what Heaven will be like. The first is similar to yours, but instead of four versons of Heaven, there's one Heaven, where there's something for everyone to enjoy, and it's a combination of all four of your versions of Heaven. It is a physical place, but it's not a physical place as we know it in this life, it's a physical place in another demension. It will be a huge place, with unlimites space, and there will be great Cities with streets of pure gold and beatiful wilderness outside the cities. There will be no conflict between the personality types, and everyone accepts and embraces each other's personality the way they are naturally. We won't have physical bodies, but invincible illusions of physical bodies, and we will not have physical needs, and therefore will not have sinful desires that our physical bodies create on Earth. Our desires will be determined by our personality, but all our desires will be with, not against, God's will. My other theory of Heaven will be that Heaven is not a physical place, but a perfectly pleasant (to say the least) dream that we never wake up from. Every person will experience a different Heaven, depending on their personality, likes and dislikes, and spiritual needs. For example, some will experience a great City, with streets of pure gold, while others will experience a beautiful wilderness, where all animals and plants live in harmony, and others will experience other Heavens. Since it's a dream, we will have unlimited one-on-one time with Jesus and He won't have to multi-task to spend time with everyone. The Bible supports the first theory more so than the second, but both are possible. Heaven could be a combination of the two, also. I guess we'll find out when we get there. |
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Posted by LisaFairhurst on Apr 28, 2008
GroovyGhoul, I guess my title should have been four views of heaven. Assuming that there is a heaven (which I do), there's only one. I am assuming that since God made different kinds of people, the place Jesus has gone to prepare for us will be tailored to how he has made us. Based on the idea of a physical resurrection, heaven has to be physical. .................................... So, Kip, does your idea of heaven include golfing like Tiger Woods? I think it would be lots of fun to gain a number of Artisan traits, to have my body be my friend instead of something that gets in the way, to be able to take risks without worrying about the aftermath. |
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Posted by DavidMKeirsey on Apr 28, 2008
I have always imagined Paradise as a kind of Library -- Jorge Luis Borges |
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Posted by mkb32 on Apr 29, 2008
David, I imagine my heaven with a library also or maybe some kind of bookshop where there is separate space for quiet study/contemplation & space for lectures or visiting with people. Also, an incredible restaurant that serves up anything from grilled cheese sandwiches to gourmet dinners with various deco to match the mood of the meal. I have to have access to children and animals when the mood strikes me as well. Oh yes, and there MUST be a BEAUTIFUL garden I can piddle in. |
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Posted by AlexBond on Apr 29, 2008
since i'm an athiest i haven't given to much thought to what a potential paradise would be like, however, the perfect place for me would be an ever changing and never dying party. Not only would i never get bored, but i also might finally be able to understand the essence of humanity. |
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Posted by LisaFairhurst on May 1, 2008
It's interesting to see that even people who don't necessarily believe in life after death can still easily imagine a paradise. That makes sense, but it still seems a little funny. If you don't believe in life after death, do you think it's possible to create paradise now, or is that a never to be fulfilled dream? |
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Posted by bsaunders on May 1, 2008
Does anyone else remember the Twilight Zone episode where a petty criminal is installed in an afterlife where the cards always come up in his favor, the girls are always interested in him, and his robberies always go off smoothly? It turns out to be HELL (hosted by "Mr. French", Sebastian Cabot, or someone who looks very much like him.) Artisan hell, I suppose! In another episode, an old country hunter is invited through "the gates" but told he must leave his dog behind. He says he'll keep walking and finds the "real" heaven, where (of course) his best friend is welcome. A Guardian view, I presume! |
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Posted by mkb32 on May 3, 2008
I remember! I remember! |
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Posted by JackDermody on May 4, 2008
Heaven is New Years Eve in the grandest ballroom filled with sexy, sexy dancers dressed to the nines -- moving to eternally interesting and intoxicating big band music delivered by the greatest artists of the 20th century -- all of whom have gone to heaven of course. Everybody is beautiful. Everybody is in love. All of the women smell so, so g-o-o-d. Everyone you've ever cared about is attending this party and at their very best. God is still invisible -- feeding creative vibes into every instrument and soul. |
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Posted by LisaFairhurst on May 4, 2008
bsaunders, check out my next blog on hell. You and I have a similar view for Artisans. |
See my comment of KipParent's blog about my idea vacation. Explore the universe just by thinking about what I want to see? Cool! All the books that were ever written, and me with the language skills to understand and interpret them perfectly? Wow. And a cozy badger-den of my own to curl up in when I need some downtime? Oh, and add discussions with people who are NOT trying to yank my chain.