What Heaven Lacks

(The following comes from John MacArthur’s book, the Glory of Heaven.)

One is tempted to say nothing will be lacking in heaven, but happily that is not the case. The apostle John lists a number of things utterly absent from heaven. You may be surprised by some of them.

No Temple

John writes, “I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God, the Almighty, and the Lamb, are its temple” (v. 22, NASB). So in one sense there is no temple in heaven. In another sense, however, God Himself is the temple.

In what sense is God the “temple” of heaven? A temple is where you go to worship. John is suggesting that in heaven when we worship, we will worship in the very presence of God. He is the place of worship. He spreads His tabernacle over all who are in heaven (Rev. 7:15, NASB). They serve Him day and night. The worship never stops.And since worship is simply glorifying God, this means there is nothing required of us that cannot be done as an act of worship. Therefore, if we were perfect beings, sinless in every regard, our lives would be non-stop worship.

No Light Source

Revelation 21:23 says, “The city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.”

No Security System

The apostle John further writes, “And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there” (Rev. 21:25). In an ancient city the gates were shut at night to protect the people from robbers, bandits, and invading armies. Gates that are always open speak of perfect security and protection. There will be absolutely no threat to the security of heaven, so there will be no need of closed gates.

No Curse

If any aspect of heaven stirs my heart with eager anticipation, it is this: “ And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: and they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.”   —Rev. 22:3–5

The curse will be overturned and erased forever, with all its painful and detestable ramifications. Pain, the agony of toil, sweat, thorns, disease, sorrow, and sin will have no place whatsoever in heaven.

May God bless us with a stronger love for heaven!

-          Bro. Dave