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#12 Heavenly Songfests and Concerts #13 Heavenly Joys and Pleasures

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Study #12 -- Heavenly Songfests and Concerts

In Heaven there is music and joyous singing.

Of COURSE there is music in Heaven! After all, God invented music.
Moreover, it was God who vested us with our capacity for composing, playing, hearing, singing, and enjoying music.
CLICK HERE to read our brief essay, "And God created... Music!"
And they (the people and angels in Heaven) sang a new song Rev 5.9a

And (in Heaven) they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb (Jesus), saying: "Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints!" Rev 15.3

Will music in Heaven be limited to somber hymns and "churchy" stuff?

Good grief, NO! There are MANY kinds of music in Heaven...

As on Earth (but more so in Heaven) there will be hymns and melodies from our hearts
(We are commanded to:) ... be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord Eph 5.18a-19

As on Earth (but more so in Heaven) there will be music that teaches
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Col 3.16

As on Earth (but more so in Heaven) there will be music that prophesies (proclaims the Word of God)
Moreover David and the captains of the army separated for the service some of the sons of Asaph, of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, stringed instruments, and cymbals. 1 Chron 25.1a

As on Earth (but more so in Heaven) there will be joyful, raucous music
Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob. Psalm 81.1, KJV

Oh come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. Psalm 95.1-2

As on Earth (but more so in Heaven) there will be God-exalting concerts, songfests, and jamborees.
Then David and all Israel played music before God with all their might, with singing, on harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on cymbals, and with trumpets. 1 Chron 13.8

Let them (God's people) praise His (God's) name with the dance. Let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp. Psalm 149.3

What is YOUR favorite kind of music? Gospel? Classical? Hymns? Music with a beat?

Heaven has ALL music -- not to satisfy the lusts of the flesh (for there are NO such lusts in Heaven) -- but to praise and glorify God! ...whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Cor 10.31b, KJV

Study #13 -- Heavenly Joys and Pleasures

In Heaven you will have fullness of joy, and pleasures forevermore. (Spoken to God...) In Your presence is fullness of joy. At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16.11b

As humans we are naturally curious about what KIND of pleasures Heaven holds for us.

The Bible does little to satisfy our curiosity.

Instead it mainly tells us that the joys and pleasures of Heaven are beyond the comprehension of our finite minds. But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.'' 1 Cor 2.9

We CAN deduce that some PART of our heavenly pleasures will involve our human senses (sight, hearing, touch, smell, taste)...

The Bible states that our resurrected and glorified bodies will be conformed to the resurrected body of Jesus. We will be like Him!
(Jesus...) will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. Philip 3.21; see also 1 John 3.2

Our resurrected Lord breathed with His nose, talked with His mouth, saw with His eyes, heard with His ears.
Accordingly, we can conclude that we, too, will be able to use our physical senses.
(Note: This does NOT necessarily mean that breathing will be essential in Heaven, but that it will be within our capability.)
Then (the resurrected) Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.'' And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit." John 20.21-22

Also, the resurrected Jesus ate food.
Again, this doesn't necessarily mean that eating will be necessary for us.
All we can conclude is that, after our resurrection, we will be able to eat.
So they gave Him (the resurrected Jesus) a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. And He took it and ate in their presence. Lk 24.42-43

On the other hand, the Lord's resurrected body was able to do that which surpasses the physical realm. It is likely that the same will be true for us...

For example, Jesus was able to appear and disappear instantly.
Since our bodies will be like His body, it is likely (not a "given") that we, too, will be able to move instantly through and between the physical and spiritual realms.
Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood (suddenly appeared) in the midst of them, and said to them, "Peace to you.'' Lk 24.36; see also John 20.19

Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him (Jesus); and He vanished from their sight. Lk 24.31

However, the Bible makes it abundantly clear that, although we will still possess our physical senses, the joys of Heaven will be primarily (not solely) spiritual rather than physical. for the kingdom of God is not food and drink (physical pleasures), but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Rom 14.17

Now then... an off-the-wall question arises. Namely: "Will there be sexual relations in Heaven?"

The answer to this question is (in our OPINION) -- "No."

However, we certainly don't mean to say that sex is dirty -- at least, not as God ordained sex to be used.

God invented marital relations between husband and wife, and God does not create evil things.

When we speak of sex, our snickers and blushes have their source in our sin nature. Not in God.
Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. Gen 2.24-25

Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge. Heb 13.4

There are several reasons for our OPINION that marital relations will not take place in Heaven. We will give just one of them. Namely...

People won't get married in Heaven (see verse alongside).
God designed sexual relations as one part of the intimate relationship between wife and husband. (Solely between wife and husband!)
Ergo -- no marriage, no sex.
For in the resurrection they (resurrected believers in Jesus) neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven. Mt 22.30

To sum it up -- your joys and pleasures in Heaven will be primarily spiritual, not sensual.

In Heaven, you will have open, honest, and complete spiritual relationships with God, Jesus, the angels, and people.
Your spiritual relationships will be far more intimate and fulfilling than those of the merely physical realm.
And thus you may look forward to an eternity of joy inexpressible and full of glory.

For more Studies about Heaven ==> Go to Page 4 of this Essay

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#12 Heavenly Songfests and Concerts	#13 Heavenly Joys and Pleasures
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Study #12 -- Heavenly Songfests and Concerts
In Heaven there is music and joyous singing. Of COURSE there is music in Heaven! After all, God invented music. Moreover, it was God who vested us with our capacity for composing, playing, hearing, singing, and enjoying music. CLICK HERE to read our brief essay, "And God created... Music!"		And they (the people and angels in Heaven) sang a new song Rev 5.9a And (in Heaven) they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb (Jesus), saying: "Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints!" Rev 15.3
Will music in Heaven be limited to somber hymns and "churchy" stuff? Good grief, NO! There are MANY kinds of music in Heaven...
As on Earth (but more so in Heaven) there will be hymns and melodies from our hearts		*(We are commanded to:) ... be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord Eph 5.18a-19*
As on Earth (but more so in Heaven) there will be music that teaches		Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Col 3.16
As on Earth (but more so in Heaven) there will be music that prophesies (proclaims the Word of God)		Moreover David and the captains of the army separated for the service some of the sons of Asaph, of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, stringed instruments, and cymbals. 1 Chron 25.1a
As on Earth (but more so in Heaven) there will be joyful, raucous music		Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob. Psalm 81.1, KJV Oh come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. Psalm 95.1-2
As on Earth (but more so in Heaven) there will be God-exalting concerts, songfests, and jamborees.		Then David and all Israel played music before God with all their might, with singing, on harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on cymbals, and with trumpets. 1 Chron 13.8 Let them (God's people) praise His (God's) name with the dance. Let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp. Psalm 149.3
What is YOUR favorite kind of music? Gospel? Classical? Hymns? Music with a beat? Heaven has ALL music -- not to satisfy the lusts of the flesh (for there are NO such lusts in Heaven) -- but to praise and glorify God!		...whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Cor 10.31b, KJV
Study #13 -- Heavenly Joys and Pleasures
In Heaven you will have fullness of joy, and pleasures forevermore.		(Spoken to God...) In Your presence is fullness of joy. At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16.11b
As humans we are naturally curious about what KIND of pleasures Heaven holds for us. The Bible does little to satisfy our curiosity. Instead it mainly tells us that the joys and pleasures of Heaven are beyond the comprehension of our finite minds.		But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.'' 1 Cor 2.9
We CAN deduce that some PART of our heavenly pleasures will involve our human senses (sight, hearing, touch, smell, taste)...
The Bible states that our resurrected and glorified bodies will be conformed to the resurrected body of Jesus. We will be like Him!		(Jesus...) will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. Philip 3.21; see also 1 John 3.2
Our resurrected Lord breathed with His nose, talked with His mouth, saw with His eyes, heard with His ears. Accordingly, we can conclude that we, too, will be able to use our physical senses. (Note: This does NOT necessarily mean that breathing will be essential in Heaven, but that it will be within our capability.)		Then (the resurrected) Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.'' And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit." John 20.21-22
Also, the resurrected Jesus ate food. Again, this doesn't necessarily mean that eating will be necessary for us. All we can conclude is that, after our resurrection, we will be able to eat.		So they gave Him (the resurrected Jesus) a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. And He took it and ate in their presence. Lk 24.42-43
On the other hand, the Lord's resurrected body was able to do that which surpasses the physical realm. It is likely that the same will be true for us... For example, Jesus was able to appear and disappear instantly. Since our bodies will be like His body, it is likely (not a "given") that we, too, will be able to move instantly through and between the physical and spiritual realms.		Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood (suddenly appeared) in the midst of them, and said to them, "Peace to you.'' Lk 24.36; see also John 20.19 Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him (Jesus); and He vanished from their sight. Lk 24.31
However, the Bible makes it abundantly clear that, although we will still possess our physical senses, the joys of Heaven will be primarily (not solely) spiritual rather than physical.		*for the kingdom of God is not food and drink (physical pleasures), but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Rom 14.17*
Now then... an off-the-wall question arises. Namely: "Will there be sexual relations in Heaven?" The answer to this question is (in our OPINION) -- "No." However, we certainly don't mean to say that sex is dirty -- at least, not as God ordained sex to be used. God invented marital relations between husband and wife, and God does not create evil things. When we speak of sex, our snickers and blushes have their source in our sin nature. Not in God.		Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. Gen 2.24-25 Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge. Heb 13.4
There are several reasons for our OPINION that marital relations will not take place in Heaven. We will give just one of them. Namely... People won't get married in Heaven (see verse alongside). God designed sexual relations as one part of the intimate relationship between wife and husband. (Solely between wife and husband!) Ergo -- no marriage, no sex.		*For in the resurrection they (resurrected believers in Jesus) neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven. Mt 22.30*
To sum it up -- your joys and pleasures in Heaven will be primarily spiritual, not sensual. In Heaven, you will have open, honest, and complete spiritual relationships with God, Jesus, the angels, and people. Your spiritual relationships will be far more intimate and fulfilling than those of the merely physical realm. And thus you may look forward to an eternity of joy inexpressible and full of glory.
For more Studies about Heaven ==> Go to Page 4 of this Essay Navigation Master Topical Index Bible Bell Front Page E-mail Bible Bell Index of Studies on Heaven