2 I know a man in Christ, fourteen years ago (whether in the body I do not know, or outside the body I do not know; God knows) such a one was caught away to the third heaven.

3 And I know such a man (whether in the body or outside the body, I do not know; God knows),

4 That he was caught away into Paradise and heard unspeakable words, which it is not allowed for a man to speak.

— 2 Corinthians 12:2-4

1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea.

2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.

3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them

— Revelation 21:1-3

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Grace, mercy and love from Christ to you.

We may wonder what heaven is like. The very few people in the Bible who received a glimpse of heavenly glory struggled to find language to adequately express what they witnessed. Paul summed up his experience as hearing “inexpressible things, things no one is permitted to tell!” John’s descriptions throughout Revelation offer myriad details but merely scratch the surface of what he saw.

In perhaps the most understated verse in the Bible, John sums up the indescribably glorious new heaven and new earth by saying, “I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them.’” Both Paul and John were left stunned, gasping for breath, by their visions of heaven.