When I close my eyes, a few things come to mind: my daughter and family, God’s presence with me, my plans for the day, and the pile of crocheting that is awaiting my attention.

But when I really think deeply, what most of all commands my imagination is eternity with the Lord.

I wonder about it all the time, and questions arise. Will I have a job, as I understand it now? Will my time be spent cultivating a garden, playing music, making friendships? I think about the Lord Jesus: How often will I be able to spend direct time with Him, as He will be in high demand! The Scriptures say that we will know in full (1 Corinthians 13:12). Perhaps that means we will have fellowship with the Lord through the Spirit that will be clear and undeniable to us. Another item I ponder is this: Will we have friendships that are especially dear? We will be called the Bride of Christ—surely that means we, as one united Bride, will be very close to one another. But will we all be equally close, or will we form special attachments as we do here with those especially dear to us?

When I imagine eternity, I ponder—as you can tell—how I will use my time and how relationships will take shape.

Though all of my questions may not be answered now, God does give us some indication of what we were made for. Here are five markers Scripture gives us of our future lives in God’s eternal kingdom.

We Will Rule and Reign with Christ

When God created us, He called to rule and subdue the earth (Genesis 1:28). This is extended into the new earth when the Lord tells us we will rule and reign with Him (2 Timothy 2:12). I don’t pretend to know exactly what this will entail. But I do imagine that the role of representing the Lord and His kingdom to one another will extend into our time in eternity. We will reign—and no evil or wicked people will ever lead us.

The Earth Will Be Full

God also called us to fill the earth at the time of Creation (Genesis 1:28), and we will enjoy the results of this command in glory. The new earth will be totally filled with the people of God, this purpose fulfilled, and the institution of marriage brought to its completion (Matthew 22:30). God wanted the earth filled with His image-bearers, and this brings Him joy. This fullness will presumably bring us great joy, too, as we will pursue relationships with others who love the Lord—without the hindrances of sin—for all eternity. God commanded on earth what we will eternally enjoy in each other in eternity.

We Will Celebrate

God’s kingdom will be a place of celebration. Christ’s Second Coming is presented in Revelation 19 as a wedding feast when Christ and His bride, the Church, will be united for eternity (Revelation 19:7–9). We will celebrate that this was accomplished by Christ’s death and resurrection (Ephesians 5:25–27). The Lord will rejoice over us and be glorified by us. There will be many smiles, much laughter, and great joy in eternity.

We Will Honor God’s Justice

We will honor the justice of the Lord. In the book of Revelation, those who were killed on behalf of their faith call for God’s justice (Revelation 6:9–10). We will rejoice in the perfect justice of God, that evil will never be permitted in His new earth city (Revelation 21:27). We will want to know, in our ardent and undeniable love for the Lord, that His name is honored in all creation. And that means evil must not go unpunished. For the Lord’s honor, we will rejoice in His righteous judgment over evildoers.

We Will Live

Finally, we will live in glory. We will dwell with Him, and He will make His home with us (Revelation 21:3). This means that we will belong. But it also means we will meaningfully fill residences in glory with what delights us. Christ’s words before His crucifixion seem to indicate there are many rooms for us to live in (John 14:2–3). I don’t imagine—perhaps I am wrong—that we will have empty, barren spaces for homes (if His grace in the plants, food, and materials of earth is any indication!). No, I imagine our homes will be overflowing with kind provisions of the Lord for our enjoyment. I will not speculate further but will leave this to your sanctified imagination until faith is made sight.

The Lord has indeed prepared a place for us in glory through His death and resurrection. He will surely complete this work—for us and for His joy (Hebrews 12:2). He wants people who will worship Him. He wants people who will delight in Him. He will delight in giving us good gifts on the new earth. The joy of the tree of life and the river of the water of life will be ours to take in—both reminders that we will live forever with God, without any interruption or pause. God with us.

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Author Bio

Lianna Davis is an evangelical Christian writer and a graduate of Moody Bible Institute (BA in Women’s Ministry) and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (MATS). She has authored a book on baby loss, a Bible study on the book of Jude, and has contributed to a book by her grandfather on missions. Illinois is home, where she lives with her husband and second daughter; her firstborn enjoys glory. You can find Lianna at liannabdavis.com.

Additional Resources:

Eden to Eternity		Revelation Bible Study		Eden to Eternity Bundle
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