Let Heaven Come! Can heaven come?
The phrase, “let heaven come,” which is often used in worship songs and prayer meetings, has made me wonder what that would really mean and whether ‘heaven’s coming’ is really a good thing to ask of God? Is it a biblically correct or wise request?
No doubt the sincerity of those singing these lyrics is their desire to see God exalted and have a (more) central place on the earth and in people’s lives.
This would be the desire of every born-again believer whose heart has been transformed into loving God and His ways.
What I’ve noticed, however, is that when the words “let heaven come” or similar expressions are used, they tend to be in the context of God’s supernatural power being made visible and predominantly manifesting itself in healings and other miraculous powers – specifically referring to the heavenly promise of the absence of pain and suffering.
Regardless of the fact that God’s supernatural power is already constantly at work on this earth, every time a lost soul is saved, every time nature follows its cycles, and every day that we come closer to the 2nd coming of Christ, there are other realities from heaven that we would need to consider when longing to see heaven come down on earth.
The reality of heaven is that of absolute, perfect unity with the triune God, the total absence of sin and suffering, glorified resurrected bodies and an eternity of worship and service to God together with all those who have been saved.
The reality of earth in many ways is opposite to this. The earth’s inhabitants are filled with every kind of sin and disobedience to their creator, there is sickness, suffering and death. There is no reverence for God, and his rule is not sought for by those in authority, whether collectively or individually.
Jesus came to announce “the Kingdom” of which he is the King(see Matt 3:2, Mark 1:14-15). He, however, said that his Kingdom is not one that resembles an earthly kingdom (John 18:36). Jesus’ Kingdom was established from the moment he became a man (he was worshipped in the manger in a way appropriate for a king), when he rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, when he was crucified on the cross, and until his final return when he finally conquers evil, judges the world and establishes an everlasting kingdom and rule. Luke 17:20-37 gives a great picture of these different events.
So practically, given that Jesus has said He will come and take us to be with Him (John 14:3), the statement or prayer, “let heaven come,” seems odd to me. It wouldn’t be wise for heaven to come down without Jesus coming down first to take us up with him. This is also how the bible explains the chronology of events that will take place in the end times. We will first be taken up to be with him after which heaven will come down to earth. Keep reading for more on this.
Having said all of this, there is a reality of heaven on earth when a heart gets transformed and becomes obedient to God. Then, the sickness and power of sin are removed and there is a new and overwhelming desire to worship God individually and in community with other believers. The triune God comes to dwell in unity with the believer (Rom 8:11, 1 Cor 6:19).
There is also a longing to seek and establish Godly principles and rule in every situation. This is what Jesus referred to when he said the Kingdom of God is in your midst (Luke 17:21), and when he taught his disciples to pray saying: “Let your will be done on earth as it in heaven” (Matt 6:10). Because God is sovereign and his will shall be done, this is equally a prayer of submission of the believer for the will of God to take place over their own will.
Furthermore, Scripture promises provision and care, and unity on earth with God for believers (Hebrews 13:5, Romans 8:32, Matthew 6:25-34). All these things are a mere foretaste of what we will fully know and experience when in heaven.
But probably the most practical and tangible way we can really understand heaven coming to earth is given to us in the book of Revelation – when Christ will finally reign and the new heaven and earth will be established. This time will go hand in hand with the final judgment of Satan (Rev 19:7-10), the judgment of death and hell and all those who did not believe in Christ (Rev 19:11-15), and the establishment of the new heaven and the new earth and the rule of Christ in which God will be among us all (Rev 21:1-7).
This is the reality, the secure hope, and the longing that every believer has in their hearts, which will only grow as we ponder the things that are above where God is (Col 3:2).
As believers, we rejoice in the reality of our hearts being turned towards heaven and it’s glorious realities while at the same time, we press onwards and look forward to making heaven’s reality true in our lives by killing sin, suffering under earthly circumstances, and establishing as much of God’s rule in our lives by following Scriptural instructions until we reach heaven.
In summary, do we want heaven to come down to earth? Should “let heaven come” be something we pray? One thing is for sure, it will happen in God’s time, and for those who are found in Christ,it will be a glorious, awe-invoking time. Until that time, we seek to proclaim the gospel message received from heaven to see as many people come into unity, rather than rebellion, with God. We do this through prayer, to seek God’s supernatural power to work in our own hearts and in those around us, and by proclaiming the truth to witness God’s rule and principles established where we can.
Heaven came down 2000 years ago in the form of Jesus as a helpless babe in a manger, who came to make a way of reconciliation between us and God. When Jesus comes again it will be as the reigning King of glory, with all power, authority and majesty. And so perhaps until that time, the correct prayer from our lips should be, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”