Good post Dave M.
A quick clarification of Heaven as it is now and the New Heaven and Earth to come, where we will be with the Lord with our resurrected bodies.
Heavens Now there are referred to in scripture 3 heavens,
1 - the earths atmosphere is referred to as the first heaven Genesis 1:7-8
2 - from the earths atmosphere through space is referred to as the second heaven Psalm 8:3
3 - Where God abides and where Jesus currently sits at His right hand is the true Heaven Psalm 103:19, Ezekiel 28:16
Our Father in Heaven, Hallowed be thy Name, the third heaven being being totally Holy, not touched by human sin, the Kingdom of Heaven.
This is the situation now, prior to Christ return in Glory when He will defeat the devil and create the new Heaven and earth
This is what the Bible says at Pentecost when Christ was taken up into Heaven.
Acts 1:9-11 (NKJV)
9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.
10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel,
11 who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven."
The NEW Heaven and earth
Revelation 21:1-2 (NKJV)
1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.
2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
This is the Holy City, scripture refers to, - The New Jerusalem
Scripture refers to the New Heaven as
1 - a CITY
2 - a GARDEN
3 - a KINGDOM
Where all things are New - Rev 21:1-2
There will be no more drying, no more weeping, no more pain or suffering - Rev 21:4
It will be 'Perfect Peace' - Isaiah 65:25
The gardens will be fruitful - Isaiah 35:1
There will be houses and vineyards - Isaiah 65:21
It is referred to as A Heavenly Country - Hebrews 11:16
We will have physical bodies
1 Corinthians 15:40-49 (NKJV)
40 There are also celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
41 There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory.
42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption.
43 It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power.
44 It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
45 And so it is written, "The first man Adam became a living being." The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
46 However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual.
47 The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven.
48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly.
49 And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.
The future life will have the best of this life plus additional joys beyond our imagination.
We keep coming back to Rev 21, Rev 21 & 22 hold a lot about what we are to expect in the New Heaven and Earth
Revelation 21:1-4 (NKJV)
1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.
2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.
4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."
Isaiah 65:17-25 (NKJV)
17 "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind.
18 But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; For behold, I create Jerusalem as a rejoicing, And her people a joy.
19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem, And joy in My people; The voice of weeping shall no longer be heard in her, Nor the voice of crying.
20 "No more shall an infant from there live but a few days, Nor an old man who has not fulfilled his days; For the child shall die one hundred years old, But the sinner being one hundred years old shall be accursed.
21 They shall build houses and inhabit them; They shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
22 They shall not build and another inhabit; They shall not plant and another eat; For as the days of a tree, so shall be the days of My people, And My elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
23 They shall not labor in vain, Nor bring forth children for trouble; For they shall be the descendants of the blessed of the LORD, And their offspring with them.
24 "It shall come to pass That before they call, I will answer; And while they are still speaking, I will hear.
25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, The lion shall eat straw like the ox, And dust shall be the serpent's food. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain," Says the LORD.
John 14:1-4 (NKJV)
1 "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.
2 In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
4 And where I go you know, and the way you know."
Daniel 12:2 (NKJV)
2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt.
Some say heaven will be boring, like some church services but over and over again, some say heaven will be boring, sat on a cloud strumming a harp, the world has many views, does the scripture in this thread say anything like that? We are only just scratching the surface, but already a picture is taking place and all from scripture.
Question, would you go on holiday to another country and not check out what it is like? What is there to see? Will you understand the people, will they understand you? I am sure we can add a lot more to this list, so why do we go through life and not search the Word for what Heaven is like, what the New Heaven and Earth will be like. For those who go to this wonderful place, for Eternity, should be not want to know what to expect, what to look for, prepare for what it will be like. God is creating every born-again, saved believer, so that when out time in this short life ends we are ready for heaven, shouldn't we prepare also?
Be Blessed \o/