Heaven
EschatologyThe nature of heaven — what it is like, who goes there, and whether it is the ultimate destiny of all believers or only a select group.
Key scriptures: Revelation 21:1-4, John 14:2-3, Philippians 3:20-21, 1 Corinthians 2:9
Catholic (5)
Eastern Catholic (Byzantine Rite)
Affirms
Theosis: full participation in divine life, bodily resurrection, beatific vision
Maronite Catholic
Affirms
Eternal life with God; beatific vision and bodily resurrection affirmed
Old Catholic Church
Affirms
Beatific vision; resurrection of body; eternal communion; new creation
Roman Catholic
Affirms
Beatific vision: eternal communion with God, body and soul after resurrection
Saint Thomas Christians (Syro-Malabar Church)
Affirms
Beatific vision of God; resurrection; purgatory as preparation; communion of saints
Orthodox (5)
Assyrian Church of the East
Affirms
Eternal life in communion with the Trinity; bodily resurrection and theosis
Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria
Affirms
Eternal theosis: union with God, bodily resurrection, communion of saints
Eastern Orthodox
Affirms
Theosis: eternal participation in divine life; bodily resurrection and the Kingdom
Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church
Affirms
Eternal theosis in God's Kingdom; bodily resurrection and communion of saints
Oriental Orthodox (Miaphysite)
Affirms
Theosis, resurrection, and eternal communion with God in the Kingdom
Mainline Protestant (8)
Anglican / Episcopalian
Affirms
Eternal life with God; bodily resurrection the Christian hope
Calvinist / Reformed
Affirms
Eternal glory with God; bodily resurrection for the elect assured
Congregationalist (UCC)
Affirms
Eternal life and final triumph of God's purposes affirmed
Lutheran
Affirms
Eternal life with God; believers raised to glory at Last Day
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Affirms
Eternal presence with God; new creation; bodily resurrection and glorification
Methodist
Affirms
Eternal life promised; bodily resurrection and final glorification affirmed
Presbyterian
Affirms
Eternal blessedness with God; bodily resurrection assured for the elect
Reformed Church in America
Affirms
Bodily resurrection; new creation; beatific vision; eternal communion with God
Evangelical (15)
Baptist (Southern Baptist Convention)
Affirms
Eternal life in God's presence; bodily resurrection to a renewed creation
Calvary Chapel
Affirms
Heaven is a real eternal dwelling with God for the redeemed
Christian & Missionary Alliance
Affirms
Eternal conscious communion with God; resurrection of body; coming King establishes new creation
Christian Reformed Church in North America
Affirms
Eternal life in God's presence; bodily resurrection; new creation renewed
Church of the Nazarene
Affirms
Eternal life in God's presence; bodily resurrection and glorious final destiny
Evangelical Covenant Church
Affirms
Resurrection hope; eternal life with God; transformed existence in renewed creation
Evangelical Free Church of America
Affirms
Eternal life with God; bodily resurrection; believers dwell in God's presence
IFCA International (Independent Fundamental Churches of America)
Affirms
Rapture of church; resurrection of saints; eternal life with God in glory
National Association of Free Will Baptists
Affirms
Eternal life in God's presence; bodily resurrection; beatific vision
Non-denominational Evangelical
Affirms
Eternal life with God; bodily resurrection and renewed creation for believers
Pentecostal (Assemblies of God)
Affirms
Eternal life in God's presence; resurrected believers reign with Christ forever
Presbyterian Church in America
Affirms
Bodily resurrection; new heaven and new earth; eternal communion with God; glorification
Reformed Baptist Churches (1689 London Baptist Confession)
Affirms
Eternal dwelling with God; glorified bodies; new creation; beatific vision
The Wesleyan Church
Affirms
Eternal life; bodily resurrection; glorification; direct presence of God
Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod
Affirms
Eternal communion with God; new creation; bodily resurrection and glorification
Charismatic (5)
Charismatic Movement
Affirms
Heaven and eternal life with God are universally affirmed
Church of God (Anderson, Indiana)
Affirms
Eternal life; bodily resurrection; new creation; fellowship with redeemed
Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee)
Affirms
Eternal communion with God; bodily resurrection; new creation promised for believers
International Church of the Foursquare Gospel
Affirms
Eternal life with God; bodily resurrection; new creation; Jesus the Coming King
Vineyard Churches
Affirms
Heaven and the renewed creation are the eternal home of the redeemed
Anabaptist (5)
Amish (Old Order)
Affirms
Eternal life with God is the hope of the faithful community
Brethren in Christ Church
Affirms
Resurrection and eternal communion with God; new creation; dwelling with believers
Church of the Brethren
Affirms
Resurrection hope; eternal life with God; peace and justice in Kingdom of God
Hutterite Brethren
Affirms
Eternal life with God is the hope that sustains communal faithfulness
Mennonite Church
Affirms
Eternal life with God is the hope of the redeemed community
Adventist & Restorationist (5)
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Affirms
Eternal life in God's presence affirmed through Christ's resurrection
Christian Churches and Churches of Christ
Affirms
Eternal state; communion with God; bodily resurrection; eternal life with Christ
Churches of Christ
Affirms
Heaven is the eternal home of the redeemed in God's presence
International Churches of Christ
Affirms
Heaven is the eternal reward for those who remain faithful to Christ
Seventh-day Adventist Church
Affirms
Believers inherit eternal life on a renewed earth after the millennium
Other Protestant (8)
Moravian Church (Unitas Fratrum)
Affirms
Eternal joy in God's presence; joyful expectation of being with the Lamb.
Plymouth Brethren
Affirms
Eternal life with God; the blessed hope of all believers.
Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
Affirms
Generally affirmed; understood as union with divine presence
Seventh Day Baptist General Conference
Affirms
Eternal dwelling place with God for the redeemed after bodily resurrection
The Salvation Army
Affirms
Affirm heaven; eternal blessed communion with God
True Jesus Church
Affirms
Eternal life and bodily resurrection with Christ; fellowship with God
Universal Church of the Kingdom of God
Affirms
Eternal dwelling with God; bodily resurrection; foretaste of prosperity and peace in God's presence
Waldensian Church (Chiesa Evangelica Valdese)
Affirms
Eternal dwelling with God for the redeemed after bodily resurrection
Non-Trinitarian (6)
Biblical Unitarians
Nuanced
Earthly kingdom hope prominent; resurrection to immortal life on a renewed earth
Christadelphians
Nuanced
Faithful receive immortality on earth in Christ's kingdom; not heaven above
Church of God General Conference (Abrahamic Faith)
Nuanced
Immortality on earth in God's kingdom; resurrection to life, not going to heaven now
Jehovah's Witnesses
Nuanced
Only 144,000 go to heaven; most faithful will inherit a paradise earth
Oneness Pentecostals (UPCI)
Affirms
Eternal life with God for the saved; resurrection and glorification in his presence
Unitarian Universalist
Varies
No official position; focus on this-world transformation; afterlife beliefs vary
Latter-day Saint (2)
Unique & Independent (7)
Armstrongism (Sabbatarian splinter groups)
Nuanced
Saved rule on earth in God's Kingdom; New Jerusalem comes to earth; earthly immortality
Church of Christ, Scientist
Nuanced
Heaven is reign of divine harmony; a state of consciousness, not a place
General Church of the New Jerusalem (Swedenborgian)
Nuanced
Three degrees of heaven corresponding to degrees of love and wisdom
Iglesia ni Cristo
Affirms
Eternal life in God's Kingdom for INC members who remain faithful
Message Movement (Branhamism)
Affirms
Eternal life for bride of Christ; caught up with the Lord; new heavens and earth
Messianic Judaism
Affirms
Eternal life with God; Olam Ha-Ba (World to Come); New Jerusalem
New Apostolic Church
Affirms
Eternal life; resurrection; fellowship with God and the community of saints
African Independent (4)
Cherubim and Seraphim Church
Affirms
Eternal dwelling with God; bodily resurrection; communion with angels and redeemed saints
Church of Jesus Christ on Earth through the Prophet Simon Kimbangu (EJCSK)
Affirms
Eternal life and blessing for the faithful; eschatological hope central
Redeemed Christian Church of God
Affirms
Eternal life in God's Kingdom; bodily resurrection; new creation; prosperity foretaste
Zion Christian Church
Affirms
Eternal life with God; eschatological hope for all ZCC faithful