Will there be fighting in heaven?
Christianity, Islam, and Judaism believe there is one self-existing, Creator God. These major monotheistic religions also seem to be in agreement on the existence of a heaven or paradise where God is.
We take note, however, that most major wars and fighting have never had these major religious groups on the same side. (At least not agreeing on anything religious).
So the big question is, what if Christians, Jews, and Muslims were to find themselves in the same paradise, having believed in the same Creator? Would there be fighting in heaven... again?
Note that there was war in heaven before.
"And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back." - Revelation 12:7 (NIV). See also Isaiah 14:11-13.
Here are some grave concerns:
- It would be a big risk on God's part to take warring factions into His paradise. Since He doesn't force people to do what they don't want, how would He prevent the present rift and war from continuing in heaven?
- If these religions are correct about the existence of God and heaven, then the Heavenly Father really has a broken-up family and a disagreeable set of children.
- If they are not all right then somebody must be wrong.
- Even within a given religion there is disharmony. There is hatred along political divides, among racial lines, social classes or groups, and so on.
So what if in all of this the 'earth warriors' all go to heaven? Then heaven would be hell, wouldn't it?
Therefore, either something is wrong with our concept of heaven, or our knowledge of God.
Revelation 21:4 "... and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away."
So if all the horrors of war we now experience will no longer exist, it is clear there won't be any war in heaven again.
It's difficult to imagine living such a life - without any hurt, emotional or physical. It's almost surreal because of how deeply our reality has set in.
Yet those, especially those, who were directly affected by the incidents of September 11, 2001 would now wish there were no wars. Those who have lost relatives in recent wars such as the war in Iraq can imagine that heaven will be out of this world!
Even Isaiah, speaking of the animals that will be in the renewed earth, says;
"They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea." - Isaiah 11:9
You do not have to be suffering the traumatic experiences of war now in order to embrace the hope of a life in heaven, free from war. No one will ever experience war again - and that is heaven's hope for you.