Life after death: Intermediate Heaven and the Eternal State

Richard Baxter, English pastor and author living in the 1600’s,  went through an extreme physical breakdown that left him near death for 5 months.  During that time he meditated deeply on the scriptural teaching on heaven and eternity.  He recovered and later his notes and sermons became the book, The Saints Everlasting Rest.  After this experience, he vowed to spend an hour every day meditating on his heavenly citizenship.

I had rather read, hear or meditate, on God and Heaven, than on any other Subject: for I perceive that it is the Object that altereth and elevateth the Mind…that it must animate all our other Duties; and fortifie us against every Temptation and Sin… click here for a link to the story

I was recently  talking with a sister in Christ (who is facing a life-threatening illness) about heaven and the difference between the final state of resurrection on a restored earth and the after-death state.  There is much mystery but real hope!  I want to re- post a helpful  article from Randy Alcorn’s web site section on Heaven. It’s an article that I believe does an excellent job of explaining the difference.