What Will We Do In Heaven? (Revelation 22:3-5, Isaiah 65:21-23)

Introduction

Have you ever paused and asked, “What will I actually do in heaven?” It’s one thing to picture streets of gold or a glorious throne, but another to wonder whether your days will be restful, purposeful, or something else entirely. That question matters because the hope of heaven shapes how you live now—how you work, love, forgive, and invest your time. If heaven is just passive rest, your current struggles might look pointless. If heaven includes renewed purpose, then the sweat and service of this life gain eternal significance. Let’s walk gently through what Scripture says—especially Revelation 22:3-5 and Isaiah 65:21-23—and see how biblical hope answers your deepest curiosities about life after this life.

The Bible Foundation

Read Revelation 22:3–5 (NIV): Revelation 22:3–5

“3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.”

Read Isaiah 65:21–23 (NIV): Isaiah 65:21–23

“21 ‘They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. 22 They will not build, and others live in them, or plant, and others eat. For as the days of a tree, so will be the days of my people; my chosen ones will long enjoy the work of their hands. 23 They will not labor in vain, nor bring children into a world of trouble, for they will be a people blessed by the Lord—they and their descendants with them.’”

These passages are anchors. Revelation paints a future where the curse is removed, God’s throne is present, and his servants actually serve him. Isaiah offers an image of building, planting, and enjoying the fruits of your labor without loss or futility. Together, they suggest heaven involves both worship and meaningful activity—rest plus purpose.

Understanding the Core Truth

At the heart of these passages is one simple idea: heaven is not aimless inactivity nor mere endless leisure; it’s a redeemed fullness of life where relationship with God and purposeful living come together. Revelation emphasizes intimacy with God—you will see God’s face and serve him. Isaiah emphasizes continuity: you will build, plant, and enjoy the results. So the core truth is this: your eternal life will include both joyful worship and satisfying, undiminished work, all free from curse and suffering.

That means the things you enjoy and care about now—good work, loving relationships, creativity—aren’t trivial in God’s economy. They’re hints of the renewed life to come, reoriented around God’s presence and blessing.

Going Deeper — The Hidden Meaning

Why does the Bible pair worship and work? Because biblical anthropology sees humans as image-bearers meant for relational communion with God and stewarding creation. The “curse” removed (Revelation 22:3) points back to Genesis: work became toilsome after the fall, but in the new creation, work is restored without frustration. Isaiah’s picture of building and planting imagines continuity—your hands and efforts matter and will be fruitful in a way they sometimes aren’t now.

Think of it this way: a gardener who has wrestled with drought, pests, and half-harvest will find joy in planting in a garden that always flourishes. That joy is deeper because it’s not merely leisure; it’s the satisfaction of skill, creativity, and relationship with others. Biblically, heaven’s “work” will be worshipful, loving, and free from futility. You’ll serve because you love, and you’ll build because creation is entrusted to you—and in serving God, that service becomes perfect delight.

Modern Connection — Relevance Today

How does this ancient hope touch your daily life? If heaven includes work and purpose, then your current labor—parenting, caring for neighbors, creative work, honest labor—has eternal value. You are not spinning your wheels when you serve others or create beauty. This perspective helps you fight cynicism, burnout, and a purely pleasure-driven view of eternity.

In relationships, the promise that God’s people will live in houses they build and eat the fruit of their vineyards speaks against a disposable approach to family and community. It affirms commitment, patience, and the long-term joys of investment. In education and vocation, it frees you to pursue excellence not primarily for status, but as worship—an offering that anticipates the restored fruitfulness Isaiah describes.

Practical Application — Living the Message

If you want to live as heaven matters now, try these simple steps:

• Reframe your work. View daily tasks, whether paid or unpaid, as opportunities to serve God and neighbor. Ask: “How does this reflect God’s character?”
• Practice visible worship. Create rhythms—morning prayer, Sabbath rest, shared meals—that orient your week around God’s presence, anticipating Revelation’s “they will see his face.”
• Invest for the long haul. Plant relationships and projects that may not bear fruit immediately but cultivate trust and patience, modeling Isaiah’s image of building and planting.
• Refuse futility. When you face discouragement, remember Scripture’s promise that not all effort is wasted—God promises a future where labor is meaningful and blessed.

Each small discipline trains you to live as a citizen of heaven even today.

🌿 Faith Reflection Box

Take a moment to pause and ask: How would your daily choices change if you lived with the conviction that your work will be redeemed, enjoyed, and meaningful forever? Write down one practical way to honor that belief this week—maybe a conversation you’ve been avoiding, a creative idea to pursue, or an act of service.

Key Takeaways:

• Heaven includes both worship and meaningful work—a relationship with God plus purposeful activity.
• Your daily labor and love have eternal significance and are not wasted.
• Living in light of heaven reshapes priorities: patience, stewardship, and joyful service.

Q&A

Q1: Will we “work” in heaven, or is it just rest? Answer: Scripture suggests heaven involves both rest and meaningful activity. Revelation 22:3 says God’s servants “will serve him,” and Isaiah 65:21-23 pictures people building, planting, and enjoying the fruit of their labor. That doesn’t mean drudgery—this service and work are free from curse, pain, and futility; they’re worshipful and fulfilling. Think of it less as endless chores and more as perfected purpose—what you do will align with God’s joy and your restored abilities. (See Revelation 22:3–5 and Isaiah 65:21–23.)

Related: Who Will Go To Heaven? (Matthew 7:21-23, John 14:6)

Q2: Will we remember our earthly lives and relationships? Answer: The Bible hints that resurrection includes continuity—your identity and relationships matter. Paul teaches that our bodies will be raised and transformed (1 Corinthians 15:42-44), implying continuity in who you are. Revelation shows redeemed people gathered before God, known and identified (“his name will be on their foreheads”—Revelation 22:4). While Scripture doesn’t give a full catalogue of memory, the consistent biblical witness is that relationships and personhood persist and are restored in deeper ways when perfected in Christ. (See 1 Corinthians 15:42–44 and Revelation 22:4.)

Q3: Will there be marriage or family in heaven? Answer: Jesus teaches that in the resurrection, people “neither marry nor are given in marriage” but are like angels (Matthew 22:30). That indicates the earthly institution of marriage won’t exist in the same way. Yet this doesn’t mean the end of relationships or family enjoyment—Isaiah’s picture of households, descendants, and shared blessings points to familial joy and continuity. The shape changes: earthly structures serve temporary, human needs; in the new creation, relationships are fulfilled in a way that transcends current institutions. (See Matthew 22:30 and Isaiah 65:23.)

Related: What Is Heaven In The Bible? (John 14:2-3, Revelation 21:1-4)

Conclusion & Reflection

The Bible’s images of heaven—Revelation’s throne-room intimacy and Isaiah’s fruitful, steady work—invite you into a hope that’s both restful and active. Heaven won’t erase your identity or give you purposeless bliss; it will restore and perfect what God meant you to be. You’ll see God, serve him with joy, and delight in work that bears lasting fruit. That hope reshapes your present: you can work with purpose, love with eternity in view, and rest now in the promise that nothing good is ultimately lost.

A short prayer: Lord, thank you for the promise of a restored world where we will see your face and enjoy work that brings you glory. Help us to live now with heavenly hope—working, loving, and serving as citizens of your kingdom. Amen.

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