"The idea of a heaven sounds absurd!"

Absurdity is the ecstasy of intellectualism. Albert Camus once stated, "The absurd is the essential concept and the first truth." The concrete rationalist considers the attributes of Heaven to be absurd or maybe even unappealing. It also seems to be a kindergarten fairytale, or as author Christopher Hitchens horse laughs, "a ridiculous theme park". Such a conception is quite understandable; however, the true attributes of it are very sensible when more thoroughly observed.

To put Heaven into perspective the best I can, I am going to provide an excerpt that I previously wrote about the power of God:

"If [God] indeed showed himself in a more definitive manner, or according to our visual awareness (e.g. waving from the clouds on a golden sleigh, giant hands lifting mountains, etc.), a power so far beyond the universe suddenly interjecting the universe would demolish all in the vicinity [Richard Deem; God and Science]. This is justified by the very words of God, in Exodus 33:20, saying, 'You cannot see my face, for no man can see me and live.'

Simple examples tend to put seemingly great complexities into perspective. Imagine the power of a star resting billions of miles away. The light shines so brightly, it can still be seen regardless of its distance, but it is days old by the time it reaches our eyes. We know that human vision is harmed when staring into the closest star of all, the sun. The creator of substances as powerful as these must have a natural light far beyond any of the creation, including the power of the stars, therefore it is for our own good that we cannot see God in full form."

According to the given premises, all will be invigorated with enhanced entities capable of enduring the full presence of God. Additionally, when understanding that we are assimilated to an earth incapable of exhibiting the full presence of God, we then reveal further evidence that any place capable of exhibiting such must be physically incomprehensible from the current conception. As Richard Deem writes, '"Since Heaven is where God lives, it must contain more physical and temporal dimensions than those found in this physical universe that God created. We cannot imagine, nor can we experience in our current bodies, what these extra dimensions might be like."

I realize that to many skeptics an eternity in Heaven, or an eternity anywhere for that matter, is also completely illogical. Yet one has to acknowledge that time is a property of this universe - it can be described as a system used to measure change and sequentiality. If it indeed exists, it is not congruent with this universe in the sense that it and other spiritual dimensions are not timed, rather they are eternal because they are not physical properties of this universe. In the current conception one cannot comprehend the true concept of eternity when both mentally and physically accustomed to one's own system of existence. The thought of eternity is the fabrication of trillions of years, yet when the final year is reached, trillions more are added. That is precisely a finite interpretation, thus infinity is seemingly an illogical concept. Ultimately, it is not complete absurdity when rationally considering concepts beyond the universe.

Question: "I love my wife, is there still marriage in Heaven?"

I would rather not thoroughly answer that question for 2 reasons: I am not married yet nor have I been to Heaven. In my opinion, it would not be fair if I did with absolute assurance, and would appear as if I am standing outside of a building talking about the wallpaper on the inside. But to give a simplified hypothesis, no (even though I believe we will be in fellowship with each other) because apparently everyone will be "married" to Jesus (indeed it sounds unappealing when contemplated from the flesh). All will be resurrected beings with divine properties rather than adhering to secular practices bound in imperfection. Marriage as defined by the Bible is a gift and partnership, and is adequately symbolic of the more eternal marriage between believers and Jesus. Matthew 22:29-30 says, "You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures, or the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven."

"Burn for eternity? What an outrageous punishment!"

How do finite crimes equal infinite punishment? In order to fully accept the idea, one must first discard the notion that the authority of God is a negatively fastidious and hateful authority; rather, the gift of life in itself provides great opportunity and favor for mankind. Having noted that, according to Genesis 6:6, God can be grieved by the wickedness of man:
 
"The Lord was grieved that he had made man on earth, and his heart was filled with pain."

While at times theoretical premises are truly not strong enough premises for such sensitive conclusions, the multitude of reasonable explanations provide a sound resolution. Consider that unrepentant sinners are eternally sinners against God because they do not deviate this inflicted grief, such equivalence constitutes eternal punishment. It is safe to say that Hell is a representation of how much God hates sin, thus serving as theoretical evidence for His absolute holiness.

God is not only just, but because He is love He is justice. As Octavius Winslow wrote in Our God, "He would not be God were He not love! Omnipotence is the power of love; omniscience is the eye of love; omnipresence is the atmosphere of love; holiness is the purity of love; justice is the fire of love." God's absolute hatred of sin is because He is the definitive of both love and justice. If the wickedness of sin is to be taken lightly by God, then the intensity of the definition of true love is also to be taken lightly. God is a God of order, as shown by the galaxies, planets, stars, and laws of the universe and how they are precisely aligned. Accordingly, God's laws are methodical, therefore those who choose to accept those laws and those who do not will be ultimately separated in order to suit this universal alignment. The consequence of sin, which inflicts both death and corruption, is more than a mere judiciary placement. By the natural order of existence, it is the attempted dethronement of an eternal God, the Author of goodness, that constitutes eternal damnation.

Scientifically, Heaven and Hell are not identified as physical parts of the universe, and by this, consequently, if such places exist, they exist beyond space and time. "Burning for eternity" holds an entirely different meaning when time is not a factor. Time is a system used to measure the sequence of change, however, if both Heaven and Hell are invariably existentials, such eternities cannot be fully comprehended because humans are merely programmed with the logistics and qualities of the finite universe.

One's imagination of eternity is, from the earthly disposition, that of an unfathomable number of years. When the final year is reached, trillions more are added thus everlastingly continuous. Correspondingly, this mentality is why it is incomprehensible that God was never created, or always being. By definition, there is no measurement of duration in eternity. Quite opposite of common thinking, time is merely a property of the finite universe, hence the human perception of eternity is generally flawed and inaccurate.