Overview
heaven
Quick Reference
In Christian theology the dwelling-place of God and the angels, and ultimately of all the redeemed, wherein they receive their eternal reward. In the Bible it is conceived as above the sky.
It is the distinctive Christian hope and belief that all faithful disciples (and not merely exceptional human beings) will, through Christ's victory, eventually reign with Him in glory. This may be thought of as attained at the end of history, but it is also believed that even before the general resurrection some at least of the redeemed are with Christ, i.e. in Heaven. According to Catholic doctrine, these are the souls who, having died in a state of grace and been purged of their stains in purgatory, have passed to Heaven, where they enjoy perfect bliss, but (except for the BVM) such souls await re-union with their bodies until the general resurrection of the dead. Modern theologians stress the quality of the life of Heaven rather than any details.
