Rest, eternal

Eternal rest consists of peace with God, an absence of toil and tribulation and a final deliverance from pain, sorrow and death. It is promised as the inheritance of the people of God.

Eternal rest foreshadowed in the OT

In God's rest after creation

Hebrews 4:3–4 See also Genesis 2:2–3

Now we who have believed enter that rest. As for the others, it is just as God has said: “So I swore on oath in My anger, ‘They shall never enter My rest.’” And yet His works have been finished since the foundation of the world. For somewhere He has spoken about the seventh day in this manner: “And on the seventh day God rested from all His works.”

In the rest promised to Joshua

Hebrews 4:8 See also Deuteronomy 31:7; Joshua 22:4; Psalm 95:7–11

For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day.

The eternal state described as rest

Hebrews 4:9 See also Job 3:11–19; Revelation 14:13

There remains, then, a Sabbath rest for the people of God.

Aspects of eternal rest

Being in the presence of God

Luke 23:43 See also John 14:3; Philippians 1:23; 1 Thessalonians 4:17–18; Revelation 3:4, Revelation 7:15

And Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

Happiness

2 Corinthians 5:8 See also Matthew 25:23; Luke 13:29

We are confident, then, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

Refreshment and satisfaction

Revelation 7:17 See also Psalm 16:11, Psalm 17:15; Ezekiel 47:1–12; Revelation 22:1–2

For the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd. ‘He will lead them to springs of living water,’ and ‘God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”

The absence of trouble

2 Thessalonians 1:6–7 See also Revelation 6:10–11, Revelation 7:14

After all, it is only right for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are oppressed and to us as well. This will take place when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels

The absence of labour

Revelation 14:13 See also Job 3:17; Isaiah 57:2, Isaiah 65:22–23; Hebrews 4:1–11

And I heard a voice from heaven telling me to write, “Blessed are the dead — those who die in the Lord from this moment on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labors, for their deeds will follow them.”

The absence of pain, sorrow and death

Revelation 21:4 See also Isaiah 25:8, Isaiah 65:19; Luke 20:36; Romans 8:23; 1 Corinthians 15:24; Revelation 7:16–17

‘He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,’ and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.”

The absence of conflict and harm

Isaiah 65:25 See also Isaiah 11:6–9; Hosea 2:18

The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, but the food of the serpent will be dust. They will neither harm nor destroy on all My holy mountain,” says the LORD.

The absence of the curse

Revelation 22:3

No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be within the city, and His servants will worship Him.

Eternal rest is conditional upon faithful obedience

Hebrews 4:11, Hebrews 4:1–2

Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same pattern of disobedience.

Therefore, while the promise of entering His rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be deemed to have fallen short of it. For we also received the good news just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, since they did not share the faith of those who comprehended it.