Last week, I asked the question: Is hell really real?

The feedback was … interesting.

Several people disputed the existence of hell, arguing that there's either no God, or that God would not be so cruel as to punish someone eternally.

The Bible says God loves the world; he created hell for Satan. The only way people go to hell is if they choose to by ignoring the Son of God.

But the question of hell's existence logically leads to the question of heaven's existence.

Arguments tend to arise less over whether heaven exists and more over what it looks like and who gets to go.

Heaven, in my understanding of Scripture, is an expression of God's awesome majesty and power.

The Bible says thunder and lightning emanate from his throne, which is framed by a rainbow and sits in the midst of a crystal sea, and the beings of heaven are content to offer worship and songs of praise continually (Revelation 4:5-11).

But, unlike earthly kingdoms, the power does not come from the throne but from the one who sits on the throne, whose radiance is brighter than the sun and removes all need for any other source of light (Revelation 21:23).

By translation, the cubic dimensions of that "new Jerusalem" are approximately 1,400 miles long, 1,400 miles wide and 1,400 miles high. Wow …

Its 12 gates are each made of a different kind of splendid pearl, and the street is pure gold, with the river of life running down the middle.

Beside the river is the tree of life, which, I believe, is the same tree of life from the original Garden of Eden. This one tree produces 12 kinds of fruit — one for each month (Revelation 22:2). God shielded it from Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:24) after they sinned, but through Christ, it's available to all who enter.

And the food is just a small part of an eternity filled with fellowship of believers from every generation, every nation, every ethnicity and every language (Revelation 7:9).

Imagine having all the time you'll ever need to have a one-on-one conversation with Moses or David or Peter or Job or Jonah.

Imagine the stories of all the magnificent works of Jesus that didn't make it into the Bible (John 21:25).

Another highlight of heaven will be the fact that there will be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, nor pain (Revelation 21:4).

But none of those things match the ultimate climax of seeing the Savior face to face. (Revelation 22:4)

Imagine walking and talking with him.

Imagine hearing the story of the creation from the Creator.

Jesus said: "In my Father's house are many mansions … I go to prepare a place for you" (John 14:2).

That tells me that each believer will have his or her very own place in heaven.

Do you have yours?

Anthony Cook is managing editor at The Star and pastor at Christian Fellowship Bible Church. Reach him at acook@annistonstar.com or 256-235-3558.