By Dr. Jack Cottrell
QUERY: I have a question about whether or not there will be sex in Heaven. I really DO honestly wonder about it. One friend cited C.S. Lewis. What is your opinion on the subject?
ANSWER: I have dealt with this subject briefly in my book, “The Faith Once for All,” in chapter 32, “Heaven” (on pp. 567-68). I understand our final heaven, our eternal abode, to be the new heavens and the new earth of 2 Peter 3:13close2 Peter 3:13 13 But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. (ESV) close2 Peter 3:13close2 Peter 3:13 13 But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. (ESV) 13 But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. (ESV) and Revelation 21:1closeRevelation 21:1 The New Heaven and the New Earth 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. (ESV) closeRevelation 21:1closeRevelation 21:1 The New Heaven and the New Earth 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. (ESV) The New Heaven and the New Earth 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. (ESV) , where we will live in our new and eternal bodies (Romans 8:23closeRomans 8:23 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. (ESV) closeRomans 8:23closeRomans 8:23 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. (ESV) 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. (ESV) ). Thus there will definitely be a physical or material aspect to our eternal life, which I summarize briefly thus:
Some of the most striking aspects of the physical life and environment of the new earth have to do with what will not be there. One, there will be no darkness, “no night there” (Rev. 21:25; 22:5closeRevelation 21:25 25 and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. Revelation 22:5 5 And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever. (ESV) closeRevelation 21:25closeRevelation 21:25 25 and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. (ESV) 25 and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. Revelation 22:5closeRevelation 22:5 5 And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever. (ESV) 5 And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever. (ESV) ), “for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb” (Rev 21:23closeRevelation 21:23 23 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. (ESV) closeRevelation 21:23closeRevelation 21:23 23 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. (ESV) 23 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. (ESV) ). Thus there is no need for the sun or moon or for lamps (Rev. 21:25; 22:5closeRevelation 21:25 25 and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. Revelation 22:5 5 And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever. (ESV) closeRevelation 21:25closeRevelation 21:25 25 and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. (ESV) 25 and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. Revelation 22:5closeRevelation 22:5 5 And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever. (ESV) 5 And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever. (ESV) ). That there is no darkness means we will have nothing to fear and nothing to hide.
Two, there will be no danger there, nothing to threaten our peace and safety. This is symbolized in God’s promise that on the new earth, “the wolf and the lamb will graze together, and the lion will eat straw like an ox; and dust will be the serpent’s food. They will do no evil or harm in all My holy mountain” (Isa. 65:25closeIsaiah 65:25
25 The wolf and the lamb shall graze together;
the lion shall eat straw like the ox,
and dust shall be the serpent's food.
They shall not hurt or destroy
in all my holy mountain,”
says the Lord. (ESV)
closeIsaiah 65:25closeIsaiah 65:25
25 The wolf and the lamb shall graze together;
the lion shall eat straw like the ox,
and dust shall be the serpent's food.
They shall not hurt or destroy
in all my holy mountain,”
says the Lord. (ESV)
25 The wolf and the lamb shall graze together;
the lion shall eat straw like the ox,
and dust shall be the serpent's food.
They shall not hurt or destroy
in all my holy mountain,”
says the Lord. (ESV)
). This is also the reason why “there is no longer any sea” on the new earth (Rev. 21:1closeRevelation 21:1
The New Heaven and the New Earth
21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. (ESV)
closeRevelation 21:1closeRevelation 21:1
The New Heaven and the New Earth
21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. (ESV)
The New Heaven and the New Earth
21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. (ESV)
); to the ancients the sea was a source of jeopardy and peril.
Third, there will be no physical discomfort in heaven: no hunger, thirst, or excessive heat (Rev. 7:16closeRevelation 7:16
16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore;
the sun shall not strike them,
nor any scorching heat. (ESV)
closeRevelation 7:16closeRevelation 7:16
16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore;
the sun shall not strike them,
nor any scorching heat. (ESV)
16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore;
the sun shall not strike them,
nor any scorching heat. (ESV)
) and no pain (Rev. 21:4closeRevelation 21:4
4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (ESV)
closeRevelation 21:4closeRevelation 21:4
4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (ESV)
4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (ESV)
). These are representative of discomforts of all kinds.
Fourth and most significantly, “there will no longer be any death” (Rev. 21:4closeRevelation 21:4
4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (ESV)
closeRevelation 21:4closeRevelation 21:4
4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (ESV)
4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (ESV)
). In earlier prophecy God suggested that in the new universe death will simply be irrelevant (Isa. 65:20, 22closeIsaiah 65:20
20 No more shall there be in it
an infant who lives but a few days,
or an old man who does not fill out his days,
for the young man shall die a hundred years old,
and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed.
Isaiah 65:22
22 They shall not build and another inhabit;
they shall not plant and another eat;
for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be,
and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands. (ESV)
closeIsaiah 65:20closeIsaiah 65:20
20 No more shall there be in it
an infant who lives but a few days,
or an old man who does not fill out his days,
for the young man shall die a hundred years old,
and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed. (ESV)
20 No more shall there be in it
an infant who lives but a few days,
or an old man who does not fill out his days,
for the young man shall die a hundred years old,
and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed.
Isaiah 65:22closeIsaiah 65:22
22 They shall not build and another inhabit;
they shall not plant and another eat;
for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be,
and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands. (ESV)
22 They shall not build and another inhabit;
they shall not plant and another eat;
for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be,
and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands. (ESV)
), but in his more complete and final revelation he indicates that it will be removed altogether. The curse of death as Adam’s legacy upon the race (Gen. 2:17; 3:19closeGenesis 2:17
17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
Genesis 3:19
19 By the sweat of your face
you shall eat bread,
till you return to the ground,
for out of it you were taken;
for you are dust,
and to dust you shall return.” (ESV)
closeGenesis 2:17closeGenesis 2:17
17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” (ESV)
17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
Genesis 3:19closeGenesis 3:19
19 By the sweat of your face
you shall eat bread,
till you return to the ground,
for out of it you were taken;
for you are dust,
and to dust you shall return.” (ESV)
19 By the sweat of your face
you shall eat bread,
till you return to the ground,
for out of it you were taken;
for you are dust,
and to dust you shall return.” (ESV)
) will be gone. Those in resurrection bodies “cannot even die anymore” (Luke 20:36closeLuke 20:36
36 for they cannot die anymore, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. (ESV)
closeLuke 20:36closeLuke 20:36
36 for they cannot die anymore, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. (ESV)
36 for they cannot die anymore, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. (ESV)
).
Stated positively, the greatest physical glory of heaven is the everlasting, never-ending life that will be bestowed upon us. Even now we have the spiritual aspect of that life, but then it will empower our bodies as well (Rom. 6:23; 8:10-11closeRomans 6:23
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:10-11
10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. (ESV)
closeRomans 6:23closeRomans 6:23
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (ESV)
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:10-11closeRomans 8:10-11
10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. (ESV)
10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. (ESV)
). An environment where life reigns instead of death is marked by the presence of “springs of water of life” (Rev. 7:17; 21:6closeRevelation 7:17
17 For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd,
and he will guide them to springs of living water,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
Revelation 21:6
6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. (ESV)
closeRevelation 7:17closeRevelation 7:17
17 For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd,
and he will guide them to springs of living water,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” (ESV)
17 For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd,
and he will guide them to springs of living water,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
Revelation 21:6closeRevelation 21:6
6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. (ESV)
6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. (ESV)
), “a river of the water of life” (Rev. 22:1, 17closeRevelation 22:1
The River of Life
22:1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb
Revelation 22:17
17 The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. (ESV)
closeRevelation 22:1closeRevelation 22:1
The River of Life
22:1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb (ESV)
The River of Life
22:1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb
Revelation 22:17closeRevelation 22:17
17 The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. (ESV)
17 The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. (ESV)
), and the tree of life in a variety of forms (Rev. 2:7; 22:2, 14closeRevelation 2:7
7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’
Revelation 22:2
2 through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
Revelation 22:14
14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. (ESV)
closeRevelation 2:7closeRevelation 2:7
7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’ (ESV)
7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’
Revelation 22:2closeRevelation 22:2
2 through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. (ESV)
2 through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
Revelation 22:14closeRevelation 22:14
14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. (ESV)
14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. (ESV)
). We will live forever in imperishable, immortal bodies (1 Cor. 15:42, 53-54close1 Corinthians 15:42
42 So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable.
1 Corinthians 15:53-54
53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.” (ESV)
close1 Corinthians 15:42close1 Corinthians 15:42
42 So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. (ESV)
42 So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable.
1 Corinthians 15:53-54close1 Corinthians 15:53-54
53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.” (ESV)
53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.” (ESV)
) that are not subject to pain or discomfort.
What about activities that give us physical pleasure in our present lives, i.e., eating, drinking, and sex? This question is neither irrelevant nor irreverent, for these are normal and good activities in this life. Concerning eating and drinking, in Rev. 19:7-9closeRevelation 19:7-9
7 Let us rejoice and exult
and give him the glory,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his Bride has made herself ready;
8 it was granted her to clothe herself
with fine linen, bright and pure”—
for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.
9 And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” (ESV)
closeRevelation 19:7-9closeRevelation 19:7-9
7 Let us rejoice and exult
and give him the glory,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his Bride has made herself ready;
8 it was granted her to clothe herself
with fine linen, bright and pure”—
for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.
9 And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” (ESV)
7 Let us rejoice and exult
and give him the glory,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his Bride has made herself ready;
8 it was granted her to clothe herself
with fine linen, bright and pure”—
for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.
9 And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” (ESV)
heaven is represented as a wedding feast; and Isa. 65:21closeIsaiah 65:21
21 They shall build houses and inhabit them;
they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. (ESV)
closeIsaiah 65:21closeIsaiah 65:21
21 They shall build houses and inhabit them;
they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. (ESV)
21 They shall build houses and inhabit them;
they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. (ESV)
says, “They will also plant vineyards and eat their fruit.” The water of life and the tree of life suggest that eating and drinking will still be natural. Revelation 7:16closeRevelation 7:16
16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore;
the sun shall not strike them,
nor any scorching heat. (ESV)
closeRevelation 7:16closeRevelation 7:16
16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore;
the sun shall not strike them,
nor any scorching heat. (ESV)
16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore;
the sun shall not strike them,
nor any scorching heat. (ESV)
says there will be no hunger or thirst there. Is this because we will always have all we want to eat and drink, or simply because eating and drinking will no longer be necessary? If the latter is the case, then the tree of life and the water of life are just symbols of “never-ending and totally satisfying refreshment by the Spirit” (John Gilmore “Probing Heaven,” Baker 1989, p. 116). There really is no Biblical basis for ruling out literal eating and drinking, however. (The fact that Jesus ate after his resurrection [Luke 24:43closeLuke 24:43
43 and he took it and ate before them. (ESV)
closeLuke 24:43closeLuke 24:43
43 and he took it and ate before them. (ESV)
43 and he took it and ate before them. (ESV)
] tells us nothing about our new-earth bodies, since Jesus did not have his glorified resurrection body until his ascension.)
We do have a Biblical reason for thinking there will be no sexual relations in heaven, though. Jesus’ answer to the Sadducees’ question in Matt. 22:23-33 implies that husband-wife relationships of all kinds will be transcended in heaven: “For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven” (v. 30). Since sexual relations are intended for marriage only, this seems to exclude them from our new-earth relationships. This does not mean, however, that our new bodies will necessarily be genderless (see C. S. Lewis, Miracles, Macmillan 1960, pp. 165-166; Gilmore, ch. 13, “Sex in Heaven?”).
Millard Erickson raises the question, “If there is to be no eating nor sex, will there be any pleasure in heaven?” He rightly answers “that the experiences of heaven will far surpass anything experienced here,” as indicated by 1 Cor. 2:9close1 Corinthians 2:9
9 But, as it is written,
“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love him”— (ESV)
close1 Corinthians 2:9close1 Corinthians 2:9
9 But, as it is written,
“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love him”— (ESV)
9 But, as it is written,
“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love him”— (ESV)
(NIV), “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him” (Christian Theology, Baker 1998, pp. 1239-1240). Gilmore (p. 84) says it well: “Glorified bodies will, doubtless, involve glorious action and enormous enjoyment. It would seem that some form of the pleasures of sight, sound, touch, and (less so) taste will be part of the new earth.”
For more information about and from Dr. Jack Cottrell, please visit College Press for his published works or his store front at Cincinnati Christian University.
