easyskanka
May 19, 2006, 04:51 PM
I guess this must have been touched on at some point, somewhere, but hear I go again spurred on after seing someone's well intentioned post.
It got me thinking on how many people believe that when they die they'll hopefully be miraculously transported to heaven in preference to fire bun hell below.
The question is though, what gives people this idea that they'll end up in blissful heaven or in satan's plush if somewhat overwarm pad.
Could it be the illustration that Jesus told about the rich man and Lazurus concerning their life and death...and how the rich man had his heavenly good living here on earth, while poor Lazurus had to make do with the crumbs that fell from the table of the rich man.
In the hearafter, fire bun fi di rich man, while Lazurus reclined at the bosom of Abraham in comfort and contentment to make up for the sheer misery he endured on earth.
This illustration cannot and should not be taken in a wholly literal manner. Those who are fortunate to make it to heaven are unlikely to have a opportunity to take a sip of water over to hell for anyone, as related in the story above.
Moving on to another Lazurus, namely the one whom Jesus raised up. Did he go to heaven after the first time that he became deceased? I sincerely doubt this because it would have been a form of punishment to bring back someone from somewhere better just to prove that it was possible to bring him back from the dead.
People were being brought back from the dead in the old testament too by such esteemed prophets like Elijah and Elisha, the servants of the true God. Tabitha too was brought back to life by Peter through the use of God's holy spirit to prove that death has no power over the giver of life.
So the question is this: Did these dead people ascend into the heavens to the abode of God, the christ and the holy angels. No, has to be the logical answer. The bible clearly states that no man, including women have seen God in his glory. They would not have then come back in a fleshly form to relate it back to those of us still here on earth. People such as Daniel, Stephen and John had visions of the Almighty's glory, which is another matter entirely.
So my contention is that when we die, we'll have to await the resurrection in order that those of us who have passed over into death will be hopefully by the grace of God might be afforded another bite of the cherry. Also, personally I believe that everlasting life can also be had on earth as well as in heaven according to the lord's prayer when he taught us to pray for God's kingdom on earth and His will to take place here as in heaven.
Have you a view on this topic? Then please have your say in order to enliven an otherwise boring subject. Afterall it only involves your life, doesn't it?
It got me thinking on how many people believe that when they die they'll hopefully be miraculously transported to heaven in preference to fire bun hell below.
The question is though, what gives people this idea that they'll end up in blissful heaven or in satan's plush if somewhat overwarm pad.
Could it be the illustration that Jesus told about the rich man and Lazurus concerning their life and death...and how the rich man had his heavenly good living here on earth, while poor Lazurus had to make do with the crumbs that fell from the table of the rich man.
In the hearafter, fire bun fi di rich man, while Lazurus reclined at the bosom of Abraham in comfort and contentment to make up for the sheer misery he endured on earth.
This illustration cannot and should not be taken in a wholly literal manner. Those who are fortunate to make it to heaven are unlikely to have a opportunity to take a sip of water over to hell for anyone, as related in the story above.
Moving on to another Lazurus, namely the one whom Jesus raised up. Did he go to heaven after the first time that he became deceased? I sincerely doubt this because it would have been a form of punishment to bring back someone from somewhere better just to prove that it was possible to bring him back from the dead.
People were being brought back from the dead in the old testament too by such esteemed prophets like Elijah and Elisha, the servants of the true God. Tabitha too was brought back to life by Peter through the use of God's holy spirit to prove that death has no power over the giver of life.
So the question is this: Did these dead people ascend into the heavens to the abode of God, the christ and the holy angels. No, has to be the logical answer. The bible clearly states that no man, including women have seen God in his glory. They would not have then come back in a fleshly form to relate it back to those of us still here on earth. People such as Daniel, Stephen and John had visions of the Almighty's glory, which is another matter entirely.
So my contention is that when we die, we'll have to await the resurrection in order that those of us who have passed over into death will be hopefully by the grace of God might be afforded another bite of the cherry. Also, personally I believe that everlasting life can also be had on earth as well as in heaven according to the lord's prayer when he taught us to pray for God's kingdom on earth and His will to take place here as in heaven.
Have you a view on this topic? Then please have your say in order to enliven an otherwise boring subject. Afterall it only involves your life, doesn't it?