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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | What's Heaven? | 2 Cor 12:2 | Kwigger | 105826 | ||
Thank you for your response, Makarios. Here's a follow-up: Where do we get the idea that the rank and file believers will occupy the third Heaven? Isn't that a bit of Hallmark and Hollywood that has crept into the beliefs of many? Also, do I take it from what you wrote that you believe that departed saints are currently in the third heaven? I have wrestled with this. Was Lazarus called out of Heaven or out of the grave? In the OT we hear dying called sleeping with our fathers. Hmmm. Kharis and shalom, Hoss |
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2 | What's Heaven? | 2 Cor 12:2 | Makarios | 105911 | ||
Greetings Kwigger, I'm not sure what you mean by "rank and file" believers. There is only one brand of 'believer' in Christ that I know of, and that is the one who firmly believes in his mind, heart and soul; believing this truth above and beyond any other belief that he or she has: that Christ was the very Son of God - God in the flesh - sent to be the Ultimate sacrifice for our sins, out of his love for us! That is the only so called "believer" in Christ that I can speak of. If you don't have that, then you simply are not a believer in Christ. As for "Hallmark" and "Hollywood", I am simply at a loss as to begin to address those two things. I live far away from Hollywood, and I've never been there. I know "Hallmark" greetings cards, and I know a few friends of mine who have that as a last name, but thats about it. Yes, I believe that departed saints are with the Lord, and I base that belief on 2 Corinthians 5:8. And where is the Lord? At the right hand of God the Father (Hebrews 1:13). Therefore, departed saints will be in heaven with the Lord. As for Lazarus (John 11), I'm sure glad that the Lord called him from the dead by name, or else all of the dead in the entire town of Bethany would have come forth! :-) Now, it is not required that you agree with me. It is not required that anyone agrees with me at all. But you are correct when you say that some Old Testament writers describe death euphemistically as a reunion with one's ancestors (Gen. 15:15; 35:29; 1 Kings 2:10). However, other Old Testament writers refer to death in a way that shows that they expected to meet God when they died (Ps. 17:15; 73:23-24). Likewise, Paul used similar language to Daniel (12:2) in describing "the sleep of death" (Eph. 5:14; 1 Thess. 4:13-14), and Paul states that "we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord" (2 Cor. 5:8), therefore stating that we will be with the Lord when we pass away. Now, there is no contradiction between the Old Testament "sleep of death" passages and the New Testament passages that explain that we will be with the Lord when we die. Only after we are raised from the dead will we be "clothed" in our glorified bodies (Phil. 3:21, 1 Thess. 4:16, 1 Cor. 15:42,50,52-54, 1 Peter 1:23). Therefore, I believe that when a believer dies, his spirit goes to be with Christ until that time has come, when Christ will come again. And during that time, in which we will be away from our bodies, it could be described as a time of "sleeping with our fathers", i.e., being reunited with our loved ones in Christ who have passed on before us. Blessings to you, Makarios |
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