Results 1 - 5 of 5
|
|
|||||
Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Actual bodies in heaven? | 1 John 3:2 | stjohn | 213952 | ||
Dear MJH I was wondering if you could show some Scripture that would indicate that in time's eternal, our mobility from Earth to Heaven, will somehow be restricted or that somehow the gates of Heaven will be closed to us or even if there may be some good reason for that to be the case? John |
||||||
2 | Actual bodies in heaven? | 1 John 3:2 | MJH | 213960 | ||
John, I have to admit that I am a bit stupefied as to why you would ask this question. I'm struggling to understand it. "our mobility for Earth to Heaven..."? "gates of Heaven will be closed..."? I am not sure what you’re really even asking. I'll still try to sum up, but forgive me if I am not answering what you are asking. Rev. 21 is a good place to start, although the teaching in Rev. 21 runs through the Bible. God's dwelling will be with mankind. If by Heaven you mean some place "up" in the sky, then no, people will not be there in the End Times (or the World to Come.) We were created to live on Earth (or if you will, a New Earth.) God comes down to dwell with us here. If by Heaven you mean the "holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God" (Rev 21:10) where "its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb." (Rev 21:22) Then yes, the gates of that city will be open to all who are "written in the Lamb's book of life." (Rev 21:27) But again, I am not sure if I am interpreting your question correctly. I know that many of the other religions and particularly the Greek religions of the 1st-3rd century believed that after death, peoples’ spirits would travel to the heavens with the gods, but they also didn’t believe in the resurrection of the dead. They did believed the body to be the jail house of the soul. Once the soul was released, it would never wish to be confined to the flesh again. That is contrary to everything in Scriptures which teaches a physical resurrection of the body and a reuniting of the body and soul. I know that many Christians adopt this sort of “pagan” view of living in heaven as an Angel or spirit for eternity, but that’s because they lack any good teaching. Plus pastors are always using phrases such as “living with God in heaven for eternity” which given the general publics understanding of what heaven is, a place out in space somewhere, it propagates a misunderstanding and even a false idea. We will not live in that idea of heaven for eternity. We will live in a physical body on a physical Earth. Gravity still holds us in place…no floating around with harps on clouds. I’m not trying to be condescending. I must be reading you wrong because based on your posts here; I would not expect a question like this from you. MJH |
||||||
3 | Actual bodies in heaven? | 1 John 3:2 | stjohn | 213971 | ||
Hi MJH You are of course correct in saying that Scripture says there will be a New Earth, that it will be our dwelling place, and that God's dwelling will be with mankind. But if we look at other teachings from His Word, we can see that we are also destined for Heaven as well. John 14:2-3 reads: "In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also." From the context of these verses it can be rightly assumed (I believe) that He (Jesus) is talking about Heaven. And, "in My Fathers house" (Heaven) in staying with this theme or image, the many dwelling places (Gk. mon?) are not meant to convey small rooms but simply places to live within the larger house, or Heaven. And though it says there will be a New Earth, it also says there will be a New Heaven... In reference to The New Jerusalem. The City of God Come down from Heaven, this can be taken as a literal city or it's meaning may be interpreted as a symbolic representation of things to come. The Gold the Jewels etc. may be literal as well, or they may also be a representation. We really don't know for sure. but just as it is written, "THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM." 1 Cor 2:9 We can also see in Rev 21:22 "I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple." Jesus, (The Lamb) is the temple in which God, lives in, and with, his people, the Church, or, "Body of Christ" (John 1:14, 2:19-21) so the Church, or, (Body of Christ) "having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit." (Eph 2:20-22) Note: --"Rev. 21:19–21 The 12 jewels adorning the city's apostolic foundations correspond to those engraved with the names of Israelite tribes on the high priest's breastplate (Ex. 28:17–20)."-- ESV study notes From these Scriptures we see that God's dwelling place is not Earth. His dwelling place is and will be to a greater extent (I assume when we are made in an even closer likness to Him in our glorified bodies) in us, and not so much with us on a New Earth. In light of these verses and all else, I see no reason to hold fast to a literal interpretation of the New Jerusalem. Though I really don't know for sure. Nor do I see any reason to believe that mobility will in any way be restricted in moving from the New Earth to the New Heaven (whatever or wherever that is) :-) So, I guess what I'm saying is, I think my question is a fair one. I really don't see any reason from Scriptuer to believe that we will be restricted at all, in any way, fome viseting all of God's marvilous creations, for which we really have very little knowledge. John |
||||||
4 | Actual bodies in heaven? | 1 John 3:2 | MJH | 213972 | ||
John, Well now this sounds much better. I didn't think we were as far apart on this as it seemed. Thanks for clarifying. I will stipulate that you may be correct. I do agree with you on the "many rooms" analogy although I'd put the "rooms" on Earth, if not in Jerusalem itself. Any differences we have would be rather minor in the end. The main reason I'm not going to pursue those right now is because I am time pressed. I just got a new book I need to devour. God bless and again, thanks for clarifying. MJH ps. I have a real love for astronomy, and I'd LOVE to visit many of God's marvelous creations out there some day...I'm hoping eternal life will give me that opportunity:-) |
||||||
5 | Actual bodies in heaven? | 1 John 3:2 | stjohn | 213974 | ||
MJH... Me too brother-!! I just am mind boggled to even think about how long eternity is! And I doubt if our Father will want us to get bored. :-) One thing I do know for sure is, that I'm not a little bit bored or not a little bit fed-up with this old Earth. And I so look forward, with great excitement and great anticipation to seeing the New one-!! :-) Shalom and God bless John |
||||||