Heaven - The Same for Everyone? (Gospel, hell, beliefs, sin)
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All Christians want to go to Heaven, whether they figure it's just going to be them as a few close friends or the whole of God's creation. When you think of the afterlife, do you see Heaven as a kind of One-Size-Fits-All kind of place where everyone who actually made it will all find themselves in exactly the same circumstances?
Here's what I'm getting at: On one hand, consider a Christian you've always admired. I'll use Mother Theresa as my example. She lived her life in service to God and her fellow men. She certainly understood the Savior's commandment to love one another and to treat all human beings with respect and dignity. Now think of someone you know who really doesn't strike you as a very good person. When it comes to Christianity, this person is more than willing to talk the talk. He's just not all that good at walking the walk. Anyway, for some reason, God, in His mercy, allows this person to enter Heaven, right along with you and everybody else.
In the end, do you think it's really going to matter how we lived, as long as we get into Heaven? Or is Mother Theresa (or someone else, if you don't admire her as much as I do) going to have a greater reward in Heaven than the person you were kind of surprised to see there?
1. If you think Heaven's going to be the same for everyone who ends up there, what do you think Jesus meant when He said He was going to "judge every man according to his works"?
2. If you think Heaven's going to be different and that greater obedience, faithfulness, and righteousness on Earth are going to result in greater rewards in Heaven, how do you believe those rewards will differ from person to person?
Interesting question. I don't know the answer. But I do know that the amount of suffering visited upon the people in this world varies widely for no apparent rhyme or reason.
All Christians want to go to Heaven, whether they figure it's just going to be them as a few close friends or the whole of God's creation. When you think of the afterlife, do you see Heaven as a kind of One-Size-Fits-All kind of place where everyone who actually made it will all find themselves in exactly the same circumstances?
Here's what I'm getting at: On one hand, consider a Christian you've always admired. I'll use Mother Theresa as my example. She lived her life in service to God and her fellow men. She certainly understood the Savior's commandment to love one another and to treat all human beings with respect and dignity. Now think of someone you know who really doesn't strike you as a very good person. When it comes to Christianity, this person is more than willing to talk the talk. He's just not all that good at walking the walk. Anyway, for some reason, God, in His mercy, allows this person to enter Heaven, right along with you and everybody else.
In the end, do you think it's really going to matter how we lived, as long as we get into Heaven? Or is Mother Theresa (or someone else, if you don't admire her as much as I do) going to have a greater reward in Heaven than the person you were kind of surprised to see there?
1. If you think Heaven's going to be the same for everyone who ends up there, what do you think Jesus meant when He said He was going to "judge every man according to his works"?
2. If you think Heaven's going to be different and that greater obedience, faithfulness, and righteousness on Earth are going to result in greater rewards in Heaven, how do you believe those rewards will differ from person to person?
Heaven and hell are places as well as conditions. The condition of the soul determines the place in heaven/hell (light or darkness). Heaven is really just one big place and the farther we are from God, soul encrustments, the darker our place will be.
We will be seperated according to our deeds or actions. This is called the Law of Attraction. Murders will be with murderers, rapists with rapists, etc. Good people will not be with bad people. Only on earth do we intermingle with other soul conditions.
The many masions Jesus often spoke of are just that. The soul conditions of man.
If it were a level playing field, that might make sense - but it is not there are some that are dealt a rough hand and struggle just to survive, there are some that appear good but have been been dealt a good hand and have not overcome any adversity..............
I do believe that we will still have individuality of some sort but I do not think in the Spirit that there will be first and second class citizens ---- but I do believe that judgment that is received will be based on what good and bad has been done in this life, and what the intent of the heart was, and what adversity (Satan) has been overcome.
Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
Heb 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
1Pe 4:5 Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.
1Pe 4:6 For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.
Heaven and hell are places as well as conditions. The condition of the soul determines the place in heaven/hell (light or darkness). Heaven is really just one big place and the farther we are from God, soul encrustments, the darker our place will be.
We will be seperated according to our deeds or actions. This is called the Law of Attraction. Murders will be with murderers, rapists with rapists, etc. Good people will not be with bad people. Only on earth do we intermingle with other soul conditions.
That's interesting. That's pretty much in line with my beliefs.
All Christians want to go to Heaven, whether they figure it's just going to be them as a few close friends or the whole of God's creation. When you think of the afterlife, do you see Heaven as a kind of One-Size-Fits-All kind of place where everyone who actually made it will all find themselves in exactly the same circumstances?
Here's what I'm getting at: On one hand, consider a Christian you've always admired. I'll use Mother Theresa as my example. She lived her life in service to God and her fellow men. She certainly understood the Savior's commandment to love one another and to treat all human beings with respect and dignity. Now think of someone you know who really doesn't strike you as a very good person. When it comes to Christianity, this person is more than willing to talk the talk. He's just not all that good at walking the walk. Anyway, for some reason, God, in His mercy, allows this person to enter Heaven, right along with you and everybody else.
In the end, do you think it's really going to matter how we lived, as long as we get into Heaven? Or is Mother Theresa (or someone else, if you don't admire her as much as I do) going to have a greater reward in Heaven than the person you were kind of surprised to see there?
I believe it is the same as the parable of the workers... everyone gets the same... but as to your questions:
Quote:
1. If you think Heaven's going to be the same for everyone who ends up there, what do you think Jesus meant when He said He was going to "judge every man according to his works"?
I believe judging happens the moment the work is done. You lie... insta-guilt. You steal...insta-guilt. Therefore every man IS judged for their works right here on earth.. I don't think sins can be counted once the body is dead... Once you die the point in judgment (and reward) is moot...IMO
Quote:
2. If you think Heaven's going to be different and that greater obedience, faithfulness, and righteousness on Earth are going to result in greater rewards in Heaven, how do you believe those rewards will differ from person to person?
I think heaven is different for everyone... yet not different, but that said, I don't believe in a pearly gates type heaven anyway... so I guess I'm not really helpful in answering the questions.... sorry.
Heaven is where I get to eat all my mother-in-law's lasagna and never get fat. Heaven is where my angelic image is curvy, my boobs are perfect, my double-chin no longer exists, and my breath smells like lilacs. Heaven will of course involve regular orgasms, and chili-cheese-dogs with extra onions. In Heaven, there are no children, and all the men look like a young Mel Gibson. Heaven's visuals will be more vivid and colorful than an LSD trip, but as calm as a breeze on a meadow. There is no menstruation, in Heaven. Birds sing in Heaven, but they do not poop on the alabaster statues in the central square.
Heaven is where I get to eat all my mother-in-law's lasagna and never get fat. Heaven is where my angelic image is curvy, my boobs are perfect, my double-chin no longer exists, and my breath smells like lilacs. Heaven will of course involve regular orgasms, and chili-cheese-dogs with extra onions. In Heaven, there are no children, and all the men look like a young Mel Gibson. Heaven's visuals will be more vivid and colorful than an LSD trip, but as calm as a breeze on a meadow. There is no menstruation, in Heaven. Birds sing in Heaven, but they do not poop on the alabaster statues in the central square.
If we do not know Jesus Christ or his Spirit than we will die in your sins. and be lost to the Lord God forever, because The Lord is a God of Goodness and Rightousness and he rejects the darkness of this world..........So if we believe you can reject knowing Jesus and murderers and rapist live forever than we are deceived and there is no truth in us....legalism is a dead end and thaws the Holy Spirit in his tracks........ Heaven is for the rightous who know Jesus and Holy Spirit is the only Person on the earth how knows where Heaven is so if we pass on Holy Spirit of The Son of God than we pass on Heaven...... Jesus rejoiced that the unrightous religous of his day will not be going to Heaven `` saying you have to far more than the scribs and the pharisees to enter the kingdom of Heaven````... so we have to ask if we are far better rightous than these types of groups or why bother even knowing Jesus or God at all.........
I believe judging happens the moment the work is done. You lie... insta-guilt. You steal...insta-guilt. Therefore every man IS judged for their works right here on earth.. I don't think sins can be counted once the body is dead... Once you die the point in judgment (and reward) is moot...IMO
That would work in an ideal world, maybe ---- but what about those situations when people have lied, killed and stole while believing they are doing the will of God and have physically died believing that. For them there is no guilt or judgment, so when does judgment happen.
And what of Hebrews, judgment seems to happen after death
Quote:
Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
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