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I am Catholic. Not super religious but go to church weekly and follow most of it. Quick question. I thought the Bible states that after death, we sleep until Jesus returns and then all of the dead will rise and go to heaven (or hell). Today, I was at a funeral mass. The priest said that the deceased was met by angels and is now in heaven. That is not what I thought the Bible says. Do they say it to comfort the family? Did the priest get it wrong? Is there another contradictory statement that says what the priest said?
Last edited by trusso11783; 03-01-2023 at 06:57 PM..
I am Catholic. Not super religious but go to church weekly and follow most of it. Quick question. I thought the Bible states that after death, we sleep until Jesus returns and then all of the dead will rise and go to heaven (or hell). Today, I was at a funeral mass. The priest said that the deceased was met by angels and is now in heaven. That is not what I thought the Bible says. Do they say it to comfort the family? Did the priest get it wrong? Is there another contradictory statement that says what the priest said?
There is no consistent teaching in the various denominations concerning "soul sleep". The Bible is actually pretty vague on the topic, and there's room for interpretation. Although of course there are people with particular points of view who will fulminate to the contrary.
In a sense I don't see how soul sleep really matters since the transition would presumably seem instantaneous to you either way.
As an evangelical, I was taught that you went straight to heaven or hell but not with a physical body until the resurrection. Your presence in either place was purely "spiritual". There's also a lot of argument about what happens when. Is there a "rapture"? Is it before, in the middle of, or after the Great Tribulation? Is there a thousand-year reign of Christ yet to come after that? Are the dead resurrected before or after that? Or after the new heaven and earth are created? Where in the midst of all this fever dream does the resurrection happen? Is it spiritual, physical, both, or neither? Who lives in heaven and who lives on earth in the afterlife, and does it matter?
There's also the questions of purgatory, limbo, and other halfway house concepts between heaven and hell.
Personally I just consigned all of it to what phet calls "woo", long ago. Good luck getting straight answers to questions like yours.
I am Catholic. Not super religious but go to church weekly and follow most of it. Quick question. I thought the Bible states that after death, we sleep until Jesus returns and then all of the dead will rise and go to heaven (or hell). Today, I was at a funeral mass. The priest said that the deceased was met by angels and is now in heaven. That is not what I thought the Bible says. Do they say it to comfort the family? Did the priest get it wrong? Is there another contradictory statement that says what the priest said?
It seems you are mixing components of the Christian faith with Catholicism. Remember, the Catholic bible has additional books that the Christian bible does not have.
It seems you are mixing components of the Christian faith with Catholicism. Remember, the Catholic bible has additional books that the Christian bible does not have.
To die, to sleep -
To sleep - perchance to dream. Ay, there’s the rub!
For in that sleep of death what dreams may come,
When we have shuffled off this mortal coil,
Must give us pause.
I'd be very wary of anyone claiming to have THE answer.
I've eventually come around to the notion that we are made of stars, and someday we'll be stars again, and that's the only immortality we can 100% count on. And it is beautiful, if stark.
It seems you are mixing components of the Christian faith with Catholicism. Remember, the Catholic bible has additional books that the Christian bible does not have.
It seems you are mixing components of the Christian faith with Catholicism. Remember, the Catholic bible has additional books that the Christian bible does not have.
The Catholic Bible is a Christian Bible. Unless you're from an ancient form of Christianity like the Copts, Ethiopians, Eastern Orthodox, etc...I'm sorry to inform you that your version of Christianity probably has its roots in Catholicism and therefore you're the ones who took the books out, not vice versa. I mean, you can look at the wayward ways of your parents and grandparents and "reform" your own life choices...but they're still your ancestors, even if you disown them.
I am Catholic. Not super religious but go to church weekly and follow most of it. Quick question. I thought the Bible states that after death, we sleep until Jesus returns and then all of the dead will rise and go to heaven (or hell). Today, I was at a funeral mass. The priest said that the deceased was met by angels and is now in heaven. That is not what I thought the Bible says. Do they say it to comfort the family? Did the priest get it wrong? Is there another contradictory statement that says what the priest said?
We've covered this subject elsewhere on the forum fairly recently. However, if you want mainstream Christianity's description of the state of the dead, it in no way tallies with the BIBLE'S description of the state of the dead. Christians have made up their own stories when it comes to this subject, EVEN THOUGH they are unwittingly agreeing with the Bible when they say of the dead ..."Rest in peace."
Yes, the Bible CONSISTENTLY states in MANY places - both Old and New Testaments - that the dead REALLY ARE 'resting in peace' (i.e., unaware, undisturbed) until the resurrection. Even Jesus and Paul use the Bible description whenever they reference the state of the dead. The dead 'sleep' ((metaphorically, of course) until the return of Jesus when the graves will be opened, and the 'righteous dead' will 'put on immortality'. That's pretty much all we need to know right now.
As for the 'unrighteous dead' ...that's probably a different thread topic.
Regarding the priest you mentioned . . .fairy stories generally have a happy ending. You will probably be aware that no minister or pastor will EVER say that the deceased was met by Satan's minions and is now in hell. It seems that EVERYONE goes to heaven ...no ifs, ands or buts!
Whether in ignorance or in telling a white lie, the priest is just going along with a popular belief to comfort the family and friends. Someone said, "Ask the priest." No, don't do that. Just read what the Bible has to say about the topic.
There is no consistent teaching in the various denominations concerning "soul sleep".
Just say 'sleep' as the Bible teaches. The 'soul' part is not necessary. "Soul sleep" is a man-made term. And so, any term that is man-made and therefore not found in scripture, even if the term MAY accurately describe the event, throws suspicion on the user of the term. And so, just the word 'sleep' will suffice.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mordant
The Bible is actually pretty vague on the topic . . .
Not at all. The Bible makes reference to the state of the dead some 50-odd times, I believe. It doesn't tell us much about what happens ONCE a body is resurrected and 'puts on immortality' but it DOES tell us what happens during the interim between death and resurrection. Actually, it would appear that NOTHING happens!
Quote:
Originally Posted by mordant
. . .and there's room for interpretation. Although of course there are people with particular points of view who will fulminate to the contrary.
Actually, there is NO room for interpretation. The dead 'sleep' until the resurrection and that's it. Of course, that hasn't stopped people from putting their own spin into the topic as would be expected. 'Resting' in the grave doesn't sound exciting enough, I guess. But the scripture is pretty consistent and doesn't appear to allow any wiggle room.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mordant
In a sense I don't see how soul sleep . . .
Just 'sleep' will do.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mordant
. . .really matters since the transition would presumably seem instantaneous to you either way.
Yes, it could be an hour, or it could be a thousand years. The passing of time will not be evident to the awakened.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mordant
As an evangelical, I was taught that you went straight to heaven or hell but not with a physical body until the resurrection. Your presence in either place was purely "spiritual". There's also a lot of argument about what happens when. Is there a "rapture"? Is it before, in the middle of, or after the Great Tribulation? Is there a thousand-year reign of Christ yet to come after that? Are the dead resurrected before or after that? Or after the new heaven and earth are created? Where in the midst of all this fever dream does the resurrection happen? Is it spiritual, physical, both, or neither? Who lives in heaven and who lives on earth in the afterlife, and does it matter?
There's also the questions of purgatory, limbo, and other halfway house concepts between heaven and hell.
There is really no need for any of the above. I would suggest that no one ask ANYONE of ANY denomination what occurs between death and resurrection. As long as one has a Bible and can read, there are 50-odd scriptures that deal with - and answer - the question asked.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mordant
Personally I just consigned all of it to what phet calls "woo", long ago. Good luck getting straight answers to questions like yours.
That's fine but the OP DID ask a valid question and the answer IS available in scripture for those that are interested.
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