Posts Tagged ‘Heaven’
Another on an eschatological perspective . . .
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Rom. 8:28–31.
AskRob: Question on the Resurrection and Heaven
Q. Hey Rob, Okay, my cage is rattled again. It's about your stance on people not recognizing each other in the resurrection. I'll be surprised if mine is the only e-mail you get about this. First, I agree with you completely that we probably won't even care and that just being in God's presence and seeing Him in all His glory will be all-consuming and probably overwhelm any other thought or feeling. That said, I have to wonder if your position is entirely correct when I think about instances like when King Saul paid the medium to call up Samuel: Saul recognized Samuel from the medium's description. In Jesus' parable about the rich man and Lazarus, the rich man recognized both Lazarus and Abraham. In the Matt. 17 account of Jesus' transfiguration, Peter, James and John recognized Moses and Elijah. Whether this was from ancient drawings, maybe, or some God-granted telepathy-type thing, we don't know, but they obviously were recognizable as those specific Biblical figures. In Matt. 22, Jesus tells us He's the God of the living, not the dead, and names Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. This implies that they're still known by those names and recognized as those people even after death. In this same chapter, Jesus tells us there will be no marriage, but rather that we'll be like the angels in heaven. Is it taking that verse too far to suppose we'll be known by names and recognizable as the angels Michael and Gabriel clearly are? The most persuasive example to me is that of Jesus Himself after His death, who was immediately recognized by His disciples when He appeared to them in the locked room. Scripture even depicts Him retaining the wounds of the crucifixion. There's the obvious delineation between our humanity and His deity, but we're told that we will be like Him. As far as having memories, if we are to give an account after death (Rom. 14) of the acts done in this life, we would surely be able to remember them, along with the others' whose lives are included in the memories of what we've done.
Thanks for your time. Oh yeah, and who were the Nephilim? (Just kidding)
A pre-Abraham Boy-Band. (Just Kidding)
Here you Go:
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DailyTheocentrism: If this is your best life now, you must be bound for Hell
The very nature of seeking “our best life” is folly here, in this world, at this time. Ecclesiastes as a book speaks toward that very concept, that if it is this world that we seek satisfaction in, then:
24 There is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and tell himself that his labor is good. This also I have seen that it is from the hand of God. 25 For who can eat and who can have enjoyment without Him? 26 For to a person who is good in His sight He has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, while to the sinner He has given the task of gathering and collecting so that he may give to one who is good in God’s sight. This too is vanity and striving after wind. NASB (Eccl. 2:24-26)
Wow . . . Randy Alcorn on whether or not our pets will be in Heaven:
I’m not sure if he’s trying to refer to Heaven or the Millennial Kingdom – but, wow . . .
Yeah, I checked Isaiah 60 as well – hhmmm. I suppose all of the camels will be coming from Midian and Ephah; from Sheba as well. I suppose the “You will also suck the milk of nations and suck the breast of Kings” is literal too.
Alcorn’s Heaven, not a book I am running out to buy anytime soon.
At least Greg Laurie doesn’t make it all about himself . . .
Randy Alcorn on pets in heaven
I am not quite sure why I am taking up space with this post, except for the fact that I have heard this A LOT and it is this kind of “over-systematizing” systematic theology that has created a massive catalog of doctrines that crowd out the point. The video could be any number of things, I suppose.