What if you get to heaven and there are exceptionally unpleasant people there?

Question

I've always wondered about this and my christian friends have a variety of views. And of course I love hearing other points of view, so I ask people these kinds of things all the time.

Christians, if you get to your heaven (and I sincerely wish all of you the best with that) and find out that at orientation or the welcome buffet or whatever, that Hitler, Dahmer, Stalin and other assorted 'not nice' people were already there? My understanding is that there is only one sin that cannot be forgiven, and that's blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. So if they were repentant just before death, technically they could go to heaven, correct? Or would god just say "tough, you were just too bad for me to forgive"? Do you accept that these people are there if they make it, or do you get a little upset?

A slightly related question as well - Do you have to be repentant for a certain period of time before you die to go to heaven, or is a last second/heartbeat repentance sufficient?

I love hearing all the different viewpoints on this, thank you! I do need to clarify, they obviously would NOT be acting exceptionally unpleasant in heaven. I am vry curious about what type of reaction the sight of such people in the christian heaven would incite in those who weren't genocidal or homocidal during their earthly life.

And to the poster who said I had a vivid imagination - Of course I do and thank you! I'm a writer. It's a job requirement.

Answer 1

You're still thinking in worldly terms and once you die you won't be. If you make it to Heaven, you won't care who's there.

Answer 2

First, there cannot be any unpleasant people (i.e. spirits) in 'heaven'. Evil, selfishness, hate, greed, lust, and dishonesty simply cannot coexist with the Light and the Love that is in what you call heaven.

Second, all sins, without exception, are ultimately -- eventually forgiven. But we must seek and accept such forgiveness. We must understand why our sins were wrong, and we are expected not to repeat our errors once we understand why they are wrong.

But, of course forgiveness is not forced upon us. That would make no sense at all.

Third, there is no prescribed period of repentance. It is not like human laws where your are sent to jail for a certain length of time for committing a certain crime.

Many esoteric and Christain writings emphasise the forgiving and compassionate nature of our creator, which you likely call God. They tell us that we are forgiven even before we finish asking for it -- whenever we ask sincerely.

However, we do not get off the hook quite that easily. You see we are our harshest judges. We must review our own actions and appreciate the effects they have on other people before we can finally forgive ourselves.

Answer 3

The New Testament mentions different levels of heaven, and also says there will be an outer darkness for those who served Satan. Therefore, I would assume that all the nasty humans will be in a lower world or heaven than the good folks. As for "deathbed" repentance, there is no such thing BECAUSE to repent, you must change your life, turn from your wrong acts, and set things right if you have hurt others. People have no time to do that if they "repent" right before they die. I also believe we will be judged on our actions throughout life - not on the last words we speak or the last thought we have before we die.

Answer 4

It won't be heaven if there are exceptionally unpleasant people that greet you. The Lord had said that there are many mansions prepared for us. That means that not everybody will be able to be in the direct presence of God and His Son unless they lived righteous lives according to Their commandments.

A hard-core sinner, unrepentant, will not reside next to Mother Teresa or any of the prophets and apostles that had gone before. The lifestyle they basked in during mortality will determine their ultimate destination.

Only God/Jesus Christ will know just how long it should take for someone to repent of his or her sins to make it into one of the levels of heaven.

Answer 5

You have a very vivid imagination and i love it! I would probably cry and ask the Lord how have i forsaken thee to be placed into such quarters with these devil worshippers, I have always put you first thy Lord and this place you call heaven you have brought on the very non-believers who cause all the hate on earth, did you not know of this thy Lord, Do you not read the newspaper? Do you have cable? Where are the angels have they gone astray? Answer me at once, i am confused thy Lord, Is this some type of sick joke? Are you sure this isn't hell? The lord laughed at me and said, YUP! SURE IS! LOL

Answer 6

I'm not religious, but based on my readings, I'd say that when a person gets to heaven, that person will realize that people aren't really the focus anymore. God, naturally would be the focus, and people would be worshipping and praising, not really having time to get chafed over someone they didn't like making the cut.

Answer 7

first of all, i am an athiest, i don't believe in god, heaven, hell, etc. but to try to answer your question, which caught my eye [and my amusement], with the variety of different viewpoints, personalities, and beliefs, how could you expect everybody in heaven to behave the same way towards one another? only if your god takes away your individuality, which would leave you with what is called a hive mind, like bees and ants

Answer 8

By the Time we get to Heaven, we will all have been washed in the Blood. there would not be any unpleasant people, there. We will all be white as snow, even me.

Answer 9

The name heaven it self is enough to explain that all things will be OK there and nothing like this world or hell can happen to those admitted to heaven.

Answer 10

I dought very seriously,if Hitler,Dahmer,and Stalin are in Heaven. If a person goes to Heaven,and there are unpleasant people there,then I'd say that person,is in Hell.