Christianity; Before Life? After Life? Heaven?

Question

I'm a Christian and I'm pretty sure I have my established beliefs. I do want to know though. As other Christians, where do you think someone is before they're born? Do you think they will know the same people they knew on earth once they are in heaven?

Answer 1

I am Christian. I believe that everything was created spiritually before it was created physically. Un my church we call the the pre-existance. When we come here our minds become a clean slate, & we do not remember our pre-existanent life.Yes I do believe we will know our loved ones in the afterlife.

Answer 2

There is no evidence in the Bible that you had a previous life before you were born.
Hebrews 9:27 assures us that "man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment." Each human being LIVES ONCE as a mortal on earth, DIES ONCE, and then FACES JUDGMENT. He does not have a second chance by reincarnating into another body.

The Thessalonian Christians were apparently very concerned about their Christian loved ones who had died. They expressed their concern to the apostle Paul. So, in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17, Paul deals with the "dead in Christ" and assures the Thessalonian Christians that there will indeed be a reunion. And yes, believers will recognize their loved ones in the eternal state.
We are told in 2 Samuel 12:23 that David knew he would be reunited with his deceased son in heaven. He had no doubt about recognizing him. As well when Moses and Elijah (who had long passed from earthly life) appeared to Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration (Mat 17:1-8), they were recognized by all who were present. Furthermore, in Jesus' story of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31, the rich man, Lazarus, and Abraham were all recognized by each other in the intermediate state.

Answer 3

I'm a Christian and I've been doing research on stories of people who believe all humans were once in Heaven before we are born and I think it might be true. They say we get prepared to come to earth like soldiers getting ready for battle and we have to forget everything we know and have to find our way back to God. They say we all wanted to come here to go through hard lessons and to grow spiritually and become more like Jesus. Once sin came on the scene it was impossible for any of us to go back home so Jesus came and became the way for us to get back. The Lord says he knows us before we are even born and I think we really were with him before. I think life on earth is like a very hard school or boot camp where we have to learn to love and trust God and others unconditionally under the harshest conditions so we can be made perfect one day. I think once we get to Heaven we will remember everything and everyone we ever knew.

Answer 4

Isn't the soul eternal? To say that something is eternal means that it has no beginning just as it has no end. To say that we must be born in order to have a soul would be to imply that the soul is intimately connected with the flesh -- which most Christians would reject. In fact, it would suggest that the flesh gives rise to the soul.

As for what happens in heaven, I think it is rather myopic to view Heaven as "Earth with lots of clouds." Most people seem to believe that everyone will have bodies and clothes in heaven. Of course, this comes from the fact that The Bible says that we are created in God's image. But to take that to mean God has hair and eyes and a nose, a mouth and a navel is the hight of simplicity. Besides, we all come in many different shapes and sizes and colors. When God says that we are created in his image, I believe the image of which he speaks is the human soul, which like God, is eternal, everlasting.

Edit: Also, in response to Eds comment:

What’s idiotic is disparaging someone else’s system of belief. What’s idiotic is your inability to see the blinding irony in claiming that your belief about the unknowable is somehow more accurate than anyone else’s belief in the unknowable.

It’s because of people like you that Christians are often portrayed as closed-minded simpletons. Blind followers who can’t stop to think about other possibilities. Your comment also does a disservice to religion as a whole. It perpetuates the notion that religious discourse is always doomed to, “My God is better than your god.”

There’s a saying, “One intelligent worshiper is better than a thousand ignorant followers.”

I urge that when you speak about your beliefs to do so in a respectful and intelligent manner. To do otherwise would be a disservice to us all. Neither the choir nor the heathens will listen to anyone who speaks like a disrespectful child. You will win neither converts or respect this way.

And for the love of God, grow up.

Answer 5

A persons life did not exist before birth. God doesn't have a warehouse (as it were) and from time to time, send people to Earth to be born. Life begins in one form only, at one time only, and that's at birth. We were never plants, reptiles, animals, or other people in a previous life. Yes, I feel we will know the same people as we do now...you will know your parents, siblings, friends, etc, and a lot more.

Answer 6

YES, I believe that we will know everyone that we knew on earth as long as they are in Heaven. I am hopeful that many of my friends will be. Read, study, and obey HIS WORD. Have a great week.
Eds

EDIT... Ramsay, you must be kidding. This religious idea is idiotic in my opinion.

Answer 7

In Hinduism, Rebirth is guaranteed to everyone.
There are chronicled cases of young kids remembering persons & places from their previous birth accurately.