Or was this something Joe Smith came up with?
2007-05-09 07:00:46 · 14 answers · asked by Rick 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Thanks Lazarus.
2007-05-09 07:08:06 · update #1
Mormonism teaches that there are three levels of heaven. They are the Celestial, the Terrestrial, and the Telestial Kingdoms. The LDS church teaches that all good and obedient Mormons will go to the highest heaven, the Celestial Kingdom. The marginal Mormon and the Christians will generally go to the Terrestrial and the bad people will go the Telestial Kingdom. Their reference is 1 Corinthians 15:40-41. It says "There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory."
First, the word Telestial does not exist in the Bible nor does it appear in the Book of Mormon or the dictionary. Joseph Smith made a serious error when he said these were the three degrees of glory or three heavens. He did not know the Greek language or he wouldn't have said it. The word glory in the Greek language means what appears to our naked eye and is not a place or places. The word translates into four different words; brilliance, brightness, splendor and beauty. Isn't the sun brighter than the moon and isn't the moon more brilliant than the stars and doesn't one star differ from another in brightness or splendor? Although Mormons do not talk about it, there is another place called the dark spirit world or the world of outer darkness. This is where people who used to be Mormon and leave the LDS church will go. Especially if they speak out against Mormonism. However, when we read the Bible, we find there are only two places, Heaven and Hell! And a place prepared for the Christian is a mansion in our Father's house in Heaven (John 14:1-4). Those who do not accept and follow the Jesus of the Bible are condemned (John 3:16-18).
From Concerned Christians- a cut and paste as I am crushed for time:)
2007-05-09 07:17:35 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 4⤋
There was a lot of new information revealed to Joseph Smith. The idea of 3 tiers on heaven is probably not unique.
John 14: 2
In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
This does not specifically indicate three tiers, but it obviously indicates that thre is some type of differentiation.
2007-05-09 07:09:41 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 1⤋
Emmanual Swedenborg described the very same 'kingdoms of heaven' in one of his several books published in the late 1700's. Swedenbrog also claimed to have been visited by Jesus several times, but given a different message than Smith got. It's not unlikely Smith got the idea from Swedenborg's books.
2007-05-12 06:59:26 · answer #3 · answered by Dances with Poultry 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
maximum early Christians in hassle-free words had the e book of Mark. Why might want to they have everyday the different e book in the hot testomony? We settle for the e book of Mormon because we like the understand God and settle for the Bible. If someone quite cherishes the understand God, why on earth ought to you reject His words and under no circumstances even open it to study it? also, if the bible tells you ideas to baptize and run a church, which church of the 50,000 bible depending church homes is that, and the position are the apostles and prophets also discovered in the bible? Your argument became made by the first century Jews to boot, and if it were valid we would in hassle-free words have the Torah, no longer the Bible.
2016-11-26 22:00:16 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Bible teaches about more than one heaven. Paul says that he was caught up to the THIRD heaven.
2 Corinthians 12:1-10
1 I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know--God knows. 3 And I know that this man--whether in the body
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Mormons misinterpret these verses.
The first heaven is our sky ...when Jesus ascended, people watched him go into the first heaven.
The second heaven is our solar system...where our moon and planets are.
The third heaven is where God the Father is.
If you read the Bible you will encounter the word heaven for all three of these places. You need to read to make sure which heaven it is talking about.
Now, about 3 tiers in heaven...Mormons have that wrong.
2007-05-09 07:13:17 · answer #5 · answered by Red-dog-luke 4 · 4⤊ 3⤋
Hey, not- the- Mormon here. But that probably came from Paul describing his trip to the 3rd heaven.
2 Corinthians 12:2
I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows.
2007-05-09 07:05:49 · answer #6 · answered by Lazarus 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Its another Joe smith invention along with all the rest of them
2007-05-10 02:03:15 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Read 1 Corinthians 15: 40-42. Every biblical scholar should know its location.
Also, consider reading Doctrine and Covenants, Sections 76: 50-112 and 131: 1.
I won't hold my breath while you look up this second reference.
2007-05-09 07:15:35 · answer #8 · answered by Guitarpicker 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
John 14:2 and 2 Corinthians 12:2 are good ones. Also there is this one:
1 Cor. 15: 41 "There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory."
2007-05-09 07:14:53 · answer #9 · answered by Presagio 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Yes. It is not Biblical to have tiers in heaven, wait maybe it is from Eric Clapton?
2007-05-09 07:10:35 · answer #10 · answered by great gig in the sky 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋