(A). How could Stephen go the Heaven immediately at Acts 7:56-60? (B). What about people who went to Hell for a short time (or had visions of it) and give graphic details of it?
2007-09-17 02:20:07 · 12 answers · asked by Gilligan 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Acts 7
56"Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."
57At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.
59While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." 60Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep.
I can't find one word saying that he went to heaven at that time. It says that he "fell asleep".
As for people who went to hell for a short time how can you be sure that God was the one who organized this trip?
Would God force us to follow him? Well since he didn't in the past I don't think that he will in the future. He wants our love.
The first lie that Satan said to any human was:" You wont die." I can't understand how can Christians follow ancient Greek teaching. Only God is immortal.
2007-09-17 02:30:18 · answer #1 · answered by Santras 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If you believe in immediate dispensation then you believe the Bible contradicts itself. I don't lay my trust in the testamony of men who "almost" die. There is no telling what goes on with the mind when its being deprived of oxygin...I do believe that "the Spirit" goes back to the one who gave it...but the soul sleeps (dies for a time) and as our names are written in the palms of His hands..thats alright. I trust God. I'd rather be asleep in Him than wondering aimlessly around the earth or in some holding place for how long? This verse does not say that he went to heaven...it says he saw the heavens open and recieved a vision with his very alive eyes before being stoned to death by an angry mob. Hell doesn't exist...if it did how could it be cast into itself...
Revelation 20:14
And death and HELL were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
The term "hell" is mistranslated from the term Sheol which means death/the grave/to be covered over....Love in Christ, ~J~
2007-09-17 02:55:28 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Both are false.
All Stephen said was "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit" (Acts 7:59). He committed his life to Jesus since he could no longer hold on to it. His life is safe in God's 'hard disk' and He will raise him up on the day of resurrection.
Nobody goes to 'hell' and comes back. These are people who are alive but in an altered mental status. Much like the dreams which reflect what goes on inside the mind.
2007-09-17 02:43:02 · answer #3 · answered by Andy Roberts 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You left out a few like Enoch Isaiah Moses what about the guy on the other cross.
Are you any of these? Like any of them?
I think unless we are raptured we (souls) sleep in the grave (hell) as our spirits wait in heaven to be called (awakened) and given a new body.
People that claim to have seen hell or delusional.
A vision is not being there. Graphically because God said so.
2007-09-17 02:31:02 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
He saw a vision of heaven before he was killed. He said that probably a good 5 minutes before he died. The last verse says it all. "When he had said this, he fell asleep." And I'm not sure what or whom you are referring to in B.
And if I might disagree with primoa 1970. The translators of the Bible were in charge of adding on commas, since the original language contained none. In Luke 23:43 Jesus says, "...I tell you the truth today you will be with me in paradise. They made it say, I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.
But it also could be, "I tell you the truth today, you will be with me in paradise."
Also Jesus himself said after He rose from the grave that the disciples couldn't touch Him because He had not yet seen the Father. So He obviously hadn't gone to heaven that day. Also, why would anyone be raised from the dead if they went to heaven after they died? They would have rather stayed "dead" than come back to earth. Jesus described what death is like. It is always referred to as a sleep. If it were like you say, there would be no point in a physical resurrection.
2007-09-17 02:29:07 · answer #5 · answered by The GMC 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
when you die you become an eternal being time becomes irrelevant. so when you die everything that has been said in prophecy has already happened. to those still on earth it hasn't so we have to "catch up" to the resurrection. then you will experience it in our reality.
slightly poor explanation but is the best i can do with out going into to much detail.
2007-09-17 02:31:38 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
And once you get your answer you will what? write a e book approximately it? im begining to think of anybody who needs to be attentive to why we are right that's insane... athiests theists why situation? your the two only as fruity as one yet another BARKBARKBARK
2016-11-14 16:30:42 · answer #7 · answered by tegtmeier 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The soul on leaving the dead body goes before God and cannot lie in the grave which is lifeless, the soul is immortal and so has immortal life which means that it could not possibly sleep.
2007-09-17 02:25:40 · answer #8 · answered by Sentinel 7 · 2⤊ 3⤋
We are not in the grave,s,paul said to be absent from this body is to be present with the Lord,,or in Hell.which ever place you choose to go.
2007-09-17 02:26:41 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Watchtower Witnesses have no way to skate around the fact that Jesus said, "Today you will be with Me in paradise".
Or about Lazarus the beggar who was immediately ushered to Abraham's bosom (Heaven) when he died.
2007-09-17 02:26:07 · answer #10 · answered by primoa1970 7 · 1⤊ 3⤋