I went to a Free Methodist funeral yesterday. The minister talked about the deceased NOW being with the Lord in heaven. Is this right? I thought everyone is in a holding pattern until the Second Coming and final judgment. Do Christians get a "Fast Pass" and get to jump that step? Scriptural references would be a bonus.
2007-09-30 11:01:33 · 21 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Answers of superb quality, friends. Thank you for your thoughtful answers.
Jenn P's reference to Luke 23:43 is extremely thought-provoking. Can anyone reconcile that with the sleep theory?
2007-09-30 11:25:00 · update #1
It depends on what book of the Bible you're reading. 1 Thessalonians 4:16 says: For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first.
which would imply that noone goes to heaven until the 2nd coming of Christ.
However, when Jesus was being crusified he told the thief that he would go to heaven that day Luke 23:43: I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.
So, I'm of no help whatsoever. Sorry
2007-09-30 11:13:11 · answer #1 · answered by Jennifer P 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I can answer this, If you go to hell, the point of you being brought up again isn't just for the sake of it, but so that you receive Final Judgment in the eyes of The Lord. Right now, what you will get when you die, is based on the things of the world, the things you did in your life, but when God will decide to judge you and everyone else, there's no changing it and that's what you will be like for Eternity. Some people say that life is just a test to see if you are fit for Heaven or not, that He's watching how you act in this life so He can judge if you go to Heaven or Hell, I beg to differ. He already knows. He already knows what you will/will not do, so why should He wait? We are only human, we cannot know until our time comes. I really don't think that we humans are in any position to answer a question like that.
2016-05-17 13:13:03 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
See Hebrews 9:27, then Luke 16: 19-31, specifically verses 23-26. I believe you are correct. According to Scripture, everyone is in Hades, which side depends on what one did in this life, until the final judgment. No free passes, no jumping ahead.
2007-09-30 11:09:22 · answer #3 · answered by Tweety88bird 1 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The body stays till it is raised. The soul and goes on into heaven or hell and waits to be judged. In rev. It talks of the martyred saints in the end time asking God under the throne how long it will take till he avenges their blood. So be confident the body stays the soul moves on. The body will ONLY be raised in the case of 2 things. first the bodies from the rapture will be taken to heaven with the souls. The bodies of everyone else who lived under Jesus' commandments who have been dead since the beggining will then rise at the Second coming. The bodies of the souls who go to hell never raise, only God's choosen.
2007-09-30 11:13:56 · answer #4 · answered by secretsofthe end 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well if you read the bible closely, i don't remember where but my pastor was preaching on it. The Final Judgement is while were in heaven where they give us our Jewels for our crowns, for being loyal servants.
Because how we get into heaven is if our name is in the book of life. And while you sitting there saying my name isn't there? (laughing) There is no " Can i see the your Manager(God)." or arguing why you cannot get into heaven. There doesn't need any discussion about if you can get into heaven.
But about the Final Judgement. Like i said you get you Heavenly awards there, I believe.... I don't think they judge the world there. God can do that himself.
I find it funny how everyone thinks the judgment will take place on the steps of Heaven! When in fact it will take place on the steps of the GOD's Throne!
2007-09-30 11:20:06 · answer #5 · answered by David T. 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You go to a spirit world, where you will be either happy or unhappy depending on the choices you have made in this life.
For those who chose righteously (regardless of religion), they are received into a state of happiness which can be termed 'paradise'
For the unrighteous, they are unhappy - but not because anybody is holding a firebrand to them, they are convicted by their own consciences, and fear the day of final judgement, because it is no longer possible for them to lie to themselves about the kind of people they are.
http://scriptures.lds.org/en/alma/40/11
Read to the end of the chapter - 15 verses or so.
Here's a bit more about Luke 23:43 - search for the word 'paradise' - the relevant text is about 2/3 down the page
http://gospeldoctrine.com/NewTestament/Luke23.htm
2007-09-30 11:11:55 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Ok, there will be a rapture coming, this means that Jesus will come back to th earth and take all chirstians back with Him in a blink of an eye to heaven to live in paradise. The people left behind will have a choice, to either choose Jesus, or the Anti Christ. The people who choose jesus will suffer and have their heads cut off. And the people who choose the Anti christ, will have the mark of the beast(666) put on them. The anti christ will deceive and trick them. He will make them think that this is the right choice. They will go to hell and burn in the lake of fire forever. God loves you and wants to have a relantioship with you, He does not want you to suffer, He wants you to live with Him in paradise. This is how you become a christian:
Will you receive Jesus Christ right now?
Here is how you can receive Christ:
1. Admit your need (I am a sinner.)
2. Change your attitude that you can save yourself. Change your attitude to the fact that only Christ can save you by what He did on the cross (Repent...means a change of mind or attitude)
3. Believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for you and rose from the grave.
4. Through prayer, invite Jesus Christ to come in and control your life through the Holy Spirit. (Receive Him as Lord and Savior)
2007-09-30 12:38:25 · answer #7 · answered by ? 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
At death your body goes into the grave.
Your spirit goes to heaven.
When Jesus comes back to rapture the Church your body will be resurrected from the dead. Then you get your new body void of disease and maladies.
There is no 'holding pattern' or 'free pass' for Christians. This is the way it is for Christians.
Non-Christians go to hell. Is that considered a 'free pass?' I would think not.
2007-09-30 11:15:36 · answer #8 · answered by D.A. S 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This is for the believers. 2 Corinthians 5:8 kJV "We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord."
The unbeliever stays in the ground until the Great White Throne Judgment.
2007-09-30 11:10:39 · answer #9 · answered by Jeancommunicates 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
all creatures are in a holding pattern until the Second Coming and the Day of Judgement.
when the minister said this he was metaphorical , meaning that the diseased was in the Hands of God. he couldnt be touched by humanity .
2007-09-30 11:08:21 · answer #10 · answered by Moonrise 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋