Odd Belief Of Early Christians

[beenherebeforeagain]

Yes, I've thought this true with the resurrection a narrative after the fact to deal with Jesus' untimely death.

It appeared that most or all Christians for at least the next couple of decades expected the end at any time...and were disappointed when Jerusalem and the Temple were leveled, and the end did not come...Paul, writing in the 50s, clearly thought The End was immanent, as did the authors of the accepted Gospels, even though they were writing later...

 

[lostwanderingsoul]

If you actually take time to read the Bible instead of just listening to what someone says about it, you might find that it says nothing about people going to heaven. Maybe early Christians had it right and false beliefs slipped in later.

 

[Salvador]

,

From TIME magazine January 27, 2020 p24

."HEAVEN ON

.EARTH​

Many people think you
go to heaven when you
die, bu according to
N.T. Write, professor
of New Testament
and early Christianity
at the University of
St. Andrews, that's
not what the early
Christians believed
"The point was not for
us to 'go to heaven.'
but for the life of
heaven to arrive on
earth" he explains"​

According to current theology they got it all wrong. But why?
What do you think they understood that so skewed their belief?

.

.

Nobody knows what's gonna happen to him/her when his/her ionic currents ceases to flow across the neurons of his/her brain. For all we know, any person could become non-existent again just like how he/she had been non-existent before his/her somatosensory system developed. Right?

 

[Twilight Hue]

,

From TIME magazine January 27, 2020 p24

."HEAVEN ON

.EARTH​

Many people think you
go to heaven when you
die, bu according to
N.T. Write, professor
of New Testament
and early Christianity
at the University of
St. Andrews, that's
not what the early
Christians believed
"The point was not for
us to 'go to heaven.'
but for the life of
heaven to arrive on
earth" he explains"
​

According to current theology they got it all wrong. But why?
What do you think they understood that so skewed their belief?

.

.

It makes me wonder how the heaven in the sky thing got introduced.

 

[Deeje]

well, revelation did mention something about 1000 years of peace on earth or a new earth or something like that didn't it. I think I've also seen opinions here about their being a heaven-like earth eventually, so I don't think it's all that far off the mark. Maybe the general transition also has to do with the convertees, such as the greeks etc., having the kind of heavenly heaven that you're thinking of

The Jews knew that Messiah's Kingdom was going to come, and that he would rule as King. He would have a royal priesthood to minister to a holy nation....everything they believed had an earthly fulfillment. But when Jesus came and he tried to tell them about the Kingdom's heavenly nature, they just didn't get it.
Jesus had mentioned going away to "prepare a place" for his disciples, they didn't know that he meant in heaven. Even as he was ascending to his Father after his resurrection, they asked him..."Lord, are you restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?” (Acts 1:6)

But what are the clues that Jesus gave to his disciples? He spoke of his Father's house having many dwelling places.

"In the house of my Father are many dwelling places. Otherwise, I would have told you, for I am going my way to prepare a place for you. 3 Also, if I go my way and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will receive you home to myself, so that where I am you also may be. 4 And where I am going, you know the way.” (John 14:2-4)

He spoke of coming back to take them "home". Since Jesus and his apostles had been virtually homeless for three and a half years, that must have sounded nice, but they must have wondered where that "home" would be? The Temple perhaps???

Jesus tried to tell them about his immanent death but Peter denied that this would happen.
"From that time forward, Jesus began explaining to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes and be killed, and on the third day be raised up. 22 At this Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying: “Be kind to yourself, Lord; you will not have this happen to you at all.” 23 But turning his back, he said to Peter: “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me, because you think, not God’s thoughts, but those of men." (Matthew 16:21-23)

Their failure to discern the reality of his death and the manner of his resurrection was a problem for them right up until Pentecost, when the holy spirit was poured out on the 120 disciples who had obediently stayed in Jerusalem for the "helper" to arrive. The holy spirit imparted all they needed to understand their spiritual inheritance and to appreciate that their resurrection was not to be in the flesh, but like Jesus, in a spirit body. (1 Peter 3:18; 1 Corinthians 15:35-53)

Only a relatively small number go to heaven for rulership roles, but the majority of mankind will live on earth as God first purposed. God's intention at the start would never be thwarted by the disobedience of his free willed creatures. (Isaiah 55:11)

The heavenly destination for those first Christians in no way altered the earthly hope that the Jews had held for centuries. All that changed was the location of the Kingdom and the fact that its rulers and priests would conduct their duties from heaven over a cleansed earth. (Revelation 21:2-4; Revelation 20:6) The thousand years of the Kingdom's rule would see humankind restored to their original sinless state. And then all the earthly citizens of God's Kingdom would comprise those who held faith in God, and who appreciated the precious gift that Christ offered up for them. Those called from their graves will likewise live on earth under the Kingdom's peaceful rule. (John 5:28-29)

That is how I understand the Bible's message for us.

 

[Deeje]

It appeared that most or all Christians for at least the next couple of decades expected the end at any time...and were disappointed when Jerusalem and the Temple were leveled, and the end did not come...Paul, writing in the 50s, clearly thought The End was immanent, as did the authors of the accepted Gospels, even though they were writing later...

By keeping the coming of the Kingdom immanent, God also kept their hope strong. Imagine if they had known that the end would not come for a couple of thousand years? With all the difficulties foretold by Jesus for the disciples who would come after him, it would have been somewhat demoralizing to imagine suffering as a group on that 'cramped and narrow road' for so long....and yet here we are, poised to receive the Kingdom like it will come tomorrow.....and who knows...it just might. (Matthew 24:42-44)

 

[james bond]

,

From TIME magazine January 27, 2020 p24

."HEAVEN ON

.EARTH​

Many people think you
go to heaven when you
die, bu according to
N.T. Write, professor
of New Testament
and early Christianity
at the University of
St. Andrews, that's
not what the early
Christians believed
"The point was not for
us to 'go to heaven.'
but for the life of
heaven to arrive on
earth" he explains"
​

According to current theology they got it all wrong. But why?
What do you think they understood that so skewed their belief?

.

.

It's the professor's odd belief. First, heaven was already created, i.e. had arrived on Earth, but the first humans blew it for everyone and now it's Satan's domain as "god of the Earth and prince of the power of the air." Adam and mankind lost their domain over it.

 

[rational experiences]

If a male today says Jesus was a mistake. If a male today said I did not get time right in science. It is because science never owned time.

O the presence stone body that he said was God. O the circle..without it and its movement there is no time. So time is not relative only to GOD....one, and a one of body.

The light gases, burning owner of natural light...the heavenly spirit owns the light, we just live in it.

Heaven is a place on earth, for the heavens surround the Earth...we live in the surrounding heavens on Earth.

A male owned a life and a mind and a body.

He was spiritual and natural and Holy by self definition....natural.

He lived and he evolved and he then researched for technology.

He looked back and saw his ancient Father as a human....much lower in a life form than his great self today....said if I do science I will survive and be like my Father.

Yet the cosmos, the radiation held in deep cold space was actually hot.

So he never got to be like his Father, for he murdered/sacrificed his own life.

The story, we are all Jesus says the Teacher...for I changed the Christ gases into the Jesus gases....not quite Christ, but will inherit the real Christ natural gas heavens in 2012.

Looked back at his Father, said I am better than what he is...and did it again.

Oooh baby, Heaven on Earth. Life being sacrificed and we are the witness.

 

[QuestioningMind]

,

From TIME magazine January 27, 2020 p24

."HEAVEN ON

.EARTH​

Many people think you
go to heaven when you
die, bu according to
N.T. Write, professor
of New Testament
and early Christianity
at the University of
St. Andrews, that's
not what the early
Christians believed
"The point was not for
us to 'go to heaven.'
but for the life of
heaven to arrive on
earth" he explains"
​

According to current theology they got it all wrong. But why?
What do you think they understood that so skewed their belief?

.

.

Since Christ indicated that there would be heaven on Earth during the lifetime of those he preached to, they pretty much had to change the message or admit that he was wrong.

 

[Hockeycowboy]

,

From TIME magazine January 27, 2020 p24

."HEAVEN ON

.EARTH​

Many people think you
go to heaven when you
die, bu according to
N.T. Write, professor
of New Testament
and early Christianity
at the University of
St. Andrews, that's
not what the early
Christians believed
"The point was not for
us to 'go to heaven.'
but for the life of
heaven to arrive on
earth" he explains"​

According to current theology they got it all wrong. But why?
What do you think they understood that so skewed their belief?

.

.

The Bible is full of prophecies about the Earth, and mankind on it. Some have been mentioned....

Matthew 5:5 & Matthew 6:9-10.

There is also...
Ephesians 1:10...”to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.”

Revelation 21:3-4...”...the tent of God is with mankind,” and blessings to follow, including “death will be no more” for mankind.

It’s really something, that that hope — individuals living on Earth forever (which is what ‘no more death,’ would mean) — became obfuscated, overlooked, then forgotten. So much so, that you’re right, it’s called “odd”....but it is supposed to be normal. — Psalms 115:16.

Look at these blessings!.....Isaiah 11:6-9. Won’t that be a trip!

 

[Samael_Khan]

,

From TIME magazine January 27, 2020 p24

."HEAVEN ON

.EARTH​

Many people think you
go to heaven when you
die, bu according to
N.T. Write, professor
of New Testament
and early Christianity
at the University of
St. Andrews, that's
not what the early
Christians believed
"The point was not for
us to 'go to heaven.'
but for the life of
heaven to arrive on
earth" he explains"
​

According to current theology they got it all wrong. But why?
What do you think they understood that so skewed their belief?

.

.

That makes sense because that is what the Bible actually says.

In Matthew 5 Jesus says that "the meek shall inherit the earth" and Revelation 21 and 22 show that the Kingdom of God will descend to earth. Revelations also speaks of believers being Kings and Priests over the earth.

To me it seems thats Christians first go to heaven for a waiting period and after the 1000 years they descend to earth.

 

[PruePhillip]

,

From TIME magazine January 27, 2020 p24

."HEAVEN ON

.EARTH​

Many people think you
go to heaven when you
die, bu according to
N.T. Write, professor
of New Testament
and early Christianity
at the University of
St. Andrews, that's
not what the early
Christians believed
"The point was not for
us to 'go to heaven.'
but for the life of
heaven to arrive on
earth" he explains"
​

According to current theology they got it all wrong. But why?
What do you think they understood that so skewed their belief?

.

.

Ha ha ha ha ha.
Once again Christianity is explained away.
What is important here is that this is a highly selective
view of Christianity. Most Christians DO believe you
can go to heaven, including Jesus Himself.
It's sad that this is coming from the church.

 

[PruePhillip]

Yes, I've thought this true with the resurrection a narrative after the fact to deal with Jesus' untimely death.

Jesus' death was not "untimely"
It was stated throughout the Old Testament that the Messiah
would be "cut off" as it says in Daniel, for His people. And
His death, as David put it, would be with great suffering. But
Zechariah speaks of the Jews seeing their King finally coming,
only to find it's the one who they "pierced."

 

[Windwalker]

,

From TIME magazine January 27, 2020 p24

."HEAVEN ON

.EARTH​

Many people think you
go to heaven when you
die, bu according to
N.T. Write, professor
of New Testament
and early Christianity
at the University of
St. Andrews, that's
not what the early
Christians believed
"The point was not for
us to 'go to heaven.'
but for the life of
heaven to arrive on
earth" he explains"​

According to current theology they got it all wrong. But why?
What do you think they understood that so skewed their belief?

.

.

I think that is exactly correct. Many respected modern scholars believe this. I think what skewed these early Christian's belief was what Jesus taught them. "The kingdom of heaven is among you". Jesus's view of the kingdom was a participatory kingdom. "Let your light shine before men". That's here and now, not after you croak.

 

[PruePhillip]

I think that is exactly correct. Many respected modern scholars believe this. I think what skewed these early Christian's belief was what Jesus taught them. "The kingdom of heaven is among you". Jesus's view of the kingdom was a participatory kingdom. "Let your light shine before men". That's here and now, not after you croak.

Jesus made it clear that it was BOTH the here and now PLUS the "kingdom to come."
Wouldn't make any sense otherwise.

 

[Skwim]

One person implies but does not present proof of a theory of his. That in and of itself has almost zero value in my book.

How do you know he hasn't presented any proof? As far as I know all you have to go on is the slight magazine piece.

.

 

[Skwim]

Since Christ indicated that there would be heaven on Earth during the lifetime of those he preached to, they pretty much had to change the message or admit that he was wrong.

Curious. Do you have a chapter and verse on this? If so, please share.

.

 

[SoyLeche]

How do you know he hasn't presented any proof? As far as I know all you have to go on is the slight magazine piece.

.

Well - that was all that was presented here.

 

[Skwim]

Well - that was all that was presented here.

Correct, and on the basis of that sun rise concluded that the professor "does not present proof of a theory of his."

.

.

 

[stvdv]

,

From TIME magazine January 27, 2020 p24

."HEAVEN ON

.EARTH​

Many people think you
go to heaven when you
die, bu according to
N.T. Write, professor
of New Testament
and early Christianity
at the University of
St. Andrews, that's
not what the early
Christians believed
"The point was not for
us to 'go to heaven.'
but for the life of
heaven to arrive on
earth" he explains"​

According to current theology they got it all wrong. But why?
What do you think they understood that so skewed their belief?

.

.

This is what I have always believed, and still do