I am not discounting archaeological evidence. We have differences as to how such evidence pertains to biblical truth. Where you understand the biblical accounts to be discredited I understand the Bible to be enriched through archaeology, as it pertains to man's becoming. To quote John XXIII, the Bible understood as "a narrative of man searching for himself."
-
Welcome to Religious Forums, a friendly forum to discuss all religions in a friendly surrounding.
Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to the following site features:- Reply to discussions and create your own threads.
- Our modern chat room. No add-ons or extensions required, just login and start chatting!
- Access to private conversations with other members.
We hope to see you as a part of our community soon!
Resurrection of Christ: Literal fact or spiritual reality?
- Thread starter Dawnofhope
- Start date
I am not discounting archaeological evidence. We have differences as to how such evidence pertains to biblical truth. Where you understand the biblical accounts to be discredited I understand the Bible to be enriched through archaeology, as it pertains to man's becoming. To quote John XXIII, the Bible understood as "a narrative of man searching for himself."
MHz
Member
Once God and Adam were in the Ge:2 version of creation a mist was allowed in to water the land. If the Garden is restored in the 1,000 year reign the the Jordan River should like it does in Eze:47. From the size of the river we could even determine the rainfall (or mist) that fell on the area the River Jordan drains. That increase in flow might also happen should we enter a new ice-age and the climate change that comes with that.
With a mist covering the land the light getting to the ground would be diffuse lighting show shadows as well as rainbows would not have been witnesses by people in the ground. Obviously if you climbed a mountain you would get above the mist and the blue sky and all other things we see would have been visible. In those days that would have been the realm of angelic beings, when that area could be seen by the people on the ground all angelic beings where in the Pit so no flying beings were seen by mankind after that.
The area outside of the Garden area would have been the places where the angels parked themselves so any ruins found would have been created by them.
The sun was for marking the days, by knowing the days you knew how to keep track of time. The sun and the moon would have been able to created a light on the ground, starts would not have been visible unto blue sky could be seen and for that to happen the mist would have to evaporate. If that is how the garden was created then that is how God would make it desolate again.
Using the climate change that is possible with that radical of a change on the globe it would make all of North Africa and other parts in the Mid East would also have gotten the same rain the garden was getting. That change would also eliminate the winter/summer change we see and for that area it would be 'summer' all year long, the next day exactly the same as all the past ones. Over time Sumeria became the adopted name.
If the desert belt of the world turned green during an ice-age it should also be lush and warm all year round, go north or south and you leave 'summer' and 'winter' is the place you have gone to, or some other name.
The sons of God in Ge:6 would have built all the pyramids on the planet, the ones buried in China would have been buried by the same holy angels that removed the fallen angels from the surface of the earth. The one exception might be the Sphinx if it was a monument to the 'Lion of Judea' that they would have know would be the one who would inherit the earth.
After the fall the fallen ones would have tried to destroy it with fire. I say that because the floor shows no sign of the effects of water erosion and the water coming down the vertical surfaces had to go somewhere yet there is no trace of where it went to. Another factor that points to water erosion being wrong is the material removed was piled up in the form of a temple right in front of the heavily eroded walls yet it shown no heavy sign of weathering.
If the enclosure was used as a huge fire pit the flood would be insulated from most of the heat and the heating and cooling of the surface rock would accelerate the weather as it would flake off under it's own weight and blow away as dust.
The vid included are some example of the craft-work fallen angels would be capable of during a time when the smartest creature that resemble man at all are still swinging on vines.
part 38 "Impossible" statues, "Impossible" ancient jewellery, Moscow nuked, "Impossible" steel
With a mist covering the land the light getting to the ground would be diffuse lighting show shadows as well as rainbows would not have been witnesses by people in the ground. Obviously if you climbed a mountain you would get above the mist and the blue sky and all other things we see would have been visible. In those days that would have been the realm of angelic beings, when that area could be seen by the people on the ground all angelic beings where in the Pit so no flying beings were seen by mankind after that.
The area outside of the Garden area would have been the places where the angels parked themselves so any ruins found would have been created by them.
The sun was for marking the days, by knowing the days you knew how to keep track of time. The sun and the moon would have been able to created a light on the ground, starts would not have been visible unto blue sky could be seen and for that to happen the mist would have to evaporate. If that is how the garden was created then that is how God would make it desolate again.
Using the climate change that is possible with that radical of a change on the globe it would make all of North Africa and other parts in the Mid East would also have gotten the same rain the garden was getting. That change would also eliminate the winter/summer change we see and for that area it would be 'summer' all year long, the next day exactly the same as all the past ones. Over time Sumeria became the adopted name.
If the desert belt of the world turned green during an ice-age it should also be lush and warm all year round, go north or south and you leave 'summer' and 'winter' is the place you have gone to, or some other name.
The sons of God in Ge:6 would have built all the pyramids on the planet, the ones buried in China would have been buried by the same holy angels that removed the fallen angels from the surface of the earth. The one exception might be the Sphinx if it was a monument to the 'Lion of Judea' that they would have know would be the one who would inherit the earth.
After the fall the fallen ones would have tried to destroy it with fire. I say that because the floor shows no sign of the effects of water erosion and the water coming down the vertical surfaces had to go somewhere yet there is no trace of where it went to. Another factor that points to water erosion being wrong is the material removed was piled up in the form of a temple right in front of the heavily eroded walls yet it shown no heavy sign of weathering.
If the enclosure was used as a huge fire pit the flood would be insulated from most of the heat and the heating and cooling of the surface rock would accelerate the weather as it would flake off under it's own weight and blow away as dust.
The vid included are some example of the craft-work fallen angels would be capable of during a time when the smartest creature that resemble man at all are still swinging on vines.
Athena Plato
"Who do you say I am?"
,
Easter is the Festival of the Resurrection of Jesus from the Dead, Prescribed in the New Testament, Occurring the Third Day of His Cave Burial---After His Crucifixion by Romans and Jews at Calvary (“Temple of Aphrodite”) in 30 AD. It is the Culmination of the Love, Passion, and Sacrifice of Christ---Preceded by Lent, a Forty-Day Period of Fasting, Prayer and Penance.
The Celebration is linked to the Passover and Exodus from Egypt---Recorded in the Old Testament; and the Last Supper, Sufferings and Crucifixion of Jesus---Preceding His Resurrection in the New Testament. Jesus gave True Meaning to the Passover by Demonstrating the Revelation of Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” to His Twelve Disciples at the Last Supper, † Marking His departure from Earth into God’s Presence and the Forty Days after His Resurrection---His Ascension up to Heaven in the Company † Sight of His Disciples---After ensuring they remain in Jerusalem (“Measure of the Promised Land”)---Until the Coming of the Holy Spirit (“Enrichment”).
The Resurrection of Jesus is the Foundation of Christian Faith---It is the Proof that Jesus is the Powerful Son of God and that His God shall judge the World in Righteousness. For those who trust in His Resurrection, “death is swallowed up in victory.” Anyone who chooses to follow God’s Son shall receive “new birth into a living hope through the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” They are Spiritually Resurrected with Him, so that they may Ascend into the Light---Walk in a New Way of Life---Receive Eternal Salvation (“Continued Enrichment”).
In Luke’s Ascension Account, Jesus led the Disciples to Bethany, a village on the Mount of Olives, “And it came to pass, while He blessed them, He parted from them, and was carried up into Heaven. And they worshiped Him and returned to Jerusalem---(“Measure”)---with great joy!” Acts 1, Describes a Meal on the Mount of Olives, where Jesus instructs His Disciples to wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit and His return “in the same way you have seen Him go into Heaven.”
The Feast of Ascension, is a universally Celebrated Feast of the Christian liturgical year, along with the Passion, Easter and Pentecost. In the Catholic tradition it begins with a three-day “rogation” to ask for God's mercy, and includes a procession of torches and banners symbolizing Christ’s journey to the Mount of Olives, His entry into Heaven, the Extinguishing of the Paschal Candle and an All-Night Vigil---(Recreation of Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave”).
The Site of Ascension is Mount Olivet (“Mount of Olives”). Early Christians honoured the Ascension of Christ in a Cave on the Mount. 384 AD, it was venerated on the present site, uphill from the Cave. In 390 AD, a Rich Roman Woman named Poimenia, financed the construction of the Original Church called, “Eleona Basilica” (Or “Olive Garden” or “Olive Tree” or “Mercy”). 420 AD, it was destroyed by Persians---Rebuilt, destroyed, and rebuilt again by Crusaders in 1200 AD, and then destroyed by Muslims---Leaving a 12 x 12 Meter Octagonal Structure---That remains today as a Christian Jewish Muslim Holy Site. The small round Church-Mosque holds a Sacred Stone Imprinted with the Footprint of Jesus on the Mount of Olives!
Heavenly Ascents were common in the time of Jesus---Signifying Divine Approval and Deification of Exceptional Men. Reflected in the Major Christian Creeds and Confessional Statements, Ascension’s connected with the Exultation of Jesus---Where He took His seat at the right hand of God. The Culmination of the Mystery of Incarnation, † Marks the Completion of Jesus’ Physical Presence among His Apostles---Consummating the Union of His God with Good Men.
Christian Art often shows Jesus Blessing an earthly group of people directly below Him, as His Blessing the Entire Church. Familiar Classical Ascension Prophets were Baruch, David, Enoch, Elijah, Ezra, Levi, Moses and the Greek Heroes Odysseus and Heracles (Hercules).
According to Platonic Theory---The World of Ascension---Is a Three Part Universe with Heaven (the “Book of Profits”), above Flat Earth (“Assets”), Centered on Jerusalem (“Measure”) in the middle (“Dividing Line”) and Underworld (“Debt”) below. God’s Throne is seated on the vaulted roof of Earth (“Assets”). Humans Ascending from God’s Cave-Abel to See the Light (“Profit”)---Cain stand on Earth (“Assets”)---Look Directly at the Sky or Stars or Sun* and See the First Floor of Heaven (the “Book of Profits’”) Potential Return on Investment and “Shares.”
*WARNING LOOKING DIRECTLY AT GOD OR THE SUN CAUSES BLINDNESS!*
Easter is the Festival of the Resurrection of Jesus from the Dead, Prescribed in the New Testament, Occurring the Third Day of His Cave Burial---After His Crucifixion by Romans and Jews at Calvary (“Temple of Aphrodite”) in 30 AD. It is the Culmination of the Love, Passion, and Sacrifice of Christ---Preceded by Lent, a Forty-Day Period of Fasting, Prayer and Penance.
The Celebration is linked to the Passover and Exodus from Egypt---Recorded in the Old Testament; and the Last Supper, Sufferings and Crucifixion of Jesus---Preceding His Resurrection in the New Testament. Jesus gave True Meaning to the Passover by Demonstrating the Revelation of Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” to His Twelve Disciples at the Last Supper, † Marking His departure from Earth into God’s Presence and the Forty Days after His Resurrection---His Ascension up to Heaven in the Company † Sight of His Disciples---After ensuring they remain in Jerusalem (“Measure of the Promised Land”)---Until the Coming of the Holy Spirit (“Enrichment”).
The Resurrection of Jesus is the Foundation of Christian Faith---It is the Proof that Jesus is the Powerful Son of God and that His God shall judge the World in Righteousness. For those who trust in His Resurrection, “death is swallowed up in victory.” Anyone who chooses to follow God’s Son shall receive “new birth into a living hope through the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” They are Spiritually Resurrected with Him, so that they may Ascend into the Light---Walk in a New Way of Life---Receive Eternal Salvation (“Continued Enrichment”).
In Luke’s Ascension Account, Jesus led the Disciples to Bethany, a village on the Mount of Olives, “And it came to pass, while He blessed them, He parted from them, and was carried up into Heaven. And they worshiped Him and returned to Jerusalem---(“Measure”)---with great joy!” Acts 1, Describes a Meal on the Mount of Olives, where Jesus instructs His Disciples to wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit and His return “in the same way you have seen Him go into Heaven.”
The Feast of Ascension, is a universally Celebrated Feast of the Christian liturgical year, along with the Passion, Easter and Pentecost. In the Catholic tradition it begins with a three-day “rogation” to ask for God's mercy, and includes a procession of torches and banners symbolizing Christ’s journey to the Mount of Olives, His entry into Heaven, the Extinguishing of the Paschal Candle and an All-Night Vigil---(Recreation of Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave”).
The Site of Ascension is Mount Olivet (“Mount of Olives”). Early Christians honoured the Ascension of Christ in a Cave on the Mount. 384 AD, it was venerated on the present site, uphill from the Cave. In 390 AD, a Rich Roman Woman named Poimenia, financed the construction of the Original Church called, “Eleona Basilica” (Or “Olive Garden” or “Olive Tree” or “Mercy”). 420 AD, it was destroyed by Persians---Rebuilt, destroyed, and rebuilt again by Crusaders in 1200 AD, and then destroyed by Muslims---Leaving a 12 x 12 Meter Octagonal Structure---That remains today as a Christian Jewish Muslim Holy Site. The small round Church-Mosque holds a Sacred Stone Imprinted with the Footprint of Jesus on the Mount of Olives!
Heavenly Ascents were common in the time of Jesus---Signifying Divine Approval and Deification of Exceptional Men. Reflected in the Major Christian Creeds and Confessional Statements, Ascension’s connected with the Exultation of Jesus---Where He took His seat at the right hand of God. The Culmination of the Mystery of Incarnation, † Marks the Completion of Jesus’ Physical Presence among His Apostles---Consummating the Union of His God with Good Men.
Christian Art often shows Jesus Blessing an earthly group of people directly below Him, as His Blessing the Entire Church. Familiar Classical Ascension Prophets were Baruch, David, Enoch, Elijah, Ezra, Levi, Moses and the Greek Heroes Odysseus and Heracles (Hercules).
According to Platonic Theory---The World of Ascension---Is a Three Part Universe with Heaven (the “Book of Profits”), above Flat Earth (“Assets”), Centered on Jerusalem (“Measure”) in the middle (“Dividing Line”) and Underworld (“Debt”) below. God’s Throne is seated on the vaulted roof of Earth (“Assets”). Humans Ascending from God’s Cave-Abel to See the Light (“Profit”)---Cain stand on Earth (“Assets”)---Look Directly at the Sky or Stars or Sun* and See the First Floor of Heaven (the “Book of Profits’”) Potential Return on Investment and “Shares.”
*WARNING LOOKING DIRECTLY AT GOD OR THE SUN CAUSES BLINDNESS!*
Last edited:
Muffled
Jesus in me
I believe you are in error. The body would not be the same if any part of it was not recognizable. The fact that there was a part (nail prints) that was the same does not alter that fact.
Muffled
Jesus in me
I believe they would. They were willing to kill Lazarus. The problem for the Saducees was that a resurrected person put the lie to their belief that there was no resurrection of the dead and they cherished their belief more than the truth.
Muffled
Jesus in me
I believe it is the inspired Word of God. Are you saying the witnesses lied?
I believe that depends on whether one believes God is credible or not.
I believe that leaves you with a useless weak God who can't really do anything. Good luck with that. I believe that God can do anything He wants in any way He wishes.
I though Lazarus died of natural causes. And he was not resurrected, he was resuscitated.
DavidFirth
Well-Known Member
You thought wrong.
Ingledsva
HEATHEN ALASKAN
"Easter" celebrations are ancient, and Pagan, and celebrate Spring Equinox.
Easter is now determined as the first Sunday, after the first Full Moon, after the Spring Equinox.
That moon possibly because of the change from the Lunar Calendar.
The Christian scholar Bede tells us, - as he understood it, - that Easter derived from the Pagan Saxon Eostre.
But it is much older.
*
Nor according to John 11.
Thank you for taking the time to share your Christian Faith with me. Clearly the story and history around the resurrection means a great deal to you and you take inspiration from it.
Although I believe in the same God, Jesus, and Bible as the Christians, I do not believe the resurrection literally happened. I thought this thread would be a useful opportunity to explore the alternative explanations for the resurrection narrative, or for those that believed to explain why they believe it happened in accordance with Conservative Christian beliefs that you have outlined so beautifully.
I believe it is the inspired word of God too and that the apostles were guided by God's unerring spirit. The resurrection is an phenomenon of profound spiritual importance central to the Christian narrative. However, I do not believe it happened literally.
I have no problem with God's credibility.
Nor do I have trouble with God's Power and Omnipotence. The Bible contains sacred writings that draw on mythology as well as actual history to teach profound spiritual truths.
That is a reasonable answer. Hindus don't take too much inspiration from the biblical accounts just as Christians don't find meaning in the vast body of sacred texts of Hinduism.
Thank you for sharing. Do you think it simply a matter of faith or there is evidence to support that His resurrection was literally true.
That is their mission statement:
It is like opening an American Hamburger then
Mixed it with Japanese rice
Then relish it with French escargot after
Add some German Frankfurters
Pour some Filipino Chicken Adobo
Blend it together with Arabian Shawarma
And you have....
View attachment 17192
Bon apetit!
You don't understand the Baha'i Faith. It is not a synthesis of different religions any more than Christianity is a synthesis of Judaic though. Baha'u'llah brought a revelation from God as did Moses. Just because Jesus was a Jew who taught Jews, does not mean He taught Judaism. He brought a new message from God. Similarly Baha'u'llah who grew up a Muslim brought a new religion. Hope that makes sense.
The verses below show that to be the opposite of what the text says. The one from from the Gospel of John can be argued to mean John the Baptist rather John the Apostle. The names of the other three Gospels are most likely the names of the Scribes who copied the original documents as that would have been a task Paul would have done at every stop he made along the way of his various travels.
We can determine that Peter, James and his brother John are the writers of those Gospels as all 3 are said to be the only witnesses to the vision on the mountain and the resurrection of the little girl that Jesus said was 'sleeping'.
The Apostles were not at the cross but they each contain references to that event. Mary M. would have been the one that updated Peter and the mother of James and John would have updated them. That leave Mary of Bethany as the one that was the witness to the cross in the Gospel of John. She says flat out what she wrote was through the eyes of an witness.
Joh:21:24:
This is the disciple which testifieth of these things,
and wrote these things:
and we know that his testimony is true.
Joh:21:25:
And there are also many other things which Jesus did,
the which,
if they should be written every one,
I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written.
Amen.
1Jo:1:1-3:
That which was from the beginning,
which we have heard,
which we have seen with our eyes,
which we have looked upon,
and our hands have handled,
of the Word of life;
(For the life was manifested,
and we have seen it,
and bear witness,
and shew unto you that eternal life,
which was with the Father,
and was manifested unto us
That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you,
that ye also may have fellowship with us:
and truly our fellowship is with the Father,
and with his Son Jesus Christ.
In other words a best guess. Would that be the earliest surviving copy? Luke:21:12-24 are the experiences of the Apostles when they are in Jerusalem after the stoning of Stephen (before Acts:10 which is 3 1/2 years after the cross in 30AD) That would be the first time prophecy was given in hindsight. James:1:1 mentions a scattering as being a past event.
The only qualifier is that Jesus be glorified and the Scribes be baptized with the Holy Spirit. Both were completed the first night after His resurrection. The next 40 days would have been the Apostles (and BD) go through the same 40 day fast that Jesus went through after His baptism in the River Jordan by John the Baptist. The language issue was solved just a few days after the cross so Saul could have been reading them when he was struck blind. Over the next few days Christ informed Saul about what was in all the Gospels so he was able to pass the test that was given to him before the blindness was lifted.
According to the book James and John were brothers, why not stick with the version that has them be the witnesses to those two events and give Peter the biggest book as he was the Chief Apostle, one step below of how important the Beloved Disciple is to Jesus.
The same can be applied to the OT Scribes as well, they were living witnesses rather than being a teller of tall stories.
Actually Paul went to the Synagogues first so the copying of the Gospels in Greek was their task. That it was preaching to the Gentiles is because it is the Gentile Nations that come under fierce judgment when the return happens. Peter preached to Gentiles in Acts:10 and that is before Paul was preaching good things about Christ. Peter and the other Apostles that stayed in Jerusalem until 70AD would have been preaching the same message that Paul was. They did not start preaching to Gentiles directly until after the scattering in James:1:1. Revelation is the last of the message from God and it is to the people Paul was forbidden to teach to as his assignment was to head for Rome itself. The Book of Romans is the 'contract' between Christ and the ones He leaves the sword of protection from evil with. Misuse comes with the appropriate punishment.
They certainly has stories to the extent temples were built. That would fit in with who the sons of God from Ge:6 were as they were immortals who would have witnessed all the creation days which is 4B years and counting. The Bible promotes they had the run of the earth except for the Garden area defined in Ge:2. That version of creation starts out with Adam and God alone with a barren piece of land in front of them. Put that at 400,000BC and over the next 360,000 years the garden becomes what it was at the end of the 6th day. Adam and Eve would have had the garden alone from 40,000BC to 4,000BC and the sin would have been about the last day of that time period.
Fallen angels were not put into the Pit until the time of the flood back to the end of day 1. Their differences in abilities starts with them being immortal and falls short of mankind in that they do not have the emotions that go along with being a parent and a shepherd or other flesh. They are master craftsmen as far as stone and metal goes. The link below is to a series of vids of all the ancient places that can still be found. So far there is not rational scientific explanation.
Angels from Jude:1 would qualify and the 4 fallen ones from the 6th trump actually gives you a number to play with as well as the size. We would call it 200M horsepower in the form of 200M workhorses and a strong men.
How long to move 200M stones for monuments in Egypt?
How long to keep a fire going in the Sphinx enclosure in an attempt to destroy it entirely??
There was also a resurrection from the grave in the OT, Job:14 is confirmed by what Martha says about her dead brother in John:11. The resurrection in the Gospels takes all 4 accounts to be included before the picture is 'clear'.
The cross only has women at it, Peter is the first Apostle to be involved and that is the morning of His resurrection and they are leaving Jerusalem after the Passover Sabbath and then the weekly Sabbath is finished. With him is Mary from Bethany who would be escorting Mary the mother of Jesus and the other women there. Mary M. runs ahead and sees the empty tomb and runs back and tells the main group at which point the Beloved Disciple outruns Peter to get to the tomb and then she waits for Peter to catch up and that scene unfolds with the main group departing and Jesus in resurrected but not glorified form and Mary M. had their little chat. Mary M would have relayed that message to the others and the Beloved Disciple attended but Mary M. did not. She would have been at the Acts:2 event however.
Jesus would have ascended to the temple in re:4 and been glorified by God and been back on earth to walk with a few Apostles that afternoon and then that evening He baptized 11 Apostles and the Beloved Disciple.
That hits all the highlights I hope.
lol, . . . .other than that it's bang on though? Hope that bit just above helps show what my version looks like.
A similar thing happens with the vision on the mountain, you need them all to get the best picture. One version has the time of the secret starting and the other has the time it ends, apart they are confusing compared to what they present when combined (in a certain way)
What was taught at one location was written down and circulated to all the locations of any teaching.
Lazarus the Beggar is asleep in death. Martha expected her brother to be raised from the literal grave on the 'last day' and the smell being mentioned is to reinforce that the person had been dead a number of days.
That version also supports the resurrection in Eze:37 as being a literal one that includes the people mentioned.
Saul was the first, he was a long way from being the only one that was baptized with that spirit. It does show how easy it is for a person to be converted. The two witnesses would be the next ones in line for that level of a relationship with Jesus.
Sounds like Saul saw Him before his conversion pf 'born out of due time' means before he was gathered.
Sounds more like the person who wrote the words about Mount Sion in Hebrews:12.
Thank you for sharing your views with me. I find your thought processes a little difficult to follow but appreciate the time you have taken to post.
You said: "So where did they get their material? Most likely from the preaching of Paul. Who did Paul preach too?"
The Lord Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to the apostles with a special purpose for them:
John 14:26 New International Version (NIV)
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
Upon resurrection, the Lord Jesus appeared to them over a period of 40 days before being taken up to heaven.
Acts 1:1-3 New International Version (NIV)
In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.
And when the Holy Spirit was sent, they were able to speak in other tongues - the languages spoken during their time.
Acts 2:1-4 New International Version (NIV)
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Therefore there was no coaching materials or library for them to compose or write the New Testament bible but everything was because of the Holy Spirit sent by God in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Thank you for sharing your Christian beliefs about the physical resurrection. The way Acts were written is similar to apocalyptic style of writing, the book of Daniel, Revelations, and the Olivet Discourse being good examples. I would be wary of reading it as an historic account.
Paul preached to the Gentiles or Greco-Romans and the resurrection narrative clearly conveyed powerful spiritual messages to his audience. They were accustomed through their beliefs in various deities to these kinds of stories. It is these narrative that made their way into the gospels. I do not feel obliged to accept the gospels as being literal historic accounts and see problems with this approach, most from a perspective of reason and science.
On the other hand I'm aware that a belief in a literally resurrected Jesus is of profound importance for many Christians.
MJFlores
Well-Known Member
Sounds like just a bedtime story to you.
Well, I have to admit - I have the same views before. But with what is happening to the world these days and what happened in the past - "those stories" gave me a wake up call.
Matthew 24:4-8 New International Version (NIV)
Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.
For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many.
I think this became true. They preached Jesus is the Messiah and have deceived many.
You will hear of wars and rumors of wars
One of the most publicized war was World War I
And during these period in World War I - there were famines and earthquakes in various places.
It also became true.
Now it is intensifying:
Famine 'largest humanitarian crisis in history of UN'
Famine 'largest humanitarian crisis in history of UN'
Intensity of earthquakes are increasing in magnitude and frequency over the past 100 years
Earthquake - Wikipedia
So these "Bible stories" are not fiction and when the world ends
We would know for sure what comes in the end - resurrection of the saved and the damned
DavidFirth
Well-Known Member
The celebration of the risen Christ isn't pagan. You can hunt eggs or whatever but Jesus' resurrection is celebrated by Christianity because in it death is conquered. Nothing pagan about that.