So what’s so great about a Christian heaven?

[URAVIP2ME]

As Alan Watts said the Christian heaven sounds as dreadful as the Christian hell. Why would a God model his "kingdom" on human notions? Perhaps that was as close as the Christian authors could get to interpreting the divine, which is why all religions must be taken with a bag of salt.

First of all, according to Scripture the 'Christian hell' [sheol] is just the common grave of mankind where according to Jesus recorded words the dead sleep the deep sleep of death until resurrected. -John 11 vs 11-14

That would mean that while Jesus was in 'Christian hell' [sheol] that Jesus was in a sleep-like state until God resurrected Jesus out of biblical hell.
-Acts 2 vs 31,32.

'Christian heaven' according to Revelation is that those resurrected to heaven have two [2] jobs to do.-Rev 5 vs 9,10; 20 v 6
They serve earthly subjects of God's kingdom.- Psalm 72 v 8
Serve as both jobs as kings and priests.
Kings to take care of governmental duties.
Priests to take care of spiritual needs of earthly subjects for a thousand years.

'kingdom on human notions' is because the kingdoms of the huge image of Daniel chapter 2 are earthly kingdoms. Kingdoms against God's kingdom will be replaced by Jesus being king of God's kingdom. -Daniel 2 v 44; 7 vs 13,14

 

[URAVIP2ME]

Why would God single out a specific period of time and culture to teach his eternal truths?

First of all Messiah would have to appear on the scene to fulfill the first prophecy of Genesis 3 v 15. Jesus proved to be the promised 'seed'.

Also, God first dealt through only one nation: the nation of ancient Israel,
but God's promise to Abraham was that ALL nations of earth would be blessed.
Blessed with healing or curing. - Genesis 12 v 3; 22 v 18; Rev 22 v 2.

Jesus foretold that at the time of Matthew [24 v 14] that there would be an international spreading of the good news of God's kingdom.
That global spreading has never before been possible before our day or time frame.

The life of the living 'sheep and goats' is what is now at stake. [Matt. 25 vs 31,32]. Vital because people judged as 'goats' during this coming 'time of separation' will loose their lives forever. According to 2nd Peter [3 v 9] God wants everyone to repent so as not to perish [be destroyed] as the 'goats' will be destroyed by the words from Jesus mouth.
-Isaiah 11 vs 3,4; Rev.19 vs 11,15.

People up to now have died before the start of Jesus 1000-year reign over earth. I believe we are now offered the possibility of remaining alive on earth into the start of Jesus millennial reign over earth with the prospect of gaining everlasting life on a paradisaic earth forever as was originally offered to Adam before his downfall.

 

[s2a]

I see you do have least a little bit handle on the Christian Heaven. Let's see if we can increase your understanding.

Okie dokie: )

Let’s delve into whatever a self-described “Christian-in-training” can muster in instruction and elucidation purely for my benefit alone…

Revelation along with the Garden of Eden are the two best places to get a handle on this subject as Eden in Genesis represented what God had originally intended for creation to be like and Rev makes clear that it is restored. We see both in genesis and Revelation that man was made to co-reign with God over all creation. In Genesis, man's job was to take care of the garden

Genesis 1:27-31 - “27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.
Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground

Genesis 2:15

"The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it."
Man was created from the start to be a worker and he'll presumably work again if such a Heaven will exist...

Ok…to reiterate in hope of being instructed wisely…all of God’s chosen (be they elects. converted Jews, or even heretics that repent upon their death beds, etc), are only crafted (or "designed") to be “God’s gardeners”? Really? That's the summary?

Or is that just the first qualification and role to be fulfilled for trillions of years unending…?

Jesus was asked a similar question about marriage in Heaven. He says there'll be no marriage.

If that is so, then it kinda makes you wonder what all the fuss is about regarding marriage in this eyeblink of existence here, don’tcha think? Why would Protestants be upset one whit about same-sex marriage, or Catholics get all upset about notions of divorce? Hmmm…

I must confess… my inclusion of the line of questions the op about "heaven” re: marriage were primarily intended to draw out those that insisting upon their own testaments of piety and surety, while having no working understanding of their own religious texts.

I’m aware of the the C&V of Matthew 22:23-30. (not of much use in answer, but ty just the same).

It’s when we trod further upon such grounds as (Galatians 3:28), (Revelation 19:7) , (Ephesians 5:31-32), (Matthew 19:12) (can I get an ewwwww?)_and particularly (Matthew 22:37-38) that things get kinda creepy, at least in we mere mortal’s minds…

(Not fer nuthin’, but evidently, transgender folk have a leg up in the afterlife, while enduring much abuse and persecution and prejudice here… odd that)

Now of course, Mormons or adherents of the Church of the LDS, have an entirely different interpretation of these passages (or simply ignore them all), believing instead that men of their faith will become gods themselves, and retain dominion over any and all of their wives in an afterlife of their own kingdom craft…

(I leave it for other self-proclaimed Christians to reconcile this apparent dichotomy of revelation and understanding…)

Now we can surmise that you'll probably get to have a woman in Heaven given that one man being with one woman was how creation was originally designed.

Matthew 22

23On that day some Sadducees (who say there is no resurrection) came to Jesus and questioned Him, 24asking, “Teacher, Moses said, ‘IF A MAN DIES HAVING NO CHILDREN, HIS BROTHER AS NEXT OF KIN SHALL MARRY HIS WIFE, AND RAISE UP CHILDREN FOR HIS BROTHER.’ 25“Now there were seven brothers with us; and the first married and died, and having no children left his wife to his brother; 26so also the second, and the third, down to the seventh. 27“Last of all, the woman died. 28“In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had married her.”
29But Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures nor the power of God. 30“For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 31“But regarding the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God: 32‘I AM THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, AND THE GOD OF ISAAC, AND THE GOD OF JACOB’? He is not the God of the dead but of the living.” 33When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at His teaching.

Fact is, I'm not astonished in the least... as that quote doesn’t really address the OP at hand much at all, does it?

I really hate being repetitive, but even as you have offered all your effort in C&V quotes, the question remains…“So what’s so great about a Christian Heaven?”

If earthy marriages in this mortal real have no application nor meaning in any sort of mainstream Christian beliefs regarding a claimed eternal afterlife… is that a “great” thing to hope for and look forward to, or not?

Bueller? Bueller?

 

[s2a]

How ya doin? I'm new to this forum. Not sure if I want to spend time doing it, but as I scanned topics this one caught my attention. Your thoughts on it were really good and well thought out, something Christians would do well to practice. I've worked on this topic for a while, and would share a few thoughts if interested. So to start slow, our assumption (for the sake of this discussion) would have be that there is a heaven and that there is a God involved with it somehow. I assume this would be our starting point since if there is no God or heaven in our consideration this topic is moot. I'm not saying we have to believe in them, just to lay the beginning foundation.

Welcome, and in lent short answer..."yes".

It is safe to operate from the assumed premise that the Christian god and heaven are "existent"...as the question is meant for self-proclaimed Christian adherents to lend answer

Have at it

 

[s2a]

If all you got out of it was "golden streets" and "bright lights" I can promise you that you didn't really look it over at at best gave it a passing glance. Come on man. Work with me here. You wanted a conversation with an actual Christian that could actually talk about the biblical Heaven. Give it a more careful look. Really pull out the key points, not how many rubies or emeralds will be here or there. They're not hiding.

I’ll work with you when you offer up more as answer and rebuttal than pretty shiny things alone. Don’t point at me as unreasonable or deaf… it was you that offered up those references, not I.

I would redirect you only back to the OP itself; you know, page 1, post 1 of this thread. It’s lengthy, sure. And the second post that follows the first is lent to broaden the context and depth of the first.

If you care to claim/argue/attest/debate from any sourced and quotable Scriptural (Biblical) C&V that lends answer to the numerous unresolved questions posed in the OP…I promise and pinky swear no short shrift will be lent any earnest and honest efforts on you part to provide compelling answer to the question as put… “So what’s so great about a Christian Heaven”?

So far shiny and sparkles are a small part…please do share the “Big things” when time and opportunity find you...

 

[-Peacemaker-]

I’ll work with you when you offer up more as answer and rebuttal than pretty shiny things alone. Don’t point at me as unreasonable or deaf… it was you that offered up those references, not I.

I would redirect you only back to the OP itself; you know, page 1, post 1 of this thread. It’s lengthy, sure. And the second post that follows the first is lent to broaden the context and depth of the first.

If you care to claim/argue/attest/debate from any sourced and quotable Scriptural (Biblical) C&V that lends answer to the numerous unresolved questions posed in the OP…I promise and pinky swear no short shrift will be lent any earnest and honest efforts on you part to provide compelling answer to the question as put… “So what’s so great about a Christian Heaven”?

So far shiny and sparkles are a small part…please do share the “Big things” when time and opportunity find you...

I mean it's a place where God wipes every tear from our eyes. He heals all that's been sick. It's a place where relationships with each other and God are finally healed. He banishes evil from his kingdom. You seemed to ignore all of it or at least minimize it. Maybe to you things like that are nothing. Maybe your life experience is piece of cake right now and everything is going well. Maybe there is no pain in your life. Maybe you don't like the idea of living with the Christian God. If that's the case then maybe it's at least understandable that you have little appreciation for such things.

 

[s2a]

I mean it's a place where God wipes every tear from our eyes. He heals all that's been sick. It's a place where relationships with each other and God are finally healed. He banishes evil from his kingdom. You seemed to ignore all of it or at least minimize it. Maybe to you things like that are nothing. Maybe your life experience is piece of cake right now and everything is going well. Maybe there is no pain in your life. Maybe you don't like the idea of living with the Christian God. If that's the case then maybe it's at least understandable that you have little appreciation for such things.

On the contrary... that all seems very nice and completely desirable if you only devote about 19 min of thought to it...

...but after 20 min, you may consider the other issues I presented for thoughtful consideration within my OP.

C'mon. You want to be honest about further examinations about Heaven? What "eternity" really means, implies,or entails... and consider what an everlasting existence ("forever and ever") might actually provide for anyone of a sane and rational human mind?

Some say that trying to envision the entire breadth of this ever expanding cosmos is far to large for anyone to truly incorporate either logically or emotionally...it's so vast and unimaginable beyond any scope of reference we might attempt in anecdotal comparisons as to be futilely absurd. It makes your head hurt just to think about it for more than 5 min...

But now apply the added "promises" of an unending "eternity" that spans trillions upon trillions of years, always the unending joyful and happy idiot with nary a care or concern needed for anyone, ever? No jobs, no responsibilities, no need to eat, sleep, gain shelter... no need for further knowledge, entertainment, sports, music...no one to teach, heal, protect, defend, inspire, or raise to become a person better that yourself?

Ever?

Is that really anyone's ideal of an eternal existence?

You can once again start from here...

 

[-Peacemaker-]

On the contrary... that all seems very nice and completely desirable if you only devote about 19 min of thought to it...

...but after 20 min, you may consider the other issues I presented for thoughtful consideration within my OP.

C'mon. You want to be honest about further examinations about Heaven? What "eternity" really means, implies,or entails... and consider what an everlasting existence ("forever and ever") might actually provide for anyone of a sane and rational human mind?

Some say that trying to envision the entire breadth of this ever expanding cosmos is far to large for anyone to truly incorporate either logically or emotionally...it's so vast and unimaginable beyond any scope of reference we might attempt in anecdotal comparisons as to be futilely absurd. It makes your head hurt just to think about it for more than 5 min...

But now apply the added "promises" of an unending "eternity" that spans trillions upon trillions of years, always the unending joyful and happy idiot with nary a care or concern needed for anyone, ever? No jobs, no responsibilities, no need to eat, sleep, gain shelter... no need for further knowledge, entertainment, sports, music...no one to teach, heal, protect, defend, inspire, or raise to become a person better that yourself?

Ever?

Is that really anyone's ideal of an eternal existence?

You can once again start from here...

Are you willfully trying to be ignorant in regards to what it means to be created to work and just trying to create an opportunity to rail on the Christian God? Because that's what it sounds like when you just blow off the verse about working the Garden as spending eternity as God's gardener. We co-reign and we work creation. There's a million ways to unpack that if you make the effort. Given the fact that we are beings that need rest and relaxation, I have no doubt there will be artisans in Heaven as well as sports to help people unwind. Doctors might be out of a job, who knows? I wouldn't be surprised if in Heaven we need infrastructure given the fact that creation is very big. If that's the case then we'll probably need builders and architects. Most especially, we'll need road crews. And how will we travel on that infrustructure? Who's going to build the vehicles to travel down those roads? We can go on and on but I really don't think your intent was to try to learn anything by posting this thread. Mostly it sounds like just another atheist trying to blow off some steam about God and Christianity

 

[Katzpur]

Now of course, Mormons or adherents of the Church of the LDS, have an entirely different interpretation of these passages (or simply ignore them all), believing instead that men of their faith will become gods themselves, and retain dominion over any and all of their wives in an afterlife of their own kingdom craft…

Mormons don't ignore anything in the Bible, but we may interpret certain verses differently than other Christians. The rest of your statement is pretty misleading, too. We believe that God has given every last human being on earth the opportunity to become as He is. There will be many outside of our Church who attain this status. God holds men and women as equals, and for every man who becomes a "god," a woman will become a "goddess."

 

[s2a]

Are you willfully trying to be ignorant in regards to what it means to be created to work and just trying to create an opportunity to rail on the Christian God? Because that's what it sounds like when you just blow off the verse about working the Garden as spending eternity as God's gardener. We co-reign and we work creation. There's a million ways to unpack that if you make the effort. Given the fact that we are beings that need rest and relaxation, I have no doubt there will be artisans in Heaven as well as sports to help people unwind. Doctors might be out of a job, who knows? I wouldn't be surprised if in Heaven we need infrastructure given the fact that creation is very big. If that's the case then we'll probably need builders and architects. Most especially, we'll need road crews. And how will we travel on that infrustructure? Who's going to build the vehicles to travel down those roads? We can go on and on but I really don't think your intent was to try to learn anything by posting this thread. Mostly it sounds like just another atheist trying to blow off some steam about God and Christianity

Willfully ignorant? I provide quoted and referenced Chapter and Verse from the Bible... you have offered...?

At any rate. I’ll effort to be succinct this time, how’s that?

You propose or allude to many potentialities of “what ifs” there…

Does an eternal being require rest? If so, rest from what? To unwind, from what? From the promise of never-ending joy joy joy? Permanent relief and unfaltering and unrelenting bliss and peace for all eternity? Would that seem stressful to you?

Why must anything be “built” by incoming tenants of “Heaven”? If “God” can merely speak the entirety of the cosmos into existence, what’s the purpose or need of formally mortal contractors or engineers? Just to keep folks in Heaven engaged in busy work?

I think you are spitballing from utter ignorance now, and seek too blame me for seeking simple answers from all Christian “believers” that are “sure” that “Heaven” not only exists. but that their reservations within the “Divine Motel in the Sky” will be held past midnight tonight.

I yet wonder why would you suppose any of your questions would serve to be confounding to an unbeliever of any claimed magic man in the sky, when you must invent things to which you yourself have no answers? Bridges, roads, and car dealerships in Heaven? Really? Is that revelation to be found in Ecclesiastes, Numbers, Romans, 2 Corinthians... where?

If you wish to engage debate, then perhaps you may wish to pointedly address what is presented in the OP, and then either lend Scriptural support that defines your counterpoints, or state that only faith can inform believers, or that you simply don’t know enough to lend further credible debate.

I don’t claim that “Heaven” is existent or real.

Christians do.

It's your claim to support, substantiate, and advise that all extant souls invest the entirety of their mortal existence in hopes of gaining that “reward”…

I counsel people (that inquire of me) a bit differently..

Just know that if you are selling your belief of some imagined swampland found on no maps, with no GPS coordinates provided as that idyllic beachfront property in paradise...some skeptics will insist upon a bit more details before booking a flight to that destination just to sign a deed of property sight unseen.

I'm thusly dismissed by you to be just another atheist blowing off steam? Really? You may want to look around, and notice that even people of other faith-based beliefs hardly see any appeal in a Christian “version” of “heaven”.

Poke your toe into some other faith-based belief threads here, and see how your version squares with their own

[PS. If you concede that you do not know nor can provide support for your claims, that's ok ..skeptic's always accept "I don't know" as at least honest, if not insightful reply]

 

[s2a]

Mormons don't ignore anything in the Bible, but we may interpret certain verses differently than other Christians. The rest of your statement is pretty misleading, too. We believe that God has given every last human being on earth the opportunity to become as He is. There will be many outside of our Church who attain this status. God holds men and women as equals, and for every man who becomes a "god," a woman will become a "goddess."

Hi Katz

I do hope your recollections serve to remind you of the respect I retain and admire for your evident individuality, charm, intellect, compassion, intuition, and empathetic qualities as a person…if not necessarily for your beliefs.

In short reply, I don’t believe that what I offered was misleading… just (and only perhaps) lacking in expanded detail that you may choose to expound upon further...

You could claim that my commentary was “out of context”, and if so, you might then lend fuller context (as self-identified LDS adherent) to better or more accurately qualify your own beliefs, or substantively debunk my own presumably “faulty” characterizations…

I can only rebut that contextually speaking, your offered “clarification” simply confirms what I said previously… just in another way of saying the exact same thing over again…

 

[-Peacemaker-]

Willfully ignorant? I provide quoted and referenced Chapter and Verse from the Bible... you have offered...?

At any rate. I’ll effort to be succinct this time, how’s that?

You propose or allude to many potentialities of “what ifs” there…

Does an eternal being require rest? If so, rest from what? To unwind, from what? From the promise of never-ending joy joy joy? Permanent relief and unfaltering and unrelenting bliss and peace for all eternity? Would that seem stressful to you?

Why must anything be “built” by incoming tenants of “Heaven”? If “God” can merely speak the entirety of the cosmos into existence, what’s the purpose or need of formally mortal contractors or engineers? Just to keep folks in Heaven engaged in busy work?

I think you are spitballing from utter ignorance now, and seek too blame me for seeking simple answers from all Christian “believers” that are “sure” that “Heaven” not only exists. but that their reservations within the “Divine Motel in the Sky” will be held past midnight tonight.

I yet wonder why would you suppose any of your questions would serve to be confounding to an unbeliever of any claimed magic man in the sky, when you must invent things to which you yourself have no answers? Bridges, roads, and car dealerships in Heaven? Really? Is that revelation to be found in Ecclesiastes, Numbers, Romans, 2 Corinthians... where?

If you wish to engage debate, then perhaps you may wish to pointedly address what is presented in the OP, and then either lend Scriptural support that defines your counterpoints, or state that only faith can inform believers, or that you simply don’t know enough to lend further credible debate.

I don’t claim that “Heaven” is existent or real.

Christians do.

It's your claim to support, substantiate, and advise that all extant souls invest the entirety of their mortal existence in hopes of gaining that “reward”…

I counsel people (that inquire of me) a bit differently..

Just know that if you are selling your belief of some imagined swampland found on no maps, with no GPS coordinates provided as that idyllic beachfront property in paradise...some skeptics will insist upon a bit more details before booking a flight to that destination just to sign a deed of property sight unseen.

I'm thusly dismissed by you to be just another atheist blowing off steam? Really? You may want to look around, and notice that even people of other faith-based beliefs hardly see any appeal in a Christian “version” of “heaven”.

Poke your toe into some other faith-based belief threads here, and see how your version squares with their own

[PS. If you concede that you do not know nor can provide support for your claims, that's ok ..skeptic's always accept "I don't know" as at least honest, if not insightful reply]

It's a non issue. You said the Christian Heaven was filled with people laying on the beach drinking daquires so I showed you that we were created to work creation. We're allowed to use our imagination a little. It's important to remember that the big prize in the Christian Heaven isn't some all expenses paid deluxe cruise on crystal clear waters but the opportunity to keep on living. Death was not in the Christian God's original plans for creation. We don't believe that upon death God gives us three doors leading to three different prizes and we get to take our pick. For us there's only two options when we meet our natural death. We can face spiritual death which is eternal separation from God and judgement for our sins or we can keep on living in the life but this time in the environment that he originally designed for mankind which again kept us very busy.

 

[Thief]

It's a non issue. You said the Christian Heaven was filled with people laying on the beach drinking daquires so I showed you that we were created to work creation. We're allowed to use our imagination a little. It's important to remember that the big prize in the Christian Heaven isn't some all expenses paid deluxe cruise on crystal clear waters but the opportunity to keep on living. Death was not in the Christian God's original plans for creation. We don't believe that upon death God gives us three doors leading to three different prizes and we get to take our pick. For us there's only two options when we meet our natural death. We can face spiritual death which is eternal separation from God and judgement for our sins or we can keep on living in the life but this time in the environment that he originally designed for mankind which again kept us very busy.

All good up to that last little bit.

Flesh will not inherit the kingdom.
God is spirit. His kingdom...likewise.

 

[Katzpur]

Hi Katz

I do hope your recollections serve to remind you of the respect I retain and admire for your evident individuality, charm, intellect, compassion, intuition, and empathetic qualities as a person…if not necessarily for your beliefs.

Okay, s2a, your flattery will get you off the hook this time.

 

[Mr Spinkles]

We can face spiritual death which is eternal separation from God and judgement for our sins or we can keep on living in the life but this time in the environment that he originally designed for mankind which again kept us very busy.

Please accept my apologies if I'm being dense / not reading your posts carefully enough ... but permit me to ask: busy doing what, exactly? I believe you said that there would be no marriage, no sex, and no raising children; that we would be simply tending the Garden of Eden. What does that mean / entail, specifically? I assume you don't literally mean we would be pulling up weeds and operating sprinkler systems ... but if you don't mean it literally, then what do you mean, literally (without using metaphors about the Garden of Eden)? Would we be collecting cosmic gases into galaxies and forming planetary systems and creating alien lifeforms, or perhaps entire universes? I ask partly out of curiosity and partly, like s2a, because I suspect that you don't know or may not have given it careful thought.

Again if you've answered this already please by all means direct me to the appropriate post, and accept my apologies for not being more attentive.

 

[-Peacemaker-]

Please accept my apologies if I'm being dense / not reading your posts carefully enough ... but permit me to ask: busy doing what, exactly? I believe you said that there would be no marriage, no sex, and no raising children; that we would be simply tending the Garden of Eden. What does that mean / entail, specifically? I assume you don't literally mean we would be pulling up weeds and operating sprinkler systems ... but if you don't mean it literally, then what do you mean, literally (without using metaphors about the Garden of Eden)? Would we be collecting cosmic gases into galaxies and forming planetary systems and creating alien lifeforms, or perhaps entire universes? I ask partly out of curiosity and partly, like s2a, because I suspect that you don't know or may not have given it careful thought.

Again if you've answered this already please by all means direct me to the appropriate post, and accept my apologies for not being more attentive.

As far as what the details of working creation look like I don't know but I can share some reasonable conclusions such as this: If God endowed us with the ability to be artisans, scientists, mathematicians, etc. I have to guess that these are talents and skills we will use in our future work. As far as having a mate and kids go, the Christians God's original plan for creation included all these things. It's reasonable to conclude that they'll continue to be in his plans.

 

[Mr Spinkles]

As far as what the details of working creation look like I don't know but I can share some reasonable conclusions such as this: If God endowed us with the ability to be artisans, scientists, mathematicians, etc. I have to guess that these are talents and skills we will use in our future work. As far as having a mate and kids go, the Christians God's original plan for creation included all these things. It's reasonable to conclude that they'll continue to be in his plans.

But didn't you say there would be no marriage?

 

[s2a]

It's a non issue. You said the Christian Heaven was filled with people laying on the beach drinking daquires so I showed you that we were created to work creation.

I said nothing of the sort, though I invite you to provide verbatim quotable linked evidence and destroy my credibility

Or, you could just admit you made that up, and move along...from a human point of view.

We're allowed to use our imagination a little.

We are? Now where is that inventive legerdemain of yours found in Chapter and Verse? Source please?

It's important to remember that the big prize in the Christian Heaven isn't some all expenses paid deluxe cruise on crystal clear waters but the opportunity to keep on living.

Well, at least that seems honest enough...

Death was not in the Christian God's original plans for creation.

I kinda got that lil bit from Genesis too… odd that an omniscient space being couldn’t see that predictable behavior coming beforehand, as it was He that set up the ground rules for failure at the outset…, yet was angered that He didn’t see it as likely or possible? Or perhaps that his first humanoid creation and the second were utterly beyond his capacity to predict or control? Seems like a major fail of any “plan” that we mortals could readily predict today…at least for any deity that is claimed by it's adherents to "have a plan" for all...

We don't believe that upon death God gives us three doors leading to three different prizes and we get to take our pick. For us there's only two options when we meet our natural death. We can face spiritual death which is eternal separation from God and judgement for our sins or we can keep on living in the life but this time in the environment that he originally designed for mankind which again kept us very busy.

Thanks for sharing your (somewhat unique) perspective, but your reply and arguments once again seem sourced only from your own sense of incredulity and obviously lacking Scriptural support as to whatever an “eternity” in the Christian Heaven could or should be beyond the constraints of your own creative mind…

It’s pretty enough vision, but not much use if indeed there is some divine concept of “gifted” free will, or any permitted elements of informed choice allowed in open exercise of that free will.

As you illustrated in poor metaphor above, it would be kinda of silly to believe with all of your heart and soul that your God is no better than a game show host offering numbered curtains of choice with no inkling, hint, or clue of what may exist behind them…

But, it seems that’s what the “Christian Heaven” offers at best..and you evidently aren’t a part of the backstage crew to lend any useful insights as to what actually lies behind each curtain…

So be it.

 

[-Peacemaker-]

Foremost, what does one do...forever? I’m sure Abraham’s bosom is nice and all, but a billion years of that would get a tad tiresome. Beyond being happy to worship and praise the Almighty for trillions of years without end, what kind of job is there to do?
One would think that God had all the maintenance and upkeep of heaven handled. I assume there’s nothing to buy or sell in heaven; no need for schools (what else does an immortal need to learn?), no hospitals (no pain, illness, or injury), no firehouses (Hell might have an opening or two, I suppose), no police stations (no evil, right?); no department stores (who needs clothes, shoes, or sunglasses?). There’s certainly no mention of recreational activities of any kind (No football on weekends? Are there weekends?); no restaurants (milk and honey excepted, is there any need of even consuming food when you’re immortal?); no movie theaters; no churches; no cars; no government; and presumably, no pets allowed.

Is the one occupation to be sitting around and shooting the breeze about how happy and joyous everyone is...forever?

..

Fair enough, you didn't exactly make the bold proclamation that Heaven is just a big vacation. Your doubts were phrased as a question.

 

[-Peacemaker-]

I...


Thanks for sharing your (somewhat unique) perspective, but your reply and arguments once again seem sourced only from your own sense of incredulity and obviously lacking Scriptural support as to whatever an “eternity” in the Christian Heaven could or should be beyond the constraints of your own creative mind…

I can't begin to fathom how someone who hasn't the faintest clue about scripture comes to the conclusion that a certain claim lacks scriptural support.