So what’s so great about a Christian heaven?

[-Peacemaker-]

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

I did pull up that quote from Jesus answering the Sadducces but I'd be careful to read into such a quote that sex and children won't be a component of the age to come. I'm not making a definative statement either way however I think the fact that God's original plan for creation called for man and woman to be joined together at least hints that his plans for restored creation would probably be pretty similar.

 

[s2a]

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.

Then I simply will look to you to enlighten me with your own faint clues and directed/referenced C&V that keeps both of us from looking like uninformed fools...

You are certainly expert in bobbing and weaving, dancing and prancing all around in pious fashion, offering up your obviously personalized insights... which are pleasant enough to be sure, but evasion is poor testament of any faith to say the least, and you are invited again to impress others beside myself of your lent exegesis in pointed support of your interesting revelations of whatever you seem to believe Heaven is, or at very least should be understood or obvious from merely reading the Bible as the textbook detailing what an unending existence in an undefined and utterly vague realm might actually entail or provide as incentive to abandon all reason and logic as some reqard for good intentions and proper subservient behavior to some claimed and invisible, all-powerful space deity.

Again, it's a simple OP.

What might we find...or where, in directly cited C&V from that textbook, any salient answers or relevant context to the numerous valid questions the OP itself presents?

Either you haven't the "faintest clue", can't "fathom" the OP, or just can't bring yourself to say aloud that the Bible doesn't provide any specific answers to any of those very simple questions as put forward in the OP.

I retain my own suspicions as to which option above is most likely... but I do so love being wrong, at least upon occasion

 

[s2a]

I did pull up that quote from Jesus answering the Sadducces but I'd be careful to read into such a quote that sex and children won't be a component of the age to come. I'm not making a definative statement either way however I think the fact that God's original plan for creation called for man and woman to be joined together at least hints that his plans for restored creation would probably be pretty similar.

Perhaps this is your chance to write yet another translation of Scripture, one that more readily accounts for your lack of surety, seeing as no C&V is currently extant to reference alternate doubts and possibilities that you hope may be anything beyond pure conjecture on your part?

 

[URAVIP2ME]

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.

God's kingdom is heavenly and there is no evil in God's kingdom to banish.
Satan was cast down not out of God's kingdom but out of the heavens.
-Revelation 12 vs 9,12
When Jesus initiated God's kingdom covenant Judas was already dismissed.
Those called to heaven reign with Christ for a thousand years as kings and priests over earthly subjects of God's kingdom [ Rev. 20 v 6; 5 vs 9,10]
The majority of mankind will be resurrected on earth. [John 3 v 13] .

Please notice at Rev. [21 v 3] that God is with men [mankind] not angels.
So, Revelation [21 vs 4,5] is directed to humankind on earth.
There are No tears in heaven. Tears are an earthly problem
There is No death in heaven. No one goes to heaven to die in heaven.
Death is an earthly problem. There is No sorrow, No crying and No pain in heaven. They are all earthly problems.
Sickness too is an earthly problem that will end on earth.-Isaiah 33 v 24.

Things in Heaven do not need to be made new [ verse 5]
Under Jesus 1000-year reign over earth all those 'former' things are passed away. Passed away right here on earth.
Just as there was a 'tree of life' in the paradisaic Garden of Eden, Revelation
[22 v 2] mentions how again there will be a tree of life for the curing or healing for the nations. The nations are on earth.
Revelation [21 v 4] is a miniature description of the original conditions that existed on earth in Eden.
Adam originally had sinless earthly bliss along with a deathless life.
Jesus will undo what sinful Adam brought upon us, so that those who inherit the earthly realm of God's kingdom [ Psalm 72 v 8 ] can gain the same original healthy human perfection of sound heart, mind and body that sinless Adam originally had with the prospect of gaining everlasting life on earth.

 

[Mr Spinkles]

I did pull up that quote from Jesus answering the Sadducces but I'd be careful to read into such a quote that sex and children won't be a component of the age to come. I'm not making a definative statement either way however I think the fact that God's original plan for creation called for man and woman to be joined together at least hints that his plans for restored creation would probably be pretty similar.

So you've admitted that, using Bible verses alone, you don't know what we will be busy doing exactly in the afterlife. It seems like the only thing that is certain, based on Bible verses, is that there will not be marriage (sex and children are still an unknown possibility). In light of this, is it fair to say that the Bible does not answer such questions about the afterlife? That seems to be s2a's point and he seems to be right.

 

[Thief]

I did pull up that quote from Jesus answering the Sadducces but I'd be careful to read into such a quote that sex and children won't be a component of the age to come. I'm not making a definative statement either way however I think the fact that God's original plan for creation called for man and woman to be joined together at least hints that his plans for restored creation would probably be pretty similar.

Nay, so it would seem.

Your life in this world is what causes you to be unique.
It happens that way, as your body has a linear existence.

Spiritually, a division would create another 'you'.
That would be like talking to yourself.....literally.

So this physical form of man and woman yields a soul on each occasion.
The next life won't do this.

So there is no need for marriage in the next life.

 

[URAVIP2ME]

So you've admitted that, using Bible verses alone, you don't know what we will be busy doing exactly in the afterlife. It seems like the only thing that is certain, based on Bible verses, is that there will not be marriage (sex and children are still an unknown possibility). In light of this, is it fair to say that the Bible does not answer such questions about the afterlife? That seems to be s2a's point and he seems to be right.

'afterlife' or resurrection?

Some of mankind is resurrected to heaven. [Rev. 20 v 6; 5 vs 9,10; 14 v 4]
The majority of mankind [John 3 v 13] will be resurrected back to life on a paradisaic earth during Jesus 1000-year reign over earth.

Those living on earth are earthly subjects of God's kingdom under Christ.
- Psalm 72 v 8
Those in heaven 'serve' those on earth. They have two [2] jobs to do:
They will serve as both kings and priests.
As kings they will take care of governmental duties for earthly subjects.
As priests they will take care of spiritual needs of earthly subjects.
Earthly subjects are also the humble meek that will inherit the earth.
-Psalm 37 vs 11,29; Matthew 5 v 5

 

[s2a]

'afterlife' or resurrection?

Does not a “resurrection” from death at least hint of some presumed life “after death”, or is this just another zombie apocalypse movie pitch?

Some of mankind is resurrected to heaven. [Rev. 20 v 6; 5 vs 9,10; 14 v 4]
The majority of mankind [John 3 v 13] will be resurrected back to life on a paradisaic earth during Jesus 1000-year reign over earth.

At last...now here we go…

Could you now cite Chapter and Verse, most exactly and as precisely as you offered above, as to what the paradise of “heaven” offers and/or entails, exactly?

Those living on earth are earthly subjects of God's kingdom under Christ.- Psalm 72 v 8

Would you suggest, as a believer, that situation is untrue now?

Whom is exempt from such subjugation's?

Those in heaven 'serve' those on earth. They have two [2] jobs to do:
They will serve as both kings and priests.
As kings they will take care of governmental duties for earthly subjects.
As priests they will take care of spiritual needs of earthly subjects.

Maybe I’ve just been keeping up on current events, but it seems that prophecy has been realized for quite some time in human recorded history now…

Earthly subjects are also the humble meek that will inherit the earth.
-Psalm 37 vs 11,29; Matthew 5 v 5

When?

I’d enjoy an age of humility absent religious adherents that claim to understand and accurately predict the actions or conscience of some allegedly beneficent and omniscient space entity.

I also want a pony and a 1966 GTO convertible (not necessarily in that order). Is that something the meek might deliver without additional fees?

 

[URAVIP2ME]

Does not a “resurrection” from death at least hint of some presumed life “after death”, or is this just another zombie apocalypse movie pitch?
At last...now here we go…
Could you now cite Chapter and Verse, most exactly and as precisely as you offered above, as to what the paradise of “heaven” offers and/or entails, exactly?
Would you suggest, as a believer, that situation is untrue now?
Whom is exempt from such subjugation's?
Maybe I’ve just been keeping up on current events, but it seems that prophecy has been realized for quite some time in human recorded history now…
When?
I’d enjoy an age of humility absent religious adherents that claim to understand and accurately predict the actions or conscience of some allegedly beneficent and omniscient space entity.
I also want a pony and a 1966 GTO convertible (not necessarily in that order). Is that something the meek might deliver without additional fees?

Resurrection would be an awakening from death's sleep-like state.
'After life' seems to suggest one is not dead but alive in another realm.
There would be no need for a resurrection if one is not really dead.

Paradise for mankind was the earthly paradise Garden of Eden on earth.
The 'paradise of heaven' would be for only those resurrected to heaven.
[ Rev. 20 v 6; 5 vs 9,10; 14 v 4]
That 'heavenly paradise' offers or entails being joint-heirs with Christ.
Jesus is both king and high priest. Those joint-heirs serve as both kings and priests with Jesus for a thousand years. [ Romans 8 v 17]
They will serve the 'meek that will inherit the earth' under Christ's reign.
[Psalm 37 vs 11,29; Psalm 72 v 8; John 3 v 13; Matthew 25 vs 31,32]

Current events today show the selfish distorted form of love as described at 2nd Timothy 3 vs 1-5,13. That is in sharp contrast with godly love as defined at 1st Cor. 13 vs 4-6, and in sharp contrast with Jesus new commandment.
-John 13 vs 34,35

Before the meek inherit the earth [Matthew 5 v 5], the 'when' is at the time of the final signal, so to speak, as mentioned at 1st Thess. 5 vs 2,3. When 'they' [powers that be] are saying, "Peace and Safety" or "Peace and Security" then that is the precursor to the great tribulation [Rev. 7 v 14; Matt. 24 v 21] that will climax in Armageddon [ war to end all wars forever -Psalm 46 v 9] when the wicked will be destroyed forever.

- Psalm 92 v 7; Rev. 19 vs 11,15; Isaiah 11 vs 3,4; Proverbs 2 vs 21,22

 

[InChrist]

[FONT=&quot]I’m just glad that I have eternal life to look forward to in the new heaven and earth thanks to Jesus Christ the Savior.[/FONT]

God is infinite and so I think the joy of knowing Him and the depths of His love and discovering the endless beauties of eternity will also be infinite and wonderful. When I think of all the beauty of this earth even in its fallen, deteriorating state and walk in the forest, stand by the ocean, or view a sunset over mountain peaks I know these are only glimpses of the incredible beauty of the eternal realm. When I work in the garden I get physically tired, but still enjoy the beauty and variety of vegetables and flowers, knowing that the sweat of the brow and physical or mental exhaustion is a part of the curse of sin. In eternity all work will be pleasurable, creative, and rewarding with no tiredness. Now, there never seems to be enough time for the all things I’d like to do or the subjects I’d like to learn more about, but in eternity time will be not be a hindrance and new things to learn, discover, or do will be infinite. I’m sure there will be no time for being bored. God is an awesome artist who can’t help creating and God is love who can’t stop loving and I can hardly wait to be with Him for eternity.

 

[waitasec]

[FONT=&quot]I’m just glad that I have eternal life to look forward to in the new heaven and earth thanks to Jesus Christ the Savior.[/FONT]

God is infinite and so I think the joy of knowing Him and the depths of His love and discovering the endless beauties of eternity will also be infinite and wonderful. When I think of all the beauty of this earth even in its fallen, deteriorating state and walk in the forest, stand by the ocean, or view a sunset over mountain peaks I know these are only glimpses of the incredible beauty of the eternal realm. When I work in the garden I get physically tired, but still enjoy the beauty and variety of vegetables and flowers, knowing that the sweat of the brow and physical or mental exhaustion is a part of the curse of sin. In eternity all work will be pleasurable, creative, and rewarding with no tiredness. Now, there never seems to be enough time for the all things I’d like to do or the subjects I’d like to learn more about, but in eternity time will be not be a hindrance and new things to learn, discover, or do will be infinite. I’m sure there will be no time for being bored. God is an awesome artist who can’t help creating and God is love who can’t stop loving and I can hardly wait to be with Him for eternity.

i can not, for the life of me, understand how one can think they will ever reach the finality of satisfaction...seems awfully boring...and besides, speaking from this POV, there is absolutely no way one can even fathom what eternity is..

The researchers, of the University of Manchester's School of Psychological Sciences, said that the findings indicate we can increase our well-being not just through these actual external changes, but also through changes in our personalities.

"The focus of many wellbeing studies in economics is on how changes to our circumstances, such as a higher income, getting married or a different job might influence our wellbeing. The influence of our personality is often ignored in these types of studies in the belief that our personality can't or doesn't change," study researcher Dr. Chris Boyce said in a statement. "We show that personality can and does change and, not only is it more likely to change than an income increase, it contributes much more to changes in our wellbeing."
Personality Can Change Over Time, Study Suggests

 

[s2a]

[FONT=&quot]I’m just glad that I have eternal life to look forward to in the new heaven and earth thanks to Jesus Christ the Savior.[/FONT]

God is infinite and so I think the joy of knowing Him and the depths of His love and discovering the endless beauties of eternity will also be infinite and wonderful. When I think of all the beauty of this earth even in its fallen, deteriorating state and walk in the forest, stand by the ocean, or view a sunset over mountain peaks I know these are only glimpses of the incredible beauty of the eternal realm. When I work in the garden I get physically tired, but still enjoy the beauty and variety of vegetables and flowers, knowing that the sweat of the brow and physical or mental exhaustion is a part of the curse of sin. In eternity all work will be pleasurable, creative, and rewarding with no tiredness. Now, there never seems to be enough time for the all things I’d like to do or the subjects I’d like to learn more about, but in eternity time will be not be a hindrance and new things to learn, discover, or do will be infinite. I’m sure there will be no time for being bored. God is an awesome artist who can’t help creating and God is love who can’t stop loving and I can hardly wait to be with Him for eternity.

Well, I'm aware that adherents not unlike yourself retain that "heavenly vision"... but what I ask is from what source, specifically, offered in quoted verbatim Chapter and Verse, do you derive that certainty or precise revelation and insight?

Just asking that you contemplate things a tad longer than required to craft and post a testament of faith and conscious piety, just for a bit...

Of what calling does a firefighter, cop, author, journalist, soldier, teacher, nutritionist, economist, plumber, social worker, salesman, statistician, politician, or hundreds of other expert "artists" of their trade really do...for eternity? You know, trillions upon trillions of years, with no end, ever?

If there is no pain, no hunger, no government, no fires, no ignorance, no economy, no cars, no TV, no sports (competition involves winners and losers, but no "losers allowed in Heaven, correct?), no possibility of failure, rejection, remorse, parenting, floods, disease, earthquakes, inventions, discovery, exploration, abject curiosity...all the things that make a mortal human experience uniquely personal and shared as a communal whole to solve, improvise, adapt, overcome, and a "purpose" to fulfill...

What then is served by an eternity that offers nothing of human experience, perception, or desire to pursue? I garden daily now...growing flowers, fruits and vegetables...but...for trillions upon trillions of years?

I just might want another hobby...

...Or just to redecorate my house and furniture every once and a while...or have a fine cigar and a snifter of cognac to kick back after a couple of billion years or so of growing beans and oregano...

Just so you understand... simply saying "I don't know, but I think it will be wonderful anyway", is not an especially compelling sales pitch to convert unbelievers, and at very least should inspire you to further delve into the "why" of "what" you believe to be incontrovertible "truth".

Would you place your aging grandmother in a "home" under similar circumstances from anyone salesman that just tells you, "Trust me, she'll love it...and one day, you will too"?

"Oh, and by the way...once she goes there, you'll not be able to ask her how she likes it, or if it really would suit you either"...just a small disclaimer

"Now, abandon all of your possessions, most of your skepticism, logic, and human capacities of reason in sworn fealty to this place I can't show you, and to the landlord you can't meet in person until you are dead... and sign here "

 

[Thief]

Well, I'm aware that adherents not unlike yourself retain that "heavenly vision"... but what I ask is from what source, specifically, offered in quoted verbatim Chapter and Verse, do you derive that certainty or precise revelation and insight?

Just asking that you contemplate things a tad longer than required to craft and post a testament of faith and conscious piety, just for a bit...

Of what calling does a firefighter, cop, author, journalist, soldier, teacher, nutritionist, economist, plumber, social worker, salesman, statistician, politician, or hundreds of other expert "artists" of their trade really do...for eternity? You know, trillions upon trillions of years, with no end, ever?

If there is no pain, no hunger, no government, no fires, no ignorance, no economy, no cars, no TV, no sports (competition involves winners and losers, but no "losers allowed in Heaven, correct?), no possibility of failure, rejection, remorse, parenting, floods, disease, earthquakes, inventions, discovery, exploration, abject curiosity...all the things that make a mortal human experience uniquely personal and shared as a communal whole to solve, improvise, adapt, overcome, and a "purpose" to fulfill...

What then is served by an eternity that offers nothing of human experience, perception, or desire to pursue? I garden daily now...growing flowers, fruits and vegetables...but...for trillions upon trillions of years?

I just might want another hobby...

...Or just to redecorate my house and furniture every once and a while...or have a fine cigar and a snifter of cognac to kick back after a couple of billion years or so of growing beans and oregano...

Just so you understand... simply saying "I don't know, but I think it will be wonderful anyway", is not an especially compelling sales pitch to convert unbelievers, and at very least should inspire you to further delve into the "why" of "what" you believe to be incontrovertible "truth".

Would you place your aging grandmother in a "home" under similar circumstances from anyone salesman that just tells you, "Trust me, she'll love it...and one day, you will too"?

"Oh, and by the way...once she goes there, you'll not be able to ask her how she likes it, or if it really would suit you either"...just a small disclaimer

"Now, abandon all of your possessions, most of your skepticism, logic, and human capacities of reason in sworn fealty to this place I can't show you, and to the landlord you can't meet in person until you are dead... and sign here "

Yeah well...you're going to die anyway.
Nothing awaiting your transformation?
Or have you resigned yourself to the grave?

 

[waitasec]

Yeah well...you're going to die anyway.
Nothing awaiting your transformation?

ahem, didn't you say he was going to die anyway?

Or have you resigned yourself to the grave?

you seem confused..didn't you just say

Yeah well...you're going to die anyway.

 

[s2a]

Yeah well...you're going to die anyway.
Nothing awaiting your transformation?
Or have you resigned yourself to the grave?

And, so you too shall visit mortality in your time.

Transformation? Back into elementary particles? Yes...that's what we see happen everyday in observation of all animate matter that ceases to live...

Grave? Um, I have chosen, and made my wishes known, for cremation, to expedite that process.

I certainly don't want to be pickled and preserved like some cucumber in a tin can or mason jar. If the zombie apocalypse comes, I'd really hate to be unearthed and consumed by some undead redneck as an appetizer to a spicy beef jerky entree...

...you may choose a different course...

(perhaps as brunch or breakfast)

 

[Reverend Rick]

So what’s so great about a Christian heaven?

The climate.:seesaw:

 

[s2a]

The climate.:seesaw:

Heaven has a climate?

Oh do share... please

 

[Thief]

ahem, didn't you say he was going to die anyway?



you seem confused..didn't you just say

You're confused....again.
Transformation.... afterlife...are not in your vocabulary.

 

[Thief]

And, so you too shall visit mortality in your time.

Transformation? Back into elementary particles? Yes...that's what we see happen everyday in observation of all animate matter that ceases to live...

Grave? Um, I have chosen, and made my wishes known, for cremation, to expedite that process.

I certainly don't want to be pickled and preserved like some cucumber in a tin can or mason jar. If the zombie apocalypse comes, I'd really hate to be unearthed and consumed by some undead redneck as an appetizer to a spicy beef jerky entree...

...you may choose a different course...

(perhaps as brunch or breakfast)

You didn't mention your mind and spirit.
I assume those are terminal?
No afterlife for you?

 

[savagewind]

If God is a spirit and if Man is made in God's image then man might be spirit too and these vessels of flesh are housing the spirit. Maybe man's thinking ability has been PUT INTO bodies like valuable things are put into boxes.

s2a have you ever considered maybe the spirit came first, and next the body?

I don't know, I'm just saying.