I have come across many people who believe that when someone dies, they go to Heaven right then. But reading the scripture below makes me think otherwise. I tend to think that we remain "asleep" until Jesus comes back and then at that point, we are raised from the dead and view Heaven together for the first time. I just think it doesn't make sense that we go straight to Heaven or Hell when judgement day hasn't even happened. Plus, why would Jesus come back to raise us from the dead if in fact we had already gone to Heaven?
What are your thoughts on this?
“ For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. ” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
What Are Your Thoughts?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
Yes, that makes sense. I just wonder what Jesus means when he refers to certain people in the bible as being "asleep" when they are dead as far as the world understands.
I suppose if we are awake and aware of what it going on during our waiting time, this is why we go visit the grave yard and put flowers and such there for those who are "dead".
I personally don't want to die and then be aware of all the mess going on here on earth while I'm waiting to Jesus to come back. Sounds like that would mean I was in Hell....hahaha.
I kinda' stay confused in this area.
In the grand scheme of things, it really doesn't matter. It's just something I'm curious about and thought I would start a conversation about it.
Any further thoughts would certainly be welcome.
N.T. Wright notes Paul's typical use of "Lord" in reference to Jesus. He argues that Paul is constantly contrasting Jesus as Lord with Caesar as lord. He notes to common practice of local officials going out a distance to meet an incoming dignitary. The officials then escort the dignitary back to their city. If this imagery is pertinent to Paul's thinking, then I Thess. describes believers meeting Jesus in the air in order to escort Him back to earth, prior the commencement of His final battle with the kingdoms of this world.
There are so many things to think about in your question. Let me try my hand at a few of them.
First, let us assume, for the sake of argument, that when we die we are indeed asleep. I mean let us assume that we are REALLY asleep: We have no consciousness whatsoever. We are less conscious than when we are under anesthesia; we are in the big nothing. OK. But if it is indeed the case that death is this sort of state, then our resurrection will feel simultaneous to our death. One trillion years may pass while we are in the big sleep, but if we awake from that sleep it will feel like we went from life to life. Just ask anyone who has gone under for surgery; often they feel like the surgery could not have already happened because they had no sense of time passing during the procedure.
Hence, if this is the sort of state the dead are in, they indeed DO go directly to heaven, or so it seems to them. Time is irrelevant: It is instantaneous.
Second, it is important to note what Paul says in I Cor. 3:12-15:
If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. 14If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.
It is evident from this passage that there is some sort of transformative, purgative experience beyond the grave, for the "Day" will come and though a man is still "saved", he WILL nonetheless suffer loss. Is this a purgatory? There is much more that can be said on this, but I will merely point out that Paul seems to be suggesting an after death experience that purifies or purges the soul.
Third, it is important to note that Revelation shows a multitude around the throne of God, offering prayers, who are the victims of the Great Tribulation. But Rev. 20:5 says that "[t]he rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended." Interesting.
Great question, Zoe's Mom!
Peace,
BG
Post a Comment