A common question that people ask me when I tell them that hell is not real is that if hell isn’t real, then what about heaven? It is almost like they are trying to prove that one cannot exist without the other. The truth is that the belief in a literal physical place called “heaven” that people go to immediately after death is actually unscriptural. Christians believe that when a person dies, they either go to hell or to heaven. If you have done “good” and accepted Christ, you will go to heaven to be with God forever. If you have done evil or you just failed to accept Christ means you will spend an eternity in hell. Well if you have read any of the other papers on this site, you should know by now that the doctrine of hell is a Christian fable. Also, man doesn’t have an immortal soul allowing him to live on after death. The whole idea of a person literally going anywhere after death other than the grave is totally unscriptural. In my paper titled, “Does Man have an Immortal Soul”, I explain with scripture that we all return to the dust from where we came. In order for us to understand the true meaning of the word heaven, we must first denounce the unscriptural, illogical, and carnal teaching of a literal physical heaven that believers go to after death.
Before I can continue, I need to explain a spiritual truth in order for you to understand what heaven is as it spoken about in the scriptures. You must understand that there is a distinct difference between heaven as God’s kingdom here on earth and heaven as the actual abode of God. In regards to going to heaven and actually seeing God, the scriptures teach us this truth;
John 1:18 NO MAN HATH SEEN GOD AT ANY TIME, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. This clearly tells us that nobody has seen God save Christ. When a person is said to go to a literal heaven when they die; isn’t it taught or believed that the person will see or be in the presence of God? In this context, isn’t going to heaven considered to be going to the abode of God in the invisible spiritual realm? The scriptures do not support this teaching. The bible describes the word heaven as the way for man to experience God as in the kingdom of heaven or kingdom of God. We must understand the difference between the kingdom of heaven and the actual abode of God as it is stated in this scripture;
Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN; but he that doeth the will of MY FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN. In this scripture, Christ makes a reference to not everyone entering the kingdom of heaven and his Father which is in heaven. Clearly we know that God the Father is in heaven which we understand to be the abode of the invisible spiritual realm. This is not the same thing as the kingdom of heaven because of this truth;
Exodus 33:20 And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live. All of these magnificent and unbelievable revelations of people being taken to heaven to see God and Jesus Christ are nothing but delusional or made up stories. Entering the “kingdom of heaven” has nothing to do with a person literally going to God’s heaven or the abode of God after death.
The word “heaven” appears 582 in the entire King James Bible and this word was translated from 12 different words in the original languages. Contemplating this truth alone can make it difficult to understand the true spiritual meaning of the word. However, if we study the teachings of Christ, we can learn much about heaven and what it really means. For the purpose of this paper, I will be focusing on the word “heaven” as it was used by Christ and its relationship to God’s kingdom. Furthermore, I will show to you from the scriptures, that there is no such thing as a literal physical “heaven” with streets of gold, mansions, pearly gates, and babies flying around in diapers playing harps.
The first thing that we need to discuss about heaven is that when Christ talked about heaven, He referred to it as “the kingdom of heaven” or the “kingdom of God”. It is important to understand the difference between “heaven” as a kingdom and “heaven” as the sky or pertaining to the celestial. All kingdoms have a king and Christ obviously is the king of the kingdom of heaven. The phrase “kingdom of heaven” is translated from the Greek word “basileia” and it is also translated as kingdom of God, kingdom (in general – good or evil), thy kingdom, his kingdom, my kingdom, and the kingdom. Basileia is a root word of the Greek word “basileus” which means king or commander. This word is used in scripture as king, king of Jews, King (God or Christ), and king of Israel. Many of these phrases are synonymous including the kingdom of God and the kingdom of heaven. Both of these phrases come from the same Greek word “basileia”. If you look at the Greek texts, the word basileia actually just refers to the word kingdom only. There is a different word that is used for the words “heaven” and “God”. The word heaven is translated from the Greek word “ouranos” and it is used as the words heaven, sky, air, and heavenly. The word “God” is translated from the Greek word “theos” and it is used as God, god, and godly. This all may seem confusing so let’s look at some scriptures to see how some of these words have been translated;
Matthew 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the KINGDOM [basileia] OF HEAVEN [ouranos].
Luke 12:31 But rather seek ye the KINGDOM [basileia] OF GOD [theos]; and all these things shall be added unto you.
In these two scriptures above, the phrases “kingdom of heaven” and “kingdom of God” aren’t translated from just one Greek word. It is a combination of the two Greek words shown above. One could easily conclude that both of these phrases mean the exact same thing. Let me show you the scriptural proof;
Matthew 18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.
Luke 18:17 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the KINGDOM OF GOD as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.
In the two scriptures above, Jesus is speaking a parable about entering the kingdom of heaven as it is written in Matthew and kingdom of God as it is written in Luke. In both scriptures, Jesus is making the same reference to entering the kingdom as little children. Notice that in Matthew, an extra detail is added (being converted) in addition to becoming as little children. Does this sound like the heaven that is preached about in church? Do you think Christ is talking about a literal place in the clouds where adults are flying around acting childish? Being like little children is spiritually figurative for being humble. Children are considered to be innocent because of their ignorance. When children start to learn about the ways of the world, they are no longer considered innocent. It is the ways of the world that corrupt men and if you get completely consumed by the world, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven (God). Christ also tells us that we must also be spiritually converted and I will talk about that later. For right now, it is important for you to understand that the belief in a heaven as a literal physical place that a person goes to after death is just not scriptural. So when you think about heaven as it is used in the scriptures above, think about it as God’s Kingdom for us (mankind to experience while alive on earth) and I’m not talking about church buildings. The Christian church of today’s world is not God’s kingdom. God’s kingdom is a spiritual kingdom.
I know this is most likely a new teaching for you but are you still in denial about these scriptural truths that has been revealed to you? Do you need more proof that heaven isn’t a literal physical place? Okay then; let’s look at some phrases in scripture that include the word “heaven” as it is used in scripture to see if we can learn more about the truth concerning the word heaven and what it really means. Let’s first look in Isaiah 14 in regards to the phrase “fallen from the heavens”;
Isaiah 14:12-14 How hast thou FALLEN FROM THE HEAVENS, O shining one, son of the dawn! Thou hast been cut down to earth, O weakener of nations. And thou saidst in thy heart: THE HEAVENS I GO UP, ABOVE STARS OF GOD I RAISE MY THRONE, And I sit in the mount of meeting in the sides of the north. I go up above the heights of a thick cloud, I AM LIKE TO THE MOST HIGH. [Note: the above passage of scripture has been quoted from Young’s Literal Translation. I purposefully selected this version because the King James Version is a terrible translation of Isaiah 14:12 as it includes “O Lucifer” as the translation of the phrase “O shining one” which is a gross translation error. In Christian circles, Isaiah 14 is typically used as the unscriptural teaching about the fall of Satan who was formerly Lucifer, an angel in heaven. This teaching is a Christian fable. If you would like to read more about this, go to the paper titled, “Satan: God’s Perfect Instrument of Evil”.]
I’m showing you Isaiah 14:12-14 to show you how the word heaven has been misinterpreted with the carnal mind and how it should be interpreted with a spiritual and logical mind. The first thing you need to understand about this passage of scripture is that the text is referring to Nebuchadnezzar – the king of Babylon and not a supposed angel named Lucifer. The context of Isaiah 14 tells us this;
Isaiah 14:4 That thou shalt take up this proverb against the KING OF BABYLON, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased!
Nebuchadnezzar was an evil oppressive king and he came to be referred to as the destroyer of nations. As he rose in power, he became puffed up with pride and arrogance. Nebuchadnezzar failed to realize that it was God who gave him his power.
Daniel 4:30-32 The KING SPAKE, and said, IS NOT THIS GREAT BABYLON, that I HAVE BUILT FOR THE HOUSE OF THE KINGDOM BY THE MIGHT OF MY POWER, AND FOR THE HONOUR OF MY MAJESTY? (I recommend that you read the whole chapter of Daniel 4 to get a better understanding of the fall of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon because of his pride.)
If we are to believe that the king of Babylon literally fell from heaven; one could presume that at some point, he had to literally ascend to heaven – the actual abode of God in order to fall from it. If we continue with this literal belief, tell me what it is about this king that makes him worthy of ascending up to heaven to be in the presence of God? We just read that he was evil, arrogant, and oppressive. Is there any scripture in the bible that teaches us that we can inherit “heaven” by being evil, arrogant, and oppressive? The word heaven as it is used in this passage of scripture is figurative. It is not referring to the actual abode of God in the invisible spiritual realm.
Daniel 5:20 But when HIS HEART WAS LIFTED UP, and HIS MIND HARDENED IN PRIDE, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him: Nebuchadnezzar’s heaven exists in is his own mind, will, and thoughts about himself – the height, power and glory of his kingdom. All these things are a “figurative heaven” and it represents man’s belief that he can will and accomplish anything he desires with his own power and without God. Nebuchadnezzar thought that he was god not by proclaiming that he is god, but by failing to give God the glory for everything he had achieved. Because of his actions, God put him in his place hence the phrase, “how hast thou fallen from the heavens”. Nebuchadnezzar didn’t literally fall from the abode of God since we now know that “no man has seen God at any time”. Nebuchadnezzar was brought back down to the earth (the realities of the lowness of man) and he was made to realize that he was nothing without God. Would you like to know what God did to punish king Nebuchadnezzar for his pride?
Daniel 4:33 The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and HE WAS DRIVEN FROM MEN, and DID EAT GRASS AS OXEN, and HIS BODY WAS WET WITH THE DEW OF HEAVEN, TILL HIS HAIRS WERE GROWN LIKE EAGLES’ FEATHERS, AND HIS NAILS LIKE BIRDS’ CLAWS. For 7 years, God made Nebuchadnezzar believe that he was literal beast of the field and there is even a historical account of this and it is known as Nebuchadnezzar’s bout of insanity. After the 7 years passed, Nebuchadnezzar realized his folly and blessed the Most High and his kingdom was restored to him.
Let’s look at another example of scripture that uses the phrase, “exalted to heaven”;
Matthew 11:23 And thou, Capernaum, which art EXALTED UNTO HEAVEN, shalt be brought down to hell: This is Jesus speaking about the people of the city of Capernaum. Do you really think that Jesus was literally referring to the whole city of Capernaum being exalted up to heaven in the spiritual abode where God exists eternally? This too is a figurative phrase as in the example of king Nebuchadnezzar that we just discussed. Remember again what is required to enter the kingdom of heaven;
Matthew 18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, EXCEPT YE BE CONVERTED, AND BECOME AS LITTLE CHILDREN, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Again, this is the parable of Christ in regards to entering the kingdom of heaven and in this verse, he gives two requirements – spiritual conversion and having a humble heart and spirit (this is what is meant by becoming as little children). What does it mean to be converted?
Matthew 13:15 For this PEOPLE’S HEART IS WAXED GROSS, and THEIR EARS ARE DULL OF HEARING, and THEIR EYES THEY HAVE CLOSED; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and SHOULD BE CONVERTED, and I should heal them. Christ is clear that believing truth is essential to spiritual conversion. Notice that being healed and converted is predicated on a person having an open heart, ears to hear and eyes to see. Were the people of Capernaum spiritually converted? Let’s look at what Christ spoke about the people of Capernaum;
Matthew 11:23 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for IF THE MIGHTY WORKS, WHICH HAVE BEEN DONE IN THEE, HAD BEEN DONE IN SODOM, IT WOULD HAVE REMAINED UNTIL THIS DAY. The people of Capernaum had personally witnessed the “mighty works” of Christ. The phrase “mighty works” come from the Greek word “dynamis” and it means “power”. Capernaum was a city in ancient Israel and the name Capernaum means “village of comfort”. This town was known to be a flourishing city at the time and even in the midst of the power of God, they didn’t believe. Remember that we already learned that believing truth is a requirement to spiritual conversion.
Matthew 11:20 Then began he to UPBRAID THE CITIES WHEREIN MOST OF HIS MIGHTY WORKS WERE DONE, because THEY REPENTED NOT: The people of Capernaum despite personally witnessing the power of God, they refused to believe and repent. They thought they had it going on while Christ comes along preaching the kingdom of God – healing the sick, casting out evil spirits, giving sight to the blind, and raising the dead. This is what is meant by the phrase “exalted to heaven”. It makes no sense to think that Christ is literally saying that the whole city of Capernaum was exalted to heaven. It should be clearly obvious that this is figurative language. The people of Capernaum were exalted to the heaven of their own minds by saying in their hearts that they were their own god and in no need for the one and only true God. They didn’t see a need to believe or repent despite experiencing the power of God. You do not have to literally say, “I’m god” to be guilty of this sin. If you deny God of his entire due worship and honor, then you are essentially claiming to be your own god as if you deserve the glory.
This next scripture is probably one of most misinterpreted scriptures in the whole bible that includes the word heaven.
Revelation 12:7-8 And there was WAR IN HEAVEN: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
Was there literally a WAR in heaven? The Christian church teaches that this was a “literal” war in heaven I guess like World War I with Michael and the angels throwing heavenly bombs at Lucifer and the fallen angels that “chose” to rebel with him. This is nothing but an example of the carnality of the human mind. Revelation 12:7-8 has nothing to do with a literal war in the abode of God. It is quite foolish to even think that an entity created by God could do anything other than what was allowed by God in the first place. So what is this “war in heaven”?
Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against PRINCIPALITIES, AGAINST POWERS, AGAINST THE RULERS OF THE DARKNESS OF THIS WORLD, AGAINST SPIRITUAL WICKEDNESS IN HIGH PLACES.
Notice what Paul says first; we wrestle NOT against flesh and blood. So this tell us that this is not a literal physical war. Paul identifies what we wrestle against and they all include things that are invisible. The word “high” as in “high places” is translated from the Greek word “epouranios” and it is translated 16 others times as the word “HEAVENLY”. Ephesians 6:12 tells us that there is spiritual wickedness in the heavenly. How can there be spiritual wickedness in the fabled heaven of Christianity since they believe that heaven is a literal place of nothing but good? Heaven is not a physical place, it is a spiritual realm. Humans are NOT spiritual beings but rather earthly and physical beings so humans cannot actually see the powers of spiritual wickedness in the heavenly realm. Satan is the ruler of the darkness of this world and he controls the spiritual forces that influence us to do evil. One of Satan’s trademark abilities is the power to DECEIVE… To be deceived requires a person to be influenced in their MIND and people stand or fall based on their belief system. This is the only way that a human can access the spiritual realm and it is through our minds. Sure we live inside of a physical body but our mind with all of our thoughts, beliefs, and convictions represent who we really are.
So with this understanding, we should be able to see that “heaven” is not a literal physical place that people (souls) go to after death. Heaven is a realm of spiritual understanding, spiritual thinking, and a spiritual way of existing in this physical realm. We cannot acquire anything spiritual without God because God is Spirit. The bible uses the words heaven, earth, and sea to describe the different levels of spirituality.
Revelation 5:13 AND EVERY CREATURE WHICH IS IN HEAVEN, AND ON THE EARTH, AND UNDER THE EARTH, AND SUCH AS ARE IN THE SEA, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. I sincerely hope that many understand that the creatures spoken of in this verse is understood to be mankind. Revelation 5:3 And NO MAN IN HEAVEN, NOR IN EARTH, NEITHER UNDER THE EARTH, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. Men do not literally dwell in heaven – the abode of God. This is referring to the different levels of spirituality. There are people who dwell in the spiritual realms of heaven, earth, and the sea (under the earth).
Heaven – this is the highest level of spiritual understanding
Earth – this is the mid level of spiritual understanding
Sea – this is the lowest level or the level of no spiritual understanding
People who dwell in heaven are considered to be God’s elect (those who overcome the world) and who have been called out of the church. This group represents the few chosen of God who believe and understand the truths of God’s word. Heaven dwellers represent the highest level of spiritual understanding and there are even higher levels in heaven.
People who walk in the earth are the people who attend church or “religious folk” as this group of people have some spiritual understanding. However, this group is still deceived and under the power of Satan.
People who walk in the sea are the people of the world who have little or no spiritual understanding in accordance to the word of God.
Consider this verse;
Revelation 12:12 THEREFORE REJOICE, YE HEAVENS, AND YE THAT DWELL IN THEM. WOE TO THE INHABITERS OF THE EARTH AND OF THE SEA! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. This is not talking about literal men dwelling in a literal heaven (the abode of God). This is spiritual and figurative language. The real saints of Christ have left the earth (not the physical earth) and they dwell with Christ in the spiritual realm of heaven. Of course this isn’t literal but rather spiritual. None of this will make any sense if you think this is to be interpreted literally instead of spiritually. This truth alone should reveal whether you dwell in heaven, earth, or the sea. Notice that the scripture says, “Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and sea”. The reason this is stated is because Satan still has dominion over those who dwell in the earth and sea but not those who dwell in heaven. Remember Revelation 12:7-8
And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. Satan didn’t prevail in heaven because heaven dwellers know the truths of God word. They cannot be deceived so there is no place for Satan in heaven because deceiving is what Satan does. There was no literal “war” in heaven in which Satan decided that he wanted to be God and subsequently starting a riot in heaven. That is nothing but the foolish carnal ideas of men.
Now we are all familiar with Christ’s teachings concerning the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND. Was Jesus referring to a literal physical kingdom or was He referring to something spiritual? I presented this as a question but I think you should know the answer by now given what we have already discussed.
John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: THE WORDS THAT I SPEAK UNTO YOU, THEY ARE SPIRIT, AND THEY ARE LIFE. Jesus spoke of the spiritual matters of things pertaining to the will of God the Father. It isn’t possible to fully comprehend the spiritual while experiencing the physical but Christ gave spiritual clues about the kingdom of heaven in many of the parables he spoke about. Let’s look at an example of a parable that Christ spoke about in regards to the kingdom of heaven;
Matthew 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. What is Christ talking about in this parable? This has nothing to do with literally entering into a physical kingdom. The scribes and Pharisees represented the old covenant which held onto the laws of Moses (the Ten Commandments). They believed they were righteous in the eyes of God because they were capable of obeying the laws of God. In the Old Testament, we have examples of godly men such as Abraham, Noah, and Job who were counted as righteous men because they were able to keep the law and they had faith. The scribes and Pharisees were unable to see the kingdom of heaven because their hearts were wicked, they were carnally minded, and they were self-righteous hence they were unable to enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Romans 8:4 That the RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE LAW MIGHT BE FULFILLED IN US, who walk not after the flesh, but AFTER THE SPIRIT. When Christ speaks about the kingdom of heaven he is speaking about a spiritual kingdom, a kingdom in which we walk after the Spirit. This is what Christ spoke of to the prideful religious leaders of his day and it also applies to self-righteous Christians of today who use the wisdom of this world in the vain attempt to seek after God’s kingdom;
Revelation 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: Christ isn’t talking about literal physical things. These physical things have a spiritual meaning. Just because things look good on the outside doesn’t mean that things also look good in the inside. Christ doesn’t judge you based on the state of your physical affairs. If you are a true child of the kingdom of God, then you are judged from a spiritual perspective which involves the state of your heart and mind. This has absolutely nothing to do with physical possessions.
Remember that the words of Christ are spirit and one must be thinking and walking spiritually to understand the teachings of Christ. Many Christians are familiar with the phrase being born again when a person accepts Christ and gets “saved”. These same Christians do not realize that the spiritual conversion process that is conducted in the church today is a counterfeit spiritual conversion and no spiritual conversion has taken place at all. The reason I can say this with confidence is because of the nonexistence of truth in the church. God doesn’t associate himself with lies and deception. The Christian church of today is full of lies and deception and I have exposed many of those lies on this site. Here is what Christ teaches us about being born again;
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, EXCEPT A MAN BE BORN AGAIN, HE CANNOT SEE THE KINGDOM OF GOD. Notice that Christ says “see” instead of “enter”. In other scriptures, Christ makes statements about entering the kingdom of heaven. In this scripture, Christ states that one cannot see the kingdom of God without first being born again. It is a common Christian claim to be “born again” as it this claim that Christians believe makes them a saved saint of God. Being spiritually converted and born again are two different events. One can be spiritually converted as in being transformed into the likeness of Christ but this is a process. A believer is not “born again” at any time in their earthly life.
John 4:24 GOD IS A SPIRIT: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
1 Corinthians 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that FLESH AND BLOOD CANNOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
God is Spirit and flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God (heaven). This is teaching us that God’s Kingdom is a “Spiritual Kingdom”. We can only experience and access God’s heaven in the carnality of our human bodies but we can a experience or dwell in God’s spiritual kingdom based on our spiritual mindset and understanding. The spiritual kingdom of heaven is not a physical literal place. If you continue to think about spiritual matters with a worldly carnal mind, these things will never make any sense to you. Do you still think that “heaven” or the kingdom of God is a literal place somewhere in the clouds? If you do, I think it’s time that I reveal to you exactly where God’s spiritual kingdom of heaven is located;
Luke 17:20-21 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, WHEN THE KINGDOM OF GOD SHOULD COME, he answered them and said, THE KINGDOM OF GOD COMETH NOT WITH OBSERVATION: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS WITHIN YOU.
The kingdom of God or God’s “HEAVEN” for us to experience here on earth is within YOU!!!!
The Real Gospel of Christ 
“God turned Nebuchadnezzar into a literal beast of the field for 7 years.”
I’m sure Neb become like a beast, not literally a beast.
Other than that, this is eye-opening. Truly and undeniably eye-opening. I’ve always had an idea and was never sure about some things, and this is exactly what I need to stumble across. I had a feeling the kingdom of God and heaven is merely spiritual. Can’t wait to read about these mansions and streets of gold.
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I probably could have worded that better but yes you are correct. Nebuchadnezzar didn’t turn into an actual beast but rather God made him believe in his heart and mind that he was a literal beast.
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so why did the Apostles died in such a violent way knowing that even if they reject Christ to the ones that were chacing them they will also enter the kingdom of heaven, i dont believe in eternal torment in hell because of alot of articles and vídeos that i saw, the doctrine of eternal hell has been put into the mind of people since the early ages for manipulation. but what its the justice and logic to the ones that trully follow Jesus will have the same destiny as one completly wicked person like Hitler, or at least the one’s that follow Jesus are the ones that will be the greaters in the kingdom of heaven, so you are saying the kingdom of heaven is not physical even after the new heavens and new earth i don’t believe that it’s not biblical. i am so confused of course i would like that God save everyone even the most wicked if God made all things new. sorry for my english
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Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15 that ALL will be made alive in Christ but each man in his own order. The conclusion of God’s will for humanity will result in the salvation of all but how each person walks into God’s salvation will different. There will be TWO future resurrections that Christ speaks about at his second coming and the first is the resurrection to life. The bible clearly identifies the chosen few or “God’s Elect” as the only group of people that will partake in the first resurrection. In this first resurrection, God promises age-lasting life to the overcoming believer and not eternal life as it is written in most bibles. This period of age-lasting life is referred to as the 1,000 year reign with Christ on earth and not in some place called heaven. The Apostles of Christ as well as all overcoming believers (God’s Elect) will rise in the first resurrection to age-lasting life to reign with Christ for 1,000 years in the kingdom of God on earth. The evil and wicked populations that make up the majority of all humanity will not rise in the first resurrection to reign with Christ. So this should answer your question… if the Apostles rejected Christ to their persecutors and they died in that state, they would be disqualified from participating in the first resurrection. Judas was an Apostle of Christ but his betrayal of Christ led to overwhelming sorrow which resulted in him killing himself. Judas repented of his sin but he didn’t overcome it. The Apostle Peter was in the same predicament when he denied Christ but Peter repented and overcame in his life by continuing in the faith until his death. After the 1,000 year reign comes to an end, the second resurrection will begin and this is the resurrection to judgement. This is when God will judge all of the evil and unbelieving people of the world including Adolf Hitler. Adolf Hitler is dead. Evil people do evil during their life but they will eventually die one day. When they die and go to the grave they will stay dead until they are brought back to life in the second resurrection to judgment. While the righteous were living and reigning with Christ for the 1,000 years, the wicked will be dead and they will stay dead until they are resurrected. When they rise, they will experience age-lasting judgment that will cause them to repent of their evil. Judgment is what causes sinners to repent of their sin and this process will result in the learning of righteousness. When everyone has learned righteousness, all will be saved.
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I must disagree with your summation of the two resurrections.The first resurrection or the king priest class does not experience the second death because they are immortal at this point. The second group does not come to life until the end of the thousand years, but that does not mean they are not resurrected at the same time as the first. Remember Lazarus, he was resurrected before the messiah had even given his ransom and so this proves: a spiritually dead,( in the first Adam’s sin) human can be resurrected and subject to the second death.It says In John 5:28 Do not be amazed at this, for the hour is coming when all who are in their graves will hear His voice 29 and come out—those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.…You see both those who get life(immortality) and those who still merit the mark of the first Adam (judgement) come out together. You can not have life while death is still present. Those who are good get life…the real life…the one without sin/defect and they get immortality because they have been perfected by there obedience. They are priests and as such will guide to fountains of waters of life those who are still wearing the robe of the first Adam; these will be subjects of the first resurrected king class. Then by the end of this thousand year period there will be no one left who is not of the mind of the Messiah. The first group gets a new name and the name of the Messiah and his father’s name and so to the end when the last enemy death has been overcome, we all will have new names. We will have the name given us by our new father the last Adam. Figuratively throwing our old names in the lake of fire along with all the traits connected to this name given us while we where in bondage to the first Adams genetics. This is a very brief overview of my take on this. It is a deep study and all of revelation ties into this class, the body of the Messiah. As iron sharpens iron…
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Hello Victoria and thanks for your comment… I realize that you disagree with me but I’m confused because I’ve never stated that those who participate in the first resurrection will experience the second death. The two resurrection events are separated by a period of 1,000 years so it is not possible for the two groups to be resurrected at the same time. Revelation 20:4-5 tells us that those who participate in the first resurrection live and reign with Christ for a thousand years but the rest of the dead “do not live again” until the thousand years are finished. What’s not clear about “did not live again”? The resurrection of Lazarus has nothing to do with the two “future” resurrection events that Christ spoke about in John 5:28-29 as Christ clearly says “for the hour IS COMING” not the hour has come. Lazarus was physically alive and then he physically died… Christ resurrected him back to physical earthly carnal life and he did this to show the people the power of God. Where do you think Lazarus is right now today? You think he is flying around in some magical fantasy kingdom called “heaven”? I certainly hope not but just to be clear, Lazarus is DEAD and in the grave (sheol/hades) or properly – the UNSEEN. Dead people do not exist somewhere else alive. That’s absurd… Lazarus was the brother of Mary and Martha and he was loved by Jesus. Martha was convinced that her brother Lazarus would rise in the resurrection at the “last day”. The resurrection at the last day is the first resurrection and those who participate in the first resurrection aren’t subject to the second death as you already alluded to. A person can be resurrected back to life by God if He chooses to do so but the future resurrection events refer to coming back to life permanently where death has no more power. The second death is the death of death and everything that causes death which includes our evil sinful carnality. Just because Christ makes a statement pertaining to the resurrections doesn’t terminate the timelines and other details revealed in other scriptures concerning the resurrections. Scripture doesn’t contradict scripture it harmonizes with each other. There is a difference from being “raised from the dead” and the “resurrection of the dead”. Paul tells us that ALL shall be made alive in Christ BUT each one in his own ORDER (1 Corinthians 15:22-23)… The word order pertains to the arrangement of people or things in a certain sequence such as numbers, letters, and even children. I have four children and each of them where born in their own order. They are all alive today but their life started at different times. They where not all born at the same time. In the like manner, those who rise in the first resurrection are made immortal at that time. That’s when their immortality begins – that’s their ORDER. 1,000 years later in the second resurrection, the rest of the world will be made immortal after being refined by God’s Spirit in judgment. That’s when their immortality begins because that’s their order. At the conclusion of both resurrection events, all of the inhabitants of the world will be immortal but everyone’s immortality didn’t start at the same time. First comes before second, first and second cannot occur at the same time. Now, you stated that, “you can not have life while death is still present”. Are you serious? I have life and death is present everywhere. I can’t turn on the TV or read a newspaper without being reminded or made aware of death as it “presently” exists in the world today. Maybe you meant that you cannot have immortality while death is still present and if that’s the case, that’s reasonable but the people who are dead awaiting the second resurrection don’t have any kind of life be it moral or immortal. Maybe I’m not understanding you completely but based on my understanding of what you wrote, your understanding of the resurrection events are off. However, I agree with much of what you stated in the latter part of your comment… I’d be happy to continue discussing this with you if you like and I also totally okay with agreeing to disagree…
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will the unrighteous be resurrected in flesh bodies, through natural human women. Since death is being in flesh bodies with a carnal nature in this age. That is something nobody ever seems to talk about.
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I do believe that the unrighteous will be resurrected in their natural fleshly bodies but not through another birth through a woman. They will be resurrected to face judgment and it is through and after judgment (the lake of fire judgment) that they become transformed.
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from the events of things,those having part in the first resurrection,when they die now ,the Gods elect,do they instantly resurrect?
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No, when people die, they remain in the grave in the state of being dead until the resurrection be it the first resurrection to life or the second resurrection to judgment. To put this in perspective, let’s say a member of God’s elect died today but Jesus Christ doesn’t return for another 1,000 years. The man will be dead and stay dead for the entire 1,000 years however, he won’t know it because he is dead. The dead know nothing… there are no thoughts, knowledge, wisdom, memories, feelings, or anything in the state of the dead. As far as the man is concerned, his next conscious experience will be being resurrected. It’s kind of like sleeping… have you ever fell asleep and woke up the next morning feeling like it was only a second not remembering or feeling anything while you were sleep? Well, being dead in the grave is similar to that and that is why death is likened to sleep…
Psalm 13:3 Consider and hear me, O Lord my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death;
Death is likened to sleep because just as we rise from sleeping in a bed, in the like manner, we will all rise from the grave in the resurrection. This is no different for those who will rise in the second resurrection. While the saints of God are reigning with Christ in the kingdom of God, the rest of the dead will be dead and stay dead during the entire 1,000 year period. During that period, they will feel nothing because they have no life and you must be alive to be conscious of anything. They will regain their life and consciousness in the resurrection.
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you will see this all within your lifetime. i don’t know how it plays out. although it seems like you do
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to me, the coming to life,is after the resurrection when they must have been purified,like jesus Christ resurrected to life ,or d few elect resurrected to life wqhich is their reward,the second resurrection,they will also come to life after judgement, rev 20 vs 12 and 13,verse 12 says that scrolls or books where opened and they where judged out of those things written in the book,to me I think its after judgement they will come to life,not at resurrection,we are also told in revelation 20vs3 that satan was hurled into the abyss for 1000 yrs ,so this could also tally with the resurrection of judgement,thats why satan was not there with them during 1000yrs,and then satan will now be let loos again for the final test again after the 1000 yrs
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what do you think?
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What do you think resurrection means?
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There many words said ,to find out ,what you don’t know . Ask Jesus into your Life The rumbling on will stop.logic logic ,oh taste an See .
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First of all, let me say that I appreciate the effort you have put into this website.
Secondly, I understand you to be saying that Rev12:7-8 is not about a literal war in heaven. You say, “So what is this “war in heaven”?
Forgive me if I am missing it, but what is your answer for what this war in heaven (that was fought and the dragon and his angels did not prevail in) actually is?
Also, what is your understanding regarding, “neither was their place found any more in heaven?”
Thanks
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Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against PRINCIPALITIES, AGAINST POWERS, AGAINST THE RULERS OF THE DARKNESS OF THIS WORLD, AGAINST SPIRITUAL WICKEDNESS IN HIGH PLACES.
This is the war… it’s not a carnal physical war but a spiritual war. This is not a war that took place in the past. This war takes place in the lives of every single person every single day of their lives. Remember that the book of Revelation is the testimony of Jesus Christ who was, is, and is to come… That’s past, present, and future. To understand the phrase, “neither was their place found any more in heaven” requires an accurate understanding of what “heaven” is. It is not a physical paradise in the clouds. God’s heaven is the place where he dwells and God dwells in the minds and hearts of believers. God doesn’t sit on a literal throne like an earthly king but rather in a temple made without hands. The temple made without hands is YOU!!! When God calls people and transforms their life into the image of Christ, they become “heaven” because God dwells in heaven. Satan has no place in heaven as he has no power to tempt or deceive those in heaven or the place of spiritual oneness with God. Hope this helps…
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This all makes a lot of sense, and I’ve spent many years wondering about the verses that seem to strongly imply that all people will eventually be saved. They always get glossed over or explained away. But what about the verses that talk about destruction in the presence of the Lord, like 2 Thess 1:9? Some people believe that those who haven’t been cleansed of sin will simply burn up in the presence of God’s fully revealed glory. Then again, as you pointed out, Malachi 3:2 says God is like a refiner’s fire and fuller’s soap, which is clearly refining rather than destructive. I feel confident, after months of research and learning to acknowledge that eternal torture in hell always seemed wrong to me, that I can turn my back on the doctrine of ECT for good. But I don’t feel ready to rule out the possibility of annihilationism yet. I still have too many unanswered questions, but I so badly want to be convinced beyond doubt that everyone will be saved in the end. I think anyone who wouldn’t prefer that is just sick or so repressed that they don’t really know what they think.
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Being “destroyed” is not a permanent condition. Jesus himself was said to be destroyed but God raised Him from the dead. Also, the words destroy, lose, and perish all come from the same Greek word “apollymi”. If a person “loses” his or her life for Christ that doesn’t mean they are annihilated and when are love ones perish, we know that the state of the dead is temporary. That is why death is oftentimes likened to “sleep” because in sleep we rise in the morning and likewise in death, we will rise in the resurrection. Paul tells us that God will be ALL in ALL so who is left out in ALL? Before God can be ALL in ALL, God must first cause people to go through judgment some in this life and many in future ages to come but in the end, God will be ALL in ALL when Christ makes ALL things new! The word “things” is not in the Greek – it was added so when Christ says he makes “all things” new, he is literally referring to all humanity. Christ will make ALL “as in all of humanity” new creatures made in the spiritual image of God and God will be ALL in ALL!
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The book of Enoch mentions the tenth Heaven which mentions where God throne is above the Earth with angels. This is clearly literal not symbolic.
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The book of Enoch is not even considered to be biblical canon so I’d be careful treating it as if it were inspired or has authority over what is inspired. God is SPIRIT and God is invisible so God doesn’t need a throne to sit on. Thrones are for earthly kings however, sitting on a throne “represents” POWER and AUTHORITY. Heaven is NOT a physical place somewhere in outer space. Heaven is a spiritual realm. Jesus himself stated that the kingdom of God is WITHIN YOU not in some tenth heaven above the earth.
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why was Jesus crucified?
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Why do you think he was crucified?
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I find it hard to believe that someone with your analytical ability and Godly discernment could not understand the correlation between Lazarus resurrection and those who do not make up the first resurrection class. I sent more information to you as to the timing of those who are resurrected and how it clearly likens this time to a figurative hour in which both the good( first resurrection,king/priest class) and the wicked would come out. Lazarus died again and that was clearly my point and yet his death was not the second death(lake of fire) even though for him it was a second death Clearly Lazarus had not come to life and so went to the grave again. He will come out in that figurative hour when all come out of the memorial tombs.Those who are wicked are those who have not come to life and are figuratively still dead in the first Adams sin ,as Lazarus was when the Messiah brought him back from the grave. He brought him back from the grave not the dead as all were still dead with no hope until he paid the ransom.. You say they are resurrected a thousand years apart form the first resurrection, but clearly according to the spiritual time key that would be a day 2 peter 3:8 and it clearly says in John 5:28 that it would be a spiritual hour not day in which all both good and bad would be raised. Be careful which translation you use in connection with Revelation 20:4-5 , for does it say “come to life again” or is the correct rendering the rest of the dead do not come to life until the end of the thousand years. There is a big difference between the two. It says rest of the dead ,because the first group was dead in Adam until they were born again…born to life. Both groups are resurrected in the figurative spiritual hour and by the end of the figurative spiritual day they,(all the dead,all of us) have come to life. Why would you have a king class with no one to reign over or a priest class with no one to intercede on behalf of. These words were used to convey a precise spiritual meaning. I believe in that figurative hour there is plenty of time to resurrect in an orderly fashion both groups,because it says there is and that both will rise at that time.Perhaps you are mixed up as to when this hour takes place. It is the first hour of on the last day( one day to The Almighty is as thousand years). Well if you can not see the connection that I have been shown there is certainly no need to argue the point. For all who are the body will have the same understanding before the seventh trumpet is blown and the secret of the Messiah is revealed; perhaps you agree perhaps not. Iron sharpens iron clay does not sharpen anything. I perceived you to be iron,but I may have been mistaken. You tend to belittle when challenged with a point you do not agree with;not a becoming way to treat those who may be heirs with you. Maybe a little more seasoning as with salt as your ego clearly shows through. I made no mention of Lazarus being anywhere yet you try to make me out as fool who is not as adept spiritually as you yourself are. Your response to my disagreement to your understanding had all the ear marks of the spiritual leaders of Christendom. Do you think you alone have Truth , Do you think you alone are all discerning? I was just sharing as I was moved to do. Your answer has told me to move on. You could not be my spiritual brother and treat my reply as you did to glorify yourself. We will leave it be and I will respectfully agree to disagree with your take. Peace to you.
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Its a solid rebuttal of an ethereal place we go to when we die. The reality is that concept is not hebraic but rather greek.
The word spirit or spiritual to the authentic ancient hebrews does not conceptualized a different realm. This is where I disagree with you. Spirit always meant character of god. When paul talks about spirit vs flesh he’s not referring to plato’s interpretation, but rather his own.
Spirit = godly
Flesh = ungodly
Spirit is not a place, a realm, a being, etc. It’s the character of God.
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I think that there is much more scriptural validity to that fact that “spirit” means life than just the character of God. God put his “spirit” (life) in man and man became a living soul. Man certainly cannot be attributed to having the “character of God” being made flesh which is subject to the lusts of the flesh. God says that His “spirit” shall not always strive with man for man is flesh. This clearly pointing to life and not the character of God. God is “spirit”, God is LIFE…
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Hey, how’s it going?
I want to pass along some very important news that everyone needs to hear!
In December of 2017, Donald Trump made history by recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Why is this big news? Because by this the Jewish people of Israel are now able to press forward in bringing about the Third Temple prophesied in the Bible.
Jewish Rabbis have publicly announced that their Messiah will be revealed in the coming years who will be a leader and spiritual guide to all nations, gathering all religions under the worship of one God.
Biblical prophecy tells us that this Jewish Messiah who will take the stage will be the antichrist “who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God” (2 Thessalonians 2:4). For a time he will bring about a false peace, but “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (Matthew 24:15)…then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be” (Matthew 24:21).
More importantly, the power that runs the world wants to put a RFID microchip in our body making us total slaves to them. This chip matches perfectly with the Mark of the Beast in the Bible, more specifically in Revelation 13:16-18:
“He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.”
Referring to the last days, this could only be speaking of a cashless society, which we have yet to see, but are heading towards. Otherwise, we could still buy or sell without the mark amongst others if physical money was still currency. This Mark couldn’t be spiritual because the word references two different physical locations. If it was spiritual it would just say in the forehead. RFID microchip implant technology will be the future of a one world cashless society containing digital currency. It will be implanted in the right-hand or the forehead, and we cannot buy or sell without it. Revelation 13:11-18 tells us that a false prophet will arise on the world scene doing miracles before men, deceiving them to receive this Mark. Do not be deceived! We must grow strong in Jesus. AT ALL COSTS, DO NOT TAKE IT!
“Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name” (Revelation 14:9-11).
People have been saying the end is coming for many years, but we needed two key things. One, the Third Temple, and two, the technology for a cashless society to fulfill the prophecy of the Mark of the Beast.
Visit http://WWW.BIBLEFREEDOM.COM to see proof for these things and why the Bible truly is the word of God!
If you haven’t already, it is time to seek God with all your heart. Jesus loves you more than you could imagine. He wants to have a relationship with you and redeem you from your sins. Turn to Him and repent while there is still hope! This is forever…God bless!
“EITHER HUMAN INTELLIGENCE ULTIMATELY OWES ITS ORIGIN TO MINDLESS MATTER OR THERE IS A CREATOR…” – JOHN LENNOX
We all know God exists. Why? Because without Him, we couldn’t prove anything at all. Do we live our lives as if we cannot know anything? No. So why is God necessary? In order to know anything for certain, you would have to know everything, or have revelation from somebody who does. Who is capable of knowing everything? God. So to know anything, you would have to be God, or know God.
A worldview without God cannot account for the uniformity and intelligibility of nature. And why is it that we can even reason that God is the best explanation for this if there is no God? We are given reason to know or reject God, but never to know that He does not exist.
It has been calculated by Roger Penrose that the odds of the initial conditions for the big bang to produce the universe that we see to be a number so big, that we could put a zero on every particle in the universe, and even that would not be enough to use every zero. What are the odds that God created the universe? Odds are no such thing. Who of you would gamble your life on one coin flip?
Is there evidence that the Bible is the truth? Yes. Did you know that the creation accounts listed in the book of Genesis are not only all correct, but are also in the correct chronological order? That the Bible doesn’t say the Earth was formed in six 24-hour days but rather six long but finite periods of time? That the Bible makes 10 times more creation claims than all major “holy” books combined with no contradictions, while these other books have errors in them? The Bible stood alone by concurring with the big bang saying, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” (Genesis 1:1); and says our universe is expanding, thousands of years before scientists discovered these things. Watch a potential life-changing video on the website listed below with Astronomer(PhD) Hugh Ross explaining all these facts based on published scientific data. He has authored many books, backed even by atheist scientists.
Jesus came to pay a debt that we could not; to be our legal justifier to reconcile us back to a Holy God; only if we are willing to receive Him: “For the wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23).
God so loved the world that He gave us His only begotten son, so that whoever believes in Him, through faith, shall not perish, but have everlasting life. Jesus says if we wish to enter into life to keep the commands! The two greatest commands are to love God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind; and your neighbor as yourself. All the law hang on these commands. We must be born of and lead by the Holy Spirit, to be called children of God, to inherit the kingdom. If we are willing to humble ourselves in prayer to Jesus, to confess and forsake our sins, He is willing to give the Holy Spirit to those who keep asking of Him; giving us a new heart, leading us into all truth!
Jesus came to free us from the bondage of sin. The everlasting fire was prepared for the devil and his angels due to disobedience to God’s law. If we do the same, what makes us any different than the devil? Jesus says unless we repent, we shall perish. For sin is the transgression of the law. We must walk in the Spirit so we may not fulfill the lusts of the flesh, being hatred, fornication, drunkenness and the like. Whoever practices such things will not inherit the kingdom (Galatians 5:16-26). If we sin, we may come before Jesus to ask for forgiveness (1 John 2:1-2). Evil thoughts are not sins, but rather temptations. It is not until these thoughts conceive and give birth by our own desires that they become sin (James 1:12-15). When we sin, we become in the likeness of the devil’s image, for he who sins is of the devil (1 John 3:8); but if we obey Jesus, in the image of God. For without holiness, we shall not see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14).
The oldest religion in the world is holiness through faith (James 1:27). What religion did Adam and Eve follow before the fall? Jesus, Who became the last Adam, what religion does He follow? Is He not holy? He never told us to follow the rituals and traditions of man but to take up our cross and follow Him (Luke 9:23). There are many false doctrines being taught leading people astray. This is why we need the Holy Spirit for discernment. Unlike religion, holiness cannot be created. It is given to us from above by the baptism of the Spirit. Jesus is more than a religion; He is about having a personal relationship with the Father. Start by reading the Gospel of Matthew, to hear the words of God, to know His character and commandments. Follow and obey Jesus, for He is the way, the truth, and the life!
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Hey Mr.Randolph I’m back with more questions..
I don’t believe in a rapture, which most people do..They believe being “Caught up” in the air is exactly that.
Maybe you can help me understand more on this..I study alone and sometimes I get stumped and need an extra boost..If you’re willing? It might make me understand things better.
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Being caught up in the air is exactly that as it is nothing more than a grand welcoming of the saints meeting the Lord in the sky. Not to make light of that but they most certainly return to the earth. They do not vanish into thin air to go to some magical kingdom called heaven. That is what most Christians believe anyway. Heaven exists in the mind. It is a spiritual way of thinking that transcends any physical location as a person’s thoughts dictate their actions. Dwelling in heaven has more to do with how a person thinks and lives as it pertains to matters of the spirit. No one could ever ascend to God’s heaven for that reality requires a person to be born of the spirt which doesn’t take place until the resurrection and even then, we don’t do it, God does. He adopts us and we become His children. We have the earnest (small down payment) of God’s spirit in this life so we get a glimpse of God’s heaven but it can never be realized until the full manifestation of God dwells in us at the consummation of the ages.
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Thankyou, this makes alot of sense to me now…Thankyou for always helping me with insight!!
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👍
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Once again, you quote scripture written before Christ’s work on cross. Things would be completely different after He said “it is finished”.
Yes the kingdom of heaven, or God, is within us now as we are being sanctified, but there will eventually be an eternal kingdom with spiritual, incorruptible, immortal bodies, like Christ now has. And tell me, where is Christ now? Is He just in some spiritual high place in Himself, or is He at the right hand of the Father in an actual spiritual dwelling place?
There is scripture and external evidence that shows that we don’t just sleep now that Christ has done His work. I think it’s possible that some still do just sleep. But it’s clear that not all do.
And I don’t know why you say that those who reach the highest spiritual truth are those that leave the church. That’s craziness. We don’t have to agree with the churches doctrine’s, but we should never forsake fellowship, communion, or continuing the great commission of spreading the gospel.
I don’t know, some things you say are just outright attacks on the church.
I don’t know about you, but my goal is to dwell with Christ and the Father in the end. That’s what makes heaven, heaven. If I can’t be with Him, I’m ready to not exist.
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The purpose of the article about the Kingdom Heaven and the Abode of God was to show that God is not dwelling in some literal place called “heaven” which is what many Christians have come to believe. God is “Spirit” so it would be silly to suggest that God exist somewhere where there are limits and boundaries such as a physical world. God is not literally sitting on a throne that is a symbol of majesty. Christ is not literally at the right hand of the Father because God doesn’t have hands. God is not a man. This is symbolic language regarding the authority that has been given to Christ. If you really think God is isolated in some literal kingdom called “heaven” then explain how God can be omnipresent?
What do you mean when you say that we don’t just sleep now that Christ has done His work? What are you quoting me on because sleep is likened to death from a biblical perspective? There are many that are dead and sleeping in the graves awaiting the resurrection be it the first or the second. Those who are alive at Christ’s coming who belong to Christ will be changed in that instance so yes those will be the only people that avoid the sleep of death. If you die before Christ returns you will be dead and buried in your grave “sleeping” until the resurrection.
There are many people that leave the church and they leave for a variety of reasons but I don’t recall ever suggesting that any person that leaves the church just automatically reaches the highest level of spiritual truth. You contradict yourself when you say that we don’t have to agree with church doctrine but how does that make any senses? If we are the church, then our doctrine should agree and if we carry a doctrine that is contrary to God’s doctrine then we would be replacing God’s doctrines with our own. You are placing more value on religious rituals instead of knowledge and truth. I simply refuse to participate in any institution that damns people’s love ones to an eternal hell with no mercy or no hope. We already live in a world of evil and cruelty but if I don’t submit to the creeds of Christianity then I’ll be doomed to some pagan hell for all eternity? How could that ever be considered good news? You continually repeat religious phrases that have no scriptural backing whatsoever. Show me the scripture that says that spreading the gospel is the great commission? Jesus commanded His disciples to make disciples of all nations but that has never been coined biblically as the “great commission”. There is only one commission that could be called “great” and it that was the commission given to the Son by the Father.
1 John 4:14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
That is the “Great Commission” but how many people believe it? You certainly don’t but this commission came from the Father Himself. Will God fail? If Jesus doesn’t save the world, the God is a failure and He is no more God than you or me but God is not a man and if God declares it, purposes it, sends it, wills it, it will come to pass.
Isaiah 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
Christianity doesn’t even believe the gospel as they have replaced God’s gospel with a counterfeit gospel suggesting that Christ will fail at saving the world losing billions to suffer the fate of an eternal hell. That is craziness. You will certainly never understand the things I say as long as you continue to cling to the religious traditions and doctrinal idols of the church. The church has a long record of spilling blood over the ages trying to spread Christianity all in the name of God and you criticize me for attacking the church? God Himself will destroy the church or man’s religious system in the judgement. These are not my words, these are words that God has declared. I am just testifying to the things that God has said but you minimize the word of God so that you can continue your fellowship and communion with other blasphemers of God. I know that there are many well-to-do people that go to church and mean no harm because I was one of them but God has called me out of the church and you rebuke me for responding to that call? I will be the first to admit that I do not know everything and I have much to learn but once I learned that hell was a lie that was all I needed to know about the church that gave me the confidence to walk out of the door. I don’t want anything to do with an institution that would spread such an evil lie that holds people in spiritual and financial bondage.
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To say that heaven and he’ll don’t exist as a literal spiritual realms is a big error. You just claim to know chunk of letters from the scripture without knowing their accurate interpretation and spiritual significance. I pray that people will not fall prey of this false theology of yours.
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I have never claimed that “heaven” doesn’t exist as a spiritual realm in fact, “heaven” (as in God’s “heaven) is exactly that, a spiritual realm.
What I have continuously repeated is that “heaven” is not a physical geographical location where God lives because God is spirit and spirit is invisible. God is everywhere so how could He be confined to any finite location? What most people have come to believe regarding “heaven” is based on religious tradition however, the traditional view of “heaven” is of little consequence when it comes to the doctrine of hell. Did you by chance read my series on the false doctrine of hell? Or did you decide to leave your critique without even reading what I wrote? You said, “You just claim to know chunk of letters from the scripture without knowing their accurate interpretation and spiritual significance” but I see you didn’t burden yourself by offering what you think might be “the accurate interpretation and spiritual significance” of any scripture. You haven’t quoted a single sentence from my writings or offered an even semi-reasonable argument. What is your point in commenting? Is it to just be critical because my views differ from yours? If that’s the case then make your argument instead of just coming off as complaining. I will glad to discuss this further but please don’t be arrogant. You cannot pray people into your line of thinking and calling my theology false doesn’t make it false.
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Hi Randolph,
Someone has told me that when Jesus said “the kingdom of heaven is within you”, it meant ïn the midst”. Jesus as the ruler of God’s kingdom , he was referring to himself as a futuristic ruler of that kingdom (in the midst of them physically). They said the verse cannot be referring as the kingdom within one’s self because Jesus was talking to the Pharisees who are not a very nice bunch of people. So it cannot mean that the kingdom of heaven is within people who are like the Pharisees.
Your revelation really explains what the verse Luke 17:20-21 is. The kingdom of Heaven can and will exist within ourselves and not a physical place that everyone is looking for. It’s really remarkable to realize this now after all these years of thinking that it is a place where you can get rewards for being obedient to God.
I would like to know your thoughts about Isaiah 33:24. Is this verse referring to physical or spiritual sickness?
Hope to hear from you!
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I believe Isaiah 33:24 is referring to life after the resurrection and judgment when all sins will be forgive and when all are made immortal.
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Hi Randolph,
You mentioned about life after the resurrection, I just want to ask if this verse is also referring to that?
Isaiah 65:20
“No longer will babies die when only a few days old. No longer will adults die before they have lived a full life. No longer will people be considered old at one hundred! Only the cursed will die that young!
I am just wondering why this mentioned about babies being born, longer life and dying. The next verse also mentions about people living an ideal life?
I am trying to figure out when this will take place, or if it will happen?
Thanks!
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Yes Isaiah 65 is talking about life in the kingdom of God on earth in the resurrection. The ways of the old earth will pass away so this is not referring to literal babies being born or old people dying. This is referring to spiritual birth and death to the old carnal self. All of this stuff happens in the resurrection but I would concern myself with this too much as there is so much more to deal with in this life.
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Sorry, I mean “literal” not physical.
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