Apostolic Friends Forum

Apostolic Friends Forum (https://www.apostolicfriendsforum.com/index.php)
-   Fellowship Hall (https://www.apostolicfriendsforum.com/forumdisplay.php?f=7)
-   -   Will Heaven be better than Earth? (https://www.apostolicfriendsforum.com/showthread.php?t=40383)

Timmy 08-08-2012 02:33 PM

Will Heaven be better than Earth?
 
Is it going to be better in Heaven than it has been here on Earth, in "this life"?

Dedicated Mind 08-08-2012 02:35 PM

Re: Will Heaven be better than Earth?
 
no idea, but jesus said, no sex in heaven, makes you wonder what's better certainly no hunger, crime, murder, abuse etc. will be better

RandyWayne 08-08-2012 02:37 PM

Re: Will Heaven be better than Earth?
 
.....as long as it isn't one eternal Pentecostal song or alter service, it will be just fine. :)

Bro. Robbins 08-08-2012 02:38 PM

Re: Will Heaven be better than Earth?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Timmy (Post 1180585)
Is it going to be better in Heaven than it has been here on Earth, in "this life"?

Can you unpack that a little? Too broad of a question for me to vote... don't know what you mean by better... and are you talking about heaven where we go now when we die? or the eternal ending for all saints which is the New Jeruselum after there is a new heaven and new earth?

I would think though, any place void of the curse that we currently live under from the penalty sin would be wonderful.

Timmy 08-08-2012 02:45 PM

Re: Will Heaven be better than Earth?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Bro. Robbins (Post 1180590)
Can you unpack that a little? Too broad of a question for me to vote... don't know what you mean by better... and are you talking about heaven where we go now when we die? or the eternal ending for all saints which is the New Jeruselum after there is a new heaven and new earth?

I would think though, any place void of the curse that we currently live under from the penalty sin would be wonderful.

I had the after-life destination in mind. If that's different from the final destination, well, I guess you could answer for both. (Vote "other" and explain in a post. ;)) And by "better", I just mean in your opinion would you expect to enjoy life more there, than here, subjectively.

Timmy 08-08-2012 02:46 PM

Re: Will Heaven be better than Earth?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Dedicated Mind (Post 1180587)
no idea, but jesus said, no sex in heaven, makes you wonder what's better certainly no hunger, crime, murder, abuse etc. will be better

Where did Jesus say there'd be no sex in heaven?

rgcraig 08-08-2012 03:01 PM

Re: Will Heaven be better than Earth?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Timmy (Post 1180595)
Where did Jesus say there'd be no sex in heaven?

Lol -- that got your attention!

I think he means no male nor female.....of course, if that's the case, then there won't be "sex" either.

Dedicated Mind 08-08-2012 03:56 PM

Re: Will Heaven be better than Earth?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Timmy (Post 1180595)
Where did Jesus say there'd be no sex in heaven?

mt 22:30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.

how do you interpret this verse? how does this change your view of heaven?

Dedicated Mind 08-08-2012 04:00 PM

Re: Will Heaven be better than Earth?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by rgcraig (Post 1180596)
Lol -- that got your attention!

I think he means no male nor female.....of course, if that's the case, then there won't be "sex" either.

i'm not sure mt 22:30 means no male or female. it could just mean we will be celibate as the angels. maybe there will be intimacy, i have no idea, but that verse is a real bummer.

TGBTG 08-08-2012 04:01 PM

Re: Will Heaven be better than Earth?
 
Let's not forget that it was God who created sex...

So if God made something as wonderful as that on earth, then I have no doubt it has not even entered into the heart of men what God has in store for those who love him...

Dordrecht 08-08-2012 04:56 PM

Re: Will Heaven be better than Earth?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by TGBTG (Post 1180617)
Let's not forget that it was God who created sex...

So if God made something as wonderful as that on earth, then I have no doubt it has not even entered into the heart of men what God has in store for those who love him...

LOL

bbyrd009 08-08-2012 08:50 PM

Re: Will Heaven be better than Earth?
 
Thank God someone here is sane...
(oh-not you, of course, Dordt-seek help)
oh, TG! = Thank God? Don't tell me.


"The kingdom of Heaven is beside you."
Right now, right here.
Ps, "...hate your life..." :lol

Reconciling those two should occupy
anyone for a while.

AreYouReady? 08-08-2012 09:35 PM

Re: Will Heaven be better than Earth?
 
After living 56 years on this earth...I just gotta believe there is something better coming my way. Call it heaven. Call it the Kingdom of God. Whatever.

As long as Jesus is there, what more could we even want?

AreYouReady? 08-08-2012 09:36 PM

Re: Will Heaven be better than Earth?
 
At least there won't be any more 'wrecked churches' because Christ will rule and people won't be climbing all over each other to try to be top dog.

UnTraditional 08-09-2012 04:10 AM

Re: Will Heaven be better than Earth?
 
Will Heaven be better than earth? Earth has been heavily corrupted by the sin of man. Murders, abortion, homosexuality, adultery, rape, and destruction are all around us. There is some beauty, but nothing compared to being in His presence for all eternity, learning of Him from Him. Heaven though is not about the lack of sin and the results of sin not touching that place, but it is about being with God for ever and ever. It is all about Him, and my heart longs for that day. Until then, I will work down here for Him until my name is called.

Amanah 08-09-2012 04:15 AM

Re: Will Heaven be better than Earth?
 
I think a place where there are no more tears, pain, sickness, suffering and death sounds like a good place to be.

And, from what I have tasted of the presence of God, I think being in His presence would feel like being loved, having peace of mind, no more tormenting thoughts, being accepted, cared for, safe.

If you guys are really worried about losing sex in trade for perfect happiness, love and peace, I'm sad for you.

The Bible says if one of your members causes offense, cut it off! It's better to enter into eternal joy without it.:heeheehee

MawMaw 08-09-2012 04:28 AM

Re: Will Heaven be better than Earth?
 
The place Jesus has prepared for the saved will
be incomparable to anything this present Earth
has ever afforded! \o/

deacon blues 08-09-2012 05:47 AM

Re: Will Heaven be better than Earth?
 
Eyes have not seen, ears have not heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man the things that God has prepared for those that love Him.

I love life here! Abundant life in Christ here is awesome! So if it's gonna get better beyond my ability to dream and envision? You bet it's gonna be out of this world!

Aquila 08-09-2012 06:41 AM

Re: Will Heaven be better than Earth?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Dedicated Mind (Post 1180610)
mt 22:30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.

how do you interpret this verse? how does this change your view of heaven?

Actually the verse doesn't talk about sex. This verse only talks about the institution of marriage. In context the Pharisees wanted to know who's wife a woman would be if she had several husbands during her life. Their question implied that Heaven would arrange a marriage with one of those men. Christ's words imply that the insitution of marriage doesn't exist in the resurrection.

TGBTG 08-09-2012 06:45 AM

Re: Will Heaven be better than Earth?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Amanah (Post 1180712)
If you guys are really worried about losing sex in trade for perfect happiness, love and peace, I'm sad for you.

:spit

Aquila 08-09-2012 07:04 AM

Re: Will Heaven be better than Earth?
 
We can obviously agree that whatever God has in mind will be better than sex.

Aquila 08-09-2012 07:07 AM

Re: Will Heaven be better than Earth?
 
For those deeply troubled by this, it should be noted that in David K. Bernard's, The Oneness of God, and several other works, Emmanuel Swedenborg is regarded as having a revelation of truth in that he is Oneness in his theology. Swedenborg essentially taught a spiritual understanding of marriage and that while no one marries in Heaven, unbroken marriages on earth continue on into eternity in all respects, even with physical intimacy.

Some may find his works interesting.

Personally, I'm skeptical, but interested in his pespective.

Aquila 08-09-2012 07:10 AM

Re: Will Heaven be better than Earth?
 
I look at it this way... through Christ Jesus, God will restore creation to it's Edenic glory. Here's a post I posted some time ago on what I believe:

I believe we will have glorified bodies in Heaven's New Jerusalem on the New Earth, ruled by the never fading majesty of creation's King, Jesus Christ. I believe there will be worship, prayer, praise, family, love, cities, nations, cultures, trades, farms, music, food, arts, sports, dancing, laughter, exploring, hiking, nature, vast heavenly shores, sandy beaches, holy science, sacred learning, swimming in cool crystal clear waters, ....awe inspiring snow covered mountains. All in a redeemed creation. Some will be given roles of leadership in the earth's government as kings, others will be given leadership in the church as priests forever, others will find their callings in other ministries forever. Many that have felt the call of God on their lives here, but who have never been able to fulfill that call, will realize their calling in eternity as we serve the Lord forever. I believe the eternal Heaven will be full of every enjoyment originally intended for man. Sin and Satan will have won nothing. We will experience a never ending Heavenly Renaissance.

All things will be redeemed. I get so excited just thinking about it.
Numbers 14:21
But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD.

Isaiah 11:9-10
9They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
10And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.

Isaiah 65:17-25
17For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.
18But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.
19And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.
20There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.
21And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.
22They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
23They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them.
24And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
25The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.

Habakkuk 2:14
For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

Revelation 21:1-27
1And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
2And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
4And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
6And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
7He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
8But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
9And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.
10And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
11Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
12And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
13On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.
14And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
15And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.
16And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.
17And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.
18And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.
19And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;
20The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.
21And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.
22And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
23And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
24And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.
25And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.
26And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. 27And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

Revelation 22:1-2
1And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
2In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
What will eternity be like in Heaven's New Jerusalem? One word...GLORIOUS.
In my opinion... unless God restores creation to it's pre-fall glory... Satan will have won. Christ rose from the dead in a glorified physical body. He wasn't just a ghost. So shall we be.
Now... a Christoplatonist perspective teaches an undefinable "disembodied" eternity. I can't say that I buy that.

Aquila 08-09-2012 07:30 AM

Re: Will Heaven be better than Earth?
 
Great article!!!

http://www.heavenquestions.com/Will_...Marriage_.html

There will be marriage in Heaven!!!

Timmy 08-09-2012 08:14 AM

Re: Will Heaven be better than Earth?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Dedicated Mind (Post 1180610)
mt 22:30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.

how do you interpret this verse? how does this change your view of heaven?

He said that would be no marriage. Not that there would be no sex. :)

Timmy 08-09-2012 08:15 AM

Re: Will Heaven be better than Earth?
 
Will there be beer in heaven? :lol

Timmy 08-09-2012 08:19 AM

Re: Will Heaven be better than Earth?
 
Isn't anybody wondering what my "angle" is, here? :heeheehee

RandyWayne 08-09-2012 11:05 AM

Re: Will Heaven be better than Earth?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Timmy (Post 1180736)
Will there be beer in heaven? :lol

No.

Which is why we drink it here.

And when your gone from here.

All your friends will be drinking all your beer.

rgcraig 08-09-2012 11:44 AM

Re: Will Heaven be better than Earth?
 
I'll step out on a limb and say that I believe that heaven could be on earth.

The Garden of Eden was wonderful and without sin and it was on earth.......so, once Satan has been removed, the earth could be restored to what God intended it to be!

AreYouReady? 08-09-2012 02:08 PM

Re: Will Heaven be better than Earth?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by RandyWayne (Post 1180772)
No.

Which is why we drink it here.

And when your gone from here.

All your friends will be drinking all your beer.

:toofunny

bbyrd009 08-09-2012 04:41 PM

Re: Will Heaven be better than Earth?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Aquila (Post 1180732)
Great article!!!

http://www.heavenquestions.com/Will_...Marriage_.html

There will be marriage in Heaven!!!

Um, what?

bbyrd009 08-09-2012 04:44 PM

Re: Will Heaven be better than Earth?
 
The thing about this thread title is
it equates heaven as being like earth,
in a sense; a place, that you may go to.

I don't think it works like that.

Timmy 08-09-2012 05:39 PM

Re: Will Heaven be better than Earth?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by bbyrd009 (Post 1180853)
The thing about this thread title is
it equates heaven as being like earth,
in a sense; a place, that you may go to.

I don't think it works like that.

I had an "Other" option mostly for you, bb. ;)

crakjak 08-10-2012 08:32 AM

Re: Will Heaven be better than Earth?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by rgcraig (Post 1180782)
I'll step out on a limb and say that I believe that heaven could be on earth.

The Garden of Eden was wonderful and without sin and it was on earth.......so, once Satan has been removed, the earth could be restored to what God intended it to be!

All things shall be made new!! Yes, this earth is to be redeemed.

Timmy 08-10-2012 09:03 AM

Re: Will Heaven be better than Earth?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by crakjak (Post 1180931)
All things shall be made new!! Yes, this earth is to be redeemed.

How long will all the road repairs (repaving with gold) take? :winkgrin

Timmy 08-10-2012 10:46 AM

Re: Will Heaven be better than Earth?
 
Will heaven be perfect? Will all the people (souls, spirits, whatever) there be perfect?

RandyWayne 08-10-2012 10:50 AM

Re: Will Heaven be better than Earth?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Timmy (Post 1180973)
Will heaven be perfect? Will all the people (souls, spirits, whatever) there be perfect?

Yup. It will be a Universe full of Marry Poppins's. :)

rgcraig 08-10-2012 11:34 AM

Re: Will Heaven be better than Earth?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Timmy (Post 1180938)
How long will all the road repairs (repaving with gold) take? :winkgrin

I'd imagine about the same amount of time as it did for him to create it all in the first place.

Timmy 08-10-2012 11:35 AM

Re: Will Heaven be better than Earth?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by rgcraig (Post 1181008)
I'd imagine about the same amount of time as it did for him to create it all in the first place.

6 days? That's not bad! :lol

Timmy 08-10-2012 11:36 AM

Re: Will Heaven be better than Earth?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Timmy (Post 1181012)
6 days? That's not bad! :lol

Uh oh. What if that "thousand years = one day" thing kicks in? :uhoh

:lol


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 01:19 AM.

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.5
Copyright ©2000 - 2026, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.