A heavenly hope

Dawn

I have read a number of posts in the past few weeks from people who felt they had a heavenly hope and struggled with the issue "how do I handle the memorial" or "what will my friends think".

This interests me because I struggled with quite the opposite. I always believed I was of the earthly class and that is where my hope always was.

When I started going to a new church last year and hearing about a heavenly hope I really struggled with this. I couldn't imagine myself going to heaven - even if for a short time until the earth is made new. In fact, even though I am now a born again christian I still have a hard time picturing myself in heaven - and I wonder what the purpose of a resurection would be if I never died.

Are there any other born again christians out there who struggled with the "new to us" idea of going to heaven?

Nikita

Dawn,

I don't know if I struggle with it so much as I can't even fathom what Heaven will be like-you know how magnificent and awesome it will be! At first, I guess I did struggle with it but from what I have learned we will one day have the best of both worlds.

Have you heard the song "I Can Only Imagine" by Mercy Me? It is awesome-at least IMHO- I think so!

Nikita

LB

Heavenly hope vs earthly hope. Hmmmm

Well Dawn maybe the key is to not believe any "Christian" group totally. I see no signs that any group has it right. I think it's best to continue to pray and worship, but, just let your future lie in His hands not the churchs.

Never Squat With Yer Spurs On

Carmel

Gees, why do you have to limit yourself. You could become a Morman and have your own little world to be God of! Think of it. If your gonna have a "earthly hope" why not go for the whole bag and be God of your own "earthly hope".

carmel slithering back into his cave

Double Edge

there are some christains who believe that after the second coming, heaven will be here on earth, in other words, those who are resurrected (from heaven) will be living on earth, since God will set up his Kingdom here.

Dawn

I think it's best to continue to pray and worship, but, just let your future lie in His hands not the churchs.

Now that IS great advice!! Thanks LB

Carmel

The Kingdom is WITHIN you! Remember. If you're happy, heaven is here on terra ferma.

carmel

writerpen

Dawn, I'm struggling with the same thing. I truly believe heaven exists, but don't necessarily think that I will go there. Although, I've found a new fascination with heaven, because just maybe I will go there. In fact, I just scheduled an appointment with my priest about this very topic. Thanks for the post.

Justin

Revelation 21:1-5 pictures the New Jerusalem, the heavenly city, coming down and settling upon the earth. It would appear, then, that the actual hope portrayed in the Bible - 'the one hope of our calling' (Eph. 4:4) - is neither heavenly nor earthly as the WT portrays it. It is, rather, the union of heaven and earth.

If you read a few theology textbooks, you'll find that the final "heaven" is actually the new heaven and new earth together - the new creation. You need to distinguish between the official beliefs of what we used to call "Christendom" and the popular religion that is believed by the people. If you're not happy attending a church where they dwell on heaven, go to one where the details of the future life are not specified but they're simply content to be "saved."

Don't confuse your personal hope with whether or not you should receive communion. Receiving communion simply means that you're a member of the Body of Christ. It does not mean that you are going to heaven as opposed to living on the new earth. If the pictures that the WT painted of the "paradise earth" are more real to you than "going to heaven," that's OK because the reality will be more wonderful than either of these.

Justin

Nikita

Justin,

I want to change my response to yours! Soooo-

"What he (Justin) said!"

Nikita

A heavenly hope

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