Throughout my whole life so far, one of the things ive looked forward too the most is the idea of finding that one special person for me... the earthly love of my life. Ive always loved the thought of that someone special there with me, and just imagining being with them for eternity... helping me get through hell (my definition of earth lol), and even being there with me forever in Heaven...
This sounds like a perfect description of God himself, and even if I was with that special person forever, it would never match up to the love God can give himself, that I know for sure. :HeartThrob: I just have someone very important in my life right now and... well... we kind of got engaged about a month ago. We are always talking about life after earth though... and how we want to be together forever... we talk about things like walking side by side as we come to the pearly gates and see God and Jesus for the first time...
We think of the thought of our immortal lives, forever in Heaven with God and we know how great it seems... but we both cant even stand to think about not being together anymore. Personally, and shes told me she feels the same way for me... but under God and Jesus, and more than any human alive on the earth, I love her more. God and Jesus themselves are the only beings in existence whom I love and care for more than her.
So I decided to research the thought of marriage after death...
There was the obvious,
Matthew 22:30: "For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven."
but just thinking... I didnt see how this could be possible. I mean, God says himself that when you marry you and your spouce are as one being. Would God really tear that back apart? And also God is love... so would God prevent a love such as with your greatest relationships on earth?
I found a website explaining its views on eternal marriage. I will not post the site here as it is a mormon site, which means many parts of it, about the religion can be argued with, and I dont want to turn my topic into a UR vs. Mormon argument and get off the subject. But I will post the parts I see that stick out to me about eternal marriage, and that I would like to discuss.
Here are some of the things that stick out to me.
Please ponder these issues and pray about them. Do you love your family? Do you love your spouse? If you believe that God is love (1 John 4:8), then surely you cannot believe that God would deprive you of your dearest and most special relationships. It is my testimony that God has provided a way for families to live together forever.
Matthew 22:30: "For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven." Notice, it does not say matrimonial relationships do not exist in Heaven, but that no one marries in Heaven.
Let's start at the beginning, with Adam and Eve. "And the LORD God said, [It is] not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him." (Genesis 2:18) Here the Lord God makes a declarative statement that not only is marriage acceptable, but it is good. To remain single and alone is not good (evil). Does heaven contain good or evil things? If heaven contains good things, then it must contained married couples, since marriage has been defined by God himself as good. Also, our first parents were married by God in the Garden of Eden. Remember that before they partook of the fruit, there was no death. Therefore, when God married them, he intended for them to stay married forever, which is clear Biblical support for the concept of eternal marriage.
But due to the effects of the Fall, death entered into the world. It is true that except for an atonement, Adam and Eve would have been forever separated from each other and from God. However, there was an Atonement made by Jesus Christ that overcame the effects of the Fall. If the Atonement is not powerful enough to restore the eternal marriage of Adam and Eve, then it is not infinite and eternal. In which case, no one has any hope of salvation because an infinite and eternal atonement was not made. Furthermore, if the atonement was not powerful enough to restore the eternal marriage of Adam and Eve, then that means the purposes of God have been frustrated eternally, since he intended from the beginning for them to be eternally married. But it is my testimony that the Atonement of Jesus Christ was infinite and eternal, and because of it, the promise of salvation and eternal marriage is extended to all. We will all be resurrected. Those who became "one flesh" through eternal marriage will rise in the resurrection as one flesh, even eternally married.
Just some things to think about. Opinions are welcome. :happy3:
Quote from: Fang_Diachi on April 24, 2009, 11:02:05 PM
but just thinking... I didnt see how this could be possible. I mean, God says himself that when you marry you and your spouce are as one being. Would God really tear that back apart? And also God is love... so would God prevent a love such as with your greatest relationships on earth?
At first sight you are right. Why not marriage in Heaven. It's a good thing.
But it also cause problems in some cases.
Many couples have grown apart. For them marriage is no more than sharing the bills.
Marriage was a gay marriage. Not Biblically permotted but still real love (I assume).
But the main stumbling block is:
Some people remarry because the partner died.
So when entering the afterlife some people will have several husbands or wives.... (problem)
Perhaps marriage is needless because you love all 10 billion people in Heaven just as much as your girlfriend....??? :JCThink:
:cloud9: Hi Fang....congrats on the engagement. Anyone we know, LOL? :winkgrin:
Anyway, they are not married or given in marriage because they are already ONE in Him, not because they are "torn apart". Blessings....
I generally agree with the opening post. Whom God puts together, let no man put asunder. Not who people on their own thinking of hooking with because of money, flesh lust, political convenience as in the case of royally arranged marriages that someone with the anointing might not have had any input in, etc. What God puts together is forever. What man puts together, uh...(**being nice**)...good luck 'cause you're sure as heck going to need it:-)
Jesus said that in the resurrection there's no claims of marriage or of sexual relations in marriage, but what about after the resurrection? There's a vast difference between intermediate stages prior to the resurrection for the New Earth, which I personally am not sure about it being to immortality because of lifespans the length of those of trees being described for the New Earth. Exceptionally long, without a doubt, but that's not immortality. I'm leaning more and more everyday towards absolute immortality being after Christ delivers up the Kingdom to the Father in 1Corinthians 15:28.
Being very technical, the resurrection is the judgment. You stand alone on judgment day with no alibis, etc. But even if there were ZERO marriage in the way that we understand marriage today because of how filled with activity that the New Earth will be, that doesn't prevent those relationships from being there even if they're on a prolonged fast from one another's company, pleasures, etc., [as people as essentially spread out throughout the entire multiverse on various errands of mercy and good faith,] until we're essentially restored to a Garden of Eden type of environment after the abdication of the Son of God after absolutely every Creature in the Creation has been restored to God. I personally know that when I'm married, that'll be forever without a doubt, and since God's no respecter of persons....
Quote from: martincisneros on April 25, 2009, 01:19:15 AM
I generally agree with the opening post. Whom God puts together, let no man put asunder. Not who people on their own thinking of hooking with because of money, flesh lust, political convenience as in the case of royally arranged marriages that someone with the anointing might not have had any input in, etc. What God puts together is forever. What man puts together, uh...(**being nice**)...good luck 'cause you're sure as heck going to need it:-)
Jesus said that in the resurrection there's no claims of marriage or of sexual relations in marriage, but what about after the resurrection? There's a vast difference between intermediate stages prior to the resurrection for the New Earth, which I personally am not sure about it being to immortality because of lifespans the length of those of trees being described for the New Earth. Exceptionally long, without a doubt, but that's not immortality. I'm leaning more and more everyday towards absolute immortality being after Christ delivers up the Kingdom to the Father in 1Corinthians 15:28.
Being very technical, the resurrection is the judgment. You stand alone on judgment day with no alibis, etc. But even if there were ZERO marriage in the way that we understand marriage today because of how filled with activity that the New Earth will be, that doesn't prevent those relationships from being there even if they're on a prolonged fast from one another's company, pleasures, etc., [as people as essentially spread out throughout the entire multiverse on various errands of mercy and good faith,] until we're essentially restored to a Garden of Eden type of environment after the abdication of the Son of God after absolutely every Creature in the Creation has been restored to God. I personally know that when I'm married, that'll be forever without a doubt, and since God's no respecter of persons....
Love the post man. ~_^ Gives some to think bout.
@ WhiteWings - I have thought about this soooooooo much you dont even know lol. God also says however the bond is unseperatable unless you are basically cheated upon. Maybe once your with your spouce in heaven the bond will be stronger than ever? And as for people marrying for no more than paying bills, they never had the true bond of marriage. Marriage is loving someone, and wanting them for them. It isnt a ceremony, or gifts, or vows... its how you feel in your heart.
Cardinal - Maaaaaaybe. xD And who says you cant be one in him, yet with the one you love? (If that makes sense)
No more marriage because we're one with Him made total sense to me until two years ago when God started challenging that view with me and something He showed me of whose side He'd called me to. And He started reminding me of the anointing running in families and quite a few examples that I've seen of that. We're one in Him now, and yet 1Corinthians 7, Ephesians 5, and some other passages assure us of more. My personal calling is actually to be a husband. But, I'm not able to get into that in most other settings where one's calling would come up because if I do bring it up, then someone looks to my left, looks to my right, has a peak behind me, looks under my bed, and looks in the couch cushions and in the total absense of either photos and any women in my speed dial starts to go "uh....where is she??" What I bring up from time to time of 1Thessalonians 3:8-13 with perfecting the faith of the saints is simply my "elder at the gates" from Proverbs 31:23, 28 phase of my calling. I can immediately start teaching, prophesying, and ministering to the sick. But it's not always wise even among most Christians to say "she's already here. don't be moved by what you see!" Most Christians don't even understand faith as the evidence of things not seen, and just start rolling their eyes thinking it's another Copeland nut. My teaching and whatever ministry might have an expiration date of the New Earth. Perhaps. But I'm certain of my eternal calling. And I'm certain I'll know her when I see her. Zero doubts.
:cloud9: Fang, I don't think either you or Martin "got" what I was trying to say. My point was, you're already ONE (in the Spirit), not two parts that have to be joined, and those two that were joined into one, then are one with Him, as the body is joined to the Head.
Blessings...
Quote from: Cardinal on April 25, 2009, 05:31:27 AM
:cloud9: Fang, I don't think either you or Martin "got" what I was trying to say. My point was, you're already ONE (in the Spirit), not two parts that have to be joined, and those two that were joined into one, then are one with Him, as the body is joined to the Head.
Blessings...
My wife and I have had this discussion as well. This life is a "prequel" if you will, to the things to come. What we've learned will be with us, so why wouldn't who you know and love?
Cardinal, I posted your response because I do get what you are saying and I agree.
Grace and Peace
:cloud9: Good apsiring son..... :thumbsup: Blessings...
Quote from: martincisneros on April 25, 2009, 02:58:22 AM
No more marriage because we're one with Him made total sense to me until two years ago when God started challenging that view with me and something He showed me of whose side He'd called me to. And He started reminding me of the anointing running in families and quite a few examples that I've seen of that. We're one in Him now, and yet 1Corinthians 7, Ephesians 5, and some other passages assure us of more. My personal calling is actually to be a husband. But, I'm not able to get into that in most other settings where one's calling would come up because if I do bring it up, then someone looks to my left, looks to my right, has a peak behind me, looks under my bed, and looks in the couch cushions and in the total absense of either photos and any women in my speed dial starts to go "uh....where is she??" What I bring up from time to time of 1Thessalonians 3:8-13 with perfecting the faith of the saints is simply my "elder at the gates" from Proverbs 31:23, 28 phase of my calling. I can immediately start teaching, prophesying, and ministering to the sick. But it's not always wise even among most Christians to say "she's already here. don't be moved by what you see!" Most Christians don't even understand faith as the evidence of things not seen, and just start rolling their eyes thinking it's another Copeland nut. My teaching and whatever ministry might have an expiration date of the New Earth. Perhaps. But I'm certain of my eternal calling. And I'm certain I'll know her when I see her. Zero doubts.
Martin, im glad I am not alone in thinking this way. =] You know the feeling when you love her so much... how you cant stand to even be without her at many times... just compare this as being nothing to the eternal, unimaginable love God feels for us... just unbelievably incredible and unimaginable... OwO
God obviously knows better than anyone how love works and feels... he wouldnt seperate the love that was anointed as a family... he wouldnt seperate any love. God IS love.
Cardinal I think I understand but im not sure... I mean I understand that we will all be one in the spirit but... I dont know because that subject confuses me in places overall. Its not just you lol.
And Aspiring Son, exactly... ^^
Quote from: Fang_Diachi on April 27, 2009, 05:51:45 AM
God obviously knows better than anyone how love works and feels... he wouldnt seperate the love that was anointed as a family... he wouldnt seperate any love. God IS love.
:thumbsup:
Where's it written? "...and we shall be known even as we are known."
"I will celebrate your love for ever, Yahweh,
age after age my words shall proclaim your faithfulness;
for I claim that love is built to last for ever
and your faithfulness founded firmly in the heavens."
Psalm 89:1-2 (The Jerusalem Bible)
Thank you everyone. ^^ I had many doubts about the concept of marriage after life, but thanks to my friends here on Tentmaker my thoughts have become much clearer as well as my understanding.
Blessings to all. ^^
Sorry for the double post but now Cardinal, after re-reading your post I understand what you are trying to say! We will be with our spouce as one, but that one will also be a part of the spirit. Our one being will also be one with the spirit. We will still be "married", we will still be in the eternal bond, but that bond will also be bonded and "married" with God himself. ^^
:cloud9: That's what I was trying to say, yes..... :thumbsup: Blessings....
Quote from: Cardinal on April 28, 2009, 04:57:32 AM
:cloud9: That's what I was trying to say, yes..... :thumbsup: Blessings....
-claps- Yay I understand! XD