paradise and judgement

[sven]

sometimes the idea of eternal life scares me, what are your imaginations about paradise - i like the word paradise more, because i think the bible doesnt talk about "heaven". do u think paradise is a place similar to the earth? - is the new earth paradise? what do u think about the judgement of the unbelievers, how long would it last? what are your imaginations how it would be like? the bible says there is a ressurection for judgement aswell, do u believe second death to be literal death or somethink else?

[martincisneros]

sometimes the idea of eternal life scares me, what are your imaginations about paradise - i like the word paradise more, because i think the bible doesnt talk about "heaven". do u think paradise is a place similar to the earth? - is the new earth paradise? what do u think about the judgement of the unbelievers, how long would it last? what are your imaginations how it would be like? the bible says there is a ressurection for judgement aswell, do u believe second death to be literal death or somethink else?

"Heaven" seems to come up once or twice in the Old Testament.  Maybe more.  At least in the KJV.  I've just personally never been interested enough in the subject to do any kind of study on it, to compare translations, or whatever.  In the KJV there's a passing comment a time or two, perhaps more, in the Old Testament about "the heaven of heavens."  My personal view has always been that as long as I'm not in Hell and as long as I'm with my heavenly Father and my Lord Jesus, then the rest of the details haven't really mattered.

[sven]

i spent so much time, getting sure that there is no hell, "studying" scheol - i was really fascinated by scheol, the netherworld - the Jews seem not to considered it a bad place but a place of rest and peace (eg. Job 3) - that i never thought about paradise or heaven, i simply just can´t imagine an afterlive, my believe is weak and i wish my believe would be stronger. do you think we met our friends there once, do u think there will still be individual friendship?

Romans 2,6 could describe how judgement would look like in front of the white throne:

Who will render to every man according to his deeds:  To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:  But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;

[martincisneros]

Yeah, the Scriptures are clear in Romans and 2Corinthians that we must all appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ.  Imagine standing before a judge over a couple of parking tickets that's already gone to the electric chair for you for a whole lot worse in your past. :cloud9:

[jabcat]

There's a scripture that says we will "know as we are known"...that seems to me to indicate "recognition", knowing people...I personally question that "heaven" is "out there someplace"...maybe it's more of a new creation and a blissful state of existence with/inside of God's presence...

[martincisneros]

There's a scripture that says we will "know as we are known"...that seems to me to indicate "recognition", knowing people...I personally question that "heaven" is "out there someplace"...maybe it's more of a new creation and a blissful state of existence with/inside of God's presence...

As our love is perfected, we do enter into knowing as we're known.  It's amazing when we reach that point in life and all of the miraculous gifts of the Spirit come into activation and are no longer hindered by ourselves.  The real heaven is here when love is perfected and nothing can hinder you any more, nothing inside of you gets in the way any more, and virtually all of the limitations are gone.  We've got to keep His Word and keep every care cast upon Him to get there, though.  Thankfully, that's easy.  What's hard, burdensome, and grievous is trying to live outside of abiding in Christ in that way.