Thread: Heaven is not the afterlife

Yes, my question still stands as something I would be very interested to get an answer to. The thread is rather unresolved, only a few people familiar with Christianity replied, and those replies seemed to have nothing to do with the actual question, even though it's a very simple one.

I thought I amswered your question adequately by stating that 'heaven' is a state of consciousness instead of the widely held belief that it is a place to be inhabited.


Edit: I was referring to the thread title, and then went back to the opening post and saw that your question was rather different. My apologies.

Originally Posted by Prancingwolf

This is interesting. But what about Paul at the 'Pearly Gates', not that I'm into all the bible stuff. It's a liitle backasswards. BTW, who cares if the guy at the bar is gay? Are gays more philosophical

Yea, but the bi's are more philosophical and spiritual.

I've talked to a couple of devout Christians I know, and they confirm that there is no mention in the Bible of heaven being after death; the idea of an afterlife is a relatively modern invention (probably because it can't be disproved). Also one of them told me that Hades, in the Bible, was a rubbish tip outside Jerusalem where they burned all their waste.

What about near-death experinces that say they saw Jesus? I doubt heaven was put in as to mean something else other than a afterlife.

Originally Posted by MrBlonde

What about near-death experinces that say they saw Jesus? I doubt heaven was put in as to mean something else other than a afterlife.

Sorry, I really don't understand what you're saying here.

Originally Posted by Pensive Patrick

Sorry, I really don't understand what you're saying here.

I mean what about the cases where indiviuals experince near death and say they saw Jesus? I think most here are reading too much into it.

Originally Posted by MrBlonde

I mean what about the cases where indiviuals experince near death and say they saw Jesus? I think most here are reading too much into it.

Those people are likely seeing an image created by their minds, like our dreams. Who here has never been exposed to an image of Jesus in some fashion? Once it's in your mind, and you are aware that death is imminent, I believe it is likely you will see what you expect to see.

As for what actually happens...I like to think there always are...possibilities.

Originally Posted by MrBlonde

I mean what about the cases where indiviuals experince near death and say they saw Jesus? I think most here are reading too much into it.

What about them?

Instead of using convoluted non-sequiturs, why don't you just... get a quote from the Bible like the OP asks?

Apologies, I was just responding to the poster quoted. If I recall correctly the Lord's Prayer speaks of Heaven being where the Father is. Seeing as Jesus said it on Earth and knowing what we do of the afterlife we can deduct it isn't in Earth.

Go Jehovah wittneses

Interesting, but any idea why it'd be misinterpreted from an apparently simple interpretation?

The bible would lose a large part of its control over humanity if heaven was merely a mortal earth, no? lol <---- means it's a joke to any who are offended.

(1 Corinthians 15)50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, [3] where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Originally Posted by Xei

So, I got talking to this liberal minded (gay) Anglican at the bar tonight, along with this other Catholic guy. We were essentially debating religion and ended up pretty much agreeing. But very interesting to me is how the first guy exactly corroborated for me something that I've suspected before: the Kingdom of Heaven does not refer not life after death. It refers to Heaven on Earth; a worldly, mortal utopia. Statements like, 'by loving your neighbour, you will enter the Kingdom of Heaven' are NOT delineating some kind of convoluted reward system for good deeds after death; it's a simple statement that by living in the correct way (for instance, by not coveting money), you will create an Earthly paradise, and peace for yourself and others.

Show me where in the Bible where it says that the Kingdom of Heaven is the afterlife, rather than obviously referring to a moral code by which we can make the world a better place.

I have an app on my phone called Olive Tree and I am able to look up phrases by a search in any of the bibles available on Olive Tree. When I search "Kingdom of Heaven" it has many passages in the bible. From my perspective it explains very clearly what the kingdom of heaven is and how to reach it. When I search "afterlife", "after life" ,"life after death" nothing comes up. Thank you for posting this topic I learned a lot today.

I don't know if anyone has mentioned this yet, but the kingdom of heaven is the afterlife and it is also on earth. In revelations (around 20 or so) Jesusressurects the righteous dead and they reign with him in the kingdom of heaven on earth for 1000 years.