Paradise on Earth

[onewithhim]

When I learned that the Bible speaks of a restored Garden of Eden and the restoration of mankind to the perfection and endless life that Adam forfeited, I was thrilled. Who doesn't want to keep living on this beautiful earth, with our loved ones, and being able to do all the things we love to do---endlessly?

If God said to you today, "When do you want to die?" would you say "now!!"? I don't think very many people would say that.

We CAN live forever here on Earth. The Bible tells us that we can.

Matthew 5:5
Psalm 37:9-11,29

[onewithhim]

I see....even though Jesus didn't go to heaven for another 40 days after he was resurrected, and the thief couldn't have been a part of the group of co-rulers that Jesus made a covenant with for a Kingdom because they had "stuck with him in his trials" and the thief obviously hadn't?

OR - OR - your view of things is maybe not correct, if we go by what Christ said. You do not possess an hour to hour diary of what Christ did, after his resurrection. He appeared and he vanished. Presumably he could move backwards and forwards to heaven if he chose to, and accompanying the thief there was all part of a day's work.

Perhaps it is time to revise your views on kingdoms and co-rulers. Do you honestly suppose these nearly obsolete terms have any literal value?

OR just possibly my view of things IS correct. You seem to hang a lot on what Christ MIGHT have done, but you turn an un-seeing eye away from what the Bible DOES say about what he said and did. There is nothing that would indicate that Jesus went back and forth to and from heaven during the 40 days he was still on the earth.

.

[marco]

You seem to hang a lot on what Christ MIGHT have done, but you turn an un-seeing eye away from what the Bible DOES say about what he said and did. There is nothing that would indicate that Jesus went back and forth to and from heaven during the 40 days he was still on the earth.

How much of the 40 days do we actually know? How much of the first thirty years do we know? So on what are you basing your certainty? On a tiny reported fraction of Christ's life on Earth.

[onewithhim]

You seem to hang a lot on what Christ MIGHT have done, but you turn an un-seeing eye away from what the Bible DOES say about what he said and did. There is nothing that would indicate that Jesus went back and forth to and from heaven during the 40 days he was still on the earth.

How much of the 40 days do we actually know? How much of the first thirty years do we know? So on what are you basing your certainty? On a tiny reported fraction of Christ's life on Earth.

Likewise, you are basing your certainty on fractions of Christ's life that aren't even reported!

[marco]

You seem to hang a lot on what Christ MIGHT have done, but you turn an un-seeing eye away from what the Bible DOES say about what he said and did. There is nothing that would indicate that Jesus went back and forth to and from heaven during the 40 days he was still on the earth.

How much of the 40 days do we actually know? How much of the first thirty years do we know? So on what are you basing your certainty? On a tiny reported fraction of Christ's life on Earth.

Likewise, you are basing your certainty on fractions of Christ's life that aren't even reported!

Unlike you, onewithhim, I have no certainty. My point is that you make assumptions and regard them as true. I comment that there are other possibilities, but I cannot say which would be true. Nor, of course, can you.

If your presentation was one that admitted doubt, I could have no objection.

[onewithhim]

You seem to hang a lot on what Christ MIGHT have done, but you turn an un-seeing eye away from what the Bible DOES say about what he said and did. There is nothing that would indicate that Jesus went back and forth to and from heaven during the 40 days he was still on the earth.

How much of the 40 days do we actually know? How much of the first thirty years do we know? So on what are you basing your certainty? On a tiny reported fraction of Christ's life on Earth.

I was thinking about it, and the scriptures do say quite a bit about what Jesus was doing during the 40 days between the time he was resurrected and the time he went to heaven. He seems to have been appearing to various groups of disciples, strengthening them for the work ahead. (Luke 24:13-49; John 21:1-25) The writer of Acts indicated as much....that Jesus was busy instructing the apostles "until the day that he was taken up."

"To these also by many positive proofs he showed himself alive after he had suffered, being seen by them throughout forty days and telling the things about the kingdom of God." (Acts 1:1-3)

After reading these things I think it is unlikely that he was constantly going back and forth from earth to heaven during the forty days.

[marco]

After reading these things I think it is unlikely that he was constantly going back and forth from earth to heaven during the forty days.

I don't think the word "unlikely" has much meaning in this context.. Was Jesus staying in some bed and breakfast accommodation? Did he visit his family? All we have are "appearances" - from where?

Faith covers everything, of course, but I would need much more information.

[onewithhim]

After reading these things I think it is unlikely that he was constantly going back and forth from earth to heaven during the forty days.

I don't think the word "unlikely" has much meaning in this context.. Was Jesus staying in some bed and breakfast accommodation? Did he visit his family? All we have are "appearances" - from where?

Faith covers everything, of course, but I would need much more information.

Of course we need more information, and someday we will be informed about all these things that we are curious about. Jesus didn't need to stay anywhere, like in a B&B, or with his family, because he was back to being a spirit person (as stated by Paul and Peter---I Corinthians 15:45; I Peter 3:18). He could eat food when he materialized, but he didn't need it to sustain his life. We can't really describe what it's like to be in the spirit realm. Maybe we can have conversations with an angel someday and ask him. I look forward to a lot of cool stuff when Jesus is ruling.

[onewithhim]

When I learned that the Bible speaks of a restored Garden of Eden and the restoration of mankind to the perfection and endless life that Adam forfeited, I was thrilled. Who doesn't want to keep living on this beautiful earth, with our loved ones, and being able to do all the things we love to do---endlessly?

If God said to you today, "When do you want to die?" would you say "now!!"? I don't think very many people would say that.

We CAN live forever here on Earth. The Bible tells us that we can.

Matthew 5:5
Psalm 37:9-11,29

Who doesn't want to keep living on this beautiful earth, with our loved ones, and being able to do all the things we love to do---endlessly?

I for one cannot wait!

The funny thing is when you ask people to describe "heaven" they usually just end up describing what the bible presents for the EARTH: peace, clean environment, loved ones happy and healthy, animals, beauty all around, not suffering, pain, hunger or disease... (Even those that believe God will burn up this planet, admit he'll just replace it with another one) We were made for the earth and if we're honest, it's what most normal people really want.

So true! Who will give me an answer as to why people reject this?

[marco]

So true! Who will give me an answer as to why people reject this?

The idyll is beautiful; the poetry is lovely. The sword has been turned into a ploughshare and the lion is friendly with the lamb, with no bad intentions. Nobody would reject this, unless they are perhaps confirmed lovers of a good steak or lamb chops.

These offered blandishments are like the scam offers we are sent telling us that we have won a million dollars. All we need to do is supply our bank details. In one sense I see no great problem in letting people believe that at some date in history, climate change will see us hugging the tiger and stroking the viper. It is undoubtedly a lovely wish and all we need are Dorothy's red slippers for its fulfilment.

[onewithhim]

So true! Who will give me an answer as to why people reject this?

The idyll is beautiful; the poetry is lovely. The sword has been turned into a ploughshare and the lion is friendly with the lamb, with no bad intentions. Nobody would reject this, unless they are perhaps confirmed lovers of a good steak or lamb chops.

These offered blandishments are like the scam offers we are sent telling us that we have won a million dollars. All we need to do is supply our bank details. In one sense I see no great problem in letting people believe that at some date in history, climate change will see us hugging the tiger and stroking the viper. It is undoubtedly a lovely wish and all we need are Dorothy's red slippers for its fulfilment.

Let me ask.....do you believe in a Creator or you think all this just happened by chance?