Loved Ones and Heaven

[Ivellious]

This is a difficult question to explain, especially with how tired I am, but here goes.

I've been curious as to how our relationships are after we die. It struck me recently reading on this site that someone said that animals and our pets would be waiting for Christians in heaven. The reasoning? That God would certainly have us surrounded by our loved ones in heaven, because that is what makes us happy. Unfortunately, that logic is somewhat flawed the way I see it, because odds are some or many of every Christian's loved ones will absolutely not be in heaven with them, but rather they will be suffering for eternity in hell. It's things like this that make me skeptical of an eternal punishment after death.

Now, clearly they are a range of explanations for that problem. Here are a few I found, by asking friends who are Christians and by scouring Christian websites.

1. God will make us forget about those in hell, so that the only people you remember are the ones in heaven.
2. A Christian can't actually have loved ones who aren't Christian, and God will open our eyes when we get into heaven so we can see that those people not in heaven didn't matter in our lives, or something to that effect (I think there was a biblical verse referenced for this).
3. Our personal relationships will not carry over into the afterlife, and the only relationship you will have/care about is with God.
4. We will have sympathy for those in hell, but God will make us understand that they got what they deserved, so we shouldn't worry about them any more.

Most of the others are some variation of those three. Now, I'm curious as to how you guys view this. For instance, I can't imagine a happy afterlife without my best friends and my close family.

If I were to forget about half of the important people in my life, I would no longer be me and consequently, I wouldn't be the person in heaven, but rather someone who didn't live a real life. For that reason number 1 doesn't make sense to me unless who we are goes away after dying (which would defeat the purpose of being rewarded eternal life, right?).

Number two, even from a Christian standpoint, seems just plain wrong. A Christian friend of mine laughed at that notion. I have a bisexual friend. I love him like a brother. If I became a Christian, that love and friendship become invalidated? Yeah, right.

Number three just sounds sad. Again, what's the point of heaven if you no longer exist as a person? That explanation makes it sound like God turns you into a zombie or a lapdog once you get to heaven.

Number 4 sounded more reasonable than the others, I guess. Still, I'd like your takes and explanations.

[PaulSacramento]

Are you talking about :life after death" ( what happens when we die) or life AFTER life after death ( the bodily resurrection)?
The bible is not explicit about what happens when we die, other than the spirit returns to God and our bodies to dust (eventually of course).

[1over137]

For me the following sounds reasonable

4. We will have sympathy for those in hell, but God will make us understand that they got what they deserved

Once I got the following answer:
http://discussions.godandscience.org/vi ... =30#p96813

One more thing. It is told in Bible that there is joy in heaven. But how can I be joyous when some people I love do not end in heaven?

[PaulSacramento]

The passage that mentions that God will "wipe away their tears" seems, to me, to indicate that there will be some "sorrow" but that God's love will console those that have to deal with sorrow.
A loving God does NOT make us "machines" or "uncaring" clones, shells of what we once were.

[Furstentum Liechtenstein]

One more thing. It is told in Bible that there is joy in heaven. But how can I be joyous when some people I love do not end in heaven?

Your grieving over loved ones not present in heaven will not last forever.

The passage that mentions that God will "wipe away their tears" seems, to me, to indicate that there will be some "sorrow" but that God's love will console those that have to deal with sorrow.

The passage you refer to is Rev 21:3-7.

It struck me recently reading on this site that someone said that animals and our pets would be waiting for Christians in heaven.

You are describing a New Age version of heaven which was popularized about 15 years ago. Don't count on your dog being in heaven as the Bible doesn't support this.

I've been curious as to how our relationships are after we die.

The only relationships that survive bodily death are those between brothers and sisters in Christ, and between them & God. You won't have to worry about relationships in hell.

FL

[1over137]

One more thing. It is told in Bible that there is joy in heaven. But how can I be joyous when some people I love do not end in heaven?

Your grieving over loved ones not present in heaven will not last forever.

How is that it will not last forever? My loved ones will be forever in hell and I will know it.

[PaulSacramento]

One more thing. It is told in Bible that there is joy in heaven. But how can I be joyous when some people I love do not end in heaven?

Your grieving over loved ones not present in heaven will not last forever.

How is that it will not last forever? My loved ones will be forever in hell and I will know it.

The only ones that will be forever in Hell are those that blasphemy against the HS, thatis those that have KNOWN God and choose to NOT know God.
Think of someone that has know true love, love than can't be defined and measured and takes that love and throws it down, spits on it and tramples it under foot.
That is the blasphemy against the HS.
Know anyone like that?

[1over137]

The only ones that will be forever in Hell are those that blasphemy against the HS, thatis those that have KNOWN God and choose to NOT know God.
Think of someone that has know true love, love than can't be defined and measured and takes that love and throws it down, spits on it and tramples it under foot.
That is the blasphemy against the HS.
Know anyone like that?

I am not sure if I know anyone like that. What do you mean by knowing God? What do you mean by knowing his true love? Does Richard Dawkins know Him, His love? He thinks Christian God does not exist. Has he once known His love? I wonder how one can after knowing God's love spits on it. What the reasons may be?

[PaulSacramento]

The only ones that will be forever in Hell are those that blasphemy against the HS, thatis those that have KNOWN God and choose to NOT know God.
Think of someone that has know true love, love than can't be defined and measured and takes that love and throws it down, spits on it and tramples it under foot.
That is the blasphemy against the HS.
Know anyone like that?

I am not sure if I know anyone like that. What do you mean by knowing God? What do you mean by knowing his true love? Does Richard Dawkins know Him, His love? He thinks Christian God does not exist. Has he once known His love? I wonder how one can after knowing God's love spits on it. What the reasons may be?

To blasphemy against something we must KNOW that something, correct?
All of us will have that chance to know God, whether it be in life, death or the resurrection and then the choice to stay with God or to turn our backs on Him is up to us, as always.
You ask how can one Know God and turn on Him?
Ask Lucifer and all those that have known God and have turned on Him.
Free will.
All will have a chance to repent upon knowing God, whether they do or do not is up to them.

[1over137]

To blasphemy against something we must KNOW that something, correct?
All of us will have that chance to know God, whether it be in life, death or the resurrection and then the choice to stay with God or to turn our backs on Him is up to us, as always.
You ask how can one Know God and turn on Him?
Ask Lucifer and all those that have known God and have turned on Him.
Free will.
All will have a chance to repent upon knowing God, whether they do or do not is up to them.

So, the atheists I know and who doubts about the existence of God and therefore who probably haven't known Him yet are going to meet him after death and then they can decide whether they will turn their backs? Wouldn't it be too late for such decision? I was once told that we on this Earth have to decide.

[Furstentum Liechtenstein]

So, the atheists I know and who doubts about the existence of God and therefore who probably haven't known Him yet are going to meet him after death and then they can decide whether they will turn their backs? Wouldn't it be too late for such decision

Yes, your atheist friends - and your unsaved friends - have this life to decide, and only this life: Heb 9:27. I have no idea where PaulSacramento is going with this...but it does sound like he's promoting Fruit Loop Theology.

FL

[PaulSacramento]

So, the atheists I know and who doubts about the existence of God and therefore who probably haven't known Him yet are going to meet him after death and then they can decide whether they will turn their backs? Wouldn't it be too late for such decision

Yes, your atheist friends - and your unsaved friends - have this life to decide, and only this life: Heb 9:27. I have no idea where PaulSacramento is going with this...but it does sound like he's promoting Fruit Loop Theology.

FL

I am saying simply this, ALL will have the chance to know God so that none can claim "I didn't know" or " I never had the chance".
God commits no one to everlasting exile from His Love, they do it themselves.

[PaulSacramento]

To blasphemy against something we must KNOW that something, correct?
All of us will have that chance to know God, whether it be in life, death or the resurrection and then the choice to stay with God or to turn our backs on Him is up to us, as always.
You ask how can one Know God and turn on Him?
Ask Lucifer and all those that have known God and have turned on Him.
Free will.
All will have a chance to repent upon knowing God, whether they do or do not is up to them.

So, the atheists I know and who doubts about the existence of God and therefore who probably haven't known Him yet are going to meet him after death and then they can decide whether they will turn their backs? Wouldn't it be too late for such decision? I was once told that we on this Earth have to decide.

So those that died BEFORE they had a chance to know God on "this earth", what happens to them?
Those that were shown a different God and never knew the true love of God on "this earth", what happens to them?

[Furstentum Liechtenstein]

o those that died BEFORE they had a chance to know God on "this earth", what happens to them?
Those that were shown a different God and never knew the true love of God on "this earth", what happens to them?

The answer to your question can be found in Romans, specifically chapter one and verses 18-32 where God - through Paul - deals with heathen who have never known God. Ro 1:18-32 contains the general condemnation of all these people. I urge you to read all of it and meditate over what it says. These heathen may worship all manner of deities but at the very base of all idolatrous religions is pure monotheism: this knowledge of God came out of the Flood; the eight people on the Ark knew who God was and what He did. Those 8 later populated the world and their descendants perverted the knowledge of the one and only God. So, these heathen are without God (Eph 2:12) and do not know Him but they are without excuse: Ro 1:20. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.(Ro 1:21 NIV) Now, go down to Ro 1:32 and see God's judgement of these heathen: Although they know God's righteous decree... (the heathen who are ignorant of God know His laws,) They continue [to act immorally] and approve of those who [practice immorality]. To all those who truly search for God - whatever their idolatry - God will find them and make Himself known to them. There are examples of this in the Scriptures! From memory: Ruth the Moabitess, Naaman the Syrian, the widow of Zarephath, the righteous Centurion...

There is no excuse for the heathen. If they die without being covered by Christ's righteousness, they face judgement.

PaulSacramento, if you really believe that people have a second chance to come to Christ after their death, you are seriously mistaken.

FL

[1over137]

To all those who truly search for God - whatever their idolatry - God will find them and make Himself known to them. There are examples of this in the Scriptures! From memory: Ruth the Moabitess, Naaman the Syrian, the widow of Zarephath, the righteous Centurion...

And what about those who do not truly search for God? Is it their fault that they do not truly search for God? Some of my atheist friends had bad experience with 'Christians' when they were children. And not seeing the right example of true Christianity, well ...