heaven

In any discussion of heaven, a discussion of hell may arise.  What is hell?  Where did hell come from? God? There are many theories.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hell The teaching of the Catholic Church regarding hell is contained articles 1033 through 1037 in the  Catechism of the Catholic Church beginning on page 289.  https://usccb.cld.bz/Catechism-of-the-Catholic-Church/289/   Personally, I believe that hell exists. The gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) tell us that Jesus spoke about hell. I don't believe that God created hell. I believe that all of God's creation is good. It would be inconsistent with an all good and an all loving God to have created hell. I believe that hell was created when God's angels rebelled against God (Isaiah 14: 12-15 and Ezekiel 28: 12-17).  I believe that human beings, created by God in His Image, also rebel against God.  I believe that there is truth to the saying "hell on earth". I believe that there is he...

When I was in college, all freshman engineering majors took the same courses: calculus, chemistry, physics, etc. Some of college physics was the same as high school physics: Newtonian physics, f=m times a (Newton's second law of motion). Distance=speed times time. Some of college chemistry was the same as high school chemistry--that all matter is composed of basic elements found in the periodic table. In atomic physics we learned that atoms are the basic particles of all chemical elements. Atoms consist of a nucleus of protons and generally neutrons, and surrounding the nucleus are orbiting electrons. In physics we studied Einstein's theory of relativity, f=m times c squared, where matter can be converted into energy, and vice versa, separated by the HUGE constant of the speed of light squared. In my second year civil engineering students took courses in statics and dynamics.  Everything in our world involves motion--even those objects that we call "static". For examp...

https://bibleresources.org/satan/ Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle; be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray: and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, thrust into hell satan and all of the other evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Le_Grand_Saint_Michel,_by_Raffaello_Sanzio,_from_C2RMF_retouched.jpg https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_domain

Have you ever had nightmares? so vivid that they seemed real? where it takes a while to convince yourself that the nightmare wasn't real? I have.  Recently it occurred to me that nightmares may be a precursor to death.  Many of us wonder what will happen to us when we die. We get bogged down by our sins. We're fearful that we may be justifiably sentenced to hell. Then, morning comes. The darkness disappears and we see the Light!  Jesus God redeemed us from our sins!  God i s Light and Love. God is merciful. Seek the light, love and mercy of God. 13 He delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians, Chapter 1 https://www.flickr.com/photos/16918182@N03/6866667448/ attribution: Sally and flickr https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/

at funerals it's quite common to hear "he/she is in a better place."  I believe that when I die I will go to a better place. why?  despite all of my sins and failings, I believe that God loves me. I believe that God loves ALL of God's creations: stars, planets, plants, animals, humans, angels, ... I believe that "God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:16 heaven? not necessarily. the bible says: 9 Of others no memory remains, for when they perished, they perished, As if they had never lived, they and their children after them. 10 Yet these also were godly; their virtues have not been forgotten. 11 Their wealth remains in their families, their heritage with their descendants. 12 Through God’s covenant their family endures, and their offspring for their sake. 13 And for all time their progeny will endure, their glory will never be blotted out; 14 Their bodies are bu...

Scientists Claim That Quantum Theory Proves Consciousness Moves To Another Universe At Death A book titled “Biocentrism: How Life and Consciousness Are the Keys to Understanding the Nature of the Universe“ has stirred up the Internet, because it contained a notion that life does not end when the body dies, and it can last forever. The author of this publication, scientist Dr. Robert Lanza who was voted the 3rd most important scientist alive by the NY Times, has no doubts that this is possible. Beyond time and space Lanza is an expert in regenerative medicine and scientific director of Advanced Cell Technology Company. Before he has been known for his extensive research which dealt with stem cells, he was also famous for several successful experiments on cloning endangered animal species. But not so long ago, the scientist became involved with physics, quantum mechanics and astrophysics. This explosive mixture has given birth to the new theory of biocentrism, which the professor has bee...

all of creation (except human beings) honors God by its very existence: galaxies, stars, planets, trees, plants, animals, etc. only humans, created in God's image, have free will. we can choose to honor God, or we can dishonor our Creator by our thoughts, words and actions. Heaven is where the souls of those who have honored God go when they die.  https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Paradiso_Canto_31.jpg File:Paradiso Canto 31.jpg - Wikimedia Commons Wikipedia:Public domain - Wikipedia attribution:  Gustave Doré, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons  

https://banneroftruth.org/us/resources/articles/2002/christian-hope-in-death/  heavens | "It certainly seems like a good idea to talk about… | Flickr Creative Commons — Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic — CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 attribution: Krishna Praveen

Seven heavens - Wikipedia https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7c/Mohammed%C2%B4s_Paradise.jpg Public domain - Wikipedia Commons:Copyright tags/Country-specific tags - Wikimedia Commons

1 Corinthians 13:12 | as seen by ht | Flickr Creative Commons — Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic — CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 attribution: as seen by ht

can one speak of heaven and not speak of hell? I believe that if it's God's will to send some of God's human creatures to hell, then those  will go to hell.  I believe that if it's God's will to allow one's actions or inactions (our free will) to determine whether or not one goes to hell, then God's will will be done.  can God's human creatures create something from nothing? is God fallible? are God's human creatures infallible? NO! the opposite is true. only God can create something from nothing. all of God's human creatures are fallible. only God is infallible. I believe that God does not will God's human creations to go to hell. on the contrary, I believe that it's God's will that all God's human creations go to heaven (Luke 10: 25-28). I pray that God's will will be done--on earth as it is in heaven. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Brooklyn_Museum_-_The_Lord%27s_Prayer_(Le_Pater_Noster)_-_James_Tissot.jpg attributi...

"...praying “on earth as it is in heaven” is a daily act of surrender, willingness and eager, obedient intention. It is a renewed commitment of my life to the cause of Jesus Christ. And it’s a happy reminder of the privilege I enjoy in serving the Almighty God of the universe in all that He wants to do on earth." What It Means to Pray, ‘Your Will Be Done on Earth as It Is in Heaven’ | Guideposts The Lords Prayer | Complete Scripture Verse ~ Matthew 6:9-13… | Flickr Creative Commons — Attribution-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic — CC BY-ND 2.0 attribution: Sharon Tate Soberon

"Interestingly, when the Heidelberg Catechism treats the Creed's affirma­tion of "the resurrection of the body," it begins by speaking of this inter­mediate state. In answer to the ques­tion, "What comfort does the resurrection of the body afford you?" the Catechism answers: "That not only my soul, after this life, shall be im­mediately taken up to Christ, its Head; but also that this my body, raised by the power of Christ, shall again be united with my soul, and made like unto the glorious body of Christ." What is interesting about this confes­sion is that it almost "intrudes" into the answer the subject of what be­comes of the believer immediately upon death and the separation of body and soul which death brings. I place the word "intrudes" in quotation marks because it is really not an intrusion at all. It is a necessary confession of faith and the expression of an important biblical teaching which is the source of great com...

City of God | Catholic Hymn with Lyrics | Dan Schutte & Jane Holstein | Sunday 7pm Choir - YouTube   Hebrews 11:16 | But now they desire a better country, that i… | Flickr attribution: Tito and Eva Marie Balangue Creative Commons — Attribution 2.0 Generic — CC BY 2.0

Last Supper Discourses 1 * “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith * in God; have faith also in me. 2 In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 * And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be. a 4 Where [I] am going you know the way.” * 5 Thomas said to him, “Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth * and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. b 7 If you know me, then you will also know my Father. * From now on you do know him and have seen him.” c 8 Philip said to him, “Master, show us the Father, * and that will be enough for us.” d 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the ...

in today's world the differences between truths, lies and beliefs have become blurred. let's review their definitions:  truth is something that we know to be true. truth is a fact. we have proof that something is true, e.g. gravity. in 1684 Sir Issac Newton, one of the greatest scientists and mathematicians that the world has known, provided scientific and mathematical proof that gravity existed. Newton's law of universal gravitation remains unchallenged for more than 300 years. lies are falsehoods--the opposite of truths. the veracity of a lie cannot be proven. lies have no provable and/or repeatable facts to back them up. beliefs are things that we believe to be true. beliefs are not facts because there isn't provable and repeatable scientific data to back them up. it's been estimated (an estimate is not a fact) that despite all of the scientific breakthroughs and Nobel Prizes for discoveries, that scientists only understand 4% of the universe.  ‘Scientists only u...

1 A psalm of David. I The LORD is my shepherd; * there is nothing I lack. a 2 In green pastures he makes me lie down; to still waters he leads me; 3  b  he restores my soul. He guides me along right paths * for the sake of his name. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, c I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff comfort me. II 5  * You set a table before me in front of my enemies; * You anoint my head with oil; * d my cup overflows. e 6 Indeed, goodness and mercy * will pursue me all the days of my life; I will dwell in the house of the LORD  f for endless days. Psalm 23  sounds like heaven to me! Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 2.5 Generic — CC BY-SA 2.5 No machine-readable author provided. Gvasquez assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 2.5 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5>, via Wikimedia Commons

you know what it's like--an itch that you can't scratch.  https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Itch.jpg Orrling and Tomer S, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons heaven is kind of like that.  all kinds of superlatives have been used to try to describe heaven, but words, our senses and our minds are inadequate to comprehend heaven.  "What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and what has not entered the human heart, what God has prepared for those who love him." 1 Corinthians 2:9 it's like an itch that we can't scratch--not now anyway. won't it be wonderful when we can finally experience God's glory and the magnificence of God's plan?  the itch that we can't scratch now won't itch any more.  public domain Entrance to heaven, cloudscape over Oregon state and the P… | Flickr

"In heaven, we will be inebriated with unspeakable joy. Sleep will never come as it will not be necessary. Our souls will be stilled in the presence of God, and our restless hearts will finally be at rest. There will be no sorrow, pain or suffering. The greatest desires of our hearts will be satisfied beyond measure. We will rejoice without end with the angels and Saints. We will be able to contemplate the face of God forever." Contemplating Heaven - Our Ultimate Goal - Catholic Stand https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Contemplation._(Unsplash).jpg Sweet Ice Cream Photography sweeticecreamphotography, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons