[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

Of course He knew. He could have easily instructed people to pray that way knowing this.

I do not pretend to understand WHY God does what he does and doesn't do what he doesn't do. He COULD have told us to do something to prevent the rise of Islam, but he didn't. He COULD have told us about the Internet, but he did not. The absence of evidence that he wished us to ask the saved for intercession is not evidence of the absence of his desire that we do so. Christ did not die at the crucifixion, he is very much alive, and perfectly capable of expressing his intentions to us on earth.

[pillut48]

"Christ did not die at the crucifixion..." ??? Jesus *had* to die on the cross. That was His whole mission! Are you referring to after the crucifixion?

[Mrs. Don-o]

Yes, Jesus died on the cross, in the sense that all His bodily systems failed, his brain flatlined, all physiological processes ceased, and his soul was separated from his body.

But not in the sense (which perhaps some mistakenly think) that He ceased to exist altogether or was somehow annihilated. He (His spirit) descended into the abode of the dead, which is in the book of Hebrews but dang, I couldn't find it (anybody help me?)