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What Is Heaven Really Like? [Ecumenical]
CatholicAndsers ^ | not given | Jimmy Akin

Posted on 02/13/2011 4:03:35 PM PST by Salvation

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To: NavyCanDo

You’re right. Just how could Christ or the Apostle Paul who was taken up into heaven explain it to us? There’s no common vocabulary or things to make comparisons with. I like that quote, too. It makes perfect sense to me.

Regards


61 posted on 02/13/2011 6:17:28 PM PST by Rashputin (Barry is totally insane and being kept medicated and on golf courses to hide the fact)
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To: Salvation

Personally, I believe that God can do whatever He wants. If we are to be rewarded with heaven, then we should be happy. Many, many pet owners wouldn’t be as happy as they could be without their pets. Many houses in heaven... mine will have my dogs and cats.


62 posted on 02/13/2011 6:20:06 PM PST by momtothree
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To: Judith Anne

I had a similar experience with my father. I think it is a common occurrence and a lot of the experiences are quite similar.

My father had a stroke and was not able to communicate during the final couple of years of his life. He was a good father and family man and loved kids (he was the father of nine). I had a set of twins six months before he died and I knew he would have thought that was really neat. I never knew if he knew that he was the grandfather of twins because of the state he was in before death.

About two months after his death he appeared to me in a dream and like you said, he was his stronger, younger self. The exact opposite of his condition during his final years.

He very briefly told me three things. He said he was happy where he was and not to worry about him. He said he knew about the twin girls and was very happy about them. And finally before he left he told me he loved me very much.

It was so real it was unbelievable. I’ll never forget it.


63 posted on 02/13/2011 6:20:41 PM PST by Guardian Sebastian
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To: shoe212; goat granny; freedumb2003; Salvation

I did read the CS Lewis book, The Great Divorce, but the heaven my Dad showed me was much different...Lewis probably described the people in heaven and hell very accurately, though. Anyway, here’s something else I have permission to share, from the family of a patient whose death I attended.

This lovely lady died of cancer, and I was her night nurse. She asked me to stay with her, her last night, and said she was going to die. I told my supervisor, who gave me permission to stay with her until her family arrived, and give her anything she asked for.

She didn’t want anything, but started talking. “Can you smell the flowers?” she asked. It was a typical cancer death room, and there were no flowers, and the smell was the usual, any nurse will know. “Smell the flowers” she insisted, “Oh, can you see? They are soooo beautiful!” She put her hands up to her face, and breathed in very deep, with a lovely smile.

“Oh, there’s Jesus!” she said, sounding surprised. She said a couple of words that indicated He did not look the way she thought He would, but that He was such a beautiful man. I can’t recall those words, but I remember saying, “Tell Him I said hello. Tell Him I love Him...” and then, with her eyes wide open, she relaxed back onto her pillow, and passed. I closed her eyes, but I remember they were clear, serene, and calm.

I burst into tears. My super came in, and while we cleaned her body, I told her everything. “Be sure to tell her family what you told me,” my boss said.

Her family came in about a half hour after, and we all talked, cried and hugged each other. I have never been so privileged to be a nurse, and I will never forget that night. I’ve posted about it before, but somehow it never gets old. Neither does heaven, I think. ;-D


64 posted on 02/13/2011 6:33:08 PM PST by Judith Anne (Holy Mary, Mother of God, please pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death.)
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To: Guardian Sebastian

Isn’t that wonderful? Sometimes, I think they may know that we need a little encouragement from them, and God agrees, so for us weak ones, we are so blessed...

Your dream sounds a lot like mine.


65 posted on 02/13/2011 6:35:54 PM PST by Judith Anne (Holy Mary, Mother of God, please pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death.)
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To: Judith Anne

Thank you for sharing this wonderful story.


66 posted on 02/13/2011 6:36:02 PM PST by thecodont
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To: thecodont

It still gives me a thrill of wonder.


67 posted on 02/13/2011 6:38:43 PM PST by Judith Anne (Holy Mary, Mother of God, please pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death.)
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To: Guardian Sebastian; Judith Anne

Wow! Another fantastic story.

You two ladies need to read the book “Evidence of an AfterLife by Dr. Jeffrey Long. It has medical stuff in it, but a lot of the stories of near death experiences.

NDEs and their testimonies after coming back to life after being clinically dead.


68 posted on 02/13/2011 6:41:45 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: Gamecock

And what the Bible actually says about heaven is not a great deal.


There is probably a reason for that...............


69 posted on 02/13/2011 6:43:48 PM PST by PeterPrinciple ( getting closer to the truth.................)
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To: Gamecock

And what the Bible actually says about heaven is not a great deal.


There is probably a reason for that...............


70 posted on 02/13/2011 6:44:06 PM PST by PeterPrinciple ( getting closer to the truth.................)
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To: Judith Anne

That is a beautiful experience...I was a nurse for 10 years in the hospital and also witness several things that patients said and saw before death...That was why when someone would come in in terrible condition and the family would always ask about the chances of their loved one pulling through, I always told them I had seen so many different things, there is always hope and to pray for them. To many this seem to have given them something to hold on to and sometimes the patient does pull through.


71 posted on 02/13/2011 6:45:52 PM PST by goat granny
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To: hadaclueonce

Amen.


72 posted on 02/13/2011 6:49:10 PM PST by Reddy (B.O. stinks)
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To: goat granny

So many things we agree on...I’ve seen patients pull through, too, very unexpectedly. God blesses us, so much, either way.


73 posted on 02/13/2011 6:51:18 PM PST by Judith Anne (Holy Mary, Mother of God, please pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death.)
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To: irishtenor

There is also a book called, “Someday Heaven” by Larry Libby. He uses scripture to describe what Heaven will be like.

Looking forward to it :)


74 posted on 02/13/2011 6:52:03 PM PST by Reddy (B.O. stinks)
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To: Gamecock; RnMomof7; metmom; Quix; PeterPrinciple
If we are trusting in Christ when we die, we go straight into His presence (his promise to the thief on the cross, Luke 23:43).

AMEN!

"Grant, Almighty God, that...we may stand fixed in our watch-tower...until at length we ascend above all watch-towers, into that blessed rest, where we shall no more watch...but see, face to face, in thine image, whatever can be wished, and whatever is needful for our perfect happiness, through Christ our Lord. Amen." -- John Calvin (Close of Lecture 109 on the Minor Prophets) Hab.-Hagg.69

75 posted on 02/13/2011 6:57:56 PM PST by Dr. Eckleburg ("I don't think they want my respect; I think they want my submission." - Flemming Rose)
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To: Judith Anne

:O) smiles to you....GG


76 posted on 02/13/2011 7:00:05 PM PST by goat granny
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To: Salvation

Heaven will be something beyond out earthly comprehension.

To this point: “Scripture does not picture those in heaven sitting around on clouds, but it does picture heaven as being “up” from an earth-bound perspective, so clouds are a natural image for artists to supply.”

IMHO, “up” was a way to explain to a bunch of sheperds a direction in another dimention to an atropic universe, which being atropic is also endless. In one direction in this dimension is Heaven. In the opposite direction is Hell, an entropic universe of pain. And one that will end. Badly.


77 posted on 02/13/2011 7:00:08 PM PST by piytar (Obastard is a use of the term "bastard" in the literal sense -- Obama is hiding his daddy's identity)
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To: Dr. Eckleburg; Religion Moderator; Gamecock
I happened to disagree with you, but this is an Ecumenical thread so I will not argue and would prefer no argument as the Religion Moderator states.

Guidelines for Ecumenical Threads

78 posted on 02/13/2011 7:06:17 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: Salvation

Heaven will be Peace, Understanding and Love of God.

And I hope everyone of goodwill will be there.

Can you imagine a place without wars, turmoil, sin, danger, suffering, hunger, anger, gossip, ill will, bills to pay, solicitors, etc.?

I am looking forward to being with Our Lord and Savior.


79 posted on 02/13/2011 7:11:50 PM PST by ADSUM (Democracy works when citizens get involved and keep government honest.)
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To: Salvation; Religion Moderator; Dr. Eckleburg
Salvation: Your first post read Any thoughts?

Seems like that is exactly what Dr Eckleburg is doing, giving thoughts.

Nothing inflammatory was posted, just a Reformed perspective.

80 posted on 02/13/2011 7:12:19 PM PST by Gamecock (The resurrection of Jesus Christ is both historically credible and existentially satisfying. T.K.)
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