Earth Can Become Heaven?
"The old Gospel teaching separated Heaven distinctly from Earth. Earth is where we now live, but it won't last forever; it will perish. Heaven is eternal, and where we go when we die -- if, in fact, we die "in Christ." In fact, this old Gospel teaching about Heaven was so manifestly adhered to that believers suffered fiery trials, persecutions and loss of life. They endured the loss of everything so that they might obtain a heavenly portion. They had no illusions about a man-constructed "peace" on Earth.
The modern-day church teaches that Heaven can be brought down to Earth, and that Earth can become Heaven."
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The modern-day church teaches that Heaven can be brought down to Earth, and that Earth can become Heaven."
READ THE REST…
posted by kennyo at 5:25 AM
1 Comments:
Seems a bit gnostic - that heaven is within us...
At the creation was the repeated, "it is good" and "it is very good". Flesh and earth are not in themselves bad.
John of Patmos tells of seeing a new heaven and a new earth. I'm not sure why there would need to be a new heaven, but perhaps heaven and earth will both be renewed, and set before the eyes of John was a vision of what it would look like.
Interestingly, there doesn't seem to be much difference there - between heaven and earth. Both are described in terms of beauty and final peace.
Rev. 18 speaks of the renewal: "After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority and the earth was made bright with splendor...
...and the merchants of the earth weep and mourn for her (Babylon), since no one buys their cargo any more, cargo of gold, silver, jewels and pearls, fine linen, purple, silk and scarlet, all kinds of scented wood...and human lives" (Rev. 18:1, 11-13).
The connection between heaven and earth is made in Rev. 19 as Babylon is destroyed the great multitude in heaven break out in singing Hallelujah.
In chapter 21 a new heaven and new earth are seen, with the new Jerusalem coming down out of heaven. The home of God is among mortals. Tears, death, mourning, crying and pain will be no more. "See, I am making all things new" (Rev. 21:5)
It's significant that the earth is made new - not wadded up like a piece of paper to be thrown in the trash. This tells me, that since we are tasked with dominion of that which lives upon the earth, that we are to take care of the earth.
It is the earthly city (a single fellowship - not multiple countries - which is described as having the glory of God, radieance like a very rare Jewel...street of pure gold...no temple, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb...gates never shut (definite view of peace) and no night...
I don't see mention in Revelation of us living in heaven - except that being in the presence of the Lord in the New Jerusalem will be our heaven.
If we say that Earth will perish, and Heaven is eternal, then it seems we are at odds with Revelation, which speaks of them both in the same terms - "a new heaven and a new earth" - both renewed, both made perfect.
Now, have I completely contradicted what was said in the post - or did I misunderstand, again?
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