Hi folks, this discussion is racing along.....
Daystar has explained my position as regards heaven and hell. It's not just about a literal translation of the Bible. Some parts are literal (which you can tell from context) and some have been mistranslated to convey pagan beliefs- hence 'hell'. I am holding out hope that I will be resurrected to life again one day. The rapture is another 'belief' that has been taken out of context. The word doesn't appear in the Bible. What is supposed to happen is that believers who are actually alive when Jesus returns, will not actually die but change into immortal beings and meet Jesus to go and reign with him in His government which will be established on earth. Jesus is the only one who has been resurrected to eternal life. (People who were resurrected by Jesus and the disciples still had to die a natural death). Hope this explains some things. Oh yes, I think the belief that we go to heaven comes from when Jesus says he will prepare a place for his disciples so that where He is they will be, but the Bible is clear that Jesus is coming back here to the earth and will reign here.....
Daystar has explained my position as regards heaven and hell. It's not just about a literal translation of the Bible. Some parts are literal (which you can tell from context) and some have been mistranslated to convey pagan beliefs- hence 'hell'. I am holding out hope that I will be resurrected to life again one day. The rapture is another 'belief' that has been taken out of context. The word doesn't appear in the Bible. What is supposed to happen is that believers who are actually alive when Jesus returns, will not actually die but change into immortal beings and meet Jesus to go and reign with him in His government which will be established on earth. Jesus is the only one who has been resurrected to eternal life. (People who were resurrected by Jesus and the disciples still had to die a natural death). Hope this explains some things. Oh yes, I think the belief that we go to heaven comes from when Jesus says he will prepare a place for his disciples so that where He is they will be, but the Bible is clear that Jesus is coming back here to the earth and will reign here.....
"The eternal mystery of the world is its comprehensibility"
Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein