Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/26/83; site ihuxk.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!wivax!decvax!harpo!floyd!vax135!ariel!houti!hogpc!houxm!ihnp4!ihuxk!jdj55611 From: jdj55611@ihuxk.UUCP Newsgroups: net.religion Subject: Re: Paradise vs. Resurrection Message-ID: <362@ihuxk.UUCP> Date: Thu, 16-Jun-83 12:37:54 EDT Article-I.D.: ihuxk.362 Posted: Thu Jun 16 12:37:54 1983 Date-Received: Sat, 18-Jun-83 07:13:45 EDT References: <178@hogpc.UUCP> Organization: BTL Naperville, Il. Lines: 70 In a recent article S. Boswell gave some views on the state of the dead; some of which I would like to offer a different scriptural view. >>we see where evil desires lead to sin which leads to death. In I John 5:12 >>it says those who have Jesus have ETERNAL LIFE , those without Him Do NOT >>HAVE eternal life. I think it is importent here to differentiate between two principles; eternal life and immortality. As cited above, eternal life is conditional on our faith in God and our acceptance of the gospel. Immortality, on the other hand is applicable to all as found in 1 Cor. 15:21-22: "For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam ALL die, even so in Christ shall ALL be made alive." Through the resurrection of Christ, everyone will experience the state of afterlife "life." This does not take exception for the wicked for they also will receive this gift of immortality but will not partake of eternal life with Christ. As to our status when we leave this life, S. Boswell refered to Ecclesiastes and then made the statement: >> Notice it says >> the dead know not any thing which says simply there is no knowledge or >> intelligence in the grave. It also says the memory of them is forgotten which >> says they didn't remember anything either, which goes along with the verses >> which say the thoughts perish. In light of ALL these texts how can we say >> that we go to the grave and then get a second chance or receive more in >> the way of teachings when all these verses say we have no intelligence in >> the grave, our thoughts perish, we have no memory. You can draw your own conclusion from the scripture in Ecc., but I think it is talking about our attitude toward the dead and the end of their ablilty to operate in our sphere. I think this is especially true when you consider Christs teaching of the state of the dead in Luke 16. This is the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. I won't repeat it here but it describes the paradise and hell where all involved are VERY cognizant of their surroundings and their prior earthlife. There is more information I will throw in here as an addendum to an article I submitted earlier. In that article I dicussed the state of the dead and how there is a place after death seperate from heaven where we all go and those who didn't get a chance to hear the gospel can receive it there ( 1 Peter 4:6). If some one fits this category of never having heard of Christ in his life and accepts him in paradise, he has to be baptised before he can enter the kingdom of heaven. This is accomplished in proxy as indicated by 1 Cor. 15:29: "Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, is the dead rise not al all? why are they then baptized for the dead?" Peter used this as an argument for resurrection refering to a practice which is largely inheard of in todays churches but it is an interesting concept. I think there is an equal amount of scriptural backing to the views I described above. The main thing to me is that the intellligence that I gain in this life will rise with me in the resurrection. This is more appealing to me than to have my memory obliterated. J. D. Jensen BTL Naperville Il. ihuxk!jdj55611 but the rich man knew enough to be concerned about his brothers who were still alive.