NearertoGod

I feel kind of silly posting such a question like this, but I like to gain knowledge and this one topic was kind of nagging at me.

I've asked it before to other "Christians" and gotten a negative response as if they felt I was dumb or something, but I was really curious on this.

I was wondering:

When someone dies (non-Christian or Christian), does God send them right to Hell/Heaven, or do they go to this place (I believe I remember some place called 'Adam's Bosom' or something like) where everyone goes and waits for the day of judgement? Or do God's Chosen People go there and the sinners someplace else?



Really confused, I just don't want to have these swirly thoughts in my head, lol.

__________________
Hebrews 4:12 (New Living Translation [NLT])
12 For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

CSchultz

I think you are speaking of Abrahams bosom, which is of course the safety of the elect.

In my view of God's almighty creation with respect to the afterlife, we tend to confuse the issue with our own concepts of "Time."

I do not believe in any sort of a purgatory, as I can find no substantiation for it in scripture.

God created matter, just as He created time, and even man has been able to prove that time and matter are relative to one another.

I believe that when we die, (The first death) matter and time are no longer a part of our reality.

The second death, is judgement day. I think it is like when you go to sleep and awake, you really have no idea what time it is. Have you been asleep for two hours?, or eight hours?

Time is not an issue when you sleep.

Purgatory was created by man in order to explain in a temporal manner where the saints that have gone on before us are residing today. In my opinion it is foolishness, and has no biblical basis whatsoever.

There is no "WAIT" because in that place there is no time.

But on the final day, we shall all rise, both the quick and the dead, and many upstanding, church going well meaning people will go someplace else.

And many of the people you and I would never have thought were in Gods grace, will join with Christ in the air, and spend eternity in Praise and everlasting worship.

NearertoGod

Oh, it was "Abraham's Bosom"! I knew it started with "A" but I just couldn't remember it.

Any others? >_>

__________________
Hebrews 4:12 (New Living Translation [NLT])
12 For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

Aelita

Actually, when Catholics pray to Saints it's because we believe they ARE in Heaven, not in Purgatory.

Also, I firmly believe in purgatory, and that there is biblical evidence for it.

For those of you who don't know what Purgatory is, it's a place where the souls of those who have died in the state of grace, but with venial sins or reparation due for forgiven sins are fully cleansed in Purgatory in order that they be made perfect for Heaven, all self-love is purged so that only love of God remains.

Biblical Evidence
Matthew 12:32 And whoever says a word against the Son of man will be forgiven; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or the age to come.

This would seem that some sins can be forgiven in the next world. But there is no sin to be forgiven in heaven, and sins cannot be forgiven in hell. So anyone remission of sin in the next world must be in Purgatory.

1 Corinthians 3:15
If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

This can't be referring to eternal loss in hell, because no one there can be saved. It can't be in heaven because there is no suffering in heaven. So it must be a middle state then, where the soul temporarily suffers loss so that it may gain heaven.

1 Peter 3:18-20
For Christ also died for sins once for all, the righteous for the un-righteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and preached to the spirits in prison, who formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, during the building f the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water.

1 Peter 4:6 For this is why the gospel was preached even to the dead, that though judged in the flesh like men, they might live in the spirit like God.

So, those verses talk about a prison for disobedient spirits, and yet they were saved when Jesus preached to them. This is not hell, because no one is saved from hell. It's probably not "Abraham's bosom" where the righteous souls of the OT waited until Christ opened the gates of heaven because this is a place for disobedient spirits. It doesn't exactly sound like St. Peter is describing the waiting place of such righteous OT saints like David and John the Baptist when he mentions the disobedient spirits.

St. Peter is describing a temporary state for disobedient souls who were eventually saved. At the very least, it proves that a third place can exist between heaven and hell. At the very most, it proves the Catholic doctrine of Purgatory.

Jon-Marc

There are only two places--heaven and hell. One day hell will be cast into the lake of fire along with death, the anti-Christ, false prophet, the beast, and all those whose names are not written in the Lamb's Book of Life. Rev. 20:10-15

The "bosom of Abraham" was a term used in reference to where the believers went in the Old Testament days. There was hell and Paradise--separated by a "gulf". Those in hell could see over into Paradise, but they could pass from one to the other. Check out Luke 16:19-31. Some call that a parable, but parables didn't use names as that does.

There is no Paradise any more. Now all believers got to heaven, and non-believers go to hell.

ExCordeChristi

I agree with Aelita on the idea of purgatory, but who is saved is another question altogether.
What does it mean to be a believer? I think it is much deeper than saying, "Jesus is my God", but those who LIVE "Jesus is my God" (even if they do not realize it) will be saved.
Biblical verses (please someone help me with verses, I am trying to memorize my Bible but it's difficult):
"Those who do my will are my mother, brother, and sister."
"Those who are not against us are for us."
"Those who love me follow my commands."
And there is another about those who say, "Lord, Lord" and God will not recognize them.
Granted, eternal life only comes to us by Jesus, in professing He is God; but the manner of professing it is much deeper than just saying and thinking, "I believe". It is in doing God's work on earth that we prove what God we serve. Another example is the Pharisees, who said that they did not sin, and they believed they would be saved. But Jesus rebuked them multiple times, calling them "white-washed" tombs.
Sorry if this seems a little off-topic, but this issue seems appropriate when talking about the afterlife and who goes where. I'm not trying to start a debate, but I'm expressing my opinion on this manner.

TotusTuus

It isn't enough for us to say "I believe". We must believe explicitly in Christ, His Church, and His Teachings. This is faith and faith is the "beginning of salvation". We must live a good life and die in the state of grace. We must receive the water of Baptism. These are only a few of the things necessary for salvation. But just saying "I Believe" and to think everything is fine is not enough. I hope this helps. God Bless

Ginger

ExCordeChristi, and Aelita,

What purpose is the cross if the saved must pay for their sins in purgatory?

We will all, saved and unsaved, come into judgment. Those who reject God will be judged according to their sins. They will be punished for their sins, because they did not accept Christ Jesus as their savior.

But those of us who have believed in Christ Jesus, repented of our sin will be judged according to the good God has accomplished through us. We will be rewarded for our faith, because Jesus has already taken the punishment for ours sins.

As far as the east is from the west, so far hath God removed our transgressions from us. (Psa 103:12)

We do not earn entry into heaven by being "good" or making amends for our sins.

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, (Eph 2:8 )

WOW! GOD IS GREAT!

I can never undo the wrongs I have committed in this life, but God can wipe them out of existence, never to be remembered.

It's Heaven or Hell. I trust in a God whose mercy is greater than His wrath.

Ginger

NearertoGod, Don't feel silly for asking questions. You'd be surprised if you could know how many people will be glad you asked because they were afraid to. None of us has all the answers.

smellycat

depends on which bible you read and how much it is pallatable for you.