Heaven is a place of eternal life, in the presence of God.
57
votes
10answers
1k views
Can there be free will in heaven?
The most common explanation I heard from Christians for the theodicy is that suffering is caused inevitably by the free will of humans. The argument is essentially that a world without suffering is ...
34
votes
6answers
2k views
Will suicide keep me out of Heaven?
First of all, I don't want to set off any red flags here. I am not pursuing a suicidal lifestyle, nor have the desire to end my life. That being said...
Perhaps the greatest thing a person can hope ...
23
votes
10answers
2k views
Can an atheist go to heaven?
The question of who goes to heaven and who to hell seems to result in very different answers depending on which tradition the Christian answering belongs to. Some traditions, especially evangelical ...
23
votes
7answers
2k views
Are there multiple levels to Heaven?
1 Corinthians 15:39-41 (KJV)
39 All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. 40 There are also ...
22
votes
7answers
5k views
According to the Bible, do animals have souls?
Randy Alcorn claims in his book Heaven (page 374) that animals have souls, though not necessarily like humans. Is there any Biblical support for this?
21
votes
5answers
2k views
Can Humans become Angels?
There a number of biblical passages (like Corinthians 4:9) that are worded as such indicating angels were created separately from and and are different from humans.
From time to time I hear someone ...
19
votes
6answers
479 views
Is Hell eternal, or do some/all escape it?
In his recent book, Love Wins, author and pastor Rob Bell caused quite a bit of controversy (and anger) by making the argument that Heaven is the state that we are in when we follow God's will and ...
14
votes
1answer
653 views
Will there be “new people” or reproduction in heaven or “the next life?”
I'm looking for a Biblical answer to this question: will there be any new people in heaven? An equivalent question: are the people created in this life (on Earth) the only people who will ever exist?
...
13
votes
3answers
456 views
Will we live on (an) earth after death?
A Jehovah Witness and I spoke the other day and he explained to me that JW's believe that we'll live on earth after we die.
Is there any scripture to back this up?
Any point of view from any ...
13
votes
2answers
343 views
What exactly do we know about Heaven?
Most of us probably have a lot of vague ideas about Heaven, the place where the faithful are said to spend their afterlife. But when I really start to think about it, I can't back most of my ideas ...
12
votes
7answers
609 views
Why should a sinner suffer forever in hell fire?
In my little knowledge I believe any form of punishment is a way of curbing crimes or wrong doings and for others to learn not to do wrong. When this life ends some would be in heaven and the rest in ...
11
votes
2answers
147 views
How can I be sure someone I know is going to Heaven?
I am sure that through my faith my sins have been forgiven and I will get into Heaven. However, how can I be sure someone else will be forgiven and allowed in Heaven? Are there any good questions I ...
11
votes
5answers
1k views
Does the Bible support the idea of a temporary holding place?
A friend once talked about the idea that there are two temporary "holding places", so to speak. If a person died and would go to Heaven, but that time had not yet come, they would go to a temporary ...
10
votes
5answers
297 views
Christian significance of Tolkien and CS Lewis putting “heaven” across the sea?
It is interesting that both of the most prominent Christian fantasy authors (not as in "Christian Fantasy" but Christians who wrote fantasy) put paradise across the sea. I realize that Tolkien's ...
10
votes
2answers
544 views
What is life in Heaven going to be like?
How is life going to be once you get to Heaven?
ie: What activities are you going to perform every day, for all eternity?
I am interested in responses that are backed up by verses from the Bible, ...
10
votes
3answers
269 views
Is it a sin to do “works” for the sake of “rewards” in heaven?
I was reading up on an article that was talking about rewards in heavens. Then it struck me, is it a sin to do "works" for the sake of "rewards" in heaven ?
What does the Bible have to say regarding ...
9
votes
7answers
294 views
Good person going to hell simply for not believing?
The scenario is as follows:
Believer, average life, many mistakes/sins. Asks forgiveness and tries everyday to be better. Goes to heaven.
Non-believer, better life than the believer, fewer mistakes ...
9
votes
2answers
120 views
How do we reconcile the futility of Ecclesiastes with the reward of heaven?
There's no question that Christianity believes in heaven. We have a tag here heaven filled with questions about it.
Having said this, there are many places in the Old Testament that speak of the ...
9
votes
6answers
277 views
How can Heaven exist if we know that people in Hell will suffer?
Suppose for the following scenario that both the Christian Heaven and Hell exist.
My mother is a good Christian and loves me dearly.
I am an atheist, and will therefore go to hell upon death. [If ...
8
votes
5answers
1k views
Was Jesus' resurrected body the same as his glorified body that he now has in heaven?
Most people understand that the Scriptures teach that the body in which Jesus was crucified was the same body that came out of the grave, but that the body in which He now dwells in, was that changed ...
8
votes
3answers
88 views
Is there a 'Third Heaven'?
2 Corinthians 12:2-4 (New International Version)
2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the
third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not
...
8
votes
5answers
910 views
What happens to marriage on the New Earth
I think I can safely say that humans were designed not to operate as a single solitary person but as part of a unit of two -- both as referenced by Gen 3:16-17 (see mentions of husband and wife in ...
7
votes
6answers
222 views
How should a Christian object to those who say Paradise may be a little boring?
From time to time while reading fiction or poetry or whatever I stumble on a certain kind of, so to say, 'satire' of the Paradise the main point of which is that the everlasting live would be ...
7
votes
1answer
100 views
Is gender a property of essence or existence?
In his address, the Holy Father said:
According to the biblical creation account, being created by God as
male and female pertains to the essence of the human creature.
The use of the word ...
7
votes
3answers
190 views
Is the phrase, “Heaven is the presence of God, but Hell is the absence of God” an orthodox viewpoint?
Is the phrase, "Heaven is the presence of God, but Hell is the absence of God" an orthodox viewpoint?
By orthodox I mean orthodox with a lower case o, not an upper case O, as in Orthodox.
I used ...
7
votes
1answer
421 views
Heaven/Paradise/Sheol, Hell/Hades/The Lake of Fire
What is the difference between Heaven/Paradise/Sheol
How about Hell/Hades/The Lake of Fire?
Are they synonyms, are they different places?
6
votes
8answers
593 views
Can I just sin my whole life and in the end receive forgiveness and go to heaven?
And sit with Him on His throne?
To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne.
Rev 3:21 ...
6
votes
4answers
457 views
Will we be perfect in Heaven?
I think most (if not all) Christians would agree that there will be no sin in heaven. However, we often make mistakes that aren't sinful: accidentally spilling a glass of milk isn't a sin. We don't ...
6
votes
2answers
728 views
Does Jesus eat food in heaven?
Jesus said there will be no marriage in heaven, but after He rose He ate food. Does Jesus eat food in heaven? Is there any reason for us to suppose He does not?
This is the kind of question kids ask ...
6
votes
1answer
106 views
Is Jesus still suffering in heaven for our sins?
That is what sometime I hear some preacher mentioning.
Heaven is a place where there is no suffering but all happiness and that is what we are aiming for, by trying to live a good life on earth. ...
6
votes
1answer
101 views
Is one who is “least in the kingdom of heaven” still in heaven?
Recently I read something that quoted this verse from the bible:
Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches
others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of ...
6
votes
1answer
564 views
Abraham's Bosom after Jesus
Abraham's Bosom as I understand was the Saint's portion (Paradise) of Hades while on the other side of a great chasm (gulf) was a portion of Hades described as torment. Does this place known as ...
6
votes
3answers
407 views
Is/will there be time in heaven?
An answer suggests that "time is meaningless in heaven." Do we know this to be true?
It seems like an easy conclusion to draw, based on the following:
God created the entire universe, including ...
6
votes
8answers
227 views
Do people go to heaven immediately when they die?
When someone passes away, at their funeral the priest will usually say something that gives the idea that the deceased is in heaven. And a lot of people like to also give the idea that people who die ...
5
votes
1answer
121 views
We're only in heaven for a short time?
Will we really go to heaven but it's only until the new Earth comes as described in Revelation (when we're to return to Earth)?
Revelation 21:1-2 NIV
Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,”[a] ...
5
votes
4answers
106 views
Will we theoretically be able to sin in Heaven?
The Bible tells us that there will be no sin in Heaven
. Also, most christians agree that there will be free will in Heaven.
So we will be in a sinless state with free will. However, Adam and Eve ...
4
votes
6answers
221 views
Is it possible to get into heaven, but then be cast out at a later date?
People struggle to enter Heaven, but what guarantees you that once you get there you won't be cast out from Heaven? In the Bible there is no guarantee about that. What will prevent you from making bad ...
4
votes
2answers
608 views
Is Abraham in heaven?
If Jesus brought everlasting life and Abraham was before Jesus and in fact, before Judaism. Therefore, would we expect to see Abraham in heaven? What passages in the bible direct us to an answer?
4
votes
1answer
142 views
Will we experience heaven (or hell) with our consciousness?
In Christianity, is heaven something we will comprehend with the consciousness we have now? Will we be the same consciousness, brain and memories of this world, or is it just the energy of our soul ...
4
votes
3answers
295 views
What is the “paradise” that Jesus references in Luke 23:43?
Luke 23:43 - Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."
At first glance, I casually assumed "paradise" was referring to heaven, but if Jesus was dead for 3 ...
4
votes
2answers
72 views
What Place was Jesus going to prepare
In John 14 Jesus tells the disciples that he was going to prepare a place for them. Isn't it that heaven was already founded from creation? So, what place was he referring to? Was this just a figure ...
4
votes
3answers
235 views
Does my monk go to heaven? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What happens to people who have never heard about Jesus?
I have found this very basic question perplexing to different pastors, rectors, and members of churches: If ...
4
votes
1answer
79 views
We might find Judas in Heaven?
We all know how Judas sold Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. The thing is he hanged himself before Jesus died on the cross so he went to (supposedly) hell.
But after Jesus died on the cross he went to ...
4
votes
3answers
185 views
What of all those who just don't know
Romans 10:9
That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
John 14:6
I am the way and the truth and the life. ...
4
votes
1answer
243 views
Do Jewish people go to heaven?
I believe some prophets of God, such as Moses and Elijah, are in heaven, yet they lived and died before Christ came. How is this possible? What does this mean for the other Jewish people?
3
votes
3answers
307 views
What is the view of Jehovah's Witnesses on John 18:36 “My kingdom is not from this world”?
A lot of people don't consider JWs to be Christian, usually for the reason of their view on the Kingdom of Jesus to be a kingdom here on Earth. I respect the guidelines of this site, so I do not wish ...
3
votes
3answers
64 views
Does the Bible say anything about our human relations being kept after death?
Does death separate us from the people we love forever ? do we keep our human relations or do we start over ?
I'm looking for any scripture passages that backup this claim or the contrary.
3
votes
3answers
174 views
How is the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus interpreted?
I have always been puzzled by this in Scripture.
Can someone clarify these points:
If Jesus was speaking of reality then 'The End' had technically already come. Is this correct?
From Hell it would ...
3
votes
1answer
84 views
Indications that Enoch and Elijah have never gone to Abraham's bosom?
In the Old Testament we can see at least two people that didn't seem to ever die: Enoch (Gen. 5:24) and Elijah (2 Kings 2:11). The Scriptures say that the first one was taken by God, and the second ...
3
votes
1answer
67 views
Are the souls in heaven conscious of their previous earthly existence?
Is there any continuity between both stages of existence? Or does resurrection mean a complete new begin on a completely different level?
