Are there dolphins in heaven?

[ViaCrucis]

So opposites will still exist but not be noticed?

I am not going to pretend to know what I can't know. But I simply don't believe that what is good will be lost. The joy and happiness of creation shall not be lost. Anyone who has gone barefoot on cool green grass, or felt the sun warm their skin, or breathed in the gentle air in the forest and taken in the sights of creation knows that there is so much that is beautiful. And the Scriptures tell us that when God saw all that He made He said it was good, not just good but very, exceedingly, immensely good. It's His work. God did not make things to die, He made things to live.

Death, decay, these are a curse upon creation that shall be done away with. But the good, the beautiful, the handiwork of God--that doesn't just go away. We have a God of faithfulness and promises, and His promises to creation are certain, the word of the Lord endures forever. 1 Peter 1:25

"The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge." - Psalms 19:1-2

-CryptoLutheran

 

[timothyu]

Death, decay, these are a curse upon creation that shall be done away with

So the cycle of life which replenishes trees and vegetation as everything returns to earth will be no more?

 

[ViaCrucis]

So the cycle of life which replenishes trees and vegetation as everything returns to earth will be no more?

There's no way I could possibly know.

"For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known." - 1 Corinthians 13:12

-CryptoLutheran

 

[timothyu]

There's no way I could possibly know.

Sorry, I was referring to the decay you mentioned

 

[ViaCrucis]

Sorry, I was referring to the decay you mentioned

The Apostle writes in 1 Corinthians 15 that in the resurrection the body is raised incorruptible. The word Paul uses literally means "able to decay"--the body that grows old, weary, and dies, and decays to dust.

So I think, very clearly, that what is made immortal, incorruptible, and glorious will be just that: immortal, incorruptible, and glorious.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[Jamdoc]

No animals? No memories? No seas? So many people are apt to make Heaven sound ridiculously boring and hollow. God doesn't function in a box. Whatever he created on earth, He's perfectly capable of creating in Heaven!

A lot of pastors will just tell you that you'll be so HIGH er I mean... "filled with joy" at seeing Jesus and staring at Him that you won't be capable of thinking about anything else. So for them, Heaven doesn't need anything, but Jesus to stare at, to get them high er.. fill them with joy.

The language that many Christians use for their beliefs of heaven is the same language that you expect out of a junkie, it's just that staring at Jesus is their drug rather than heroin. That is what those drugs do. give you a euphoria that is not dependent on any other factors, and make you ignore all other aspects of your situation, and the only thing a junkie wants is more of whatever is giving them that pleasure. So the extinction of all animals? No more relationships with other humans? Who cares? Just stare at Jesus and get high... whoops! be filled with joy!

But for the Christian, especially think someone like John Piper and his "Christian Hedonism", it's staring at Jesus rather than a chemical. But they expect a chemical like reaction to this stimuli all the same.

to be perfectly honest? I hate that view. I don't want an eternal high.
I want a life.

 

[Jamdoc]

I am not going to pretend to know what I can't know. But I simply don't believe that what is good will be lost. The joy and happiness of creation shall not be lost. Anyone who has gone barefoot on cool green grass, or felt the sun warm their skin, or breathed in the gentle air in the forest and taken in the sights of creation knows that there is so much that is beautiful. And the Scriptures tell us that when God saw all that He made He said it was good, not just good but very, exceedingly, immensely good. It's His work. God did not make things to die, He made things to live.

Death, decay, these are a curse upon creation that shall be done away with. But the good, the beautiful, the handiwork of God--that doesn't just go away. We have a God of faithfulness and promises, and His promises to creation are certain, the word of the Lord endures forever. 1 Peter 1:25

"The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge." - Psalms 19:1-2

-CryptoLutheran

So couple questions then.. there is one form of "death" that many people find beautiful, autumn, the trees having their leaves falling in various colors, would that be gone forever? Like plant death, now, I wouldn't want most plants to die it's definitely a symbol of fallenness, but this.. annual cycle doesn't seem like it's a death that is part of corruption but is part of design, which is why God made it aesthetically pleasing.

Also.. one thing that always like.. kinda hits me a bit.. I prefer meat to any vegetables or fruits but you know, with no death if that includes animals, means.. we all go vegan. To be perfectly honest. I have a small amount of dread for that day. Something I suppose I'd have to get over, but.. never having a steak again.. here's a banana! (and I hate bananas, even the smell makes me want to throw up)

 

[Gregory Thompson]

No animals? No memories? No seas? So many people are apt to make Heaven sound ridiculously boring and hollow. God doesn't function in a box. Whatever he created on earth, He's perfectly capable of creating in Heaven!

But our memories are attached to these bodies, that will die and decay, and be incinerated. Sin will be forever behind a firewall, so there will be nothing to trigger the old memories.

Since sin will be out of the picture, everything will be better.

Something to the measure of being "beyond what we can imagine or think" #notboring

 

[ViaCrucis]

So couple questions then.. there is one form of "death" that many people find beautiful, autumn, the trees having their leaves falling in various colors, would that be gone forever? Like plant death, now, I wouldn't want most plants to die it's definitely a symbol of fallenness, but this.. annual cycle doesn't seem like it's a death that is part of corruption but is part of design, which is why God made it aesthetically pleasing.

Also.. one thing that always like.. kinda hits me a bit.. I prefer meat to any vegetables or fruits but you know, with no death if that includes animals, means.. we all go vegan. To be perfectly honest. I have a small amount of dread for that day. Something I suppose I'd have to get over, but.. never having a steak again.. here's a banana! (and I hate bananas, even the smell makes me want to throw up)

Bacon trees.

I joke. I don't know of course. How could I?

I love eating meat as much as the next carnivore. But, I'll be honest, not having a hamburger for eternity seems like a very small thing to give up in the Age to Come when I'll be with the Savior and all my brothers and sisters forever.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[ViaCrucis]

But our memories are attached to these bodies, that will die and decay, and be incinerated. Sin will be forever behind a firewall, so there will be nothing to trigger the old memories.

Since sin will be out of the picture, everything will be better.

Something to the measure of being "beyond what we can imagine or think" #notboring

The former things will not be remembered, because death has passed away.

I don't think that means we lose our memories. We won't be amnesiacs for eternity. We will cast our crowns before the Throne, and rejoice in He who gave His life for us. Forever and ever.

I believe in the redemption of our minds, our hearts, our bodies. Our experiences will be redeemed. Our memories will be redeemed, healed, and find a place in the goodness of Jesus Christ.

He wipes away every tear, because our mourning will turn to joy, and dancing, and sorrow will become laughter. As we enjoy God forever.

I can't even imagine these things--they are far too great for me. But I am confident, in the promises of God, that all that is lovely will be made more lovely and all that is unlovely will be made lovely.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[ViaCrucis]

A lot of pastors will just tell you that you'll be so HIGH er I mean... "filled with joy" at seeing Jesus and staring at Him that you won't be capable of thinking about anything else. So for them, Heaven doesn't need anything, but Jesus to stare at, to get them high er.. fill them with joy.

The language that many Christians use for their beliefs of heaven is the same language that you expect out of a junkie, it's just that staring at Jesus is their drug rather than heroin. That is what those drugs do. give you a euphoria that is not dependent on any other factors, and make you ignore all other aspects of your situation, and the only thing a junkie wants is more of whatever is giving them that pleasure. So the extinction of all animals? No more relationships with other humans? Who cares? Just stare at Jesus and get high... whoops! be filled with joy!

But for the Christian, especially think someone like John Piper and his "Christian Hedonism", it's staring at Jesus rather than a chemical. But they expect a chemical like reaction to this stimuli all the same.

to be perfectly honest? I hate that view. I don't want an eternal high.
I want a life.

I expect that in the Age to Come we will live and love forever. I agree that the idea being a "junkie" for eternity is rather lackluster. Instead I think we will live, have life with one another. I expect to serve you, and all my brothers and sisters, in that Age. But all doing, all service, will be rendered joy in Christ.

I don't imagine myself statically in some choir, I imagine myself living--with you, with others. Sharing, and breaking bread together, life.

Which is also why I think we need to speak of the redemption of creation. Enjoying God, enjoying creation, enjoying all these things.

It is a redeemed universe, a redeemed life, a redeemed existence that is full.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[Jamdoc]

I expect that in the Age to Come we will live and love forever. I agree that the idea being a "junkie" for eternity is rather lackluster. Instead I think we will live, have life with one another. I expect to serve you, and all my brothers and sisters, in that Age. But all doing, all service, will be rendered joy in Christ.

I don't imagine myself statically in some choir, I imagine myself living--with you, with others. Sharing, and breaking bread together, life.

Which is also why I think we need to speak of the redemption of creation. Enjoying God, enjoying creation, enjoying all these things.

It is a redeemed universe, a redeemed life, a redeemed existence that is full.

-CryptoLutheran

Yeah.. that's what I see as well, is life, Isaiah 65 paints a very earthly picture, building houses, planting fields (just without a curse), Jesus paints the picture of eating and drinking in fellowship.

But John MacArthur paints an endless worship service.
and John Piper paints a picture of staring at Jesus and beign so overwhelmed with a high that you can't do anything else.

and I love those men and find a lot of their studies in scripture edifying, and their preaching on righteousness, struggling with sin, etc, all that is good.
it's just honestly? Their view of "heaven" is so.. narrow and static.

honestly I have stupid imagination about the kind of fellowship I would like with my creator, it's stupid, it's carnal, I know... but things you might do with friends I want to do with Jesus, with give and take, a real relationship, not just.. one direction praising Him while He sits on a throne and His participation is to just receive my worship.

I know.. stupid that I'd think of doing something quaint like.. fishing with Jesus, hiking with Jesus.. and the dumbest and I'm sure I'll get "that's living like the devil! blasphemy! that's evil!" but.. like.. being in a band with Jesus, playing electric guitar, harmonizing
it's stupid I know like "Jam with the Lamb" it.. puts a bit of a smile on my face anyway.

 

[timothyu]

A lot of pastors will just tell you that you'll be so HIGH er I mean... "filled with joy" at seeing Jesus and staring at Him that you won't be capable of thinking about anything else. So for them, Heaven doesn't need anything, but Jesus to stare at, to get them high er.. fill them with joy.

Like with Santa in a Christmas Story.

 

[timothyu]

I have a small amount of dread for that day.

Bread and wine

 

[timothyu]

Bacon trees.

Kosher?

 

[timothyu]

Remember Eve in the Garden when she made it about herself and got evicted because of it? Why do we insist on carrying on that tradition in the Kingdom?

 

[Jamdoc]

Like with Santa in a Christmas Story.

huh? I thought the depiction of Santa in Christmas story was dreadful lol, kind of scary "HO HO HO!" while putting his foot on the Ralphie's face lol

 

[timothyu]

huh? I thought the depiction of Santa in Christmas story was dreadful lol, kind of scary "HO HO HO!" while putting his foot on the Ralphie's face lol

True but many were no doubt in awe also. Wonder if the judgement will have a slide?

 

[Jamdoc]

Remember Eve in the Garden when she made it about herself and got evicted because of it? Why do we insist on carrying on that tradition in the Kingdom?

remember the garden period, where God just created Adam and made him fall on his face and sing songs at God and never gave Adam anything but well "serving its its own reward"?

Yeah me neither.

God created the garden, put Adam in it, provided for all of Adam's needs, and only made a single rule, and commanded that Adam and Eve repopulate the world and have dominion over it. There wasn't even any songs to sing.. because... and this is a truth I think that many people miss... true worship, is more than just praising with the lips. It's loving God, and obeying Him, and doing the purpose He created you for.
So had Adam and Eve obeyed that one rule, they'd be worshiping God with every action they did, because they'd be enjoying fellowship with God, loving Him, obeying Him, procreating, and having dominion (which includes taking care of) on the Earth. Man was meant to rule Earth.

But man was also meant to enjoy doing so.

and until Adam and Eve had outside influence to have a desire to become like God, they'd probably have been content.

Other things? Wouldn't even come to mind without outside influence. stealing? what is that even, the Lord God has freely given. Murder? what's that? Why would I murder someone I love?

 

[Gregory Thompson]

The former things will not be remembered, because death has passed away.

I don't think that means we lose our memories. We won't be amnesiacs for eternity. We will cast our crowns before the Throne, and rejoice in He who gave His life for us. Forever and ever.

I believe in the redemption of our minds, our hearts, our bodies. Our experiences will be redeemed. Our memories will be redeemed, healed, and find a place in the goodness of Jesus Christ.

He wipes away every tear, because our mourning will turn to joy, and dancing, and sorrow will become laughter. As we enjoy God forever.

I can't even imagine these things--they are far too great for me. But I am confident, in the promises of God, that all that is lovely will be made more lovely and all that is unlovely will be made lovely.

-CryptoLutheran

Since sin hides in our memories of a sinful world, it would make sense that they wouldn't be accessible.