Aerial toll houses: Heresy or Biblical

ArmyMatt

Regular Member
Supporter
Jan 26, 2007
41,470
20,026
41
Earth
✟1,456,009.00
Country
United States
Faith
Eastern Orthodox
Marital Status
Married
We should be aware of their influence and presence now. I pray that God’s mercy is great enough so that we will not need to interact or converse with them when we leave this life.

In thinking back, I do remember the Toll Houses being mentioned in hymns during the Divine Liturgy. These were always sung as a plea for protection from them. I may be mistaken, but recall my pastor advising that Christ’s saving Death would keep us from passing through the Toll Houses. He has passed away, now (may the Lord bless his soul), so I am unable to ask him.

How is moving through the Toll Houses different, in light of Christ’s Redemption, than it would have been if He had not died for us?

exactly. and death is when we need to be really ready since that's when we are most vulnerable, and the demons know that.

had He not died and rose, we all would just stay dead.
 
Upvote 0

Lyrasong

Newbie
Oct 3, 2012
62
35
✟16,350.00
Country
United States
Faith
Christian Seeker
Marital Status
Married
exactly. and death is when we need to be really ready since that's when we are most vulnerable, and the demons know that.

had He not died and rose, we all would just stay dead.

But those who died before Christ clearly were not dead, because Jesus went to preach to them while His Body lay in the tomb.

Beginning again to read Fr Seraphim Rose - Referring to St Ignatius of Antioch (?), his book states that prior to the Atonement of Christ, heaven was closed to both the righteous and sinners. The demons would not allow human entrance.

Something that should not need to be countered is that the demons resemble “dark Ethiopians.”

Just trying to understand ... but the teaching on Toll Houses grants much power to Satan and his angels. It assumes that the soul passes through the air - the province of demons - as it departs the body. In addition, it places great weight upon human works. Saint Paul, on the other hand, quotes the Psalmist in declaring that, ‘There is none righteous, no not one.’ (Rom 3:10a) Humans are no better creatures than they were before Christ came. None of us could make it through those Toll Houses, without pleading the Blood of Jesus to cover our sins.

It does seem that the Lord and His angels protect those who love Him in their dying hour. After my mom passed in 2015, I read many accounts of deathbed visions, and spoke with hospice nurses. Many, many people have been comforted by deceased loved ones, angels and the Lord Himself as they made that transition from earth to their heavenly home (which He, Himself, promised us that He was going to prepare). Their experiences were not influenced by a comfortable life, and do not seem to have been delusions.

There are also people who have had frightful experiences while dying. Some of them have repented upon their deathbeds, or after returning to life (in God’s loving graciousness).

It seems that there are differing experiences of the dying process, in relation to passage to the next life.
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0

Lyrasong

Newbie
Oct 3, 2012
62
35
✟16,350.00
Country
United States
Faith
Christian Seeker
Marital Status
Married
Does anyone know how the teaching on the Toll Houses compares with that of a purging by fire? Pope Saint Gregory the Great, Saints Gregory of Nyssa, Augustine, Isadore of Seville and others (I believe) wrote of this as well. And Saint Paul: “Every man’s work shall be made manifest ... because it shall be revealed by fire, and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.” (1 Cor: 3:13)
 
Upvote 0

Stabat Mater dolorosa

Jesus Christ today, yesterday and forever!
Supporter
Jun 18, 2014
17,708
8,068
Somewhere up North
✟293,971.00
Country
Norway
Faith
Traditional. Cath.
Marital Status
Single
A what???
HOLY SENSELESS THREAD NECROMANCY, BATMAN!!!!
View attachment 277821

Wow, im shocked! Not by the fact that this thread is back on, but by the fact that its already two years old :eek:
This is one of them moments when you pause to think about the speed of time. Life is short! It honestly feels like I created this thread only a few months ago!
 
Upvote 0

ArmyMatt

Regular Member
Supporter
Jan 26, 2007
41,470
20,026
41
Earth
✟1,456,009.00
Country
United States
Faith
Eastern Orthodox
Marital Status
Married
But those who died before Christ clearly were not dead, because Jesus went to preach to them while His Body lay in the tomb.

Beginning again to read Fr Seraphim Rose - Referring to St Ignatius of Antioch (?), his book states that prior to the Atonement of Christ, heaven was closed to both the righteous and sinners. The demons would not allow human entrance.

Something that should not need to be countered is that the demons resemble “dark Ethiopians.”

Just trying to understand ... but the teaching on Toll Houses grants much power to Satan and his angels. It assumes that the soul passes through the air - the province of demons - as it departs the body. In addition, it places great weight upon human works. Saint Paul, on the other hand, quotes the Psalmist in declaring that, ‘There is none righteous, no not one.’ (Rom 3:10a) Humans are no better creatures than they were before Christ came. None of us could make it through those Toll Houses, without pleading the Blood of Jesus to cover our sins.

It does seem that the Lord and His angels protect those who love Him in their dying hour. After my mom passed in 2015, I read many accounts of deathbed visions, and spoke with hospice nurses. Many, many people have been comforted by deceased loved ones, angels and the Lord Himself as they made that transition from earth to their heavenly home (which He, Himself, promised us that He was going to prepare). Their experiences were not influenced by a comfortable life, and do not seem to have been delusions.

There are also people who have had frightful experiences while dying. Some of them have repented upon their deathbeds, or after returning to life (in God’s loving graciousness).

It seems that there are differing experiences of the dying process, in relation to passage to the next life.

yes, Christ preached to them even though they were dead. being dead doesn't mean being unaware. Moses was dead but was aware of Christ's upcoming Passion at the Transfiguration.

and it grants no power to the demons that they don't have on us now (which is nothing unless we surrender to them).
 
  • Like
Reactions: Phronema
Upvote 0