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Do you want to go to heaven???????????????

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MacFall

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Where in the bible does it say there are 3 heavens...?

It does, but the use of numbers are symbolic (the Hebrews did that a lot).

And I guess technically earth could be heaven...'any place of complete bliss/delight/peace'. I find the mountains where I live to be delightful and peaceful...so I guess I'm already in heaven.

This is where people need to figure out what context you're using a word in since a lot of words have different meanings.
One understanding of heaven common in orthodox and classical theologies is that it is not really a physical place; it is a spiritual condition. Furthermore it is not subject to the constraints of time. To say that God is eternal is to say that he always exists in all moments of time; not merely that he exists on an infinite timeline going in both directions.

Jesus Christ was "in heaven" during his life on earth. That is, he had unlimited and uninhibited access to the father. Because that communion is an eternal moment, then in the moment at which God turned His back on him on the cross he suffered, in a very literal sense, eternal separation from God the Father, taking on the punishment for sin for all eternity.

We now have a similar access to God that Christ Himself had. That is, we have access to heaven, now, wherever we are, and whenever we need it. But because we still live in imperfect flesh it will not be uninhibited in the same way that Christ's heavenly existence was. For us, that will come when our spirit leaves our fleshly container. But the point is not that we will "go to heaven". We will be given new bodies, untainted by sin, from which we can live in God's New Creation while at the same time having the same unlimited, uninhibited access to the Father that Jesus Christ himself has.

So yes, in a very real sense, your mountains may be heaven. When your flesh is quiet and you are at peace, in communion with God the Father - that's heaven. But we have a purer and greater experience of heaven awaiting us, and that is something to look forward to.
 
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dennis1777

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I honestly apologize if I go off topic. Please do not report me. I know the Father's love for us. And it makes me weep. He even loves sinners. His love has no constraints even in fact He is love. I know this for a fact. His love is tender and everlasting. To know this maks me weep. oh how he loves you I cannot even begin to describe His love for you. The Gospels are like love letters from God. Oh how he loves you. Again I weep. I just wish I could put this in words. But I have a sacred gift. heaven is only this. intimacy with GOD.
 
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greatnews

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I honestly apologize if I go off topic. Please do not report me. I know the Father's love for us. And it makes me weep. He even loves sinners. His love has no constraints even in fact He is love. I know this for a fact. His love is tender and everlasting. To know this maks me weep. oh how he loves you I cannot even begin to describe His love for you. The Gospels are like love letters from God. Oh how he loves you. Again I weep. I just wish I could put this in words. But I have a sacred gift. heaven is only this. intimacy with GOD.
heaven is a actual place, the bible makes that really clear
 
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Rhamiel

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Isn't heaven simply deep intimacy with the heart of God. I know I am new but that is how I understand it. And we build our relationship with him here and now. The Gospels are like love letters from God to draw us to Him it almost makes me weep that some people don't see it this way. Sorry.

well said brother
 
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Rhamiel

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Only if you want Protestant flame-o-rama to break out. Though I rather like the idea of a purgatorial state.

purgatorial state....
are we talking about Utah? :p
LOL yeah flame-o-rama
I was worried about even just posting that lil joke
 
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