Life in heaven

[3sigma]

What do Christians here imagine life is like in heaven? I’m interested in the details of what you think about life in heaven, not vague feelings about it. Here are some of the sorts of questions that come to mind.

1. Do you think there is any fear or anxiety in heaven?
2. Do you think you will retain your personality and memories in heaven?
3. Do you think you will age in heaven?
4. Do you think you will sense the passing of time in heaven?
5. Do you think you will be able to learn or remember new things in heaven?
6. Do you think you will be able to observe life on Earth or in hell from heaven?

Feel free to mention any other details that you think will be part of day-to-day life in heaven.

 

[razeontherock]

I don't mean to belittle your question, in fact I only clicked on it to see what others might have to say. Personally, G-d hasn't shown me anything about this so I won't speculate. Some men have taken what Scripture says on the subject and concluded the laws of physics will have to be very different, and made some very specific predictions about that. It would be interesting to see that turn up here ...

 

[drich0150]

What do Christians here imagine life is like in heaven?

The fulfillment of the purpose in which you were designed.

​

Do you think there is any fear or anxiety in heaven?

we are told no

Do you think you will retain your personality and memories in heaven?

We are given a glims of the after life in a story that Jesus tells of the rich man and Lazarus. Both men die and the rich man is sent to Hell and Lazarus (a beggar) goes to Heaven. The rich man knows Lazarus and asks God to send Him to warn His brothers about Hell, and the fate of their dead Brother.

This to me says yes we will remember our past lives in the afterlife.

Do you think you will age in heaven?

In the scope of eternity future age will be irrelevant.

Do you think you will sense the passing of time in heaven?

The understanding of Time is relative now, so probably not to the same degree you know it now.

Do you think you will be able to learn or remember new things in heaven?

We are told we will have Jobs in Heaven. So I imagine so. not to mention eternity future is a long time to be saddled with a GED.

Do you think you will be able to observe life on Earth or in hell from heaven?

According to the story of Lazarus there will be an awareness. But personally I do not think time passes the same upon our deaths.

Feel free to mention any other details that you think will be part of day-to-day life in heaven.

I look at the stars and listen to our sci fi writers and scientists go on about the infinite nature of this universe, and can only hope we will spend our time exploring what God has created.

If we get star ships I call dibs on the name Enterprise!

That would be the ultimate irony wouldn't it? Man sells his soul to science and denounces God for a chance that maybe some day he would be able to explore the stars.. When in fact it takes a relationship with God to make such an exploration possiable.

 

[3sigma]

In the scope of eternity future age will be irrelevant.

Could you clarify that please? Do you think people will age or not? For example, do you think babies will remain screaming and crying babies for all eternity?

According to the story of Lazarus there will be an awareness. But personally I do not think time passes the same upon our deaths.

So do you think people will be able to watch their still living children grow and develop? When these children suffer hardships, wouldn’t that cause anxiety in those observing from heaven or will those in heaven just be indifferent to the suffering of their still living children?

Imagine you had a child or someone you really cared about in life who went to hell because she didn’t believe strongly enough. Wouldn’t you feel anxiety at her eternal torture and suffering in hell or would you be indifferent to that as well? Would you really be able to enjoy yourself while someone you loved was screaming in agony from being burned alive for all eternity?

 

[LWB]

Hi 3Sigma,

Those are interesting questions. I base much of what I imagine on the final chapters of Revelation.

1. I do not imagine there will be any fear or anxiety. I liken our current existence as being somewhat dreamlike, and although dreams can become nightmares, upon waking, at least for me, there is instant relief that I'm really safe and sound. In contrast, Heaven will be a state of wakefulness. Like a bright and sunny morning is able to disarm even the worst nightmares, so that it can be reflected upon with some degree of fascination, so will be the peace and tranquility of Heaven.

2. I imagine we will not only retain our personalities and memories, but we shall attain their fullest expression, like gold refined to absolute purity.

3. I imagine there will be no aging in the sense of our current bodies, that deteriorate unto death. There will be no more physical death, so it will be a body of a different kind.

4. I imagine we shall have transcended time to the extent that it becomes like another spatial distance. There might be some other reference by which we orientate and organise ourselves.

5. Yes, I imagine we shall accumulate ever novel experiences, remember them, and be able to reflect upon them.

6. Since I believe time will become like another dimension we can actively navigate at will, I believe we'll be able to observe life on Earth from its inception to end. I don't believe Hell is a location, rather it is a state of being. I guess it could be experienced from a celestial perspective, much like the blue haired lady in the film Mulholland Drive watched the tragic life of the protagonist.

 

[drich0150]

Could you clarify that please? Do you think people will age or not? For example, do you think babies will remain screaming and crying babies for all eternity?

"We" are not physical beings. We are spiritual beings who indwell a physical body. The body has or is measured by "age" we are not. The spirit's age(for the lack of a better term) is measured in wisdom and in maturity, not how many rotations around the sun our bodies have survived.

So do you think people will be able to watch their still living children grow and develop? When these children suffer hardships, wouldn’t that cause anxiety in those observing from heaven or will those in heaven just be indifferent to the suffering of their still living children?

I think for those who die, their internal clocks die with their bodies, and "we" will have no knowledge of how much time has passed from the time we die to our resurrection. for us it would be instantaneous. for those who live on this earth thousands of years could have passed, and the dead would never know. Hence the rich man's request and Christ's response.

Imagine you had a child or someone you really cared about in life who went to hell because she didn’t believe strongly enough. Wouldn’t you feel anxiety at her eternal torture and suffering in hell or would you be indifferent to that as well? Would you really be able to enjoy yourself while someone you loved was screaming in agony from being burned alive for all eternity?

I pray that I learn or have been made privy to the understanding that God has in the respect and care that He shows any of his children when they choose to perish over eternal life.

 

[ebia]

What do Christians here imagine life is like in heaven? I’m interested in the details of what you think about life in heaven, not vague feelings about it. Here are some of the sorts of questions that come to mind.

1. Do you think there is any fear or anxiety in heaven?
2. Do you think you will retain your personality and memories in heaven?
3. Do you think you will age in heaven?
4. Do you think you will sense the passing of time in heaven?
5. Do you think you will be able to learn or remember new things in heaven?
6. Do you think you will be able to observe life on Earth or in hell from heaven?

Feel free to mention any other details that you think will be part of day-to-day life in heaven.

By "heaven" do you mean the ultimate, post resurrection, life of the New Heavens and New Earth, or do you mean the temporary intermediate state between death and resurrection?

 

[3sigma]

The spirit's age(for the lack of a better term) is measured in wisdom and in maturity, not how many rotations around the sun our bodies have survived.

So would a baby’s spirit maintain the wisdom and maturity of a baby for all eternity? Is heaven dotted with crying, screaming babies who never grow up?

I think for those who die, their internal clocks die with their bodies, and "we" will have no knowledge of how much time has passed from the time we die to our resurrection. for us it would be instantaneous. for those who live on this earth thousands of years could have passed, and the dead would never know.

So then you wouldn’t be able to watch your children grow and develop because they will have died long before you become aware of your existence in heaven?

I pray that I learn or have been made privy to the understanding that God has in the respect and care that He shows any of his children when they choose to perish over eternal life.

You’re not answering my questions. Wouldn’t you feel anxiety at seeing her eternal torture and suffering in hell or would you be indifferent to that? Would you really be able to enjoy yourself while watching someone you loved screaming in agony from being burned alive for all eternity?

 

[3sigma]

By "heaven" do you mean the ultimate, post resurrection, life of the New Heavens and New Earth, or do you mean the temporary intermediate state between death and resurrection?

I don’t mean anything by heaven because I think it is imaginary, but that’s irrelevant to my questions. It isn’t about what I mean by heaven: it’s about what you mean by heaven. I’m asking you what you imagine life will be like in whatever you think of as heaven. For the sake of argument, assume heaven to be wherever you think you will spend eternity after you die.

 

[ebia]

I don’t mean anything by heaven because I think it is imaginary, but that’s irrelevant to my questions. It isn’t about what I mean by heaven: it’s about what you mean by heaven. I’m asking you what you imagine life will be like in whatever you think of as heaven. For the sake of argument, assume heaven to be wherever you think you will spend eternity after you die.

That's the point - the christian hope is not "die and go to heaven for eternity". That's gnosticism.

 

[drich0150]

So would a baby’s spirit maintain the wisdom and maturity of a baby for all eternity? Is heaven dotted with crying, screaming babies who never grow up?

Who says that soul simply does not get plugged into a different body? This life is about choice. if we die before we make that choice then what is the purpose of life?

As I said before even if w do not get plugged in we do continue to grow and mature. either way assigning a specific age to an infinite creature is kinda pointless

So then you wouldn’t be able to watch your children grow and develop because they will have died long before you become aware of your existence in heaven?

Again time is relative when you are not living an existence that is bound to it. There is nothing that says you can "watch your children grow up." It's just they might be there with you view their lives.

You’re not answering my questions. Wouldn’t you feel anxiety at seeing her eternal torture and suffering in hell or would you be indifferent to that?

i am answering your question, perhaps you do not understand the answer given.

Would you really be able to enjoy yourself while watching someone you loved screaming in agony from being burned alive for all eternity?

Hell is much much worst than being burned alive. And yes.

We are told that there will be a separation between the wheat, and the weeds, the Sheep and the Goats. The weeds look like wheat the grow together and take from the same soil, but in the end the weed does not produce fruit, or rather the weed is not wheat. If you are wheat then your true "family" is with other wheat. Like wise if you are a sheep who has lived with goats all of his life, it does not make you any less of a sheep.

When you were a small child you had a very specific relationship with your mother. You needed Her to live. the level of your bond placed you by her side and kept you completely dependent on her. Are you still completely dependent on your mother, as if you were 3? I assume as you have matured you still love your mother but the nature of your relationship changed. you do not still need her in the same way that you did for survival. you are able to venture past the boundaries you had when you were three.

In the same way when we die we will all be transformed. Right now I believe we are only working with a fraction of our intend ended capacity for thought, intellect, and love. once we mature our relationship we had with one another will prove to be just a shadow of the ability and capacity that we now have. Yes you will still love your mother, not for what she was but who she is. Your relationship will change whether you want it to or not. Even if you cling to the memories of who your mother was and the nature of what your relationship was. It still has changed and is not what it was when you were 3.

Likewise in Heaven after we have all been "enlightened" to the nature of God all of our past lives and memories will only be a small stepping stone in the scope of who will become and what we will be doing for the rest of eternity.

I am sure we will feel sorrow for those who do not choose to be apart of eternity with God, but at the same time will understand and respect their decisions.

 

[Zebra1552]

What do Christians here imagine life is like in heaven? I’m interested in the details of what you think about life in heaven, not vague feelings about it. Here are some of the sorts of questions that come to mind.

1. Do you think there is any fear or anxiety in heaven?
2. Do you think you will retain your personality and memories in heaven?
3. Do you think you will age in heaven?
4. Do you think you will sense the passing of time in heaven?
5. Do you think you will be able to learn or remember new things in heaven?
6. Do you think you will be able to observe life on Earth or in hell from heaven?

Feel free to mention any other details that you think will be part of day-to-day life in heaven.

No, yes, yes, yes, yes, dunno.

 

[3sigma]

Again time is relative when you are not living an existence that is bound to it. There is nothing that says you can "watch your children grow up." It's just they might be there with you view their lives.

Do you think you will be able to watch your still living children grow and develop when you are in heaven? Is your answer yes, no, maybe or something else entirely?

i am answering your question, perhaps you do not understand the answer given.

Your answers are confusing and I’m struggling to understand your English. For example, I have no idea what you are trying to say in your last sentence in that first quote above. It makes no sense at all.

Hell is much much worst than being burned alive. And yes.
…
I am sure we will feel sorrow for those who do not choose to be apart of eternity with God, but at the same time will understand and respect their decisions.

You begin your answer by saying you would enjoy yourself while watching some you loved screaming in agony from being burned alive or worse for all eternity. I have no idea how anyone could do that, but then you say you will feel sorrow for that person. So if your life in heaven is filled with eternal sorrow, how can it be enjoyable? Your answers make no sense.

 

[drich0150]

Do you think you will be able to watch your still living children grow and develop when you are in heaven? Is your answer yes, no, maybe or something else entirely?

Something else entirely.

Your answers are confusing and I’m struggling to understand your English. For example, I have no idea what you are trying to say in your last sentence in that first quote above. It makes no sense at all.

Again time is relative when you are not living an existence that is bound to it.

Time is how you perceive it. This perception is relative. We look at time by seconds, minutes, hours, days, months and years because this is how we measure our lives. When we live by a different standard, an eternal standard, these measures will mean nothing.

You begin your answer by saying you would enjoy yourself while watching some you loved screaming in agony from being burned alive or worse for all eternity. I have no idea how anyone could do that, but then you say you will feel sorrow for that person.

My life is filled with with decisions, sometimes i look at the decisions of others, and wonder why they do the things they do. This does not mean i lament and morn every time someone does not choose the things I would choose for them. Even if it means they suffer because of their decisions.

So if your life in heaven is filled with eternal sorrow, how can it be enjoyable? Your answers make no sense.

Your understanding of my post makes no sense. How can you derive that Heaven will be filled with eternal sorrow from what I had written?

It seems at the expense of the current conversation to you have ignored what was said to post your foregone conclusion. for a "thinker' isn't this a close minded action?

 

[3sigma]

Something else entirely.

Which is? In case you’ve forgotten, you are supposed to be answering my question, “Do you think you will be able to watch your still living children grow and develop when you are in heaven?”

Your understanding of my post makes no sense. How can you derive that Heaven will be filled with eternal sorrow from what I had written?

You said you would feel sorrow for someone you love who is being burned alive in hell. However, that torture never ends. It goes on for all eternity. So, for you, heaven would be filled with eternal sorrow, wouldn’t it? Or are you now saying that even though the torture goes on forever, after a while you would stop feeling sorrow for the person you love? You can still see them writhing and screaming in agony, but you just don’t care any more and you go back to enjoying yourself. Is that it?

 

[drich0150]

Which is? In case you’ve forgotten, you are supposed to be answering my question, “Do you think you will be able to watch your still living children grow and develop when you are in heaven?”

For us time is linear it moves in one direction. For God this is not true. I am suggesting once we enter His plain of existence this experience of time may also be shared. (something else entirely)

You said you would feel sorrow for someone you love who is being burned alive in hell. However, that torture never ends.

I feel sorrow that my family does not share in my faith now, however this does not translate into grief or depression.

Or are you now saying that even though the torture goes on forever, after a while you would stop feeling sorrow for the person you love? You can still see them writhing and screaming in agony, but you just don’t care any more and you go back to enjoying yourself. Is that it?

What has been said several times now is that upon your "enlightenment or transformation" your capacity for emotion, control of emotion, intellectual understanding will be increased. Once this happens you will see that your family or any nonbeliever for that matter was not your family at all. (The whole bit I did on wheat and weeds/sheep and goats the relationship you had with your mother as a child and how it has matured) You will be sad for a time, but not for an eternity.

What is more sad than one seeing a family member enter Hell is one who enters heaven with nothing stored up. For an eternity he will be reminded of what he could have been, but decided to enter as one escaping through a fire. We are not all going to have the same eternal/heaven experience.

 

[elman]

3sigma;57422251]What do Christians here imagine life is like in heaven? I’m interested in the details of what you think about life in heaven, not vague feelings about it. Here are some of the sorts of questions that come to mind.

1. Do you think there is any fear or anxiety in heaven?

1. 
   
   No.
   
   

   Do you think you will retain your personality and memories in heaven?

2. 
   
   Yes.
   
   

   Do you think you will age in heaven?

3. No.
   
   

   Do you think you will sense the passing of time in heaven?

4. I don't know.
   
   

   Do you think you will be able to learn or remember new things in heaven?

5. Yes.
   
   

   Do you think you will be able to observe life on Earth or in hell from heaven?

There is no life in hell. Yes I think we will be aware of what is happening on earth.

Feel free to mention any other details that you think will be part of day-to-day life in heaven.

The Bible says we are unable to imagine how wonderful it will be.

 

[razeontherock]

Feel free to mention any other details that you think will be part of day-to-day life in heaven.

It does not appear that anyone has pointed out the Bible never says "we will live in heaven," or that we will "go to heaven."

 

[elman]

It does not appear that anyone has pointed out the Bible never says "we will live in heaven," or that we will "go to heaven."

Heaven is where God is. The Bible says our body returns to dust but our spirit returns to God.

 

[Algren]

Will we have free will in heaven?