Author Topic: See You in Heaven?  (Read 2206 times)

lpp011

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See You in Heaven?
« on: August 31, 2011, 12:57:33 AM »
Why is it that when someone passes, people are very quick to say that the deceased is "in heaven" or is "watching over you?" The scriptures state that the dead are conscious of nothing at all.  A great example of this would be Lazarus.  When he arose from the dead, he had no recollection of being deceased.  He was simply in a state of neither here nor there, a deep sleep so to speak. 

Do you think that people want to believe that their family members are in heaven to ease their own minds and to comfort them in a time of need?

wishingmoon

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Re: See You in Heaven?
« Reply #1 on: August 31, 2011, 11:58:58 AM »
Yes, a way of offering comfort..

mslicia

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Re: See You in Heaven?
« Reply #2 on: September 02, 2011, 07:02:54 PM »
There is no way we can tell if they are in heaven. I mean, the world hasn't ended yet and there must be a series of steps before we can enter God's gate! I must admit that is a very easing way of relieving all of the heartache of losing a loved one. From a human perspective, we already can't understand why someone we love is gone in the first place and just the pain they had to endure prior to their death. It just makes us happier that they feel better now they are in heaven.. so to speak. This is definitely a good topic to talk about on here.

lpp011

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Re: See You in Heaven?
« Reply #3 on: September 19, 2011, 06:17:42 PM »
There is no way we can tell if they are in heaven. I mean, the world hasn't ended yet and there must be a series of steps before we can enter God's gate! I must admit that is a very easing way of relieving all of the heartache of losing a loved one. From a human perspective, we already can't understand why someone we love is gone in the first place and just the pain they had to endure prior to their death. It just makes us happier that they feel better now they are in heaven.. so to speak. This is definitely a good topic to talk about on here.

I completely agree. When I lost someone very close to me, I wanted to know so badly that they were okay. I searched high and low and read many books on death. I even ventured into the non-traditional views of the psychic Sylvia Brown.  In her books she states that the dead are surrounding you and watching over you.  For awhile, I felt a sense of comfort knowing my loved one was still with me.  I eventually went back to the one thing that I know which is the Holy Bible and I came to grips with what it states in regards to the dead. I believe that my loved one is NOT watching over me but I am content with knowing that I will see them again one day.

InsomniacGirl

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Re: See You in Heaven?
« Reply #4 on: September 22, 2011, 03:45:42 PM »
I too believe that it is offering a means of comfort. An aunt of mine had lost both her husband to terminal illness, and her teenaged son to a tragic accident within a year of eachother.
To this day, whenever she speaks of them, she says that they are both in Heaven, and she says this all the time. I believe that it is a way of comfort to her, and if this helps her through her long grieving process, then I suppose it's alright, if one knows what I mean. :)

cgoddard

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Re: See You in Heaven?
« Reply #5 on: November 22, 2011, 02:25:53 AM »
2 Cor 5:8 says "willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord." Many interpret this passage to mean that you are in the presence of the Lord as soon as you leave your body. However, Paul is saying that he would rather be absent from his body and present with the Lord instead of stuck in his body separated from the Lord because his physical body cannot enter heaven. Like you mentioned, when Lazarus rose from the dead, he had no tales of Heaven or even any memory of being dead. Many other scriptures talk about the dead believers being asleep. I think it is one of the many misunderstandings and corruptions of the scripture in an attempt to offer comfort. But being asleep and waiting is also a comfort. Our loved ones are not suffering, worrying, or struggling any longer. They are merely waiting.

catowoman

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Re: See You in Heaven?
« Reply #6 on: December 01, 2011, 09:10:27 AM »
I think when people said that the deceased is in heaven, what they mean is he or she is already with God.

Katlyn

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Re: See You in Heaven?
« Reply #7 on: December 01, 2011, 06:27:03 PM »
I also believe that the concept of saying the deceased are in Heaven or they are watching over us is about comforting those left behind. Relating a loved one, who has suffered on Earth, to Heaven where there isn't any suffering or pain, offers great comfort. We envision Heaven as a paradise that is beautiful and peaceful and isn't that what we want for those who have passed on?

The idea that the deceased watches over us helps us to feel they are still with us. It also makes us feel that a force greater than ourselves can guide us through life.




roxanne_101

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Re: See You in Heaven?
« Reply #8 on: December 09, 2011, 05:02:28 PM »
I definitely think this is about comfort more than anything else. A term that is used in the south is "preach them to heaven". That describes if the Pastor residing over the funeral says the person is in heaven or not. We are only human and we have no idea of knowing what is going on with the dead lest we die ourselves. I do believe in people going to heaven, I just don't know if they're spending their time watching over us or not. If I were in heaven, I'd want to enjoy my Father and all the wonders and sights. I'd leave the "watching over people" to God. He can do it far better than we can anyway.

eric.cornelison

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Re: See You in Heaven?
« Reply #9 on: December 17, 2011, 08:07:58 PM »
I do think that it provides them more comfort, but no one can say who is going to heaven and who it not. That just cannot be determined by us. It is nice to think of a deceased love one as already being in heaven though.

Lucky120

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Re: See You in Heaven?
« Reply #10 on: January 31, 2012, 07:05:40 PM »
I don't know to be honest. I mean it is a good gesture to give especially in times like that. We don't know if they will be or not. There are times when some know especially with a baby passing or something like that. I mean I really think nothing of it too much, but I think that it is something that keeps every ones hopes and spirits up. There are some things that we say that some may not understand or believe, but we are human and if your relationship with God is good then you will know certain things that others will not understand.

Sandra Piddock

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Re: See You in Heaven?
« Reply #11 on: February 02, 2012, 06:35:40 PM »
I think it is just a conventional form of comfort - after all, nobody can know what happens, because they haven't died and gone to Heaven or wherever. The concept of Heaven is a way of assuring yourself that the one you have just lost is in 'a better place,' for want of a better description.

If it helps with the worst of the grief, and with adjustment to life without the loved one, I don't see a problem with it. Can anyone say with authority that we do - or do not - go to Heaven?

R. Paradon

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Re: See You in Heaven?
« Reply #12 on: February 13, 2012, 08:29:15 AM »
The Bible is a collection of bits and pieces.  It has been written and re-written many times so in reality we have no specific clues to where we go in the time between "judgement"  and our "reward".  And since God or the higher power can do anything it is quite possible that we will see that person in heaven.  The problem with being human is that we only use about 5% of our brain (an that may be a good thing) and can nor realize true reality.  We can only perceive and everybody see things in a different way.

zerospin

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Re: See You in Heaven?
« Reply #13 on: February 14, 2012, 02:49:33 AM »
Personally, I don't believe in heaven, I used to, but not anymore. I came to the conclusion that there is no need for a 'reward' in afterlife to be a good person in this one. I can however sympathize with those who do still believe in it, it can be comforting to believe those we lost are not gone forever.

R. Paradon

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Re: See You in Heaven?
« Reply #14 on: February 14, 2012, 06:57:03 AM »
Personally, I don't believe in heaven, I used to, but not anymore. I came to the conclusion that there is no need for a 'reward' in afterlife to be a good person in this one. I can however sympathize with those who do still believe in it, it can be comforting to believe those we lost are not gone forever.

Hi zerospin!

Nice to see another live person here!  I agree with your concept of "reward" as being a "good" person should just be a normal attribute.  I am confused regarding your sympathizing with those who do believe in the reward.  Can you explain a bit?

Thanks!


 

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