tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915617830446943975.post9195937748599352933..comments2024-03-28T22:29:52.666+13:00Comments on Anglican Down Under: Beyond imaginingPeter Carrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09535218286799156659noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915617830446943975.post-18026672387424112412012-05-21T11:33:29.354+12:002012-05-21T11:33:29.354+12:00" I think that away from funerals we ought to..." I think that away from funerals we ought to do some reflecting on what heaven is like according to the Bible's disclosure so we have accurate beliefs." - Peter Carrell <br /><br />The catholic belief has always been that, in accordance with St. Paul's seminal understanding of 'life after death' - in 1 Thessalonians 13-16 - "Those who have died in Christ will be the first to rise, and then those of us who are still alive will be taken up with them.."<br /><br />This presumes that the dead (except perhaps the 'Saints & Martyrs' who may have been already assumed into heaven?) are presently - until Christ's Second Coming - somewhere else. <br /><br />That 'somewhere else' has long been the subject of much theological speculation. But why not 'Paradise' - the place where Jesus said that the Penitent Thief would be, with Jesus, on the day of their death?.<br /><br />The place called, variously; Hades; Paradise; the Place of Departed Spirits; seems not to have been the 'Heaven' that Jesus now occupies - together with the Father and the Holy Spirit - but rather some sort of ante-room to Heaven, where further cleansing (purgatory?), spiritual growth, healing and renewal may be taking place in preparation for Christ's Second Coming.(This makes better sense of catholic 'Prayers for the Faithful Departed').<br /><br />Paul indicates that the 'Dead in Christ' will be raised first, and then those who are left alive - believing in Him, and looking forward to eternal life with God - will be 'caught up with them in the air (metaphorically) : presumably going somewhere! Where? One would suppose, with Paul, into the Courts of Heaven to live with God.<br /><br />"God has gone up with a merry noise, Alleluia!"<br /><br />Simplistic? - No, Biblical!<br /><br />"He has gone up with the sound of the trumpet, Alleluia, Alleluia!"Father Ron Smithhttp://kiwianglo.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915617830446943975.post-8047580789733821482012-05-21T09:38:16.963+12:002012-05-21T09:38:16.963+12:00I moved Ascension Day to the Sunday after Ascensio...I moved Ascension Day to the Sunday after Ascension but don't regard it as a downgrading, Peter! The fact is that if we have a midweek service at most a dozen will turn out, if I'm very, very lucky, but if we have a Sunday service we get a full church. So having Ascension Day on the Sunday following is <i>up</i>grading it, not downgrading it!Tim Chestertonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01274825116843753131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915617830446943975.post-15674435926882243552012-05-21T07:44:15.679+12:002012-05-21T07:44:15.679+12:00"There was a bit more said but that will do f..."There was a bit more said but that will do for now and many earthly tasks need my fussing over for today lest I start panicing tomorrow!"<br /><br />I understand icing cakes, but why would anyone ice a pan? :)<br /><br />Forgive my frivolity. The point of your post is right. It grieves me that evangelicals make so little of the Ascension when our patron saint, Aurelius Augustinus, thought it the greatest feast in the Church year.<br /><br />MartinAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com