Hi Jeanie,
No problem, thanks for your apology. I understand health and personal issues well. I have them often and I hope you will be ok! I am not here to pick on or isolate any particular religion. But rather, if there are things that seem in conflict/contradiction to the biblical word, then it's not unwise to discuss that and hold it up next to the word of God.
Sorry, but I've always taken your beliefs to be that they are all one being. They are a GODHEAD. They act as one - but there is no way Jesus can physically also be God the Father.
What I personally believe is irrelevant - since it is what the bible teaches. I'll repeat again the quotes/verses which make this clear and italise/enlarge the particular areas that address your post:
Isaiah 9:6: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Yes, Jesus is God in the flesh. Look at the above quote and the ones here below:
1st Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
Colossians 1:14-15 In whom (Jesus) we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn {Inheritor} of every creature
John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth
Philippians 2:5-8 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made into the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death on the cross.
Hebrews 1:2 in our time, the final days, he has spoken to us in the person of his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things and through whom He made the ages.
Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) LORD:
It is not "I" that has said this Jeanie, but the biblical word. So the argument/debate is not with me.
He is referred to as the God of this earth interchangably because he is our Savior and is, now, our Father in a sense. It IS confusing.... I forget that it is not clear to most people that He has a body like ours only immortal (since he was resurrected). God the Father also has an immortal body.
It maybe difficult for us to comprehend, since we are limited human beings. But not difficult for God. Hopefully the biblical word will at least help us get closer to understanding this mystery more.
This is slightly off the topic, but I talked to a friend my age at school the other day who lost her brother the same year I lost mine in 2007 (last year). I had a dream last week that I believe was meant to comfort me and also show appreciation from my brother because I had talked to his son a few days before. It has only happened to me a few times in my life, but I have no doubt my brother was actually communicating with me. This friend had had something happen that she felt was a visitation and I agree that it was. (On a side note, the women who works there, too, who is a preacher's wife, interpreted what had happened to her as the holy ghost talking to her and I disagree - it was the actual brother - I have no doubt of it....). Anyway - this lady thinks that if she believes strong enough that her brother will come back in THIS life. While being resurrected is not outside God's power, obviously, I don't think it would be brought to pass the way she is thinking. I said, well, you will see him again. She said she didn't know about that??? I was honestly a little surprised to realize how little people really do understand what happens and what will happen. These things are not hidden from us. It has been revealed and with more clarity than people know just like these other doctrinal issues. I remember someone telling me at a church I attended before becoming LDS that we would not be known or even know our loved ones in the next life. I do not believe that. The family CAN be an eternal relationship. It is what we do in temples. We do sealings which is what this scripture is talking about.... There are a lot of plain and precious doctrines, including eternal marriage, which were lost when the apostasy took place.
I am very sorry to hear this Jeanie
It is possible that God may allow some form of comfort/communication. But I do not know exactly how it works. It is a risky area because of the deception of evil spirits who would not be beyond imitating our loved ones, which is why it is unwise to contact the 'dead' (or those passed over). However, if God allows some message of comfort/communication? Who are we to ignore it and perhaps we should remain open to that possibility. But I'd always be cautious. Dreams are not uncommon! There may well be instances of messages getting through to us that they are not dead, but alive (at least in spirit). Only God really knows.
I believe we will indeed recognise those we knew in this life, in the next and will indeed see and meet them again (depending of course on ones destination). Whoever believes otherwise, would need to produce proof that this is not so. Since it is clear that we retain our memories and for good reason. To recall both what Christ has done for us. To recognise our Savior. Recognise fellow Christians who remained faithful and aided us in our walk towards heaven. To recall our wrongs and understand our judgement in relation to that and those whom we have hurt along the way (and helped I'm sure).
But here we can see that there is no need to grieve for those who have gone before us and died in the Lord.
I Thessalonians 4:13ff(NASB)
"But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve, as do the rest who have no hope."
Deuteronomy 31:16 when God said, "Behold, you will rest with your fathers."
Romans 14:10 But you, why do you judge your brother, or why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.
There would be no need for this, if we would not know, or recognise those we knew in this life.
Revelation. 22:12 "Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.
Our memories will indeed be intact, just as God's is intact.
Matthew 8:11 "And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven."
Not only will we remember oneanother, but we will know those wonderful people in our bibles!
"God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying; and there shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away" (Revelation 21:4).
So our pains and sufferings will be wiped away. Not our recall of our family/friends who were with us on this earth's journey.
Matthew 8:11
"I say to you that many will come from east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven;
Why is it that people don't understand, either, that EVERYONE will be resurrected? We will be assigned to different kingdoms or degrees of glory, obviously, but Jesus overcame death for everyone.
Yes, everybody will be ressurected. Decrees of glory I can understand, but I have not heard of different kingdoms. As far as I know, there is only one Kingdom of Heaven. But there appear to be crowns!
James 1:12
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
A crown of righteousness, crown of glory, a martyr's crown etc.
'I will give thee a crown of life' (Revelation 2: 10).
As far as the ressurection is concerned?
Jn 5:28-29
(Jesus' answer:) Do not be amazed at this, because the hour is coming in which all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and will come out, those who have done good deeds to the resurrection of life, but those who have done wicked deeds to the resurrection of condemnation.
Rev 20:11-15
Next I saw a large white throne and the one who was sitting on it. The earth and the sky fled from his presence and there was no place for them. I saw the dead, the great and the lowly, standing before the throne, and scrolls were opened. Then another scroll was opened, the book of life. The dead were judged according to their deeds, by what was written in the scrolls. The sea gave up its dead; then Death and Hades gave up their dead. All the dead were judged according to their deeds. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the pool of fire. (This pool of fire is the second death. ) Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the pool of fire.
And Bex, I am not going to debate the polygamy issue. The only way to explain that is how I tried to - it is an eternal law and will be lived in the eternities.
Well, the debate is with the bible, since we have been told:
Mt 22:29-32 Jesus said to them in reply, "You are misled because you do not know the scriptures or the power of God. At the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage but are like the angels in heaven. And concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is not the God of the dead but of the living."
Matthew 22:30, where Jesus said, "For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven."
But, this passage proves our point. The angels of heaven surely know and recognize each other; some are even mentioned by name in the Bible. We will not have a physical marriage in heaven, for we will be "married" to the Lamb of God. "Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready. And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, 'Write: Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!' And he said to me, 'These are the true sayings of God.'" (Rev. 19:7-9).
We were called to populate the earth - to be fruitful and multiply. This was for all creatures! There is no mention of marriage/procreation in Heaven. Not amongst the angels, nor amongst human beings, as there is on earth. The only other time (apart from now) that there appears to be a continuation of marriage and children is the time Issiah speaks of (which is something we should all be looking forward to). It cannot be the time of the ressurection, for nobody will be given in marriage or be having children then, but they will be in the 1000 year reign of peace. Issiah 65 appears to speak of this as do other areas of the bible.
The time of procreation and populating the earth will come to an end at the ressurection. Not only do we not marry and reproduce babies without our bodies (in the spirit), but even after we receive our bodies at the ressurection, it will no longer occur. This is not me who says this, but Christ Himself! Those who suggest otherwise are in error.
