3 Levels Of The Celestial Kingdom

[Tsuzuki]

I would hav thought you would find the act of creation fascinating...

 

Outer Darkness to me is likely a place of entropy...people who have so determinedly refused to see the truth...rejected it instead or to abide by/align their hearts, minds and soul with the Will that leads to true freedom that they've locked themselves into a state of nonchanging, nondoing, stasis...at best I would describe it as an eternity of being a couch potato watching reality shows one isn't interested in at all.

That sounds like a challenge to liven up the place.

[Ahab]

That sounds like a challenge to liven up the place.

As I understand it, the people of Terrestrial glory will be happy when Celestial people come to visit, and the people of Telestial glory will sometimes welcome both their Terrestrial and Celestial visitors, but the people in "Outer Darkness" will not be happy at all when anyone "high and mighty" comes to visit them.   Kinda like how Celestial people would not be well pleased if people from Outer Darkness came to visit them when the OD people wanted to come over with the OD people thinking they are the life of the party.  Good people and evil people just don't mix very well, especially in extended visits and when both want to remain either good or evil, so if you ever go, it would be best not to stay very long, or the war will get heated up, yet again.

[Tsuzuki]

As I understand it, the people of Terrestrial glory will be happy when Celestial people come to visit, and the people of Telestial glory will sometimes welcome both their Terrestrial and Celestial visitors, but the people in "Outer Darkness" will not be happy at all when anyone "high and mighty" comes to visit them.   Kinda like how Celestial people would not be well pleased if people from Outer Darkness came to visit them when the OD people wanted to come over with the OD people thinking they are the life of the party.  Good people and evil people just don't mix very well, especially in extended visits and when both want to remain either good or evil, so if you ever go, it would be best not to stay very long, or the war will get heated up, yet again.

Nonsense. Some of my friends from the preexistence already invited me over. I might set up a permanent winter vacation home there and host parties for people of all kingdoms.

Edited November 15, 2013 by Tsuzuki

[Ahab]

Nonsense. Some of my friends from the preexistence already invited me over. I might set up a permanent winter vacation home there and host parties for people of all kingdoms.

If you can do it without causing a ruccus, more power to you.  I may even pop by on occasions, and bring some of my friends with me, if you don't mind.  Who knows, maybe by working together we can get all people to accept Celestial glory, eventually.

[VideoGameJunkie]

You're eligible if you repent when you sin and you don't sin intentionally.  We all have moments of weakness, so don't be too hard on yourself.  As long as you're working toward a state of perfection, with your mind set on following Christ and doing what you know he has told you to do, you'll be covered.

 

Doesn't that make you want to have a party?  Somebody play the happy music and turn it up so all can hear it!

Yes that does make me happy!

[Kind Debater]

Well it's all a lot more complicated than that. It would take a lot of explaining to get us on the same wavelength and I am not sure that I have the time, quite frankly.

 

But let me put it this way:

I believe that the Bible and BOM are the word of God. I think that there is no better reason to accept the bible than there is to accept the BOM. Historicity doesn't count, none of this is scientifically verifiable, and all of it boils down to subjective feelings in the final analysis.

You cannot prove- ever- that Jesus even existed much less rose from the dead. You either know that in your heart or you don't.

You either know that the bible is true in your heart or you don't. You either know that the Book of Mormon is true in your heart or you don't.

I disagree -- I think we can know Jesus existed as much as we can know any historical figure from over a thousand years ago existed -- but I'll leave it at that.

So let me at least be sure I understand what your view is. You're saying it's not possible, with any real degree of certainty, to know the historical facts surrounding Jesus or the rest of the Bible, so the only way to accept it as true or not is by the witness of the Holy Spirit (or whatever you call the certainty in your heart)?

You cannot or will never be able to prove that at that moment of the altar call when they come forward, they are thinking about history or what is reasonable or whether or not biblical archaeology proves the truth of the resurrection.

I can't prove what anyone else is thinking, but I have heard testimonies from several Christians that they became Christian after investigating the historical/scientific facts -- in some cases, with the intent to prove Christianity wrong -- and became convinced as a result of their study and accepted Christ.

I see this as going along the lines of what you said earlier:

Could it possibly be that God teaches each of us in his own customized curriculum according to what each of us needs? You know- line upon line?

Of course!

Some people are more interested in history, science, etc. and they need to be convinced that God's word is accurate in those areas. Other people are more interested in other things and have different reasons for coming to God.

So now picture the most charismatic preacher you have ever heard asking for people to accept Christ, and someone comes forward to do so.  Afterwords, you meet with that person and YOU say to him:

 

"If you decided to become Christian solely because of a "burning in your heart" and/or you use how you feel about various Biblical teachings to determine which ones you think are true, including teachings about the afterlife, then I will question how you know you're right."

I wouldn't use those exact words, but I would want to keep them from being like those in the parable of the farmer, who accept the word with joy but wither quickly because they have no root.

The senior pastor at my church has learned to be skeptical of people who come forward in a rush of emotion after a sermon, declare they want to be right with God and then never show up again or follow through with a promised meeting with the pastor.

Jesus himself told people to count the cost before they followed him, and seemingly dissuaded some who would follow him (Matt 8:19-22).

 

So how do you know you are right?

 

My reason, my experience and my feelings/conviction all line up. I don't have any reason to doubt the Bible or Christianity.

What if it said to trust in Ahura Mazda? Or Zeus?

Which would be right? How do you know?

I'm not entirely sure what you're asking. If the Bible said Zeus was God rather than Jehovah, and I had the same reasons for believing the Bible was true, then I guess I would believe in Zeus.

 

How reasonable are Christians being when they are speaking in tongues?

Depends on whether or not it's genuine and orderly, per Paul's instructions.

[mfbukowski]

I disagree -- I think we can know Jesus existed as much as we can know any historical figure from over a thousand years ago existed -- but I'll leave it at that.

So let me at least be sure I understand what your view is. You're saying it's not possible, with any real degree of certainty, to know the historical facts surrounding Jesus or the rest of the Bible, so the only way to accept it as true or not is by the witness of the Holy Spirit (or whatever you call the certainty in your heart)?

I can't prove what anyone else is thinking, but I have heard testimonies from several Christians that they became Christian after investigating the historical/scientific facts -- in some cases, with the intent to prove Christianity wrong -- and became convinced as a result of their study and accepted Christ.

I see this as going along the lines of what you said earlier:

Some people are more interested in history, science, etc. and they need to be convinced that God's word is accurate in those areas. Other people are more interested in other things and have different reasons for coming to God.

I wouldn't use those exact words, but I would want to keep them from being like those in the parable of the farmer, who accept the word with joy but wither quickly because they have no root.

The senior pastor at my church has learned to be skeptical of people who come forward in a rush of emotion after a sermon, declare they want to be right with God and then never show up again or follow through with a promised meeting with the pastor.

Jesus himself told people to count the cost before they followed him, and seemingly dissuaded some who would follow him (Matt 8:19-22).

 

 

My reason, my experience and my feelings/conviction all line up. I don't have any reason to doubt the Bible or Christianity.

I'm not entirely sure what you're asking. If the Bible said Zeus was God rather than Jehovah, and I had the same reasons for believing the Bible was true, then I guess I would believe in Zeus.

 

Depends on whether or not it's genuine and orderly, per Paul's instructions.

Well good for you.

 

I'll just let your argument stand on its own merits.  I have underlined that, but I don't think that would be too convincing to a non-believer.

[BCSpace]

The Celestial Kingdom sounds boring.

 

Wars happen there.  We fought one before we came to earth.  I don't believe there can be continuing progression without opposition (I do not believe God progresses only in the number of His creations).  It should be quite a happening place.  In the other kingdoms, entropy has set in in so those would be the boring places imho.  Maybe you will be assigned to the creation of fjords: