As I had a brief discourse on Heaven and Hell in a email correspondence and a blog response, I wanted to share this with my readers too.
To many, the concept is that the good go to Heaven, and the bad - especially those for whom we hold a grudge - are condemned to the eternal fires of Hell. But I believe God's plans for everyone to be saved. As God is beyond time, all are already saved. It plays out in time, from our perspective.
Heaven is being with God, completely infused with Love of
which we only experience in small part here. There is Peace and Joy complete.
There is Life. It is indescribable in the words we use. There is no fear,
anger, sadness, loss or pain. There is also no time, for God (and ourselves
with God) exist beyond time.
HOWEVER... change can only take place INSIDE time. That is a reason we are in this life experience: to change, and through our learning and changing to grow. Growth requires change; change requires time.
Hell exists, but there is no lake of fire, burning sulfur
reeking the air, or red devils with pitchforks to torment our bodies for
eternity. Hell is complete and utter separation from God, an awareness that
one is cut from Life. It is completely dark, as God is Light. It is very cold
to the core of one's being - so cold that it burns. And one deals with the
torments of the mind: self-recrimina- tion, self-loathing and self- hatred. Our connections with God (even unconscious) can lighten these self-inflictions. While
we experience God to a lesser degree here than in Heaven, the buffer is gone completely
in Hell. There is its torment.
So if everyone is saved, why is there a Hell? The answer
lies in the moment humanity has called "Judgement." There is no
account of bad things done (list of sins). Past mistakes are
forgiven through Christ, so they NO LONGER EXIST.
Introduced into our minds at the threshold, instead, we are given the Truth -- complete, clear and unhindered. We ourselves make a personal assess- ment and are given a choice. Do we wish to hold on to that which is not the Truth, which are things that our egos (and through our egos the adversary) teach us? Such things include how we see others as well as ourselves. Or do we want to accept the Truth? It is also at this point of death that many, including Atheists, are simply given the proof and understanding that they could not find in this life existence.
We are given the Truth of what we and God really are, that
all the "sins" we hold against ourselves ceased to be, and that all
grudges we hold against others ceased to be. We can simply and joyfully accept
this whole, or make the determina- tion to turn from it and say "I do not
want THIS." It is what Christ's teachings refer to as the Unpardonable
Sin, as it results in the person being cut from God - in Hell.
Now here is the element of Mercy that many will not agree with: Christ's Forgiveness extends beyond this life and beyond time. That is why His Resurrection, conquering death two millennium ago, can affect all those both before and after - all humanity. His action, His Love and Self-sacrifice extend OUTSIDE of time.
When Yeshua / Jesus said He will be with us ALWAYS, He
means ALWAYS - both in this world and beyond - even in the depths of Hell. If
we experience Hell beyond this life - HE IS THERE. The teachings say that He
passed through Hell following His crucifixion. If this is done beyond time, He
is with every soul -- past, present and future -- when they experience Hell.
Because Hell is separate from God, it does not stand for eternity (which is of God), but exists for a time. As long as there is time, there is growth and change. The hand of Christ is always there - outstretched from beyond time, ready to welcome a brother or sister home. Waiting for us to simply CHANGE our mind. By the end of time, we ALL will be in Heaven with God. For when the last soul is home, both time and Hell cease to exist, because there will be no purpose for either.
What are your thoughts?
To many, the concept is that the good go to Heaven, and the bad - especially those for whom we hold a grudge - are condemned to the eternal fires of Hell. But I believe God's plans for everyone to be saved. As God is beyond time, all are already saved. It plays out in time, from our perspective.
HOWEVER... change can only take place INSIDE time. That is a reason we are in this life experience: to change, and through our learning and changing to grow. Growth requires change; change requires time.
Introduced into our minds at the threshold, instead, we are given the Truth -- complete, clear and unhindered. We ourselves make a personal assess- ment and are given a choice. Do we wish to hold on to that which is not the Truth, which are things that our egos (and through our egos the adversary) teach us? Such things include how we see others as well as ourselves. Or do we want to accept the Truth? It is also at this point of death that many, including Atheists, are simply given the proof and understanding that they could not find in this life existence.
Now here is the element of Mercy that many will not agree with: Christ's Forgiveness extends beyond this life and beyond time. That is why His Resurrection, conquering death two millennium ago, can affect all those both before and after - all humanity. His action, His Love and Self-sacrifice extend OUTSIDE of time.
Because Hell is separate from God, it does not stand for eternity (which is of God), but exists for a time. As long as there is time, there is growth and change. The hand of Christ is always there - outstretched from beyond time, ready to welcome a brother or sister home. Waiting for us to simply CHANGE our mind. By the end of time, we ALL will be in Heaven with God. For when the last soul is home, both time and Hell cease to exist, because there will be no purpose for either.
What are your thoughts?
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