Verified answer

People have their ideas... and worse yet, their opinions.

I do think "reward" or "punishment" is an oversimplification, though. The text itself doesn't really say that (or, when it does, the context makes it seem as though it's a deliberate simplification), nor would that really make sense (if Jesus is saving you from his own judgment, then... that's just crap, and you may as well rot rather than deal with a bunch of self-preserving, hypocritical suck-ups). It seems more like a simplified way of explaining the concept to children, or poetically conveying it to people who you'd hope have a better understanding of that than children.

One applicable quote I've always liked (from the Gospel of Thomas, which isn't part of canon, but whatevs): "Jesus said, "If your leaders say to you, 'Look, the (Father's) kingdom is in the sky,' then the birds of the sky will precede you. If they say to you, 'It is in the sea,' then the fish will precede you. Rather, the (Father's) kingdom is within you and it is outside you."

Or...

"When you make the two into one, and when you make the inner like the outer and the outer like the inner, and the upper like the lower, and when you make male and female into a single one, so that the male will not be male nor the female be female, when you make eyes in place of an eye, a hand in place of a hand, a foot in place of a foot, an image in place of an image, then you will enter [the kingdom]."

Or...

"It will not come by watching for it. It will not be said, 'Look, here!' or 'Look, there!' Rather, the Father's kingdom is spread out upon the earth, and people don't see it"

Or, to actually reference canon, you have something like Matthew 22:32...

"He is not the God of the dead but of the living."

Jesus often used "living" and "heaven" interchangeably, and really spoke of heaven in parables, in allegory... figuratively, with examples of natural occurrences and human action as representative of heaven. Not really as an "afterlife", necessarily. Let alone as a reward of punishment, necessarily - merely how to find it, and how to stray from it.

The mainstream Christian doctrine of Heaven and Hell seems, to me, to be flawed for that reason. To me, it's not about "reward" so much as existing in a way that merits existing; and it's not so much about "punishment" so much as a way of existing that, to your own mind/soul, doesn't really merit anything. And it's not even necessarily an afterlife.

But that's only what Jesus said, and it doesn't necessarily say anything about what happens when you die - certainly not with any certainty. We'll all find out eventually... or no one will find out, and that's that. Either you live on in some way, or your consciousness ceases to exist, thus you have no awareness that you were ever even alive (or that there's even a "you" to contemplate that). Neither option is bad. So just take it when it comes.

I believe heaven is a real place.The Bible does not say where it is.In a real sense the earth is in heaven,the universe.There is no proof of family reunions.Rev,21 seems to indicate that earth will be like heaven.

If you really want to know about Heaven, read some Near Death Experiences.

By requiring that the person who answers your questions be *only* a Christian you have *excluded* the likes of Jesus Christ, Mary Magdalene, God and the Holy Spirit from giving you knowledgeably *accurate* answers to your Question -- and have excluded anyone receiving direct information from any of these who doesn't view he/rself as *being* a Christian! (i can understand not wanting to hear the tiresomely repetitious false opinions of the atheists.)

i'm an *ex*-Christian... but haven't viewed myself as being one since 1969.

Regardless of me no longer being a Christian (and perhaps *because* i'm not a Christian!) Jesus has been talking to me, personally, for the past 15 years!

Actually, i know quite a *few* "boring details" about the AfterLife! But since you're requiring "Christians only," i guess it's wisest i *don't* spend the hour or two that would be involved in adequately answering your Questions (to the extent of what i know).

So -- be *happy!* with all the *lack* of knowledge from all the Christians who only know what's in your Bible!

Romans 6:7 says: For the one who has died has been acquitted from his sin.

Why does this scripture say the dead acquitted of their sins. Because death pays for all our sins. Romans 6: 23 : For the wages sin pays is death, but the gift God gives is everlasting life by Christ Jesus our Lord.

At death there is no punishment for the sins we committed. Genesis 3:19 In the sweat of your face you will eat bread* until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For dust you are and to dust you will return.”

That is what God told Adam was going to happened because he sinned. His body would return to the dust. Now, would something inside of him still live. No. The Bible says at Ecclesiastes 9:5 says : For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing at all, nor do they have any more reward, because all memory of them is forgotten.

This shows the dead are just dead. Verse 10 says: Whatever your hand finds to do, do with all your might, for there is no work nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom in the Grave, where you are going. So even if a person died and was to burn they would feel nothing.

Because Jesus came and died there is hope for the dead. God can bring them back to life. This is called a resurrections. When Jesus was on Earth many times he compared death to sleeping. A example is at John chapter 11 if you read this account you will understand better. If this man was in heaven bringing him back to live on Earth would make no sense. As Jesus compared his death to sleep and he had to wake him up. When our loved ones die God can awaken them. And yes, they can be united with those they love. Revelation 21:4,5 tells of a time here on Earth when sickness and death will be gone. Then united with loved ones people will be able to live forever. You can read this from the Bible in detail. Go to wwwjw.org and type in resurrection. Or email me I can send more references. I hope this has helped.

As I recall, when people asked for details, Jesus seemed to have some difficulty liking us. People expected to have the same attachments and concerns in heaven and this appeared to try his patience a little.

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We will be with all our loved ones that believed in Jesus. No more pain, injures, sicknesses or anything.

The question rests on the idea that we have a record of everything Jesus said.... it is said his ministry lasted 3 years and all the words in the four gospels are only about 8 hours!

The focus is on being in heaven and not hell. That is the main point that He emphasizes on purpose.

Every belief except one will lead to hell for every person. Because nothing pays for our sins except the death and blood of Jesus, the sacrifice of Jesus that is already accomplished by Him . Jesus loves you! The truth is that Jesus is God, and Jesus died on the cross to pay for all of our sins in full, and then Jesus resurrected from the dead. Nothing else pays for our sins, not works, not deeds, not religions. So the only way to heaven and to avoid hell, is by believing in Jesus for eternal life (John 6:47), without adding any of your own works (Romans 4:5). That easy, thanks to Jesus! It is too late to be saved, after death.

Because he, like everyone else who ever lived, had not the first inkling of what it is like, if it even exists.