Do you believe in a literal Heaven and Hell? What happens to people who are without a saving knowledge of Christ?
In 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10 Paul states that God considers it just repayment to those who do not know him nor obey Christ in that they are to suffer eternal destruction. If there is not a literal place of Hell then there is at least a literal eternal state of suffering for people who do not believe in God or follow Christ's commands.
Jesus himself states that he will tell those who did not recognize him or obey him to depart and that they will be punished eternally (Matthew 25:41-46). He also states that the righteous will will have eternal life.
Revelation 21:9-27 gives specfic measurements and materials for heaven. Some consider this to be the closest description John could give as to what Heaven would be like. Although, exact measurements would be more likely literally as opposed to a mere comparison of what it may be like.
Even if it is possible that Heaven is not a literal place, it has to be a literal state of being and seperate from those who do not have a saving knowledge of Christ (Matthew 12:31-46).
I personally believe in a literal Heaven. There are too many descriptions of a separate place and its attributes not to be literal. Acts 1:9 also states that Jesus had ascended into Heaven and would come back the same way. The most likely conclusion is that Heaven is literally somewhere and a seperate place of its own.
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What about hell then? Is it a real place?
ReplyDeleteSome think that heaven is more real than earth, that there won't be any comparison to our lives now! I can't wait!
Mike