How Did Jesus Get To Heaven

How Did Jesus Leave the Earth? (The Ascension)

The ascension of Christ into heaven was one of the most momentous occasions in the life of Jesus Christ. According to the Bible, Jesus ascended into heaven both visually and physically forty days after His resurrection, according to the Bible. Luke Luke was the only New Testament author to recount the event of the ascension. He was separated from them and lifted up into the heavens as he was extending his blessings to them. In return, they returned to Jerusalem with great excitement, and they spent the rest of their time in the temple praying to God and praising and blessing him.

Luke describes Jesus’ separation from them in a way that suggests they are already familiar with the tale of Jesus’ ascension to the Father.

After giving commands to the apostles whom he had selected via the Holy Spirit, I gave you a previous account of everything Jesus began to do and teach until the day in which he was taken up, which I gave you in the previous account, O Theophilus (Acts 1:1, 2).

The Bible confirms that Jesus ascended into heaven in plain view of His followers, as recorded in the Gospels.

Meanwhile, while they continued to stare upward as he rose, two men in white clothing appeared beside them and inquired of them, saying, ‘Men of Galilee, why are you standing here looking up into the heavens?’ This same Jesus, who was carried away from you into heaven, will return in the same manner in which you witnessed him ascend into heaven’ (Acts 1:9-11).

  1. Stephen was the first Christian to be executed because of his faith in Jesus Christ.
  2. However, because he was filled with the Holy Spirit, he looked up into the skies and saw the glory of God, as well as Jesus standing on the right hand of God, and exclaimed, ‘Look!
  3. This proved that Jesus had risen to heaven and had remained there.
  4. You will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Father’s throne and ascending on the clouds of heaven in the days to come (Matthew 26:64) Mark Although the lengthy conclusion to Mark’s gospel may not be entirely original, it does represent an ancient belief.
  5. When the Lord Jesus finished speaking to them, he was taken up into heaven and seated at the right hand of God, where he continues to sit today (Mark 16:19).

‘Stop clinging to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; instead, go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I climb to my Father and your Father, and my God and your God,’ Jesus replied to her.” (See also John 20:17.) In addition, Christ predicts His ascension in the Gospel of John, asking, “What if you should view the Son of Man rising where he was previously?” ” (John 6:62).

1 Timothy 1 Timothy 1 Timothy 1 Timothy 1 Timothy 1 Timothy 1 Timothy 1 Timothy 1 Timothy 1 Timothy 1 Timothy 1 Timothy 1 Timothy 1 Timothy 1 Timothy 1 Timothy 1 Timothy 1 Timothy 1 Timothy 1 Timothy 1 Timothy 1 Timothy 1 Timothy 1 Timothy 1 Timothy 1 Timothy 1 Timothy 1 Timothy 1 Timothy 1 Timothy 1 Timothy 1 Timothy 1 Timothy 1 Timothy 1 Timothy 1 Timothy 1 Timothy 1 Timothy 1 Timothy 1 Timothy 1 Timothy 1 Timothy 1 Timothy 1 Timothy 1 Timothy 1 Timothy 1 Timothy 1 Timothy 1 Timothy 1 Timothy 1 Timothy 1 Timothy 1 Timothy 1 Timothy 1 Timothy 1 Timothy 1 “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness,” says the ancient Christian confession of First Timothy 3:16, which includes the phrase “He who was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory” (1 Timothy 3:16).

The verb “taken up” is the same as the verb “taken up” that appears in Acts 1:2.

It is also true that he who descended is also the one who soared far beyond all the heavens, in order to fill all things with himself (Ephesians 4:10).

In Christ, which he accomplished by raising him from the grave and putting him at his right hand in the celestial realms (Ephesians 1:20) Without some type of ascension, this exaltation would not have been possible, and the one recounted by Luke appears to be the one that was comprehended by the disciples.

  1. The ascension, according to Luke, was completed theologically, as Paul describes in his letter.
  2. He is speaking about Jesus Christ, who is at the right hand of God, having ascended into heaven after having subdued angels, authorities, and powers to his will and authority (1 Peter 3:22).
  3. Hebrews The writer to the Hebrews has a clear understanding of what Christ’s ascension has achieved for the world.
  4. Furthermore, in Hebrews 7:26, our high priest is praised for having been elevated above the sky, a reference to his position of authority.
  5. Beginning with the factual tale of Jesus’ ascension into heaven from the Mount of Olives, there is a spiritual dimension to the story.
  6. As a bonus, the other two gospel writers make allusions to Jesus’ ascension as well.

As a result, the ascension of Jesus is mentioned in a number of distinct places in the New Testament, including the Gospels. The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc., 1982), is a translation of the Bible.

Did Jesus physically and spiritually ascend into heaven?

Following His ascension into heaven, what happened to Jesus Christ’s bodily body was a mystery. Is it OK for us to think that He physically and spiritually ascended into heaven?

Bible Answer:

After all, death is something that none of us truly comprehends until it occurs to us. Our hearts and minds have ceased working, and our physical bodies are no longer able to perceive the environment around us. Our spirits have left us, and only our physical bodies remain. It’s too late to control what occurs after that. It is either beneficial or detrimental. Some will spend eternity in heaven, while others will spend eternity in hell.

Jesus’ Body

When Jesus died, His bodily body ceased to operate, just as our physical bodies will cease to function at some point in the future. On Sunday, though, he came back to life (Matthew 28:1-10). It was early the next morning when Mary Magdalene arrived at the tomb and discovered that His corpse had been removed from it (John 20:2). Within a few minutes, she realized that His new body was different from the one she was used to. It had undergone a transformation. According to John 20:14-16, the difference was so great that Mary Magdalene had no idea who He was when she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, completely unaware that it was He who she had just seen.

“Can you tell me who you are looking for?” Pretending He was the gardener, she approached Him and said, “Sir, if you have taken Him away, please tell me where you have laid Him and I will come and take Him away.” John 20:14-15 (KJV) (NASB) Although Jesus’ new eternal body was different, we subsequently learn that He was still able to consume food in the same way that He had been able to do so in the past (Luke 24:40-43).

  1. His body, on the other hand, was distinct in other respects.
  2. After eight days, His followers had returned to the house, and Thomas had joined them.
  3. “My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed in response to His words.
  4. Once He had sat down at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it before breaking it and distributing it to them.
  5. Luke 24:30-31 (KJV) (NASB)

What Can We Learn?

There are a number of significant facts regarding Jesus’ new body to consider. First and foremost, his physical body was distinct from ours, despite the fact that it was composed of flesh and bone (Luke 24:39). Because Mary was unable to identify Jesus’ freshly altered body, we might conclude that Jesus’ body was not the same as it had been before. Second, He was able to consume food and drink in His new body. That is just fantastic. Consider what it might be like to share a meal with Jesus in the kingdom.

Third, Jesus’ body had the ability to pass through solid objects such as walls, and He could just vanish. Our bodies are no longer capable of doing so. Once again, Jesus returned to heaven, this time in His spirit and in His new and everlasting body.

Conclusion:

Every man and woman will have a completely different physique at some point in the future. God will provide us with altered bodies at some point in the future. Our spirits will be joined by these new bodies. This is revealed to us by the apostle Paul in the following chapter. Look, I’ll reveal a mystery to you: we will not all sleep, but we will all be transformed in a split second, in the blink of an eye, at the sound of the final trumpet; because the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be risen imperishable, and we will be transformed as a result.

1 Corinthians 15:51-53 is a biblical passage (NASB) It looks like Christians have a very bright future ahead of them!

Lord Jesus, please come swiftly!

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At some point in the near future, every man and woman will get a new body. God will change our bodies at some point in the future. Our spirits will be joined by these new physical bodies. This is stated by the apostle Paul in the text that follows. As a matter of fact, I’ll reveal a mystery to you: we will not sleep, but we will all be transformed in an instant, in the blink of an eye, at the sounding of the last horn; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be resurrected incorruptible, and we will all be transformed.

1 Corinthians 15:51-53 is a passage of Scripture (NASB) What a bright future awaits those who follow Jesus Christ.

Lord Jesus, please come soon.

‘Is Jesus’ body in space?’ And other Ascension questions you didn’t know you had

1 a.m., Thursday, May 14, 2020, Denver Newsroom When Jesus arose from the dead three days after his crucifixion, he appeared to his apostles and many of his other followers in his physical, glorified body for a period of 40 days following his resurrection. And that exalted body, although remaining recognizably the man Jesus, was capable of performing some fairly remarkable feats, like as walking through walls and appearing or vanishing at will. While with his apostles after 40 days, Jesus “was lifted up, and a cloud carried him away from their sight,” according to the Bible.

  • The Ascension, like many other mysteries of the Catholic faith, seems to inspire more questions than it does answers, which is understandable.
  • Does the fact that Jesus’ bodily body ascended into heaven imply that heaven is a physical location?
  • The short answers are: kind of, and most likely not at all.
  • He has a doctorate in biblical and theological studies.
  • Barber asserted that, in order to comprehend heaven and the Ascension, we must first examine the scriptures and come to terms with the qualities of Jesus’ resurrected body.” According to 1 Corinthians 15, Jesus is not only resurrected, but also glorified in his resurrection appearances.
  • As Paul points out, we shall all be transformed as a result of the resurrection.
  • “This is evident in the Easter tales as well.
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They’ve shut the door, but Jesus appears to be standing in the middle of the room.

“He went on to say more.

Thomas Aquinas explained that this element of Christ’s resurrected body tells us that “essentially what happens is that heaven is outside of the cosmos in what Thomas would refer to as an uncontained region,” according to Barber.

“In the words of St.

“As a result, heaven does have a physical manifestation.

It is not as if Jesus ascends into heaven and then travels out past the rings of Saturn and out past the constellation Andromeda in the process.

We haven’t been given a clear explanation of how this works in detail.

As Barber pointed out, “Even though we cannot say with certainty where this place is to be found or what its relationship is to the entire universe, revelation does not allow us to doubt its existence.” He was referring to the writings of Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange, a French Catholic priest and Dominican friar who wrote about the Ascension and the last things.

  • “That’s a fundamental confirmation implied in the Ascension, which is that (Jesus) stays totally human, that he still has a physical body to inhabit.
  • Thomas saw the crucifixion marks on his body, I anticipate that we will see them on his body as well.
  • “I believe the most important thing to say is that we don’t know,” he continued.
  • At the time, Christians believed that the globe was encircled by seven “crystalline spheres,” which they referred to as the seven heavens, and that these spheres held celestial objects such as the sun, moon, and stars.
  • Dante, in his “Divine Comedy,” makes use of this cosmology.
  • It would be quite tough – there are many problems about how you would be able to go through these crystalline spheres, for example.

But that’s the way they’ve included it into the overall image (of the world) “Root expressed himself. Root observed that our knowledge of the cosmos and science has shifted dramatically in recent years. (The rest of the story follows below.)

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In addition, he believes “we shouldn’t anticipate to be able travel to where Jesus is with a rocketship,” but it is possible that heaven, and consequently Jesus’ body, resides in a realm that humans are unable to reach.

Quantum physics will speculate about the possibility of other space-time continuums to our own.

One must constantly remember: ‘We have to think about something in some manner, but we should not pretend that our method of thinking about it is the only way.’ That is something on which we can place a great deal of weight.” So, if the bodies of Jesus and Mary may be found in heaven, why must the rest of humanity wait until the end of eternity to be reunited with their glorified bodies as well?

Theologian William Barber stated, “We are fellow heirs with Christ if we suffer with him.” “With the exception of Good Friday, you cannot get to Easter Sunday.” Without likewise engaging in Jesus’ death and resurrection, it is impossible to have a resurrected body or to partake in his resurrection.” According to Barber, this imitation of Christ, even to the point of death, is the “highest manifestation of loyalty” that one may attain.

  • The church is Christ’s mystical body, and he wishes to accomplish in it what he accomplished in his own body.
  • He explained that this entails “learning obedience, demonstrating fidelity by embracing our cross and picking up our cross,” among other things.
  • A lot of people wish to believe that Mary’s assumption indicates that she was exalted even though she did not die, however Pope John Paul II does not seem to believe this.
  • Death has become a curse as a result of the fall (of man).
  • “An important part of reclaiming our physical bodies will be the metamorphosis of all matter,” says the author.
  • One that is more comfortable, one that doesn’t harm my knees, and other similar things.
  • The transition has already occurred in Jesus and Mary, according to him, who have already been rejoined with their glorified bodies in paradise, according to him.

Jesus’ ascension into heaven is followed by the statement that “he will come again to judge the living and the dead,” which is included in the Apostles Creed.

“That’s a pretty significant subject, and it’s something that’s beneficial to think about,” Barber said.

It appears that there are a slew of various views that keep cropping up, none of which seem to make any sense when put together.

However, Barber asserted that this is not the case, and the Catechism goes on to discuss these two judgements in further detail.

In other words, “we are aware that there is a judgment at the time of our deaths,” Barber stated.

This is something that Jesus discusses in Matthew 25.

The significance of this judgment, according to Barber, is that Jesus will completely expose, “to its most extreme ramifications,” the good that each individual has done or failed to accomplish throughout his or her lifetime.

“We don’t understand how the actions we make today will effect future generations, even if we live to witness them,” he said.

“Jesus claims that there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed.

“What you’ve heard whispered in secret rooms will be shouted from the rooftops,” says the author.

“It isn’t that you can hope to receive a better bargain in the final verdict,” says the author.

Root went on to say that the last judgment is a public affair, but a soul’s personal judgment is a private one.

God will bring history to a close.

And we shall see that the murderer does not win, and that the humble will be the ones who inherit the land.

Furthermore, it is ultimately vanquished.

As a final point, Root pointed out that, just as Jesus did not eventually shed his body, everyone’s bodies will take part in either their everlasting reward or their eternal punishment when the final judgment has been rendered.

She graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a master’s degree in English education.

Why Jesus Had to Ascend to Heaven: Answers from Scripture and Aquinas

It caused consternation among the disciples when Jesus alluded to his ascension to the Father during the Last Supper (John 13:33). Once Christ had ascended, they were discovered “standing there staring up into the sky” before being calmed by the angels (Acts 1:11). We may join them in asking the following question: Why did Jesus have to go to heaven just 40 days after the Resurrection of the body? Why couldn’t Jesus have continued to stroll among his disciples for a long period of time? Scripture teaches us that the Ascension is inextricably linked to the Paschal Mystery and the advent of the Holy Spirit, and that it was therefore vital to our salvation and the wellbeing of the Church.

In John’s Gospel, we learn that Jesus spent a significant amount of time during the Last Supper lovingly explaining it to his apostles and disciples (John 13-16).

Thomas Aquinas also contributes to the clarification of the topic.

Leading the Way to Heaven

As St. Thomas Aquinas explains, Christ’s ascension is a component of his redemptive work that results in our redemption (Summa TheologicaIII, 57, 6). His text is taken from John 16:7, in which Jesus says to the apostles, “But I tell you the truth, it is best for you if I depart.” “First and foremost, He prepared the road for our elevation into heaven,” writes St. Thomas. Specifically, St. Thomas quotes Ephesians 4, in which St. Paul recalls a Psalm prophesying the Christ, saying, “He rose on high and took prisoners captive; he bestowed gifts on men” (Ephesians 4:8).

  • Paul interprets Psalm 68 as a reference to Christ’s liberation of the righteous souls from Hades and the opening of the gates of heaven on their behalf.
  • Consequently, St.
  • And if I go and make a place for you, I will return and take you to myself, so that you may be where I am as well” (John 14:2-3).
  • As Jesus was about to go for his final journey, the Apostle Thomas said, “Master, we don’t know where you’re going; how can we know the way?” (See also John 14:5).
  • No one else can bring anybody else to the Father except through me.

Interceding for Humanity

The second explanation given by St. Thomas for why the Ascension is crucial to salvation is that it enabled Jesus to go to heaven in order to intercede for us as the everlasting high priest. It is in Hebrews 7:25 that he asserts that “he is always capable of saving those who approach God through him,” because “he lives eternally to make intercession for them.” He is quoting from the Bible.

“For Christ did not enter into a sanctuary fashioned by human hands, a replica of the genuine sanctuary, but into heaven itself, in order that he may now stand before God on our behalf,” we read in Hebrews 9:24.

Granting Gifts to the Church

Another reason why St. Thomas believes the Ascension is crucial to salvation is that it allowed Jesus to go to heaven and serve as the everlasting high priest, thereby interceding for us on our behalf. It is in Hebrews 7:25 that he asserts that “he is always capable of saving those who approach God through him,” since “he lives eternally to intercede on their behalf.” “For Christ did not enter into a sanctuary created by human hands, a replica of the genuine sanctuary, but into heaven itself, in order that he might now stand before God on our behalf,” the Bible says in Hebrews 9:24.

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Seated at the Father’s Right Hand

“So then, when he had spoken to them, the Lord Jesus was snatched up into heaven and seated at the right side of God,” according to Mark’s Gospel (Mark 16:19). St. Thomas clarifies that this is not to be interpreted as a spatial arrangement, because the Father is pure spirit, and hence cannot be perceived as such. Instead, it indicates that Christ now abides in the whole exposed splendour of the divinity (while on earth, this brilliance was obscured) and that the full authority of judgment has been given to him by the Father (SummaIII, 58, 1).

In terms of divinity, it indicates that the Father and the Son are co-equal in the Godhead, despite the fact that the Father is the source of the relationships that exist within the Trinity (SummaIII, 58, 2).

“Therefore, because we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us cling to our confession,” the book of Hebrews says.

In order to receive mercy and find grace in time of need, let us confidently approach the throne of grace” (Hebrews 4:14-16).

The Ascension Increases our Faith, Hope, and Charity

In addition, St. Thomas teaches that the Ascension works to bring us up in the virtues of faith, hope, and charity (SummaIII, 57, 1, ad. 3). Jesus replied to the Apostle Thomas, and this is what St. Thomas quotes: “Have you now come to believe because you have seen me?” People who have not seen and yet have believed are blessed” (John 20:29). As a result, first and foremost, the Ascension strengthens our confidence in the unseen Christ. As a second benefit, it fosters optimism, because Christ has gone to the place he has promised to those who have remained true to him.

“My children, I will only be with you for a short period of time longer,” Jesus informed the apostles at the Last Supper.

You should love one another in the same way that I have loved you. All will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another,” says the Lord (John 13:33-35).

The Fittingness of the Ascension

Christ ascended to heaven both for our sake and because it was appropriate for who he is to do so. “Now, as a result of His Resurrection, Christ has entered into an everlasting and incorruptible existence,” says St. Thomas. However, although our earthly home is a location of generation and corruption, the heavenly home is a sanctuary of purity and purity alone. As a result, it was not appropriate for Christ to remain on earth following His resurrection; rather, it was appropriate for Him to go to heaven” (SummaIII, 57, 1).

” He felt a certain kind of satisfaction from the coincidence.

(SummaIII, 57, 1, ad 2).

His supernatural presence can be felt in the countless manifestations of the Holy Spirit that take place throughout the Church, as well as in a concrete sense in the Holy Eucharist.

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The great majority of these individuals understandably believe that this is what Jesus personally told them. However, this is not the case. Neither Jesus nor the Hebrew Bible, which he translated, supported the notion that departed souls went to either paradise or everlasting punishment. Ancient Jews, in contrast to the majority of Greeks, historically did not think that the soul could exist independently of the body. The opposite was true for them; they saw the soul as more like “breath.” Adam, the first human being God created, began as a lump of clay, then God “breathed” life into him after that (Genesis 2: 7).

  1. Afterwards, everything was reduced to dust and ashes.
  2. It is not true that when we cease breathing, our breath does not leave our body.
  3. In the same way, the “soul” does not continue to exist outside of the body, where it may experience postmortem joy or anguish.
  4. It is assumed by the Hebrew Bible itself that the deceased are simply dead—that their corpse rests in the grave and that they will never regain awareness again.
  5. However, in the majority of cases, the term “Sheol” is just a synonym for “tomb” or “grave.” It’s not a location where people really go to hang out.
  6. The fact that there was no life at all, and so no family, friends, talks, food, drink – and even communion with God – made death so depressing: nothing could make an afterlife existence more pleasant since there was no life at all, and hence no wonderful afterlife existence.
  7. To be honest, the most one could aspire for was an enjoyable and exceptionally long life in the here and now.

The belief that there was something beyond death—a form of justice to come—began to spread among Jewish philosophers some two hundred years before the birth of the Messiah.

However, the flaws in that line of reasoning were immediately apparent: God’s own people Israel suffered repeatedly, brutally, and frustratingly as a result of natural disasters, political crises, and, most significantly, military defeat.

Some philosophers came up with a solution that described how God would bring about justice, but one that did not require eternal happiness in a paradise above or eternal pain in a hell below, as had previously been proposed.

In spite of the fact that God is the ultimate master of the universe, he has temporarily ceded authority of this planet for an unexplained cause.

Heaven and earth are about to be thrown into chaos when God intervenes to destroy everything and everyone who stands in his way, and to usher in a new kingdom for his loyal followers, the Kingdom of God, a paradise on earth.

Indeed, God will breathe life back into the dead, bringing them back to earthly existence, and God will bring all the dead back to life, not just the virtuous, to be with him forever.

The crowd who had stood in the path of God will also be raised.

During the time of Jesus, this notion of the impending resurrection dominated the outlook of Jewish thought in general.

The end of time is approaching quickly.

God will soon annihilate everything and everyone who stands in his way, and a new order will be established on the planet.

All of the others will be wiped out.

Unlike other Jewish leaders, Jesus preached that no one will inherit the glorious future kingdom by strictly adhering to all of the Jewish laws in their most minute details; or by meticulously following the rules of worship involving sacrifice, prayer, and the observance of holy days; or by pursuing one’s own purity by fleeing from the vile world and the tainting influence of sinful others.

  1. For the most part, this is placing God first in one’s life, despite personal difficulties, and dedicating one’s time and energy to the benefit of others, even when doing so is extremely difficult.
  2. (Leviticus 19:18).
  3. In the same way that the Good Samaritan helped anybody in need, genuine love includes assisting everyone in need, not just those in your chosen social circles, as depicted in the parable of the Good Samaritan.
  4. Only a small number of individuals are.
  5. It’s no surprise that it’s easier to get a camel through a needle than it is for the wealthy to get entry into the kingdom.

Although Jesus does not explicitly mention “Hell” in the Sermon on the Mount, standard English translations suggest that he does so sometimes — for example, in his cautions that anybody who labels another a fool, or who permits their right eye or hand to transgress, will be put into “hell” (Matthew 5:22, 29-30).

  1. However, the name does not allude to a perpetual tormenting region, but rather to an infamous valley just outside the walls of Jerusalem, which was widely considered by many Jews at the time to be the most unholy, god-forsaken area on earth.
  2. For anyone who died in the ancient world (whether they were Greek, Roman, or Jewish), being refused a proper burial was the harshest punishment they could get after death.
  3. Souls would not be tortured in that place, according to Jesus.
  4. The emphasis that Jesus places on the complete destruction of sinners may be found throughout his teachings.
  5. There are two paths to “life.” One is narrow and demands an arduous road, yet it leads to “life.” That is a route used by few.
  6. However, it results in “destruction.” It is an extremely essential term.
  7. In the same way, Jesus compares the coming kingdom to a fisherman who brings in a vast net of fish (Matthew 13:47-50).
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He does not subject them to torture.

Alternatively, the kingdom might be compared to a person who collects the plants that have grown in his or her field (Matthew 13:36-43).

These do not burn indefinitely.

Other verses, on the other hand, may appear to imply that Jesus believed in the afterlife.

Some are referred to as sheep, while others are referred to as goats.

These are welcomed into the “kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world,” as the Bible states.

Upon first glance, that surely sounds like a hellish creation of the public imagination.

They are not “eternal joy” and “eternal misery,” as some people believe.

As a result, annihilation is the penalty.

This is due to the fact that the fire never goes out.

And what is the significance of the term “eternal” punishment?

These individuals will be exterminated for all time.

In this way, Jesus followed in the footsteps of a long line of respectable philosophers who have refused to accept the notion that a benevolent God would torture his beings for all eternity.

Yet neither Jesus nor his early Jewish disciples taught about the torments of hell; rather, they originated among later gentile converts who did not believe in the Jewish concept of a future resurrection of the dead, as did the apostle Paul.

A large number of Greek intellectuals, dating back at least to Socrates’ time, have advocated for the notion of the immortality of the soul.

Following the example of gentile Christians, later Christians who emerged from these groups embraced this viewpoint for themselves, reasoning that since souls are made to survive forever, their final destinies will do the same.

As a result of this innovation, an unsatisfactory combination of Jesus’ Jewish beliefs with those found in elements of the Greek intellectual tradition has resulted.

Nonetheless, in a fascinating and comforting sense, Jesus’ own beliefs on either eternal recompense or full destruction are similar to Greek notions that were taught more than four centuries before Jesus.

His “Apology” (that is, “Legal Defense”), which was recorded by his most renowned pupil, Plato, is still available for reading today.

He is, on the contrary, energised by the prospect of going from this world to the next.

On the one hand, it may result in the deepest, most uninterrupted slumber that anyone could ever conceive.

It may, on the other hand, imply the presence of a conscious being.

It would mean continuing on with life and all of its joys while avoiding all of its suffering.

As a result, there are no poor options in the afterlife, just good ones.

Two thousand and four hundred years later, with all of our improvements in our knowledge of our world and human existence within it, certainly we can conclude that both Jesus and Socrates were correct about a great many things.

We should pay attention to what he has to say.

Of course, none of us can predict what will happen to us once we leave this realm of transience behind.

On the one hand, we may lose our consciousness since we will no longer be concerned about anything in this world.

Both scenarios result in the cessation of all suffering.

To that end, the greatest teacher of the Greeks and the father of Christianity agreed on the following: when we finally go from this earthly sphere, we may have something to look forward to, but we have absolutely nothing to be afraid of.

Heaven and Hell: A History of the Afterlife, Ehrman’s latest book from which this article is taken, is available now. TIME Magazine has more must-read stories.

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  • It seems possible that Ketanji Brown Jackson will be appointed to the Supreme Court. The IPCC warns that the window of opportunity to adapt to climate change is rapidly closing.

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Is Jesus the only way to Heaven?

QuestionAnswer Yes, Jesus is the only way to enter the kingdom of heaven. It’s understandable that such an exclusive remark would confound, surprise, or even upset some, but it’s true all the same. According to the Bible, there is no other route to salvation other than through faith in Jesus Christ. “I am the way, the truth, and the life,” Jesus declares in John 14:6, referring to himself. “There is no other way to the Father but through me.” In this case, he is notaway, as in one of many; he istheway, as in one and only.

  • For a variety of reasons, Jesus is the only way to enter the kingdom of heaven.
  • It has been shown that Jesus is the only One who has come down from heaven and returned there (John 3:13).
  • He is the one and only atonement for sin (1 John 2:2; Hebrews 10:26).
  • He is the only individual who has ever been victorious over death and will live eternally (Hebrews 2:14–15).
  • In fact, Jesus is the only individual who has been “exalted.
  • Aside from John 14:6, Jesus made reference to Himself as the only way to enter the kingdom of heaven in a number of other places.
  • He asserted that His words are life (John 6:63).

Among other things, he is the “gate of the sheep” (John 10:7), “the food of life” (John 6:35), and “the resurrection” (John 20:28).

There is no one else who can legitimately claim such titles.

In his address to the Sanhedrin, Peter made it plain that Jesus was the only route to salvation: “Salvation can be found in no one else, because there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

(1 John 2:12).

Only through Christ is it possible to have eternal life in the presence of God.

In order to receive God’s free gift of salvation, we must look to Jesus and Jesus alone for guidance and direction.

According to the Bible, “This righteousness from God is given to those who believe through faith in Jesus Christ” (Romans 3:22).

“Do you also wish to go away?” Jesus inquired of the Twelve disciples.

“Lord, to whom shall we go?” Peter asks, and his response is spot on: “To whom shall we go?” “You have the words of eternal life in your possession, and we have believed and come to understand that you are the Holy One of God,” John 6:68–69 (New International Version).

Have you made a decision to follow Christ as a result of what you’ve read thus far?

Alternatively, you may utilize the inquiry form on ourBible Queries Answeredpage if you have any questions. Questions regarding Salvation (return to top of page) Is Jesus the only way to enter the Kingdom of Heaven?

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Why did Jesus go back to heaven?

Here’s everything you need to know: Following His resurrection from the grave, Jesus returned to heaven to live with God. Furthermore, He returned in order to create a space for anybody who would trust in Him! Because Jesus is God, there is no beginning or end to His existence. He has always resided in heaven, with the exception of the 33 years He spent on Earth as the perfect God-man, during which He was on Earth. He died on the cross for our sins at the conclusion of His stay on earth. However, He did not remain dead!

He appeared to His disciples, and then to nearly 500 other individuals!

When Jesus returned to heaven, He promised that He would begin preparing a home for all of those who had placed their faith in Him.

“Would you have believed me if I had told you that I would arrange a place for you in that location?” (See also John 14:2).

Jesus will come from heaven at some point in the future for everyone who believes in Him.

why are you standing here staring up at the sky?” Jesus has been taken away from you and is now in the presence of the Father in heaven.

Known as the rapture, this is the time when Jesus will take everyone who believes in Him to heaven, whether they are dead or living at the time of His return.

Truth According to the Bible “Jesus took his disciples out to a rural location near Bethany, where they camped for the night.

While he was blessing them, he suddenly disappeared.

“And you will be aware of God’s immense might.

His power is at work for those of us who believe. It is the same overwhelming might that God has shown throughout history. He demonstrated this by raising Jesus Christ from the grave. God elevated him to the throne of his heavenly kingdom, placing him at his right hand “(See also Ephesians 1:19–20.)

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