What is heaven in our understanding?
All these ideas share common features: in heaven there is no pain, fear and time. Harmony, peace of mind and freedom reign there. There all the divine radiance illuminates, and the inhabitants are forever young and infinitely happy.
However, these descriptions are only a weak attempt to imagine heavenly life. Theologians claim (and, most likely, they are right) that earthly man is not able to imagine a true paradise. The soul is too burdened with worldly vanity and involuntarily binds higher matters to a primitive understanding of happiness.
How can I help someone who is interested in Christianity?
One of the simplest and most concise ways to guide someone through the Bible to help them understand their sin, how it affects their relationship with God, and how they can be saved and go to heaven is a technique known as the Roman Road. In these selected verses, the Apostle Paul briefly explains the problem of the human heart and how Jesus is the solution.
Roman road:
— Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
— Romans 6:23 “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
— Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrated His love toward us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
— Romans 10:9-10 “If you confess with your tongue that Jesus is Lord, and if you believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Because faith of the heart gives a person righteousness, and confession of the mouth brings salvation.”
— Romans 10:13 “For whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
God created humanity with love and gave His only son so that there would be a path to redemption. “... God is our Savior, Who desires that all people be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is a testimony given at the proper time” (1 Timothy 2:3 b-6).
Faith in the love of Jesus, faith that His death and resurrection covers our sins and protects our souls, is the only way to heaven. Going to God in humility, confessing and repenting of sins is the way to get closer to the Lord. Even though sin keeps people from God and heaven, Jesus provides a way to freedom and, to eternal joy, with Him.
Heaven exists - what do researchers and those who have “visited” explain?
With the development of resuscitation and the acquisition of the ability to pump out people in a state of clinical death, indirect evidence has appeared that heaven is not a fairy tale. As atheists say, “there’s something there.”
Up to 20 percent of people whom doctors were able to bring out of a coma talked about a tunnel, a light, where they were drawn, a door or a gate. From the threshold of which the patients were “turned away” by resuscitators.
Added to the visual impressions was a feeling of serenity and anticipation of the upcoming entry. Scientists have tried to explain these memories as processes of brain dying. They say that at this time the patient loses vision and ceases to see peripheral zones. And the “spotlight” visible to him is the central point, still accessible to the eyes that are switching off.
But many researchers strongly disagree with this interpretation. Thus, the Belgian neurologist Steven Laureys, who has headed the Coma Science Group in Liege for many years, talked with each person rescued.
According to the tests that patients underwent, the emotions they experience when encountering light are many times stronger than anything that people have encountered during their lives. The doctor cannot explain this surge by dying alone. He does not undertake to explain why the majority of people who have been brought out of clinical death, in principle, cease to be afraid of death.
The data obtained from resuscitated blind people is also interesting. Among them were those who were blind from birth. However, they also saw the light and the entrance. Orthodox science cannot explain how blind people, who by definition cannot see, could visualize images, and in such detail. Oxygen deficiency definitely has nothing to do with it.
But the case of a 4-year-old boy who experienced clinical death and delighted his parents and doctors with stories about angels is completely unique. This is despite the fact that I grew up in a family of atheists and never heard about these creatures from anyone.
In addition, he told about his meeting with his sister. And she died in childbirth long before the boy was born. Of course, the parents, so as not to traumatize their son, did not tell him about the dead girl. Too unexpected a topic for hallucinations, isn't it?
How to behave correctly during a funeral service for a deceased person in a church church
Most people are tormented by the question of what to say, what to do during this procession. It is best to try to control yourself, cry less and pray for the repose of the deceased; the prayer should be read together with the cleric.
For the temple you need to choose things that are dark in color and preferably austere in appearance. Be sure to tie a black bandage on your head or wear a dark-colored scarf. Pants, a long dress or a skirt, it doesn’t matter, the main thing is that your legs are covered. For men, it is preferable to choose a blue or black suit.
In order for everything to go according to the rules, you need to bury the deceased in the place where he lived most of his life and these places became family to him. Especially if he came from another city or country for permanent residence. Before this, you need to collect all the necessary documents, certificates and death certificates, and then agree on the time and place of the funeral service.
The most important procedure is the icon, which is placed on the chest of the deceased, then taken home. Then, it must be installed in the right place and each family member must read the psalter near it.
How does a funeral service take place and what does a person need to know?
Not all people know how the sacrament of funeral occurs and how to perform the funeral service for a deceased person. It is worth understanding that the coffin with the deceased must be prepared before starting the funeral service for the person. For this ritual, it is worth preparing some items
- A cross that fits in the hand and on the chest.
- A shroud is what is used to cover the body of the deceased.
- A paper aureole with saints depicted on it is placed on the forehead of the deceased.
Candles are placed on the lid of the coffin; the cleric does this. It is he who must light them, then the relatives must distribute them to people who came to say goodbye to the deceased. This procedure requires special holy candles. In this way, a person shows that a living person has power over the dead. Then, the coffin is placed in front of the altar, only then the priest begins to pray and psalm.
In order to sing the funeral service for the soul of the deceased, everyone should read a prayer and ask for forgiveness for all the sins that the deceased may have committed. As soon as the priest reads the prayers and prayer service, the piece of paper with it should be placed in the hands of the funeral service and after that, all relatives can say goodbye to the person forever.
Who should not be buried in church?
As it turns out, there are many prohibitions that prohibit burying the deceased in a church. The deceased must be mourned in the afterlife according to all traditions. But the ritual cannot be performed on people who:
- had a different faith;
- unbaptized children, infants;
- God-fighters;
- children born still.
An unbaptized person cannot also have a funeral service, because a cell prayer must be read for him. And therefore their soul submits to Saint Uar. The Church prohibits funeral services for suicides. Due to the fact that they themselves decided to shorten their lives and their soul will not be able to find peace.
It is also forbidden to perform rituals in the temple for drowned people. There are many opinions on this matter. A person who drowned and it was an accident, then a funeral service can be held, but if it is suicide, then a procession cannot be held.
Source: https://rsute.ru/609615-otpevanie-usopshego-v-cerkvi-pomozhet-dushe-obresti-pokoj-i-popast-v-raj.html
Where to look for heaven - the opinion of theologians and mystics
The location of the “higher spheres” interests humanity no less than evidence of the existence of paradise. Neither a scientist, nor a mystic, nor a theologian will tell you the exact coordinates. Now one of the most popular versions is the assumption that the tabernacles of paradise are still in heaven. However, it will not be possible to get there even with the help of a space shuttle.
Paradise is located in a different space-time. Or, if you prefer, in some “subtle sphere” inaccessible to material objects.
The Catholic Church does not entirely agree with this formulation of the issue. Thus, the Pope called in 1999 to reject erroneous ideas about heaven as some kind of physical, geographically defined place.
According to the head of the Vatican, heaven is a direct, continuous connection with the Trinity on a spiritual level. And idyllic springs, flowers, lawns among the clouds are a metaphor. It is designed to simplify the understanding and perception of the idea.
However, the Pope’s calls can only suit deeply religious people who follow the principle “I believe because it is absurd.” Scientists continue to search for the location of heaven. And there is some progress in this direction.
Prayer
On the birthday of the deceased, you should also pray for him at home or in church. You can also submit a note at the church so that the name of the deceased will be mentioned during the liturgy or memorial service. You also need to light a candle for the deceased.
Priests recommend reading on the birthday of the deceased the traditional prayers for the departed, which are found in every prayer book. You can also read the Psalter. It is believed that it will be enough to read only one kathisma or several.
What is heaven - the abode of God?
For example, at the end of December 1994, astronomers managed to decipher images taken using the Hubble telescope. A tiny speck in one of the images caught the attention of Professor Ken Wilson from the University of Florida.
Having examined it with a magnifying glass, the scientist found out that the structure of the fragment was unlike anything previously seen. It was decided to re-shoot this area of star clusters with the highest available resolution. The new images shocked all astronomers. They could clearly see something very similar to a huge shining city of unimaginable size. Next to it, our planet would be no larger than a grain of sand.
Using powerful computers, scientists analyzed the structure, called the “Abode of the Creator,” and found out that all known galaxies begin their path from it. In addition, it turned out that the universe as a whole revolves around this cosmic paradise.
The Hubble web server was open to access at that time. The initial information received was scattered throughout the world. Then NASA restricted access, and further research became classified. And it is unlikely that we will soon be able to find out their details.
DECISION-MAKING
What do you think about all this?
Does this make sense to you? You have just learned of the greatest gift that has ever been offered by the greatest person who has ever walked this earth. Christ came from Heaven and died on the cross to give you the gift of Eternal Life. Do you want to accept this gift? If yes, then you can turn to God in prayer right now: Dear Heavenly Father, I realize that I have sinned before You. And I realize that You are just and must punish Sin. But Your Word says that You are loving and merciful and sent Your Son Jesus Christ into the world so that I could be reconciled to You. I believe that Jesus Christ is Your Son and I ask you to forgive my sins for the sake of Your Son. I thank you that Christ bore all my sin and all my weakness on Himself. Thank you God for Your forgiveness. Thank you that Jesus died on the cross of Calvary and rose again on the third day. I thank you that through Him You want to give me the gift of Eternal Life. Help and teach me to believe in You, teach me to read the Bible and pray and do things pleasing to You. In the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Something interesting about Eden
Paradise is not only a place where righteous souls go after death, but, according to Scripture, it is also the starting point of human history. It was from Eden that Adam and Eve were once expelled. Scientists and theologians have been trying for centuries to figure out where the Garden of Eden was located.
Most researchers believe that Eden was located in Mesopotamia, where the Sumerian civilization once flourished. Some insist on the Caucasus, others on the Indian territories between the Indus and the Ganges. Supporters of the African origin of the first man are looking for traces of Eden on the Black Continent (by the way, the Vatican agrees with them).
But there are also alternative, sometimes unexpected theories. Thus, a number of scientists propose to consider Antarctica as the location of the “earthly paradise”. Calculations of planetary fields - magnetic and energy information - suggest that in ancient times the climate on this icy continent was completely different from what it is today.
In addition, ferns and mushrooms have been found in Antarctica. And geothermal springs have been discovered under the ice. This hypothesis is also supported by the activity that scientists from the Nazi Annenerbe showed in this area. Admiral Dennitsa’s report has even been preserved. In it, he notified the Fuhrer that submariners had found a passage to “earthly paradise” off the coast of Antarctica.
Confirming or refuting this theory is complicated by the fact that on the sixth continent, natural conditions are extremely difficult for research all year round. And mankind does not yet have equipment capable of breaking through tens of kilometers of ice.
If traces of the ancient Garden of Eden are found, humanity can learn a lot about its history. Perhaps most of our ideas about the past do not correspond to reality at all. Until the second half of the twentieth century, it never occurred to anyone to move the search point for the Garden of Eden so far to the south.
What memorial tradition does the church not approve of?
When visiting a cemetery on the birthday of the deceased or on memorial days, many people leave a glass of vodka covered with a piece of bread at the grave. This tradition originated during the USSR. The modern church does not approve of it, considering placing food and drinks on graves as a relic of paganism.
According to clergy, all that is needed to pay tribute to the deceased in a cemetery, including on a birthday, is a sincere prayer.
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