Degrees of Heaven?

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I always thought that Heaven was just that, Heaven.

Reading Karl Keatings book, Catholicism and Fundamentalism, he says that the saint, and the sinner who repents on his deathbed, will both go to heaven - the sinner after been purged in purgatory. Ok so far. But he then says the saint will be more blessed and enjoy more blessedness in Heaven???

I don’t get that at all - is there any Scriptual backup for this - can anyone throw any light on this for me??
 
The way that I have heard it described was that it isn’t like anyone is going to be suffering in heaven. Each person is like a cup. When we get to heaven, everyone’s cup will be full, but some people have larger cups than others.

Look at the angels for instance. There are archangels and then their are seraphims and cherabims. The archangels are the most magnificent–kind of like the saints that do God’s will throughout their life–and then there is a whole heirarchy of angels that come after them.

I think that the concept has to do something with that people will get their reward for what they do on earth. Obviously some people do more than others, so they will be rewarded with more. Look at chapter six of Matthew, which talks about doing things in secret so that we will get rewarded in heaven. It’s one of my favorite chapters in the Bible, so I’d suggest reading it all 😛 but specifically verses 19-21 (RSV):
*
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal,
20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.*

It seems to be talking about storing up treasures for yourself which would translate to being more blessed in heaven. Heaven will be heaven because God is there, He will be our reward. To have treasure in heaven cannot be measured in human terms because those things like money, fame, girlfriends, boyfriends will probably be meaningless to us. A reward would be to have a closer relationship with God who will be our All in all. Those who on earth have worked on their relationship with God, will in heaven also be closer to God, hence more blessed.

God Bless,
Ary
 
Hi Creatio__,

Heaven is meeting God. God is infinite. No one can totally embrace Him, but the closer we have got to Him during our lives, the more we will be able to enjoy Him in the after-life.

Verbum
 
Regarding degrees of heaven, Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma says the following:

Christ promised: “He (the Son of Man) will render to every one according to his works” (Mt. 16:27). St. Paul teaches: “And every man shall receive his own reward, according to his own labour” (1 Cor. 3:8). “He who soweth sparingly shall also reap sparingly: and he that soweth in blessings shall also reap blessings” (2 Cor. 9:6). Cf. 1 Cor. 15:41 et seq.

The Fathers are fond of appealing to the words of Jesus concerning the many mansions in the Father’s house (14:2). Tertullian remarks: “Why are there many mansions in the Father’s house, if not on account of the difference of the merits?” (Scorp. 6). St. Augustine sees in the one penny which all the workers in the vineyard uniformly receive for varying durations of work (Mt. 20:1-16), an indication of eternal life, which is for all similarly of eternal duration; in the many mansions in the house of the Father (John 14:2) he sees a symbol of the various grades of remuneration in the one eternal life. To the objection that inequality gives rise to envy, he answers: “There will be no envy on account of the unequal glory, since the unity of love will reign in all” (In Ioan. 54. 67:2). End quote.

And then there is the passage in 2 Corinthians where Paul says:

2 Cor 12:2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven – whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. 12:3 And I know that this man was caught up into Paradise – whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows –

Nita
 
My wife is a classical pianist and organist. My tastes run to country and folk music. She hears and appreciates much when we listen to Mozart that I am unaware of because of her preparation.

Likewise in Heaven, some will enjoy and appreciate things others are unaware of because they did not prepare themselves for it. However, like me and Mozart, they will be unaware of what they are missing.

Strictly my speculation.
 
I agree with the other posters. There is a hierarchy implied in scripture - even the 9 choirs of angels implies this. Martyrs, Priests, Bishops ordained Saints are way up. We can actually grow the capacity of our finite souls through active cooperation with God’s grace. After death our soul’s capacity is fixed - we are all we will ever be spiritually. Angels are created in place and are all they will ever be - but they are so very high most human souls will never attain their level. But the saints will exceed even the level of spiritual capacity of the angels. Mary is the highest of all created beings. Angels are said to be joyously jealous that we humans have the opportunity to grow the capacity of our souls and would endure any suffering and trial to have what we have.

A soul’s capacity for containing God’s grace is what limits the degree that we can participate in the beatific vision. However, I think that through the communion of the saints in heaven there is some way for the entire celestial court to share in the combined joys and glories of each individual soul that is honored with special graces and honors. It’s a shared joy sort of system where all want to share what God gives them with each other.

James
 
Joe_Kelley said:
My wife is a classical pianist and organist. My tastes run to country and folk music. She hears and appreciates much when we listen to Mozart that I am unaware of because of her preparation.

Likewise in Heaven, some will enjoy and appreciate things others are unaware of because they did not prepare themselves for it. However, like me and Mozart, they will be unaware of what they are missing.

Strictly my speculation.
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That’s a good example!
 
Thank you all for your replies.

I need to read up and studyup some more on this because it still feels like just humanising heaven. To my mind - the way I view heaven - there is just Heaven, that’s it, no favouritism, no special floors, no vip lounge, just Heaven.

Clearly I’m in need of more reading and study because some of the scriptures quoted to support the varying degrees of blessings seem a bit stretched to me. At the moment. Maybe Im just not geting it.

Thanks again for all your replies.
 
I’ve found that trying to comprehend the incomprehensible for me is pretty frustrating. Especially when the concepts of place and time don’t really seem to apply in eternity. But I do encourage you on your journey.
Blessings.
 
Is it possible that the level of Heaven that Enoch and Elijah went to was not the Heaven that Jesus opwened the gates to after His death?
 
Jerry-Jet said:
Is it possible that the level of Heaven that Enoch and Elijah went to was not the Heaven that Jesus opwened the gates to after His death?
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Not only possible but more probable. These men have to die as do all men except those who are received into heaven at the final comming after the saints are resurrected. Even Jesus had to die (to have the glory of the resurrection). These men went to “paradise” - a place spiritually close to heaven but not really a formal part of it since they did not really share in the beatific vision. There is a lot of theological speculation that these men will come back as the 2 witnesses when antichrist makes his stand and will be killed in the streets of the Holy City and resurrected.

James
 
Is there any significance to Jesus many times mentioning Heaven but on the Cross speaking to the good thief saying paradise?
 
CreatioNova said:
Thank you all for your replies.

I need to read up and studyup some more on this because it still feels like just humanising heaven. To my mind - the way I view heaven - there is just Heaven, that’s it, no favouritism, no special floors, no vip lounge, just Heaven.

Clearly I’m in need of more reading and study because some of the scriptures quoted to support the varying degrees of blessings seem a bit stretched to me. At the moment. Maybe Im just not geting it.

Thanks again for all your replies.
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Creatio, this topic has been discussed in earlier threads; I hope you find these responses helpful:

forums.catholic-questions.org/showpost.php?p=3353335&postcount=19

forums.catholic-questions.org/showpost.php?p=3356676&postcount=25
 
CreatioNova said:
Thank you all for your replies.

I need to read up and studyup some more on this because it still feels like just humanising heaven. To my mind - the way I view heaven - there is just Heaven, that’s it, no favouritism, no special floors, no vip lounge, just Heaven.

Clearly I’m in need of more reading and study because some of the scriptures quoted to support the varying degrees of blessings seem a bit stretched to me. At the moment. Maybe Im just not geting it.

Thanks again for all your replies.
Click to expand...
Higher reward is entirely consistent with scripture. The martyrs, saints, clergy get A LOT more reward than those of us that just limp in all battle damaged from not availing ourselves of the full graces of His Catholic Church. “That you may have life AND have it MORE ABUNDANTLY”. When Jesus talks of LIFE he means ETERNAL LIFE.
👍
James
 
Of course there are degrees, it wouldn’t be justice if there wasn’t. You can’t sin gravely all your life, repent on your deathbed and expect to hold high distinction in heaven.

The laws of logic bring distinction here on earth, those who work hard eventually benefit, those who don’t do not. God created the laws of logic.
 
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