Heaven closed preredemption

[ideaman]

Hi All. New member. Someday I’ll get this posting procedure down.

In Karl Keatings newsletter dated April 8, 2003 in his defense of Purgatory, he stated that heaven was closed preredemption.

What defense could be provided when confronted with Gn 5:24 and
Kg 2:11 implying Enoch and Elijah went to heaven?

TIA,

ideaman

 

[Pax]

Heaven, in this case, would mean paradise, hades, or the place of the dead other than hell. Remember the story of the rich man and Lazarus the begger. The rich man was in a place of torment while Lazarus was in a place of comfort described as “the bosom of Abraham.” The abode of Lazarus was not described as being in the presence of God.

Until the Resurrection no one could be at one with God and enjoy the beatific vision. That is the meaning of “atonement” (at-one-ment). By the fall, man was separated from God and by Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection a righteous relationship could be restored. That is why Peter says that Jesus descended to the dead, “the spirits in prison,” to preach to them the good news. He obviously didn’t preach the good news to Satan and all the damned in hell. For them their is no good news. The spirits Jesus spoke with were waiting, but when Jesus went to them their wait was over and they were allowed to be in the presence of almighty God.