So a portion of heaven is subdivided?
Man, going to one of the other two levels in Celestial would bite big time!!
Hi, welcome to heaven, and by the way, you’re flying coach, and in the middle seat of your row.
I know this is silly, but is there some sort of biblical reference for this? Where did this “revelation” come from?
Mormons refer to a few Biblical verses to support the claim. When we actually look at the verses in context, we see that they’re not talking about “degrees of glory” or levels of Heaven at all. Let’s look at the ones I’m aware of:
Many Mansions?
The Encyclopedia of Mormonism lists John 14:2 as a reference to the many mansions in Heaven, thus alluding to the Degrees of Glory. But does this make sense in the Degrees of Glory theology? I don’t think so. Let’s look at it:
John 14:2 KJV
In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Now, let’s look at the surrounding verses:
John 14:1-3 KJV
1Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
So, yes, Catholics fully agree that there are many “mansions” (translated as “rooms” or “dwelling places” in other translations) in God’s house. But what about in the Telestial Kingdom? From the EOM article, we see that the Doctrine and Covenants says that, in reference to the Telestial Kingdom, “where God and Christ dwell they cannot come, world without end.” (D&C 76:112). Only those in the Terrestrial and Celestial Kingdoms have the presence of Christ, and only those in the Celestial Kingdom dwell in the presence of God and Christ forever.
But look at John 14:3! It tells us that Jesus will go to make a place for us, and that when He comes again, He will receive us unto Himself, so that where
He is, we will be also. Clearly, this excludes the Telestial Kingdom, since “where God and Christ dwell, they cannot come”, but Jesus tells us in John 14:3 that He will take us to where He is. So, these “mansions” that are created are not separate from Jesus Christ, He will take us to where He is also. So if anything, the Telestial Kingdom is not one of the mansions being discussed here.
Celestial and Terrestrial Bodies?
This was brought up on another thread earlier, but I’ll review it again. Again, let’s look at the EOM entry. Mormons also reference 1 Corinthians 15:40-41 as referring to the Celestial and Terrestrial Kingdoms (the word “Telestial” is a Mormon word), and that the difference between the 3 kingdoms is like the difference between the Sun, Moon, and Stars. Let’s look at 1 Cor 15:40-41
1 Cor 15:40-41 KJV
40There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
41There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.
Now, let’s look at those verses in context to see what they’re talking about:
1 Cor 15:35-45
35But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?
36Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:
37And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain:
38But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.
39All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.
40There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
41There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.
42So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
43It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
44It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
45And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
What is the passage talking about in context? The resurrection of the body, and how our bodies are different after the Resurrection. Some ask, how are the dead raised up, and what body do they come? The passage then goes on to explain the difference between the flesh of men, the flesh of beast, fish, and birds. There is a difference between celestial and terrestrial bodies. There is a difference in the glory of the sun, moon, and stars. Then we step into verse 42.
Just like in those differences that were discussed prior to verse 42, there is a difference between our bodies now and our bodies in the resurrection. Our bodies are sown in dishonor, but they will be raised in glory. We have a natural body right now, and it will be raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there’s a spiritual body. 35-45 is an extended analogy. The difference between our resurrected and our current bodies is like the differences mentioned prior to verse 42. They are both bodies, but they are different. Similarly, all living things have flesh, but the flesh of man is different from that of beasts, fish, and birds. The Sun, Moon, and Stars are all astronomical “balls”, but they are different in how bright they are. Clearly, in context, verses 40-41 have nothing to do with levels of Heaven, but are part of an analogy on the difference between our current bodies and our resurrected ones.
Mormons of course have “latter-day revelation” on this issue, however I see no Biblical support for 3 degrees of Heaven.
(Hmm, new blog entry?
)
Do you have statistics to back up your own claims? Now, I would definitely imagine that many if not most converts to Pentecostalism in Latin America would be former Catholics, since the Catholic population is so large there! It’s like saying “In India, most of the converts to Catholicism are former Hindus”. :whacky:
