Tantum ergo:
Ah yes, “vanity of vanities”. Of course the entire book speaks metaphorically of mankind . .and there is no inherent contradiction to Catholic teaching. Both humans and animals are corporeal entities, the BODY of a human and the BODY of an animal are subject to death and decay. Quoheleth does not mention the soul, he mentions the body.
And you know, of course, that before the resurrection of Christ people did not go to heaven–the gates were shut (Genesis) and it was Christ who would open (Ezekiel) them. So “who knows what happens to those who die”–and die they did to earthly life and their souls (immortal souls) were suspended in the limbo of the Fathers (if righteous) until our salvation through the blood of the cross. . .
Because the Bible does not contradict itself. If you held to your JW “no immortal soul” view, then most of the New Testament, from the Transfiguration through Acts and the epistles, speaking of “no more death” , God being God of the living and NOT the dead, etc. would be flat-out contradictions.
Once Jesus was raised, body and soul, He became the “first fruits” and our elder brother. If He “lives in us, and we in Him”, then this will happen to us too.
Since “time” as we know it does not exist in heaven, how do you know that when we die, we don’t experience our raising of body and soul simultaneously? Though the Second Coming of Jesus will exist as an event “in” time, it will also exist "out of " time. It is entirely possible and reasonable that every single human, living or dead, will experience the Second Coming simultaneously, passing from the particular to the general judgment and thus reuniting immortal soul with immortal body together.
First off please do not call me a JW, Catholicism always want’s to “label” someone. It is a serious weakness and offense among it’s members that serves no purpose of God.
Re: your thought that every single human being may experience the second coming of Christ at the same time is a less than carnal belief. Even a carnal mind with some study can see that there is more than one resurrection.
"Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the
first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.(Revelation 20:6)
“Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a
better resurrection.”(Hebrews 11:35)
You can’t have a first without a second nor a better without a worse.
Your words:
“Because the Bible does not contradict itself. If you held to your JW “no immortal soul” view, then most of the New Testament, from the Transfiguration through Acts and the epistles, speaking of “no more death”, God being God of the living and NOT the dead, etc. would be flat-out contradictions.”
If one truly believes in the God of the universe and everything it contains how can he or she NOT believe that He can perform such a simple task as raising someone FROM THE DEAD. He says He will and He WILL! Please pray about this. Human imagination is NOT a replacement for what God can do and SAYS He will do!
Your words: “And you know, of course, that before the
resurrection of Christ people did not go to heaven–the gates were
shut (Genesis) and it was Christ who would open (Ezekiel) them.”
I’ve got news for you. No man has ever gone to Heaven.
“Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou canst tell?”
(Proverbs 30:4)
“And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.”
(John 3:13)
Your metaphoric argument is a doctrine of Satan spritually and of atheists carnally. What better way can you think of to keep the “many called” from being the “few chosen” than to convince them that God’s word does not mean what it says? It is a bogus excuse put forth by MEN who want to CONTROL other men.
You have not offered ONE shred of evidence outside of your catholic teaching that there is an immortal soul. I have offered numerous statements from Christ Himself that there is no such thing.
I prefer to “eat meat” (spiritual advancement) rather than “drink milk” with babes. I am done with you.
“for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child.” (Hebrews 5:13)
I pray that this exchange was meant for some reader out there to see the truth of God.
)
This does not want to make me “beat you up” as you put it. But I do wish to enlighten you and the Protestants also.
