Resurrection- what are the Catholic ideas on resurrection

[RepetantCatholic]

I’m not quite certain what you are arguing. But some Evangelicals believe in soul sleep and by that they mean we die as Christians and only resurrect on the last or judgement day. We don’t believe in that as Catholics.

Instead we believe when we die our spirit or our soul goes to Heaven, so we are very much still alive but without body. Then, we believe on the last day or judgement day we are given a better eternal body.

Again, what may be confusing for you as an Evangelical is that you are using terms we Catholics don’t know. Like baptizing of the dead, we wouldn’t know that practice.

 

[stpurl]

Sorry, this is not Catholic teaching. You seem to have been misinformed a bit somewhere.

When we die, our souls go to heaven. That is true. But Heaven is not ‘spirit only’ —JESUS is there, in His Body and Soul, as is Mary— and it is not a common misconception that ‘we will be in heaven forever as spirits’ either. It is known in Catholic teaching that after the Last Judgment we will be in heaven forever (or in hell, ugh please no) SOUL AND BODY. Our souls and bodies will be reunited In heaven.

Yes, I know there are passages about a new heaven and a new earth but we are not ‘material alone’. We were not created for a material world only. We were created for Heaven which is for material AND spirit together.

 

[SeekerOfTruth7]

Why a 'New Earth' If We’re All Supposed to Be in Heaven?

You’re referring to what is presented in Revelation 21:1-5. In short, the phrase “a new heaven and a new earth” refers to what heaven will be like for us as res...

www.catholic.com

Your right I misunderstood a bit. It will a new earth and new heaven, a three dimensional realm where heaven and earth are one for us in glorified bodies. Thank you for the correction

 

[CRM_Brother]

Catholics speak of spiritual death in an analogous state. When comparing the death of the body and the perseverance of the soul after death, the theological terminology in this comparison is ‘immortal’. The death of the body does not affect the soul. Thus, it does not die.

We speak of spiritual death only in the sense of the lack of sanctifying grace. This is a separate theological discipline and not connected to the living/non-living relationship between body and soul. It is only death within the context of the death in the life of Christ.

Yes, heaven exists outside of time as a spiritual reality. I am speaking Human’s time in heaven. The heave that we will experience will only be sustained until the Last Judgement and the Final Resurrection in which those in heaven will receive their glorified body.

Man’s home is earth. We are inherently composite of body and soul. We do not discard this union when we enter heaven. After the Last Judgement, we will inhabit the New Earth which God will create. We have no idea what form this will take. Will it be like our former home in heaven? Will it be like the Garden of Eden? We don’t know. We do, however, know that the current heaven is a temporary home for those souls whose earthly bodies have experienced death.

Yes, we were created to spend eternity with God. We were, however, originally created for earth with our union of body and soul. God was with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. He is fully capable of the creation of the New Earth in which He would walk among us again.

 

[CRM_Brother]

Very well said, at least i’m getting to understand what you believe in details. I have a question,
what do you believe happened in Matthew 27: 50-53 especially verse 53, isn’t that a resurrection?

In Catholic theology there is a very important distinction between Resurrection and being raised from the dead. I will address this distinction before I address Matthew 27:50-53.

In the Bible, we see a number of instances of being raised from the dead, but only one Resurrection. If someone is raised from the dead, it is through an external power. Jesus raised the Lazarus, the daughter of Jairus, and the son of the Widow of Nain. He raised them under his own power. Elija and Elisha commanded the widow of Zarephath’s son and the Shunammite woman’s son to rise through the power of God. God raised the Israelite man whose corpse was hidden in Elisha’s tomb alongside the prophet’s bones. Peter and Paul raised Tabitha and Eutychus in the name of Christ. Yes, these people who were raised were brought back to life but they do not possess the power to rise, when death comes again. They died a second time.

Resurrection, however, is unique in the Bible to Christ, himself. He, in his own power, returns to life and rises from his tomb.

Matthew 27:50-53 describes a raising from the dead. It is inherently tied to Christ’s death on the cross. The language of verse 52 is specifically in the passive tense: “the tombs were opened and the bodies of the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised.” The holy city which is spoken of is the physical city of Jerusalem, not the Heavenly Jerusalem as Heaven is sometimes known as.

These witnesses who were raised continued to live their lives amongst the Christian community for some time before they died a second time and await the Last Judgement and Final Resurrection.

There are extra-biblical accounts which have been passed down of some of these people who have risen from the grave. It is from those who were raised that day that we have come to know that when Christ died, he descended into Hell and, apart from those who were chosen to be raised from the dead to testify, brought the faithful dead awaiting the Resurrection with him into heaven. In the Eastern Churches, this is a more widely spread account and is known as the Harrowing of Hell.

 

[CRM_Brother]

Sorry, this is not Catholic teaching. You seem to have been misinformed a bit somewhere.

Actually, it is.

CCC 1048: " We know neither the moment of the consummation of the earth and of man, nor the way in which the universe will be transformed. The form of this world, distorted by sin, is passing away, and we are taught that God is preparing a new dwelling and a new earth in which righteousness dwells, in which happiness will fill and surpass all the desires of peace arising in the hearts of men."

CCC 1059: “The holy Roman Church firmly believes and confesses that on the Day of Judgment all men will appear in their own bodies before Christ’s tribunal to render an account of their own deeds”(Council of Lyons II [1274]S 859; cf. DS 1549).

CCC 1060: At the end of time, the Kingdom of God will come in its fullness. Then the just will reign with Christ for ever, glorified in body and soul, and the material universe itself will be transformed. God will then be “all in all” ( 1 Cor 15:28), in eternal life.

Emphasis added

 

[JGD]

What he was meaning was that we will be Heaven out of our bodies temporarily.

Thank you.
It is an incorrect statement however, but at least I see what he means.

Heaven is eternal; it’s our state (body & soul separated) that is temporary.

We won’t be in Heaven forever but at the Resurrection God will create a New Earth and a New Heaven and we will live in glorified bodies on the New Earth eternally.

This is not Catholic teaching.
See Matthew 25:31-46. We do not believe in an eternal New Earth — only in an eternal Heaven (eternal life - vs. 46) and an eternal Hell (eternal fire/punishment - vs. 41 & 46).

God did not create us for this reason.

Catholic teaching is that God did create us because he wants us to spend eternity with Him in heaven.
See CCC 1720-1724
CCC 1721 God put us in the world to know, to love, and to serve him, and so to come to paradise. Beatitude makes us “partakers of the divine nature” and of eternal life. With beatitude, man enters into the glory of Christ and into the joy of the Trinitarian life.

It is a common misconception that we will be in Heaven forever as spirits.

Agreed. That’s for the angels!
Altho it may be common in some religions, it’s never been taught in Catholicism & to my knowledge not in the mainline Protestant denominations.

 

[JGD]

Catholics speak of spiritual death in an analogous state. When comparing the death of the body and the perseverance of the soul after death, the theological terminology in this comparison is ‘immortal’. The death of the body does not affect the soul. Thus, it does not die.

I didn’t say the death of the body affected the soul. As a matter of fact, it’s just the opposite. The soul stays in the state it’s in when the body dies.

Our soul can be in the state of death even before we physically die if sanctifying grace (eternal supernatural life of God) is not present in it. When a soul is in that state, it can be called “dead”.
eg. Eph. 2:1-2 And you he made alive, when you were dead through the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, … (As you can see, the soul can “die”, be dead, even before one’s body dies - due to the soul’s departure from it.)

CCC 1861 speaks of the “death of hell” for those whose soul is not in the state of sanctifying grace (is dead) when they physically die.

 

[SeekerOfTruth7]

This is not Catholic teaching.

Yes it is:
CCC 1048 : " We know neither the moment of the consummation of the earth and of man, nor the way in which the universe will be transformed. The form of this world, distorted by sin, is passing away, and we are taught that God is preparing a new dwelling and a new earth in which righteousness dwells, in which happiness will fill and surpass all the desires of peace arising in the hearts of men."

We do not believe in an eternal New Earth

Then why make it? Doesn’t make sense that God would make a New Earth and New Heaven and yet the New Earth isn’t meant to be dwelt upon and isn’t eternal… and yet the Catechism agrees with my thought…
Now a better way to understand may be that God will create a New Heaven and New Earth and that he New Earth and Heaven will be one. That unites the issue of a glorified body and the language of new heaven and new earth.
But just throwing out that is not Catholic Teaching to a Catholic who has done their research seems like a quick jump. Maybe asking, where did you infer that from would be a better question.

to my knowledge not in the mainline Protestant denominations.

That’s not true. I never said the Catholic Church taught this. But many Protestants believe this as is obvious in a discussion with the average Protestant. Don’t believe me, go find one and talk about it.

 

[SeekerOfTruth7]

Here is the Catechism:
VI. THE HOPE OF THE NEW HEAVEN AND THE NEW EARTH**

[1042] At the end of time, the Kingdom of God will come in its fullness. After the universal judgment, the righteous will reign for ever with Christ, glorified in body and soul. The universe itself will be renewed:

The Church . . . will receive her perfection only in the glory of heaven, when will come the time of the renewal of all things. At that time, together with the human race, the universe itself, which is so closely related to man and which attains its destiny through him, will be perfectly re-established in Christ.631

1043 Sacred Scripture calls this mysterious renewal, which will transform humanity and the world, "new heavens and a new earth."632 It will be the definitive realization of God’s plan to bring under a single head "all things in [Christ], things in heaven and things on earth."633

1044 In this new universe, the heavenly Jerusalem, God will have his dwelling among men.634 "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away."635

[1045] For man , this consummation will be the final realization of the unity of the human race, which God willed from creation and of which the pilgrim Church has been "in the nature of sacrament."636 Those who are united with Christ will form the community of the redeemed, “the holy city” of God, "the Bride, the wife of the Lamb."637 She will not be wounded any longer by sin, stains, self-love, that destroy or wound the earthly community.638 The beatific vision, in which God opens himself in an inexhaustible way to the elect, will be the ever-flowing well-spring of happiness, peace, and mutual communion.

[1046] For the cosmos , Revelation affirms the profound common destiny of the material world and man:

For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God . . . in hope because the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay. . . . We know that the whole creation has been groaning in travail together until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.639

1047 The visible universe, then, is itself destined to be transformed, “so that the world itself, restored to its original state, facing no further obstacles, should be at the service of the just,” sharing their glorification in the risen Jesus Christ.640

[1048] " We know neither the moment of the consummation of the earth and of man, nor the way in which the universe will be transformed. The form of this world, distorted by sin, is passing away, and we are taught that God is preparing a new dwelling and a new earth in which righteousness dwells, in which happiness will fill and surpass all the desires of peace arising in the hearts of men."641

 

[JGD]

Thank you for the Catechism quotes Seekerof Truth7. I was going to provide a link to them for any interested in what Catholic teaching is regarding the new heavens and the new earth.

My objection re some of the new heavens and the new earth posts is with those that make it sound as though the post resurrection New Heavens and New Earth are 2 separate realms of existence instead of the one eternal heavenly realm where
**both the human race and the universe "will “perfectly re-established IN Christ ”(1042)
**both will be brought “under a single head IN Christ , things in heaven and things on earth” (1043);
**a “common destiny of the material world and man” (1046);
**both "sharing their glorification IN the risen Jesus Christ (1047)

When I said “This is not Catholic teaching.” I was responding to your post #22 where you explained to me what you thought CRM mean when he said “Heaven, to Catholics, is temporary”.
In your response you said:

What he was meaning was that we will be Heaven out of our bodies temporarily. We won’t be in Heaven forever but at the Resurrection God will create a New Earth and a New Heaven and we will live in glorified bodies on the New Earth eternally.

I understood the first sentence as explaining what he meant, but the second sentence as your position. The second sentence is definitely in error. Anyone (their soul) who goes to heaven after death will be there forever! where else would they be??? Also, to me, the second sentence sounds like 2 separate places/realms of existence — whereas the phrase “new heavens and new earth” are both included in the one eternal heaven.

If you were just explaining what you thought CRM meant with the second as well as the first, my apologies. But then, I’m puzzled as to why would you tell me I was in error when I said it was not Catholic teaching.

 

[SeekerOfTruth7]

My objection regarding the new heavens and the new earth is with posts that make it sound as though New Heavens and New Earth are 2 separate realms of existence instead of the one eternal heavenly realm

They are two realms in the sense that one is material and one is spiritual, but they will be united as our bodies and souls are united in their glorified bodies. Metaphysically they are two seperate things that will be united in a sense, and there is where God will make his dwelling, in our dwelling the New Earth. See CCC 1048

things in heaven and things on earth.

showing two things not just one thing.

And our souls will go to Heaven when we die, but when the Resurrection happens, our bodies will be reunited with our souls and God will make a New Earth and New Heavens and that is where our bodies will be in the New Earth and New Heavens. I wouldn’t call it simply Heaven, but by it’s actual term Scripture and the Catechism calls it, the New Earth and New Heavens.

I’m puzzled as to why would you tell me I was in error when I said it was not Catholic teaching.

You were in error for saying I was in error especially after my response to the original “correction”.

Why a 'New Earth' If We’re All Supposed to Be in Heaven? | Catholic Answers
Your right I misunderstood a bit. It will a new earth and new heaven, a three dimensional realm where heaven and earth are one for us in glorified bodies. Thank you for the correction

I think we are saying the same thing. But I am going a bit further a labeling things as I see them labelled in Scripture and the Catechism while you may not be comfortable calling eternity the New Earth and Heavens but just Heaven. But it will something different than the Heaven we go to when we die, for that is why it is called New.

 

[JGD]

Let me put it this way, or rather ask.
Where is the New Earth?
Where is the New Heaven?
Where will those who die and enter into the kingdom, into eternal life be? (Mt. 25: 34 & 46)

 

[SeekerOfTruth7]

Where is the New Earth?

Wherever God makes the New Earth

Where is the New Heaven?

Wherever the New Heaven is

The “where” doesn’t matter. It is the what that does. And why are you arguing me on this? We both agree with what the Catechism says and we both agree that Church is right in Her teaching. We may refer to the world to come as different terms. You may say it simply as heaven and i may refer to it as New Earth and New Heaven, but we are meaning the same thing.

Where will those who die and enter into the kingdom, into eternal life be?

At first, as a soul in Heaven, then they will be united to their bodies at the Resurrection, and since the body is material, there will be a three dimensional realm that catechism calls the New Earth and Aquinas calls a renewed earth. See: http://www.newadvent.org/summa/5091.htm#article1
I think the issue your having is really just calling it the New Earth. The New Earth won’t be merely material, it will be heavenly and material realm that God dwells with us according to Rev. 21.
Again, i dont see any issue’s between us just how we are defining the terms

 

[JGD]

Again, i dont see any issue’s between us just how we are defining the terms

Agreed.
It’s posts that make it seem one can only be in one or the other (either the New Heaven or the New Earth) that I object to.

Have a blessed Easter.

 

[SeekerOfTruth7]

It’s posts that make it seem one can only be in one or the other (either the New Heaven or the New Earth) that I object to.

Agreed!

Have a blessed Easter as well!