tomaskovarik:
Guys, I am getting quite confused now about all this. If I understand correctly, you are saying that paradise is not the same thing as heaven (and you do have some pretty good reasons for saying that). But this is not what I was taught ever, this seems like an official (albeit reasonable) doctrine.
Maybe I should ask an apologist to explain this.
There are few concepts flying around:
a) Bossom of Abraham
b) Paradise
c) Purgatory
d) Heaven
e) Hell
I think that maybe we should clearly define each, or even better, find out what the church teaches about these in rigor. What do you think?
Tom
Bosom of Abraham - place of the righteous dead who died before Christ’s ascension. Luke 16:19 to end. Lazarus dies and is carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom.
**Paradise **- place were Christ ascended to after taking the righteous “captives” out of the Bosom of Abraham Ephesians 4:8-10 “Therefore it says, When He ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives, and He gave gifts to men. Now this expression, ‘He ascended,’ what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.”
**Purgatory - **state of being purified 1Corinthians 3:12-15 “Now if any man builds upon the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it, because it is to be revealed with fire; and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built upon it remains, he shall receive a reward, If any man’s work is burned up, He shall suffer loss, but he himself shall be saved, yet so as through fire.”
**Heaven - **the place being prepared by Jesus for his “bride,” the church. Rev. 21:2 “And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.” Verses 11-end. brilliant, high wall, gates, pure gold, precious stones, Lord God and the Lamb are in it, only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life are allowed inside. Chapter 22 river of life, tree of life (remember the tree of life in the Garden of Eden?) no more curse (remember the curse in the Garden?)
**Hell **- temporary abode of unrighteous dead. Matthew 11:23 Jesus is speaking and says, “And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You shall descend to Hades (hell); for if the miracles had occurred in Sodom which occurred in you, it would have remained to this day.” Revelation 22:14-15 “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city. OUTSIDE are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and 3everyone who loves and practices lying.” Revelation 21:27 “Nothing unclean and no one who practices abomination and lying shall ever come into it (heavenly Jerusalem) but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” Their permanent abode will be: Revelation 20:14, 15 And death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire, This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire."
Those are my definitions based on Scripture.
