Exodus 25: 21-22] And thou shalt put the “mercy seat” above the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee. And there [at the throne] I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat [throne], from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.
This isn’t an idol or statue of a “being”, to kiss or bow down to or worship. This was the throne seat for the King to sit and commune [break bread & fellowship] with His children. No one has ever worshipped a seat.
I do not know any Catholics who worship a seat either.
I’m sorry, but Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians is not the Savior’s words. Anyone can claim the name of the Lord…but it doesn’t mean they’re from the Lord.
[Matthew 7:21-23] Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdon of heaven; but [only] he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day [at the end] “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?” And then I will profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
I’m not saying anything for or against Paul…but (referenced in my last post) Jesus spoke against tradition IFF any tradition gets in the way of the commandments of God. And if you ask me whose words I follow more closely, I’d tell you “the Savior’s words”.
This is a truly troubling statement. All scripture is God breathed, not some but all, and Jesus is God. YOur understanding is wrong and leads you to a false understanding of Scripture.
Jesus spoke in parable about “a Rich man and a Beggar” after being challenged by the Pharases (the religious scolars of the time)…Prior to this, Jesus said ‘you cannot have two masters’ and the Pharases mocked and laughed at him (derided him).
Luke 16:15-18 begins his rebuttal of their mocking laughter:
Ye [you] are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God. The Law of the prophets
were [true] until John (the baptist): since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man pressed into it . And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass than for one tittle of the law to fail. Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery; and whosoever marrieth her that put away from her husband committeth adultery [Jesus uses Adultery as an example to explain the relationship of the Pharases to the Law and to God].
And then notice how Jesus continues:
[Luke16:19] And there was a
certain rich man…
Important Point:
Jesus is speaking in parable, he has creative license to speak in past tense to create a scenario to illustrate his point to all within earshot [disciples, Pharases & sinners in attendance] that (according to Luke 17:1) “You can’t stop temptations of sin…but woe to the one who initiates temptations to sin.”
In the story, notice that the rich man in hell is actually talking to Abraham, not God, even though - as you allude to - Abraham is in Heaven (your title “The dead go to heaven or hell”). Why isn’t he talking to God if in heaven? How does Abraham have authority to dispense mercy from heaven?
Also, make note of the literary tool “and it came to pass”, this is a
story being told by Jesus, as He has told many stories to help a less knowledgeable people learn a lesson. In fact, Luke 15 starts by descibing growing group of sinners who came to hear him and sit for lessons and stories…
There
will be a “place of salvation” and there **will be **a “place of torment”. But it’s important to read in context.
I mean no disrespect to you, sir. But I have given multiple passages spoken by Jesus that say we will sleep in death until the end, and you give me one passage where at the beginning of the full text of passages starts, [Luke 15:3] “and he spake this parable [story] unto them saying…”
The mere fact that you do not believe ALL Scripture is inspired of God disqualifies you from interpreting ANY Scripture. However, it is a clear teaching of Scripture that our bodies are in a state of sleep until God gives us our perfected bodies. Our souls go directly to heaven, purgatory or hell upon our death. YOur understanding of Scripture is not accurate. How about the thief on the cross, he was to join Jesus in paradise immediately? When John was given his glimpse of heaven in Revelation he saw the saints worshipping God. How is this possible?
. (I point this out because it is how the “protestants” justify praying to Jesus ONLY)
