Yanking Laz and Jesus Out of Heaven and Why is There a Hell? I’m not passing out a spoiler alert, but know that when B.W. was truly at the end of his rope, Jesus physically showed up. Later, He also showed B.W. a “pocket/cave” of beautiful scenery near Heaven but not in Heaven, and said, “What you see in the distance is reserved only for the rare. It once was, was not, but still remains there, reserved for those, like Abraham, who found faith.
I believe that upon death the spirit or consciousness is — finally! — 100 percent liberated from the purely cerebrally based anxiety, agitation and contempt that may have actually blighted much of its physical existence. Therefore, free of the corporeal shell, the soul may be wondering, ‘Why was I so angry, so much of the time? Oh, the things I said!... I really hope I didn't do damage while I was there’. ...
A few decades ago, I learned from two Latter Day Saints missionaries that their church’s doctrine teaches that the biblical ‘lake of fire’ meant for the truly wicked actually represents an eternal spiritual burning of guilt over one’s corporeal misdeeds. Bemused, I thought and said: “That’s it? Our punishment is our afterlife's guilty conscience?”
During the many years since then, however, I’ve discovered just how formidable intense guilt can be. I’ve also considered and decided that our brain's structural/chemical flaws are what we basically are while our soul is confined within our physical, bodily form. The human soul may be inherently good on its own; but trapped within the physical body, notably the corruptible brain, oftentimes the soul’s purity may not be able to shine through.
Thus, upon the multi-murderer's physical death, not only would they be 100 percent liberated from the anger and hate that blighted their physical life; their spirit or consciousness would also be forced to exist with the presumably unwanted awareness of the immense amount of needless suffering they personally had caused.
Then again, maybe the human soul goes where it belongs or where it feels comfortable and right — be it hell’, ‘heaven’, somewhere in between, etcetera. This concept was suggested in a very interesting 1987 radio-broadcast sermon titled “A Bird’s Eye View of Hell”, given by a renowned preacher. I wrote a piece of fiction titled Not What It Was Supposed To Be [originally called That Other Place] that's largely themed on this premise.
P.S. If corporeal death totally relieves us from time, a.k.a. all-encompassing physical motion, there should be no boredom in the afterlife, perhaps even while playing the harp.
Ha ha. Correct, there is no boredom. At least not when I visited Heaven, and not in other accounts that I have read. I especially appreciate this statement from you as it is so true: "During the many years since then, however, I’ve discovered just how formidable intense guilt can be." Indeed, that is a strong and true statement. If we let it, it can completely shape our lives. Fortunately, Jesus absolves our guilt if we let Him, and then it is our job to remind ourselves that we are free and clear, and He has buried our sin deep in the sea. We have no business dredging it up again!
Oh my goodness, Joshua. I am sorry I didn't get a notification that you wrote. THANK YOU. I am honored to have you read and stop in. I am glad that you enjoyed the post and I am trying to learn to accept compliments vs brushing them off, so will just leave it at that. I am grateful that God seems to be using me here. I am glad that you are here, and I am praying for you.
Jesus went to the world of Spirits between the time of his death and the time of his resurrection. He went personally among the spirits of the righteous, but did not go personally among the spirits of the wicked. Instead, Jesus preached to the spirits in prison through the principle of delegation. Among the spirits of the righteous, he organized those righteous spirits to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to those spirits residing in prison.
I believe that upon death the spirit or consciousness is — finally! — 100 percent liberated from the purely cerebrally based anxiety, agitation and contempt that may have actually blighted much of its physical existence. Therefore, free of the corporeal shell, the soul may be wondering, ‘Why was I so angry, so much of the time? Oh, the things I said!... I really hope I didn't do damage while I was there’. ...
A few decades ago, I learned from two Latter Day Saints missionaries that their church’s doctrine teaches that the biblical ‘lake of fire’ meant for the truly wicked actually represents an eternal spiritual burning of guilt over one’s corporeal misdeeds. Bemused, I thought and said: “That’s it? Our punishment is our afterlife's guilty conscience?”
During the many years since then, however, I’ve discovered just how formidable intense guilt can be. I’ve also considered and decided that our brain's structural/chemical flaws are what we basically are while our soul is confined within our physical, bodily form. The human soul may be inherently good on its own; but trapped within the physical body, notably the corruptible brain, oftentimes the soul’s purity may not be able to shine through.
Thus, upon the multi-murderer's physical death, not only would they be 100 percent liberated from the anger and hate that blighted their physical life; their spirit or consciousness would also be forced to exist with the presumably unwanted awareness of the immense amount of needless suffering they personally had caused.
Then again, maybe the human soul goes where it belongs or where it feels comfortable and right — be it hell’, ‘heaven’, somewhere in between, etcetera. This concept was suggested in a very interesting 1987 radio-broadcast sermon titled “A Bird’s Eye View of Hell”, given by a renowned preacher. I wrote a piece of fiction titled Not What It Was Supposed To Be [originally called That Other Place] that's largely themed on this premise.
P.S. If corporeal death totally relieves us from time, a.k.a. all-encompassing physical motion, there should be no boredom in the afterlife, perhaps even while playing the harp.
Ha ha. Correct, there is no boredom. At least not when I visited Heaven, and not in other accounts that I have read. I especially appreciate this statement from you as it is so true: "During the many years since then, however, I’ve discovered just how formidable intense guilt can be." Indeed, that is a strong and true statement. If we let it, it can completely shape our lives. Fortunately, Jesus absolves our guilt if we let Him, and then it is our job to remind ourselves that we are free and clear, and He has buried our sin deep in the sea. We have no business dredging it up again!
This was fascinating to read, Julie. You write with such curiosity and tenderness toward mystery.
Oh my goodness, Joshua. I am sorry I didn't get a notification that you wrote. THANK YOU. I am honored to have you read and stop in. I am glad that you enjoyed the post and I am trying to learn to accept compliments vs brushing them off, so will just leave it at that. I am grateful that God seems to be using me here. I am glad that you are here, and I am praying for you.
Jesus went to the world of Spirits between the time of his death and the time of his resurrection. He went personally among the spirits of the righteous, but did not go personally among the spirits of the wicked. Instead, Jesus preached to the spirits in prison through the principle of delegation. Among the spirits of the righteous, he organized those righteous spirits to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to those spirits residing in prison.
Interesting perspective. What scripture reference are you finding for all of that?