I was brooding today about something that has bothered me for some time, and I realized that maybe, just maybe this would be the place to ask.
Several years ago, my older brother took his own life, and though I was not able to go to his funeral out west (we couldn't afford the plane tickets), we held a memorial here in Nova Scotia. The priest who resided over the funeral came over to me and told me not to worry about the pain and the sorrow because he was an angel-in training now. I was about 16 at the time, and I laughed at him and told him that if he knew his Bible at all he wouldn't say that sort of thing. I know he was trying to comfort me, and I probably shouldn't have gotten so snippy with him, but I have never yet found reference that people become a kin to a Guardian angels when they die. Then I had a bit of an arguement with a friend today about this very subject, people and angels...and I went looking for references to prove her wrong, but of course, she held true. Are there any sort of scriptures stating that people become any higher once they leave their mortal shells? I have yet to find anything except the final resurrection and the promise of a peace in paradise...Any thoughts? :dontknow:
Howdy Draka
Scriptures indicate some would be resurrected to spirit life to be with our Lord Jesus...
Luke 22:28...
“However, YOU are the ones that have stuck with me in my trials; and I make a covenant with YOU, just as my Father has made a covenant with me, for a kingdom, that YOU may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel."
Revelation 20:6...
"Happy and holy is anyone having part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no authority, but they will be priests of God and of the Christ, and will rule as kings with him for the thousand years."
Isaiah 45:18...
"For this is what Jehovah has said, the Creator of the heavens, He the [true] God, the Former of the earth and the Maker of it, He the One who firmly established it, who did not create it simply for nothing, who formed it even to be inhabited: “I am Jehovah, and there is no one else."
Take care Draka,
Christian love,
gogh
Hello there draka ... :D:hibye::friends:
First of all ... let me say how sorry I am that you had to suffer such sadness at a young age ...:cry::crybaby: none of us should have to deal with the kind of death you had to ...:( and yet ... it appears that some of us have to in the darkness of this wicked world in which we are trying to walk ...
One thing that I hope will give you some measure of solace is the fact that one day you will see your brother again in vastly changed circumstances ... and a world that will prove to bright instead of dark ... :hug:
As br. gogh so nicely mentioned to you already ... there are indeed going to be those who will go to heaven ...
This particular 'group' or individuals with this hope are in far lesser number than those who have the hope of being resurrected back here to EARTH ... to come alive again as HUMANS ... being able to finally fulfill the original purpose of God ... to live in paradise forever ... to learn and grow and expand as perfect humans ... to really become all that Jehovah intended us to be ... and no doubt in ways beyond our limited comprehension right now ...
The earth was created for SOMETHING ... and it was for US ... to subdue and have in subjection the animal kingdom and come to know EVERYONE as an intimate family member ...
I'm sure you'll agree that will take some time ...:whistle:;):siskiss:
From my studies of the Bible:read: so far I have NOT found ANYTHING about 'angels in training' ... so I'm not really sure what SCRIPTURAL basis the priest had for saying so ...
However, there ARE two hopes of life in the future ... heavenly and earthly ...
As regards those who live on earth ...
Ps. 115:16 ...
16 As regards the heavens, to Jehovah the heavens belong,
But the earth he has given to the sons of men.
Rev. 21:3,4 ...
3 With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: “Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his peoples. And God himself will be with them. 4 And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.â€
Ps. 145:16 ...
16 You are opening your hand
And satisfying the desire of every living thing.
As regards those who go to heaven ...
Rev. 14: 3,4 ...
3 And they are singing as if a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders; and no one was able to master that song but the hundred and forty-four thousand, who have been bought from the earth. 4 These are the ones that did not defile themselves with women; in fact, they are virgins. These are the ones that keep following the Lamb no matter where he goes. These were bought from among mankind as firstfruits to God and to the Lamb,
And the Scripture that gogh already mentioned in Rev. 20:6 shows what they will be doing when they get there ...
... but they will be priests of God and of the Christ, and will rule as kings with him for the thousand years.
I hope this gets you started on your way to finding some answers ...
Lots of love to you ... BR :sheepy: :bouncyhearts:
Hi Draka,
I think that this preist may have taken things from religious teaching dogma along with scripts from the bible.
we have angels all around us. well some people do.
Psalm 34:7
The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them
The part that he seems to be mixing up is the " guardian angel" that has a watch over the faithfull. and paople getting their wings as an angel. I have heard this many times and I beleive that it stems from people with out answers trying just as this man was to console you..
The group who goes to heaven so to speak might have been thought of as getting wings.. This group if they did get wings: get them while here on earth this is when they are counted worthy not after death. where as the angels that watch over those who fear the lord are not in training they are angels already. (guardian angels)
hope that helps..
TD
Where is heaven? Just north of here?
Jesus asked us to pray for God's kingdom to come. Come where?
Heaven isn't a place like Iowa or Manitoba, it's a condition. The kingdom has come and the king is installed, for those willing to accept him. At present, the kingdom operates from heaven...but man is certainly able to benefit by it. I maintain that if we were "right" and our faith was strong enough, we could see it.
There are both physical and spiritual "realms." There are messengers and harbingers in the spirit realm called "angels." Man has created a gigantic fantasy regarding angels. Actually, they are just employed spirit beings who, apparently, can materialize...God willing.
Your brother will come knockin' at your door someday, Draka; but he won't be wearin' wings.
gus