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G
Gojira
Guest
Actually, Jesus didn't say we become angels. No where in the Bible does it say we lose our gender, either. He did say that, when referring to marital relationships, we'd be like the angels.
G
Gojira
Guest
As for marriage itself, I have only opinions. The Bible does not offer us a ton of information on eternity, unless there's something I'm missing, but in this life I agree it's about creating a stable, cohesive environment for family-building. Secondarily, I think it's about the human need for companionship -- "A help meet..." Maybe that's even before family-building, since it's the first reason given for creating Eve.
In eternity...
I think our genders remain. Our bodies will be changed to something that cannot die, but not necessarily genderless. Jesus was still male after His resurrection, unless the writers left something out.
God promises to "restore" all things. What does that mean? He also promises to make all things new. Does that mean scrapping the old and re-creating everything into something different? My opinion, it's a combination of restoration and redoing.
Because God is good, and because I believe He wants us to enjoy life, I believe sensual enjoyment will be part of the experience. Sight, touch, taste, smell, etc., all bring pleasure, and I don't see why that would change. As for sex itself, I have only speculation (as do any of us). My speculation includes multiple possibilities.
1. There is sex, somehow, some way, since our bodies will be as they are now, only they will not decay... and maybe we'll have what we now would call "super powers"
2. Or, there is something better than sex. Peter Kreeft said something like this: As we grow up, our genitals start off as waste-excretion zones, then "graduate" to a higher purpose when we become adults -- without losing their original purpose. Heaven is the ultimate graduation. So, whatever God plans may make sex look like peeing.
3. I had dreams about my late wife. Many, actually, but three stand out. They were the first three dreams I had of her after she died. They seemed to be part of a series, separated by a few months each, and they both were very real, in very believable environments. I'll spare you the eye-glazing details, but I have some reason to believe these were from God and not normal dreams. If they were from God, my honey responded to me like someone who was still in love with me, not a generic, asexual, spiritual being. No, we did not have sex, but there were other expressions of love and affection that, say, two male friends would not do to one another.
All speculation, yes. But that's all we can do is speculate, based on what little info we have. And, for right now, not having that intimacy in this life for most of my life (~70% of my adult life), I have to hope that I'll have some form of it when this life transforms.
In eternity...
I think our genders remain. Our bodies will be changed to something that cannot die, but not necessarily genderless. Jesus was still male after His resurrection, unless the writers left something out.
God promises to "restore" all things. What does that mean? He also promises to make all things new. Does that mean scrapping the old and re-creating everything into something different? My opinion, it's a combination of restoration and redoing.
Because God is good, and because I believe He wants us to enjoy life, I believe sensual enjoyment will be part of the experience. Sight, touch, taste, smell, etc., all bring pleasure, and I don't see why that would change. As for sex itself, I have only speculation (as do any of us). My speculation includes multiple possibilities.
1. There is sex, somehow, some way, since our bodies will be as they are now, only they will not decay... and maybe we'll have what we now would call "super powers"
2. Or, there is something better than sex. Peter Kreeft said something like this: As we grow up, our genitals start off as waste-excretion zones, then "graduate" to a higher purpose when we become adults -- without losing their original purpose. Heaven is the ultimate graduation. So, whatever God plans may make sex look like peeing.
3. I had dreams about my late wife. Many, actually, but three stand out. They were the first three dreams I had of her after she died. They seemed to be part of a series, separated by a few months each, and they both were very real, in very believable environments. I'll spare you the eye-glazing details, but I have some reason to believe these were from God and not normal dreams. If they were from God, my honey responded to me like someone who was still in love with me, not a generic, asexual, spiritual being. No, we did not have sex, but there were other expressions of love and affection that, say, two male friends would not do to one another.
All speculation, yes. But that's all we can do is speculate, based on what little info we have. And, for right now, not having that intimacy in this life for most of my life (~70% of my adult life), I have to hope that I'll have some form of it when this life transforms.
T
TheIndianGirl
Guest
Oh, whoa, wait a minute, that's different... that phrase "or even enjoy each other" might be a clue!
RaceBoy are you bummed because there won't be any sex in Heaven?
In Genesis, God said that its not good for a man to be alone. (needs a mate)..
One of the main bi-products of Marriage, (man and woman) is the birth of children....As if birthing babies stopped, humans become extinct.
The fact that Eve was created using a rib of Adam, has to do with the symbiotic and symbolic relationship regarding having your life partner by your "side", as your ribs are found on your sides.
When is it acceptable to stay single????
If you want to,......... and are able to live the celibate life and not be tormented by the burning desire to have sexual relations.
Or as the NT teaches..>"its better to marry than to burn"..... and That is not most people, and in fact, if you force this, as the "Cult of Mary" forces this upon their Priests, which Paul defines as a "doctrine of devils"...... you end up with 1500 yrs of child molesting and similar crimes/sins that are caused by repressing the normal sex drive in a male.
However, if you are that Spiritual "eunuch", that God has empowered to live the celibate life, as you find with Paul the Apostle, then you dont have the wife and family to have to deal with, full time, that Paul said will be "trouble in this world".
So, in that case, you can give all of your time and life, ....devotionally....... to God's service because you are free from the endless responsibility that comes with marriage and family.
1st Tim 4:1,2,3. Now the Spirit speaks expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the Faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; FORBIDING to MARRY, and to abstain from meats, which God has created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
So its not marriage will no longer exist. It is people given in to the doctrine of devils and falling away from Gods commandments.
R
RaceBoy
Guest
R
RaceBoy
Guest
Both actually, I don't want to waste my time chasing after a wife only to lose her in heaven. And I surely don't want to look forward to sex if it's temporary.
R
RaceBoy
Guest
Ummm no mate I don't think marriage will exist in heaven. This has nothing to do with life on earth.
Eating a mango is also temporary. Once I eat it, it's gone.
I'm still going to eat it because it's still enjoyable.
My computer is temporary. Even if it lasts forever, it will eventually be outmoded as technology marches on past it, and one day it will be so hopelessly obsolete that I won't be able to use it for any modern task.
It's still useful right now for posting this reply.
I'm still going to eat it because it's still enjoyable.
My computer is temporary. Even if it lasts forever, it will eventually be outmoded as technology marches on past it, and one day it will be so hopelessly obsolete that I won't be able to use it for any modern task.
It's still useful right now for posting this reply.
I mean REALLY! Do you hear what you are saying? You are in a funk because things we might get down here are temporary, so you see no point in having them at all?
R
RaceBoy
Guest
A girl can never die. If she's Christian she'll just go to heaven. So what's the difference if I marry her ?
R
RaceBoy
Guest
Depends on the girl. Some girls, it might be all the difference in the world... while you're here in this world. Some girls, maybe no difference at all.
What's the difference if you make your next post in this thread or play a video game instead, or maybe walk outside and get run over by a truck, or maybe win the lottery?
R
RaceBoy
Guest
"If I can't have something forever, then there's no point having it at all."
Then there's no point having ANYTHING, because you'll lose everything when you die or when Jesus returns and we wind up in Heaven. If you can't enjoy anything without fretting that it is temporary, you're doomed to a really miserable life.
Then there's no point having ANYTHING, because you'll lose everything when you die or when Jesus returns and we wind up in Heaven. If you can't enjoy anything without fretting that it is temporary, you're doomed to a really miserable life.
Yeah, my bad. I thought you were speaking about the here and now.
R
RaceBoy
Guest
I guess you're right. I'm just disappointed that I'm gonna lose future my wife, and probably my future cars in heaven.
Cars are for traveling fast. Traveling fast is to save time. There is no such thing as time in Heaven, so we won't need cars.
Same thing with wives and sex. We won't need anything in that whole framework.
Cars, sex, all those things, will be like a computer from 1986 to us right now: Obsolete, useless.