Will There Be Sex in Heaven?

[SimpleSheep]

Nothing wrong with assuming as long as you remain open to more information.

You said you don't think we'll need sex in eternity. Well, that's nice. There are many things we don't need that God gives us. Furthermore, there are many things we need on earth that we're not even aware that we need. God designs need into us, so we often need things we may not even know we need.

Whether one argues that Adam needed or didn't need Eve, God gave Eve to Adam. At the end of the day, it's about what God wants to give more than what we need, think we need, or want. If Adam even had a grid for thinking about needing another human being, he certainly didn't know what a woman was, so he couldn't even 'need' one and he certainly couldn't ask for one. God created Eve without Adam having to ask. He gives good things without our asking; surely, He's willing to give good things when we do ask.

Again, this OP wasn't written to push some doctrine or belief (as I never care to do that). But I do find it interesting that the people who say there is no sex in Heaven push it as 'their final answer'... whereas the people who say there is or may be sex in Heaven simply state it as their personal opinion. One side seems shut tight to realities outside their own awareness and intelligence while the other side seems open to increasing in their knowledge. That's interesting.

I am close minded and I like it that way.
I respect others' opinions though.

 

[Amanuensis]

I am close minded and I like it that way.
I respect others' opinions though.

Especially since Jesus did clearly answer that question. It is offensive when people pretend like He did not. We should be close minded to any suggestion that Jesus did not mean what He said.

He did include sex in the answer he gave and he did include the idea that procreation would cease. When that which is perfect is come (which is the post resurrection) many things will cease. Even speaking in tongues. And sex and marriage and procreation.

The number of saved souls will never decrease or increase post resurrection.

 

[SonsOfCaleb]

Jesus answered that question. Of course we should take it as the final answer.

Those who have other ideas and interpretations of what Jesus said must be able to support their interpretations using the rules of hermeneutics.

I really don't want to hear about a thousand ideas someone has brainstormed in a quest to find answers and learn. I only want to hear about the ones that they can support and articulate using hermeneutics to present a sound exegesis.

There is no learning in a lie. There is no learning in an idea that is not the right interpretation. You can spare me all of those. There is only learning in a valid supportable interpretation that complies with the rules of hermeneutics.

This is not open for debate.

Hermeneutics is defined as "the branch of knowledge that deals with interpretation, especially of the Bible or literary texts".

Human beings built that branch of knowledge, and the interpretations (true or false) are human. I prefer to depend on the Holy Spirit. Man's hermeneutics don't make christians better (open your eyes and look); the Holy Spirit's teaching as God's Interpreter to us-- changes people from the inside out.

Leeland's 'Tears of the Saints', I wept and wept and wept for at least an hour, not because I'm emotional (far from it) but because the lyrics are so true. And what a shame. christians are so busy debating and doing religious works that everyone else is forgotten about. I can't do 'peace and safety' and talking with no life or action, because while you and many christians are 'hermeneuticing' and talking over Bible points, the whole world is dying, not the least of which casualties are christians themselves, sitting in churches and slowly rotting to death under the illusion that Jesus is a christian and so is obligate to them. I prefer acting instead of discussing (unless the discussing leads somewhere), especially in light of the state of the world (and of the churches which are far worse than the world). We're not compatible in the respect of Eternal Life on earth now, available to all people vs. Eternal Life later, available to only christians. Goodbye.

 

[SonsOfCaleb]

I am close minded and I like it that way.
I respect others' opinions though.

"Tell me why!"

I'm playing 'Guess the Lyrics' here in response to your "I like it that way".

 

[JohnB]

On the issue of sex in heaven. I find it sad that some Christians don't want it in heaven. GOD created something beautiful on earth, to join two people as one, and yet some don't want that in heaven. Their telling single Christians, not only will you not have sex on earth, you won't have it in heaven either. Makes heaven a little less appealing to me.

 

[Amanuensis]

Hermeneutics is defined as "the branch of knowledge that deals with interpretation, especially of the Bible or literary texts".

Human beings built that branch of knowledge, and the interpretations (true or false) are human. I prefer to depend on the Holy Spirit. Man's hermeneutics don't make christians better (open your eyes and look); the Holy Spirit's teaching as God's Interpreter to us-- changes people from the inside out.

I want to be patient with all men. Sometimes I think I am wasting my time. But who knows maybe I am helping someone.

Slow down and think about what you are saying.

What If I called it "The language rules whereby one determines what a writer intended when he put words, sentences and paragraphs on a page in order to communicate ideas and thoughts to the reader." If I said it like that instead of using the word Hermeneutics;

Would you agree that one must follow those rules?

We learned them when we learned to read and we all agree upon them in order to communicate.

There are rules to determining what the author intended. Word definitions, in their context in sentences is one of the rules of hermeneutics.
Who the author was speaking to, what the context was about when he said it.
What did the Greek word mean and what is the best English equivalent that maintains the same meaning that the Greek writer intended is another rule.

These rules are all very understandable rules that you would agree with as normal and necessary for reading something in general.

It's just that the list of rules that are involved are easier to reference with a word like hermeneutics instead of listing them every time you are referring to them.

You would agree with the rules if you saw them. Google "List the most common rules of Biblical Hermeneutics" and you will probably find a few simple lists with explanations.

It is a human invention but no more than language itself is a human invention.

We are required to follow the rules to properly communicate what we intend to the next person. They are required to follow the rules to guarantee that they ascertain our intended meaning. Language rules are human inventions. So what. God used them to write the scriptures through humans.

If you step through the list of rules of hermeneutics thinking about the scriptures you are trying to understand you will accomplish a couple of things.

1) You are likely to discover the correct interpretation that is most likely what the author intended.

2) If your assumed interpretation was wrong you are likely to discover mistakes you might have made when you violated one of those rules or ignored them which lead you to the bad interpretation. For example maybe you discover that you were giving a word a wrong definition which caused a major misunderstanding.

I have a friend that thought "quit ye like men" in the KJV meant quit acting like mere men now that you are saved you are not just a mere man because you have the Holy Spirit in you...Well. imagine his shock when he realized that word was archaic English for "Act like a man"

See he made a major mistake in interpretation of that verse because he violated one of the rules of hermeneutics, proper word definition and how words have different meanings based on cultural context archaic usage, etc.

So call the rules whatever you want to call them you still have to comply or you will not be able to ascertain the meaning that the author intended. If you cannot ascertain the meaning that the author intended then you will not ascertain the meaning that the Holy Spirit intended.

The meaning that the author intended is the one that the Holy Spirit intended using that author and his words and language style. They are both one and the same. What the writer intended is what the Holy Spirit intended.

It is not possible for an interpretation to be from the Holy Spirit if contradicts what the author intended to say.

You have to present your reason for an interpretation by explaining why you believe that is what the author was intending and you can do that by following those rules.

I will agree with you if you comply with those rules. If you mess up and say something like my friend did about "quit ye like men" meaning quit acting like a man I will prove to you that you made a mistake by explaining that quit in this case does not mean quit like you are thinking in a modern usage of that English word. Then you will be able to go back to the drawing board and reinterpret it and discover the actual meaning.

No one gets to ignore the rules and say "That's a human invention" I got the Spirit I don't have to comply with language rules or word definitions.

I mean can you just decide not to read the bible at all and say I have the Spirit and what I say is the truth? No. You have to read the scriptures and understand them. You understand them when you understand what the author intended to communicate. You discover that by following the rules of language and word usage etc (hermeneutics)

People who vilify the word hermeneutics are just showing their extreme ignorance and no wonder they are making so many mistakes in understanding scriptures. I don't say this to shame you. I hear it often. I used to say I would not use the word hermeneutics because too many ignorant people cringe when I say it as if it is unbiblical. I decided it would be more helpful if I used the word and forced them to learn that they must comply with the rules to understand what they are reading. They can't stay ignorant forever. Time to mature. Learn how to figure out what the bible says on their own by applying the rules of interpretation.

 

[TheNarrowPath]

On the issue of sex in heaven. I find it sad that some Christians don't want it in heaven. GOD created something beautiful on earth, to join two people as one, and yet some don't want that in heaven. Their telling single Christians, not only will you not have sex on earth, you won't have it in heaven either. Makes heaven a little less appealing to me.

The original post wasnt asking if you want sex in heaven. Nor were the members stating to singles that you wont have sex on earth or heaven. If sex is the reason why its a little less appealing for you then maybe you could look at the desires of your heart?

 

[Amanuensis]

On the issue of sex in heaven. I find it sad that some Christians don't want it in heaven. GOD created something beautiful on earth, to join two people as one, and yet some don't want that in heaven. Their telling single Christians, not only will you not have sex on earth, you won't have it in heaven either. Makes heaven a little less appealing to me.

The regenerated have loftier goals and desires. The Spirit gives them another mind and eternal focus. They long for things above not on things of this life. They don't think it is all that big of a deal in comparison to the things of eternity.

Those that don't understand this or don't want this are not part of those that will be found worthy to obtain that world.

 

[SonsOfCaleb]

On the issue of sex in heaven. I find it sad that some Christians don't want it in heaven. GOD created something beautiful on earth, to join two people as one, and yet some don't want that in heaven. Their telling single Christians, not only will you not have sex on earth, you won't have it in heaven either. Makes heaven a little less appealing to me.

Re-read the Songs of Solomon and see what you sense from there. If sex is bad or unholy, then it's God's fault for creating Eve and creating sex. There is nothing wrong with normal desires. God certainly isn't ashamed of sex. It's we who are.

There were some singles in a singles seminar who asked the main speaker if there would be sex in Heaven. It is a natural desire, even if the desire is imperfect. God allowed people in ancient times to marry more than one wife though it wasn't His will. After David slept with Bathsheba, part of the most scandalous series of sins committed by one individual in the Bible, God told David that if David had asked God for more wives, instead of taking another man's wife, God would have given him more... and yet, it was never God's original will for a man to have more than one wife at a time let alone simultaneously.

Furthermore, God then proceeded to pass over David's older sons and to make David's second son with Bathsheba the next king over Israel (Solomon). Talk about scandalous. But we don't want to talk about the scandalous things God did in the Bible do we? It's impossible for me to believe that God, who constantly sanctifies things and people that are defiled, can't perfect everything good that became imperfect since perfecting and restoring are foundational qualities and desires of God. Maybe you should seek God on the matter or look up some books and articles until the Holy Spirit gives you the right revelation about it.

 

[Runningman]

Jesus answered that question. Of course we should take it as the final answer.

Those who have other ideas and interpretations of what Jesus said must be able to support their interpretations using the rules of hermeneutics.

I really don't want to hear about a thousand ideas someone has brainstormed in a quest to find answers and learn. I only want to hear about the ones that they can support and articulate using hermeneutics to present a sound exegesis.

There is no learning in a lie. There is no learning in an idea that is not the right interpretation. You can spare me all of those. There is only learning in a valid supportable interpretation that complies with the rules of hermeneutics.

This is not open for debate.

I think your so called “hermeneutics” put your mind in a box and prevent you from seeing outside of a rigid interpretation.

You seem to think you have the whole Bible figured out and if anyone shows you a different perspective then they’re lying. That isn’t what hermeneutics are. The reason you can’t understand this is because you’re in a form of mental, and possibly spiritual, bondage.

I mean that to be taken constructively too. I can only hope that something people in this thread have been showing you results in that beautiful “Ah ha! Eureka!” moment where you can finally see a bit clearer.

 

[Lynx]

Nothing wrong with assuming as long as you remain open to more information.

You said you don't think we'll need sex in eternity. Well, that's nice. There are many things we don't need that God gives us. Furthermore, there are many things we need on earth that we're not even aware that we need. God designs need into us, so we often need things we may not even know we need.

Whether one argues that Adam needed or didn't need Eve, God gave Eve to Adam. At the end of the day, it's about what God wants to give more than what we need, think we need, or want. If Adam even had a grid for thinking about needing another human being, he certainly didn't know what a woman was, so he couldn't even 'need' one and he certainly couldn't ask for one. God created Eve without Adam having to ask. He gives good things without our asking; surely, He's willing to give good things when we do ask.

Again, this OP wasn't written to push some doctrine or belief (as I never care to do that). But I do find it interesting that the people who say there is no sex in Heaven push it as 'their final answer'... whereas the people who say there is or may be sex in Heaven simply state it as their personal opinion. One side seems shut tight to realities outside their own awareness and intelligence while the other side seems open to increasing in their knowledge. That's interesting.

Holy crap in a can, you're desperate to believe this!

I still wonder why. You haven't said yet, and I can only guess, but I bet I can guess pretty accurately... but I still don't know for sure.

 

[Lynx]

I want to be patient with all men. Sometimes I think I am wasting my time. But who knows maybe I am helping someone.

Many things we say are less for the benefit of the one we ostensibly speak to and more for the benefit of bystanders who might learn from it. This is true in spoken conversation and even more true in a forum where people can come by long after the words are said and read them.

Keep on talking bro. It's fine.

 

[Runningman]

Nothing wrong with assuming as long as you remain open to more information.

You said you don't think we'll need sex in eternity. Well, that's nice. There are many things we don't need that God gives us. Furthermore, there are many things we need on earth that we're not even aware that we need. God designs need into us, so we often need things we may not even know we need.

Whether one argues that Adam needed or didn't need Eve, God gave Eve to Adam. At the end of the day, it's about what God wants to give more than what we need, think we need, or want. If Adam even had a grid for thinking about needing another human being, he certainly didn't know what a woman was, so he couldn't even 'need' one and he certainly couldn't ask for one. God created Eve without Adam having to ask. He gives good things without our asking; surely, He's willing to give good things when we do ask.

Again, this OP wasn't written to push some doctrine or belief (as I never care to do that). But I do find it interesting that the people who say there is no sex in Heaven push it as 'their final answer'... whereas the people who say there is or may be sex in Heaven simply state it as their personal opinion. One side seems shut tight to realities outside their own awareness and intelligence while the other side seems open to increasing in their knowledge. That's interesting.

Well said. You’re very fortunate and blessed to have retained an open mind and the ability to think critically. It’s certainly a rare breed in Christianity and I believe it has allowed you to access deeper spiritual truths.

The rank and file close-minded Christian isn’t a bad thing though. We should remember that they’re holding ground behind enemy lines with impregnable defenses against anything that is contrary to what they already believe.

It’s possible God intended for most of the church to just get into a doctrine, with the foundation being the gospel of Jesus Christ, and then holding ground, resisting any challenge, even if they don’t pick their battles wisely. They just need to prevent moral and spiritual decay in a broader sense even if they can’t advance.

They just need to hold ground against advancing darkness while those who are still receptive to receiving wisdom and knowledge from God exercise greater spiritual gifts.

 

[JohnB]

Re-read the Songs of Solomon and see what you sense from there. If sex is bad or unholy, then it's God's fault for creating Eve and creating sex. There is nothing wrong with normal desires. God certainly isn't ashamed of sex. It's we who are.

There were some singles in a singles seminar who asked the main speaker if there would be sex in Heaven. It is a natural desire, even if the desire is imperfect. God allowed people in ancient times to marry more than one wife though it wasn't His will. After David slept with Bathsheba, part of the most scandalous series of sins committed by one individual in the Bible, God told David that if David had asked God for more wives, instead of taking another man's wife, God would have given him more... and yet, it was never God's original will for a man to have more than one wife at a time let alone simultaneously.

Furthermore, God then proceeded to pass over David's older sons and to make David's second son with Bathsheba the next king over Israel (Solomon). Talk about scandalous. But we don't want to talk about the scandalous things God did in the Bible do we? It's impossible for me to believe that God, who constantly sanctifies things and people that are defiled, can't perfect everything good that became imperfect since perfecting and restoring are foundational qualities and desires of God. Maybe you should seek God on the matter or look up some books and articles until the Holy Spirit gives you the right revelation about it.

I have sought GOD on the issue for years and get silence. As one church leader who knew what I was going through said "It's clear GOD is not speaking to you on this issue. I don't know why" I find it interesting in the story of Joseph, GOD gave him a vision of his future and never spoke to him again. Even after his brothers sold him and he was in prison GOD did not speak to him. It wasn't until he was made second in command in Egypt that he understood why events happened.

 

[Lynx]

I find it interesting in the story of Joseph, GOD gave him a vision of his future and never spoke to him again. Even after his brothers sold him and he was in prison GOD did not speak to him. It wasn't until he was made second in command in Egypt that he understood why events happened.

Eh? He didn't?

If you assume God didn't, you assume Joseph wrote down every time God spoke to him... It is not recorded that God ever spoke to Joseph between those two times, but the Bible also does not say God was silent between those two times.

As they say on that Perry Mason show my grandma watches, you are assuming facts not in evidence.

 

[JohnB]

The original post wasn't asking if you want sex in heaven. Nor were the members stating to singles that you wont have sex on earth or heaven. If sex is the reason why its a little less appealing for you then maybe you could look at the desires of your heart?

I've heard some Christians say if they knew their family member would not be in heaven, heaven would mean a little less. My greatest desire is for companionship, to become one with a wife. There is no sin in that.

 

[JohnB]

Eh? He didn't?

If you assume God didn't, you assume Joseph wrote down every time God spoke to him... It is not recorded that God ever spoke to Joseph between those two times, but the Bible also does not say God was silent between those two times.

As they say on that Perry Mason show my grandma watches, you are assuming facts not in evidence.

Joseph told the wine taster to speak to Pharaoh that he was put in prison unjustly. That he wanted to go back to his family. It's clear from what he asked the wine taster, GOD was not speaking to him.

 

[Magenta]

I've heard some Christians say if they knew their family member would not be in heaven, heaven would mean
a little less. My greatest desire is for companionship, to become one with a wife. There is no sin in that.

Idolatry is a sin.

People say a lot of silly things about heaven.

 

[Lynx]

Joseph told the wine taster to speak to Pharaoh that he was put in prison unjustly. That he wanted to go back to his family. It's clear from what he asked the wine taster, GOD was not speaking to him.

You make assumptions like a certain other person in this thread.

Joseph's request does not in any way indicate God was not talking to him.

 

[JohnB]

You make assumptions like a certain other person in this thread.

Joseph's request does not in any way indicate God was not talking to him.

Joseph in no way, even hinted GOD had been speaking to him. The most surprised person in the room, when he spoke to Pharaoh was Joseph. If GOD had been speaking to Joseph, he would have said so and wrote it down. It would have been far too important.