"ιδου ερχομαι ως κλεπτης μακαριος ο γρηγορων και τηρων τα ιματια αυτου ινα μη γυμνος περιπατη και βλεπωσιν την ασχημοσυνην αυτου." (Translation) Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches,a nd keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame." Revelation 16:15
We began discussing how the Bible describes the Afterlife in both the New Testament as well as the Old Testament.
Please take some time and post your thoughts about the afterlife. When you think of Heaven, what feelings and images come to mind? When you think about the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, what thoughts, feelings, or images come to mind?
Please feel free to express yourself openly. You can and should respond to your classmates as well.
Byzantine Greek copied from http://biblos.com/revelation/16-15.htm.
I am proud being a Greek Orthodox Christian. Thinking about the afterlife does not scare me because I know that our Lord Jesus Christ has wonderful things in store for us. When I think of Heaven, I think of pure love, peace, beauty, and happiness. I think of Angels everywhere kneeling and glorifying God.
ReplyDeleteWhen Jesus comes to Earth again, I know it will be for the Judgement. "He will in Glory to judge the living and the dead..." It will be wonderful knowing that we will be with GOD. As long as we live good lives and repent our sins, go to Church, confess our sins, and take communion, we have nothing to fear. Jesus love for us is infinite.
Thank you.
Konstandina H
K, I am happy to see that you are a proud Greek and Greek Orthodox Christian. It must means that Mom and I did a good job. You are right, Heaven is "pure love, peace, beauty, and happiness." When we go to Heaven, there will be no more pain or suffering. All that will go away. Remember our lesson on communion and confession. Keep up the great work. Dad
DeleteKonstandina,
DeleteI agree with you 100 percent but I was also wondering what you thought about the "the other place" or what comes in between our steps to go to Heaven. I agree about Heaven and what you had to say about it but also if we do know about "the other place" this would make us cautious and try to be good people. I was wondering your vision on this place and afterwards maybe we can refer to the Bible.
Thanks,
Effie
Effie, I think that it is a dark and scary place. I know Father George said that it is just being distant from God's love, but I have the belief that it is an actual place that is dark, evil, burning, and scary. Do you agree with that? What are your feelings? Just the thought of that makes me want to be a better person. K
DeleteKonstandina,
DeleteI agree with you. As I see it is a place that is empty and hiding from God. I think that this place is somewhere were everyone wants to stay away from. I believe Father George when he said distant from God's love but I still can't say I am not in fear of it. I am uncomfortable even talking about it but I know that if I learn and talk about it, it will be a reminder to me of how to act and how to love one another.
Hopefully in Sunday School we can go over the Revelation together again and make some meaning from it, because ever since the discussions we have been having in class I fully am starting to understand the concept. I think I just needed a person to explain the ropes to me. I hope we can make this a goal for next class together.
Effie, see you in Sunday School :)
Learning about my Greek Orthodox faith is the one main priority in my life. Learning about the afterlife does not make me fearful or make me hide from God and Jesus, but makes me "prepare" for what is to come. It helps me understand the basics of our religion. In class we discussed "steps" throughout the afterlife and the book of sins we contain. It has the power to bring you down but also with confession, one of our main goals in our faith, can erase it and bring you up. When I imagine Heaven, I see people all surrounding Jesus our Lord And Savior, loving and thanking Him for being so kind, generous and forgiving. I see no fear or worry, just love and happiness, all in a world together living under the Word of God. Once He comes back again He will come with the wrath of a lion, and take us for our final judgment. There is nothing for me to fear because I know what must be done to prepare myself. Confession, communion, repenting our sins, going to church and to love one another are all things we as people can do to strengthen our relationship with God. Living in the world God has created us should not put us in fear, we should embrace it, but we must also live life to the fullest, the way God has told us to. For I know the day will come, and I will be ready for Him and we will all go to Heaven and live in the Kingdom of God.
ReplyDeleteThank You.
Effie Makris
Effie: Wow! I am happy to see that you and Konstandina are listening in class. Thank you. You are very right...we must repent, ask for forgivness from those we have wronged, go for confession, and take communion regularly. All we have to do is pray to GOD and aks him to come into our lives. You have a great answer! Theio Mike
Delete