Prepare the way of the Lord

[glorydaz]

I see nowhere in the Word where heaven is a pure conscience.
I do see many verses that tell us heaven is the dwelling place of God.
His throne is in heaven...earth is His footstool.

I see heaven is a destination and a place where only righteousness dwells.
God is Spirit, so heaven is in the spiritual realm, but I just don't see where man's conscience fits any of it's descriptions. A clear conscience could be the key to entering into the presence of God, but that's as close as I can come to putting the two together.

In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

Do we know that heaven is a physical place, as opposed to a spiritual place?

We know God is spirit and heaven is His dwelling place.
So, it's not a physical place and cannot be inhabited by flesh and blood.

 

[glorydaz]

I see nowhere in the Word where heaven is a pure conscience.
I do see many verses that tell us heaven is the dwelling place of God.
His throne is in heaven...earth is His footstool.

I see heaven is a destination and a place where only righteousness dwells.
God is Spirit, so heaven is in the spiritual realm, but I just don't see where man's conscience fits any of it's descriptions. A clear conscience could be the key to entering into the presence of God, but that's as close as I can come to putting the two together.

In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

Let me add to my previous statement that, after all, I don’t think the Lord’s feet are PHYSICALLY using the earth as a footstool.

God is spirit. He has no physical feet.
But His throne is in heaven, so the earth is His footstool.
Just as a king would not reside on his footstool, God is high above all earthly things.
He doesn't live in a building made with hands, but in the believers heart.
He doesn't have wings, either, but we rest under them.

 

[glorydaz]

Oy... is there anything that says Heaven is not on the dark side of the moon?

This is Apologetics and no offense, but your logic is less than sound.

From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Matt 4:17 RSV

What is the Lord telling us here? He’s telling us to repent—to have a clear conscience. He’s saying: Have a clear conscience, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. That makes no sense at all to me, unless a clear conscience IS heaven.

Try this: Repent of all your sin, as Jesus told you to do here, and see what happens. See if the most indescribable peace descends upon you, like the New Jerusalem described in the book of Revelation.

We repent (turn to) the Lord. A clear conscience enables us to draw near to God, but that does not make our conscience God's dwelling place. No doubt "indescribable peace" descends upon those who have fellowship with God. That's as close as I can come to what you're saying.

 

[elijah23]

We repent (turn to) the Lord. A clear conscience enables us to draw near to God, but that does not make our conscience God's dwelling place. No doubt "indescribable peace" descends upon those who have fellowship with God. That's as close as I can come to what you're saying.

“Repent†of sin means, I believe, to “stop sinning.†If I am a thief, I stop stealing. If I am prideful, then I stop being prideful.

 

[elijah23]

We repent (turn to) the Lord. A clear conscience enables us to draw near to God, but that does not make our conscience God's dwelling place. No doubt "indescribable peace" descends upon those who have fellowship with God. That's as close as I can come to what you're saying.

Here is the Merriam Webster online dictionary definition for repent (as a verb):

1 : to turn from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one's life

Remember that God himself repented of evil he intended to do, such as Exodus 32:14.

 

[Vic C.]

E 32, I really don't want to get into a debate over this. Just consider a couple things for me, ok?

First off, it's not uncommon for people to come into an Apologetics forum with preconceived ideas, only to find themselves arguing simply for argument's sake. I also realize that some may indeed agree with you, but this is all a bit abstract and isn't really apologetics or theology. These sort of topics are best served in the Bible Study or Christian Talk and Advice forums, where one can discuss ideas without it turning into a debate.

Also, Paul tells us these things:

2 Tim 2:23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.
2 Tim 2:24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,

... and then there's this:

Titus 3:9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

 

[Bick]

Heaven is the dwelling place of God...His throne is in heaven...it has a direction - up.

Question, is heaven "up" from Australia as well as being "up" from us, almost halfway around the globe?

 

[Bick]

I tend to believe that heaven is a clear conscience. Therefore, the words, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand,†makes perfect sense.

I guess what confuses a little is “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.â€

MY COMMENTS: It may not affect your view of the underlying meaning of "heaven" in these verses, but an interlinear Greek-English NT will show that the reading should be "the kingdom of the heavens", thus tieing it in with Daniel 7:27. It is the long awaited Messianic Kingdom on earth under the heavens.

 

[glorydaz]

Heaven is the dwelling place of God...His throne is in heaven...it has a direction - up.

Question, is heaven "up" from Australia as well as being "up" from us, almost halfway around the globe?

Some say north. North is always the same direction no matter what time of day. If you were to point to the north in the morning, twelve hours later you would still be pointing in the same direction. No matter where the earth is in its orbit about the sun, north is always the same direction in relationship to the earth.

In Psalms 75:6 we read, "For promotion (salvation) cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south." Therefore, God and heaven must be to the north. And Job 26:7 says, "He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing."

God tells us He fills the heavens, so I tend to believe it's "up" from the earth wherever we are. ;)

 

[elijah23]

Question, is heaven "up" from Australia as well as being "up" from us, almost halfway around the globe?

When you are in Australia, you are upside down and the blood must rush to you head. Does this, then, upset one’s judgment when he is visiting Australia?