From: pub@riscee.pko.dec.com (Publius)
Subject: Re: Rich men and Heaven
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation, Maynard MA
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 1992 05:59:48 GMT

In article <67588@hydra.gatech.EDU> rpitts@emperor.gatech.edu (Richard Pitts) writes:
>
>I believe, eternal life, heaven, kingdom of heaven, kingdom of God, and 
>being saved are used interchangably here and refer to the same thing.

Before we get to the semantics of these terms, let us first clear up
some confusion in syntax.  As you have noticed, I used the plural
'heavens' in my previous article, while you always use the singular
'heaven; in yours.  Actually, both the plural and the singular forms
of this word  were used in Matthew (plural: 58 times, singular: 26
times).  Both in the construct 'kingdom of heavens' and in the Lord's
prayer, it is the plural form that was used.  If you don't believe
me, you can check it out with you pastor.

In a sense, eternal life, kingdom of heavens, and being saved refer
to more or less the same thing in the passage you quoted (matt 19:
16-26).  But they are not the same as 'heaven' in its usual sense.
Besides, I am not sure if my "same thing" is the same as your
"same thing".  But, let's see ...

Let's start with 'eternal life'.  I have heard three interpretations
of this term.  They are:

  1) "eternal life == immortability" - this is the JW/SDA
     interpretation.  It can be easily refuted but there is
     no need to get into the details in this discussion, for
     neither you nor I believe in this interpretation.

  2) "eternal life == going to heaven immediately after you die ==
     being saved" - frankly speaking, this is the Gnostic idea of
     salvation (Rf. Prof. Kurt Rudolf's book "Gnosis", a must read
     if you want to understand this ancient heresy that nearly
     destroyed Christianity in the early centuries.)  The
     Christian idea of salvation and hope, from Apostles' Creed
     to "Fundamentals of the Christian Faith", has always been
     bodily resurrection and the second coming.

  3) "eternal life == God's own divine life, by which we were
     regenerated, and with which we became the sons of God" -
     This is the correct interpretation.  This Life is in the
     Son (and this is one of the reasons that the divinity of
     Christ is so important a matter.)  If and only if we have
     the Son, we have this Life.  This Life is also the Light
     we walk in.  With this Life and in this Light, we can have
     fellowship with God and with other Christians.  As have
     been commented by some Bible scholars, 'eternal' here denotes
     not only the duration, but much more also the nature and the
     quality of this Life.

>The Kingdom of Heaven or Kingdom of God that was near at that time
>was Jesus himself, I believe.

Agreed!  Following this interpretation, 'enter the Kingdom of
Heavens' would mean 'enter into Christ, put on Christ, have Him
as the sphere where we live, walk, and have our beings'.  This
is far different from the notion of 'go to heaven' though.

> ... Revelation 19-22 reveal this as a future event where there will
>be a new heaven and a new earth - 'heaven' will be on the earth, as
>a new city comes down from above is described in Revelation. 

More precisely, it is not that 'heaven' will be on the earth, but that
the New Jerusalem will come down from heaven to the earth.

>we have the kingdom within, but I believe the passage in Matthew
>refers to future events.

Matthew probabily refers to both aspects of the Kingdom - the hidden
aspect in this age, and the full manifestation in the future.


Regards,
-- 
-- Publius
Disclaimer: These opinions are mine, all mine, mine alone.
Newsgroups: talk.religion.misc,alt.atheism