09.18.08
Why Are There Tears in Heaven?
Ever since my AA diagnosis in 1999, it has become a habit of mine to check in on other health forums from time to time (some more so than others). It is always sad when I read of others passing away. I read of such a passing today, and it reminded me of one common thing I read amongst the grieving is that “at least the deceased is no longer suffering from their disease.” I “think” that concept comes from the Bible where it mentions that when we are resurrected we will have incorruptible bodies. Along with that belief, it’s common for people to take for granted that we obtain incorruptible bodies “immediately” after death and that we see God immediately. But I’m not so sure that’s supported in the Bible. The reason why I wonder about that is because of how resurrection is explained in Revelation. For instance in Revelation 20:4-6 John writes about a 1st resurrection and a 2nd resurrection. Those in the 1st resurrection reign with Christ for 1000 years. And verse 5 of Revelation 20 states,
“But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.”
If everyone sees God immediately after death, then why is there a first resurrection and then subsequently a second resurrection of everyone else who was not part of the first resurrection? There is a gap of 1000 years between the first and the second resurrection. It appears that the first resurrection is a “group” or multitude of people who according to verse 4, “had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands.”
Also, there are reference to people who have passed on as being “asleep.” Ephesians 5:13 says this:
“ Awake, you who sleep,
Arise from the dead,
And Christ will give you light.”
1 Corinthians 11:29-30 says this:
“29For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.
30For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.”
Sleep in verse 30 seems to mean death of our earthly body, not just falling asleep for the night.
1 Corinthians 15:50-52 says:
“50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”
This passage seems to be referring to the rapture where some will just be taken up immediate in contrast to those who “sleep.” Paul writes that “not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.” Sleep seems to refer to all those who have died before the rapture takes place. Then the “trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”
It appears that we don’t get our incorruptible bodies until the trumpet sounds, and not immediately after we die/sleep (unless it’s right at the time of the rapture). In the meantime, those of us who have died “sleep.” It appears that at the time of resurrection we are “all” judged for our deeds, good or bad. And it has made me wonder in what state we will be resurrected.
1 Corinthians 15:53-54
“For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
“So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.”
In spite of being transformed to incorruption, why does Revelation say,
“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”
God wipes away all the tears in their eyes. Why are there tears in heaven? Perhaps all our pains and sorrows are not yet gone until after judgment. And then when judgment is done, God will wipe away our tears.
Marlakins
