Question: Only one path to heaven?

Tue 7 Sep 2010 - 6:24 pm UTC

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ANSWERED on Sat 27 Dec 2008 - 1:43 pm UTC by easterangel

Question: Only one path to heaven?

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Asked by nautico on Sat 27 Dec 2008 - 12:07 pm UTC:

Today's NYT includes an op-ed by Charles Blow, "Heaven for the Godless?",
in which he summarizes the findings of an August poll conducted by the Pew
Forum on Religion and Public Life. One such finding: That 35 percent of
Christians believe Christianity is the only path to heaven. Setting aside
the question of whether heaven exists in any literal sense, how would such
Christians answer the following question:

What was the population of heaven before Jesus was born?

Uclue Researcher Answer by Researcher easterangel on Sat 27 Dec 2008 - 1:43 pm UTC:

Hi!

I am a Christian and according to Biblical evidence, the human population
of heaven before Jesus came was zero (0)! Of Course God was there and the
angels (whose exact number was not mentioned in the Bible). But in terms of
human population, it was zero.

Jesus said in John 3;13, "No one has ever gone into heaven except the one
who came from heaven—the Son of Man."

Some may say that there is a contradiction with some Old Testament verses
Genesis 5:24; 2 Kings 2:11 and even in the New Testament's Hebrews 11:5.
This explanation from Carm.org is worthy of a look,

http://www.carm.org/diff/John3_13.htm

But it seems that this question of yours has a more important concern than
just the physical population of heaven, If Jesus is the only path to
heaven, how were people saved during the Old Testament times?

The people of the Old Testament were saved the same way as the people in
the New Testament times or during the time of Jesus and today. It was only
through faith in God and not of their works that they shall be saved. The
Old Testament was pointing to a coming Messiah who will save the world of
their sins. Please take a look at this resource from RBC Ministries:

http://www.rbc.org/questionsDetail.aspx?id=45746

Biblical evidence also shows that before Christ died, those who believed in
God by faith were asleep and that they were woken up and their tombs broke
when Jesus died. Here is Matthew 27:50-53.

"And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his
spirit."

"At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to
bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. The tombs broke open and the
bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out
of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city
and appeared to many people."
 
Hope this answers your question.

Regards,
Easterangel

Accepted and rated by nautico on Sat 27 Dec 2008 - 2:26 pm UTC:

Excellent answer.

Comment by User probo on Sat 27 Dec 2008 - 2:44 pm UTC:

Yes, Easterangel, Truly Excellent!

But I have very good reason to doubt.

You see, my late mother-in-law was a true believer who worshipped regularly
and did everything considered necessary to book her seat in Heaven.

But she also had a habit of saying 'I told you say so!' whenever - on one
of those few occasions - she got something right.

And, knowing my own scepticism, I am quite sure that, if she had secured
her place in Heaven, she would have come back to say, 'I told you so!.

I am still waiting.

Probo

Comment by User myoarin on Sat 27 Dec 2008 - 3:36 pm UTC:

Indeed, an excellent answer, Easterangel.

Matthew nicely addresses the problem that there were good people prior to
Jesus who deserved salvation (presumably after having been seen in the holy
city).  But that recognizes that they were worthy of such despite not
having been Christians, which rather contradicts the belief of that 35% of
Christians in the survey.  ??  I prefer Matthew's report.

Probo, 

If, no, when you get there, she will probably be standing behind St. Peter,
waiting to tell you, though maybe a little surprised to see you.  

Myo

Comment by User probo on Sat 27 Dec 2008 - 4:52 pm UTC:

This Q&A also prompted another trip down Memory Lane:

http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview/id/736602.html

Blasts from The Past!

Bryo

Uclue Researcher Comment by Researcher easterangel on Sun 28 Dec 2008 - 10:58 pm UTC:

Thanks for the kind words  nautico. I'm glad it answered your question.

Bryan, if your grandma believed and accepted Jesus as the only true savior
then I know and wouldn't mind if she says, "I told you so".

Myoarin, since Jesus wasn't revealed yet in the Old Testament, there was no
way for people to know Him objectively. But all things in the Old Testament
was pointing to Him. Examples will be sacrifices in the temple, and
prophecies of a coming Messiah. But also since He is God and what God
requires to lean on Him alone for our salvation even at the start of
mankind, then in essence the true believers were still required to
acknowledge that the path to heaven is to the true God alone and no one
else and not by their works. 

So in a sense the 35% of Christians were correct, but sadly there were only
35%! :(

Comment by User probo on Mon 29 Dec 2008 - 9:19 am UTC:

Certainly NOT my Grandma, EasterAngel, but my late Mother-in-Law!

Both my Grandmas went to the 'Other Place' and they are always popping
round to say 'Hello' and to scrounge a few drinks.

I often think of moving and not telling them of my whereabouts.

What do you think?

Bryan

Comment by User myoarin on Mon 29 Dec 2008 - 10:29 am UTC:

About the 65%:  I suspect that some of them  - even firmly believing
Christians -  have a more liberal attitude and accept that adherents of
other religions will experience the "hereafter" of their faith.

Myo

Comment by User johnfrommelbourne on Mon 29 Dec 2008 - 1:41 pm UTC:

Without divulging my religeous affiliations and/or beliefs let me say here
that it was a revelation for me to learn that no-one was in heaven before
Jesus was born,or died. Never heard that mentioned before I must say.  One
can assume, therefore, that Moses never got to experience eternal life via
a passage to heaven on his death.

  Bryan: I see you got your money's worth with the GA posting,ie a paltry
$5.00 is all you paid and you were rewarded with a mass of info.

  John From  Melbourne

Comment by User probo on Mon 29 Dec 2008 - 2:33 pm UTC:

Yes, John, Great Value but I also gave a much deserved Tip.

Regarding Moses, I wouldn't be at all surprised to hear that one of his
descendants joined the Church of Latterday Saints and then arranged his
passage upstairs.

Funnily enough, I met a woman a few months ago who told me that she had
died the previous week.

She reported that she had gone to Heaven and that when the Angels saw her
they then started strumming on their harps.

This prompted her to get out her guitar and join in.

However, when St Peter saw this, he was furious.

'Get thee back to Earth', he commanded, 'You are not ill enough to be up
here'.

She did as she was ordered which is how she survived to tell her tale.

I suppose that St Peter wanted all the other souls to Rest in Peace, as
they had been promised.

Not everybody likes guitar music and I have heard that musical instruments
other than harps are now confiscated before anyone is admitted through the
Pearly Gates.

Bryan From Hove

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