Here are two contrasting cultural beliefs for you to consider:
- Sex is the best thing on the planet
- Heaven is full of the best things we can imagine
So if both of these things are true, why does the Bible tell us there won’t be any sex in heaven?
No Sex in Heaven?
In Matthew 22:30, Jesus says, “At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.”
I’ve expounded elsewhere how God designed sex to happen within marriage only, so we can naturally deduce here, as the original listeners would have automatically, that if there is no marriage in heaven, there is also no sex.
No sex in heaven? Many might ask what the other options are at this point!
One of the reasons this news shocks us is because we view sex and heaven selfishly. Culturally, sex has become a selfish act of consumption. And our view of heaven is typically a place of self-centered utopia. We picture beaches and paradise and all the pleasure for ourselves that we can dream of, often not with much thought about God being around at all. This me-centered paradise is a great match for lots of sex for all of eternity. In fact, several of the main world religions promise this (maybe a clue that those religions were made up by a man? But I digress…)
But thank goodness that’s not what heaven, or sex, is meant to be according to the Bible.
Sex is a one-flesh relationship that bonds a man and a woman together in every way possible. It’s why this one-flesh relationship can only function healthily within marriage. The one-flesh bond includes full acceptance and commitment to all a person is, not simply their body parts (Gen. 2:24, Matt. 19:4-6, 1 Cor. 6:15-16). You are one flesh, at all times, in all ways, which can’t be undone.
This sounds pretty amazing, and deep, and night-and-day different from what our culture calls “sex” today. But there’s more. This sex and this one flesh don’t exist for their own end. They aren’t the destination, they are simply another sign post. A sign post pointing to where?
What Sex Really Points To
After giving a treatise on marriage and sex, Ephesians 5 concludes with the following:
“’For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’ This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church” (Eph. 5:31-32).
Heyo! The whole time Paul was talking about husbands and wives and marriage and sex in Ephesians 5, it says here he was actually talking about Jesus and us! Marriage and sex are metaphors for the relationship we have with Jesus.
What is a metaphor? It is a sign post. It points to the real thing. It’s something tangible we can look at in order to understand something else. It’s a symbol we can learn from in order to understand and experience the real thing.
The real thing is the one-flesh relationship Jesus desires to have with each of us. It’s the relationship he has with those who call themselves Christians. It’s a relationship of intimate love and acceptance and support and trust, where Jesus is the groom and we are the bride. Earthly marriage and sex are symbols that can help point us toward the real thing.
This is why there is no sex in heaven. You don’t need sign posts when you’ve arrived at the destination!
It’d be like driving to Disney World and parking the car at the green highway sign with the white text of “DISNEY WORLD” and the white arrow pointing to the off ramp. Imagine parking your car there, taking a selfie with the family, and then driving home, telling everyone you’d been to Disney World!
The destination is always better than the sign post.
Heaven Is Not a Perpetual Fast
Some might disagree! But the reason for the disagreement is because we’ve been worshiping the sign post for far too long and we simply don’t have the full experience of the real thing yet. In talking of the perspective that heaven would be a “perpetual fast” from sex in the minds of some, C.S. Lewis had this to say:
“…or else of a perpetual fast. As regards the fast, I think our present outlook might be like that of a small boy who, on being told that the sexual act was the highest bodily pleasure, should immediately ask whether you ate chocolates at the same time. On receiving the answer no, he might regard absence of chocolates as the chief characteristic of sexuality. In vain would you tell him that the reason why lovers in their carnal raptures don’t bother about chocolates is that they have something better to think of. The boy knows chocolate: he does not know the positive thing that excludes it.
We are in the same position. We know the sexual life; we do not know, except in glimpses, the other thing which, in Heaven, will leave no room for it.”
-C.S. Lewis, as quoted in a 1947 Time Magazine article
A boy can’t understand if you try to tell him sex is the highest bodily pleasure, because he is convinced chocolate is and isn’t ready to understand sex. We can’t understand that pure intimacy with God in his direct presence is what makes heaven, Heaven, not that it’s some me-centered place where we eat Bons Bons on the beach, while watching Netflix, and of course, having sex. Nor can we fully grasp that intimacy with God is better than sex, both now and for all eternity. But the truth remains, which we are exhorted to believe and live by.
This is fantastic news. We worship sex on earth, but it’s also our place of deepest longing and brokenness. A single person feels unloved because they don’t have a sexual partner. A married person goes to pornography, an affair, or fantasy, because the sexual partner they do have isn’t satisfying them.
The Answer to Our Longing for Sex
The answer to our longing for sex is not sex! It’s intimacy with Jesus. We get to experience this intimacy on earth. This unconditional love where God adopts us as his sons and daughters and is well-pleased with us and we are fully accepted into his arms because of what Jesus did on the cross for us. But imagine this experience in a fully direct, physical way. Wow! That is heaven.
This gives us reason to not worship sex and it also reminds us we don’t need sex. Whether we experience the sign post or not is somewhat irrelevant. What is relevant is that we take God at his word that the destination will be much better, attuning all of our navigational tools toward that destination, not any metaphor, imitation, or sign post along the way.
Rai , why are some people naturally good looking, attractive and beautiful in this
life , while many other Men & Women are unattractive or downright ugly.
Some people are so repulsed by their facial appearance and looks
that they can’t even look at themselves in the Mirror
I firmly believe that in Heaven and the New Earth
Everyone should be Attractive , Good Looking, Beautiful, Handsome so that
They actually like the way that they look , but that others do
as well , what do you think, ?
No one deserves to be Unattractive Forever ,
Yes, Jeff. The Scripture says that at the resurrection, we shall be like The Lord for we shall SEE HIM AS HE IS (1 John 3:2) and if The KING is Beautiful (Isaiah 33:17) so shall we be, when we SHINE like the stars forevermore (Daniel 12:3) so no matter how imperfect or even downright ugly one may look like today (I have facial scars too) we can be assured that when Our Lord Returns, will be transformed into His Image from glory to glory OR from one degree of beauty to another degree of beauty (2 Corinthians 3:18).
For our citizenship is in Heaven, from where we also wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
who will change (or transform) the body of our humiliation to be conformed to the body of His glory, according to the working by which he is able even to subject all things to Himself. (Philippians 3:20-21)
… 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 will be changed.
For this perishable body must become imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. (1 Corinthians 15:52-53 (WEB)
Therefore Yahweh will wait, that he may be gracious to you; and therefore he will be exalted, that he may have mercy on you, for Yahweh is a God of justice. Blessed are all those who wait for him.
For the people will dwell in Zion at Jerusalem. You will weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the voice of your cry. When he hears you, he will answer you.
Though the Lord may give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your teachers won’t be hidden any more, but your eyes will see your teachers;
and when you turn to the right hand, and when you turn to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way. Walk in it.” (Isaiah 30:18-21 (WEB)
With this hope in mind and heart, share the Good News to others.
GOD Bless you Jeff
Rai ,
I will Interpret your above statement of
July 27th, 2023 – 11:01am where you said
“More than we ask or imagine Jeff. More than we ask or imagine” as Sexual Intercourse & Lovemaking Existing in
BOTH Heaven AND The New Earth.. Without getting too Explicit or Graphic , will
Sexual Relations in Heaven and the New Earth be limited to Regular Sex, or will it Also include Oral Sex , Anal Sex, etc.
These are Vital Questions, are some Sexual Practices inherently Sinful or Evil
Well IF that’s what you think and it brings pleasure and not harm to others is why not? THE ANSWER to all that is YES.
Dirt is only in the mind
The Scriptures again let Me REITERATE the Scriptures (NOT Me) says
Titus 1:15 (KJV) Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.
Which means to the one whos mind is fueled by lust and influenced by the definitions and perceptions of modern day morality Adam and Eve created as naked in the Garden of Eden along with several passages in the Scriptures such as Proverbs 5:19 ; Ecclesisastes 4:11 & Ezekiel 23:2,19-20 may be seen as pornographic literature by the modern day man WHY? Because those passages are pornographic (especially if one portrays those passages in their minds?) NO! But because the one who thinks it, based on his or her NARROW perspectives think it is pornographic.
The Bible and GOD’S words are NOT dirty BUT the MINDS of those who read it who have THEIR OWN INDIVIDUAL perspectives of right or wrong, are dirty.
As it is written as a man thinks SO IS HE!
So if someone thinks some stories in the Bible and some of our wishes is lustful and disgusting that doesnt make it true. That doesnt mean that we are disgusting BUT that only means that THEY are disgusting, just like the pharisees who accused Yeshua or Jesus of being a servant of the Devil are servant of the Devils themselves! (John 8:44)
Not The Lord.
While there are those who look at the beach, each sees A DIFFERENT STORY but the Beach doesn’t change, as is the Word of GOD.
Let us remember that ones opinions and perspectives of things vary from one person to another and are subjective . BUT NO matter how good and modest, righteous it may seem outwardly that makes no sense IF GOD thinks it is unrighteous or unholy.
Are you getting the point? That’s why it is written that there is a way that seems right to a man but the end leads to death?
IF for instance GOD commands you in the OT to marry a harlot like Hosea, will you call GOD unjust and unrighteous because doing it doesn’t feel right? NO. Youll do what GOD commands you to do REGARDLESS of what you feel because we dont based our Faith on feelings but obedience to GOD’S WILL!
So lest we stray farther from the topic, all were saying is that, nothing is wrong EVEN if HUMANLY speaking it is wrong or promiscous IF GOD commands it.
GOD even gave David many wives before on 2 Samuel 12:8 are we then to judge GOD of contradicting Himself and playing favoritism all because He also gave the commandment forbidding kings to multiply wives Deut 17:17?
NO.
Let GOD be true and every man a liar.
So again to answer your question YES everything you think or imagine including the sexual positions you’ve mentioned CAN be possible — Im not saying it is BUT CAN be possible in the World to Come and all the desires of your heart will be granted as long as you DELIGHT in The LORD and seek FIRST (that is PRIORITIZE) His Kingdom and His Righteousness. (Matthew 6:33)
Rai , I will Interpret your above response of
July 27th, 2023 – 11:01am
“More than we ask or imagine Jeff. More than we ask or imagine” as a Yes , to Sexual Intercourse and Lovemaking existing in BOTH Heaven , the
Intermediate Heaven AND the Coming New Earth, people also ask what type of Sexual Relations will Exist in Heaven and the New Earth , will it include
Oral Sex, Anal Sex, etc.
Also it may seem like a stupid question, but in Heaven and the New Earth will people use Money, currency or credit of some kind
Some Argue that Since God will Provide for Everyone’s Needs and Desires that in Heaven and the New Earth there will be No Need for Any Type of Money, Currency or Credit of any kind
Rai , I appreciate your response, I hate to be all fixated again, but what is your view about the type of bodies Christians will have in the Intermediate State ?
Your Answer didn’t seem Explicitly Crystal Clear, also for the sake of Argument, Let’s say Jesus Returns in his Second Coming , 50 or 100 years from now, the Countless Christians who are unable to get Sex , Love, Companionship and Intimate Relationships in this current life for various reasons, they should be Able to get those things and the overall happiness and types of lives they want Immediately when they pass away, they shouldn’t have to wait even longer for what they desire and need so very badly. For Countless Christians Sexual Frustration and Deprivation is Torture, especially in Nations like America that Unjustly Outlaw Sex Work , Prostitution for Consenting Adults
It’s Very sad how Countless Christians are unable to be very happy or successful in this Earthly Life, because of various reasons , no matter how hard they try, at least in BOTH Heaven, the Intermediate State and the New Earth, Everyone should be Happy and Successful , at least that
More than we ask or imagine Jeff. More than we ask or imagine
Rai, so in a nutshell you believe that in the Intermediate Heaven Christians will have
Physical Bodies, like what we have now ? For Sexual Intercourse and Lovemaking in the Intermediate Heaven ? Will Christians in Heaven and the New Earth perhaps be able to fly through the Air like the fictional character
Superman does ? Or instantly teleport over long distances from one place to another ? Will our beloved Pets, Cats, Dogs, Birds, etc. be in Heaven , if humans in Heaven and the New Earth eat food and drink beverage, will they still have to poop & pee
In America alone there are Many Millions of Countless Christians who because of Mental illness, Social Awkwardness, Autism Spectrum, Physical Disability, poverty, unemployment, unattractiveness ,Homelessness, etc are unable to find and get Sex, Love, Companionship, Relationships, they face horrible Romantic Rejection, and they see other people in Public happy and in Relationships, and they feel upset, jealous, envious, in their sleep they are often tormented by horrible bad dreams and Nightmares, they feel physically and Mentally Sick from the Chronic Loneliness and Lack of Sex, Love, Companionship,
None of that Misery of Loneliness and Sexual Deprivation, Frustration should Exist in Heaven. Since there is already too much of it in this Earthly Life, and it is an Extremely Serious Painful Problem for Countless people causing horrible pain and Suffering . Also do you think
Christians will be Able to
“Time Travel” in Heaven , to the past and future like in Science Fiction, perhaps “Time Travel” to earlier points in their Earthly Lives to Correct Mistakes In their Earthly Lives
I like to think that when I ultimately pass away, in Heaven and the New Earth I will have a Nice House all to myself, with an Exact Duplicate Copy of All my Physical Posessions, from my Earthly Life, they are More than Posessions but Also Memories, what about TV shows or Movies, will they also be in Heaven and the New Earth ?
I think all Human Beings Deserve to have a great Sex Life, Love Life, but also Good Quality of Life overall
Now that’s a loadful to digest, I must say.
Anyways Hi Jeff
Apologies if I haven’t made Myself clear on the part of a disembodied soul AND a resurrected Spiritual BODY. The Scriptures on
2 Corinthians 5:8 (KJV) tells us—
We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be PRESENT with the Lord.
This is the case of those who have SLEPT in the Lord, like Stephen (Acts 7:60) and other Believers (1 Thessalonians 4:15). Like the souls of those who were slain for the Word of GOD under the altar John spoke about on Revelation 6:9, they are WAITING for the Resurrection, when they will have their Spiritual BODIES back—not spiritual souls.
But there is an order to this. Paul wrote on
1 Corinthians 15:22-23 (KJV) …
For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; AFTERWARD they that are Christ’s AT HIS COMING.
So until Christ returns, those who have fallen asleep with Him remain on their graves, awaiting for the time when they will hear His Voice and be raised back to life as He has spoken on
John 5:28-29 (KJV) Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
The SAME resurrection spoken on Daniel 12:2-3 and on Revelation 20:5-6
Only AFTER this resurrection will glorified saints in their spiritual BODIES be able to eat, drink and have sex and procreation with their partners. (Partners we say, since there would be no marriages then). (Mark 12:25)
Only then from the Millenium and towards the New Heavens and the New Earth will this prophecy be fulfilled recorded on Isaiah 65:17, 23 (KJV)
For, behold, I create NEW heavens and a NEW earth: (Cp. 2 Peter 3:13) and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.
They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the SEED of the blessed of the LORD, (YHWH) and their OFFSPRING with them.
With regards to your question on whether “Christians in Heaven and the New Earth be able to fly through the Air like the fictional character Superman does” we say most likely, since we are to be like (NOT exactly) the Angels then perhaps that could HIGHLY be a probability. And since Our Lord ASCENDED BODILY into Heaven more like flying, and Scriptures tell us “when He shall appear, we shall be LIKE Him” (1 John 3:2) there is a huge possiblity we can do the same things He does, as He Himself said on John 14:12 (WEB)
Most certainly I tell you, he who believes in me, the works that I do, he will do also; and he WILL DO GREATER WORKS than these, because I am going to My Father.
Now the phrase “greater works” iimplies that we can do MUCH MORE than just multiplying loaves and fishes, and walking on water AS THE LORD once did, and by GREATER it COULD mean “exceedingly abundantly ABOVE ALL that we ask or think.”
Again.
ABOVE ALL and NOT LESS than, what we ask OR think. That’s how INFINITELY AND MAGNIFICENTLY INCREDIBLE, OUR GOD IS who, NOT only lives on the High and Holy Place BUT also to those who are contrite and humble spirit. (Isaiah 57:15). This is the same reason WHY Paul wrote about the POWER that works IN (and not outside) of us. (Ephesians 3:20)
The POWER that can do The Impossible for in Him ALL THINGS (including flying like the fictional Superman, TIME TRAVELLING and Teleportation like you’ve mentioned) is possible. (Mark 10:27)
For Jesus, The Eternal WORD, The LOGOS — ALL IT TAKES for Him is to SAY THE WORD and someone’s servant will be healed. (Cp Mt. 8:8) It only takes a word from Him to Calm the Storm (Mark 4:39) and to raise the dead like Lazarus (John 11:43) among all others …
So guess what. IF we will be LIKE HIM as 1 John 3:2 tells us, then we can DO EXACTLY THE SAME THINGS HE DOES with just a word of our mouth. This is PRECISELY the reason why men IN THE SCRIPTURES are called Gods and sons of the Most High (Psalms 82:6 & John 10:34) BECAUSE like Moses, who have been made a God unto Pharaoh by GOD Himself (Exodus 7:1) we shall have Godlike powers NOT because we are equal to GOD (which Satan erroneously lusted for) BUT because WE ARE HIS CHILDREN “sons of The Most High” and “partakers of the DIVINE Nature.” (2 Peter 1:4) This is why its imperative that we WHO ARE BORN OF THE FLESH need to be BORN (from Above) Again. (John 3:3)
That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (John 3:6)
And since GOD is Spirit (John 4:24) and The FATHER of spirits (Hebrews 12:9) so also shall we HIS CHILDREN be LIKE Him Our Father, sharing HIS DIVINE Nature in Our Spiritual Bodies AS Gods of the New World to Come.
Imagine.
IF you will be endowed with godlike powers and can create worlds and planets LIKE GOD OUR FATHER — you can be ruler of your ideal reality IN THE WORLD TO COME, if you want to, provided that The Word of GOD is true when He said “GREATER things he will do” AND WE KNOW that WHATEVER HE SAYS is TRUE … BECAUSE GOD CANNOT LIE (Titus 1:2) and WHATEVER HE SAYS, are FAITHFUL AND TRUE. (Revelations 22:6)
With regards to your question whether “our beloved Pets, Cats, Dogs, Birds, etc. be in Heaven , and whether humans in Heaven and the New Earth eat food and drink beverage, will they still have to poop & pee” … with the normal call of nature I cannot say. All we know is that all the animals will be nice and tamed in the World to Come.
The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the ox; and dust shall be the serpent’s food. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain,” says the LORD. (Isaiah 65:25 (WEBM)
Actually, one of your questions is what one child asked Me once when he said “kuya, (big brother) will people be pooping in the New Heavens and New Earth”? And I haven’t got a definitive response to that. But suffice it is to say that since our bodies will be CHANGED from mortality to immortality (1 Corinthians 15:51) so most probably be, our physiology.
But one thing’s for certain, there will be EATING AND DRINKING in Heaven AND in the World to Come as spoken by Our GOD and by His Son Jesus in The Scriptures, first on
Isaiah 25:6-8 (UKJV)
And in this mountain shall the LORD of hosts make unto all people A FEAST of fat things, a feast of wines on the sediments of wine, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the sediments of wine well refined.
And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations.
He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD has spoken it. (Cp Revelation 21:4)
AND ON
Matthew 8:11 (UKJV) And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.
Besides, WHY would The LORD (YHWH) Our Father, in All His Wisdom, create a Tree of Life that bears TWELVE FRUITS if those fruits were only meant for VIEWING and not for EATING? (Revelation 22:2)
You get THE Point.
So will there be eating and drinking in the Age to Come? (Isaiah 25:6-8)
Childbearing and bringing forth righteous and sinless offsprings for The Lord? (Isaiah 65:17,23)
Building houses to dwell on and ruling over cities? (Isaiah 65:21 & Luke 19:15-19)
To ALL these questions, the Bible response is in the affirmative YES. YES AND YES.
BECAUSE OF CHRIST JESUS
For ALL THE PROMISES OF GOD [are] yes in him, and in him Amen, by us for the glory of GOD. (2 Corinthians 1:20 (JUB)
Lastly, since there will be “no more curse” NOR “crying or mourning or pain” (Revelation 21:4), WE CAN ALL BE CONFIDENT that there would be none of the things you dread like ” Mental illness, Social Awkwardness, Autism Spectrum, Physical Disability, poverty, unemployment, unattractiveness ,Homelessness, etc are unable to find and get Sex, Love, Companionship, Relationships, they face horrible Romantic Rejection … being tormented by horrible bad dreams and Nightmares, they feel physically and Mentally Sick from the Chronic Loneliness and Lack of Sex, Love, Companionship”
BECAUSE LIFE ON THE WORLD TO COME would be PERFECT, there will be EVERY beautiful things and experiences you desire AND NONE OF the things you dislike OR dread.
OUR Most Benevolent and Merciful Father, YHWH, The LORD PROMISES —
He that overcomes shall inherit ALL things; and I will be his God, and he shall be My son.
(Revelation 21:7 (UKJV)
And WHEN GOD SAYS “ALL THINGS” Jeff My brother, He means it.
ALL THINGS.
As Paul wrote on 1 Corinthians 3:21-23 (WEB)
Therefore let no one boast in men. For ALL THINGS ARE YOURS, whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, OR THINGS TO COME. All are yours, and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.
That’s the GLORIOUS DESTINY and how ABUNDANTLY RICH GOD’S Children will be, whom He called Gods and Children of The Most High.
—🕎—
And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. (Isaiah 35:10 (KJV)
Hi Jeff,
Most likely based on Revelation 6:9 & 20:4 they are called “souls” which is also, one’s own consciousness, where all his past memories are recorded. When they are raised back to life, they will be granted spiritual bodies, as Paul wrote on 1 Corinthians 15:44, a BODY that can penetrate walls and enter through locked room, like our Lord when He was resurrected. (John 20:26) But A Body that can, like our present bodies EAT normal food, as Our Lord did, when He ate fish. (Luke 24:42-43) So chances are, our resurrected bodies will be the same, possessing supernatural powers,
but, at the same time having ALL the physical needs like food, drink, including sex that we now have.
The Scripture tells us on
1 John 3:2 (WEBM) Beloved, now we are children of God, and it is not yet revealed what we will be. But we know that, when he is revealed, WE WILL BE LIKE HIM; for we will see Him just as He is.
Hope that answers your question. GOD Bless
Rai , do you have a reply to my above comment and questions of
June 27th, 2023 – 10:33am
Rai & Everyone Else, certain
Bible Verses , such as
Isaiah 65:17, Isaiah 66:22, and 2 Peter 3:13 along with
Chapters 21 & 22 of
Revelation Speak about the New Heavens and New Earth . Since in the New Earth believers have
Glorified Physical Bodies. 1 Corinthians 15: 35-38 . In the Current Intermediate Heaven where believers who have died Currently Are, what type of bodies do believers in the Intermediate Heaven have, are they like Ghosts, disembodied spirits , with non-corporeal bodies, or do they have a Temporary Physical Body which includes
Sexual Organs for Sex & Lovemaking
What is your opinion of
Near-Death Experiences, NDE’s and the Scientific Evidence in Support of them proving the existence of the Afterlife and conscious existence after death
With ALL DUE RESPECT to the author, we, wish to correct some MISGUIDED views written on this article in the LIGHT OF Scripture
The author writes
” …our view of heaven is typically a place of self-centered utopia. We picture beaches and paradise and all the pleasure for ourselves that we can dream of, often not with much thought about God being around at all. This me-centered paradise is a great match for lots of sex for all of eternity. In fact, several of the main world religions promise this (maybe a clue that those religions were made up by a man? But I digress)…”
Contrary to the standpoint of the writer, that for our views or “heaven is typically a place of self-centered utopia. We picture beaches and paradise and all the pleasure for ourselves that we can dream of, often not with much thought about God being around at all” IS WRONG why?
Because of the last phrase he wrote “often not with much thought about God being around at all” BECAUSE we imagine such wonderful experiences of the Afterlife and Heaven WITH GOD and not without Him, as most do, in THIS PRESENT LIFE.
FURTHERMORE
His belief is driven by an erroneous view by most Catholics that sex and marriage is destestable (like their doctrine of clerical celibacy) which is one of their wrong doctrines, (because GOD allows HIS priests to be married before (Leviticus 21:6-8). And because of this false belief, they have spawned a great number of pedophile priests and leaders, involved in shameful scandals.
The Lord Jesus says on —
John 15:7
If you remain in Me, and My words remain in you, you will ask WHATEVER YOU DESIRE, and it will be done for you.
He wasn’t selfish enough to say Ask whatever I desire NO but whatever YOU desire, which is of course, something good in His eyes like Sex or Union with a perfect sinless loyal ageless partner. What IF some of us want to experience such intimacy from someone who will reciprocate our love and not just our need for satisfaction? Wont GOD grant it?
Of course He would.
so WHATEVER we ask, we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing in his sight. (1 John 3:22 (WEB)
AGAIN it says whatever.
It DOESN’T say whatever EXCEPT sex in Heaven. No. Therefore Paul wrote on
Ephesians 3:20-21
Now unto Him that is able to DO exceeding abundantly ABOVE ALL WE ASK OR THINK (IMAGINE in other Bible versions), according to the power that worketh in us,
Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. AMEN.
So yes. Imagining Heaven WITH the NEW Heavens and The NEW Earth to come as having “beaches and paradise and all the PLEASURE for ourselves that we can dream of” is ALRIGHT, for its is written
Psalms 16:11 (WEB) You will show me the path of life. In your presence is fullness of joy. In your right hand there are PLEASURES FOREVERMORE.
NOT just sex but every happiness man has imagined Heaven to be, THOSE THINGS GOD WILL GRANT THEM ..
For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: NO GOOD THING WILL HE WITHOLD from them that walk uprightly. (Psalms 84:11 UKJV)
Does that include eating, celebrating, and sex ALL THE GOOD THINGS (which of course EXCLUDES robbery, murder, corruption and rape) we can think of? And our AFFIRMATIVE answer to that BASED ON THE BIBLE IS YES.
Lets all pray for the authors enlightenment tp come out of Babylon and its FALSE IDOLATROUS CORRUPT SYSTEM of worship. We believe his heart is true and sincere only a bit misguided.
Thank you and GOD Bless
Rai, I see your point that there are moral grey areas, things aren’t always so black and white , but people have different interpretations of Scripture and Let’s also remember the original Greek & Hebrew. How do we truly define and interpret such terms as Lust, Adultery, Fornication, Pornography. How we define those words today could be very different from Biblical Times. What is and isn’t Pornography ? Is a Victoria’s Secret Magazine Pornography ? Or does it have to contain actual nudity to be considered Pornography ? See the 2001 book by Tom Gruber titled
“What the Bible “Really” says about…SEX: A new look at Sexual Ethics from a Biblical Perspective” he discusses terms such as
Lust, Pornography, Adultery, Fornication, etc.
Also by Tom Gruber
a book in 2016 titled
“Christopian Sex: A Treatise on
Reclaiming Paradise via Christian Sexual Ethics” and another book by Tom Gruber in 2008 titled
“Is There SEX In Heaven? A Biblical Case for Lovemaking in the Afterlife” these books can be ordered online and are Must Reads , what do you think ? If you read these books what is your opinion of them ?
Hi Jeff.
Peace be to you. Its been quite a while. I’m not familiar with the books you’ve recommended, but, Lordwilling, will look into them for further evaluation.
Thank you for bringing up the subject on “lust, adultery, fornication and pornography” and I completely agree with your assumption that the way we define these words or terms today may vary OR, in your own word, “different” from Biblical times.
Lets take one subject for example, one of which you’ve mentioned herein—
Pornography.
Before we begin, lets first go to the ORIGIN from where we derive the word “pornography” and it comes from two Greek words Porneia and graphos. Porneia translated from the Greek means “fornication, whoredom and harlotry” and if you doubt that, you can look up its definition on Strong’s # g4202.
Graphos on the other hand, means drawing more like an artwork.
However, the Bible NOWHERE explicit prohibits pornography EXCEPT only for Porneia, which is “fornication, whoredom and idolatry” and it has NOTHING to do with reading OR viewing sexually explicit artworks.
ALTHOUGH reading OR viewing these materials could incite men to sin with their neighbor, the act of viewing and or reading sexually explicit materials is NOT a sin, OTHERWISE if it is, then we should rip off the Song of songs in the Bible, which does NOT only speak about spiritual love affair between GOD and Man BUT ALSO, read AS IS, between a man and his lover.
If pornography IS wrong, according to the “definition” of the twenty first century, then we shouldn’t admire paintings of Adam and Eve naked, in the Garden, erase Ecclesiastes 4:11 and Proverbs 5:19 in Scripture, among all other passages that incites men (and women’s) minds to imagine OR visualise lustful images, WHEN reading these passages. Surely, whenever one reads passages like Ecclesiastes 4:11 & Proverbs 5:19, do they think OR imagine lamborghinis or hamburgers, do they?
You get THE point.
But IF GOD allows these verses to be written down in Scripture, words and advices that HE doesn’t find fault with, (ALTHOUGH the modern hypocritical age does), then NEITHER should we.
What GOD has cleansed, we shouldn’t call unclean, especially on the subject of porn (porneia) because fornication AND pornography are two different things.
As you’ve said, the way the Biblical writers understood it before is DIFFERENT to how our modern, highly civilized, though ironically extremely hypocritical society understand it, today.
NOWHERE does Scripture, whenever it mentions the word fornication — from old to new — imply the sin of READING or VIEWING sexually explicit materials OR paintings, but on the ACT ITSELF, namely adultery and incest, committed by TWO or more consenting adults.
This is the correct way to understand the word “fornication” in CONTEXT whenever we find it written on 1 Corinthians 6:18; 7:2; 10:8; Galatians 5:19; Ephesians 5:3; Colossians 3:5; 1 Thessalonians 4:3, and so forth.
Although fornication starts at the heart, as The Lord said on Matthew 15:19, it still has NOTHING to do with reading OR viewing pornographic shows or materials, something which they HAVEN’T got, at a time when television and comic books hasn’t been invented.
As we’ve said before, IF we follow the MODERN DAY definition of pornography OR porn and NOT according to how The Biblical writers understand it, then we might as well skip reading some passages in the Bible BESIDES the ones I’ve mentioned previously, like Ezekiel 23:3,20-21 because these maybe considered BY THE MODERN AGE, as pornographic LANGUAGE or LITERATURE.
But of course, as Believers, we DON’T follow the modern worlds view on righteousness and morality BUT The Bible’s where porn is NOT define as a show OR a literature BUT the sin committed by two consenting adults OUTSIDE of wedlock.
Thats why it is written on
Hebrews 13:4 (JUB)
Let MARRIAGE [be] honourable in all and the bed undefiled; but the fornicators AND adulterers GOD will judge.
So I hope were clear on that part. Besides, on My old posts here, we’ve discussed about what fornication is, in part.
I hope that in some way, we’ve given you a Scriptural VIEW on what porn really is, and given a satisfying answer to your questions
“What is and isn’t Pornography ? Is a Victoria’s Secret Magazine Pornography ? Or does it have to contain actual nudity to be considered Pornography ?”
GOD Bless you.
Hi Jeff.
Looked through one of the articles you’ve suggested on this link and must say, you’ve done an amazing job in finding that out! Well writ article with SOUND Bible based doctrine, CORRECTING some of the misguided beliefs of other priests and preachers about sex, that leads them to commit immorality and sexual scandals in this life BECAUSE of the WRONG belief that lovemaking is only meant, on this present age and not the next, where it is proven dead wrong on all points.
LIFE, in the Next Life would be MORE amazing, energetic, and incredibly beautiful than the life we now have, full of problems AND complicated, relationships.
Life on the next LIFE with The Father AND Jesus The Lamb isn’t as gloomy, boring OR melancholic as most hypocritical, money-loving preachers now teach, BUT is BEYOND anything we’ve ever dreamed of BECAUSE Life in the NEXT LIFE with Jesus would be the SAME in this life, with ALL its pleasures, eating, drinking, playing, recreation, sports, AND lovemaking, MINUS all the ugly things we now see, war, sicknesses, death, disease, broken relationships and divorce that destroys the lives of children.
It would be the perfect opposite in Paradise and in the NEW Earth and since Life there would be FOREVER, so will be its PLEASURES and HAPPINESS.
Praise YAH!
So if we truly DREAM of a LIFE a million times better and more beautiful than this present one, lets follow GOD and The Lamb, NO matter what it takes, because we know that one day, ON THAT WONDERFUL DAY, all that was lost to us WILL be restored by GOD and ALL that we ever think OR imagine in this life, that we CANNOT have in the present life, will be A REALITY, in The World to Come where EVERYTHING will be perfect and LIFE in ALL Angles, will be unimaginably, FLAWLESS.
Well be living in A PERFECT WORLD with A PERFECT GOD AND KING who we PERFECTLY PRAISE and WORSHIP.
A UTOPIA with PERFECT friends, partners, relationships, romance, sex, and every harmless entertainment and enjoyment we can think of, PERFECT housing and education, PERFECT lovelife and sensation, most of all PERFECT PEACE with The Prince of Peace, in whom are PLEASURES forevermore!
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.pottsmerc.com/2012/11/23/will-christians-enjoy-sex-in-heaven/amp/
David Borg said—
Heaven is going to be like this life only better with all its joys beauties and pleasures without the drawbacks, with all its assets but none of its liabilities
As it is written
The blessing of the LORD, it makes rich, AND HE ADDS NO SORROW WITH IT. (Proverbs 10:22 (UKJV)