Doctrine and Dogma arising from misunderstanding of Revelation is that sinners burn forever in a hell of fire and brimstone; this is a lie arising from both Catholic and Protestant clergy, one of whose mission is to keep their respective flock within the fold of their respective churches.
Rather brimstone symbolizes cleansing, and the fire represents the refinement of the soul, cleansed of sin, which is redeemed when it returns to the Godhead. Indeed, this implies the goal of purity for which Revelations is the metaphor.
Yet few Christians are taught how to use Scripture, not to occult truth, but to reveal the truth relevant in their daily lives, due to the old-school doctrine schooling them into becoming "sheeple" fearful of doubting the word of a priest or other "man of God".
Much of what constituted modern thought in the Common Era was omitted from the Bible so as to prevent confusion over the early Church's admission that reincarnation is a one-time reward for remaining pure and free of sin.
For what are the born again but incarnations of their pure souls by the grace of God? This however is not guaranteed after baptism but after death, according to Revelations.
All of Revelations is thus metaphorical, and totally occluded of truth in the minds of the literally inclined. Why? Because the literal interpretation of Revelations has led to the doctrine of an eternity of hell as fire and brimstone when in the original Greek, it was accepted as a temporary abode from which the living made offerings to their priest to help ensure that the souls are released from Purgatory and ascend to Heaven, and given a prayer to snatch those souls from the depths of Hell.
How else do you explain the use of candles and memorial prayers for the dead both in the Church and in Protestant churches who adhere to the Catholic model? Such a cult of the dead is proven by the tabu regarding the dead amongst Christians.
Those who have brains, please use them.
Showing posts with label Revelations. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Revelations. Show all posts
20101227
Revelations Just a Metaphor of the Afterlife
"But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death" —(Revelation 21:8, KJV)
Revelations is a metaphor - any modern-day prophecy about 1000 or 2000 years misses the point of the message there. As well, Revelations does not directly state that sinners who don't repent are going to burn in hell forever after they're dead.
Personally, I'm heterodox on this point in the Bible, and take the quote to mean that sinners who repent will be purified like gold in Purgatory. YMMV
In fact, after mentioning the second death briefly, John's vision turns to a new heaven and a new earth, which too is metaphorical about the Afterlife for repenting sinners.
As a new Christian who had not been exposed to church-going as a child but as a teenager, I am uncomfortable with the church setting because it has a cookie-cutter commercial aspect to it. As well, I'm not one to use the Lord's Prayer because it ignores the healthy approach of forgiving oneself for those trespasses and overlooks acceptance of others, too.
Rather, like the repentant sinner in the parable, my favorite prayer is the Sinner's Prayer because it is to the point:
"Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner!"
Revelations is a metaphor - any modern-day prophecy about 1000 or 2000 years misses the point of the message there. As well, Revelations does not directly state that sinners who don't repent are going to burn in hell forever after they're dead.
Personally, I'm heterodox on this point in the Bible, and take the quote to mean that sinners who repent will be purified like gold in Purgatory. YMMV
In fact, after mentioning the second death briefly, John's vision turns to a new heaven and a new earth, which too is metaphorical about the Afterlife for repenting sinners.
As a new Christian who had not been exposed to church-going as a child but as a teenager, I am uncomfortable with the church setting because it has a cookie-cutter commercial aspect to it. As well, I'm not one to use the Lord's Prayer because it ignores the healthy approach of forgiving oneself for those trespasses and overlooks acceptance of others, too.
Rather, like the repentant sinner in the parable, my favorite prayer is the Sinner's Prayer because it is to the point:
"Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner!"
20101207
A Heterodox Notion Regarding Revelations
God in the New Testament does not destroy unbelievers; they only get thrown in a lake of fire in Purgatory.
But that ends after Revelations 20.
After spending their time in the lake of fire, having their souls purified, all sins melting away in the second death, perhaps they may be thirsty... I don't know! ;)
"It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give freely to him who is thirsty from the spring of the water of life. He who overcomes, I will give him these things. I will be his God, and he will be my son." — Revelations 21:6-7
Thus everything before that happens in Revelations is a metaphor on how God reclaims souls not written in the book of life.
But that ends after Revelations 20.
After spending their time in the lake of fire, having their souls purified, all sins melting away in the second death, perhaps they may be thirsty... I don't know! ;)
"It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give freely to him who is thirsty from the spring of the water of life. He who overcomes, I will give him these things. I will be his God, and he will be my son." — Revelations 21:6-7
Thus everything before that happens in Revelations is a metaphor on how God reclaims souls not written in the book of life.
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