Random Questions; Bible-based answers

Nvmd, I checked it and found the answer👍The Bosom of Abraham refers to the place of comfort in the biblical Sheol (or Hades in the Greek Septuagint version of the Hebrew scriptures from around 200 BC, and therefore so described in the New Testament) where the righteous dead await Judgment Day.

Makes one feel kind of insignificant, huh?

(And to think it all was created in order for us to have the opportunity to experience heaven with God!

I used to work with a Mormon actually.

He seemed like a very nice guy, professional, respectful and he was taking care of his wife when he was working with me since his wife was sick.

In the Boston area, the most famous Mormon is Mitt Romney who created Universal Healthcare in this state.

In Albania, Mormons are essentially unknown and everyone would call them “a Protestant” of some variety.

Other than that, I haven’t known any Mormons but I know that they’re very controversial in Protestant circles.

The Orthodox Church does not think of the Mormons as a heretical cult, or it shouldn’t .

This of course depends on the level of priest you talk to because it would mean that Catholics and Protestants or anybody is a cult.

This of course is also tied to the understanding of Salvation which according to the church is that we leave it up to God.

At the same time, this doesn’t mean that the church aligns with Mormons, Catholics or anybody else.

The church considers itself as The Followers of Christ since the time of Jesus in an unbroken chain or schisms.

So, live and let live and when we face God we will answer for our sins and hope for his mercy which we pray for everyday while here.

My take is that the Earth was made special by God for the purpose of providing life to human beings to allow fellowship with Him. If there were other human life on other planets, Jesus would have had to die for their sins as well don't you think? And if this is true, surely the Lord would have told us. The thing that is special about human beings, we are told in Scripture in that the angels look at us in wonder because we were made in God's image, not them.

“Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating, when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves, but you in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look” (1 Peter 1:10–12).

There isn't a whole lot of material about Lazarus after he was resurrected but a tradition in my church is that he never smiled after his resurrection due to the sobering effect Hades must have had on him.
But when an angry man smashed a pot of clay he laughed and he said: "The clay smashes clay".

I love that. The simplicity, the humility, the faith and trust and that everything is vain as King Solomon said.

Come to us O Lord and make us whole!

I do not hold an opinion on these matters.

The Bible is only concerned with humanity.

But Lazarus didn't go to Hades. It was the unnamed rich man who went there:

“"There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. "But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, "desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. "So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. "And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. "Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’” (Lu 16:19-24 NKJV)

Gospel found in Galatians 1:8-9: "But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, let him be accursed!"

In the Latter Day Saint movement, the angel Moroni visited Joseph Smith, the founder of the movement, on multiple occasions. Moroni is believed to have been the guardian of golden plates that contained the history of ancient American people. Smith recorded this history in the Book of Mormon, which is a holy scripture in the Mormon church.


This is strange doctrine along with 'The Pearl of Great Price'. The Bible is from God, these are from someone/thing else.

Question #1: Are there other earths with human life on them?

My answer: I doubt it, although I have seen people say there must be, because there are so many billions of suns in the universe, but I do not understand how one could arrive at an estimate of probability from a known case of only one--US!

Your answer?...

Yes, and I think some of the worst doctrine is in “THE DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS”. Here again is a sample of its content:

1. Containing revelations given to Joseph Smith, the prophet, with some additions by his successors in the Presidency of the Church, Copyright 1921 by Helen J. Grant, Trustee in Trust. [title page]

4. …my servant Joseph Smith… [to whom was given] power to lay the foundation of this church… the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth. [p.3]

24. Thus saith the Lord [to Joseph Smith]… the keys of this kingdom shall never be taken from you, while thou art in the world, neither in the world to come. [p.155]

26. Man was also in the beginning with God… for man is spirit. The elements are eternal... [p.160]

29. In case of difficulty respecting doctrine… the president may inquire and obtain the mind of the Lord by revelation. [p.179]

30. Whoso is not willing to lay down his life for my sake is not my disciple. [p. 181]

31. If any man shall… impart not his portion, according to the law of my gospel, unto the poor and the needy, he shall, with the wicked, lift up his eyes in hell. [p.183-184]

33. There are, in the church, two priesthoods, namely the Melchizedek and Aaronic… called the lesser priesthood. [p.191-192]

34. We therefore ask thee to… cause that the remnants of Jacob… be converted… to the fullness of the everlasting gospel. [p.202]

35. Thus shall my church be called in the last days, even the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. [p.209]

36. All those who gather unto the land of Zion shall be tithed of their surplus properties, and shall observe this law, or they shall not be found worthy to abide among you. [p.212]

37. Build a house to my name… for a baptismal font there is not upon the earth, that they, my saints, may be baptized for those who are dead. [p.221]

38. The Lord ordained and prepared before the foundation of the world the ordinance of baptism for the dead for the salvation of the dead who should die without knowledge of the gospel. [p.232]

39. The idea that the Father and the Son dwell in a man’s heart is an old sectarian notion… the Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s. [p.238]

40. In the celestial glory there are three heavens or degrees, and in order to obtain the highest, man must enter into… the new and everlasting covenant of marriage. [p.238]

41. All spirit is matter, but it is more fine. [p.239]

42. I reveal unto you a new and an everlasting covenant, and if ye abide not that covenant, then are ye damned… the conditions of this law are these: All covenants… that are not made and entered into and sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise… through the medium of mine anointed… my servant Joseph… are of no efficacy, virtue or force in after the resurrection. [p.239-240]

43. Therefore, if a man marry him a wife… not by me nor by my word… when they are out of the world they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are appointed angels… to minster for those who are worthy of a far more, and an exceeding, and an eternal weight of glory. [p.240-241]

44. If a man marry a wife by my word, which is my law, and by the new and everlasting covenant, and it is sealed unto them by the Holy Spirit of promise, by him who is anointed… then shall they be gods, because they have all power. [p.241]

Thoughts?

How many images does God have?

We were created in God's image.
And, also angels were created in God's image.

And, keep in mind.
God does not get bored.

We will have all eternity to explore who and what He is, not simply created things.
Why have more of something, when the something He has already pleases Him?

I repeat...
God does not get bored.

Man, does.

Humans were created in the image of God per the Bible but
I don't understand why angels were created, which is why I wonder
whether they are an OT way of describing the role of the Holy Spirit.

Yes, God does not get bored, and neither will saints in heaven.

Sorry, but the Scriptures (Genesis 1:26) say that "man was created in God's image", not the angels. Angels were created some time before the creation of the earth to serve Him and carry out His work on earth and in heaven. There are many types of angels (seraphim, cherubim, archangels, principalities, common angels) created for specific roles and purposes. By the way, there are no angels that look female throughout Scriptures. Some are part human-looking and part animal, some with wings, but most without. They have the ability to appear as an angel of light, or anything they want you to see them as, especially the fallen angels. Even still today.

I guess you meant to reply to Genez, but God had no need for angels of any name to serve him in any role before creating humanity, and afterward the manifestations could be attributed to the Holy Spirit--and sometimes were I think.

Perhaps you think God was getting bored before he created humanity?

I don't understand why angels were created, which is why I wonder
whether they are an OT way of describing the role of the Holy Spirit.

Sorry, but the Scriptures (Genesis 1:26) say that "man was created in God's image", not the angels. Angels were created some time before the creation of the earth to serve Him and carry out His work on earth and in heaven. There are many types of angels (seraphim, cherubim, archangels, principalities, common angels) created for specific roles and purposes. By the way, there are no angels that look female throughout Scriptures. Some are part human-looking and part animal, some with wings, but most without. They have the ability to appear as an angel of light, or anything they want you to see them as, especially the fallen angels. Even still today.

Yes I did, sorry. Interesting, but what Scriptures are you using to support this view?

Question #1: Are there other earths with human life on them?

My answer: I doubt it, although I have seen people say there must be, because there are so many billions of suns in the universe, but I do not understand how one could arrive at an estimate of probability from a known case of only one--US!

Your answer?...

I don't understand how anyone can fall for this nonsense. #42 If we don't fall for this false doctrine, we are damned?? Yet, this is a popular cult with well-meaning people. I love to welcome them when they come to my door, I hit them with Scripture, 'POW' , lol.