Here are some
additional comments or questions sent in by readers of this website:
Comment #1: “While the King James Version uses the word "celestial" and "terrestrial"
in referring to two different kinds of bodies, it never mentions the word
"telestial." Not only does Mormonism twist the context of First
Corinthians 15, it also adds another "kingdom" to make it fit their
theology” Heather.
Response: The scripture quoted
about the third glory uses the Greek word telos,
which means end. Or the end glory.
The word Telestial means last, having the same connotation. Thus, the three
kingdoms are Celestial, Terrestrial, and Telestial. It might also be noted,
that Celestial is from the Greek word, epouranlos,
which literally means “above the sky,” or the “the expanse of heaven,” that is,
beyond the atmosphere of the earth, and in this case, is larger than the moon
or the stars, or the highest degree of glory, likened to the sun, which makes
up 99% of our Solar System, and is the brightest light in the heavens. Epouranlos is also translated “heavenly”
in various scriptures and is the word that is associated with Father in the
name “Heavenly Father” as in Matthew 18:35. Epouranlos
is also the word used in 2 Timothy 4:18, wherein Paul is assured the Lord will
deliver him from evil so he might participate with Jesus in the “heavenly”
kingdom—obviously, the highest or greatest kingdom in heaven. Finely, Paul
tells us that we may be exalted to the “divine nature,” that is, to be like God
(2 Peter 1:4).
In addition, terrestrial means
“of the earth,” and separates the two kingdoms in heaven, that of the glory of
heaven (symbolized by the sun), and that of earth, since Paul makes it clear
that earth life and heavenly life are very distinctly different. “I press
toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus”
(Philippians 3:14), and the scriptures overall emphasize that there
is a great distinction between the heavenly nature and the earthly nature, that
the two are in no way blended into one, as erroneously supposed by so many. Man
was in no sense whatever a heavenly, or spiritual, being once organized, nor
will the nature of mortal man ever change, but that nature of heaven is far
higher and much different. Thus, the second degree of glory, or kingdom, is
called the Terrestrial as opposed to the Celestial.
Comment #2: “The Bible always uses the word "kingdom" (singular), not "kingdoms"
(plural) in referring to heaven. Although I could quote hundreds of verses,
here are just a few: Daniel taught there is only one kingdom. "And His
kingdom is one which will not be destroyed" (Dan. 7:14). Jesus taught
there is only one kingdom. "Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun
in the kingdom of their Father" (Matt. 13:43). Notice that Jesus only
refers to 2 groups of people, "good seed" and the "tares"
(Matt. 13:38). Paul taught there is only one kingdom. "For He delivered us
from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved
Son" (Col. 1:13). James taught there is only one kingdom. "Listen my
beloved brethren; did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith
and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?" (James
2:5) Mormonism teaches there are three kingdoms, a doctrine that is foreign to
Scripture. In fact, the word "kingdoms" is only used 3 times in the
entire New Testament (Matt. 4:8, Luke 4:5, and Heb. 11:33), all referring to
kingdoms of THIS world” Ingrid E.
Response: The term “kingdom” is
defined as “territory or country subject to a king” or “The inhabitants or
population subject to a king.” Obviously, the “kingdoms” referred to in Matthew
4:8, Luke 4:5, and Hebrews 11:33, all refer to several earthly kingdoms, each
subject to a separate king. On the other hand, there is only one kingdom in
heaven, with only one king. However, within God’s realm or overall kingdom, of
which he is the overall and only king, there are separate places, called
mansions by the Lord, named the Celestial and Terrestrial and End or Last
(Telestial) by Paul. In fact, the Lord made it clear, “In my Father’s
house (kingdom) there are many mansions
(separate areas, or minor kingdoms)” (John 14:2). That is, there is the
Celestial Mansion, Terrestrial Mansion, and End/Last (Telestial) Mansion. Each
of these mansions have separate and very different glories—one of the sun, one
of the moon, and one of the stars.
Now, to put this in a different
light, the question is: “Do you feel you should inherit the same glory as
Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Noah, Adam, etc.? Do you feel you have earned the same
glory as George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Madam Curie, Helen Keller, Jonas
Salk, Florence Nightingale, Henry Ford, Mother Teresa, Hippocrates, Galileo,
Archimedes, Claudius Plotemy, Albert Einstein, Christopher Columbus, etc.,
etc., etc.? Or more importantly, would you feel comfortable around these great
people who have done so much, sacrificed so much, and achieved so much?
What about the other side. Do you
feel you deserve greater glory, or a more comfortable after-life than Alolph
Hitler, Genghis Khan, Josef Stalin, Fidel Castro, Sadam Hussein, Charles Manson,
Benito Mussolini, Mao Tse-tung, Attila the Hun, Maximilien Robespierre,
Ruhollah Khomeini, Pol Pot, or Caligula?
It is not logical to think that a
kind and loving heavenly father would place murderers in the same eternal
sphere as those who have lived a righteous, law-abiding life. Should Martin
Luther share the same eternal fate as Kublai Khan, or Winston Churchill with
Heinrich Himmler, Hirohito or Hideki Tojo?
The point is, there are many
mansions, many divisions, many separations within the eternal world, and each
of us will inherit that type of resurrection and glory, or mansion, as we have
earned through our life here on earth. No other arrangement would be fair and
could exist with a kind and loving heavenly father.
Comment #3: “God
rejected the fig leaf aprons which Adam and Eve made (Gen. 3:21). Why do
Mormons memorialize the fall by using fig leaf aprons in the secret temple
ceremonies?”
Response: First of all, LDS Temple ceremonies are not secret, they are sacred, and as such, are private. As for the apron, by its very nature, is truly not a covering for nakedness—it covers only the
bare essentials of a man and not all of a woman. The Lord in the scripture
quoted made coats of skin. In fact, one of the definitions of “coat” is “an
external covering, as the fur or hair of a beast or the wool of sheep, etc.,”
and “a cover.” Obviously, the coats of skin were made to cover Adam and Eve’s
bodies, showing the Lord’s interest in modesty—something that modern people
might consider when they choose clothing to wear. As for the purpose of the temple
ceremony, either a person attends such ceremony and understands the symbolism
of the apron, or one has no knowledge of, nor understanding of, its purpose.
However, it should be understood, that God did not reject the fig leaf aprons
Adam and Eve donned once they discovered their nakedness. One should fully
understand they had nothing else to use at the time. It could also be
understood that as the Lord made the coasts of skin, he was teaching Adam how
to kill and skin an animal so he would be able to make his own clothes in the
future.
No comments:
Post a Comment