Can I ask what you believe this "spirit" to be?
In the original languages of the Bible, "spirit", (the Hebrew word
ruʹach and the Greek word
pneuʹma), have a number of meanings. All of them refer to that which is invisible to human sight and gives evidence of force in motion.
The Hebrew and Greek words are used with reference to (1) wind, (2) the active life-force in earthly creatures, (3) the impelling force that issues from a person’s figurative heart and causes him to say and do things in a certain way, (4) inspired expressions originating from an invisible source, (5) spirit persons, and (6) God’s active force, or holy spirit.. (
Exodus 35:21; Psalm 104:29;
Matthew 12:43;
Luke 11:13)
You can see from the Greek word pneuma, that we have words in English that incorporate it....like "pneumonia" or "pneumatic"....pertaining to air or breath.
Animals and humans have the same "spirit" because they all breathe the same air. All have a need for oxygen.
Nice study.
Yes. A mighty rushing wind.
"And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. - Acts 2:2
"And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, even as a fig tree casts her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. - Revelation 6:13
I believe in the resurrection.
In
Ecclesiastes 12:7 says..
."Then the dust returns to the earth just as it happened to be and the spirit itself returns to the true God who gave it.”
How does the spirit "return" to God? The Bible teaches resurrection, which is a return to human life for the majority of us. Only God can return the breath that animates a soul. This is what Jesus did for his friend Lazarus. It is what he will also do for those who sleep in death. They will all be called from their graves. (
John 5:28-29)
I agree with you here. The spirit returns to God because it came from God, it was God who gave it. We are not a spirit. The spirit that is in us belongs to God. It contains all of our experience. It contains all of who we are, our essence. It will ensure our resurrection.
And if God has put His spirit in the animals too, can this be how the eyes of the Lord run to and fro? Can God be watching us through the eyes of the animals, through the eyes of our pets, through the eyes of the birds. Not a sparrow can fall without the Father knowing it?
For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him. - 2 Chronicles 16:9
So to our understanding, the "spirit" is no more of a living entity than the soul is. It is the breath that animates all living creatures.
I disagree with this part. But i've only recently changed my mind on it. The rapture people quote a verse where they think God brings from Heaven the spirits that have fallen asleep.
For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. - 1 Thessalonians 4:14
But i think where it says "bring with him", it means bring with Him away from the earth on the trip back to New Jerusalem. New Jerusalem is heaven. New Jerusalem is the Father's House with many rooms. God will also bring with Him to heaven, those who have fallen asleep.
In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. - John 14:2-3
Here is a snip from an extra Biblical page called the Apocalypse of Thomas that i find interesting.
Then shall they behold me coming from above in the light of my Father with the power and honour of the holy angels. Then at my coming shall the fence of fire of paradise be done away -because paradise is girt round about with fire. And this shall be that perpetual fire that shall consume the earth and all the elements of the world.
Then shall the spirits and souls of all men come forth from paradise and shall come upon all the earth: and every one of them shall go unto his own body, where it is laid up, and every one of them shall say: Here lieth my body. And when the great voice of those spirits shall be heard, then shall there be a great earthquake over all the world, and by the might thereof the mountains shall be cloven from above and the rocks from beneath. Then shall every spirit return into his own vessel and the bodies of the saints which have fallen asleep shall arise.
Then shall their bodies be changed into the image and likeness and the honour of the holy angels, and into the power of the image of mine holy Father. Then shall they be clothed with the vesture of life eternal, out of the cloud of light which hath never been seen in this world; for that cloud cometh down out of the highest realm of the heaven from the power of my Father. And that cloud shall compass about with the beauty thereof all the spirits that have believed in me.
The Apocalypse of Thomas
Are you saying that the spirits of humans and animals live on after death in spirit form?
YES! Because this spirit comes from God, and a spirit from God cannot die.
"All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return. Who knows if the human spirit rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?” -
Ecclesiastes 3:20-21
What "creatures" live in heaven? To my understanding they are angels.....spirit creatures. The word "creature" means a created being....angels are created, but not in the same form as we have. Living creatures inhabit all sorts of places....because God put them there.
I don't know. We'll find out when we get there. But i believe that heaven is a physical place. Streets of pure gold, gates of pearl, foundation walls of every kind of jewel. And there'll be the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And as Jesus promised, we will drink from the fruit of the vine when it is new in His Father's Kingdom.
They didn't have to tell us about that. We didn't need to be aware of this at this time. They must want us to know that we are not going to be disembodied spirits floating around in some strange space.
I am unfamiliar with your religion, so it prompted me to do some research. You never hear of the Waldensians these days. It appears that being accused of heresy gives us a common ground of sorts.
But we do not hold a Sabbath.
I guess it depends on who is doing the accusing.
Do you have others who share your views?
Any Commandment keeping Church from the SDA to the Seventh Day Baptists.
"Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. - Revelation 12:17
Peaceful Sabbath.
