…. That’s the way the man spelled it …. Rehab the harlot… had to be her stage name

you clearly stated that they earned their Salvation.

If dad doesn't go eventually the kids tend to quit going as well and the grandkids never get exposed. Sacrifice a couple hours a week and get acquainted with some of those good people.

I don’t believe so. I believe that the nations outside of Israel were given over as inheritance to the other “sons of god” aka angelic beings. I believe that those sons of god ruled over those nations and did so poorly. Despite that, most of the people still belonged to that nation through their worship of the evil gods. There are at least a couple instances in the Old Testament that come to mind of non Israelites rejecting their nations gods and accepting that Yahweh is the one true God. Or the God most high. Namaan is one of these people. A Syrian who was healed of leprosy. Even the rulers/kings who believed in the god of the Israelites after seeing a miracle (Daniel and the lions den, fiery furnace, etc) could fall into this category. I believe that salvation has always been for all people and the choice was always up to the individual to choose God or choose the gods of their fathers

…. If y’all don’t quit all this arguing you might find yourselves smitten down

Obout them not knowing Chist and only the jews going to heaven. But ya also the Rehab remark.

Speaking of the comment I made where Giant Sage said it sounds like purgatory, I was referring to the parable of the rich man who went to hades and saw Lazarus in Abraham’s bosom (heavens waiting room). I don’t personally believe in purgatory, but I don’t pretend to know all things so I’m not vehemently against it either

Oh, is everybody saved, then? Or is there some condition that the Bible does in fact state?

I know. It's still funny. lonestar, Rehab. Maybe a poor attempt at humor.

The Pharisees believed in an afterlife. The Sadducees did not (and, as the joke goes, that's why they're sad, you see).

lol, that’s a good one.

No body went to heaven until Jesus had paid the blood sacrifice, before that all went to a place where the best part was Abrahams Bosom and the worst part being Tartarus with other levels in between them. Jesus went there and preached to them and retrieved the Saints.

As far as purgatory, I feel its a part of the bereavement process the Jews used for when a family member would die. They would bury them in a tomb then for 11 months less one day while reciting the Mourner's Kaddish daily by maybe as much as 5 times daily, depending on how close the deceased was. A parent was more important than say a cousin. They would remove the body from the tomb and clean the rotted meat from the bones of the deceased. That was a type of a purification in their way of thinking. Then they would bury those clean bones with the others that were purified.

Jesus told the disciple that said he would follow him after he buried his parents, which could have been many months or years considering they might not even be dead yet. Jesus told him to put them in the tomb and literally let the dead in the tomb bury their own dead. Bereavement is a very important part for closer but is not meant to be perpetual.

The Kaddish prayers was not for the dead but praises to God. This life is where decisions are made and where the tree falls, there it shall lie.

…. Dermestid Beatles would have been a lot easier

Sval,
Clear as mud yet?

…. Yeah … some questions just can’t be answered I guess

… think I’ll take a shot of wild turkey… say a Kaddish prayer and carry on lol

… speaking of that … how does one go about saying a Kaddish prayer?

… or would I be better off pm’ing Rehab the harlot lol

Wild Turkey sounds good. Have a few for me.

Maybe you would be better off just not to worry about the future and just hope when you croak a relative or good friend will stand in for you at a Baptism For The Dead. It would be quicker and easier.

The Catholics had a racket going in the middle ages where you could pay the church to get your friends and relatives out of purgatory. IDK if they ever told you exactly how much a soul costs. All hogwash, of course. It's sad how often people in power use religion for gain.

Years ago we had a guy near here die. The church collected a lot of money to get him suitable for Heaven. A group went to one of his cousins and told him they thought they had him about prayed out and thought just $200 more would do it. The cousin told them he was sorry he didn't have any money and that they would just have to "let him go".

True story.