All-honorable paradise, the most beautiful kindness, a god-created village, endless fun and pleasure,
Glory to the righteous, beauty of prophets and holy dwelling, Pray to the Creator of all with the noise of your leaves,
I opened the gates that I closed with crime.
Lenten Triodion, raw food week, stichera to the Lord I cried.
About paradise
- Father Alexander, please tell us about the conclusions you came to by studying the writings of the holy fathers about paradise.
My own task is very modest in view of the scope of my capabilities. I think that, first of all, we should thoroughly study the teaching of the Holy Fathers about the cosmos and the creation of the world and systematize it. Here you can find material for writing ten dissertations, but few do this. Meanwhile, everyone who writes about the creation of the world and man is very fond of referring to the holy fathers. That is, we often see how individual quotes are taken and adjusted to the author’s reasoning. This approach can hardly be considered scientific.
The main feature of the teaching of the holy fathers about the creation of the world was, in my opinion, attention to the action of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God abided in the created world from the very beginning of its creation, and Scripture (in the Hebrew version) likens this action to a bird hatching an egg - this is how St. Ephraim the Syrian translates the Hebrew text. The world was perceived as a created cosmos, initially and continuously filled with life. This initial fullness of life makes the primordial cosmos different from what we see now.
Such great interest in matter itself, as we see today, appeared much later, already in modern times, in Europe, which was losing faith in Christ. In addition, the aesthetic aspect was of great importance to the ancients, which is either not mentioned or spoken briefly, or even in passing. In fact, the idea of beauty is one of the most important for understanding Shestodnev. But this is, so to speak, “not modern.” It should be noted that now there are theologians who understand all this and are striving to find a new solution to this issue. I would name N. Serebryakov and priest Oleg Mumrikov.
- Why is the doctrine of heaven important for modern Orthodox theology?
Tree of Life
- What is the Tree of Life?
Today the source of life for us is the sun, but at the beginning of creation it was not so. Life was sustained by the grace of God. A mysterious Tree of Life was planted in paradise, which was supposed to become the source of eternal life for man and for the whole world, but man could partake of it only with the special blessing of God. The Holy Fathers say that it was both a real and a symbolic tree. Liturgical poetry speaks of the Cross of Christ as the Tree of Life. And the Lord Jesus Christ Himself is the Tree of Life. As we read in the service of the forefeast of the Nativity of Christ, “the tree of the belly in the den of prosperity is from the Virgin.”
Light emanated from the Tree of Life, as St. Ephraim the Syrian writes about it, but it was a special light. Probably this light was not limited to the space of heaven: it spread to the entire universe. The Bible says that even before the creation of the sun, there was primordial light. The sun, as St. Basil the Great writes, was “the chariot of primordial light.” This light can be tried to be associated with cosmic microwave background radiation. But there was also a heavenly light. Just as the water of heaven watered the whole earth, so the light of heaven illuminated the whole universe. And after the Fall, this light is also separated from our universe. The relict radiation has survived, but the heavenly light does not illuminate our planet.
Animals
The Bible says that animals were immediately produced by the earth and then brought into heaven by God. Some scientific directions adhere to the theory of evolution, that is, the doctrine of the origin of some species from others. How to be here?
Yes, animals and birds were brought to heaven. And the fish, too, probably swam along the heavenly river. All creation was brought for heavenly blessing. The animals, in orderly rows, without fear of each other, went to heaven, and Adam gave them names, says St. Ephraim the Syrian. They were afraid of the man, but they obeyed him. What did this mean for the relationship between Adam and the animal world? According to the ancients, giving something a name meant gaining possession of that object, since the name is associated with the essence of the thing.
For example, the philosopher Plato said that the essence of every creature is its idea: a horse has “horseness,” the idea of a horse, which is the essence of a horse. Adam gave names to animals and through this he comprehended their essence, thus gaining power over them. Of course, the presence of animals in paradise in some way ennobled them. This was some very important stage for them. This shows that the theory of evolution has nothing to do with the biblical text, at least until judgment is pronounced. By the way, let me remind you that according to Shestodnev, all animals ate grass - there were no predators on earth, but what about us? And what does “natural science” apologetics say about this?
- What is your opinion?
It seems to me that this herbal diet indicates the special nature of the primordial world, like paradise - no one ate each other there, there was no suffering and cruelty in the behavior of animals. They were created dispassionate.
But what about dinosaurs, lizards, mastodons, saber-toothed tigers and other creatures that paleontology talks about? Children often ask about this. And for some reason no one answers them...
As we have just said, we must keep in mind that the paradise and primordial existence was qualitatively different from the existing existence. You must either believe in this as truth, or consider the story about paradise a children's fairy tale. We must remember the doctrine of the essence of things. The essence is unchangeable, although everything external in a given being can change. The essence of the holistic animal world is that all animals in general were created as assistants to people. Not just horses, dogs and elephants, but all living beings in general. Prehistoric creatures discovered by science - giants possessing incredible strength - were supposed to be helpers, servants of humanity.
Answer:
The worldly is a place of testing and service, and akhira is a place of reward. Anyone who performs worship in worldly life and avoids committing sins will receive reward in Paradise. is a place where all relatives and friends will live together. Family and neighborly relations will continue there. The inhabitants of Heaven will see the inhabitants of Hell, and the inhabitants of Hell will see the inhabitants of Paradise.
Heaven is corner of happiness of eternal life, a place of endless happiness and pleasure. This is the abode of those who have received the pleasure of their Lord. In Paradise there is no place for unbelief, polytheism, hypocrisy and delusion. There is also no place for bad character traits, such as lies, slander, slander, etc. The inhabitants of Paradise will be free from such shortcomings as illness, fatigue, insomnia, and so on.
Our Almighty Lord, telling us the good news about this place, says: “Allah promised believing men and women Gardens of Eden, in which rivers flow and in which they will abide forever, as well as beautiful dwellings in the Gardens of Eden. But Allah's pleasure will be greater than this. This is great success” (at-Tawbah 9/72).
In addition, this divine message also has a side that concerns all the inhabitants of Paradise: when these inhabitants of the abode of happiness are awarded all these blessings, they will think: “This is a sign that my Lord is pleased with me,” and will experience spiritual pleasure .
This means that in Paradise, in addition to physical pleasures, there will also be spiritual pleasure that surpasses them. The opinion that Paradise is just a place of spiritual pleasure is wrong and erroneous, and contradicts all the verses regarding life in akhira.
Details about life in Paradise, we learn from the Koran and Hadith. For example, it is reported that there are eight gates leading to Paradise, each of which also symbolizes different degrees of Paradise. Those entering Paradise will be greeted by angels. The inhabitants of Paradise will be freed from sadness, sadness, fear and shyness, and any of their desires will be fulfilled in Paradise. All the inhabitants of Paradise will be 33 years old and will have the same qualities.
People living in Paradise will be dressed in expensive clothes and decorated with gold bracelets. They will lie on beds encrusted with precious stones, and they will be served by eternally young servants. Who will serve them all kinds of food and drinks. One day in Paradise will be equal to a thousand years of worldly life. Paradise palaces will be built of gold, silver, emeralds and pearls.
But Allah's pleasure and the contemplation of His splendor, will surpass all these blessings. The Koran says that believers will see Allah in Paradise. And this will be the greatest pleasure for the inhabitants of Paradise, which cannot be compared with any other.
Islam-Today
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In 1999, the Miramax film company presented the comedy film Dogma to the general public. The plot of this picture is built around two fallen angels, Loki and Bartleby, expelled by God from paradise. And this couple lives on earth among people and dreams of forgiveness and a return to the Garden of Eden. In the story, apostates find a technical loophole among various church dogmas that allows them to become sinless again. After this, they should immediately die - then they automatically go to heaven. And so the angels go to great lengths to make their dream come true. This comedy film touches on a question that worries many people, although not everyone can admit it even to themselves: “How to get to heaven?” Today we will try to figure this out, despite the fact that this topic is, so to speak, in the department of faith and religion. To date, science has not been able to provide evidence of the existence of paradise, nor has it been able to provide evidence of its absence. Well, let's hit the road...
What is "paradise"?
We suggest starting our research with an analysis of the concept itself. If you delve deeper into this topic, you will see that heaven is different from heaven. And in each religion the vision of this place is completely different, each confession describes it in its own way. For example, the main book of Christianity, the Bible, gives us the following information about it: this word refers to the Garden of Eden, which was the home of Adam and Eve, the ancestors of humanity. The life of the first people in paradise was simple and carefree; they knew neither illness nor death. One day they disobeyed God and gave in to temptation. There followed an immediate expulsion of people from paradise. According to prophecies, it will be restored and people will live in it again. The Bible claims that paradise was originally created on earth, so Christians believe that it will be restored there. Now only the righteous can get there, and even then only after death.
What does the Koran say about heaven? In Islam, this is also a garden (Jannat), in which the righteous will live after the Day of Judgment. The Koran describes in detail this place, its levels and features.
In Judaism, everything is somewhat more complicated, however, after reading the Talmud, Midrash and the book of Zohar, we can conclude that paradise for Jews is here and now, it was given to them by Jehovah.
In general, each religion has its own idea of the “treasured garden.” One thing remains unchanged. No matter what object is considered, be it the Buddhist Nirvana or the Scandinavian Valhalla, heaven is perceived as a place where eternal bliss reigns, granted after death. There is probably no point in delving into the beliefs of African or Australian natives - they are too alien to us, and therefore we will limit ourselves to the largest religious denominations. And let's move on to the main topic of our article: “How to get to heaven?”
Christianity and Islam
With these religions, everything is more or less clear: lead a righteous lifestyle, that is, live according to God’s commandments, and after death your soul will go to the “cherished garden.” However, for those who do not want to limit their freedom and are looking for easier ways, there are so-called loopholes that allow them to avoid hellfire. True, there are some nuances here. A very striking example is jihad in Islam - zeal on the path to Allah. Recently, this concept has been associated with armed struggle and self-sacrifice, although it is much broader and is a struggle against one’s social or spiritual vices. We will look at a particular case of jihad, advertised by the media, namely suicide bombers. World news feeds are full of reports of explosions carried out by suicide bombers around the world. Who are they and why do they decide to take such actions? It is worth thinking about whether these people are doing a godly deed or are they victims of behind-the-scenes manipulators who, in the struggle for power, do not hesitate to shed the blood of others? After all, as a rule, it is not enemy soldiers who suffer from the actions of suicide bombers, but civilians. So their actions can at least be called questionable; killing women and children is not a fight against vices, but a violation of the main commandment of God - do not kill. By the way, murder is also not welcomed in Islam, just like in Christianity. On the other hand, history remembers wars committed in the name of God: the Church blessed the crusaders, the Pope personally sent soldiers on their bloody campaign. So the actions of Islamic terrorists can be understood, but cannot be justified. Murder is murder, and it doesn’t matter for what purpose it was committed.
By the way, in Orthodox Christianity, military service is also considered a charitable deed, although this concerns the defense of the Russian land from an external enemy. Both in the distant past and today, priests blessed warriors going on a campaign; There are many cases where church ministers themselves took up arms and went to war. It is difficult to say unequivocally whether a soldier killed in battle will go to heaven or not, whether all his sins will be written off from him or, on the contrary, he will be dragged down into the flames of hell. So this method can hardly be called a ticket to the Garden of Eden. Let's try to find other, more reliable methods.
Indulgence
How do people get to heaven? In the first half of the 13th century, Hugo of Saint-Cher in his writings developed the Theological justification for indulgence, recognized a hundred years later by Pope Clement VI. Many sinners of that time perked up, because they had an excellent chance to get rid of their sins that stood in the way of eternal bliss. What is meant by this concept? An indulgence is a release from temporary punishment for sins that a person has already repented of, and the guilt for them has already been forgiven in the sacrament of confession. It can be either partial or complete. A believer can receive an indulgence for himself or for the deceased. According to Catholic teaching, complete forgiveness is possible only if specific requirements are met: confession, communion, it was necessary to pray in the intention of the Pope, as well as perform a number of certain actions (testimony of faith, service of mercy, pilgrimage, etc.). Later, the Church compiled a list of “super-duty good deeds” that made it possible to grant indulgences.
In the Middle Ages, the practice of issuing pardons often led to significant abuses, which can be characterized by the modern concept of “corruption.” The furry hydra was so entangled that it served as an impetus for the reform movement. As a result, Pope Pius V in 1567 “closed shop” and prohibited the issuance of pardons for any financial settlements. The modern procedure for their provision is regulated by the document “Guide to Indulgences,” which was issued in 1968 and supplemented in 1999. For those who ask the question: “How to get to heaven?” It should be understood that this method can only work if you are on your deathbed (this way you will not have time to sin again). Although a person often manages to make unforgivable mistakes even in a dying state.
Sacrament of Baptism
How to get to heaven? The fact is that, according to Christian teaching, during this ritual the human soul is freed from all sins. True, this method is not suitable for the majority of people, because a person can go through it only once, and in most cases, parents baptize their children in infancy. Only representatives of the royal dynasty underwent the ceremony twice, and then only at the coronation. So, if you are already baptized and do not belong to the royal family, then this method is not for you. Otherwise, you have a chance to get rid of all your sins, but just don’t go to great lengths and finally do something that you will later be ashamed to tell your grandchildren about. By the way, some representatives of Judaism prefer to convert to Christianity in old age. So, just in case, because - according to their faith - heaven is here on Earth, and what will happen after death? So you can insure yourself, and at the end of your earthly existence, switch to another camp and ensure eternal bliss for yourself in Christian paradise. But, as you see, this path is only available to a select few.
Egyptian, Tibetan and Mesoamerican "Books of the Dead"
How does a soul get to heaven? Few people know, but for this there are precise instructions that serve as a guide for the deceased in the afterlife. Many people have heard about them, Hollywood has made more than one film about these treatises, and yet almost no one is familiar with their content. But in ancient times they were studied with great zeal by both noble people and servants. In fact, from the perspective of a modern person, “The Book of the Dead” resembles a computer game like a quest. It describes step by step all the actions of the deceased, indicates who is waiting for him at one or another level of the afterlife, and what needs to be given to the servants of the underworld. The yellow press is replete with interviews with survivors. People who have seen heaven and hell talk about their feelings and experiences about this. But few people know that studies of these visions conducted by R. Moody showed a colossal coincidence of such narratives with what the “Books of the Dead” describe, or more precisely, those parts of them that are devoted to the initial moments of posthumous existence. However, all “returnees” reach a certain stage, the so-called point of “no return,” and they cannot say anything about their further path. But the ancient texts speak, and in great detail. Moreover, the question immediately arises: how did ancient civilizations living on different continents know about this? After all, the contents of the texts are almost identical, there are minor differences in details and names, but the essence remains the same. Either we can assume that all the “Books of the Dead” were rewritten from one, more ancient source, or this is knowledge given to people by the gods, and everything that is written there is the truth. After all, people who “saw heaven” (experienced clinical death) talk about the same thing, although most of them have never read these manuscripts.
Ancient knowledge and equipment of the deceased
In ancient Egypt, priests prepared and taught the citizens of their country for the afterlife. How? During his lifetime, a person studied “magic techniques and formulas” that helped the soul overcome obstacles and defeat monsters. Relatives always put items in the grave of the deceased that he would need in the afterlife. For example, it was necessary to leave two coins - this is the payment to the boatman for transporting him across the river of death. People who have “seen heaven” often mention that they met dead friends, good acquaintances or relatives there who helped them with advice. And this is easily explained by the fact that modern people know nothing about the afterlife, because they don’t talk about it at school, and you won’t receive such information in institutes either. The priests in the church won't help you much either. What remains? This is where people close to you appear who care about your fate.
Court of the Gods
Almost all religions say that after death a person will face a trial, at which all the good and evil deeds of the defendant will be compared and weighed, based on the results of which his future fate will be decided. Such a judgment is also spoken of in the Books of the Dead. The soul wandering in the afterlife, having passed all the tests, at the end of the journey meets the Supreme King and judge Osiris, sitting on the throne. A person must address him with a certain ritual phrase in which he lists how he lived and whether he followed the commandments of God throughout his life. According to the “Egyptian Book of the Dead,” the soul, after turning to Osiris, had to justify itself for each of its sins before the other 42 gods responsible for certain sins. However, no words of the deceased could save him. The main god placed a feather on one scale, which is a symbol (truth, justice, world order, truth), and on the second - the heart of the defendant. If it outweighed the feather, it meant that it was full of sins. And such a person was devoured by the monster Amait.
If the scales remained in balance, or the heart turned out to be lighter than a feather, then a meeting with loved ones and relatives, as well as “eternal bliss,” awaited the soul. People who saw heaven and hell never described the judgment of the gods, and this is understandable, because it is located beyond the “point of no return,” so one can only guess about the reliability of this information. But we should not forget that most religious denominations talk about such an “event”.
What do people do in heaven?
Oddly enough, few people think about this. According to the Bible, Adam (the first man in paradise) lived in the Garden of Eden and did not know any worries, he was not familiar with diseases, physical labor, he did not even need to use clothes, which means that the climatic conditions there were quite comfortable. That's it, nothing more is known about his stay in this place. But this is a description of the earthly paradise, and as for the heavenly one, even less is known about it. Scandinavian Valhalla and Islamic Jannat promise the righteous eternal bliss, they will be surrounded by full-breasted beauties, and wine will pour into their cups; the Koran tells that the cups will be filled by eternally young boys with cups. The righteous will be freed from the torment of a hangover, they will have everything in order with their virility. This is such an idyll, however, the status of boys and full-breasted beauties is unclear. Who are they? Deserving of heaven or exiled here as punishment for past sins? Somehow it’s not entirely clear.
Slaves of the gods
The Books of the Dead tell of a completely different idyll. In accordance with these ancient treatises, “eternal bliss” boils down only to the fact that there are no crop failures, and therefore no famine or wars. People in paradise, as in life, continue to work for the benefit of the gods. That is, a person is a slave. This is evidenced by the books of both the Mesoamerican Indians and the ancient Egyptians, and, of course, the Tibetan manuscript. But among the ancient Sumerians, the ideal picture of the afterlife looks much darker. Having crossed to the other side, the soul of the deceased passes through seven gates and enters a huge room in which there is neither drink nor food, but only muddy water and clay. This is where the main afterlife torments begin. The only relief for her may be regular sacrifices, which will be carried out by living relatives. If the deceased was a lonely person or his loved ones treated him poorly and do not want to perform the ritual, then the soul will face a very bad fate: it comes out of the dungeon and wanders around the world in the form of a hungry ghost and harms everyone it meets. This is the idea of the afterlife that the ancient Sumerians had, but the beginning of their works also coincides with the Books of the Dead. Unfortunately, people who have “been in heaven” are not able to lift the curtain on what lies beyond the “point of no return.” Representatives of the main religious denominations are also unable to do this.
Father Diy about religions
In Russia there are many religious movements of the so-called pagan direction. One of these is the Old Russian Church of Orthodox Old Believers-Yinglings, the leader of which is A. Yu. Khinevich. In one of his video speeches, Pater Diy recalls the assignment received from his teacher-mentor. The essence of his “mission” was the following: to find out from representatives of the main religious denominations what they know about hell and heaven. As a result of such surveys, Khinevich learns that Christian, Islamic, and Jewish clergy have comprehensive information about hell. They can name all its levels, dangers, trials awaiting the sinner, almost by name they list all the monsters that will meet with the lost soul, and so on, so on, so on... However, absolutely all the servants with whom he had a chance to communicate know amazingly little about heaven. They have only superficial information about the place of eternal bliss. Why is this so? Khinevich himself makes the following conclusion: they say, whoever they serve, they know about that... We will not be so categorical in our judgments, and will leave this to the reader. In this case, it would be appropriate to recall the words of the classic, the brilliant M. A. Bulgakov. In the novel “The Master and Margarita” he puts into Woland’s mouth the phrase that there are many theories regarding the afterlife. Among them there is one according to which each will be given according to his faith...
Is there enough space?
Topics related to the Garden of Eden are often discussed on various information resources. People are interested in various questions. And how can you get there, and how many people are in heaven and much more. A couple of years ago, the whole world was in a fever: everyone was waiting for the “end of the world,” which was supposed to come in December 2012. In this regard, many predicted that the very “Day of Judgment” was about to come, when God would descend to earth and punish all sinners, and grant eternal bliss to the righteous. And this is where the fun begins. How many people will go to heaven? Is there enough room for everyone? Or will everything happen as in the plans of the globalists who want to leave the “golden billion” on the planet? These and similar questions haunted many, preventing them from sleeping at night. However, 2013 came, the “end of the world” did not come, but the expectation of “Judgment Day” remained. More and more often, Jehovah's Witnesses, evangelists, etc. are turning to passers-by with a call to repent and let God into their souls, because soon everything that exists will come to an end, and everyone must make their choice before it is too late.
Heaven on Earth
According to the Bible, the Garden of Eden was on Earth, and many theologians are confident that in the future it will also be restored on our planet. However, a reasonable person may wonder: why wait for the day of judgment, maybe you can build paradise on your own? Ask any fisherman who has met the dawn with a fishing rod in his hands somewhere on a quiet lake: where is paradise? He will confidently answer that he is on Earth, here and now. Maybe you shouldn't sit in a stuffy apartment? Try to go to the forest, to the river or to the mountains, wander in silence, listen to birdsong, look for mushrooms, berries - and, quite possibly, you will discover this “eternal bliss” during your lifetime. However, man is designed in such a way that he always expects a miracle... Like, some kind uncle will appear and solve all his problems - he will wean slobs from throwing garbage past the trash can, rude people from swearing, boors from parking in the wrong place, corrupt officials from taking bribes, and so on further. A person sits and waits, and life passes by, it cannot be returned... Muslims have a parable called “The last person to enter heaven.” It most accurately conveys the essence of human nature, which always remains dissatisfied with the true state of affairs. A person always remains dissatisfied, even if he gets what he dreams of. I wonder if he will be happy in heaven, or maybe some time will pass and he will begin to be burdened by “eternal bliss” and want something more? After all, Adam and Eve also could not resist temptations. It would be worth thinking about this...
"Terraria": how to get to heaven
Finally, we will have to cover this issue, although it is difficult to tie it to the topic of the article. "Terraria" is a 2D sandbox computer game. It features customizable characters, dynamic time of day changes, randomly generated worlds, the ability to deform the landscape, and a crafting system. Many gamers are scratching their heads, asking a similar question: “Terraria”: how to get to heaven?” The fact is that in this project there are several biomes: “Jungle”, “Ocean”, “Ground World”, “Dungeon”, “Underworld”, etc... In theory, “Paradise” should also exist, only Can't find it. It is especially difficult for beginners. This is the biome that is taken out of the logical chain. Although experienced players claim that it exists. To get there, you need to craft harpy wings and spheres of power. You can get the necessary components near the “Floating Islands”. These are pieces of land floating in the air. Their appearance is not much different from the ground surface: there are the same trees and resource deposits as on the ground, and only a lonely temple with a chest inside stands out from the rest of the landscape. Harpies will definitely appear nearby, dropping the feathers we need so much, and other monsters. Be on the lookout!
This concludes our journey. Let us hope that the reader will find his way to “eternal bliss.”
Question:
It is said that the Almighty grants in eternal life that which was not accepted in the eternal world. Believers will wish that their duas were not accepted in order to receive it in eternal life. What about what was forbidden for a believer? Can a believer ask for something that was forbidden on Earth?
Answer:
In fact, the pleasures of the afterlife are not the same as the temporary pleasures of this world. The Koran tells that the inhabitants of paradise will receive everything they want: “Everything that your souls desire is prepared for you there! Everything you ask for is prepared for you there!
“We are your helpers (or guardians) in this worldly life and the Hereafter. Everything your souls desire is in store for you there! Everything you ask for is prepared for you there!” (41:31).
Regarding the question regarding the fact that a believer will receive in Jannat what they desired during their lifetime, but was forbidden, such as having a dog or wearing silk, the Quran says:
“They will be surrounded with dishes of gold and cups. There will be what souls thirst for and what delights the eyes. You will remain there forever."
Allah has made certain things forbidden for believers in this mortal life because of their harmful influence. These things will become permissible in Jannah, as their harmful influence will be removed by Allah Almighty.
For example, in Paradise people will be allowed to wear silk and gold and drink wine, but this wine will not be like the drink of this world and will not cause intoxication. They will be allowed to listen to musical instruments being played without neglecting the remembrance of Allah. They will be allowed to eat whatever food they want, whenever they want, without any restrictions.
Those who find themselves in Paradise will remain there forever, enjoying its unprecedented and unheard of benefits that they had never imagined. It will be enough just to think about some good, and the inhabitants of Paradise will receive it. Everyone will receive benefits corresponding to their good deeds in earthly life.
The hadith says: “I [says the Lord of the worlds] have prepared for the righteous (for My servants) something that eyes have never seen, ears have never heard, and human consciousness cannot even imagine such things.”
The hadith also says: “Truly, the All-Good and Most High Allah will address the inhabitants of paradise: “O inhabitants of paradise!” - and they will say: “We are here, our Lord, and ready to serve You!” Then He will ask: “Are you satisfied?” - and they will say: “Why should we be dissatisfied, since You have given us something that You have not given to any of Your creatures!” Then He will say: “I will give you something better than this!” They will say: “O our Lord, what is better than this?” - and He will say: “I will give you My favor, and after that I will never be angry with you!”
Saida Hayat
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People call heaven the highest bliss that a person can experience. The Bible gives a description of heaven in Orthodoxy on various levels: spiritual, mental and physical. Very often Christians call the Kingdom of Heaven paradise, a place given by the Creator for a happy life for the glory of the Creator.
Eden - heaven on earth
Reading the Bible carefully, we see that the word “paradise” is first described in Genesis 2:8.
Before this, the Almighty created Heaven and earth, the stars, plants and fauna, and only then in the east he founded the paradise of Eden, the location of which can be determined by a geographical map. The Bible says that one river flowed from Eden, which divided into four: Pishon, Gihon, Tigris and Euphrates.
Garden of Eden
If the first two rivers have sunk into oblivion, the Tigris and Euphrates still exist today, which serves as indisputable proof for atheists of the existence of Eden. Modern Christians identify the concepts of heaven and Eden, although Eden is the name of a place, and paradise is the abode of the Divine essence. The mercy of the Lord and His care for His children are amazing. The Loving Father first prepared everything for the bliss of the first people, and then created them themselves.
Adam and Eve were kicked out of their place of bliss, but the first earthly couple did not lose the love of God. Adam and Eve could be in direct communication with the Creator, they saw Him and were filled with His mercy. It is difficult to imagine the feelings of people who were “shrouded” in the love of the Creator.
In the structure of the Garden of Eden, theologians of the world have traced three components connected together:
- Eden;
- outside world.
Eden became the prototype for the creation of the tabernacle, a tent created according to the descriptions given by the Creator. The Tabernacle served as the place of temple services for the Jews while moving through the desert and consisted of the Holy of Holies - paradise, the Sanctuary - Eden, and the outer court - the outer world.
The Tabernacle and its Ministry
In the design of modern temples one can also draw a parallel with the habitat of the first people. The altar is a symbol of the heavenly corner, the meal is associated with Eden, and the porch is a symbol of the outside world.
You should not look for the location of the Garden of Eden on modern maps, because it was created even before the flood, after which the earth’s crust changed.
For Orthodox believers, the Garden of Eden has become a place given by the Creator, where there is no suffering, illness, or death itself. Great is the promise of the Most High given in the Revelation of John. It says that the heavenly corner on earth will be restored. (Rev. 21:1)
Important! The description of heaven in Orthodoxy implies not only the geographical location of the Garden of Eden, but the bliss of being in the love of the Creator in spirit and soul, both now and in eternity.
The Kingdom of God is a heavenly Eden
A great consolation for people who have lost their loved ones is the possibility of meeting them in heaven. The kingdom of heaven, promised by Jesus Christ, is in heaven and on earth, in the hearts of Christians.
The goal of earthly life, filled with suffering, wars, cataclysms, anxiety for tomorrow and one’s descendants, is the transition to Heavenly Jerusalem.
In the Gospel of Matthew 25:34 there is a promise of inheriting a prepared corner of Eden in Heaven, Jesus promises to drink wine with his disciples in the kingdom of the Father. (Matthew 26:29)
The Revelation of John describes paradise in heaven, which the prophet saw with his own eyes.
Vision of John the Evangelist
According to the testimonies of Saints Theodora, Euphrosyne, Saint Andrew the Fool (each of them at one time was raised into the heavens to the third heaven), the heavenly corner exists.
Testimony of Andrei Yurodivy
I saw myself dressed in the brightest robe, as if woven from lightning; a crown was on my head, woven from great flowers, and I was girded with a royal belt.
Rejoicing at this beauty, marveling with my mind and heart at the indescribable beauty of God's paradise, I walked around it and had fun. There were many gardens with tall trees: they swayed with their tops and amused the eyes, a great fragrance emanated from their branches... It is impossible to compare those trees to any earthly tree: God’s hand, and not man’s, planted them. There were countless birds in these gardens...
I saw a great river flowing in the middle (of the gardens) and filling them. On the other bank of the river there was a vineyard... Quiet and fragrant winds breathed there from four sides; from their breath the gardens shook and made a wonderful noise with their leaves... After that we entered into a wonderful flame, which did not scorch us, but only enlightened us.
I began to be horrified, and again the one who guided me (the angel) turned to me and gave me his hand, saying: “We must ascend even higher.” With this word we found ourselves above the third heaven, where I saw and heard many heavenly powers singing and praising God... (Rising even higher), I saw my Lord, like Isaiah the prophet once, sitting on a high and exalted throne, surrounded by seraphim.
He was clothed in a scarlet robe, His face shone with an indescribable light, and He turned His eyes towards me with love. Seeing Him, I fell on my face before Him... What joy then came over me from the vision of His face is impossible to express, so even now, remembering this vision, I am filled with indescribable sweetness." St. Theodora saw in paradise "beautiful villages and numerous abodes prepared for those who love God,” and heard “the voice of joy and spiritual gladness.”
The Kingdom of God is within man
The message of the Kingdom of God given by Jesus Christ runs like a red thread throughout the New Testament. The Creator is love, when filled with this feeling for other people, a person fills his heart with special bliss, Heavenly paradise.
Jesus Christ sent His disciples to bring people the Good News about the future life in eternity. (Luke 9:2)
Understanding the truth of the existence of a corner of bliss in heaven, a person ceases to be afraid of death, he tries to live his earthly, very short path so that he spends eternal life not in hell, but surrounded by angels and the light of the Holy Trinity. A churchgoer, filled with the love that reigns in the Orthodox Church, with his earthly life accomplishes the feat of preparing for the transition to Heavenly Jerusalem.
Forgiveness of sins from God
One of the ways Orthodox Christians can be surrounded by angels in heaven is through forgiveness.. Throughout his earthly life, a person, wittingly or unwittingly, offends people, and he himself is offended by them. The Holy Church, by the great Grace of the Creator, bestowed upon believers the sacraments of Communion and Confession.
Read about confession and communion:
- What prayers are usually read before confession and communion?
The response of the truly Orthodox to the words “Forgive me,” after which the sound “God will forgive,” is striking. People have great trust in God; if a person forgives from a pure heart, then the Almighty will definitely forgive, this is His promise. “God will forgive” is not just an excuse, it is faith in the love of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Very often an Orthodox person, weak in spirit, looks at the sins of another and compares his life with someone else’s. The worst thing is that on Judgment Day, every believer and non-believer will have to meet God face to face, and there will be no loved ones, relatives, neighbors and friends nearby. Everyone will give their own answer as to why they did not accept Jesus Christ into their hearts and did not receive an “entrance ticket” to heavenly paradise.
The Son of God said that only He is the road leading to God the Father. (John 14:1-6) Only I have faith in Christ, through His revelations a person is transformed from the inside, filling his heart with the Kingdom of God.
According to Metropolitan Hilarion, paradise is a state of the human soul, a bliss that can only be felt by the Orthodox, filled with the love of the Creator. The Metropolitan’s statements echo the words of the Evangelist Luke, who wrote that the Kingdom of God is within Christians. (Luke 17:20)
Learning to serve God through love for people, becoming the hands of Jesus on earth, filling the world with Christian love - these are the paths to filling the presence of God in the hearts of the Orthodox.
Return of heaven to earth
Psalm 37:29 states that the truly righteous will be the heirs of the new earth that God will create on our planet. Based on the prayer “Our Father,” one can trace the idea that Christ pointed out to Christians the coming of the Kingdom of God to earth.
Our Father who art in heaven! Hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven
New heavens and new earth in the Bible
The prophet Daniel wrote about a world government on earth led by Christ (Dan. 2:44), when God's rule will gather the nations and a new paradise will reign.
The prophet Isaiah also preached a new time, promising that the old times would seem like a bad dream. On the new Mount Zion there will be joy and gladness, and sorrow and sorrow will be removed.
Tell the timid souls: be strong, do not be afraid; Behold your God, vengeance will come, God’s recompense; He will come and save you.
Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf will be unstopped.
Then the lame will leap up like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb will sing; For waters will break out in the desert, and streams in the desert.
And the ghost of waters will turn into a lake, and the thirsty earth into springs of water; in the jackals' home, where they rest, there will be a place for reeds and reeds.
And there will be a high road there, and the way along it will be called the holy way: the unclean will not walk on it, but it will be for them alone. Those who follow this path, even inexperienced ones, will not get lost.
The lion will not be there, and the wild beast will not mount him; he will not be found there, but the redeemed will walk.
And the redeemed of the Lord will return, they will come to Zion with joyful shouting; and everlasting joy will be upon their heads; they will find joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing will be removed.
The Prophet John was instructed to tell people the good news that God promises to return paradise to earth as it was in Eden without pain, sorrow and problems. The New Jerusalem, the kingdom of joy, love and bliss is described in the 21st chapter of Revelation; the apostle emphasizes that at this time people again receive the gift of seeing and communicating with the Creator.
In order to meet God in the future, according to Archpriest Chaplin, you need to be filled with faith in God so that you know Him on an earthly level and be sure that you recognize the Creator in heaven, and He will recognize you.
God offers people His love in exchange for loyalty and obedience, and then He will fill believers with wisdom under one condition - they will not seek the truth on their own, tasting the fruit of Good and Evil, tasting sin.
Important! A person who tries to deal with sins and righteousness on his own, without knowing God's instructions, will certainly be blinded by the devil through money, sex, power, pride and unforgiveness. Only the word of God reveals true heaven - the bliss of being in God's presence.
What is heaven in Orthodoxy and how to get there
