Is Heaven the transformation and perfection of the whole of creation? Flashcards
What does the writer of Revelation record about what God revealed to him, regarding the end of the world?
‘then I saw a “new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer an sea’
What is Parousia?
used to denote a state visit by a king. In Christianity, the Parousia is usually taken to mean the Second Coming of Christ: an event in which Christ will return to the earth to complete the whole plan for creation, to judge people and to take up his rule
What are the 4 different viewpoints regarding Parousia?
some take the ideas of the Bible literally where they refer to a second coming of Christ, and look forward to this time
people, e.g., Karl Barth, interpret it to mean events such as the Resurrection of Christ and the giving of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost
it will be single and final event
transformation and perfection of creation is underway and is the role of Christians in the world today
Why do Protestants reject the idea of purgatory?
it is an unnecessary doctrine, as Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross was total in its defeat of sin, enabling people to go straight into the presence of God if they accepted Jesus’ saving power
What were indulgences said to do?
was a supposed way of reducing the suffering of a loved one in purgatory
What did an indulgence entail?
living person would perform an act of pilgrimage, say some prayers, fast or allegedly, buy from the Church some kind of tokens by paying money to the Church when often they could not afford it
What did Martin Luther, a Protestant reformer, believe about indulgences?
he was vehement in his rejection of the selling of indulgences, and gradually also rejected teachings about purgatory, arguing that there was no biblical support for the idea. Luther believed that the doctrine of purgatory undermined biblical teaching about God’s saving grace through faith
What is the Catholic Church’s view on purgatory?
necessary in order for souls to be purified sufficiently to enter the holy presence of God.
