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| What does the Bible say about Women and Heaven? |
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Just the other day, I was in a class as a student learning American Sign Language (ASL); or perhaps I should say trying to learn. At some point during the class, which is being taught by a local Deaf ministry at a nearby church, I was reminded of the following and found it appropriate to mention. The class had a male instuctor and three male and two female students. I felt pretty safe since it was a 4 to 2 situation. Surely my male classmates would "save" me if attacked. I should mention that one of the ladies was Ms. West who had somehow acquired the nickname "The Wicked Witch of the West" at this church. I'm sure her nickname was all in good humor but I was a little apprehensive in bringing up my brief teaching about what the Bible says about women in Heaven. But I figured, what have I got to lose? Besides I'm the one in a wheelchair and wearing glasses...
Please open your Bible to the book of Revelation. Let's take a quick look at the first verse in Chapter 8. Now I'm not going to get into the details here about what is going on at this point in John's revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave him (Revelation 1:1). Many of the folks that I hear from will tell you that they "avoid" the book of Revelation like a plague because it is full of symbology and somewhat confusing. Of course, my response to that statement is that confusion comes from the devil (Satan) and what would he like better than to keep you from understanding the truth. That topic is for another post on another day...
Please direct your attention to Revelation 8:1 for a moment. I have studied this one verse in great detail using about twenty-five (25) different versions of the Holy Bible including the original Greek text and they all unequivocally agree with respect to translations of the original text and read just about the same. Using The Message translation, I quote:
"When the Lamb ripped off the seventh seal, Heaven fell quiet — complete silence for about half an hour." (from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)
8:1 And when he opened the seventh seal, there followed a silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. Now there is not too much confusion or disagreement about the second half of that sentence with respect to the meaning of the words. From all of my studies in language, I have learned that "complete silence" can be likened to the phrase "you could hear a pin drop" and more recently, I have decided to add "even if you are deaf" to emphasize how quiet it really is. Besides, I can poke fun at myself since I too am considered "deaf" although I am more correctly referred to as Hard of Hearing (HoH). But let's not get off the subject here...
OK, we all agree to some extent just how quiet "complete silence" really is. At least you know my definition of it. I feel pretty confident that we can also agree that "about half an hour" means roughly thirty (30) minutes; give or take a few minutes on either side. Are you with me so far? I've probably only lost my wife on this teaching because she has blonde hair. Let's hope she does not actually read what I write here.
Some of you all, if not all, probably have realized by now how this scripture relates to the title. I will not take sides but I do know that for most of the women I know, getting them to not say anything for an entire 30 minute period, well you know... It only follows that in order to have "complete silence for about half an hour" well; are women really in heaven; No? Yes? You decide... (as Pastor Dave ducks behind the lectern to avoid that cyber-object thrown by somebody in the audience)
I cannot take credit for discovering this subtle piece of humor. I learned it in an adult Sunday School class a few years back from a brother in Christ, also a licensed minister, who was teaching that morning. So if any of you all want to "set the record straight," remember; I'm just the messenger...
Pastor Dave |
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Can I leave a comment on my own blog? Please? Nothing really new to say except to apologize for running this through the "mill" a second time. Not that I wanted to but it was pointed out to me today by my own granddaughter (old gramps, I am) that my privacy settings in my profile were set to be "too" private. I guess I was a nOOb at setting up the privacy levels. You no longer need to know my third frog's middle name to add me as a friend, leave a comment, etc. My sincerest apologies to anyone that tried but got turned away by my watchdog... 
Dave :) |
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Of course women are in heaven! If how we behave on earth is any indication of how we will be in heaven (ie. women talking too much) then women must be there. How else do you think sweeps the streets of gold and shines the pearly gates?????? |
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Jeremy |
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March 11, 2007 at 7:55pm |
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Would this fit into the catagory of coarse joking?
Eph 5:4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. |
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Sue |
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March 11, 2007 at 8:15pm |
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I think even us women will be silenced when we all see Jesus face to face. You better believe it, we will be there! Jeremy, I think the Lord has an incredible sense of humor. I find a lot of very funny verses in Scripture. This blog is not obscene, nor out of place. I think, just like anything else, humor can be used for the good or the bad. Here it is just clean fun. |
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Thanks Jeremy...I was thinking more like... Cheerful heart/Laughter is good medicine... Sue - thanks for the "God has a sense of humor" reminder. I think about that everytime I see something like a platypus! |
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LOL... I do hope that none of the ladies here would think that there was any doubt in my mind that I would not be seeing them in heaven. If any of you all ever have the opportunity to meet me in person, I'll warn you now that people can generally not tell whether I am being serious or funny. If we had been in Sunday School and I presented this topic, I would have moved on to my next point without even cracking a smile. It allows me to see if anybody is actually listening to what I am saying. I am relieved to say that at least one person will question my "humor without a laugh" teaching. These sort of things have two purposes. First, it will generally "break the ice" when everyone is sitting there too afraid to make any comments or respond to any of my cues for discussion. It also generates interest into the scripture being read. How many of you all have heard your pastor "misquote" a scripture to see if anybody is listening? Remember, the person receiving the teaching is responsible for checking things against what the Bible actually says in totality. Have a terrific week in Christ! Your friend, Dave |
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| good reminder Pastor Dave.. I all too often have an 'in one ear, out the other' approach with scripture and teachings. But it is true that the details are where God reveals himself (and his sense of humor). Time to pay attention! :) |
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none |
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March 14, 2007 at 2:10pm |
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| i dont think its really that funny, i mean women dont talk constantly, i could go years without talking if it was necessary to not talk and probably have gone quite a time without making such a noise as a cough... what is it with guys and thinking women cant shut their mouths for all of two seconds... women love to have fun and just want to have a good time and we speak up when somethings wrong with us or with anything else we see, unlike men who wouldn't tell their wife if their arm got cut off with a powersaw, i do believe God has a sense of humor but don't go confusing people who don't know much about God into thinking women aren't allowed in heaven |
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Hello PastorDATM, I too am in a wheelchair. Vicki and I have been married for 7 years now, been together for 10. I enjoyed your joke. But I have to ask a question. Why would any man marry a woman that won't be quiet? Seems like she knows she can talk all she wants as long as the clothes are cleaned, the house is clean, and the comfort keeps you smiling. On the other hand, maybe I'm just exceptionally blessed. Vicki has few words. Yet when she speaks, she speaks directly to the matter, often humbling me and causing me to confront my own foolishness. She's a great woman, but sometimes I wonder if life would be easier for me if I had married a woman that talked endlessly. The words would then lose their potency. Nah. I'll keep the one I've got. I just won't let you know when she arrives in heaven. That'll be our little secret. Hahaha. |
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Hey, great comments everyone! Crystal has politely reminded me that I am not just talking to the adult Sunday School class here. On MyChurch, we have everybody “listening” to what we “say.” That includes both members with their own pages as well as visitors that found our blogs by search engine results, friends that E-mailed them a “look at this” link, a Google™ “I’m Feeling Lucky” hit; just about any means to arrive here. A good reminder for all of us! Thank you Crystal! I’m looking forward to future discussions with you and Angie as well as everyone else here at MyChurch! For Jonathan, like you, I know that God has blessed me with my wife. If it wasn’t for my wife, I might not be here today. You see, my wife, my girlfriend at the time, led me to Christ. Now, after nearly 25 years of marriage, I can go back over the years and see how God has used her to “grow” me. Simply awesome! I thank God every day for her. I’m going to pass the microphone to somebody else here and return to "receive mode." I really enjoy “listening” to the thoughts of others. Of course, that is why God gave us two ears, two eyes but only one mouth. And finally, as for women being in heaven, I have to thank God for that too. If women were not in heaven, I’d hate to think how all of us guys would decorate the rooms. I'm sure He thought about that from the foundation of time too! LOL Pastor Dave |
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