praying for the dead

[thereaperman]

can u pray for ppl who have recently died?

can u pray for ppl who have passed over sometime ago?

what is heaven like?

what is hell like?

[pretzelperson]

1. If you want. I am not sure it will affect much.

2. See answer to #1.

3. Nice. Big houses and fancy streets. Really bright, too.

4. Hot, dark and nasty.

Edited December 10, 2004 by pretzelperson

[Leonard]

#1. If you will. And I am certain prayer is efficacious.......

[Matthitjah]

Reaper,

The Bible speaks of heaven and hell.

Let us look at heaven;

Re

[Botz]

Pretzelperson...

can u pray for ppl who have recently died?

can u pray for ppl who have passed over sometime ago?

what is heaven like?

what is hell like?

You will be wasting your prayers by devoting time praying for those who have died...either recently or long ago because they can no longer do anything to change their eternal destiny and neither can your prayers.

Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed to men once to die, but after this the judgment,

What you can do is pray for those that are grieving for someone they have lost and seek ways to reach out and comfort them with words of truth and love.

Matthew 5:4 Blessed are they that mourn! For they shall be comforted.

Heaven is too amazing to describe.

1Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written, "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard," nor has it entered into the heart of man, "the things which God has prepared for those who love Him."

Hell is too terrible to contemplate.

Luke 12:5 But I will warn you of whom you shall fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yea, I say to you, fear Him.

[other one]

this scripture sort of goes along with the praying for the dead:

1 Cor 15:29

29 Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?

KJV

I have never really understood what this is talking about. Mormons are the only people I have heard of that baptize for the dead.

There has to be some custom or wording that I just have not picked up on here. Can anyone help out?

[Kabowd]

What would you pray for if you were to pray for the dead? Just curious...

[Neil]

Ec:9:5: For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.

[Dad Ernie]

Greetings,

The doctrine about praying or being "baptized" for the dead comes from this verse:

1 Corinthians 15:29 Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?

Paul is not hereby establishing a doctrine, but is referring to a doctrine of those who "baptize for the dead". He is NOT endorsing it, but only proving a point, that even those who baptize for the dead believe there is some sort of "life after death".

The Christian Research Institute should have some downloadable files on this subject, or perhaps typing in "baptize + dead" in Google will get you some responses, but you have to be careful with that and select carefully.

FOR THE REAPERMAN:

All your answers can be found in the Bible. Please develop some good study habits and give Christ a chance to reveal Himself through His Word to you.

Blessings,

Dad Ernie

[jesussaves]

I don't see any point in praying for those who have already died. If you are praying for the dead you need to get into a good Bible study and learn about Jesus and His finished work at the cross. You also need to invest in three books that will help you to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord.

1. Bible (I have KJV, NKJV, NIV, Amplified, RSV) I use the KJV as sound biblical foundation and the others when I need to search something out.

2. Concordence (I use the Strongs Exhaustive)

3. Commentary (Matthew Henry is a pretty easy to read commentary)

Heaven and hell are both real and both described in the Bible. All people either be in heaven or hell for all eternity. There is no gray area with the Lord. He hates lukewarmness.