Paradise and hell are not two different places. (This version is an outside concept.) They signify two different situations (ways), which originate from the same uncreated source, and are perceived by man as two, different experiences. Or, more precisely, they are the same experience, except that they are perceived differently by man, depending on man's internal state. This experience is: the sight of Christ inside the uncreated light of His divinity, of His "glory". From the moment of His Second Coming, through to all eternity, all people will be seeing Christ in His uncreated light. That is when "those who worked good deeds in their lifetime will go towards the resurrection of their life, while those who worked evil in their lifetime will go towards the resurrection of judgment" (John 5, 29). In the presence of Christ, mankind will be separated ("sheep" and "goats", to His right and His left). In other words, they will be discerned in two separate groups: those who will be looking upon Christ as paradise (the "exceeding good, the radiant") and those who will be looking upon Christ as hell ("the all- consuming fire", Hebrews 12,29). Paradise and Hell are the same reality.
Consequently, paradise and hell are not a reward or a punishment (condemnation), but the way that we individually experience the sight of Christ, depending on the condition of our heart. God doesn't punish in essence, although, for educative purposes, the Scripture does mention punishment. The more spiritual that one becomes, the better he can comprehend the language of the Scripture and our traditions. Man's condition (clean-unclean, repentant-unrepentant) is the factor that determines the acceptance of the Light as "paradise" or "hell".
No comments:
Post a Comment