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Are There Any Rules in Heaven?

 Copyright © May 1, 2019 by Robert Wayne Atkins, P.E.
All Rights Reserved.

Introduction

Stars Most societies have some concept of a place where human souls go after their bodies die here on this earth.

Different societies and different religions have a variety of different names for the place where souls go.

The most common beliefs about life after death are as follows:
  1. Some believe that death is simply the end of life and there is no human soul.
  2. Some believe that the human body has an eternal soul and when the body dies the soul is set free to travel to another place.
    • Some believe there is only one place for all souls and that all souls go to that one place regardless of what they do while here on this earth.
    • Some believe there is a good place and a bad place and a person's soul goes to one of these places depending on what the person did while here on this earth.
The purpose of this short article is not to debate the above possibilities.

Nor will this article discuss what these different places are called, or how a decision is made on whether a person's soul goes to one place or another place.

The purpose of this article is to simply address the following question: If there is a good place where some souls go when their bodies die here on this earth, then are there any rules in that good place where human souls go?

Discussion

The remainder of this article will only be about a good place where some souls go. There are many, many names for this good place and one of those names is "heaven."

Most people who believe in heaven also believe that heaven was intentionally created by a good "God" who also created everything else that exists.
This article will assume there is a good "God" and this article will not attempt to give a specific name to this good "God."
This article will also assume that this good "God" did create heaven and that heaven is a place of eternal peace and happiness for some human souls when their bodies die.
The remainder of this article will be based on these simple assumptions.

Now the original question can be discussed: If some souls go to heaven, then are there any rules in heaven?

The first issue that needs to be considered is whether or not there are any rules in heaven. If there are no rules in heaven then heaven would not be any different than life here on earth. Some souls could "bully" other souls and take advantage of other souls and this is not consistent with the concept of heaven being a place of eternal peace and happiness. Therefore it is only reasonable to assume that there are some rules in heaven.

Now let's consider what some of those rules might be.
  1. Possessions: Is it reasonable to assume that souls in heaven can have possessions, such as clothing? Is it also reasonable to assume that souls can have their own private place of rest, such as a home or an apartment, where they can go when they wish to be alone for just a little while in order to think without being distracted? If souls do have possessions in heaven, then is it reasonable to assume that souls do not have to worry about their possessions being "stolen." If stealing occurs in heaven then heaven would not be a place of eternal peace and happiness. Therefore it is reasonable to assume that theft is either not permitted or not possible in heaven.

  2. Freedom: Are all the souls in heaven truly free or are some souls in heaven "eternal slaves" to other souls in heaven? If some souls are "eternal slaves" then how is heaven any different than life here on earth? If there are "eternal slaves" in heaven then heaven is only a place of eternal peace and happiness for a few souls and most souls will always be in eternal subjugation to their "masters." And these "eternal slaves" would never be free to worship the good "God" who created everything, including heaven. And why would these "eternal slaves" even desire to worship a "God" who intentionally made them "eternal slaves." Therefore it is reasonable to assume that slavery does not exist in heaven and that all the souls in heaven are "free souls."

  3. Family: Do family relationships exist in heaven? If souls are aware of who their extended family members are, then are souls subject to the same family hierarchy that exists on earth? Do younger souls have to obey their parents, and grandparents, and all their ancestors back to the beginning of time? Does one or more ancient ancestors have authority over all their future prodigy? If this is true then those ancient ancestors would be elevated to a position very similar to God. Therefore it is reasonable to assume that souls can love and freely associate with their extended family, but souls are not subject to the whims of their extended family members.

  4. Marriage: Does marriage exist in heaven? If marriage does exist, then what is its purpose? The primary purpose of marriage on earth is to produce Godly offspring. It is not reasonable to assume that souls in heaven will need to produce Godly offspring in heaven. In addition, the family unit on earth has specific duties to one another. The parents support and take care of their young children, and at the same time parents also take care of their elderly parents who are too old to properly care for themselves. As time passes the old parents pass on and their souls go to heaven, and the original small children grow up and become parents, and this process continues to repeat. None of this is necessary in heaven because there is no death or aging in heaven. Therefore it is reasonable to assume that marriage probably does not exist in heaven in the way that we understand it here on this earth.

  5. Hate and Prejudice: Does hate exist in heaven? Do some souls resent and despise other souls? If hate and prejudice exist in heaven, then heaven would just be a place where the hatred and prejudice that exists here on earth is allowed to continue eternally. If this is true then heaven would not be a place of eternal peace and happiness. Therefore it is reasonable to assume that hate, prejudice, and a variety of other unproductive human emotions do not exist in heaven.

  6. Murder: If heaven is a place of eternal peace and happiness then it is reasonable to assume that murder will not exist in heaven. All the souls who go to heaven will live forever without any fear of death.

  7. Hunger and Thirst: Will souls get hungry or thirsty in heaven? Hunger and thirst are unpleasant human feelings and if heaven is a place of eternal peace and happiness then it is reasonable to assume that souls in heaven will not get hungry or thirsty. However, it is not reasonable to assume that souls in heaven will not eat or drink. Instead it is reasonable to assume that souls in heaven may voluntarily eat or drink whenever they desire to eat or drink. But they will not eat or drink because they have to eat and drink to avoid death by starvation or dehydration.

Conclusion

Based on the above comments, it would be reasonable to assume that stealing, murder, hate, prejudice, hunger, thirst, and death will not exist in heaven.

If there is only one God, and if that one God created everything, including the heaven and the earth, then a new question is now relevant if the above assumptions are valid. Is God the same yesterday, today, and forever? Or does God occasionally change His mind?

Some people believe that God occasionally changes His mind about things. If this is true then there is no reason to believe that heaven will be a place of eternal peace and happiness because God could change His mind at any time and cast everyone out of heaven. Therefore it is reasonable to assume that God does not change His mind about things and that heaven will always be a place of eternal peace and happiness.

If God is always the same, then does God have different expectations for us while we are here on earth as compared to how He expects us to live eternally in heaven? Does a God who never changes give His beloved children here on the earth His permission to lie to some people, and to steal from some people, and to act hatefully to some people, and to murder specific individuals, but then God forbids these activities in heaven? Does God need anyone's help to discipline and kill His disobedient children while we are here on this earth?

These last few questions are difficult questions.
  1. Some religions encourage and permit their followers to behave in despicable ways to other people. If you believe in one of these religions then you are consenting to these types of bad behavior by other believers even if you yourself do not do them. Is this the type of God that you would like to spend eternity with?

  2. Some religions believe that only men are important and that women are not only inferior to men, but women may be used in any way that a man desires. These religions believe that this distinction between men and women will continue in heaven and that women in heaven will continue to be the eternal slaves of the men in heaven. Is this the type of God that you would like to spend eternity with?

  3. Some religions believe that all the children who are born to parents who believe in that religion are automatically a member of that religion for life. And the members of that religion are honor bound to murder anyone who wishes to abandon that religion for a different religion. Is this the type of God that you would like to spend eternity with?

  4. Some religions forbid their followers from behaving badly to anyone and they believe that all people are created equal in the eyes of God, including men and women. These religions believe that God will personally judge each one of us at the appointed time, and that we should not judge one anther because we cannot know all the circumstances and issues that only God can clearly see. These religions believe that God reserves the right to be the eternal judge of ALL people and He does not delegate this responsibility to His children on earth. Is this the type of God you would like to spend eternity with?
For most people it is not a simple or easy thing to change the religion of their birth. In many cases almost immediate death awaits someone who denies the religion of their birth. The only logical reason a person would face death for this type of decision would be that the person does not want to spend eternity in the type of "heaven" imposed on them by their birth and they are willing to die in order to spend eternity in a "heaven" where they will be a "free soul" for eternity.

Respectfully,
Grandpappy.

Grandpappy's e-mail address is: RobertWayneAtkins@hotmail.com

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