Just glad the Lord knows what He is doing! Being with Jesus is all that counts! I'll forego the vain disputations! TR I'm simply not that smart, anyway! TR Interesting points. I've had people argue with me over what Jesus said on the cross to the thief. Since they didn't have punctuation - did Jesus say "Assuredly I say to you today, you will be with Me in Paradise" - or did he say "Assuredly I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise". The placement of the comma changes the context of the sentence. My personal vote is "today you will be with Me in Paradise." But its interesting how interpretation drives division in the church. I've had people argue until they're blue in the face over the placement of that comma. When people do things like that I feel like singing "Let it go... let it go..." - what matters is we get to spend all of eternity with Jesus... Jesus no doubt meant that THAT day the thief would be with Him in Paradise ~ else Jesus would have been obligated it seems to have begun every word He spoke, starting with the word: "TODAY" ~~ hope that makes sense ~~ Not only will we be surprised by whom we meet in Heaven, but just as surprised to find the true meaning of His words! For then He will no longer speak with parables and veiled words! He does take pleasure in that we immerse ourselves in His Word! TR Totally makes sense Donna - just interesting how man gets in the way of the message. There are some interesting folk out there.... If I'm not getting dumber on a daily basis, then you all must be getting smarter! TR Well I can only give personal experience that I “think” our saved loved ones in heaven are in some temporary body as they wait for their glorified one. After my mom’s memorial service that night I was laying in bed and I asked the Lord if my mom saw it and if so, can He show me. Then I closed my eyes and I saw white puffy clouds and they rolled back as a scroll ... I saw her young face amongst the clouds looks down smiling ... then another flash of light and then the memorial service was in progress with the pastor speaking and flowers on display and the people in attendance and then another flash of light and the clouds were rolling back over to cover her smiling face and I woke up. I found the image of her in her wedding album ... she was 20 or 21 yrs old. Then after my dad died in Aug 2015 ... I went into deep depression because I was all alone and had to pack and quickly start looking for a new place to live. I didn’t even have my dog yet. One night I asked the Lord if I could see my loved ones. As I closed my eyes ... I felt myself flying and the next thing I was in a white room and there they were standing in a semi circle ... they all looked the age of when they got saved except for my sister-in-law’s mom ... she was the age of when I first met her. They were dressed in American clothes and were so happy. Nobody talked ... I got a chance to hug and kiss each one and I felt them hug and kiss me. The last in the lineup was my grandfather so after we exchanged hugs and kisses the next thing I was immediately back in the family room and I was sad again because I wanted to be with them. I had a few encounters with angels and they were wearing American clothes so my view is there is a big wardrobe up in heaven ... I don’t think we will just be wearing white robes for all eternity. B-) Cool! Thanks for sharing. God must like you in order to grant your request in such a marvellous way! TR Todd, I don't see a contradiction there. One passage deals with where the dead are upon leaving this life and the other focuses upon those who are alive and remaining until Christ appears. When He does, "thus shall we ever be with the Lord" in person, in a renewed body. 
