Allusion to a famous book (and now Peter Jackson film) by J.R.R. Tolkien.
Sometimes the references to real life fantasy creators and their stories, plots and characters is a more approachable hook than references to historical, philosophical and religious figures who have graced our world's ages.
All fiction relates back to faith and the known of what we do scientifically recognize as a secular, somewhat rational world.
Jesus Christ lived and died two thousand years ago. Historically accurate and factual.
In the year 2014, there are more adherents of Christianity than any other faith. There are over two billion believers in Jesus Christ, broken up into many denominations and factions. The largest base of Christians is composed of Roman Catholics, headquartered in Rome, Italy.
There are a few hundred million Eastern Orthodox Christians, spread across mostly eastern Europe and west Asia.
We all believe, to some degree, that this promised Messiah was resurrected on Sunday, hence the Easter celebration that we continue to celebrate.
As members and believers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we literally believe that He took up His mortal body again. He re-united with His flesh, and He still has it now. As did and does His Father, God the Father, have His. Both literally have bodies of tangible flesh and marrow.
Radically different than most of the two billion Christian adherents living and believing in the 21st century.
Mormons are different. Far fetched? Unique? Blasphemous? Non-traditional? False? True? Delusional?
Possibly.
But we celebrate Easter believing that Jesus did it; He offers this restoration of our dead bodies to all of us. Good or bad. Believers or not. Judgment is another thing. Good and bad will matter then.
But He returned to His mortal, now immortal body.
And He will return to the Earth again, with that body. All-knowing, all-powerful.
The once and future King.
He will come down from the Heavens, over the Mount of Olives, East Jerusalem, and enter the Old City through the currently closed off Lion's Gate. He will reign from there, and the City of Enoch will return.
We have ideas about a New Jerusalem.
If Jesus does indeed return as prophesied in the Old and New Testaments, and Latter-day Saint additional revelation like the Doctrine and Covenants, and as current Christian and Church of Jesus Christ apostles and witnesses affirm, then the world will enter a new age of peace and order.
The new Millenium. The Millenium.
A Thousand Years of Peace. A Thousand Years of no death.
A time of Resurrection.
A time of our minds, spirits and bodies being one.
And the King shall return.
Where will we be found? Where are we today?
Where do you want to be?
Blog on. EMC
Sometimes the references to real life fantasy creators and their stories, plots and characters is a more approachable hook than references to historical, philosophical and religious figures who have graced our world's ages.
All fiction relates back to faith and the known of what we do scientifically recognize as a secular, somewhat rational world.
Jesus Christ lived and died two thousand years ago. Historically accurate and factual.
In the year 2014, there are more adherents of Christianity than any other faith. There are over two billion believers in Jesus Christ, broken up into many denominations and factions. The largest base of Christians is composed of Roman Catholics, headquartered in Rome, Italy.
There are a few hundred million Eastern Orthodox Christians, spread across mostly eastern Europe and west Asia.
We all believe, to some degree, that this promised Messiah was resurrected on Sunday, hence the Easter celebration that we continue to celebrate.
As members and believers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we literally believe that He took up His mortal body again. He re-united with His flesh, and He still has it now. As did and does His Father, God the Father, have His. Both literally have bodies of tangible flesh and marrow.
Radically different than most of the two billion Christian adherents living and believing in the 21st century.
Mormons are different. Far fetched? Unique? Blasphemous? Non-traditional? False? True? Delusional?
Possibly.
But we celebrate Easter believing that Jesus did it; He offers this restoration of our dead bodies to all of us. Good or bad. Believers or not. Judgment is another thing. Good and bad will matter then.
But He returned to His mortal, now immortal body.
And He will return to the Earth again, with that body. All-knowing, all-powerful.
The once and future King.
He will come down from the Heavens, over the Mount of Olives, East Jerusalem, and enter the Old City through the currently closed off Lion's Gate. He will reign from there, and the City of Enoch will return.
We have ideas about a New Jerusalem.
If Jesus does indeed return as prophesied in the Old and New Testaments, and Latter-day Saint additional revelation like the Doctrine and Covenants, and as current Christian and Church of Jesus Christ apostles and witnesses affirm, then the world will enter a new age of peace and order.
The new Millenium. The Millenium.
A Thousand Years of Peace. A Thousand Years of no death.
A time of Resurrection.
A time of our minds, spirits and bodies being one.
And the King shall return.
Where will we be found? Where are we today?
Where do you want to be?
Blog on. EMC
Re-reading today, Easter
ReplyDeleteRe-read it to my wife. She clarified the last sentence, the question: "Where do you want to be?"
ReplyDeleteWe celebrated as a family with temple baptisms last night, followed by super rich food at Fleming's down the road.