[Rev. M. Rodimer]

Re: Why do people pray for the dead?

Praying will not help the departed move from Hell to Heaven, since they are already in Heaven. This is clear from Acts 16:31:

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

Where in this do you get that the dead are "already in Heaven"?

Revelation 20

4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

...

12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

If the dead are presently in Heaven or Hell, then judgment has already been passed. Do you believe that God plans to take them out of Heaven or Hell, resurrect their bodies, stuff them back in, and then toss them back into Heaven or Hell?

Or do you believe that God might make errors in the first pass, and has Judgment Day to correct those errors?

[Ezekiel Bathfire]

Re: Why do people pray for the dead?

Here's what we believe: […] Those in heaven want us to share in their joy, so they pray for us to God that He may lead us along the right path there.

(i) Can you also explain why a mortal soul in Heaven praying to God is a proper thing to do. It seems to me that if you have reached heaven, you have done so because you have been obedient to God. Once in heaven, how likely is it that you would then start questioning His judgment on what is, and what is not, good for those left behind on earth?

(ii)Do you sincerely believe that God might NOT lead us along the right path?

I rather think that this is what Ecclesiastes is saying and I see nothing to indicate that God (as Jesus) said anything different.

[JennyD]

Re: Why do people pray for the dead?

The silence from Mother Martian and Barrking Madd is deafening.