I'm breaking this study down into multiple parts because it takes a lot of information to cover this subject properly. Please read Part 1 first if you haven't already done so. Too much all at once could be information overload. I pray this reading blesses you. After you finish this installment you can reach Part 3 here and Part 4 here.
Today I'm going to show you that people go to heaven with physical bodies, not as disembodied conscious spirits or souls.
Now if you believe a person dies then goes to heaven as a spirit how do you explain this passage from scripture?
1 Thessalonians 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep [dead], that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
1 Thessalonians 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
1 Thessalonians 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
1 Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Did you notice Paul did not tell Christians to comfort one another by declaring that your deceased loved ones are already living in heaven right now as spirits? Why not? Isn't that what we do now? How many times have you heard someone say regarding a loved one who passed away "well, at least he's in a better place right now?" How come Paul didn't say that? Think about it.
You've heard all your life that people go to heaven or hell as spirits at the moment of death haven't you? Could it be that you were so indoctrinated and convinced it is true, you never thought to even question it? Perhaps that's why you read things in the bible that clearly refute such a belief, yet those things went right over your head?
As I did with Part 1, I'm now going to ask you to please pray for the Holy Spirit to be with you before you continue reading for "He will guide you into all truth" (John 16:13).
In scripture we are given some examples of people going up to heaven before the resurrection of the dead at Christ's Second Coming. They are:
The first was Enoch. Let's look at a couple of verses from Genesis and Hebrews then I'll discuss them.
Genesis 5:24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.
Hebrews 11:5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
When it says Enoch was translated that means he was transformed or changed. Enoch never died. Now let's look at what Paul said will happen to Christians when Jesus comes back to claim His bride. Their bodies will also be transformed. In this passage Paul is speaking about our gathering together with the Lord at the "last trump." This is the harvest or the rapture, whatever you want to call it.
1 Corinthians 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed [translated].
1 Corinthians 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
1 Corinthians 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
This is what happened to Enoch and it is what we all have to look forward to as long as we remain faithful to the Lord all the way to end. Our corruptible hearts and minds will be made sinless, our mortal bodies will become immortal; this is the moment when we are truly born again. Remember what Jesus said in John 3:3? "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." You cannot see the kingdom of heaven until this happens. And scripture tells us it won't happen until Jesus returns, further proving you don't go to heaven as a disembodied spirit.
Take a look at Jesus says here:
John 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
That's the Second Coming. It makes no sense whatsover for Jesus to come and get the dead if they were already in heaven with Him. As Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 "... the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then [not before - but THEN] we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord [finally going to the mansions He prepared for us]."
Now I know this is a touchy subject but have you ever been to an open casket funeral? There was a dead body right? Well that means the person was not in heaven or hell because they hadn't been resurrected for their judgment yet. Again no matter how much people like to think otherwise, their deceased loved ones are not in heaven. Now if you say that at a funeral it probably won't go over very well... but it's true. Here are those two verses about Enoch again:
Genesis 5:24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.
Hebrews 11:5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
There was no physical body left behind.
Scripture records that Elijah and Moses also went to heaven early, rather than having to wait until the Second Coming of Jesus. Why the went before everybody else I'm not sure but nonetheless scripture records it and I believe it. Now let's see what it says about Elijah:
2 Kings 2:11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
Afterwards fifty men went to search for him, but they don't find him because just like Enoch no physical body was left behind.
2 Kings 2:17 ... They sent therefore fifty men; and they sought three days, but found him not.
Now consider this; if someone is alive in heaven why would God leave a corpse behind? After all a corpse is proof someone is dead, not alive, and "God is not the God of the dead, but of the living" (Matthew 22:32). Satan is the god of the dead. You cannot belong to God and Satan at the same time. "No man can serve two masters" (Matthew 6:24) and "Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils" (1 Corinthians 10:21). You cannot be blessed with immortality and be dead at the same time! Praise God!!!
Now what about Moses?
Deuteronomy 34:5 So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord.
Jude 1:9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.
Moses died but then God claimed his body. That's why he was able to be with Jesus along with Elijah at the mount of transfiguration (Matthew chapter 17 & Mark chapter 9).
In Matthew 27 it is recorded that when Jesus died on the cross the earth did quake and many graves were opened. When Jesus resurrected after the third day it says many bodies of the saints were also resurrected and came out of those open graves. Who these saints were I don't know. I wouldn't be surprise if it was some of the patriarchs (perhaps Abraham, Isaac & Jacob) along with some of the prophets like Isaiah for example. But they aren't identified so who can know? Perhaps these were the twenty-four elders in heaven from Revelation 4:4.
And for the record Jesus didn't go to heaven as a spirit either. Like the others He had a resurrected physical body before He ascended into heaven. In fact Jesus goes so far as to specifically tell us He was not a spirit but flesh and bones before He goes to heaven... just like Enoch, Elijah and Moses.
Luke 24:39 Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I myself: handle Me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see Me have.
...
Luke 24:51 And it came to pass, while He blessed them, He was parted from them, and carried up into heaven [with His physical body].
I hope this study has been eye-opening so far. But I also suspect you have some legitimate questions regarding spirits or ghosts. For example how would I explain what it means in Ecclesiastes 12:7 when it says "the spirit shall return unto God who gave it" and what does it mean when the bible talks about Jesus and others giving up the ghost? The phrase "gave up the ghost" or a variation of it can be found 10 times in the King James Version; Genesis 25:8, 25:17, 35:29, Lamentations 1:19, Mark 15:37, 15:39, Luke 23:46, John 19:30, Acts 5:5 & 12:23. It's definitely a fair question. And didn't Samuel appear before King Saul as a ghost in 1 Samuel 28:14?
Naturally you should want me to explain these things and I will as this study progresses. But first let me show you a few more scriptures which prove the dead have no conscious thought, therefore they cannot be with God in heaven or screaming in agony in hell.
Psalm 115:17 The dead praise not the Lord, neither any that go down into silence.
If the dead cannot praise the Lord, how can they "be in a better place" with Him?
Ecclesiastes 9:5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.
Ecclesiastes 9:6 Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 9:10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.
Isaiah 38:18 For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth.
Isaiah 38:19 The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day: the father to the children shall make known thy truth.
See all that? The dead have no conscious thoughts whatsoever. They know nothing, they have no reward, they don't feel love (which proves they aren't in heaven), no hatred (which proves they aren't in hell), they have no knowledge, nor wisdom, they cannot praise God, they have no hope for His truth (again completely proving the dead are not in heaven). Only the living can praise the Lord. The world at large says the dead have immortal souls, spirits or ghosts which can praise God, which feel love, etc, etc. Who will you believe, the world or the word of God?
I thought I could cover this subject in only two parts but I have more to say. This seems like a good place to stop for now. Thanks for reading. Part 3 will be posted soon and I sincerely hope this has been a blessing for you.
Amen.
Today I'm going to show you that people go to heaven with physical bodies, not as disembodied conscious spirits or souls.
Now if you believe a person dies then goes to heaven as a spirit how do you explain this passage from scripture?
1 Thessalonians 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep [dead], that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
1 Thessalonians 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
1 Thessalonians 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
1 Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Did you notice Paul did not tell Christians to comfort one another by declaring that your deceased loved ones are already living in heaven right now as spirits? Why not? Isn't that what we do now? How many times have you heard someone say regarding a loved one who passed away "well, at least he's in a better place right now?" How come Paul didn't say that? Think about it.
You've heard all your life that people go to heaven or hell as spirits at the moment of death haven't you? Could it be that you were so indoctrinated and convinced it is true, you never thought to even question it? Perhaps that's why you read things in the bible that clearly refute such a belief, yet those things went right over your head?
As I did with Part 1, I'm now going to ask you to please pray for the Holy Spirit to be with you before you continue reading for "He will guide you into all truth" (John 16:13).
In scripture we are given some examples of people going up to heaven before the resurrection of the dead at Christ's Second Coming. They are:
- Enoch
- Elijah
- Moses
The first was Enoch. Let's look at a couple of verses from Genesis and Hebrews then I'll discuss them.
Genesis 5:24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.
Hebrews 11:5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
When it says Enoch was translated that means he was transformed or changed. Enoch never died. Now let's look at what Paul said will happen to Christians when Jesus comes back to claim His bride. Their bodies will also be transformed. In this passage Paul is speaking about our gathering together with the Lord at the "last trump." This is the harvest or the rapture, whatever you want to call it.
1 Corinthians 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed [translated].
1 Corinthians 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
1 Corinthians 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
This is what happened to Enoch and it is what we all have to look forward to as long as we remain faithful to the Lord all the way to end. Our corruptible hearts and minds will be made sinless, our mortal bodies will become immortal; this is the moment when we are truly born again. Remember what Jesus said in John 3:3? "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." You cannot see the kingdom of heaven until this happens. And scripture tells us it won't happen until Jesus returns, further proving you don't go to heaven as a disembodied spirit.
Take a look at Jesus says here:
John 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
That's the Second Coming. It makes no sense whatsover for Jesus to come and get the dead if they were already in heaven with Him. As Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 "... the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then [not before - but THEN] we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord [finally going to the mansions He prepared for us]."
Now I know this is a touchy subject but have you ever been to an open casket funeral? There was a dead body right? Well that means the person was not in heaven or hell because they hadn't been resurrected for their judgment yet. Again no matter how much people like to think otherwise, their deceased loved ones are not in heaven. Now if you say that at a funeral it probably won't go over very well... but it's true. Here are those two verses about Enoch again:
Genesis 5:24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.
Hebrews 11:5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
There was no physical body left behind.
Scripture records that Elijah and Moses also went to heaven early, rather than having to wait until the Second Coming of Jesus. Why the went before everybody else I'm not sure but nonetheless scripture records it and I believe it. Now let's see what it says about Elijah:
2 Kings 2:11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
Afterwards fifty men went to search for him, but they don't find him because just like Enoch no physical body was left behind.
2 Kings 2:17 ... They sent therefore fifty men; and they sought three days, but found him not.
Now consider this; if someone is alive in heaven why would God leave a corpse behind? After all a corpse is proof someone is dead, not alive, and "God is not the God of the dead, but of the living" (Matthew 22:32). Satan is the god of the dead. You cannot belong to God and Satan at the same time. "No man can serve two masters" (Matthew 6:24) and "Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils" (1 Corinthians 10:21). You cannot be blessed with immortality and be dead at the same time! Praise God!!!
Now what about Moses?
Deuteronomy 34:5 So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord.
Jude 1:9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.
Moses died but then God claimed his body. That's why he was able to be with Jesus along with Elijah at the mount of transfiguration (Matthew chapter 17 & Mark chapter 9).
In Matthew 27 it is recorded that when Jesus died on the cross the earth did quake and many graves were opened. When Jesus resurrected after the third day it says many bodies of the saints were also resurrected and came out of those open graves. Who these saints were I don't know. I wouldn't be surprise if it was some of the patriarchs (perhaps Abraham, Isaac & Jacob) along with some of the prophets like Isaiah for example. But they aren't identified so who can know? Perhaps these were the twenty-four elders in heaven from Revelation 4:4.
And for the record Jesus didn't go to heaven as a spirit either. Like the others He had a resurrected physical body before He ascended into heaven. In fact Jesus goes so far as to specifically tell us He was not a spirit but flesh and bones before He goes to heaven... just like Enoch, Elijah and Moses.
Luke 24:39 Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I myself: handle Me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see Me have.
...
Luke 24:51 And it came to pass, while He blessed them, He was parted from them, and carried up into heaven [with His physical body].
I hope this study has been eye-opening so far. But I also suspect you have some legitimate questions regarding spirits or ghosts. For example how would I explain what it means in Ecclesiastes 12:7 when it says "the spirit shall return unto God who gave it" and what does it mean when the bible talks about Jesus and others giving up the ghost? The phrase "gave up the ghost" or a variation of it can be found 10 times in the King James Version; Genesis 25:8, 25:17, 35:29, Lamentations 1:19, Mark 15:37, 15:39, Luke 23:46, John 19:30, Acts 5:5 & 12:23. It's definitely a fair question. And didn't Samuel appear before King Saul as a ghost in 1 Samuel 28:14?
Naturally you should want me to explain these things and I will as this study progresses. But first let me show you a few more scriptures which prove the dead have no conscious thought, therefore they cannot be with God in heaven or screaming in agony in hell.
Psalm 115:17 The dead praise not the Lord, neither any that go down into silence.
If the dead cannot praise the Lord, how can they "be in a better place" with Him?
Ecclesiastes 9:5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.
Ecclesiastes 9:6 Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 9:10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.
Isaiah 38:18 For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth.
Isaiah 38:19 The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day: the father to the children shall make known thy truth.
See all that? The dead have no conscious thoughts whatsoever. They know nothing, they have no reward, they don't feel love (which proves they aren't in heaven), no hatred (which proves they aren't in hell), they have no knowledge, nor wisdom, they cannot praise God, they have no hope for His truth (again completely proving the dead are not in heaven). Only the living can praise the Lord. The world at large says the dead have immortal souls, spirits or ghosts which can praise God, which feel love, etc, etc. Who will you believe, the world or the word of God?
I thought I could cover this subject in only two parts but I have more to say. This seems like a good place to stop for now. Thanks for reading. Part 3 will be posted soon and I sincerely hope this has been a blessing for you.
Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment