First the Question: The Roman Catholic Bible plainly teaches that every member of the Body of Christ is a SAINT. True or False?
Take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day
And now the answer to the LLM Question of 5-27-2012
Question: There is NO cessation of conscious life after we receive Life in Christ upon believing the Gospel. True or False?
Answer: TRUE! I am sure that after reading all of the Scripture passages contained in this three part message series, all those who are trusting in the LORD Jesus Christ will be convinced that those of the same precious faith who have fallen asleep have departed to be with Him, and although they are waiting to be clothed upon with their house which is from Heaven they are in a state of CONSCIOUS bliss. Therefore, Life NOW is: incorruptibility at Christ’s coming. No cessation of life after we receive life, on believing the Gospel. Now, out of the 793 responses we received to this question, 76.5% of you got it right! Therefore, NOW, let us take a look at,
What is the State of the Dead? Part 3 of 3
NOW, again, it is the BODY, without the spirit, that is dead.
At death the spirit goes to God who gave it. The dead body can neither feel, nor work, nor know. But this has NO reference to the spirit IN the body, that LEAVES the body when that body goes to dust and corruption. Ecclesiastes is not the book for the clear teaching of the present state of the dead, but even that book by no means supports the awful heresy of soul sleeping. The spirit at death goes to the God of the living.Immediately. There is also NO hanging around in our world, for any reason, or any length of time.
Now from the NEW TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES
Luke 23:46. “And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, He said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus: He gave up the ghost.”
Luke 8:49-56. This twelve year old girl was dead. Christ came into the death chamber and said, “Maid, arise.” “And her spirit came again.” Luke 8:54. Compare this with 1 Kings 17:22.
Luke 23:42-43. “LORD, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, today shalt thou be with me in paradise.”
Luke 15:10. “Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.”
Ephesians 3:15. “Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.”
Acts 7:55-59. “Saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God” Stephen calling upon God, “and saying, LORD Jesus, receive my spirit.”
2 Corinthians 5:8. “Absent from the body, and to be present with the LORD.”
Philippians 1:23. “Having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better.”
I am sure that after reading these Scriptures, all who are trusting in the LORD Jesus Christ will be convinced that those of the same precious faith who have fallen asleep have departed to be with Him, and although they are waiting to be clothed upon with their house which is from Heaven they are in a state of CONSCIOUS bliss. Whether or not they rejoice when sinners turn to the LORD we cannot be too dogmatic, but this seems to be the teaching of God’s Word. They have departed to be with the LORD. They are at home with the LORD. This is the meaning of 2 Corinthians 5:8. We know our blessed LORD tasted death. We know that He has abolished death and brought life and incorruptibility to light in the gospel. 2 Timothy 1:9-10. What a glorious truth this is!
Therefore, Life now is: incorruptibility at Christ’s coming. No cessation of life after we receive life, on believing the gospel.
And well may we join the Apostle John in his praise, “Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God; therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not. Beloved, NOW are we the sons of God and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him: for we shall see Him as He is.” 1 John 3:1-2.
Our blessed LORD is in a glorified body in Heaven. Otherwise, He could not represent us as priest. By man came death and by man came the resurrection of the dead. Some day our blessed LORD shall descend from heaven and we shall be caught up to meet Him, at which time these bodies of humiliation shall be fashioned (transformed) like unto His glorious body. Philippians 3:20-21. And we shall see Him as He is. “Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:18.
Many Christians say that because the apostles of Christ recognized Moses and Elijah on the mount of Transfiguration, and because the Apostle Paul said, “but then shall I know even as also I am known,” we have positive Scriptural proof that we shall surely recognize our loved ones in glory. Whether or not these particular Scriptures give us this assurance, we are sure that such recognition is only a reasonable expectation to make our eternal happiness in our heavenly home complete. Yes, the Scriptures declare that “when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels which are in heaven.” Mark 12:25. But this has nothing to do with the recognition of our loved ones and friends.
Of course, the question always arises as to our UNSAVED loved ones. “Will we be conscious of their absence from heaven and their punishment and suffering?” This thought has come to all who have studied the Word of God and wondered about the hereafter. So, my personal belief on this is surely God will permit no thought to disturb the blessedness of His redeemed ones.
But we should be disturbed, startled and driven to anxious concern for our unsaved loved ones while we are here with them in the land of the living in this Day of Grace.
Let us remember the solemn words of God, “It is appointed unto men once to die and after this the judgment.” There are many false prophets today telling that the dead will have another chance at salvation; but they are the representatives of Satan and not of the LORD. They corrupt the Scriptures to give this false hope to their deluded victims. God’s Word is judgment after death. The awful sorrows of that judgment are described in the closing verses of the twentieth chapter of Revelation. Sinner, read them carefully and believe God’s truth.
There are only two destinies, even as there are only two ways. There is NO purgatory or third place. For every individual, it is either eternal glory with Christ and the redeemed, or eternal darkness and despair with those listed in Revelation 21:8, “the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whore mongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars.”
Here is God’s order of events, “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: 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 4:16-17. This scene may be enacted at any moment of any day RIGHT NOW. Then, once the Body of Christ is removed, the prophetic timeline resumes, and the Great Tribulation commences immediately or after a period of time. Out of that Great Tribulation some will be saved to have part in the first resurrection, “These are they which came out of Great Tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” Revelation 7:14. “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection and shall reign with Him a thousand years.” Revelation 20:6. The period of Great Tribulation will close with the coming of the LORD with His saints (Christ the Head and His Body), and the host of Heaven, to execute judgment, to dethrone the usurper, Satan, and to establish His earthly Kingdom. Revelation 1:7, 2 Thessalonians 1:4-9, Revelation 19:12-20:5, Matthew 24:30, and many others.
So, now, if you have read all three of the messages in this series, we have the answers to the two questions of Job: “Man giveth up the ghost and where is he,” and “if a man die shall he live again.”
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In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.
So There You Have it!
Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.
Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.
In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry
Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)
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