Do you believe in life after death and in the resurrection of your body, if you should die today? Would you want to come back to live in the same body you currently have with all its limitations and pains? Do you believe in second chances after you die, or in reincarnation, or in the annihilation of the wicked dead?
Why are some people so opposed to the idea of the resurrection of our human bodies? Why did the Epicurean (pleasure seeking) and Stoic (rationalistic) philosophers in Athens, Greece mock the Apostle Paul when he talked to them about Christ’s bodily resurrection out from among the dead ones (Acts 17:16-32)? [1] How does His bodily resurrection affect us? Does Jesus have the power to raise everyone who has died physically? If He does, when will He do this?
Could it be that some people strongly oppose the idea of being resurrected from the dead because, if they believed in it, they might be held accountable to God for their lawless behavior while they lived here on the earth? Does living a “good life” enable us to enter heaven, and does living a “sinful/lawless life” send us to hell? Can we get into heaven if our good deeds outweigh our bad deeds? What is the purpose of the different judgment days mentioned in the Bible?
Has John Lennon’s song “Imagine” (There’s No Heaven Or Hell) contributed to your philosophy of life which would allow you to live any way you wanted to live for today without any negative consequences that it might have on you or others, including your children and grandchildren?
Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live” (John 11:25). Since He is all powerful (Revelation 1:8), He will destroy death by raising up everyone who has died, each in his/her own order (1 Corinthians 15:26).
The bodies of the dead people that will be raised back to life will be everlasting. Believers in God/Christ through the Gospel message will receive bodies with flesh and bones, but without blood. These bodies will house their souls and spirits, and they will have garments of light (1 Corinthians 15:49; 1 Timothy 6:16; 1 John 3:2; Daniel 12:1-3). Unbelievers will be raised from the dead and their bodies will be changed so as never to die again physically. They will stand before Judge Jesus (John 5:22) at the Great White Throne where their works will be evaluated to determine their degree of suffering in the the lake of fire forever (Matthew 25:30, 41, 46; Luke 16:19-31; Revelation 21:8). [2] We don’t want this to happen to you or any other person. If you’re still alive physically, there is hope for you.
God’s Word is truth (John 17:17). The Lord Jesus Christ is the [only] way [to God], the [absolute] truth, and the [giver of eternal] life (John 14:16). He died for the sins [lawless behavior] of the whole world…and rose again bodily from the dead on the third day (1 Corinthians 15:3, 4; John 3:16, 18, 36; 1 John 2:2). Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ alone (apart from your good works), and you will be saved from hell to heaven (Acts 16:31; Ephesians 2:8, 9). If you’ve never done this before, why not trust Him right now, wherever you are? [3]
If you’ve just done this, we’d like to help you so you can start living a life that pleases God. Contact us here or through our website: www.kelseypeach.com. We’re here to assist those who are teachable, willing to learn, and grow spiritually.
If you’d like to receive future articles as they come out, click on “Follow.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version
Copyright c. 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by Permission. All rights reserved
Christ’s death for the sins of all mankind, His burial for three (not four) days and nights in the tomb, His bodily resurrection from the dead, which was validated by over 500 witnesses, on ten different occasions, over a 40 day period of time, before He ascended publicly, gradually, and literally into heaven, in the presence of His disciples, with a promise to return, are the most import events in human history.
They fulfill Bible prophecy, validate the Old and New Testament Scriptures, and guarantee the bodily resurrection of all human beings who have died. Some to everlasting life with God, and others who will be separated forever from Him in the lake of fire to suffer with the devil and his angels/demons.
The Scriptures teach, and we believe –
#1 –In Life After Death
Orthodox Jews and Christians believe in life after death (John 11:24). The Apostle Paul wrote, “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8). “For I am hard pressed between [life and death], having a desire to depart and be with Christ [in heaven], which is far better…” (Philippians 1:23).
As He was getting ready to go to the cross to die for our sins…and then rise from the dead, Jesus said to His disciples, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions [dwellings]; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for [all of] you [believers]. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:1-3). This beautiful place (the heavenly New Jerusalem, will be the home of Christ’s Bride, the glorified Church). It is described for us in Revelation 21:9 ff.
(Before you continue reading, may we suggest that you download our FREE “Bible Study Book Marker and Dispensations Chart” to help you see where we are and when things will happen. Get it from our website www.kelseypeach.com.)
The Old Testament patriarch Job said, “And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God.” (Job 19:26). Abraham believed that even if he had to actually kill his son, as God had ordered him to do to test his true devotion to God, God could and would raise Isaac from the dead (Hebrews 11:19) and fulfill His promises to him (Genesis 12, 15, 17).
#2 – In A Bodily Resurrection
The religious Pharisees (but not the Sadducees) believed in the resurrection of the dead (Acts 23:6-8). Martha, the sister of Lazarus who had died, believed her brother would be resurrected on the last day (John 11:24). Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life…” (John 11:25).
#3 – We Don’t Need To Fear Death
Many people are fearful of death and rightfully should be if they are not true Christians. They don’t know what is on the other side of death. But true Christians need not be afraid of it. Jesus Christ took the sting out of death by dying for our sins and rising again bodily from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:55-57). True Christians have hope of a better life or their “Best Life” in the future, not now as one “preacher” tells others. This hope is not wishful thinking, but it is a confident expectation based on a promise from God.
In the Old Testament times the devil held the keys of death (Hebrews 2:14; Job 1:18, 19). But Jesus Christ took them from him when He rose again bodily from the grave (Revelation 1:18). Jesus is the One who turns the key and decides when we depart from this life and enter the next one (1 Thessalonians 4:14).
#4 – We Might Be The Exception To The Rule
Death is inevitable but there are some exceptions (Genesis 2:17; Romans 6:23). This is a general rule: “…it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). Enoch and Elijah were two men who passed from this life into the next one without dying (Genesis 5:24; 2 Kings 2:11). The Scriptures teach us that there will be a whole generation of Christians who will pass from this life into the next life without dying (1 Corinthians 15:51-53; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). You could be in this group if you have faith in the Christ of the Scriptures alone (James 2:19). Don’t be one who believesin vain (1 Corinthians 15:2). This happens when a person puts his/her faith and trust in the wrong Christ (Mathew 24:5), or believes another Gospel (2 Corinthians 11:3, 4), or who tries to add his/her good works to faith alone in Christ alone (Ephesians 2:8, 9; Titus 3:5).
#5 – We Are Not The Most Pitiable People
If Jesus Christ didn’t really rise from the dead, as some false teachers are claiming, then Christians are of all people the most pitiable (1 Corinthians 15:19). But His bodily resurrection out from among the dead ones is a historical fact that was witnessed by over 500 people over a 40 day period of time. Then He ascended back to heaven in the presence of His disciples (1 Corinthians 15:1-8, Acts 1:1-11; Luke 24 33-43). He promised to return for them and us some day (John 14:1-6). Avoid false teachers who deny His incarnation and His bodily resurrection (1 John 4:3; 2 John 1:7).
#6 – We Shouldn’t Let The Scoffers Trouble Us
With God a day is like a thousand years (2 Peter 3:1-9). Relax! He’ll return for us when all whom the Father has given to Him have come to Him and been saved and they have done some praiseworthy works for Him to reward at the “Bema Seat Judgment” (John 6:37; 1 Corinthians 3:11-15; 4:5; Ephesians 2:10). We can’t save people but we can have a part in this work by leading people to Christ to so they can saved (Acts 1:8; John 1:41). We can even earn the crown of rejoicing for doing this (1 Thessalonians 2:19, 20).
# 7 – Our Resurrection Is Assured
Christ’s bodily resurrection also assures us of our bodily resurrection from the dead (John 14:19; 1 Corinthians 15:26, 51, 52). Every human being who has ever lived and died will one day be resurrected “in his/her own order” (1 Corinthians 15:23, 24, 51-53). The last enemy Christ will destroy is physical death (1 Corinthians 15:26). He will do this by raising up everyone who has died physically. Do you know in which resurrection will you participate? Fourmajor resurrections are mentioned in these verses.
#8 – We Know Why People Die
Death is very ugly and brings sorrow to so many people. It all started in the Garden of Eden when Eve and then Adam ate the forbidden fruit that God had told them not to eat (Genesis 2:17; 3:6; Romans 5:12; 6:23). Death (separation) took place in the physical and spiritual realms. At the time of physical death the immaterial soul and spirit are separated from the body. Spiritual death (separation from God) took place the moment they ate the forbidden fruit. Physical death happened later (Genesis 5). They had no idea of the suffering that would follow in the generations to come.
#9 – We Will Get A Garment Of Light
We believe that they also realized that they had been stripped of their garment of light (Genesis 3:7). When the Rapture occurs Christians will get a garment of light like Christ’s (1 Corinthians 15:49; 1 Timothy 6:16; 1 John 3:2). Old Testament Jewish believers will get their garments of light seven years later when they are raised from the dead to live on the refurbishedearth (Daniel 12:2, 12; Isaiah 40:4; Luke 3:5). After Christ’s 1,000 year rule of the heavens over the earth (Daniel 2:44, 45; Matthew 3:2; 4:17; Revelation 20:1-7), Jesus Christ, the God-man will destroy the present heavens and earth and create new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness will finally settle down and feel at ease (2 Peter 3:10-13). The Jewish believers are promised a new world (Matthew 5:5; Romans 4:13). Christians are citizens of heavens (Philippians 3:20).
#10 – We Should Expect Opposition
Some people believe that there is only one general resurrection at the end of time rather than several resurrections of the dead as the Scriptures teach (1 Corinthians 15:23, 24; Acts 4:1-5). The Apostle Paul insisted that the bodilyresurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead be included in the Gospel message (2 Timothy 2:8-10). The sensual philosophers of Athens mocked him when he spoke of the resurrection (Acts 17:23). Without a risen Savior, we all would be doomed to hell and be without hope (1 Corinthians 15:1-19).
Perhaps their hostility to Christ’s resurrection and to mankind’s resurrection from the dead stems from the fact that unbelievers don’t want to give an account of their behavior to the true and living God (Romans 12:14; Hebrews 9:27; 10:31). Most people love darkness rather than light (John 3:19).
#11 – We Received A New Heart/Nature By Faith
Man’s heart (nature) is deceitful and desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:10-23). We all need to be born again from above to receive a new one. God gives us one when we trust in Christ alone as our personal Savior (John 3:3; 2 Peter 1:4). But believers still retain their old heart (sin nature) until we die or are taken up in the Rapture (1 John 1:8; Romans 7:15-25). To be assured of victory over our sin nature, we must rely on God the Holy Spirit to kill the evil desires (lusts) that come from it (Galatians 5:16-25).
#12 – The Dead Are Not Annihilated Or Reincarnated
Some people choose to believe in the annihilation of the wicked or in reincarnation. Neither is taught in the Scriptures which are the authoritative Word of God. The Old Testament was authenticated by Jesus Christ Himself (John 17:17). He told His disciples that God the Holy Spirit would convey additional information to some of them after His death and resurrection (2 Timothy 3:16, 17; 2 Peter 1:21; 3:15, 16; John 16:13). In addition to the 39 books of the Old Testament, we have Biblical truth in the 27 books of the New Testament. We don’t accept the Apocryphal books as authoritative or believe the spurious writings of false teachers in the cults. Nor do we believe that God is still giving new revelation (information) to people today (1 Corinthians 13:8-10).
#13 – The Dead Get Intermediate Bodies
According to the Scriptures, as soon as a person dies, he/she moves out of time into eternity (Hebrews 9:27). All human beings have a spirit, soul, and a body (1 Thessalonians 5:23). By means of our bodies we express ourselves to others (James 2:18). Our soul seems to be most closely related to our emotions (Psalm 6:3; 7:5; 13:2; 23:3), and our spirit belongs to the mind (Ephesians 4:23). The spirit is the only part of the believer that is saved today (1 Corinthians 2:10, 11; 6:17). The Christian’s body and then the soul are the last parts of us Christians to be saved at the time of the Rapture (Romans 8:23; 1 Peter 1:9).
Incidentally, God the Holy Spirit can and does lead maturing believers to do those things He desires us to do (Romans 8:14; Philippians 2:13). But He will never lead us to do something that is contrary to the written, revealed Word of God to Christians.
#14 – There Are Different Groups Of People
We believe that as soon as a New Testament Christian dies he/she receives a temporary body from God to house his/her soul and spirit in the Paradise section of heaven (2 Corinthians 5:1-8; 12:4; Ephesians 4:8-10). [1] Christians will have these temporary, heavenly bodies until they return with Christ at the Rapture to reclaim their bodies that died and which were placed in the ground or in the sea to rest in sleep (1 Corinthians 15:51-53; 1 Thessalonians 4:15). It is only the body that sleeps until it is raised. Our souls and spirits don’t sleep.
When Christ comes back at the Rapture to meet us in the air (John 14:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18), He will raise up the bodies of the New Testament believers and change them and make them like His resurrected, glorified human body which has flesh and bones, but no blood (1 Corinthians 15:49-53; 1 John 3:2; Luke 24:36-43). We don’t become little gods and reproduce children (Matthew 22:30). Those living at the time of His return in the Rapture will have their bodies changed to be like His glorified body.
The resurrection of the Old Testament believers will take place seven years after the rapture (Daniel 12:2, 12). They will live among the residents of the earth who physicallysurvived the Tribulation and who enter into the millennium. The resurrected believers will not be able to reproduce themselves (Matthew 22:30). But the believers who lived during and who survived the tribulation will repopulate the earth during the millennial reign of Christ on/over the earth (Matthew 10:22).
We also believe that during Christ’s millennium reign on/over the whole earth, the undefiled Jewish and Gentile believers will have access to the heavenly New Jerusalem. They will enter it through the gate with the name of the Jewish person’s tribe above it (Revelation 21:12, 27). It appears that the angels will accompany them up and down (Genesis 28:12; Zechariah 8:23).
King David will be resurrected from the dead and will be the topking on the earth over other Gentile kings, but under Christ, the King of kings, and His Bride, the true Church. Together they will rule from the satellite city which will circle the earth during the millennium (Jeremiah 30:9; Revelation 19:16; 21:10-27). It is about 1,5000 miles square at the base and 1,500 miles high either in the shape of a cube or more probably in the shape of a pyramid (Revelation 21:16). It will be the source of light for the earth during the millennium (Revelation 21:24). The sun will go out completely towards the end of the tribulation (Revelation 16:8-10; Matthew 24:29).
The believers who physically survive the seven year tribulation will enter the millennium and have children. But not all of their descendants will believe in the true and living God, Jesus Christ, in spite of the ideal conditions on earth at that time. The devil will be bound in the sides of the abyss for 1,000 years (Revelation 20:2; Isaiah 14:15), all man’s needs will be met (Isaiah 11:1-10; 35:1), and the sin nature of man will be curbed (Jeremiah 31:31-34). The present, diabolical world system, that was devised by the devil in the days of Cain, to curb the sinful nature of man (Luke 11:50, 51; Genesis 4:16-24), will also not exist during the millennium (1 John 2:15-17).
In spite of all this, a rebellion will break out at the end of the millennium when Satan is released from the abyss, which is in the heart of the earth, to deceive the nations (Revelation 20:7-10). This rebellion will be crushed and the devil along with all the rebels will be cast into the Lake of Fire where the beast (man of sin) and the false prophet were cast 1,000 years earlier (Revelation 19:20; 20:10-15). The fact that they are still there when the devil gets there disproves the annihilation of the wicked.
The resurrection of unbelievers will take place at the Great White Throne judgment at the end of time (Revelation 20:11-15). Currently the unsaved dead are confined to the “jail house” (Sheol / Hades) in the heart of the earth (Numbers 16:30; Deuteronomy 32:22; Luke 16:19-31) where they are suffering in great pain.
At the Great White Throne judgment, the unsaved people will have their works judged to determine their degree of torment in the lake of fire (Matthew 10:15; 11:22; Revelation 20:11-15). It was designed for the devil and his angels (demons), but those who reject God’s offer of salvation will end up there with them (Mathew 25:41, 46). We need Christ’s righteousness to get into heaven (John 16:10). It is imputed to those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ through the Gospel (Romans 4:22-25). Jesus is the only way to God (John 14:6).
#15 – There Are Different Orders Of Resurrections
Review. Four major resurrections are mentioned in 1 Corinthians chapter 15. There is Christ’s bodily resurrection that insures other resurrections (15:23). Then the Apostle Paul mentions a resurrection of those who are Christ’s at His [second] coming (15:23) after the seven years of tribulation (Daniel 9:24-27). This resurrection was anticipated by the Jewish believers (John 11:24). The resurrection of unbelievers will take place 1,000 years later at the end of time (15:24).
But the Apostle Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, revealed still another resurrection that was a mystery in the Old Testament times (1 Corinthians 15:51-53; Romans 16:25, 26). It will be for the dead New Testament believers who are part of the Body of Christ that becomes His bride (John 14:1-3; Ephesians 5:32; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).
The Apostle Paul wanted to be alive when the Rapture took place (Philippians 3:11). But God had another plan for him. God wants all His children to live each day anticipating Christ’s return.
If a Christian truly loves Christ’s imminent return, he/she will be more likely to live a righteous life and earn the crown of righteousness (2 Timothy 4:8). If you’re a Christian, are you living in the light of His any moment return? It will help purify you (1 John 3:3), and bring comfort to you when Jesus calls believers home to be with Him in heaven (1 Thessalonians 4:18). It is also called the blessed hope (Titus 2:13) and will bring happiness into the lives of those who believe it will occur at any moment.
#16 – We All Exist Forever Somewhere. Where Will You Spend Eternity?
Those who have placed their faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ alone, will spend eternity with God where there is joy evermore (Psalm 16:11). God will wipe away every tear from [the believers’] eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, and no crying. There will be no more pain and the former things will have passed away (Revelation 21:4; Isaiah 65:17).
But those unbelievers who lack Christ’s righteousness will suffer forever in the lake of fire (John 16:8-11; Revelation 20:15). When we place our faith in Christ alone, Who died for your sins…and rose again bodily on the third day, God puts Christ’s righteousness to our account and He will accept us into heaven (Romans 4:22-25).
You might ask, “What about those who have never heard about Jesus and the Gospel?” God has provided natural revelation for all of us. We can look at nature and know that there is a God and that He is powerful (Romans 1:20; Psalm 19:1). If one will accept this much light and desires more, God will see to it that he/she will gets the additional information about Christ (the Gospel) so he/she can believe and be saved.
The Gospel is the power of God for the salvation of the Jews and non-Jews (Romans 1:16, 17). God could send a missionary to that person (Acts 10). He could use a voice over the air waves, or a printed page to get the Gospel to that person so he/she can be saved.
#17 – We All Have A Choice To Make. How Will You Respond?
God desires that all men and women, boys and girls be saved (1Timothy 2:4). He made a way of escape from hell to heaven for all of us humans, but not for the fallen angels. If you place your faith and trust in Him alone you will be saved from eternal condemnation (Acts 16:31; Romans 5:1). If you’ve never done so before, will you trust Him now? You can know you have eternal life (God’s quality of life) even before you die (Romans 8:16; 1 John 5:13).
If the Lord Jesus Christ is your personal Savior, will you help us get this message out to others who aren’t saved yet? We get to go home to heaven when our work on earth is done. [2] Until then let’s be faithful to Him who called us to salvation (1 Corinthians 4:2; 15:58). He wants all Christians to be faithful, available, teachable, flexible, resilient, evangelistic, and enthusiastic (F.A.T.F.R.E.E.) [3]
Help
We’re here to assist those who are teachable, willing to change, and grow spiritually, and reproduce themselves (2 Timothy 2:2, 15; 3:16, 17; 2 Peter 3:18; Matthew 28:19, 20). If you need additional help or have questions, contact us here or through our website: www.kelseypeach.com. To receive future articles as they come out, click on “Follow.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version
Copyright c. 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by Permission. All rights reserved
[1] The Comforting Hope Of An Intermediate Body, by Richard Schafer
Thanatology is fast becoming a very popular course in many colleges and universities across the country. In fact, more and more of them are offering a “Master of Science” degree in this field. We’ve read that there is a three year waiting period before students can take one professor’s class that deals with this subject.
What is “thanatology?” One source describes it as “the scientific study of death and the practices associated with it, including the study of the needs of the terminally ill and their families. Thanatologists are supposed to be specialists in a multi-disciplinary field dedicated to better understanding death, dying, grief, loss, and bereavement. They utilize a wide variety of theory and applied practice to support and educate groups and individuals who are navigating end of life issues.”
However, those professors who disregard the Biblical truth (John 17:17) about death and dying are not providing a full and accurate picture for those whom they teach and counsel. Scripture warns us, “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ” (Colossians 2:8). Furthermore, “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 14:12). “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God” (1 Corinthians 3:19).
Most people, including children, fear death and the unknown. You’ve probably asked some of these questions: What happens to us when we die? Does our soul go to sleep? Do we get reincarnated and live in another body? Do the wicked dead get a second chance to be saved from hell or are they simply annihilated? What is universalism? Do Christians go immediately to heaven or do they have to go to Purgatory first? Are heaven and hell real places? Why do some people actually prefer hell over heaven? Why is the word “hell” used in vulgar conversations? What about “out of body experiences” (OBE)? Do the Scriptures teach that everyone receives a temporary body at death until they get a permanent body sometime later when they are raised from the dead? How many resurrections are there? What is the last enemy that Christ defeats? How does He do this?
Are these some of the questions that you have? Would you like some answers from the Scriptures? Do you believe Jesus and that all 66 Booksof the Bibleare true and trustworthy sources of information (John 14:6; 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:16, 17)? If so, please keep reading. Otherwise, don’t.
In an article entitled “THE COMFORTING HOPE OF AN INTERMEDIATE BODY” Richard L. Schafer wrote the following:
“One of the things Christ accomplished on the cross was to nullify the power that Satan had over the death of believers. This work of Christ made it possible for a Christian to be unafraid of death. (Heb. 2:14-15; Rev. 1:18) In spite of Christ’s accomplishments on behalf of saints of the dispensation of Grace [in which we now live], [1]some believers still harbor the fear of death. This fear occurs because of a lack of understanding about what happens when we leave this body on earth. The Bible contains an abundant amount of revelation [information] concerning the process we call death and describes an existence after we leave this body on earth.
“What really happens when a Christian dies before the Rapture? We know that at the Rapture all the dead church saints [i.e., all true Christians] will be raised and all the living saints will be changed. Both groups will be caught up together to meet the Lord [in the air]. At that time all the church/bride of Christ will have [permanent] glorified bodies like that of the Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Cor. 15:51; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; Phil. 3:20-21; 1 John 3:1-3)
“Many think the dead Christian exists in the state of a disembodied spirit. In this condition the dead saint is thought to be in a blissful, semiconscious state: a state of inactivity or floating aroundas a spirit. Others picture death as a state of complete unconsciousness.
“Non-Christians [in the cults] have other fanciful imagined concepts of conditions after death. Jehovah’s Witnesses and Seventh Day Adventists hold to soul-sleep, a belief that the disembodied soul is unconscious until a resurrection. Mormons maintain there are seven levels of heaven that the dead enjoy. Others consider the soul to be extinct after death. Many think humans “return” in another form–reincarnation. All of these views are contrary to what is revealed in Scripture.
“The Bible teaches that the believer can have the hope of an intermediate, or temporary, body after physical death; death is when a person is separated from this present body on earth. To understand and to fully appreciate the concept of an intermediate body, it is necessary first to have a foundation of other important Biblical concepts such as the composition of man, what constitutes death and where both saved and lost go after leaving the surface of earth. [2]
CONCLUSION
“It is evident [from Scripture] that when humans die they do not go into any kind of soul sleep. After physical death, both saved and unsaved are able to express their personalities. At death saints [all believers] are housed in an intermediate body awaiting glorification. For church saints [but not for Old Testament believers] this change takes place at the Rapture. The hope [confident expectation] we have for an intermediate body, which is based on a promise from God, is comforting since we will never have to worry about being a naked disembodied sleeping spirit.
“Christ has the only immortal or glorified body, prior to the Rapture. (1 Tim. 6:16) However, if we are not the generation alive at the Rapture, our hope is of a smooth transition from life on earth to a conscious awareness, allowing us to perceive and participate in the action around us in heaven with Christ. This intermediate body will be replaced at the Rapture with a [permanent] glorified one.” [2]
These Biblical truths won’t be taught in a course on thanatology at a secular college or university. They will probably approach the subject from a philosophical and humanistic viewpoint which could leave a student in greater confusion.
The devil doesn’t want people to know the absolute truth that is found in Scripture (John 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:16, 17). “He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it” (John 8:44). He wants people (including Christians) to be kept in the dark and lulled to sleep (1 John 5:19).
So, wake up! “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ” (Colossians 2:8). “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy” (James 3:17). If you’re a Christian, you can/should ask God for His wisdom (James 1:5).
Everyone needs to know “The Bad News & The Good News” so he/she can be delivered from eternal separation from God in the lake of fire with the devil and his angels/demons (Matthew 25:30, 41, 46). [3]
If you’d like to learn more about this important subject, we encourage you to read and study (2 Timothy 2:15) the entire article by Richard Schafer, where he develops many more thoughts from the Scriptures.
But, even before you read it, if you haven’t yet placed your faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ alone, Who died for your sins…and rose again bodily from the dead on the third day, why not believe on Him right now? Assurance of your deliverance from the lake of fire (hell) to heaven can be yours today. (See Romans 8:16; 1 John 5:13; John 3:16, 18, 36; 5:24; 10:28, 29). Furthermore, God the Holy Spirit will be in a position to illuminate your mind to Biblical truth (John 14:16, 26).
We’re here to assist those who are teachable, willing to change, and who want to grow spiritually (2 Timothy 2:2, 15; 3:16; 2 Peter 3:18). We can be reached here, or through our website: www.kelseypeach.com.
Please SHARE this with others to help them gain Biblical information about death and dying. Remember this – “…it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). This is a general rule. There have been and there will be exceptions (1 Corinthians 15:51, 52). Click on “Follow” to receive future articles as they come out.
To read the entire article by Richard Schafer, which answers many more questions, go to link # [2] –
“Life Is Short, So Make It Count – Zoe. Thanatos. Deo Volente.”
“Our life (zoe) is like a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away” (James 4:14). Death (thanatos) is certain and judgment day follows (Hebrews 9:27). Every decision we make in life should include the words or at least the thought, “God willing (Deo Volente), I will do this or that” (James 4:15). https://kelseypeach.wordpress.com/2014/09/16/lifes-a-vapor-make-it-count/
Scripture taken from the New King James Version
Copyright c. 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by Permission. All rights reserved.
Most of us know a lot more people than we realize. We may not know their names, but we are acquainted with some of them. God has brought these people into our lives for a reason. Many of them are struggling physically, financially, emotionally, and spiritually. They are people for whose sins Christ died and rose again so they can be saved from hell to heaven. Ask God to make you a blessing to someone today.
As Christians, our main purpose in life is / should be to glorify God by making Him known to others (1 Corinthians 10:31). We should desire the salvation of all mankind (1 Timothy 2:1-4), help new believers growspiritually (1 Peter 2:2; 2 Peter 3:18), encourage them to use their spiritual gift with love (1 Corinthians 13; Galatians 5:13). Then help them reproduce themselves (Matthew 28:19, 20; Acts 1:8).
Think about what your life would be like if you went to a store to purchase something and the people who worked there didn’t show up for work to serve you? It has happened to us. It’s sad when people are paid more (by the government) not to work, than for them to work? Did you know that we can / should intercede for or against others, including our politicians (1 Timothy 2:1-4; Romans 11:2).
When I go to a store, I try to thank the people for their service, and share a “Gospel tract” with them if I can. (It’s usually the tract I wrote about “Our Son’s Death.”) Many of them identify with a loss of a loved one or a friend. I ask them to read it when they get home or are on their lunch break. The Gospel is the power of God unto people’s salvation (Romans 1:16). It’s the same message for Jews and non-Jews.
Here is a list of some of the people who serve us:
Mailman/UPS Driver – Paperboy/Editor – Physician/Nurse – Chiropractor – Optometrist – Pharmacist – Mortician/Funeral Director – Insurance Agent – Stock Broker – Barber/Beautician – Salesman/Clerk – Tax Advisor – Babysitter – President of PTA – Banker/Credit Manager – T.V. Repair Man – Plumber/Electrician – Heating/AC Man – Florist/Gardener – Painter/Welder – Pet Shop Owner – Real Estate Broker – Policeman/Fireman – Dry Cleaner – Auto Mechanic – Travel Agent – Pilot/Flight Attendant – Bus Driver – Piano Teacher – Carpenter – Lab Technician – Computer Programer – Chef/Waitress – Social Worker – Secretary/Librarian – Air Traffic Controller – Grocery Store Clerk – Others.
All of these people have an eternal destiny. Their lives and your life on earth could end today. Make every day count. Don’t boast about tomorrow (Proverbs 27:1; James 4;14).
If they are wearing a name tag say, “Thank you ________. I appreciate your service today.”
“Remember that a person’s name is to that person
the sweetest sound in any language.” – Dale Carnegie
Gospel Tracts – Make sure, if you use them, that they clearly present the Good News of Christ’s death for our sins...and His bodily resurrection from the dead. And make sure that it makes faith (believing in/on Christ alone) as the only condition for salvation (1 Corinthians 15:1-8; Acts 16:31).
With each day that passes, we are one day closer to seeing one of Christ’s promises to His disciples being fulfilled. It should give every true Christian zest for living and cause us to live pure lives and anticipate His giving to some of us, who have earned it, the “Crown of Righteousness” (1 John 3:2; 2 Timothy 4:8).
Our salvation cost Jesus Christ His life, but it is freely offered to believers. But crowns, rewards, and praise are earned. If you’re a Christian, will you receive this and other crowns from Him? What will you do with them? (See Revelation 4:10, 11). [1]
This event was a mystery in the Old Testament but unveiled to believers during Christ’s earthly ministry just before He went to the cross to die for our sins…and rise again bodily from the dead on the third day (John 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, 51, 52; Romans 16:25, 26).
His disciples were anxiously waiting for Him to set up the “Kingdom of the Heavens” where He would be the King and they would rule with Him (Daniel 2:44, 45; Matthew 3:2; 4:17; 20:21; Luke 19:15-19). [2]
But because the majority of the Jews rejected Him as their promised Messiah, and His claim to be God (John 5:16-18;10:30, 31), Jesus postponed the setting up of His Kingdom on/over the earth and told His disciples that He was going go to the cross and die for the sins of the whole world – both Jews and non-Jews, and then rise again bodily from the dead (Psalm 16:10; Luke 24:46). God is NOT finished with the Jewish nation (Romans 11). The Church has NOT replaced Israel. [3]
The Apostle Peter opposed and rebuked the Lord for talking about dying. In return, the Lord rebuked the devil for using Peter to try to thwart God’s plan for the salvation of mankind (Matthew 16:20-23; John 3:16).
This is the background to the words that Jesus said to His disciples on the night He was betrayed by one of His own disciples, Judas. Jesus said, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions [dwelling places]; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you [i.e. one place for all of you]. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:1-3). We understand that this place is described for us in Revelation 21:9 ff. [4]
These words of Jesus were spoken over 2,000 years ago and they cause many scoffers today to deny His promise to come again (2 Peter 3:3). Why the delay? Simply because not all whom God the Father has given to God the Son (Jesus) have come to Him and been saved through the proclamation of the Gospel (John 6:37; 1 Corinthians 15:3, 4). These saved people make up the “Body of Christ” which becomes His Bride (Ephesians 5:32, 33; Revelation 22:17). Are you sharing the clear Gospel with lost people?
“What kind of Christian do you need to be to lead someone to Jesus Christ? You don’t need to be a brilliant person with a clever mind, but a broken person with a clear message.” – Evangelist Dr. R. Larry Moyer.
If you’re rightly related to Christ, with your known sins confessed to God (Galatians 5:16; Ephesians 5:18; 1 John 1:9), and not a carnal Christian, we encourage you to memorize and share this message with lost people: “Christ died for our sins…and rose again bodily from the dead. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ alone, and you will be saved. Do it now.” (1 Corinthians 15:3, 4; Acts 15:31; Ephesians 2:8, 9). [5]
Sadly, most people won’t put their faith and trust in Christ alone to be saved. They love darkness rather than light and the passing pleasures of sin (John 3:19; Hebrews 11:25). Some people think Christ’s death wasn’t necessary because they aren’t that bad. Others think He didn’t do enough and so they try to add their good works to His. (See Romans 3:10-23; Ephesians 2:8, 9; Isaiah 64:6) Does this describe you?
The True Church – the spiritual “Body of Christ” is made up of true believers from the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2) until the “Rapture” of the true Church (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). The “Rapture” is not to be confused with the “Second Coming of Christ” which happens after the “Seven Years of the Tribulation” (Daniel 9:27). Don’t confuse Israel with the Church (1 Corinthians 10:32). [6]
We believe that the true Church (not the apostate church) will be removed from the earth just before this “Seven Year Tribulation” period begins (Revelation 3:10; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 5:9). This doesn’t mean that the true church won’t suffer persecution before Christ returns for His Church. “…all [Christians] who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12).
Some people, who claim to be Christians, believe that Christ arose in spirit only, not bodily (2 John 1:7). But the Apostle Paul insisted that the bodily resurrection of Christ be included in the Gospel message. For this he suffered and was put in chains (2 Timothy 2:8-10). Are you leaving out the bodily resurrection from your Gospel presentations to the lost? If so, start including it.
The Gospel is the power of God unto a person’s salvation (Romans 1:16). A dead person can’t help anyone. Christ’s resurrection guarantees other resurrections. Do you know in which one you will participate if you die? [7] Some Christians won’t die (1 Corinthians 15:51, 52).
Scripture tells us that Christ’s resurrected, glorified body had flesh and bones, but no blood. It was/is capable of eating food, though not necessary to survive (Luke 24:36-43). Christians will receive a body like His resurrected, glorified body when we see Him face to face at the Rapture (1 John 3:2). It will include a garment of light similar to His (1 Timothy 6:16). What about intermediate bodies? [8]
“The Pre-tribuation Rapture of the True Church” is the result of a normal, historical, grammatical, contextual interpretation of the Bible, in contrast to the allegorical method of interpretation which allows one to interpret the Bible as he pleases. The devil and false teachers use the allegorical method of interpretation (particularly with Bible prophecy) to deceive and mislead people (Genesis 3:1-5; 2 Peter 3:16). You won’t want to spend eternity with them in the lake of fire (Matthew 25:30, 41, 46; 2 Peter 2:17; Jude 1:13).
While there are no “sign miracles” that precede the Rapture of the true Church, there seems to be many indicators (world events) that point to this imminent event. The devil’s counterfeitone worldgovernment, religion, and economic system, which seems to be in the making, will precede Christ’s rule over the earth for 1,000 years just as the Bible predicted. [9]
My friend, if you aren’t sure of your eternal destiny, and would like additional information, please contact us. If you’re a carnal Christian (1 Corinthians 3:1 ff; Galatians 5:19-21), you can get right with God by confessing your known sins to God and then claiming His forgiveness (1 John 1:9). Then go on to spiritual maturity for the glory of God and the good of others (1 Corinthians 10:31; Galatians 6:10).
We’re here to assist those who are teachable, willing to change, and who want to grow spiritually (2 Timothy 2:2, 15; 3:16, 17; 2 Peter 3:18).
We can be reached here or through our website: www.kelseypeach.com. To receive future articles as they come out, click on “Follow.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
and a wee little man was he. He climbed up in a sycamore tree For the Lord he wanted to see. And when the Savior passed that way He looked up in the tree. And said, ‘Zacchaeus, you come down! For I’m going to your house today!
For I’m going to your house today!’”
Luke Chapter 19:1-10
Perhaps you sang this chorus when you were a small child in Sunday School. But you probably didn’t know that he was a despised Jewish tax collector whom the other Jews hated. He worked for the Roman government and often extracted from his own people much more than he was supposed to collect. Thus he became very rich.
(BTW – There are some Jewish people like Zacchaeus who are doing the same kind of thing in our day to their own Jewish people and to others.)
But don’t hate such people; pity them. They too can be savedfrom hell just as Zacchaeus was. We should never wish that awful place on anyone, no matter how bad they’ve been, or say “God d— you.” Where would you and I be today apart from the grace of God? It’s truly amazing.
Have you ever wondered what kind of people might be your neighbors in heaven, if you go there? To find out, click below. Which of these characteristics describe you? [1]
Jesus wept over the Jewish folks in Jerusalem who had rejected Him (Matthew 23:37-39). If you’ve been saved by God’s grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, do you ever weep over lost people as the Apostle did (Romans 9:1-3)?
Blind songwriter, Fanny Crosby wrote, “Rescue the perishing, Care for the dying, Snatch them in pity from sin and the grave, Weep o’er the erring one, Lift up the fallen, Tell them of Jesus the mighty to save.”
Although he probably wasn’t as rich as Zacchaeus was, Matthew (one of Christ’s 12 disciples) was also a converted Jewish tax collector (Matthew 9:9; 10:3). He wrote the first Gospel presenting Jesus Christ as the true Messiah and the rightful King of the Jews.
During the early part of His 3 ½ year ministry on earth, Jesus’ concern was for His own people, the Jews (Matthew 15:21-28). He said to His disciples, “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles [non-Jews], and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 10:5, 6). Note an exception Jesus made (John 4:1-42).
But after most of the Jewish people had rejected Him (John 1:11, 12) as their promised Messiah, He temporarily changed His focus from that of being their Messiah to His offering of Himself as the Savior of the whole world Who would go to die on a cross for the sins of all mankind (Matthew 16:20 ff; See John 3:16; 1 John 2:2; 4:10). Sadly, most people won’t come to Him and be saved because they lovedarkness rather than light (John 3:19). What about you?
After His death and resurrection, and just before He ascended back to heaven from where He had come, Jesus told His disciples that they were to be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the end of the earth (Acts 1:8). They were witnesses of His death for our sins…and His bodily resurrection (Acts 1:22; 4:2, 33; 24:15, 21; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8). Without His bodily resurrection, we’d be hopeless and most miserable (1 Corinthians 15:17-19).
BTW – Merely knowing and agreeing with the facts of the Gospel won’t save us (James 2:19). We must transfer our faith and trustfrom ourselves and our good works over to Christ alone if we are to be saved (Acts 16:31; Ephesians 2:8, 9; Titus 3:5). Have you done this yet? If not, why not now?
Some years after the church began on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2), a council meeting was held in Jerusalem. James, Christ’s half-brother said, “Simon [Peter] has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles (non-Jews) to take out of them a people for His name” (Acts 15:14). The non-Jews were/are also those whom God the Father loved, and the ones for whom Christ died and rose again so they could be saved from everlasting condemnation in the lake of fire (John 3:16, 18, 36; Matthew 25:41, 46).
Today God is creating from Jewish and non-Jewish believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, one new man known as “The Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:15). Jesus Christ is the Head of this new creation and true Christians make up the spiritual “Body of Christ” (Ephesians 1:22, 23; 1 Corinthians 12:12, 13).
The Jewish people must be saved the same way non-Jewish people are saved and acknowledge the full Deity of Jesus Christ (Romans 1:16, 17; 10:9; Colossians 2:9). This is a problem for most of the Jews and those in some of the cults and other religions.
Once saved, Jewish believers become one “in Christ” with non-Jewish believers (1 Corinthians 12:12, 13; Ephesians 4:1-6). In God’s mind, there are no distinctions between these two groups (Galatians 3:26-29; 1 Corinthians 10:32).
The Apostle Paul, a converted Jew, wrote, “For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that [spiritual] blindness in part has happened to Israel [the Jewish people as a whole] until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in” (Romans 11:25).
This means that after all the non-Jews, whom God the Father has given to God the Son, have come to Him and been saved (John 6:37) during this era of the Church (i.e. the “Dispensation of Grace”), Christ will return for “His Body, the true Church” and make it His “Bride” (Ephesians 5: 32; Revelation 21:9 ff; 22:17). This will take place at the time of the “Rapture” when true Christians will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air (1 Corinthians 15:51, 52; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).
Then our works will be judged / evaluated to determine which ones can berewarded and which won’t be rewarded (1 Corinthians 3:11-15). At this same time, our future roles and service in heaven and our enjoyment of it will be determined, depending on the type of works we did while we were here on earth (1 Corinthians 4:5).
Once the true Church has been taken up to heaven, God’s “time clock” with the Jewish nation will resume (Romans 9-11). God is NOT finished with the Jewish nation. We do NOT believe in “Replacement Theology” that falsely teaches that the Church has replaced Israel and can claim the promises that were given to the Jews? [3] (Read Genesis 12:1-3 about the blessings and curses that come on those who treat or mistreat the Jews. See also Deuteronomy 28.)
Sadly, many churches in “Christendom” believe this heresy which will result in the worst holocaust in human history during the last half of the Tribulation (3 ½ years). It is known as “The Time of Jacob’s / Israel’s Trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7).
With the increase of anti-semitism (i.e. hatred for the Jews, particularly among the other nations in the United Nations), this event seems to be “just around the corner.”
After going through this seven yearholocaust (Daniel 9:27; Jeremiah 30:7), God will rescue a remnant (1/3) of the Jewish people (Isaiah 10:20-22; Zechariah 13:8, 9). Note: During this 7 year period over ½ of the world’s population will die (Revelation 6:8; 9:15). Some of the current, anti-God globalists want to reduce the population of the earth down to 500 million. That’s about a 95% reduction of the current world population. [3]
The Jewish remnant will be the ones who finally acknowledge that Jesus, whom their forefathers had rejected, was/is indeed their Promised Messiah (Matthew 23:37-39; Luke 19:14). [4] He will return as the “King of kings, and Lord of lords” and crush all His enemies with a sharp sword and a rod of iron (Psalm 2:9; Revelation 19:16).
He will come to rescue the believing Jews in “the nick of time” as the nations of the world gather at Armageddon to try to annihilate the Jews once and for all (Matthew 24:29 ff; Revelation 16:16; 19:11-21). God will not let this happen to the Jews. The devil would like to annihilate them so God can’t fulfill His unconditional promises to them. (See Revelation 12:15-17).
Then God will make the Jewish believers the head nation over the non-Jewish nations during Christ’s millennial (1,000) reign on/over the whole earth (Revelation 20:1-8), as foretold by the Jewish prophets (Deuteronomy 28:13; Daniel 2:44, 45; Isaiah 9:6, 7). Resurrected King David will be ruler on the earth under Christ and His Bride, the true Church (Jeremiah 30:9). Finally there will be true peace on earth (Isaiah 2:4; 9:6, 7).
It seems like we are approaching the end of this era, known as the “Dispensation of Grace” (Ephesians 3:1-7). [5] There are at least 1,007 years left before God wipes out this present universe that has been polluted by sin. Then He will create new heavens and a new earth where righteousness will finally settle down and feel at home (Revelation 21:1 ff; Isaiah 65:17; 2 Peter 3:10-13).
Where will you spend eternity – with God in heaven or in the lake of fire with the devil and his angels/demons (John 14:1-3; Matthew 25:41, 46)? Now, while you’re physically alive, is the only time you have to make your decision to believe or not believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Savior (2 Corinthians 6:2; John 3:16, 18, 36).
To learn more about God’s timeline for humanity, and where we are today, we invite you to get our FREE “Bible Study Book Marker” [5] on our website: www.kelseypeach.com
Having completed “fourscore” years on this earth, I believe that my days may be very limited. I want to glorify God (1 Corinthians 10:31) by making Him known to others who are teachable, willing to change, and who want to grow spiritually (2 Timothy 2:2, 15; 3:16-4:8; 2 Peter 3:18).
Contact us here or through our website if you have questions and/or comments.
To receivefuture articles as they come out, click on “Follow.” If this information has helped you, please let us know, and then SHARE it with others who may need help and/or comfort from God’s Word (2 Corinthians 1:3, 4).
Have you ever given much thought about who might be your “next door neighbors” in heaven (provided you’re a true Christian)? I hadn’t. But one author made an interesting observation about them. He pointed out that some of them might be those who once were fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, homosexuals, sodomites, thieves, covetous, drunkards, revilers, extortioners, cowards, abominable, murderers, sorcerers, or liars. Be honest. Have you ever engaged in such sinful behavior yourself? We all have a dark side of us that we don’t want others to see. Right? [1]
Lawlessness. We’ve all sinned (acted lawlessly – 1 John 3:4) and deserve physical death and spiritual death – to be eternally separated from God in hell (Romans 3:10-23; 6:23). But there is hope for us sinners, if we’re still alive physically. We don’t pray for or to the dead as some cults and religions do. Read on.
Carnality. In his letter to the carnal Christians in the church of Corinth, the Apostle Paul wrote these words, “And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).
Sinless Perfection? Does this mean that Christians, once saved, can’t engage in such sins anymore? No. But they can’t keep onpracticing such things without severe consequences in this life alone (1 John 3:9, 10). God the Father disciplines and chastens His own children (Hebrews 10:30; 31; 12:5 ff).
Because of their carnality, many of the Corinthians Christians were weak and sick, and many of them had died physically (1 Corinthians 11:30; See also James 5:19, 20; 1 John 5:16). “It is a fearful thing [for a carnal Christian] to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31). Are you one of them? Beware! If you are, you could die prematurely and painfully.
Confession. When we sin as Christians, we need to quickly confess our sins to our heavenly Father and then claim His forgiveness (1 John 1:9; Proverbs 28:13). Being omniscient, He can’t / won’t forget our sins, but He won’t hold them against us (Ezekiel 33:16). Sometime in the days ahead He will allow us to be tempted in that same area again to give another opportunity to demonstrate our love for Him or our love for the passing pleasures we derive for engaging in sin (James 1:12; Hebrews 11:25; 1 John 2:15-17). Think about this. If sin weren’t pleasurable to us, we wouldn’t engage in it. Right?
Danger. “Sin (lawlessness) will take us farther than we want to go, keep us longer than we want to stay, and cost us more than we want to pay.” Discover how Christians can live victoriously over our three spiritual enemies: the devil, the present world system, and our own sin nature. [2]
How Bad? You and I haven’t been as bad as we could be. We could be a lot worse. Right? But every unbeliever is as “bad off” as he/she can be. Those who die physically without the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior will spend eternity with the devil and his angels in the lake of fire (Matthew 25:41, 46; Revelation 21:8).
Suffering. The unbeliever’s degree of suffering there will be determined at the Great White Throne Judgement by the RighteousJudge Jesus (John 5:22; 2 Timothy 4:8; Revelation 20:11-15). What about the condition of those who die before that day? Click below. [3]
Righteousness / Love. God is not unjust even though He didn’t / doesn’t provide salvation for the fallen angels / demons. He didn’t have to provide salvation for us either. But God the Father wanted to show His love for sinful human beings who were His enemies (Romans 5:10). So He gave us His only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ (John 3:16). He became the virgin born God-man (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23; Philippians 2:5-11). He lived a sinless life (Hebrews 4:15), and then died as a Substitute for all our sins (1 Corinthians 15:3, 4; 2 Corinthians 5:18, 19). But a dead Savior can’t help or save anyone.
Bodily Resurrection. To prove to us that God the Father was fullysatisfied with Christ’s death and payment for all our sins, He raised Him from the dead (Romans 4:25; 1 John 2:2; 4:10). His bodily resurrection guarantees other bodily resurrections of all those who have died (1 Corinthians 15:21-24; Daniel 12:2; Revelation 11:11; 20:11-15). The Scriptures teach the resurrections of the justified ones and the unjustified ones at different times. There is no annihilation of the wicked dead, or reincarnation taught in the Scriptures. “… it is appointed for men to die once, but [sometime] after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). In which one will you participate?
Forgiveness. We (Christians) are judicially forgiven of our sins when we place our faith and trust in Christ alone (Ephesians 1:7; 2:8, 9; Acts 16:31) through the message of the Gospel. Christians have been justified (Romans 5:1) and are no longer under condemnation (Romans 8:1). We are eternally secure in God’s hands (John 10:28, 29; Ephesians 1:13; 4:30). These things are but a few of the benefits believer’s receive at the moment of salvation. (See Ephesians 1:3 ff) [4]
Questions: Be honest. Are you 100% certain that you will go to heaven the moment you die? Why should God let you into His heaven? If you believe you’re saved, is there any thing you could do or fail to do that would cause you to lose your salvation? If so, what would that be? [5] If you are saved and know it (Romans 8:16; 1 John 5:13), how much spiritual growth has taken place in your life (1 Peter 2:2; 2 Peter 3:18)? How much “spiritual fruit” is evident in your life for others to see (John 15:1-8)? “Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works” (James 2:18).
Fruit. “This fruitcan be seen in Christlike character(2 Peter 1:5-8; Galatians 5:22, 23),a life characterized by good works (Colossians 1:10), a faithful witness(1 Corinthians 16:15),a pair of lips that praise God(Hebrews 13:15), and throughgenerous giving of one’s money (Romans 15:28; Philippians 4:17). – Dr. Charles C. Ryrie “So Great Salvation” p. 50.
Limited. We’ll only be here for just a little while longer (2 Timothy 4:6; James 4:14; 2 Peter 1:12-15) to assist you and others who are teachable, willing to change, and who want to growspiritually (2 Timothy 2:2, 15; 3:16, 17; 2 Peter 3:18).
Contact us if you have questions and/or comments. Please let us know if this or other articles or our talks have helped you. We can be reached here or through our website: www.kelseypeach.com.
Other articles, which may be of interest to you, can be found at www.kelseypeach.wordpress.com. Some of our talks can be found on Youtube or on our Facebook page.
Click on “Follow” if you’d like to receive future articles as they come out. Share the ones you like with others.
Even though there was a draft in our country which forced many young men to become soldiers and go to war to defend their country, many other young men volunteered to join the military and give up their lives, if necessary, to preserve the freedom we have in our country. My father was a volunteer in World War II.
“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.” – Ronald Reagan
Slavery has existed since the dawn of human history for various reasons and will continue on into the future (Revelation 18:13). [1] Some taskmasters were very cruel (Exodus 6:5-9; Deuteronomy 6:21). But not all slave masters were cruel and oppressive. Some Jewish slaves, who could have gone free, chose to remain as slaves to their masters because they actually loved them (Exodus 21:1-6).
Many people (although technically not slaves) choose to work where they do because they have good bosses and employers. How about you? In our country, we still have choices. For how long? We don’t know. Some people in other countries have no choices and long to come to our country.
In the spiritual realm, without their knowing it, countless numbers of people all around the world are enslaved to the devil and their own sin natures which we all inherited from our first parents, Adam and Eve (Romans 5:12; Psalm 51:5). Some people are very superstitious and fearful about many things.
To some religious men of His day, Jesus said, “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it” (John 8:44).
The Apostle Paul addressed our sinful natures (dispositions / natural tendencies), which we all have (1 John 1:8), and wrote, “Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?” (Romans 6:16). He himself struggled with his sin nature as a Christian but finally learned how he could overcome its temptations to sin (Romans 7:15-25; 8:1 ff; Galatians 5:16-25). We don’t have to yield to sinful temptations and sin – act lawlessly (1 John 2:1; 3:4; 1 Corinthians 10:13).
Knowing that we, as sinful men and women, couldn’t help ourselves, God graciously provided a solution to all mankind who had rebelled against Him. At a council meeting of the three Persons in the Godhead (Ephesians 1:11), God the Son volunteered to come to earth (Hebrews 10:7, 9), to become the God-man (Philippians 2:5-11), to be born of the virgin, Mary (Matthew 1:23), to live a sinless life (Hebrews 4:15), and then to die on a cruel cross to pay the debt that we all owed to God (Romans 6:23). “Jesus paid a debt He did not owe, because we owed a debt we could not pay.”
“For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:6-8). Would you be willing to die for your enemy as Jesus did?
Why did the Apostle Paul suffer as he did (2 Corinthians 11:22-33)? Because he insisted that the bodily resurrection of Christ be included in the Gospel message (1 Corinthians 15:3, 4; Luke 24:36-43), and so that others could be saved. A dead person can’t help anyone.
He wrote, “Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained. Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory” (2 Timothy 2:8-10). Without Christ’s death for our sins…and His bodily resurrection, we’d be hopeless and mostpitiable (1 Corinthians 15:17-19). Don’t leave it out of your Gospel presentation to the lost.
If you’re a Christian, are you willing to suffer for the cause of Christ so others can be saved frometernal condemnation in the lake of fire (Romans 8:1; Matthew 25:30, 41, 46; Revelation 21:8) to heaven instead (John 14:1-3)?
Having a part in a person’s salvation can earn for Christians the “Crown of Rejoicing” (1 Thessalonians 2:19, 20). Sadly, most of us Christians don’t really want to suffer. We’d rather be “carried to the skies on flowery beds of ease.” But the Apostle Paul wrote, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18).
If you’ve been saved by God’s grace through faith in Christ alone, Who died for your sins…and rose again bodily on the third day, will you volunteer by presenting your body as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service instead of being conformed to this age? God wants us to “be transformed by the renewing of [our minds], that [we] may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:1, 2; Romans 6:11-14)?
If you’re not saved, or aren’t sure of your salvation, but would like to be sure, we’re here to assist those who are teachable, willing to change, and grow (2 Timothy 2:2, 15; 3:16, 17; 2 Peter 3:18).
We can be reached here or through our website: www.kelseypeach.com. If you’d like to receive future articles as they come out, click on “Follow.”
He was lingering in a Roman prison cell and facing an imminent death. Why? Because he insisted that the Gospel he proclaimed for the salvation of Jews and non-Jews (Romans1:16) had to include, not only Christ’s death for our sins, but also His bodily resurrection from the dead (2 Timothy 2:8-10; Acts 24:21). Without it, we, as believers in Him, couldn’t be sure that our sins had been forgiven (Romans 4:25), and we’d have no hope for a better life in the future (1 Corinthians 15:12-19).
The “best life” for an unbeliever is now; The “best life” for a Christian is in the next life. Think about that. Where will you spend it – in heaven or in hell? Are you sure?
It was from this prison cell that the Apostle Paul wrote a brief letter to his son-in-the-faith, Timothy. The believers in Asia Minor, whom he led to the Lord, had forsaken him (2 Timothy 1:15). He wanted Timothy to pass on to other faithful Christians what he had received from Paul (2 Timothy 2:2), who had been taught by the Lord Himself for three years in the wilderness after his conversion (Galatians 1:15-18).
Sadly, there are many Christians who aren’t faithful to the Lord and His Word. They live carnal lives (See 1 Corinthians 3:1 ff) and walk according to the flesh (their sin nature), rather than by means of the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-21; Romans 8:5-8). Such Christians grieve and quench God the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30; 1 Thessalonians 5:19).
Confession to God the Father is in order for such believers (1 John 1:9; Proverbs 28:13) or serious consequences could follow: weakness, sickness, or a premature death (1 Corinthians 11:30; James 5:19, 20; 1 John 5:16). Keep this in mind – We have “potential years” and “actual years.”
“Sin (lawless behavior) will take us farther than we want to go; It will keep us longer than we want to stay; It will cost us more than we want to pay.” The passing pleasures of sin aren’t worth it when we consider that our flesh and bones may end up being consumed, perhaps by a STD (Hebrews 11:25; Proverbs 5:11). With 700 wives and 300 concubines, King Solomon may have died this way.
He advised others to live wisely. But then he didn’t follow his own advice, and for a period of time lived in vanity while trying to please himself. He concluded, “Vanity of vanities, all [that I’ve done to please myself] is vanity” (Ecclesiastes 1:2). Later he wrote, “Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, Before the difficult days come, And the years draw near when you say, ‘I have no pleasure in them’” (Ecclesiastes 12:1). Let’s learn from the mistakes of others (1 Corinthians 10:1-13).
Because Christians still have a sinful nature (1 John 1:8; Romans 7:15-25) and the potential to engage in all the lawless behavior that they engaged in before they were saved, the Apostle Paul warned believers to “Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (2 Timothy 2:22).
God chose the Apostle Paul to be the steward (household manager) of the “Dispensation of Grace” in which we now live. He was the major contributor to “Grace Teachings” for New Testament Christians (Galatians 1:15-7; Ephesians 3:1-7). The Apostles Peter and John, along with James and Jude (the Lord’s half-brothers) supplement what Paul wrote to Christians.
Being forsaken by the believers in Asia Minor must have been very painful to Paul. But he knew that the Lord had not forsaken him. Perhaps he thought of the Psalmist’s words, “When my father and my mother [or other believers] forsake me, Then the LORD will take care of me” (Psalm 27:10). The writer of Hebrews wrote, “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). Even after claiming that they would never deny or abandon Him, Christ’s disciples forsook Himin the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:56).
Until God takes ushome to heavenby means ofphysical death or through the rapture, God has workfor Christians to do (Ephesians 2:10; 1 Peter 4:10). We don’t (shouldn’t) retirefrom serving God; We won’t in heaven (Revelation 22:3). Christ wants to live out His life through the believer’s life (Galatians 2:20; 4:19). He wants us to be willing to be persecutedoreven diefor our faith, if necessary so others can be saved (2 Timothy 2:10; 3:12). Such believers can earn the“Crown of Life” (Revelation 2:10; James 1:12).
Jesus said, “You [disciples] didnot choose Me, butI chose youand appointed you that you should go andbear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you” (John 15:16). “This fruitcan be seen in Christlike character(2 Peter 1:5-8; Galatians 5:22, 23),a life characterized by good works (Colossians 1:10), a faithful witness(1 Corinthians 16:15),a pair of lips that praise God(Hebrews 13:15), and throughgenerous giving of one’s money (Romans 15:28; Philippians 4:17). – Dr. Charles C. Ryrie “So Great Salvation” p. 50.
James, the Lord’s half brother wrote, “But someone will say, ‘You have faith, and I have works.’ Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works” (James 2:18).Question: If you were on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you? If not, why? What needs to change?
Older Christians, who have been through the “rough waters” or“storms of life”should assistChristians who are coming behind them (Galatians 6:2). “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, theFather of merciesandGod of all comfort, whocomforts usin all our tribulation, that we may be able tocomfort thosewho are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God” (2 Corinthians 1:3, 4). And remember – “No temptation has overtaken you except such as iscommon to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that youmay be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13). God wants us to be victorious over ourthree spiritual enemies: the devil, our own sin nature, and the present world system.
I, personally, want to live the rest of my days on earth as though each day that God gives me to live might be my last day on earth, or the last day of someone I love or know. Our lives are like a vaporthat soon passes away (James 4:14). Missionary C. T. Studd wrote, “Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last. And when I am dying, how happy I’ll be, If the lamp of my life has been burned out for Thee.”
At the“Bema Seat Judgment”for New Testament Christians, Jesus, therighteous Judge (John 5:22; 2 Timothy 4:8), will evaluate our worksand ourmotivesand reveal why we did what we did (1 Corinthians 3:11-15; 4:5; 2 Corinthians 5:10). Were they done in keeping with theHoly Spirit’s leadingin our lives (Romans 8:14), and with Hispower (Philippians 3:10; 4:13)? Were they doneaccording tothe rulesthat God set forth in His Word (2 Timothy 2:5; See Romans 3:8; 6:1)? Were they done according to the will of God(Acts 21:4-14)? Did they bringglory to Godor to us (1 Corinthians 10:31)?
Those works that don’t measure up to His standard will be burned up, but the believer willnot lose his/her salvation(1 Corinthians 3:11-15; 2 Corinthians 5:10). That’s amazinggrace – unmerited favor from God. Have you experienced it yet (Ephesians 2:8, 9)?
If you consider yourself to be arelatively mature Christian, are youpassing onwhat you’ve learned over the years to those who are coming behind you? Are you setting agood examplefor them? Think of your children and grandchildren if you have some.
If you haven’t placed your faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ alone, Who died for your sins…and rose again bodilyon the third day,nowis the time to do so. You have no guarantee that you will be alive at the end of today.
We’re here to assist those who areteachable, willing to change, and grow spiritually(2 Timothy 2:2, 15; 3:16-4:8). If you have questions and/or comments, we can be reached here or through our website: www.kelseypeach.com. If you’d like to receivefuture articles as they come out, click on“Follow.”
It’s very sad to think that most people in the world today don’t know about the true and living God. He loved us sinners (those who act lawlessly) and gave His only begotten Son to provide deliverance from hell to heaven (John 3:16). What is your personal relationship to Him – saved or lost?
Problem. Far too many people in “Christendom” think that if they know and give mental assent to (agree with) “the facts” of the Gospel that they are fine. Since an early age I heard and believed the stories in the Bible, and so I figured I must be OK. I even believed that Jesus died for our sins…and rose again bodily on the third day (which is the essence of the Gospel). But I wasn’t sure that doing this was enough for me to be saved.
Chapel Speakers. According to some of the things I heard from the speakers in chapel, at the interdenominational Christian school I attended, I thought that there were other things I had to do to be saved from hell to heaven. Consider some of the incorrect and additional things some “preachers” are telling unsaved people to do to be saved. [1]
BTW – Many preachers today talk “about” the Gospel, but very few of them tell people what it is specifically (1 Corinthians 15:3, 4), and what they need to do to be saved – “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ [exclusively], [through the message of the Gospel] and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31, 32). The word “believe” is used about 100 times in the Gospel of John to signify God’s only condition for our salvation.
The Gospel. In their eagerness to win lost people to Christ, some Christians feel that they need to explain the whole Bible to unsaved people so they can be saved. As Evangelist Dr. R. Larry Moyer correctly points out to those who want to do this, “…the Bible contains the Gospel. But the Bible is a whole lot more than the gospel. It contains vital information on how to raise your children, how to spend your money, how to love your enemy, how to participate in a local church, how to understand end-time events, and much more. The historical elements of the gospel [for our salvation] are contained in 1 Corinthians 15:3-5: “For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: 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, and that He was seen by Cephas [Peter], then by the twelve.”
“Note the four verbs. Christ died, He was buried (the proof that He died), He rose again, and He was seen (the proof that He rose). So the Gospel can be reduced to ten words: “Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead.” That is the message we have for unbelievers [whether they are Jews or non-Jews]. This is what God calls, “the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16).
“Your acquaintance [the person you’re trying to lead to Christ] doesn’t need the sixty-six books of the Bible. He can learn those later. Right now he needs ten words of the gospel – Christ died for our sins and rose again from the dead.” [2]
Be Honest. How sure are you that you will go to heaven the moment you die (100%, 75%, 50%, 25%, 0%)? Do you think that you have to go to a purging place first? Do you sometimes have doubts? On what basis should God let you into His heaven – your good works, your faith plus your good works, or by faith alone in the Christ of the Scriptures alone? [3] Once saved, is there anything you think you could do to lose your salvation? If so, what?
Help. If you aren’t sure of your salvation and would like assurance of it, we’re here to help those who are teachable, willing to change, and grow (2 Timothy 2:2, 15; 3:16, 17). We can be reached here or through our website: www.kelseypeach.com.
SHARE. To help us reach others for whom you are concerned, please LIKE and SHARE this. Click on “Follow” to receive future articles as thy come out.
[1] Dr. Ron Shea, The Gospel, Note other false conditions for salvation on page 2.
Kelseypeach's Blog 