Subject: What happens immediatly after you die? |
Bible Note: Hello ebrain, I didn't see the need to respond in depth to parts I, II, and III; but allow me to make a short response here. I don't desire to get into a long, drawn out debate on such a controversial issue. Furthermore, I am confident that you are aware of the biblical evidence that weakens, if not totally defeats, your teaching here. So, my short response here is meant for the benefit of other readers who may not know better. You wrote: "As the events described at 1 Thes 4:13-18, have not as yet taken place, then those believers who have gone to be with Jesus, cannot possibly have bodies, and therfore will not be able to see, hear, touch, taste, talk, and so on,,, be able to make contact with others, and especially to be able to interact with his Maker." I believe your first "assumption" here is an obvious one. Assuming that those who are "asleep in Christ" (in other words christians who have died) have not yet their glorified bodies (I'm not arguing that point); you move on to draw the conclusion that they can neither "see, hear, touch, taste, talk, and so on...be able to make contact with others, and ESPECIALLY TO BE ABLE TO INTERACT WITH HIS MAKER." (emphasis, CAPS., added). Your preface briefly illustrates the need for our Lord to have come in the flesh. But I don't understand how you translate that into the dead in Christ not being able to see, hear, touch, etc. Surely you are not saying that Christ, before His incarnation, was unable to see, talk, or interact with God the Father; are you? In short, I believe that it is fair to say that your teaching, that the dead in Christ (or those who sleep in Christ) are comatose, is a matter of your own opinion and not something you have adequately supported with Scripture (in either part). That is fair right? You wrote: "As the Judgement seat of Christ is also still future, then if those "who sleep in Jesus" are not really asleep at all, then some of them will have waited almost 2000 years to be Judged." So! You are asserting what? That this would be unfair. Furthermore, your own argument of "soul sleep" doesn't change this. If soul sleep is as you say it is, the event known as the judgement seat of Christ is still in the future. So those you speak of have still waited almost 2000 years, and may wait another 2000. Of course your theory does give them some relief as they have slept and have no kowledge of the 2000 years passing. Pretty convenient for those who have died in their sins. I hope you can see how your teaching such a thing (as old as the teaching may be) may be seen as irresponsbile in the light of your not being able to support it with Scritpture. It's another one of those things, ebrain, that has enough mystery to it that leaves us unable to declare it either way definatively, with the support of Scripture. What do we do with that? God bless, Jeff |