Bible Question:
I am questioning my view of death. For most of my life I have been taught that upon my death I would be in heaven. However I recently heard a speaker say that we stay in a state of waiting to be raised when Christ returns. I can read where sleep is refered to as death. When it says in the N.T. concerning those who have fallen asleep. I feel rather ignorant, because I have studied this, and felt I had the answer. Now, I am not so sure. I would like some feed back, as this is sorta bugging me. Thanks for your input. Peace, farout |
Bible Answer: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 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. 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: 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. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. If the dead in christ rise... and yet they come with Him when he comes,.. you have them both coming with him and their bodies rising.. The fact that their body rises does not mean thier spirit is in the underparts of the earth, it means their bodies are raised. Their spirit is with Christ from the time their bodies fell asleep and when Christ comes their spirit comes down with Him and their bodies are raised so that they are reunited with glorified bodies. also remeber Paul said.... Philippians 1:21-23 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Now if departing this life was not being with Christ as Paul said then it would not be far better. 2 Corinthians 5:6-8 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. If being conscious here is to be absent from the Lord, then being unconscious in sleep would be even more absent from the Lord, so that we would not long to depart and be with the Lord if indeed departing was not being with the Lord. May God Bless you in your study of His word. |