Subject: Getting the verdict before the judgment? |
Bible Note: I say no also; nobody is with the Lord when they die. Everyone must await the judgment. In 2Cor.5:6-8 Paul is refuring to his next conscious moment, his next breath. If we could start from the beginning of 2Cor.5:1-5 We can see that Paul is talking about being "clothed" upon with a house from heaven. Being "clothed" that we shall not be found naked. Verse 4 "For we that are in this tabernacle do graon, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. Notice how he explains when "mortality is swallowed up of life," in Romans 8:22, 23, "...ourselves also, which have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body." This verse in Romans is a perfect, striking parallel to the verses in 2 Corinthians 5:1-8 and clarifies when we shall be clothed with that immortality. Notice the similarity of language and thought: To the Corinthians Paul Wrote: "We… in this tabernacle do groan." "Given to us the earnest of the Spirit." "earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven." To the Romans Paul wrote: "We groan within ourselves…" "have the first fruits of the Spirit." "earnest expectations… waiting for the redemption of our body." These two scriptures are speaking of the same experience. The ultimate object in both cases is to change this mortal body into the immortal body and to change this "earthly house" into the "house eternal in the heavens." Please notice that in one verse Paul was "earnestly desiring to be clothed" with his house from heaven, and in the other verse his "earnest expectation" was the "redemption of the body." The comparison proves that this clothing from heaven takes place at the "redemption of the body." Paul adds the final clarification in 1 Corinthians 15:51-53 when he again describes the TIME this change takes place: "... we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump ... this mortal must put on immortality." In other words, even though death should dissolve this mortal body, Paul makes it very clear that we do not put on the house from heaven (immortality) until the coming of Jesus and the redemption of the body. This is also established by the repeated references to the "naked" or "unclothed" state. Other passages further clarify without any dout when the great apostle expected to be with Christ. Romans 8:23 At the redemption of the body 1 Corinthians 5:5 In the day of the Lord Jesus 1 Corinthians 15:51-55 At the last trump Colossians 3:4 When Christ our life shall appear 1 Thessalonians 4:16 When the Lord descends with a shout 2 Thessalonians 2:1 At the coming of the Lord 2 Timothy 4:7, 8 At "that day" (by which Paul means the second advent of Christ)So Yes there is a verdict but not before the judgment. |