Bible Question: I'm looking for biblical referance and opinions on when one dies, do you go directly to heaven or is there a resting period in which we wait for the Lord's return. |
Bible Answer: 1 Corinthians chapter 15 discusses the resurrection in detail. Verse 22 says: "In Christ all will be made alive." This shows that Jesus is the way to eternal life. Verses 23-26 show when. "Each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him." Verse 50 says: "Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God." Verse 51 says: "We shall not all sleep." So some of those who belong to Christ will sleep! However some will be "changed" in a flash "at the last trumpet." So, the questions are: (1) When does Jesus come? (2) When does the kingdom of God come? (Matthew 6:10; Acts 1:6; Luke 19:11, 12) and (3) When is the last trumpet? Well, they all refer to the same time period. Jesus is the king of God's kingdom and he blows the trumpet. (Luke 1:32, 33; 1 Thessalonians 4:16) The "sign" of Jesus' coming [Greek, parousia, meaning presence.] is found at Matthew chapters 24 and 25 among others. Verse 7 says: "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold. This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations." All these things have been happening on an unprecented scale since the outbreak of World War 1 in the year 1914. So Jesus came in 1914 and that's when the resurrection to heaven began. All faithful followers of Jesus who died before 1914 slept in death until after 1914. Those who died after 1914 received an instantaneous resurrection "in a flash." Further, the Bible shows there is more than one resurrection. Acts 24:15 says: "There will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked." Revelation 20:6 speaks about a "first resurrection" indicating another will follow as mentioned in the same chapter, verses 12-15. All of this happens after "earth and sky fled from his presence." (Revelation 20:11) However, note Revelation 21:1. |
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Questions and/or Subjects for NT general Archive 1 | Author | ||
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New Creature | ||
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eagerfollower | ||
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stokeyhk | ||
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macktony2000 | ||
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sjuntak2 | ||
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Jude | ||
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tonize | ||
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Mommapbs | ||
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SMITHSKI | ||
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nicky | ||
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wdc |