Selah, Meditate on This
Do the dead go straight to Heaven?
Jesus teaches in the 14th Chapter of John that He has gone away to prepare a place for us and will return to receive us to Himself, so that where He is, we will be also. John 14:1-4. What would be the need of His returning for us if we are already there? Selah, mediate on this....
As Christians, we believe there will be a resurrection from the dead, just as Christ went to the tomb and was resurrected, so will we. Jesus promises 3 times in the 6th Chapter of John (verses 40, 44 & 54) that He will "RAISE [us] up at the last day." We see His Apostle Paul in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and 1 Corinthians 15:50-55 explaining the details of Christ’s coming and the resurrection of the righteous and the unrighteous. Paul, begins by admonishing us to not be "ignorant of these things."
So then, Scripture clearly outlines these events for us. Christ returns to receive us to Himself, we are caught up to meet Him in the air, we will not be unclothed (souls without a body) but further clothed where mortality is swallowed up by immortality (1 Corinthians 15:50-55). We have this victory (over death) through our Lord Jesus Christ [we cannot get to Heaven without Jesus Christ]. It is through and by His second coming to resurrect us that we are received and changed and will forever be with our Lord.
These are the comforting words taught by the same Apostle Paul throughout several of his epistles to the churches. Then, why do we misinterpret the same Apostle's teaching in other places in the Scripture. It would not make sense that the same Apostle Paul who taught resurrection through Jesus Christ, could also teach that we go straight to heaven when we die. Does Jesus come back millions of billions of times to get each person at death? Selah, meditate on this ....
Students of the Bible are aware that the Bible does not contradict itself. On the contrary, it is capable of interpreting itself. Those acquainted with the character of God, know that He has watched over His word and is able to preserve it. How else do we get a book that was written between 3 continents, in three languages, over a period of 1500 years by 40 different people with different educations, and backgrounds, yet the message carries one voice and tells one story. (2 Timothy 3:10 and 2 Timothy 1:19-20)
Now, I mentioned a misinterpretation of Scripture earlier. Let's look at it now, keeping in mind that all Scripture is by inspiration of God and of no private interpretation, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. 2 Corinthians 5:8 and Philippians 1:21-23 were both written by Apostle Paul as he was moved by the same Holy Spirit when he penned the above-mentioned Scriptures from 1 Corinthians 15:50-55 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. Remember, the truth, there is no contradiction in Scripture. I submit to you that Paul was not endorsing the dead go straight to heaven, as many have concluded. Rather, 2 Corinthians 5:8 and Philippians 1:21-23 reveals Paul's dilemma as he contemplated a choice between remaining in the flesh and being with Christ. Any God-loving Christian would be hard pressed with the same dilemma, for we all would rather be with Christ than remain in this body in a cold and evil world, physically separated from Him. Taken in context, this is the message of those passages in 2 Corinthians 5:8 and Philippians 1:21-23. Again, taken in context, these passages make no reference to the timing between being absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. The very fact that the two phrases are separated by the conjunction "and" makes them independent of the other and two separate acts. To the contrary, timing is noted in the prior passages of 1 Corinthians 15:50-55 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. Specifically, Paul indicates that death is swallowed up in victory at Christ's second coming. His message is that once we are raised from the dead, we will be changed "within a twinkling of an eye" (at the last trumpet) to be made ready to meet the Lord in the air. Again, please notice that this take place at the coming of Christ and not before. I agree with Paul, to live is Christ but to die is gain.
One last thought.
What about the wicked dead, do they go straight to hell? Selah, mediate on this ....
What does the Bible say: 2. Peter 2:9 "The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished."
It appears we will all have to wait in our graves, including the unbelievers, until "THAT DAY" OF JUDGMENT/SECOND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST.
WHAT WILL BE YOUR DESTINY AT THE LAST TRUMPET CALL?
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