A Study Of The Soul, Part #6 of 6

Salvation of the Soul

A wise man once said, "Just because you can't see the air, doesn't mean you stop breathing.   And just because you can't see God, doesn't mean you stop believing."   The believability of the soul has gone the way of the belief in God, the Devil, Heaven, and Hell.  These spiritual assets have not been cast aside instead they are redefined in such a manner that the freedom of humanity is not infringed upon.   Even the attributes of God has been used to redefine God as a God of love who would not send the soul of his wayward children to Hell.

In any debate or conversation about the soul, "Do we believe in God", is the ultimate question that must be answered.  Yet, the answer to the question is superficial because there is no agreement here.  Neither does rephrasing the question to ask, "What God do you believe in", provide the platform for an amicable discussion.  If you are a Christian you must deny the existence of other gods.  In today's society, a belief in the God of Abraham does not place us at the same table, because from the loins of Abraham sprang forth two religions.   Those two religions are at war today.  The worlds of opposites have existed for as long as the devil has sought to pervert the Word of God. 

The saga of the soul will continue as long as humanity places their trust in their own ideology.   What one believes is personnel and to disagree is said to be judging.   The quickest way to shut down a Christian from expressing a Christian viewpoint is the accusation of judging.  The so-called pious elite has justified sin by claiming that the Bible says we should not judge.  If this were true of Matthew 7:1 then John 7:24 becomes a contradiction.  Surgical removing certain words from a statement and presenting them as a complete thought is one of the tools of shaping the truth.  Shaped truths allow for the emergence of new and polluted Gospels.

 Most newly, emergence gospels do not include the salvation of the soul as an integral part of their doctrine.  This was also true of many of the ancient organized pagan religions.  Unaware or unconcern about this deficiency most followers of these newly founded cult type religions  revel in a newfound freedom, that is nothing more than the justification of lust.   The desire to obtain the pleasures that financial success can bring is the driving force of many "Gospels".   A Gospel or ministry should not be more concern about collecting money to elevate its leaders.  Jesus posed a relevant question.  "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Matthew 16:26)

An interesting aspect of many of the gospel messages heard today, the phrase, "Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand", seldom is heard.  This is a condition of Soul salvation, yet it is overlooked because of the desire not to offend.  John the Baptist and Jesus came preaching this message.  Peter even picked up the theme and proclaimed, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:38) There again, this was a condition of the salvation of the Soul.

There appear to be other things more important than soul salvation in today's society, such as how to get what you want from God, and walking in God's favor.   The Word of God is trivialized and much of what we hear and read is smart platitudes designed to titillate the sensibility of those who do not understand the word of God.  In church, we are told of the healing power of God, and when we are sick we pray, beg and cry to God for our healing.  There are those among us who dealing with life threating situations, and they have placed the matter in the hands of their God.  There are no tears, there are no demands for prayer, it is simply your will Lord, my soul is at peace.   The thought of Lord, when are you coming to get me does not set well with most indoctrinated believer.  

There are many examples of messages that cater to the salvation of the soul is in the Holy Scripture.  Rather than focusing on the important part of these messages, men of skill have shifted the focus to the text to the subtext.  When Jesus said repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand, the focus of the message was repentance, it has now shifted to, "Where is the Kingdom of Heaven?"  The placement of the Kingdom of Heaven here on earth allows humanity to claim all of the blessings of the Kingdom here and now.  This is not a new age discussion or problem, Paul's attempt to address the situation was as such; "Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption." (1^st Corinthians 15:50)

If the statement made by Paul is true, then it does not matter what argument presented or even what scriptures that are quoted, flesh and blood cannot enter the Kingdom of God.  Therefore, we are looking forward to the coming of the Kingdom and the blessings that it has to offer.   The charlatan has come in and through the art of twisting of scriptures, overlooking context and perspectives; they have devised a Gospel that soothes the pallet of the knowledgeable and are leading humanity down a path of destruction.

In my writing, including several books, in my regular weekly blogs and in my lectures in scores of cities, I have taught the necessary steps to Understand the Word of God. I have chosen not to try to provide an answer, but to engage your mind and make you think. 

A Study Of The Soul, Part #5 of 6

It takes a skilled deceiver and a willing student to believe that the souls of unrepentant Christians, are once saved always saved.  Jesus and Paul spoke of these people coming into the church and leading souls astray.

"Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them". (Genesis 2:1)  From the early days of creation, man has used his expanding knowledge to explain the working of God.   This was a godsend for the people, such as Solomon who were truly called by God.  He sought God for wisdom and knowledge rather than a conduit to amassing fortune, fame, and glory. 

David, a writer of Psalms often referenced the soul in his writing.   When he was in trouble he cried out to God, "deliver my soul from the wicked". (Psalms 17:13)  "O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit." (Psalms 30:3)

"In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you". (John 14:2) 

The question was posed, "do the soul cease to exist after death"? The introduction of this question in a Bible Study session introduces a multilevel debate that proved that the consensus that once existed among the brethren no longer exist. The question that needs reflection upon is why is it necessary in this day and age to question the existence of the soul?   What would it profit a person to debate the existence of air? At the end of the discussion would we be a smarter person?  Many religious leaders are questioning the immortality of the soul and phrasing answers that are contrary to the word of God.  The answers that are forthcoming  are not for spiritual enlightenment, they are  necessary for the justification of sin and the accumulation of followers. 

In our advanced, politically correct society, sin must be justified.  The justification of sin allows for the concoction of catchy phrases such as we must love the person and hate the sin, or the Bible says for us not to judge. Being able to formulate these statement requires a twisting of the scripture.   As we have stated before this is not a new process, it began in the garden when the Devil explain to Eve what God said. The evil art has perfected itself over time now we can proudly proclaim that once in Christ we are never out

It takes a skilled professional who has perfected the art to convince Christians that they can continue in an unrepentant sinful lifestyle and still be saved.  I am not allowed to teach or preach against your lifestyle because one sin is no greater than the other.  The purpose of this statement is to justify sin and the organized church in its lukewarm and weaken state cried "Amen".

It takes a master of deception to get men to believe in once saved always saved.  The basis of this thesis is based upon a scripture that says  "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." (Hebrew 13:5)  No consideration is given to context or perspective.  Other scriptures that failed to bear out this ideology is overlooked, "The LORD is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you." (2^nd Chronicles 15:2) The twisting of the scriptures to support alien viewpoints  is a common occurrence within the household of faith.   Often times entire doctrines are built upon the convoluted concept that after 2000 years we finally got it right. 

The apostle Paul was not warning the Christians at Corinth about sin because he believed once saved always saved or even that you lack the potential to judge righteously.  

"Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church. I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren? But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers. Now, therefore there is utterly a fault among you because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded? Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.  Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.  And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power. Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of a harlot? God forbid. What? know ye not that he which is joined to a harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?" (1 Corinthians 6:1-19)   

A Study Of The Soul, Part #4 of 6

"Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them." (Genesis 2:1)

In the above verse, many modern day translations have removed the (s) from Heavens thus making it a singular entity.  Older translations including The Kings Version reference Heaven as both a plural and a singular entity.   In the King James Version of the Bible Heaven is used 552 as a singular entity and 130 times in the plural.   The translation of the scripture from Greek and Hebrew to English  is the causes of much of the confusion in modern day Christianity.  The insertion of a punctuation mark, which was not common to the Greek, can change the meaning of the verse or statement.   For this reason, the earlier Christian leaders tried to control who taught and provided interpretation of the scripture.   The failure of this system has allowed for diverse interpretation of singular verses. 

With the free dispensation of spiritual enlightenment and the proliferation of the word of God interpretation of the scripture became a matter of personal belief.  The incident in the Garden of Eden was the beginning of the Devil campaign to misinterpret the word of God.  Unknowingly many of us indoctrinated into the one Heaven concept proceed down the path without question.  This indoctrination provides for the narrative that when we die we go to Heaven.  Thus, the proliferation of the tainted ideology of Heaven is implanted and flourished.  Regardless of the life lived we are awarded Angel wings and ushered into Heaven.   Rock stars and those who meet their premature death at the hands of others usually are sitting on a cloud looking down on us or singing in the Heavenly choir long before the funeral is over.  Our celebrity status preachers and talk show host concept of Heaven does not prepare us for the ideology that some will make and some will not. 

There is a prepared place for the soul of the saints and in simple terms, this place is not a shared place for saints and sinner.  Jesus depicted this in the narrative of Lazarus and the rich man.   The scripture teaches us that man is composed of three parts, the body, the spirit, and soul (1^st Thessalonians 5:23).  Upon the death of the body, each of these entities has a prepared place that they go.   We also can conclude from the scripture that there are at least three places referenced as Heaven.   Paul spoke of a third heaven (2^nd Corinthians 12:2).  The Earth can also be divided into three segments, the crust, the mantle and the core.

Believing in the Heaven(s) and the soul can be as simple as believing that there is air in you car or truck tire.  This unseen element is capable of supporting the weight of your vehicle, but when the tire become too damaged to contain the air where does it go?   Believing in the Heaven(s) and the soul can also be as complicated as believing that there is life after death.  It is all a matter of perspective, and to understand the things that are spiritual we must separate the spiritual and view them from a spiritual perspective.  

In the Jewish theology, there were three "heavens. The first heaven dealt with the atmospheric region (Deuteronomy 11:17; 28:12; Judges 5:4; Acts 14:17).  Ephesians 2:2 wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:  This is the residence of the Devil and his demons.  This also includes the abode of the tormented souls that the Devil has polluted.   There is a gulf that separates this spiritual realm from the natural realm, and we should not try to communicate with it inhabitants. 

The second heaven deals with the region of outer space (Psalm 19:4, 6; Jeremiah 8:2; Isaiah 13:10).    Remember our perspective is spiritual and the rich man was able to look up and see Lazarus, therefore he was in a position below Lazarus.  Study carefully the works and words of Jesus.  He told his disciples he was going away to prepare a place for them a separate place for the souls of the righteous and the unrighteous. "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also (John 14:3). We must go through numerous steps before we stand before the throne of God.  The church will be caught up, transformed and receive their awards, before being presented to the throne of God in the third Heaven.

"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 who 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. Therefore comfort one another with these words." (1^st Thessalonians 4:16-18)  Air and clouds are the operative words here

The third heaven is God's dwelling place (1 Kings 8:30; Psalm 2:4). "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven".(Matthew 5:16)  

"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth". ".(2^nd Timothy 2:15)

A Study Of The Soul, Part #3 of 6

"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God, created he him; male and female created he them." (Genesis 1:27)  

"And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and man became a living soul." (Genesis 2:7)  

There are two phrases we should focus on after reading the above verses, "the image of God" and "the breath of life" that caused the man to become a living soul. There are other questions and fields of knowledge presented here but they are often overlooked in favor of a narrative that fits a particular denominational belief.   What is the image of a metaphysical God? What is Heaven and where is it.  Is there a natural world and a spiritual world?  Being able to answer these type of questions will assist you in understanding the Word of God.   Focusing on the knowledge of God is important is more appropriate than become embroiled in useless debates as to the color of a metaphysical being.  

In a discussion concerning the soul, it is often assumed that man's spirit and soul is the same entity.  The scripture does not provide the necessary support for this thesis.  As we, stated earlier humankind is distinct from all the rest of God's creation, including the animals, in that he made humankind in the image of God.  Now God is a tripartite, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  The scripture also supports the thesis that man is three parts -- body, soul, and spirit.  Thus the image of God does not reference or imply the shape or color of God. 

The Apostle Paul writes, "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." (1^st Thessalonians 5:23)

The man is made up of physical material, the body, which can be seen and touched.  However, he is also made up of immaterial aspects, which are intangible -- this includes the soul, spirit, intellect, will, emotions, conscience, and so forth. These immaterial characteristics exist beyond the physical lifespan of the human body and are therefore eternal.  The duality of the creative works of God provided a separate place for the spiritual and the natural.  

The belief in the immaterial or intangible is not as complicated as our learned associates would imply.   It is fashionable to state that I do not believe in ghost or the spirit world.  I used the word ghost because it has the connotation of being superstitious and superstition is something our vast knowledge teaches us to discard.  The word ghost is merely an English translation of the Greek meaning spirit. Thus in the scripture, in one instance we speak of the Holy Ghost and in another, it is the Holy Spirit.   If we are to believe in God then we must believe in ghost.  There is the Holy Ghost and there is the unholy ghost (demon).

The spiritual essence of God is all around us.  Air, we breathe it, we manipulate it, we sell it and sometimes we suffer from the lack of it.  We cannot touch it, we cannot see it, create it or destroy it, yet we believe in it.  Where does it go once it has been used?  Electricity is another form of energy that we would be lost without, yet where does it reside in its natural form.  Can we see it?  We can manipulate it, we can store it, and carefully we can direct it, but we cannot create it or destroy it.  These  things simply exist in their own place. God has created a place for the Sun, the moon, the spirit, the soul and the body.  

These immaterial aspects -- the spirit, soul, heart, conscience, mind, and emotions -- make up our whole personality. The Bible makes it clear that the soul and spirit are the primary immaterial aspects of humanity, while the body is the physical container that holds or keep them earthbound. Before proceeding further let's take a closer look at the three elements that man consists off.

The Body (Greek, "soma")

This is the entire material or physical structure of a human being.  This physical part of man was created as a lifeless container.  The body is a place for the soul and spirit to reside in a natural environment.   The Apostle Paul, writing to the Romans again connects the body, the mind (soul) and the spirit.

"I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."(Romans 12:1-2) 

"For you are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." (1^st Corinthians 6:20)

The Soul (Greek, "psyche")

"And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and man became a living soul." (Genesis 2:7)

Genesis 2:7 states that Man was created as a "living soul." The soul consists of the mind (which includes the conscience), the will and the emotions. The soul and the spirit are mysteriously tied together and makeup what the Scriptures call the "heart."

The writer of Proverbs declares, "Keep your heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." (Proverbs 4:23)  We see here that the "heart" is central to our emotions and will.

"But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." (1^st Corinthians 2:14)  A natural (psuchikos -- soulish) man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them because they are spiritually appraised

"And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day." (Acts 23:1)

 

The Spirit (Greek " Pneuma")

In Numbers 16:22, Moses and Aaron, "…fell upon their faces and said, 'O God, God of the spirits of all flesh, when one man sins, will you be angry with the entire congregation?'" This verse names God as the God of the spirits that are possessed by all humanity. Notice also that it mentions the flesh (body) of all mankind, connecting it with the spirit.

"For the word of God is living, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12)

 

We see in this passage of Scripture that the soul and spirit can be divided -- and that it is the Word of God that pierces our heart to bring the division of soul and spirit, something that only God can do.

As human beings, we live eternally as a spirit, we have a soul, and we dwell temporally in a body.   

A Study Of The Soul, Part #2 of 6

A Place of Refuge

In the creative works of God, the soul is defined as the spiritual or immaterial part of a human being. Genesis 2:7 says, "God breathed into man the breath of life and man became a living soul."  In this statement, there is no reference to the beast of the field or innate objects.  As the knowledge of good and evil increased, the definition of the soul began to change in that animals and even rivers are said to have souls.  Different religions have always existed and they all have different ideologies as pertaining to the soul.  According to the Hebrew scripture the God of Abraham once actively intervened in the affairs of man to prevent the spread of false religions.  After the divorce of his chosen people, the freewill nature of man is allowed to proceed until the Day of Judgment.  There are many false narratives and false doctrines surrounding the soul.  

In the first part of this series according to the teaching of Jesus, the soul maintains consciousness after death.  This is undeniable, but because it does not fit the narrative of select groups, Jesus' lecture is reinterpreted as a parable rather that an illustration of life.  The authority on life, death, the soul, and resurrection reside with the Christ. Therefore, we should study closely the thoughts that are attributed to him.  The illustration given in Luke 16: 19-23 provides all of the necessary data for formulating the status of the righteous and the unrighteous souls at the time of death.  There is no need to use words like, Paul said or Ecclesiastes said, Jesus said is the only citation needed to establish the concept and status of the righteous and unrighteous soul.  The problem is many of us are not prepared to accept the cold reality of Heaven and Hell.  

To promote a false type of rhetoric the altering of the definition of the soul, and heaven is in line with the different religious beliefs or lack of religious belief. Wealthy talk show host and even Tele-evangelist have altered the spirituality of Christ, now he is presentented as just another prophet.  The believability of God is at an all time low as men and women search out ways to challenge the Christian belief.  The Christian belief, which is based upon the teaching of Christ, should be uniform in its belief and application. Yet such things such as salvation, soul sleep, the reincarnation of the soul and even the non-existence of the soul has become a part of the so-called Christian experience.  Much of the confusion is derived from referencing the writing of other authors in an attempt to explain what Jesus said.   We should remember the trick the Devil preformed in the Garden of Eden, how he was successful in explaining to Eve what God said.

In the narrative of Lazarus's death there are numerous keys to understanding the events taking place.  "And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;" (Luke 16:22).  From this verse, we learn that both men died, but it is what took place after they were buried that should be of great interest to the Christian.  Death can be thought of as separation. Physical death is the separation of our body from our soul/spirit, while spiritual death is the separation of our soul from God. The simplicity of that statement indicates that Adam died a spiritual death the day he sinned.  Jesus died a physical death on the cross.  Jesus taught that we ought not to fear physical death, but we should be most concerned about spiritual death. (Luke 12:4-5)

Luke 16:22 also reference a place called Abraham's bosom.  Jesus did not say Lazarus was carried into Heaven, or before the Throne of God.  In Luke 23:43, Jesus has a conversation with one of those crucified with him.  The thief who was hanging beside him asks Jesus, "Remember me when you come into your kingdom."  Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you today you will be with me in paradise.” The simplest explanation is that on that same day the thief and Jesus would enter the intermediate resting place of the dead who were waiting for the Resurrection.   What is and where is the resting place of the dead?  In the Jewish theology, there were three "heavens." The first heaven deals with the atmospheric region (Deuteronomy 11:17; 28:12; Judges 5:4; Acts 14:17). The second heaven deals with the region of outer space (Psalm 19:4,6; Jeremiah 8:2; Isaiah 13:10). The third heaven is God's dwelling place (1 Kings 8:30; Psalm 2:4; Matthew 5:16).

Luke 16:26, " And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they who would pass from here to you cannot; neither can they pass to us that would come from there."  A barrier or gulf that separates the spiritual world from the natural world and man in his natural state cannot cross over.

John20:17, sheds light on the ideology that upon his death Jesus did not return to his Father's side.  "Jesus said unto her, Mary. She turned, and said unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Teacher. Jesus said unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God."  Eight days later, he allowed Thomas to touch and handle him.

There are many exotic messages designed to stimulate based upon the resting place of the souls as they await the resurrection.  We are told that the dead is in Heaven looking down on us, yet the scripture says, the rich man saw Lazarus resting, but it did not say Lazarus saw the rich man being tormented.  If Lazarus were able to see the tourment of his fellowman this no doubt would have cause him to suffer a form of tourment.  Thus it seems as if he was able to enjoy a perfect state of bliss, resting in the "Bosom of Abraham." 

On the cross, Jesus referred to Paradise as the next step, and in the story of Lazarus, he referred to it as Abraham's bosom. Thus they both are the same.  "Bosom of Abraham" refers to the place of comfort in the Biblical Sheol (or Hades in the Greek Septuagint version of the Hebrew scriptures from around 200 BC, and therefore so described in the New Testament) where the righteous dead await Judgment Day.

Next

The Spirit World

A Study Of The Soul, Part #1 of 6

What is the Soul?

"And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul." 

In a Bible discussion, I asked for a show of hands of those who believed in ghost. Only one, maybe two students ventured to raise their hand. The rest stared at me as if I had lost control of my mental faculties. When I rephrased the question and asked, "who believe in God," the show of hands was unanimous. In our Bible studies we talk freely about the Holy Ghost or the Holy Spirit, often failing to accept the relationship of these entities as residents of the spirit world. There is the spirit of God, and there is the spirit of the Devil.

To state that I believe in a metaphysical God, but I do not believe in the spirit world or I do not believe in ghost or spirits is a contradiction in belief.  The question of the soul and where it resides after death translates into questions of the spirit world that we shall attempt to answer in this six-part series.  To believe in and understand the soul one must have a firm belief in the spirit world.

"God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth". (John 4:24)  God is a spirit, thus the soul is a spirit.  If we are to accept God as the Lord of the universe, we must accept the spirit world as the ruling authority. To worship God, we must worship him in our spirit. Ancient culture believed strongly in the spirit world whereas modern day societies have learned to doubt even the simple manifestation of a ghost while offering prayers to a metaphysical God.  

We live in an environment of opposites such as good and bad, and there are night and day. There is the natural world, and there is the spiritual world. The natural world consists of elements that we interact with on a natural level and we interact with the spiritual world on a spiritual level. The spirit world consists of what is known as the heavens. In the Jewish theology, there were three "heavens." "We will provide scriptural documentation in a detail discussion of these places of interest and the resident of the soul later." 

To entertain the question of the soul and it existence after death we must adjust our perspective so that our view is spiritual rather than natural. The Bible teaches us in the New Testament that we continue as a spiritual being after death. Those who teach that the soul sleep often refers to the Old Testament and obtain their doctrine from it alone. This is a violation of Paul's admonition to, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth". (2nd Timothy 2:15) A couple of scriptures that are often referenced is as follows:

· Ecclesiastes 9:5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.

· Ecclesiastes 12:7, "then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it." 

Those that hold this position and refer to Ecclesiastes forget the keys to understanding the scripture. Context and perspective are two important keys to understanding the word of God. Here again, is Paul admonition, " All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:" (2nd Timothy 3:16). All scriptures are not to be used as doctrine; some are to be used as bases of reproof. Surgically removing a verse from its supporting scriptures that determine it context and presenting it as a complete thought are the making of a polluted mess. The context and the perspective are established in the first three verses of Ecclesiastes.

Ecclesiastes 1:1-3, "The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. What profit has a man of all his labor, which he takes under the sun?

The Preacher is writing about things from a human perspective, from that which is "under the sun." He is not providing doctrinal statements about life after death. From the human perspective, when you die the dead do not know anything in that the spirit returns to God who gave it and the body returns to dust. These statements do not mean the soul ceases to exist when a person dies. Those who advocate the pro-soul sleep will say that "the dead not knowing anything" means they do not exist. However, here again, this is written from the perspective of people on earth. He has made it clear that he is speaking from a human perspective. We cannot interpret the New Testament in light of the Old Testament. The New Testament interprets the Old Testament. This is why we look to what the word of God says in totality.

Matthew 17:1-8, "And after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, his brother, and brought them up into a high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his clothing was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elijah talking with him. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if you will, let us make here three tabernacles; one for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah. While he yet spoke, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear you him. And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face and were much afraid. And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, except Jesus only".

This is known as the Transfiguration of Christ. What is important to note is that Moses and Elijah were both alive in their, so to speak, dead state. In other words, they are not united in their resurrected bodies because the general resurrection has not yet happened. Therefore, we can clearly see that there are at least two people who are alive, after death, who are not in their physical bodies.

Jesus gave a startling dissertation of a righteous beggar and a rich man living and dying. (Luke 16:23) And in hell he lifts up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. In that elucidation, we are privy to a conversation between two dead men. There is no indication that Lazarus saw the rich man in Hell, This would have been too traumatic, but the rich man saw Lazarus, which added to his torment. .” (Luke 16:24-25) And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.” If one came back from the dead would it make any difference to what we already know? There is much to be learned here without the twisting and shaping of these verses. 

We can see in the story of Lazarus and the rich man that after each has died, both were conscious and self-aware. Jesus is obviously teaching that the soul survives after death. Still, there are those who will say that this is a parable. Of course, the problem with this theory is that parables do not have proper names in them. In this case, there is a specific individual named: Lazarus. Also, if it were a parable, then what is Jesus saying with the illustration of consciousness after death and before the resurrection? The most logical answer is that Jesus was teaching us that there is life after death. 

2 Corinthians 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

Paul is telling us that he would rather be outside of his body, "absent from the body," and be at home with the Lord. If soul sleep is a true doctrine, then how is it possible to be outside of the body and also be home with the Lord? It wouldn't make any sense.

2 Corinthians 12:1-4 It is not expedient for me doubtless to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. I knew a man in Christ fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knows;) such a one caught up to the third heaven. And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knows;) How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

To properly understand this section of Scripture we need to know what is meant by the term "third heaven." In the Jewish theology, there were three "heavens." The first heaven deals with the atmospheric region (Deuteronomy 11:17; 28:12; Judges 5:4; Acts 14:17). The second heaven deals with the region of outer space (Psalm 19:4,6; Jeremiah 8:2; Isaiah 13:10). The third heaven is God's dwelling place (1 Kings 8:30; Psalm 2:4; Matthew 5:16).

So, when Paul says that knew someone who was caught up to the third heaven, he was speaking about entering into that dwelling place of God. What is important is that it occurred either in the body or out of the body of which he did not know. If soul sleep is a true doctrine, it could not be said that such a person who is outside of his body (who had died), was also with God at the same time. It just wouldn't make any sense. Therefore, soul sleep is wrong.

Continued in Part #2

A Place Of Refuge

Living In A Deteriorating Society, Part #5

Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Now on Sale

In a deteriorating society, the shifting of perspective is necessary to bring into focus those once unacceptable elements of society.  To facilitate changes a process of indoctrination shifts the perspective of the individuals, thereby infecting the masses with an alien viewpoint.  It is acceptable to offend, but to be offended is taboo.  The political correctness of society allows subjects that once were unthinkable or unnecessary to become a part of our daily conversation. That which once was evil has become good, and good becomes evil.  It was a subtle process, perfected by the godless one.   First practiced in the Garden of Eden, the perspective shifted from obeying God to being like God.  The shifting that many are motivated to speak off has caused our home, church, and community to suffer.  Even, our modern day approach to Christianity is the major cause the believability of God is suffering.

Those that we have lifted up as leaders for no other reason than they appear in the media as sports player, talk show host, or self-proclaimed messengers of God, reveling in their success, they have leading people astray.  The live their lives detached from society only to appear in the media professing a way of life that is contrary to the Word of God and because of the "false clothes" they are wearing we call them our heroes. 

As society deteriorates, the cry of martial law heard throughout the world has become a viable option for many nations.  Many countries have become the breeding ground of hateful rhetoric and false narratives.  Newly minted leaders have emerged, claiming the power to eradicate hate through the implementation of laws and conversations.  Not only is this a false narrative it defies the power of God.  God in his infinitive wisdom knows that in the present world afflicted by the Devil "opposites" exist.  To destroy hate, you must also destroy love and what is left is chaos.   God's plan to rectify this unholy dilemma is after we have passed the test is to create a new Heaven and Earth, one without opposites.  Revelation 21:1, "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea (Sea and Land)." Revelation 22:5, and there shall be no night there; (Night and Day) and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign forever and ever.

Now On Sale

When man succumbed to the antics of the Devil and failed to carry out the mandate of his creator, destruction became the conclusion of the matter.   There is no escaping this destruction.   It was through God love for his creation that he gave the man and the world a chance to redeem himself.  This is reiterated in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."  The Devil have used humanity for more than 6,000 years in every conceivable form and fashion in his attempt to destroy the creative works of God.

Matthew 24:7 for nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers' places.

The ancient writing of the Bible rings true in today's world as the death toll from wars continues to rise, new diseases are emerging, and a food crisis looms on the horizon. Famines are becoming commonplace as once wealthy nations are finding it hard to feed their populace.  Venezuela, an oil-rich country is sinking deeper into chaos as overspending has left the economy shattered and is now facing a large food shortage.  Those that have are seeking to barricade themselves awhile the have-nots are knocking at their door, a classic example of the events that took place in the day of Noah.      

Following the rule of proper interpretation, Kingdoms reference those seats of power or domains that exist within the boundaries of a country or nation.  Within a nation, there are states, within a state, there are cities, within a city, there are communities and within communities, there are the so-called leaders.   When these entities fail to work together for the good of all humanity and the knowledge of God, the leaders is the cause of error.  There are speeches, rhetoric and false narratives designed to bring about social unrest.  Social unrest has torn many nations apart, and it is knocking at the door of those countries that once escaped. 

Mark 13:8 reiterates the same theme advanced in Matthew 24:7 that speak of unrest in humanity and the world.  "For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers' places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows."

Luke 21:11 speaks of earthquakes, famines, and pestilences: and fearful sights.  "And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven."  While around us these events are taking place, there are those who proudly proclaim that God is in the blessing business.  The organized Church, the Church that Jesus condemned in the book of Revelation is akin to Nero the Roman Emperor, who fiddled and danced while Rome burned.   Money, motivation, and entertainment, the gods of paganism has become the mainstay of many ministries in an attempt to merge the gods of Esau with the God of Jacob.    Humanity finds comfort in the fact that through his vast knowledge of good and evil he can explain most of these things away.  

Those that wish to condemn Christianity often refer to the things done in the past in the name of Christianity to validate their argument.  Recently the presidents said, "And lest we get on our high horse and think this is unique to some other place, remember that during the crusades and the inquisition Christians committed terrible deeds in the name of Christ …"  This is a distortion of facts, the same as if I would say, "If you eat sugar you will die."  The stain is not on Christianity, the stain is on humanity.  This is not unique to one group or one religion.   In a deteriorating society, Christians and Pagans have always preformed sinful acts in the name of their God or gods.  There is a tendency in us, a sinful tendency to seek to justify sin to advance our agenda.  That is what pervert and distort our faith.

Living In A Deteriorating Society, Part #4

Revelation 13:1  And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.

The visions in this chapter are two distinct "beasts," each with peculiar characteristics, yet closely related, they deriving their power from a common source; aiding each other in the accomplishment of the same object, and manifestly relating to the same power under different forms.  

One of the characteristics of the first beast, mention in Revelation 13:1-10 is that it comes out of the sea, signifies the death of a nation and the creation of another.  The use of the word "Sea" symbolizes a state of confusion. This verse indicates that a new nation is born out of the commotion, the agitation and manipulation of confused people.  Under the tutelage of one who possess the spirit of Antichrist, a new and ungodly nation will spring up from those disturbing elements.  Laws and constitutions will be set aside; in today's terminology, this is MARTIAL LAW.   In that day the blood of the Christians, the jihadist,  the protestors of every race, creed and color will mingle together in the streets and run like a river.

This beast with seven heads (rulers or Kings) and ten horns (the ultimate war machines) will crush the European nations that once stood as the vanguard of Christianity.  Using a cliché of the supposed enlightened, one does not have to be a "Rocket Scientist" to see the confusion, the changes, and manipulation that are taking place worldwide.   The attempt to establish a one-world government is a reality.  This transformation began with the reemerging of a false religion, one that look like the real thing but deny the true power of God, it purpose is to crush the heads of Christianity.

Durning the early sixties, a young man stood before his friends and in a drug introduced stupor declared, "God is dead".  The media practiced exploitation rather than censorship, all in the name of greed.  The metaphysical lightning bolt did not appear and strike him dead as many feared would happen.   In that highly publicized moment when it seems as if God had failed to defend himself, the fear of God began to vanish.   There was no shame or public outcry when the Rock Star stood on stage and decried he was more popular than Jesus Christ was, and the band played on.

Many of the older generation grew up in an age when we respected God and the Flag.   In school, our morning ritual began with the Lord's Prayer and a recital of the Pledge of Allegiance.    This did not make us less of a person; in fact, I would say it made us a better person.   It taught or gave us a sense of respect, a thing that our younger generation is searching for with guns, crime and drugs.  What can be so asinine as to disrespect the thing or entity that provide for your existence?  Our nation, our homes, our communities and the organized churches failing to police their sphere of influence as greed, and/or corruption becomes the status quo.   

The same as Jesus posed the question, "will I find the faith when I return", I often pose the same question.  The posting on the internet said, "Within 11 days, God will open your delayed money doors." "If you believe, LIKE and type men and share."  The number of people who respond to this type of "skullduggery" is amazing.  On the internet, in the church and on the street the transformation is complete; the God who offered the world salvation is now a God of money.  The great things that God is doing today usually involve money.  An interesting side note: If Jesus and the Apostles had ascribed to the prosperity and blessing Gospel, they would have lived a glorious life here on earth.

When I listen to a motivational message about planting seeds and reaping blessing the question that clouds my mind is; "do we really believe in God?"  What is our belief in God based upon?  Is it based upon God giving us the things he promised us?  My next question would is, "What did God promise us?"  One answer to the question would be, "He promised to be with us until the end of time".  Another said, "He promised to heal my body."  Once we get pass the platitudes without substance, it becomes clear we are serving God for what we can get.

The further we travel down the road of corruption the easier it become to trivialize the works of God.  Trivialization and corruption become the essence of false teaching.  I offer this, not for the sake of condemnation but for consideration, Jesus spoke or touched the sick and healed them.  Even the raising of Lazarus from the dead was not to prolong his life; it was so that those standing there might believe.  A miracle once was something that, in awe men and women proclaimed it the works of God.  In today's Christian environment healing and blessing is an inducement.  The redefinition of miracles and blessing allows one to enter the hospital for a surgical procedure and testify of the healing power of God. 

I often hear those that are enlightened speak of what God is doing.  Like the man said sitting by the side of the road if God is doing so much for the world, why is the world in such bad shape?  Now come the irrelevant platitudes and clichés, but they are not the answer.  The only thing standing between this sinful world and an angry God is the blood of Jesus. The religious right has become a part of the problem, like Nero fiddling while Rome burned.  Dumbing down and selling out to an alternate belief structure, promising blessings and favors while the wrath of God is building. On the horizon, the dark clouds are rising,  the world, even America, once that vanguard nation is now adrift in a sea of confusion.  

Living In A Deteriorating Society, Part #3

The thing that worried my ninety-five-year-old church-going mother was the changes that were taking place in her church.  Much of her life she had lived by a set of rules and teaching.  Those standards and teaching of old now classified as old fashion and outdated by the modern day preachers who was learning to ply their trade as prosperity and motivational gurus.  The justification of sin became a necessity in the modern day church.  Scriptures surgically removed from their supporting text and reinterpret to support an alien rhetoric.  The thing that bothered my mother most was that two people could read the same scripture and each get a different message.  

The simplicity of the Holy Scripture is made complicated for the sake of sounding profound.   Salvation once an attainable goal is now just a work in progress, as the church learned to separate the sin from the person.   The rules of the church as pertaining to fashion, marriage, and even worship service are changing; a new permissive and non-confrontational  order is emerging.   The many changes are taking place in the church, country and world are baffling to many of us who "grew up" in the church.   

The Constitution adopted by a country as well as the doctrine of a religious order once was a sacred document; it defined the values of such an entity, and it was the basis of its unification.  The ancient wisdom of old has always decried, "a house divided against cannot stand."  The Bible once was considered the backbone of the Christian religion and it values were derived from that sacred book.  When the protectors and the detractors began to chip away at the foundation of these sacred documents through the process of interpretation and reinterpretation, the foundation is weakened and what emerges is a shaped truth.  Wisdom dictates that when the foundation of a structure deteriorates or is weakening the resounding collapse is inevitable. 

The promise of changes in the world of religion and government was the cause of exhilaration to many.  This moment of gladness created a type of blindness, the same as that which infected the village in the tale of the "Emperor's new clothes".  To facilitate these changes subtle indoctrination into a new order was a necessity, one that extolled the virtues of diversity, rather than unity.   Under a growing cloak of diversity protected from the light, the seeds of hatred are watered and allowed to grow.  Leaders emerged who are skilled at massaging and manipulating the growing medium, producing a type of hatred akin to one never seen before.  The definition of marriage, gender, civil rights and theology has regressed, and as we slip into that abyss, the same as other civilizations that preceded us, we have the audacity to proclaim proudly, "We finally got it right".  

The detractors of religion have declared that Christianity is the cause of many of the problems of the world, and if Christian values were, eliminated man could live in peace. There is a grain of truth in this statement, but to find it you must shift your perspective.  The root of the problems of the world is the failure of religion.   Man's religion is what separates him from the beast of the field.  Mankind's ideology of religion also is what separate him from God.  The ability to think and adapt is not so unique to man only, it is a trait of all of God's creation, and even the seed knows the direction of the sun.

To dominate has always been the objective of any religion.   Christianity, the religion of the Hebrew scripture, in the hand of it modern day projectors is failing objectively.   Christianity emerged as a religion whose focus was to dominate the whole world in the name of The One God.  The Devil created opposites or counterfeit religions to deter the plan of God.  For everything that is of God, there is an opposite, there is night, and there is the day, there is good, and evil.  When we attempt to blend or merge that which is evil with that which is good, we end up creating a polluted mess such as attempting to blend oil and water.   The detractors say it is possible, yet in the mighty oceans, it is not possible without adverse effect on marine and wildlife.  The great Roman society tried this approach with Christianity and Paganism; the result was the hasten downfall of the Empire.

Luke 18:8 ... Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?   We should not ignore the question posed by Jesus that seems like an afterthought.   When Christ return, will he find the faith that once existed or will he find something new?  A sad fact is the new age messengers of God can explain away the basis of my dissent.  When the discussions proceed, I often relate to sitting through a lecture where a young man presented indisputable evidence that his existence was a figment of our imagination.

Living in a deteriorating society, the desire to blend in has caused a type of blindness to infect the society's vision on a church and world level.  Jesus spoke of this condition as, having eyes to see but cannot see.  A common analogy was, the blind leading the blind.  The promised changes that we so eagerly awaited have resulted in ethnic and religious groups pitted against each other, fueled by the rhetoric of the disenchanted.   Voices are quick to mount the soapbox of perceived public opinion, grabbing up the microphones of discontent and watering the seeds of hatred, while glowing in the spotlight of self-adoration.  There is the failure to understand that hatred is not appeased by its exposure, exposure causes hate to grow. 

The deliberate dumbing down of Christianity and America has moved the world and even the church into a chaotic position.   The believability of God is at an all time low, yet the proclamation of words of God is at an all-time high.  According to the messengers, God is restoring that which we lost, yet chaos and confusion reign supreme.   Christianity is accepting positions that are contrary to the teaching of the Holy Scripture.  This is possible because we have entered an era where is acceptable to explain what God meant to say,   the same as the Devil did in the Garden of Eden.

The world is becoming a dangerous place; our safety is dependent upon whether or not we accept the status quo.  Society is beginning to demand that we hide our light.  No longer accepted as a guide or light to the world, the Supreme Court has declared that living by Christian values is illegal in the United States.   Asked if he agreed with one of his top advisers, Pope Francis told a conference in Dublin in the days after the deadly Orlando gay club attack that the church owes an apology to gays for having marginalized them.  

The Presbyterian Church, U.S.A. is raising eyebrows after lifting up prayers to Allah at its General Assembly meeting.  "Allah bless us and bless our families and bless our Lord. Lead us on the straight path - the path of all prophets: Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad."  These words rang out over the congregation at The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church.  The attendees led in the prayer to the Islamic deity, a move arranged by the Ecumenical and Interfaith Ministry staff at the assembly.

  To be continued...