War Has Been Declared Part #3 of 3

Proverbs 11:29  He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart.

Mark 3:24-25  And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.

Nations that once referred themselves to as God-fearing nations is standing on the brink of a biblical disaster. Natural and spiritual disasters are emerging in the form of floods, earthquake, famines, and pestilences.  The Earth is groaning and convulsing as a woman enduring labor pains.  The children of these nations blinded by their vast knowledge have cast aside the fear of God in the name the gods of political correctness.  Born into a pessimistic society the youth of today are losing their respect for the ancient values.  A new and godless nation "One World Order" is rising up out of a sea of confused souls.   Revelation 13:1) They have killed all of their sacred cows and the spirit of antichrist is prevailing.

Division is the ultimate warrior and martial law is looming on the horizon.   The freedom that we so carelessly tread upon might soon disappear as a puff of smoke.  Jesus referenced Daniel when speaking of coming events.  "But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:" (Mark 13:14).   The understanding of this verse is not hard if we do not try to read too much into it.  The message to the wise and to those who once existed in their safe place, the time to flee to the mountains is drawing nigh.

      
The world and even the church have succumbed to the tactics of that old Devil. First, he used Governments and religion to divide the people, as he did in the Old Testament age.  During the Old Testament age God prodded humanity to engage, to fight and eliminate this blight from the face of the earth, but humanity, even Saul was tempted.   To prosecute the war against the Devil God used fire, water and even supernatural interventions, but the Devil had found an ally in God greatest creation.  If man had been, true to his spiritual nature the flood in Noah's day would have solved the problem,

The war began when Luther, God's prized Angel, attempted to overthrow the throne of God. The question posed now is why did God allowed the Devil to continue to exist. When the war began, God could have spoken the word or blinked his eye and poof, the old Devil would have been gone.  Viewing the problem from a natural perspective, we often fail to see the spiritual implications.  Once sin entered the realm of God, destroying the Devil would not have solved the problem; it merely would have created a martyr.  The Devil must be defeated in Heaven and on earth.

We that pose the question often fail to see the plan of God unfolding.  First, Satan corrupted a third of God's children, therefore, they are to be replaced before the Kingdom is expanded and re-established.  Second, there is a timeline established from the beginning, and within that timeline, there is a period of testing.  The Devil initiated and highlighted the sin problem; therefore, God had relegated to the Devils the job of testing every soul that enters into the Kingdom.  A study of the Book of Job will enlighten us as to how God and the Devil work, but this is an ideology that we are not prepared to accept.

To fully understand the war that we have been drafted to fight we must understand our purpose for being here.  Is our purpose all a part of a motivational trip?  Did God create man so that he would have somebody to give stuff?   Is it our mission to sing and praise God for all of his goodness, or is our purpose to bring souls to Christ?   It seems that the New Testament stress the need to go into the highways and hedges and compel.   

The Old Testament is a history lesson that gives us a detail account of humanity fall from grace and his attempt to fight against the Devil.  The Kingdom of Heaven, first through the application of the Law, then Grace, is searching for souls that are capable of resisting the Devil. 

The church flourished in persecution, but once it joined hand with the Government, it lost its soul.   Many churches of today are no longer able or capable of giving battlefield assessment; they are promoting a Kool-Aid flavor gospel that causes it members to bask in the sunshine of favor.   The words of Jesus should quell the clamor for special blessings. "That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust." (Matthew 5:45) 

In my Book, "The Evolution of The Failed Church", I chronologies the battle the battle brought against the church by the Devil.  What was more interesting was that the battle did not begin with the formation of the church; it began before the creation of man. Mankind was created and empower to assist in the fight against the Devil, but mankind has a history of succumbing to the temptation of the Devil.  The authority given to man was ceded to the Devil through an unholy alliance in the garden.   Aside from temptation, envy and pride created a type of hatred that caused humanity to wallow in his sinful nature.

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.

War Has Been Declared Part #2 of 3

I recently shared a video on the social media that said, "Let's put prayer back in Schools." In a comment, words were used that were suppose expose my 'so-called phobias' and as an added insult I was told I was being selfish.  Now, no one wants to be called selfish.  All of which the intended purpose was to shame me because of my Christian viewpoints.  The perfected art of shaming is a tool used to force the masses into accepting alien viewpoints.   Shaming forces an adversary to accept a position of weakness.   This is the 'wiles of the devil'. 

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.  (Ephesians 6:11-12)

It seems as if the admonition of Jesus and Paul's called to war has been misinterpreted, overlooked or no longer believed.  For many, the battle has become personal as we rejoice in songs that tell of beating the Devil running or even crushing his head.  False hope is a sellable product of a false religion.  False hope has caused many to turn away from God and the church.  If our religion is false, we can easily be shamed into accepting false doctrines.

There are a natural war and a spiritual war raging around us.  The war that the saints should be concerned about is the spiritual war between good and evil, not the war between countries and states. No amount of misdirected praying or misquoted scriptures is going to eliminate the battleground.  The war has been declared and as Christians, we should enlist and prepare ourselves to fight the spiritual battle against the forces of darkness.

Considering the fact that Jesus rarely if ever addressed the natural state of humanity, Paul described this war as a spiritual or supernatural war.  This war is older than the war between nations; it is the war between good and evil.   This war began in Heaven long before God said let us make a man.  Forgotten in the backdrops of bible history man was created to fight in this war or "subdue the earth". 

It began as a Heavenly encounter; the Devil lifted up in pride challenged the throne of God.   God declared war and the Devil were cast out of heaven, where he brought destruction upon the earth.  Jeremiah prophesying of the Pre-Adamic Age declared, "I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light." (Jeremiah 4:23).  Thus began Genesis 1:2, "And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep.  And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters."  Not a condition of creation but a created condition caused by the catastrophic event of Satan being kicked out upon the earth. 

   

With Satan was expelled from heaven, this did not end the war, the war merely intensified.  In the Old Testament, Moses described God as a man of war an attribute that we rather not attribute to God.  "The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name." (Exodus 15:3)  To continue the fight God created man, capable of living in the natural and guided by the spiritual.  In his first encounter with the Devil, the man was tempted, resulting in the loss of the first battle.  The battle against Satan on earth began as a natural battle, God empowered men as Kings and often led the charge, even the elements were at God's disposal in his battle against evil.  

With the coming of Christ, the battlefield shifted to a spiritual plane. Christ approach was to let the wheat and the tares grow together. (Matthew 13:30)  It is often taught that the Devil is a defeated foe, yet Paul stated," Wherefore takes unto you the whole armor of God that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." (Ephesians 6:11)  Peter's admonition to the saints was; "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:" (1^st Peter 5:8)   Peter and Paul was writing to the church, not those who were standing on the outside looking in. 

Paul is addressing the supernatural aspects of the Devil's long-standing war against God.  As a side note which we shall discuss in a future article, Satan has organized his domain into seven major divisions, called principalities.  He has placed a powerful demon at the head of each principality that is responsible for spreading a particular brand of temptation and bondage over the world.  Those who that study or follow the occult is aware of the seven major principalities of Hell that are a part of the teaching of witchcraft.  Satan and his demons exist, and they are exceedingly powerful.

The total defeat of Satan and all that were deceived by him will come at a time of God's own choosing, until that time Satan is allowed to operate on earth and in the astrosphere.  The Devil  and his demons are supernatural, above, over earthly, "natural" forces, they can do whatever they want to do, unless God specifically steps in to prevent it.  For some reason, the above statement cannot be made without adding the disclaimer.  If we say the Devil can do anything he wants to somehow it seem as if we are taking away from the power of God.  Still, much of what Satan wants to do in this world today, he can do. This is why much of witchcraft, and Eastern Meditation, and Alternate Medicines, etc., work, because Satanic power is making it work, and God is not stepping in to prevent it.  When God steps in it will be a time of judgment.

As a former member of the military, I am aware of the necessity of battlefield assessments.  Information from the battlefront allows the command center to tailor the battle to meet the enemy where he is the strongest.   This military conceit allows the marshaling of superior forces against impending threats.   Battlefield assessments can present a true picture of the enemy, exposing his weakness and allowing for successful prosecution of the conflict.

The failure of the church to engage the Devil effectively was the theme of Jesus indictment against the church in Revelation 2-3.   The battle is not about collecting favors, the battle is about winning souls.  There are those who grew up in the church that has walked away from the church and they are replaced by a type that has a strange ideology of God.   Preachers, teachers, and even gospel music singers are amassing a following and a fortune perverting the Word of God in the process.  These people are not fighting against the Devil, they have become allies of the Devil.

War Has Been Declared Part #1 of 3

"And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet". (Matthew 24:6)

It seems somewhat redundant that Jesus would speak of war and rumors of wars as a sign of the end of time.  Wars and rumors of wars were common occurrences since the beginning of time. The Old Testament presents a bloody picture of nations in conflict.   In the modern age, World War 1 and World War 2 were the wars to end all wars, yet the drums of war continue to sound.

The New Testament speaks of wars and rumors of wars before the end of days.  When I attempted to use this as a forum during a Bible study, a student challenged me by informed me that this is nothing new.  When reading the New Testament prophecies concerning the wars and rumors of wars many can find a type of faith numbing contentment in stating the above fact.   To reconcile what seems to be a redundant statement it is easy to proclaim that every since Adam sinned we have been living in the end of time.  But leaving such important statement or verse hanging in such a precarious manner has caused the faith of many to grow cold.

When God created man, he gave him a battlefield commission to subdue the earth.  "And God blessed them, and God said unto them, be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth." (Genesis 1:28).  Subdue is the military command to engage the enemy and win the battle.   What was the nature of the battle set before man before nations were born?

Imagine you being in the middle of a horrific battle and not aware of what is going on around you?  While we are singing and dancing the enemy is creeping upon us.  This might seem like an unrealistic scenario but it has been known to happen to even battle harden worriers.  Reflecting upon and studying the scripture requires that we maintain the proper perspective and context. Failure to do so will result in a distorted and perplexing view of God plan.  This can lead to self-doubt, an attribute that is essential to losing the battle.  

In the Old Testament, God worked in the natural through those he called to his service.  Often God led his follower into battle and spilled the blood of his adversaries upon the ground.  Many of the battles fought in the Old Testament were for advancing God plan.  The Old Testament depicts a war between good and evil.   Wars consist of many fronts and many battles, there are the "boots on the ground" type of war and there is the "propaganda war".   One is natural and the other deals with the spirit.

When the call to battle sounded, the men did not hesitate to leave their mother and fathers, their wives and kin to fight for their God and country.    Judges 7:2-8 tells the story of too many people showing up to fight.  God gave Gideon a plan to reduce his force down to a lean fighting machine before going into battle.  In the early years of a nation, the people rallied around their country's flag.   The flag was the representative of an idea, a concept or culture.   When that nation, that concept, that culture through a type of propaganda is divided, according to Jesus destruction is at the door.

Often I have attempted to quote scriptures and before I finished I was forced to rethink the meaning of the scripture.  As a religious society, we have become comfortable in misquoting the scripture. Too often, we take what God said to one group of people and apply it to another group because it sounds good.  There are three groups of people addressed within the scripture and a message to the Jews is not a message to the church.  "Give none offense, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:" (1^st Corinthians 10:32) We need to stop quoting 2^nd Chronicle 7:14 as if it is a verse on political intercession.   To the Jews it was a natural entitlement; to the church, it is spiritual.  As I have said before many of our quotes have made the God of our salvation seems as if he is impotent.

As I prepared for a surgical procedure, my mentor a messenger of God insisted on me saying "Amen" to the question of whether I believe God can part the Red Sea.  For me it is not a question of what God can or cannot do, it is how God works.   Today I can get in my car and drive to Texas, but will I do it?  No.  If I did it once, will I do it again?   Not necessarily so.  Clichés and hyperbole do not prepare us for the battle ahead. 

The church was to serve as the command center for those who were engaged in warfare.    Paul's admonition to the team was, "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." (Ephesians 6:10-12)  After the death of Christ, and the institution of a new dispensation, God began to works through his spirit, and the battle became a spiritual entity. Paul defined the conflict that is raging around us as spiritual. 

"But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro and knowledge shall be increased". (Daniel 12:4)

In Daniel's, end time prophecies he alluded to a time when knowledge would increase and many would run back and forth.  During early 1800, the knowledge of man increased as many nations were caught up in the industrial and mechanical revolution.  The greatest achievement during that era was the invention of the steam engine.  Through more than one hundred and sixty years in the development stage, the steam engine would bring about a revolution in the way humanity travel.   For nearly 6000 years, the use of animals and walking was the primary form of transportation.  During the next 200 years, humanity would travel into outer space and explore the planets.  In the process, we challenged the existence of God. 

I became aware of the war to challenge God in the early 60's and since that date, the battles have intensified.  Many others had existed before that time but for me, Madalyn Mays also known, as Madalyn Murray O'Hair was one of the earlier Generals in the war against God. O'Hair known for the Murray v. Curlett lawsuit, which led to a landmark Supreme Court ruling ending official Bible-reading in American public schools in 1963. This came just one year after the Supreme Court prohibited officially sponsored prayer in schools in Engel v. Vitale. Afterward, she founded the American Atheists and won Murray v. Curlett, she achieved attention to the extent that in 1964 Life magazine referred to her as "the most hated woman in America".  That was then; today she is referenced as a great thinker.  These acts set the stage for the government knowingly and unknowingly to enjoin the battle to declare God as an irrelevant entity. 

The events that I have referenced in this article took place within a nation that once declared it a God-fearing nation.  Its founding fathers had the audacity to proclaim that God had shed his grace on it.  This nation supported Israel because it was the biblical thing to do.  The increase in knowledge that Daniel prophesied has perverted this nation core values. (Daniel 12:4)  It has turned its back on Israel and now proclaim itself a nation of many gods while it engages in debates on what bathrooms we should use. According to Paul, there is the spiritual weakness in high places.(Ephesians 6:10-18)

Now let us revisit the question, when Jesus spoke of wars and rumors of wars, was he speaking of the conflicts between nations and peoples.  Maybe we should discard our cavalier approach to understanding the word of God and search the scripture for the answer.  Often when we search the scripture, we are seeking to prove a preexisting idea or concept.   Thus to prove our point the shaping of the scripture becomes a necessity.  Is it possible that Jesus was speaking of the intensification of spiritual warfare, a flagrant attack on God?

                                  To be continued

Hearing The Voice Of God

1^st Samuel 3:7-10 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him.  And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child. Therefore, Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he calls thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place. And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.

One of the scariest moment as a wee lad growing up in the church was when the preacher prefaced its message with, "God spoke to me", Visions of a longhaired, bearded, red-lipped, frowning old man partially hidden by clouds filled our tender and childish minds with fear.  The intent of the proclamation was to validate and ensure attention to the message.  This was a part of an indoctrination process. Our earlier indoctrination taught us that no God-fearing person would dare take the name of God in vain. God, himself declared in Deuteronomy 5:11, "Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain: for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain".   Therefore, when a supposedly God-fearing person said, "God spoke to me", we could be reasonably sure that God was speaking.  When God speaks, everybody was supposed to listen. 

As we grew older and became more knowledgeable of God, our greatest achievement in our religious walk was to hear the voice of God. Hearing the voice of God became a means of validating our spirituality.  The preacher, the choir director, and even the bench member learned to boost their status by uttering the words, "God spoke to me".  The voice of God described as being loud and clear by many, and many describe the event similar to conducting a conversation with someone in another room.  Yet, a strange truth began to emerge, many who were struggling to be sincere in their Christian walk found themselves on the outside wondering why God did not speak to them.   But, that was the 'elephant in the room' that we don't talk about.  One songwriter tried to bridge the gulf by stating, "when I am on the mountain top God speaks to me, but when I am in the valley, God is silent." 

It was not long before many realized that conflicting messages were emulating from the household of faith and they were carrying the seal of a message from God. God often speaks during the offering collection, he is constantly telling the parishioners to give more money.  Hearing God speak became a moneymaking and status improvement proposition.  There are numerous books are written on the subject and seminars are conducted on "How to hear God speak".  Beautifully crafted sermons are delivered on, "Hearing the voice of God".  Somehow, we have constructed a belief that rather than studying God's word it is necessary for God to speak daily words of motivation into our life. The gullibility of Christianity comes into full play, who dare say, brother or sister, you need to check your message source. 

The silence of God, as well as the fear of God, does not set well in  our modern and pessimistic society.  As Aaron did at the base of the Holy mountain, we have created a God in our own image and we have endowed him with all of the attributes that are pleasing to us.  God is a God of love, we can find  scriptures to justify that.  Yet the visual image that we have created of our God is one of an impotent deity.   One messenger of God proclaimed that if you are praying about it God is working on it.  Through all of the work our God is said to be doing and all of the favors we ask of him, the world situation is continuing to deteriorate.  The voids created are filled irrelevant platitudes that are only good for emotional and motivational responses, leaving the spirituality of humanity to suffer.   "He might come when we want him to come but he is always on time", have left many standing on the banks of the 'river' filled with doubt and confusion.   

A message or a song that cries out to God to speak is a powerful inducement to an emotional encounter with God.  Even a prayer that entreats God to help us along our way seems to open the door to a greater spiritual encounter.  At this point, in my mind, the word 'content' seems to come into focus.  Paul addressed the issue as such, "Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." (Philippians 4:11).  He seems to infer that our prayer sessions should not be guided by our wants.  Can you imagine your child coming to you on a daily base with a list of wants?

In Paul's address to the Hebrew Jews, Paul explained it as such; "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" (Hebrews 13:5).  This is one of those scriptures that have been twisted, misinterpreted, and used to create false Gospels.   The first part of the verse implies conditions and if those conditions were met God would not forsake his chosen people,   but the rest of the story can be found in 2 Chronicles 15:2, "... but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you".  

That old Satan is engaged in a battle to make the name of God of none effect. How can this be when the name of God is invoked in more and more encounters? The internet and the social media has become a religious billboard, and God is speaking and doing things for his people.   Yet Heaven is becoming less appealing and Hell is less horrific.  For many the Gospel has become liken unto a fairy tale and it meaning is based upon who is telling the story and what is the desired outcome.   Church attendance has become equivalent to a rock concert of a football game.  Star power is what draws the people in and star power in the church is achieved by hearing the voice of God.   

There are several key factors in 1^st Samuel 3:7-10 that we will look closely at, but before we proceed we must establish certain facts. The establishment of these facts is necessary to rightly divide the word of truth.  The dispensation is that of the Law, the book is of deeds of the Children of Israel, therefore it is a Book of God's interaction with his chosen people, it is not written to the church.   The perspective and the context must be maintained.  Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him.  This is an interesting assessment of a person who did not know God but was about to be called by God.   Both Moses and Paul and there are others also who would be classic examples of men being called into God's service whose belief and faith was weak or non-existence.  There is no record of these men begging God to speak to them.   In the Old Testament, the evolving message of God was given through conversations with God or his Angels.  In the New Testament, under the dispensation of Grace, men operated under the direction of the Holy Spirit. 

"And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me".  This was a form of validating the call of God.  It is well within the power of God to make himself known to Samuel without going through these seemly unnecessary steps.  Consider this; there was a relationship between Eli, the priest and Samuel.  Eli validated the calling by instructing Samuel on how to proceed.  Imagine the misunderstanding, the animosity that would have existed in the relation if Samuel had come to Eli the Priest and said: "God spoke to me."  It is the Devil, not God who is the author of confusion.

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