When a Christian, one who is a follower of Christ, one who is obedient will at some point find life in time ending. For some it happens in old age. For some at the end of the struggle with disease. For some in sudden end of life as the result of accident, war or violence.
For every person, there will come a day when your last breath is taken, your spirit leaves your body. Your body becomes an empty shell.
For the Christian when that moment comes, there is a glorious transformation. Time ends and suddenly the believer finds him or herself alive and awake in the presence of the Lord. What happens is in reality a leaving of the dimension known as time and entering a new dimension we call eternity.
It's always with us. Jesus lives there. He's always with us. BUT he never leaves or forsakes us. He doesn't because he lives right here. As close as the air that surrounds us. If an angel appears as happens often they are allowed to leave eternity to enter time to intervene as part of the angel armies. Jesus can even appear... as he enters time occasionally to manifest himself as he did often in the old testament, after his resurrection and even in our day. He steps from eternity into time.
Yet when the believer enters eternity, he cannot see back nor can he come back from eternity into time. In fact.. all memories are made conscience of only those in the kingdom. We will know each other as we are known, but we won't know of those who "Didn't make it". That would cause grief. All tears are washed away in heaven. So knowledge of one who isn't there isn't possible.
Once we are in eternity in the presence of the Lord our joy will be full. Unspeakable. Full of glory. Without anything but living in the fullness of the presence of the throne. Sea of Glass.
Heaven is instantaneous and wonderful. Paul the Apostle talked of it. I won't address time at all... because the idea of soul sleep is involved in time. Understanding eternity is hard for people who live in time. Just be certain that it is.... and you will enter it... and as a Christian it will be GLORIOUS.
Now what of the unbeliever? What of that we call hell? What is damnation? What happens when an unbeliever dies?
When that day comes... they go to the grave. They are living the result of their choice. They are without God.. dead. Gone. Perished. Separated forever from the Glory of God. So what of the Rich Man in Jesus story... of a certain rich man and a poor man named Lazarus. Now in eternity there is no time... but in the grave time is. There comes a day... to a person who died a thousand years ago or yesterday when they are brought from the grave in the spirit to stand before a Holy Just God in Judgement. God will not that ANY perish. Jesus stands as defense attorney. He will come to the Father and if there is a question will say, "I shed blood for that one and he entered into it".
It will be many fewer than you think. Those who wilfully stepped away from or ignored the wooing of the Holy Spirit (the unpardonable sin), will be condemned to the second death. No eternal life.
This then becomes a difficult thing to define critically. Lots of scriptural "Interpretation" as to what it is. The lake of FIRE is reserved for the antichrist and the beast. It seems to be a particularly horrid place.
Here is one last thought. Jesus spoke of levels of punishment.
Luke 12:I can't prove it, but here's what I know for sure. Those who reject Christ, many will simply die... absent of eternal life. In the grave. Those who were more rebellious.... will suffer a greater fate.
42The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? 43It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. 44Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 45But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to beat the other servants, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk. 46The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.47“The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows. 48But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.
Hell is real. It is reserved for the devil, his demons and those who are part of HIS kingdom. For those who are simply ignorant of Jesus and his redemption. Will die. Alone. In the grave.
5 comments:
I take no pleasure in hearing this testimony. Neither did john bavere early in His ministry. He did a conference in Atlanta as he left 3 Baptist pastors called him and said it is urgent we speak with you. He did not want to but they where many years His elders. He agreed to lunch the next day. Worried He went the previous day. He expanded on mathew 22 :14 He said I am sure it does not mean that in the sense of numbers it can't be that bad one must hear to even respond. As he met the pastors they said john here are three different concordances. What you told those people concerning the Words of Jesus are wrong He argued they set the books in front of Him. He was polite that Word few in American would be more accurate translated most aren't chosen. He did not believe it He called a language expert who taught at college He knew and ask the reply was John that is the closest translation most are not chosen. It changed His ministry. Indeed if one studies out the references of Jesus about His disciples in the new testament. The warnings of the Apostles in the new it is written like that. some of those warnings are in the heart parable only the one that bears fruit makes it. in Hebrews there are those that trample the Blood in revelation there are those that are lukewarm. In jude there are those that resist the Holy Spirit not liking to retain the knowledge of God as warned about in romans and given over to a reprobate mind. In Peter there are those presuming to teach not understanding the hard things paul taught becoming deceived and deceiving many in Corinthians there are those paul wept about refusing to pick up their cross and those who though bought by God defile themselves and God destroys the carnal minded there is much more the way is narrow as Jesus said. I drew back from learning these things until I was told if you draw back anymore from what I am telling you to learn you will be disciplined.Jesus on earth said these people serve me with their lips but their hearts are far from me. Why do you call me Lord and not do as I say. That comes to light in Hebrews harden not your heart to the voice Israel is an example very few entered the promise land. Many are taking the map apart from the guide no one will make it that way.
Just want to make sure I follow your point. When you say 'They are without God.. dead. Gone. Perished.', do you mean ceasing to exist or that person living separate from God in the afterlife?
We are to believe the soul is eternal yes? If a sinner is to receive eternal torment, his soul is eternal and receives that torment. Likewise, one who accepts Christ and repents will receive an eternal reward. What happens to those in between... In 1st Corinthians 15 it talks of bodies Celestial and bodies Terrestrial. One has more glory than the other. People are like that. Some do much good, and their glory will be great. Some not so much, and their glory will be dimmer than the other's. In John 14 Jesus briefly mentions that he is going to prepare a mansion for them, and that there are many of them in his Father's house. Back to Corinthians - the stars, moon, and sun all have differing "degrees of glory." Likewise, all will differ in the afterlife. Hell is reserved for the worst of the worst - those who will not accept the Savior as their Redeemer. I wouldn't suppose to say I know everything, but I would guess that we will reap what we sow (2nd Corinthians 9, verse 6).
Sorry I did not get back to you. This is a meaty subject. Involves much scripture did not want to make any young believers stumble.Kenneth hagin kind of had that view. rather than get into a doctorinal discussion/ jude talks about twice dead. Hebrews warns of it. romans states God will give those who hold the truth in unrighteousness to a reprobate mind. Kenneth hagin finally acknowledged spiritual death to God when given a vision. I don't think he ever quite learned to teach it out. or wouldn't the gift of God is himself. calling him Lord and him being Lord are two different things. hagin taught about spiritual death to God. Norvel hayes and dereck prince. so the worst of the worst would be those who have a form of religion and yet refuse to be diligent and obedient to Word and Spirit. it's mocking God there is grace to grow. not build barns and say I am rich in need of nothing. untried faith is as no faith.So as tozer told ravenhill at the end of his life. I don't think many will even make it past the judgement seat of Christ to heaven.Hence many are called most aren't chosen (Aramaic bible.The warning in Corinthians is present your body a reasonable sacrifice if any man defile the temple of God Him shall God destroy. dereck prince ststes when written to beievers this is almost always separation from God. Take note His people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. in the parable of the heart one did not receive 2 either took themselves out by being carnally minded or led astray.Many report to their priest many more neither hear or respond to God. if your just born again that's fine if you have been going to church for years something is wrong. The prize of heaven is eternal inity and relationship with father son and holy spirit. Many will have good works but the greek word for know is intimate as husband and wife. not date. the father has promised his son a bride. How the Word the Holy Spirit and the cost by which we are created will determine ones eternal destination.
at conversion. a new heart and a new Spirit. Old testament prophecy fulfilled. Romans 6 old man die born again.Romans 7 our I read how many times I is mentioned. the cross knocks the I out unless despised. our I is knocked out.Not the creature over the creator. but the creator over the creature. annanias spahira did not guard their heart satan filled it. The house was clean. Also the carnal mind is death this means ruled of the flesh. paul buffeted His body lest he be disapproved.The carnal mind is at enmity with God and the flesh wars against the Spirit.The warings to Christians are throughout the new testament. the biblical view of God is this. bought with a price. we are not our own created to will and do his good will. good works are to stem from Him if not there is no reward. relationship with him individually not controlled and subservient to priest devoid of hearing and obeying God. one greek word for unbelief is disobedience. to not present your body is to trample the blood to save your life is to lose it.we are not our own warning states God created us as a temple of the Holy Spirit to refuse after being created with an ability to respond. him shall God destroy. Corinthians. romans to refuse to retain direction and knowledge of God he will give over to a reprobate mind. study not having in jude. it does not mean they never had it is how they chose to use their freewill. as rick joyner would say one of the absoloute worst things you can do is be lukewarm in your relationship to God while calling him Lord.
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