Thursday

Yesterday I spoke of Idol worship. Today I will touch on another subject. Again by process of elimination. What exactly does the bible teach about death? What does the bible say about the resurrection? Where do we go when we die? In the book of John chapter 5 verse 28 it states: Do not marvel at this, because the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice

Notice that it does not say all those in Heaven or all those in hell. Take a look at Genesis 3:19 and it states: In the sweat of your face you will eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For dust you are and to dust you will return.

Again John 5:28, I do suggest reading that again but to understand the condition of the dead read Ecclesiastes chapter 9 verse 5 and verse ten. It states: “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. Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.” This means that the dead cannot do anything and cannot feel anything. They cannot say anything.

Many religious organizations teach that the wicked are tormented endlessly in a hellfire. But is this belief taught in God’s Word? You may know the meaning that your own particular church organization gives to “hell,” but have you ever investigated to see the meaning given it in the Scriptures? What is hell according to the Bible?

In the Hebrew Scriptures of the Bible the word “hell” is translated from the Hebrew word sheol′. This word occurs 65 times in all. The King James Version of the Bible, however, translates sheol′ 31 times as “hell,” 31 times as “grave,” and 3 times as “pit.” The Catholic Douay Version of the Bible translates sheol′ as “hell” 63 times and as “pit” once and as “death” once. In the Christian Greek Scriptures the word “hell” is sometimes translated from the Greek word hádes. Both the King James and Douay versions translate hádes as “hell” in each of its ten occurrences.

As further proof of this, consider the case of Job, a righteous servant of God who suffered much. He prayed to God: “Who will grant me this, that thou mayst protect me in hell, and hide me till thy wrath pass, and appoint me a time when thou wilt remember me?” How unreasonable to think that Job desired protection in hell if it is a fiery-hot place! Clearly, this “hell” is simply the grave, and Job desired to go there so that his sufferings might end. Good people as well as bad people go to the Bible “hell,” the common grave of all mankind.

Also note, The Bible teaching on the true condition of the dead relieves one’s mind of much unnecessary fear and worry regarding those who have died. To know that such ones are not suffering helps us to appreciate far more God’s love, and his justice. Yet, one may still wonder, If a man dies and simply goes to the grave, what hope is there for the dead? The Bible reveals that there is a wonderful hope, the hope of living again.

During his earthly ministry Jesus Christ showed his power over death, actually bringing dead persons back to human life. He thus provided a preview of what he will do on a grand scale in God’s new system of things. The heartwarming prospect is that then hell, mankind’s common grave, will be emptied of its unconscious dead. Some receive a resurrection to heavenly glory as spirit creatures, even as did Jesus Christ.

However, the vast majority of mankind will be brought back to enjoy life on a restored earthly paradise. In God’s new system the resurrected dead, if they carry out God’s righteous laws, will never need to die again. Certainly this grand provision for blessing mankind is reason for us to take in more knowledge of Jehovah and his Son, Jesus Christ. Think about this for just a second. Show me in the bible where Lazarus talked about him coming back from Heaven?

Show me in the bible where Lazarus talked about hell? Sure he would have explained something if he seen something but you know what? He didn't explain anything because there was nothing to explain. Death is like a deep sleep, a sleep that is so deep that the person does not even dream. In death people do not feel or suffer anything. That is why Jesus said that Lazarus was sleeping when Lazarus really was dead. Jesus didn't say that Lazarus was in Heaven or in hell. He was sleeping. Jesus knew that the dead Lazarus was unconscious, as the Bible says: The dead are conscious of nothing at all.

So again by process of elimination who teaches that we go to heaven and hell? Let me ask if I may, when was the last time you went to a funeral and you heard the priest say " This man is going to hell " I never heard it. We were promised that there would be a resurrection of the dead.

MILLIONS now dead will live again, but is it realistic? What would it take to convince you? To believe in a promise, you would need to be sure that the one making the promise is both willing and able to fulfill it. Who, then, is it that promises that millions now dead will live again?

In the spring of 31 C.E., Jesus boldly stated that he had been empowered by Jehovah God to resurrect the dead. Jesus promised: “Just as the Father raises the dead up and makes them alive, so the Son also makes those alive whom he wants to. Do not marvel at this, because the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his (Jesus’) voice and come out.” Jesus promised that millions now dead will live again on this earth and have the prospect of remaining on it forever.

Adam and Eve were meant to live forever. We were meant to live forever. Since Jesus made the promise, it is safe to assume that he is willing to fulfill it. The story of Lazarus is just one example of Jesus bringing back someone who died. Imagine those who we love, those who we miss, those who once were in our arms, those we cried with, those we laughed with, those who we played with, those who we knocked on doors with, those who we ate with, those who we sang songs to Jehovah with, our brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, etc.. returning to earth to be in our arms again. Isn't it worth fighting against this system? Isn't it worth it?

I miss my father very much and I can't wait till I can jump in his arms again. The last time I had my father in my arms was when I pulled him out of the coffin in front of my entire family because I wanted him in my arms. He will be in my arms again because this is what was promised. The scriptures don't lie folks. I have full confidence that the creator of Heaven, the creator of Earth can do this. He has given the power to Jesus to do it on a smaller scale. It will be done on a global scale.

Thank you and have a great day.