Tag: Howbeit Jesus

Many years ago I lived on an Island in Central American; it was a great place for a kid to grow up and learned about the beautiful things that God created. Being a city boy and thinking I knew everything what a shock to me to find out just how little I really knew about things. I made a lot of new friends there and want to tell you about one guy called Redmood, he was a little older then I was but that did not make a different because everyone looked out for the other.

Well I got married a few years later and came up to the US to go to work and we all kind of lost track of each other. Until I got a massage from my brother who stilled lived on the Island that Redmood had died. No one knew why he died they just found him in his bed dead, the local doctor check him and there was no blood pressure or breath in his body, so he pronounce him dead.

Now the problem living on a small Island in Central American is that there is no place to keep someone when they die, so they have to bury you as soon as they can. His family made all the arrangement and had the hole dug up in the grave yard. While everyone was there in the graveyard just about ready to lower him into the grave. They heard him knocking and screaming for someone to open the coffin, so when they did he jumped out because he had no idea of what was going on

Was he really dead, did he just come back to life? Or was he misdiagnosed as being dead. About a year later he died again but this time they checked him really good before going to bury him. He never said anything about where he was when he died the first time, only that he went to sleep that night and woke up in a coffin..

Does anyone really know what happens when a person dies, well for me there is only one place to go for truth and that is Gods word in the Bible!

Let us pray!
The only way to find the real truth about what happens is to see what the Bible says about Death, Hell and the Grave; why because no man or woman had every truly died and came back to tell about it except for a man named Lazarus.

There has been a lot of near death phoneme with people dyeing on a Hospital table then coming back to life, but was that really death. For me I want to see someone who has been dead for a few days then come back to life and tell about it. But there had been none except for a man in the Bible called Lazarus; lets see what he says about it.

John:11:43: And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.

The story in the Bible about Lazarus dying and coming back to life is silent on the subject of where he was. There is no book in the Bible called Lazarus near death or Lazarus after death or anything from Lazarus about where he was for those 4 days, nothing.

Lazarus said nothing about where he was because as the Bible says he was dead, God told Adam on the day that you eat of the tree you will surely die. You will not go on living some place else but that he would die, he would go back to being dust in the earth and the Breath that God gave him would return back to God who gave it.

Psalms:104:29: Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust.

Ecclesiastes:12:7: Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

Right here in these two scriptures God is telling us what happens when we die. We go back to being dust and the breath or spirit; what makes us what we are goes back to God who gave it. Life does not go on after we die, we die because of sin and because there is a Law that tells us the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

Ezek:18:4: Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

Now buckle down because I want to show you something about death in the Bible from the book of Revelation. But I want us to understand one thing first; this is not what I am saying it is what the Bible is saying, here we go word for word from the Bible.

Reverlation:2:11: He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

What does the Bible mean by this saying second death?

If we die and go to Heaven or Hell right at death what is the second death thing all about. If the Bible is talking about a second death, what about the first death? Let’s look and see what the Bible is saying about this

Rv:20:6: Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection. The Bible is saying that all people who are a part of the first resurrection will live forever with God in Heaven. The first resurrection will be for all people who by faith accepted Jesus as there savoir and did the things on this Earth He asked them to do to show there love for Him in there life.

So why is there a second resurrection, who is it for. In the first resurrection all who by faith believed in Jesus was resurrected from the grave and went to heaven

Then all who did not believe or did not keep the saying or commandment of Jesus must be the ones who will take part in this second resurrection, see what the Bible says.

Rv:21:8: But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

This might be a hard subject for you but please stay with me; if you are like me I don’t want to know what some preacher or some big Religious Leader is saying, I want to know what the Bible is saying about Death, Hell, and the Grave

Rv:20:14: And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

Here is another one if when we die and if we go to Hell, how long will it be for, look at what the Bible says about what is going to happen to Hell. It will be cast into the lake of fire; the Bible calls this the second death. Rv:2:11: He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

There will be an end to all Sin, an end to Hell, an end to suffering, sickness and pain. God is a merciful God look at Ezek:33:11: Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
Now some good news, if we take our stand for truth and the only truth is in Gods Word, then we will overcome and not have a part of this second death.

Rv:20:6: Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

The Bible is telling us that there will be a first resurrection, this will be all the people who dies or went to sleep as the Bible calls it with the hope of Jesus in there lives.

First Thessalonians 4:
13: But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

Paul wanted to make sure the Christians in his days knew and understood what happened when a person died. He also wanted to make them understand that if you have the hope and faith of Jesus in you when you died that there would be a day when Jesus comes back to this world and take you home with Him.

14: For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15: For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16: 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:

Paul says don’t worry about the ones who have fell asleep in the faith, when Jesus comes back they will be the ones to rise first and then we who are alive will be caught up with the ones who died or went to sleep in Jesus.

17: Then we which 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.

There is something else it is saying here, when Jesus comes back for His people where will we meet Him. We will meet the Lord in the air; Jesus feet will not touch this earth when He comes back to bring all the righteous Saints back to life. I hear a lot of people saying that Jesus is back on this earth and he doing wonderful miracle. Well if that is so it is not the true Jesus, why because when He comes back His feet will not touch the earth, so who is it that clams to be Jesus and doing miracles to deceive the whole world.

Look at 2nd Corinthians: 11:
13: For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
14: And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
15: Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

Do you see what the Bible is saying; Satan and his ministers will be transformed to look just like the real thing; real Christians and will deceive many. You might ask how is this going to be, it is very easy. Most Christians don’t study there Bible or believe what it says, they go by what the preacher and what there Church believes and teachers and not by what Gods word the Bible is saying.

My friend the only truth in this world is found in the Bible and the Bible only, look at John: 17: 17: Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. The only truth you will find in this world will be found in Gods book the Bible.

Let’s look at some other scripture in the Bible they all tell about death, none of them say anything about the soul living on after you die. This is Gods word speaking people and what does the Bible say about Gods word 2Tm:3:16: All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: All scripture is given by inspiration of God. The Bible is the guide that we use to correct everything else, if you don’t believe in the Bible you don’t believe in God word speaking to man. Remember the Bible is never wrong, the understanding or interpolation of man is unsurely what is wrong. So to understand the Bible we need to study and see what it says from cover to cover Old and New testament, for the old testament is the key to unlocking a lot of the new testament.

So what does the Bible says about death, read it word for word.

Ps: 39:13: O spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be no more.

Ps: 88: 5: Free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cut off from thy hand.

Ps: 104: 29: Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust

Ps: 115: 17: The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence.

Ps: 143: 7: Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.

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.
6: Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.

Ecclesiastes: 12: 7: Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

Isaiah: 38: 18: For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth.

These are only a few references to different books in the Bible that talk about Death, Hell, the Pit and the Grave. None of them say anything about going to heaven or down to see the devil, they all talk about when you die you know nothing anymore until Jesus comes back to call you back to life. Look at the scripture the dead in Christ shall rise first: they are not going to rise if they are already in heaven.

Thessalonians 4:16: 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:

The Bible is very clear about Death and all the prophets who had lived had told it the way God gave it to them. Even when Jesus was alive on the Earth He did not change anything; remember the Story of Lazarus, and what Jesus said of him.

John:11: 11: These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.
12: Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.
13: Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.
14: Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.

Jesus calls Death a Sleep, why because when we die that is what we do, we sleep until He Jesus comes back to call all who have died in Faith back to live with Him forever

Luke:8:
52: And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth.
53: And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead.
54: And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise.
55: And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat.
56: And her parents were astonished: but he charged them that they should tell no man what was done.

Again remember the story of the little girl who died, when Jesus told them she was not dead but sleeping they all laugh at Him, but who was right. Friend we have to go by the Bible as a whole you can’t take one scripture and make a doctoring out of it. We must study the Bible the way the Bible tells us to study it

Isa:28:10: For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:

Do you remember the story that Jesus told in the book of Luke Chapter 16: about a rich man and Lazarus. He said after they both died the rich man went to hell but Lazarus went to Abraham bosom. Then Jesus goes on to give more details about the story, but was it about death and what happens at death or was Jesus trying to bring home a point. Look at it and see what it is saying

Remember when you want to know truth you must study the Bible from cover to cover, from Genesis to Revelation Isa:28:10 precept upon precept; line upon line here a little, and there a little.

Anytime the Bible does not agree with itself, it is not the Bible that is wrong it is the interpolation that is wrong. It is when we don’t fully understand something written, but if you will study the subject in prayer and precept upon precept; line upon line here a little, and there a little the Holy Spirit will lead you into all Truth.

Here in [Luke 16:] starting with verse 19 to 31 is a story that Jesus was telling
Luke: 16:31: And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, Christ shows that in this life men decide their eternal destiny. During probationary time the grace of God is offered to every soul. But if men waste their opportunities in self-pleasing, they cut themselves off from everlasting life. No after probation will be granted them. By their own choice they have fixed an impassable gulf between them and their God.

This parable draws a contrast between the rich who have not made God their dependence, and the poor who have made God their dependence. Christ shows that the time is coming when the position of the two classes will be reversed. Those who are poor in this world’s goods, yet who trust in God and are patient in suffering will one day be exalted above those who now hold the highest positions the world can give but who have not surrendered their life to God.

“There was a certain rich man,” Christ said, “which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day. And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, There were then no hospitals in which the sick might be cared for. The suffering and needy were brought to the notice of those to whom the Lord had entrusted wealth, that they might receive help and sympathy. Thus it was with the beggar and the rich man. Lazarus was in great need of help; for he was without friends, home, money, or food. Yet he was allowed to remain in this condition day after day, while the wealthy nobleman had every want supplied. The one who was abundantly able to relieve the sufferings of his fellow creature, lived to himself, as many live today.

There are today close beside us many who are hungry, naked, and homeless. A neglect to impart of our means to these needy, suffering ones places upon us a burden of guilt which we shall one day fear to meet. All covetousness is condemned as idolatry. All selfish indulgence is an offense in God’s sight.

God had made the rich man a steward of His means, and it was his duty to attend to just such cases as that of the beggar. The command had been given, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might” (Deut. 6:5); and “thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself” (Lev. 19:18).

The rich man was a Jew, and he was acquainted with the command of God. But he forgot that he was accountable for the use of his entrusted means and capabilities. The Lord’s blessings rested upon him abundantly, but he employed them selfishly, to honor himself, not his Maker. In proportion to his abundance was his obligation to use his gifts for the uplifting of humanity.

This was the Lord’s command, but the rich man had no thought of his obligation to God. He lent money, and took interest for what he loaned; but he returned no interest for what God had lent him. He had knowledge and talents, but did not improve them. Forgetful of his accountability to God, he devoted all his powers to pleasure. Everything with which he was surrounded, his round of amusements, the praise and flattery of his friends, ministered to his selfish enjoyment. So engrossed was he in the society of his friends that he lost all sense of his responsibility to co-operate with God in His ministry of mercy the same is with many of men and women today. He had opportunity to understand the word of God, and to practice its teachings; but the pleasure-loving society he chose so occupied his time that he forgot the God of eternity.

The time came when a change took place in the condition of the two men. The poor man had suffered day by day, but he had patiently and quietly endured. In the course of time he died and was buried. There was no one to mourn for him; but by his patience in suffering he had witnessed for Christ, he had endured the test of his faith, and at his death he is represented as being carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom.

Lazarus represents the suffering poor who believe in Christ. When the trumpet sounds and all that are in the graves hear Christ’s voice and come forth, they will receive their reward; for their faith in God was not a mere theory, but a reality.

“The rich man also died, and was buried; and in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 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.” Luke: 16: 22

In this parable Christ was meeting the people on their own ground. The doctrine of a conscious state of existence between death and the resurrection was held by many of those who were listening to Christ’s words. The Savior knew of their ideas, and He framed His parable so as to inculcate important truths through these preconceived opinions. He held up before His hearers a mirror wherein they might see themselves in their true relation to God. He used the prevailing opinion to convey the idea He wished to make prominent to all–that no man is valued for his possessions; for all he has belongs to him only as lent by the Lord. A misuse of these gifts will place him below the poorest and most afflicted man who loves God and trusts in Him.

Christ desires His hearers to understand that it is impossible for men to secure the salvation of the soul after death. “Son,” Abraham is represented as answering, Luke: 16: 25 “remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed; so that they which would pass from hence to you can not; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.” Thus Christ represented the hopelessness of looking for a second probation. This life is the only time given to man in which to prepare for eternity.

The rich man had spent his life in self-pleasing, and too late he saw that he had made no provision for eternity. He realized his folly, and thought of his brothers, who would go on as he had gone, living to please themselves. Then he made the request, “I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him [Lazarus] to my father’s house; for I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.” But “Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham; but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead.” Luke:16: 29-30
When the rich man solicited additional evidence for his brothers, he was plainly told that should this evidence be given, they would not be persuaded. His request cast a reflection on God. It was as if the rich man had said, If you had more thoroughly warned me, I should not now be here. Abraham in his answer to this request is represented as saying, Your brothers have been sufficiently warned. Light has been given them, but they would not see; truth has been presented to them, but they would not hear.

Moses and the Prophets

Luke:16:31 “If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.” These words were proved true in the history of the Jewish nation. Christ’s last and crowning miracle was the raising of Lazarus of Bethany, after he had been dead four days. The Jews were given this wonderful evidence of the Saviour’s divinity, but they rejected it. Lazarus rose from the dead and bore his testimony before them, but they hardened their hearts against all evidence, and even sought to take his life. (John 12:9-11.) 9: Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.
10: But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death;
11: Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.
The law and the prophets are God’s appointed agencies for the salvation of men. Christ said; Let them give heed to these evidences. If they do not listen to the voice of God in His word, the testimony of a witness raised from the dead would not be heeded.

Those who heed Moses and the prophets will require no greater light than God has given; but if men reject the light, and fail to appreciate the opportunities granted them, they would not hear if one from the dead should come to them with a message. They would not be convinced even by this evidence; for those who reject the law and the prophets so harden their hearts that they will reject all light.

So you see the parable that Jesus told here was not about what happens after you die, the Bible was already clear about that subject. The parable here was about mans duty to his brother who is in need.

One last verse look at Matthew: 27: After Jesus died on Friday evening early on Sunday morning he rose from the grave, look at what happened at the same time Jesus rose.

52: And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
53: And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

The Bible says that many bodies of the saints which slept arose. Where were they sleeping in the grave and when Jesus rose he took some of the sleeping saints with him to heaven as a kind of trophy of the victory He made. Now look again at 1Thes:4:16: 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: or let’s say the dead saints in Christ will rise first. 17: Then we which 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.

My dear friend the only truth is what is in the Bible and the only way to understand it is to study it for yourself from cover to cover and let the Bible explain the meaning not man or some Religious leader who might be lost himself.

So what is the true end of all this when Jesus comes back, it is very clear in the book of Revelation

Rv:20:14: And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

Rv:21:3-8:
3: And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
4: And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
5: And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
6: And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
7: He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
8: But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

God will make all things new but this time there will be no more sin because Satan and all his followers will be cast into the lake of fire where they will die and never be again for ever and ever. This is the end of Sin and Sinner of Hell and the Grave this is eternal death and all who did not take part in the first resurrection will take part in the second.

My friend searcher the Bible from cover to cover and see what it says about Death, Hell and the Grave; if I am wrong please let me know but show me in Gods word that I am wrong. God bless and be with each of you as you study I pray that Gods Holy Spirit with guide you into all Truth, Truth in His word.

Restoring Gods Truth
Elder Tim McNab

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