17--DEATH AND RESURRECTION

"For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." – Romans 6:23


Note: This verse is quite clear. The God will give us the gift of eternal life, if we will accept it. But, the wicked earn their wages–death.

"Which in his times he shall show, [who is] the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom [be] honour and power everlasting. Amen." – 1 Timothy 6:15, 16


Note: Often it has been taught that we gain immortal life now. But the Bible says only God is immortal.

"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. 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." -- Ecclesiastest 9:5, 6

Note: The dead are not aware of what is going on. This is one of several texts that reveal this fact.

"Put not your trust in princes, [nor] in the son of man, in whom [there is] no help. His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish." – Psalm 146:3, 4


Note: If thoughts perish when one dies, how can they be in heaven?

"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. Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead." – John 11:11-14


Note: There was no doubt that Lazarus died, yet Christ said He was asleep. The sleep of death is mentioned often in the Bible.

"When Christ, [who is] our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." – Colossians 3:4


Note: It is when Christ comes we will appear with Him in glory.

"Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal [must] put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory." – 1 Corinthians 15:51-54


Note: Here again. Paul talks about the resurrection of the dead. They are asleep to be raised up and given immortality.

"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. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 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. 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 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." – 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17


Note: When Jesus comes the dead are raised up and join Him in the clouds, and those who are alive at that time then join them.

Read Revelation 20:1-10


Note: Here we learn the fate of all the dead. Some are raised in the first resurrection and some are raised after a thousand years at the second resurrection. These are the wicked who Satan will convince that they can conquer the New Jerusalem. When they attempt this, fire falls down and destroys them. Before this they are given a chance to see the justice and mercy of God and all they have forfeited. They don’t repent of sin, but they finally see their fate is just.

CONCLUSION:

God has His own plan. Satan has led people to believe the dead were still alive. This has caused many to believe in the spirits of the dead talking to them. Thus, they are lead astray by the deception of the devil. We will have more on the thousand years next.