I do not believe that the Bible teaches that the living saints at the Rapture of the Church do not die. I Corinthians 15:50, I Corinthians 15:22, Genesis 2:17 and Genesis 3:19 absolutely preclude any such possibility.
I Corinthians 15:51-57 teaches that our mortal and corruptible bodies must be changed to an incorruptible body, as if one changed his dirty clothes to clean ones. II Corinthians 5:1-4 does not teach about a temporary body, but instead teaches that Christ will bring the recreated bodies of all believers, whether in the grave or alive, with Him when He comes to Rapture the Church. All believers will then be changed "in the twinkling of an eye" from our old bodies, whether in the grave or alive, into our new, recreated bodies that Christ will bring with Him from heaven. The dead bodies of millions of believers will litter the world as a witness to the Rapture of the Church.
In addition, according to I Corinthians 15:50, corruptible bodies cannot be resurrected. The only earthly body that was ever resurrected was the body of our Lord Jesus Christ, but then His body was perfect.
Friday, May 23, 2014
Discussion on the Great White Throne Judgment
Revelation 20:11-15 has to be one of the most difficult passages in the Bible to interpret. It raises many questions and no doubt any interpretation will be fraught with errors.
I will not try to interpret this passage but I will raise at least two questions. In verse 12, the dead are raised, which implies that they are raised to life, and yet they are still dead as they stand before God. How can they be both dead and alive? They are judged out of God's books, one of which is the book of life. Apparently, God considers them to be dead because their names are not found in the book of life, and yet they are judged by what is written in God's books according to their works as if they were alive. According to Revelation 22:12 and Ecclesiastes 12:14, they are evidently judged according to their good works as well as their evil works. Since Revelation 22:12 clearly states that Christ possesses a positive gift with which He rewards good works, how can each individual dead person be cast into the lake of fire as a whole person?
I will not try to interpret this passage but I will raise at least two questions. In verse 12, the dead are raised, which implies that they are raised to life, and yet they are still dead as they stand before God. How can they be both dead and alive? They are judged out of God's books, one of which is the book of life. Apparently, God considers them to be dead because their names are not found in the book of life, and yet they are judged by what is written in God's books according to their works as if they were alive. According to Revelation 22:12 and Ecclesiastes 12:14, they are evidently judged according to their good works as well as their evil works. Since Revelation 22:12 clearly states that Christ possesses a positive gift with which He rewards good works, how can each individual dead person be cast into the lake of fire as a whole person?
Discussion on the Bema Judgment Seat
While it is certainly true that the blood of Jesus has washed away all the believers' sins (I John 1:7), and God has "cast all their sins into the depths of the sea," (Micah 7:19), the purpose of God's forgetfulness and forgiveness of sins is to protect His children from eternal damnation and the grasp of Satan. Acts 26:17-18.
Hebrews 12:5-11 definitely teaches that God punishes His children, but only for their correction. God has determined that He will conform every believer to the image of His Son no matter how long this process may take. Romans 8:29; Philippians 1:6. I believe II Peter 2:10-19 teaches that God will condemn all apostates to eternal damnation, but I believe that II Peter 2:20-22 teaches that carnal believers who act like apostates will be punished even worse than unbelievers who go to hell, but only temporarily and for their correction. I do not believe in Purgatory because God will never allow His children to be subject to the power of the Devil.
However, I believe that in the parable of the wedding feast in Matthew 22:1-14, Jesus taught that the wedding guest without the wedding garment symbolizes the carnal believer whom Christ will punish for his correction even after the Rapture of the Church.
Hebrews 12:5-11 definitely teaches that God punishes His children, but only for their correction. God has determined that He will conform every believer to the image of His Son no matter how long this process may take. Romans 8:29; Philippians 1:6. I believe II Peter 2:10-19 teaches that God will condemn all apostates to eternal damnation, but I believe that II Peter 2:20-22 teaches that carnal believers who act like apostates will be punished even worse than unbelievers who go to hell, but only temporarily and for their correction. I do not believe in Purgatory because God will never allow His children to be subject to the power of the Devil.
However, I believe that in the parable of the wedding feast in Matthew 22:1-14, Jesus taught that the wedding guest without the wedding garment symbolizes the carnal believer whom Christ will punish for his correction even after the Rapture of the Church.
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Hosea
In Hosea 1:2, the Lord directly ordered Hosea to find and marry a loose woman. This marriage was symbolic of God's love for Israel despite Israel's unfaithfulness by practicing idolatry. God often compared idolatry by His people to the adultery of an unfaithful wife.
But God had Hosea prophesy that one day God would establish a nation of Israel that would be faithful to Him. One day, God would create an Israel that would no longer practice idolatry.
In Hosea 3:1-3, God ordered Hosea to go to the slave market and buy his wife back for fifteen pieces of silver and a homer and a half of barley. Apparently, she had left Hosea and finally wound up on the slave market. Hosea gladly obeyed the Lord because he loved his wife so much. This part of the story amounts to a remarkable prophecy of how one day Jesus the Messiah would lay down His life in love for lost sinners enslaved in the market of sin. Jesus would purchase them from slavery to sin and the Devil by His agony and shed blood on a cruel cross.
Hosea 3:4-5 records an amazingly accurate prophecy of how God would one day scatter the people of Israel over the whole world but they would be completely cured of idolatry, and they would have no king and they would no longer practice animal sacrifice. All of this has happened exactly as Hosea prophesied. In verse five, Hosea prophesied that the people of Israel would one day return to their land and be a nation again. This prophecy was fulfilled on May 15, 1948. The rest of the prophecy that one day Israel will seek the Lord and David their king who is actually Jesus their Messiah, will assuredly be fulfilled at some time in the future.
But God had Hosea prophesy that one day God would establish a nation of Israel that would be faithful to Him. One day, God would create an Israel that would no longer practice idolatry.
In Hosea 3:1-3, God ordered Hosea to go to the slave market and buy his wife back for fifteen pieces of silver and a homer and a half of barley. Apparently, she had left Hosea and finally wound up on the slave market. Hosea gladly obeyed the Lord because he loved his wife so much. This part of the story amounts to a remarkable prophecy of how one day Jesus the Messiah would lay down His life in love for lost sinners enslaved in the market of sin. Jesus would purchase them from slavery to sin and the Devil by His agony and shed blood on a cruel cross.
Hosea 3:4-5 records an amazingly accurate prophecy of how God would one day scatter the people of Israel over the whole world but they would be completely cured of idolatry, and they would have no king and they would no longer practice animal sacrifice. All of this has happened exactly as Hosea prophesied. In verse five, Hosea prophesied that the people of Israel would one day return to their land and be a nation again. This prophecy was fulfilled on May 15, 1948. The rest of the prophecy that one day Israel will seek the Lord and David their king who is actually Jesus their Messiah, will assuredly be fulfilled at some time in the future.
Jehoshaphat
Jehoshaphat was a good and able ruler of Judah who feared the Lord. However, he had a very curious flaw in his character. He was extremely naive.
According to I Kings 22:4, Jehoshaphat thought that he could be a friend and ally of the wicked and treacherous King Ahab of Israel without any harm. Jehoshaphat thought that he and Ahab could get along because they had the same language and heritage.
Because of his misplaced trust, Jehoshaphat foolishly agreed to go with Ahab into battle with the Syrians. Jehoshaphat did not even suspect Ahab's treachery when Ahab suggested that Jehoshaphat go into battle dressed in his kingly robes while Ahab disguised himself as an ordinary soldier. Jehoshaphat apparently had no clue that Ahab had set him up to be killed because Ahab knew full well that the king of Syria would order his soldiers to go all out to kill him. This is exactly that which happened when the battle was joined. The king of Syria ordered thirty two of his captains and their soldiers to press an attack directly toward King Ahab in order to kill him. Just as Ahab knew they would, these Syrian soldiers mistook Jehoshaphat for King Ahab.
When King Jehoshaphat cried out for reinforcements to help him repel this direct attack against him, the Syrians realized that this was not King Ahab and withdrew their attack. They probably knew Jehoshaphat was not Ahab because the soldiers who came to his aid were Judean soldiers and not Israeli.
Yet, a Syrian archer shot an aimless arrow in the general direction of the Israeli army and mortally wounded King Ahab.
This is a remarkable story of how God protected good King Jehoshaphat despite his incredible naivete, and had a wicked king killed for his cruel treachery.
According to I Kings 22:4, Jehoshaphat thought that he could be a friend and ally of the wicked and treacherous King Ahab of Israel without any harm. Jehoshaphat thought that he and Ahab could get along because they had the same language and heritage.
Because of his misplaced trust, Jehoshaphat foolishly agreed to go with Ahab into battle with the Syrians. Jehoshaphat did not even suspect Ahab's treachery when Ahab suggested that Jehoshaphat go into battle dressed in his kingly robes while Ahab disguised himself as an ordinary soldier. Jehoshaphat apparently had no clue that Ahab had set him up to be killed because Ahab knew full well that the king of Syria would order his soldiers to go all out to kill him. This is exactly that which happened when the battle was joined. The king of Syria ordered thirty two of his captains and their soldiers to press an attack directly toward King Ahab in order to kill him. Just as Ahab knew they would, these Syrian soldiers mistook Jehoshaphat for King Ahab.
When King Jehoshaphat cried out for reinforcements to help him repel this direct attack against him, the Syrians realized that this was not King Ahab and withdrew their attack. They probably knew Jehoshaphat was not Ahab because the soldiers who came to his aid were Judean soldiers and not Israeli.
Yet, a Syrian archer shot an aimless arrow in the general direction of the Israeli army and mortally wounded King Ahab.
This is a remarkable story of how God protected good King Jehoshaphat despite his incredible naivete, and had a wicked king killed for his cruel treachery.
Saturday, March 22, 2014
Balaam
Balaam was one of the strangest and most interesting characters in all of the Bible. He was a Gentile and yet God had given him the gift of prophecy. For some unknown reason, God gave him a lot of light for his good side, and yet he also had a deep darkness on his evil side.
Contrary to the opinion of some commentators, Balaam never sold his gift of prophecy for money. The Bible never states that he did. Balaam knew better than to sell his prophecy for money because he knew that if he did, God would immediately take it away or kill him. In fact, Balaam's final prophecy in Numbers 24:15-24 is quite sublime, even including a prophecy about Israel's coming Messiah.
Balaam's sin and apostasy occurred after his sublime prophecy. Balaam's sin happened because of his "perverse way" as spoken by the angel in Numbers 22:32. His sin was also called "the counsel of Balaam" in Numbers 31:16, the "way of Balaam" in II Peter 2:15, the "error of Balaam" in Jude 11, and the "doctrine of Balaam" in Revelation 2:14. As described in Numbers 31:16 and Revelation 2:14, the sin of Balaam was that he conspired with Balak, and for wages, to send pagan women into the camp of Israel to seduce Israeli men and lead them into practicing idol worship and thus corrupt the camp of Israel by causing Israel to abandon their faith in God. In this way, Balaam tried to get around the fact that God would not allow him to curse Israel but rather bless them, by devising a plan whereby he would reduce Israel to paganism and thus cause God to curse them. But God protected Israel and Balaam's wicked plot miserably failed and he paid for his sin with his life in Israel's war with Midian. Numbers 31:8.
Contrary to the opinion of some commentators, Balaam never sold his gift of prophecy for money. The Bible never states that he did. Balaam knew better than to sell his prophecy for money because he knew that if he did, God would immediately take it away or kill him. In fact, Balaam's final prophecy in Numbers 24:15-24 is quite sublime, even including a prophecy about Israel's coming Messiah.
Balaam's sin and apostasy occurred after his sublime prophecy. Balaam's sin happened because of his "perverse way" as spoken by the angel in Numbers 22:32. His sin was also called "the counsel of Balaam" in Numbers 31:16, the "way of Balaam" in II Peter 2:15, the "error of Balaam" in Jude 11, and the "doctrine of Balaam" in Revelation 2:14. As described in Numbers 31:16 and Revelation 2:14, the sin of Balaam was that he conspired with Balak, and for wages, to send pagan women into the camp of Israel to seduce Israeli men and lead them into practicing idol worship and thus corrupt the camp of Israel by causing Israel to abandon their faith in God. In this way, Balaam tried to get around the fact that God would not allow him to curse Israel but rather bless them, by devising a plan whereby he would reduce Israel to paganism and thus cause God to curse them. But God protected Israel and Balaam's wicked plot miserably failed and he paid for his sin with his life in Israel's war with Midian. Numbers 31:8.
On the Characteristics of Faithful Angels versus Evil Angels
One reason why evil angels cannot be saved is because they, like Satan himself, are totally given to evil. They have no good side. They are equivalent to evil itself. God intends to purge all evil from His universe, and so when God recreates His heaven and earth, He will throw all the evil angels into the lake of fire, and let their torment keep their minds busy forever so that they can no longer devise any evil and destructive plots.
Although mankind is depraved and original sin deprives him of the ability to think much about God, man does have a good side as well as an evil side. Man's problem is that his good side cannot save his evil side. Man is destined for hell. But God loves man, and God can see that there is hope for man. God can change man's heart and cause him to desire to be wholly good, to desire even to be like Jesus.
God could also see that man had no hope of saving himself. So, God decided to come to earth as a perfect man and do all that was necessary to get rid of man's evil side, cause him to desire to be good, to be like Jesus. God succeeded in His plan and now any human who hears the gospel and puts his trust in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus will have all their sins washed away by the blood of Jesus and will be recreated by the presence of the Holy Spirit in their hearts, and God will guarantee their salvation and sanctification and will cause them to desire to become like Jesus.
Faithful angels are a good example for Christians because they are absolutely obedient and submissive to the will of God.
Although mankind is depraved and original sin deprives him of the ability to think much about God, man does have a good side as well as an evil side. Man's problem is that his good side cannot save his evil side. Man is destined for hell. But God loves man, and God can see that there is hope for man. God can change man's heart and cause him to desire to be wholly good, to desire even to be like Jesus.
God could also see that man had no hope of saving himself. So, God decided to come to earth as a perfect man and do all that was necessary to get rid of man's evil side, cause him to desire to be good, to be like Jesus. God succeeded in His plan and now any human who hears the gospel and puts his trust in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus will have all their sins washed away by the blood of Jesus and will be recreated by the presence of the Holy Spirit in their hearts, and God will guarantee their salvation and sanctification and will cause them to desire to become like Jesus.
Faithful angels are a good example for Christians because they are absolutely obedient and submissive to the will of God.
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