VICTORY OVER DEATH Then, “when this corruption shall have put on incorruption, and when this mortal shall have put on immortality,” shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory.” (1 Cor 15:54) Was death a good thing? No! Whose victory is this? The victory of our Lord, the victory of our Heavenly Father, through our Lord Jesus Christ. When will death be swallowed up? After he shall-have accomplished his mission. And how…
HOW ARE THE DEAD RAISED? The apostle then discusses the matter of the body (1 Cor 15:35-38), and says, “But someone will say, “How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?” He IS NOT speaking of how are bodies raised up, but “How are the dead raised up.” He is speaking of the soul, the being, NOT speaking of the body; what kind of body will they (the soul or being) have when they are…
The following remarks were made by the Pastor in response to a live debate he was having with the Rev. Dr. E. L. Eaton, a local Methodist minister. “The Scriptures teach that all mankind when they die are dead. It seems a strange proposition to have to make to an intelligent audience, that when a man dies he is dead; but, nevertheless, it is necessary to show this, because the majority of people, under the dominion of tradition from the…
A little further clarification: To our understanding, all who died previously to our Lord’s parousia (the Second Advent) passed into a “sleep” or “unclothed” condition to wait for this time, when the sleeping should be awakened in resurrection by their Lord, or the unclothed be clothed upon of their spiritual body—their house from heaven. It has not been a blessing to die and thus fall asleep; but NOW since we live in the time when we may step from the…
Having examined the first proof text (Phil 1:21-23) supplied by our friend, which he believes supports his theory that upon death the Christian goes immediately to be with the Lord we should like to take a look at his second text, 2 Cor 5:6-9: “We are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good…
Once again a quick review of what we have learned from our examination of Phil 1:20-23 “According to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by LIFE or by DEATH. To me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which (life…
“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 I say unto you, by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not precede them which are…
“For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell, for I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.” (Phil 1:21-23 NKJV) “In no way was the apostle saying here that immediately at his death he would be changed into a spirit to be…
Once again take a look at the preceding verse (Phil 1:20), “According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also, Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life or death.” Mark the expression whether it be by life or death. Then follows this utterance, which is but the repetition of the same sentiment in another form viz. Emoi gar to…
We continue once again with our look at the comments made by one of our forum members who believes that when a Christian dies he (apart from his body) does not sleep in death to await the resurrection, but goes immediately to be with the Lord. As proof of his position he supplied the following texts which he believes supports this theory: “To me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the…