No One Goes To Heaven
Not Without A Resurrected Body
"Christ has been raised from the dead. He’s the first crop of the harvest of those who have died. Since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead came through one too. In the same way that everyone dies in Adam, so also everyone will be given life in Christ. Each event will happen in the right order: Christ, the first crop of the harvest, then those who belong to Christ at his coming," 1 Corinthians 15:20-23 CEB
The Rapture is not a secret event. It is a visible
event. The Resurrection of the dead
preceding the Rapture is also a visible event.
"God did not choose us to suffer his anger. God chose us to have salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus died for us so that we can live together with him. It is not important wither we are alive or dead when Jesus comes. So encourage each other and help each other grow stronger in faith, just as you are already doing," 1 Thessalonians 5:9-11 (ERV)
A resurrected body consist of a soul and an incorruptible
body.
In previous commentaries, I exposed Satan's motto which is
"They must not believe". By drawing us away from the truth, Satan
accomplishes two objectives: he pulls us away from our fellowship with Christ,
and weakens your faith. That is exactly what happened in the Garden of Eden.
Satan's lies were meant to deceive Eve for the purpose to break up our
relationship with God.
This is Satan's tactic, he first question God's
instructions, followed by an assertive lie then adds his superior
point of view.
“Did God really say that you
shouldn’t eat from any tree in the garden?”
“You won’t die!"
"God knows that on the day
you eat from it, you will see clearly and you will be like God, knowing good
and evil.”
Genesis 3:1-5 CEB
There is nothing new under the sun. From the very
beginning of ages and early after the Church foundation, gentiles, and
Christians alike had fell for the same lie, "You won't die".
So many Christians believe that once a Christian dies, he/she goes directly to
heaven. Is that true? Is it biblical? If it is true, our belief is no better
than the New Age movement and agrees that there is more then one way to go to heaven.
If it is true that once Christians die, they go to heaven, why then does the
bible mention that our blessed hope is in the resurrection - a bodily
resurrection?
"At the same time we wait
for the blessed hope and the glorious appearance of our great God and savior
Jesus Christ," Titus 2:13 CEB.
"May the God and Father of
our Lord Jesus Christ be blessed! On account of his vast mercy, he has given us
new birth. You have been born anew into a living hope through the
resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead," 1 Peter
1:3 CEB.
If our blessed hope is in a resurrection then it is
worthwhile that we give close attention to Paul who revealed a secret of a coming event, better know as the rapture.
"Listen, I’m telling you a
secret: All of us won’t die, but we will all be changed—in an instant, in the
blink of an eye, at the final trumpet. The trumpet will blast, and the
dead will be raised with bodies that won’t decay, and we
will be changed," 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 CEB.
Once a secret is revealed, it is no longer a secret. The rapture will not be a secret event. People will not secretly disappeared. The whole world will see the event taken place. Until then, I couldn't find one iota of evidence in the bible that once we (Christians) die, we go to heaven. Scriptures are being read to appease the pain of those who lost someone we love. Christians and non-Christians alike want to believe that their love one are in heaven. Many Christians read Philippians 1:21-24 and
conclude that Paul was hoping for living with Christ in heaven immediately
after his death without a resurrected body:
"Because for me, living
serves Christ and dying is even better. If I continue to live in this world, I
get results from my work. But I don’t
know what I prefer. I’m torn between the two because I want to leave this
life and be with Christ, which is far better. However, it’s more important for me to stay in this world for
your sake."
It is a false assumption to believe that Paul was hoping
to go to heaven immediately after death. It is contradicting with what he
taught. He mentioned his hope in the resurrection. In the same letter to the
Philippians, he mentions that he is looking forward to it:
"The righteousness that
I have comes from knowing Christ, the power of his resurrection, and the
participation in his sufferings. It includes being conformed to his death so
that I may perhaps reach the goal of the resurrection of the dead,"
Philippians 3:10-11 CEB.
The same is with 2 Corinthians 5:1-10, so many Christians read this verse as if it was talking about going to heaven to wear our new body following the moment we die. It is not so! Paul described that there is a house, an eternal body already prepared for us to be worn for our resurrection. He described the yearning for Jesus return as promise. We received a down payment as a guarantee, which is the Holy Spirit, the same Spirit that resurrected Jesus.
“We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord,” 2 Corinthians 5:8.
Many interpret "to be present with the Lord" as to be immediately in heaven after death. Does it? It all depends: What kind of truth do you want God’s word to be?
Paul's goal and hope is in the resurrection and not in
going to heaven immediately at death.
Paul a scholar in the Old Testament scriptures was well aware that the
hope in a resurrected body has not been for the church only but also to those
who believed in the one to come, the redeemer.
"I will save them from the
grave.
I will rescue them from death.
Death, where are your diseases?
Grave, where is your power?
I am not looking for
revenge,"
Hosea 13:14 ERV
Job declared plainly that he hoped for a resurrection just
as Paul had, that both the soul and body would enjoy the presence of God
through the resurrection.
"For I know that my
Redeemer lives,
And He shall stand at last on
the earth;
And after my skin is destroyed,
this I know,
That in my flesh I shall see
God,
Whom I shall
see for myself,
And my eyes shall behold, and
not another.
How my heart yearns within
me!" Job 19:25-27 NKJ
Is it a coincidence that Job statement agreed with John's
teaching?
”Dear friends, now we are God’s
children, and it hasn’t yet appeared what we will be. We know that when he
appears we will be like him because we’ll see him as he is," 1 John
3:2 CEB
"We will be like Him and we will see Him as He is". How did Jesus look like when He appeared to His disciples the night of His resurrection? Like a ghost?
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"While they were saying these things, Jesus himself stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” They were terrified and afraid. They thought they were seeing a ghost. He said to them, “Why are you startled? Why are doubts arising in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet. It’s really me! Touch me and see, for a ghost doesn’t have flesh and bones like you see I have.” As he said this, he showed them his hands and feet. Because they were wondering and questioning in the midst of their happiness, he said to them, “Do you have anything to eat?” They gave him a piece of baked fish. Taking it, he ate it in front of them." Luke 24:36-42 CEB
When Christ return we will be like Him. How is this be possible to be in the present of God with
our earthly body, that is of sin nature since nothing corruptible is allowed in heaven?
Ephesians 1:19-23 explains it.
"For this corruptible must
put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this
corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality,
then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed
up in victory," 1 Corinthians 15:53-54 NKJ.
If this verse did not convince you, I hope that this one
will:
"If Christ is in you, the
Spirit is your life because of God’s righteousness, but the body is dead
because of sin. If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead lives
in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will give life
to your human bodies also, through his Spirit that lives in you,"
Romans 8:10-11 NKJ.
Please note that Paul is speaking in the future tense not
in the past or in the present tense. A resurrection of the dead body is
required to be in heaven, not just the souls. A soul and a body are required to
be in heaven, and it is made possible only through a future coming
resurrection.
This is the gospel, the one and only: The Resurrection
Gospel. It is not the gospel of Jesus is love and all you have to do is to
accept Him in your heart. We are saved by believing that Jesus resurrected from
the dead and that we will, as well, resurrect.
"I gave you the message
that I received. I told you the most important truths: that Christ died for our
sins, as the Scriptures say; that he was buried and was raised to life on the
third day, as the Scriptures say; - But Christ really has been raised from
death—the first one of all those who will be raised," 1
Corinthians 15:3-4, 20 ERV.
Here's the dilemma; The followers of Christ believe and
confess that Jesus Son of God died and resurrected (Romans 10:9) yet their
convictions are accompanied by a twofold beliefs; one is that once a Christian
dies he/she goes to heaven in the present of Jesus and the second is that
he/she waits in heaven for the future resurrection. Many are those who believe
in the resurrection of the soul only and go to heaven without a body after
death. Why should there be so such confusion, when the scriptures are so clear?
"But Christ really has been
raised from death—the first one of all those who will be raised," 1
Corinthians 15:20 ERV
"Listen, I’m telling you a
secret: All of us won’t die, but we will all be changed—in an instant, in the
blink of an eye, at the final trumpet. The trumpet will blast, and the
dead will be raised with bodies that won’t decay, and we
will be changed," 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 CEB.
There can be only one resurrection of the dead, not two;
there is not one for the soul at death then another followed by the body at
Christ return. There is only one resurrection of body and soul happening
simultaneously at Christ return.
What causes the confusion? Tradition!
”Beware lest anyone cheat you
through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men,
according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to
Christ," Colossians 2:8.
As Christians, we want to avoid offending others; after
all, it is not popular to tell someone that their love one is not in heaven but
is in the grave. The resurrection is not a popular subject to talk about even
among Christians. There are too many differences of opinion and many sceptics.
Paul did face a similar dilemma. Paul faced many sceptics
that did not believe that Christ had risen from the dead. In fact, many
Christians doubted that the resurrection ever happen as it was with the Jews in
the time of Jesus. Even Jesus confronted the Sadducees, who said that there was
no resurrection, Matthew 22:23.
"So if the message that is preached says that Christ
has been raised from the dead, then how can some of you say, There’s no
resurrection of the dead"? 1 Corinthians 15:12 CEB
If Paul were speaking to the modern Church today, he would
probably say. "How can some of you say that once you die, you go straight
to heaven without a resurrected body?"
In 1 Corinthians 15:20 ERV he states: "But Christ
really has been raised from death—the first one of all those who will be
raised." There is no mention about believers going to heaven
immediately after death. Paul is very specific. He declared that all the dead
in Christ would resurrect at the same time at a designated time.
"in a moment, in the
twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the
dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed," 1
Corinthians 15:52 NKJV.
"For the Lord Himself will
descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the
trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first," 1
Thessalonians 4:16 NKJ.
Paul mention also that there is an order of who raise in
the future:
"But now Christ is risen
from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For
as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.
But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those
who are Christ’s at His coming. Then comes the end, when He delivers the
kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority
and power," 1 Corinthians 15:20-24 NKJV.
In that “order” there is no mention of individual going
one by one to heaven. The resurrection occurs as a group event in each case. In
this context, 'ALL' means the ones who died as believers. No one goes to heaven
to meet Saint-Peter at the gate, none. This is a myth and a lie. The danger in
believing that once dead you go to heaven, many fall into believing that they
could be comforted by their dead love one, and that they could count on them to
intervene on their behalf. That is a lie, none biblical. Please read my commentary on that subject
title, "Do you know where you stand on the subject of speaking to the dead?" [1] No one intervene on your behalf
except Jesus our advocate, 1 John 2:1 and we can approach the thrown of God in
Jesus name, John 15:16.
This is also the order of the resurrection event that will
take place for the Church era:
"For the Lord Himself will
descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the
trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first," 1
Thessalonians 4:16 NKJV.
The dead in Christ, which are part of this resurrection,
are those who are part of the Church age. They are the Apostles, Mary Jesus'
mother, all those who took part of the baptism of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost,
and all those who believed in their testimonies of Christ resurrected until
Christ return, which is also known as the 'rapture'.
Now let us go through the sequence of the so-called
"Rapture" in 1 Corinthians 15:50-52:
I will be using the Easy-to-Read Version (ERV) to get a better and understandable meaning.
50 I
tell you this, brothers and sisters: Our bodies of flesh and blood cannot have
a part in God’s kingdom. Something that will ruin cannot have a part in
something that never ruins.
It is obvious that a body that rots in the ground or is
burn to ashes when cremated, or eaten by the fish in the ocean, do not enter
heaven. Not even the living can go to heaven since it has a sinful nature. It
is required to be transformed.
51 But
listen, I tell you this secret: We will not all die, but we will all be
changed.
As mentioned before, once a secret is revealed it is no
longer a secret. Paul declares that many will be alive when Jesus returns.
There are many who are not watchful, and his return will be like a theft in the
night, 1 Thess 5:2. Unfortunately, many Christians doubt that it will ever
happen in their lifetime:
"Most important, know this:
in the last days scoffers will come, jeering, living by their own cravings, and
saying, “Where is the promise of his coming? After all, nothing has changed—not
since the beginning of creation, nor even since the ancestors died," 2 Peter
3:3-12 CEB
Paul teaches that we will all be changed, transformed,
transfigured, or miraculously be converted from a degenerating physical body to
an eternal physical body.
52 It
will only take the time of a second. We will be changed as quickly as an eye
blinks. This will happen when the last trumpet blows. The trumpet will blow and
those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we will all be changed.
This transformation will be worldwide. Christians all
around the world will be change simultaneously, instantly. Notice, there is a
time gap between the resurrections of those who died in Christ and of those who
will be still alive at the time when this event take place.
"For the Lord Himself will
descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the
trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first," 1
Thessalonians 4:16 NKJ.
I speculate that it will be similar to the time of
Christ's resurrection. This will not be a secret event. The whole world will
hear the sound of a trumpet. There will be a worldwide darkness, global
earthquakes, and the graves will open. The dead in Christ will come out and
walk among us as it happened at Christ resurrection:
"and the graves were
opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and
coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and
appeared to many," Matthew 27:52-53 NKJ.
It will
be a frightening occurrence for many, even for those Christians who were not
watchful. They will be taken by surprise. Just as Paul who warns us, that for
many, Jesus’ return will be as a thief in the night, 1Thessalonians 5:2. Why
are so many Christians taken by surprise? Because they did not take Jesus'
teaching by His word, He will raise the dead.
United States and Canada health agencies are preparing for
such occurrence, which they call, "the invasion of the zombies”, the
“Walking Dead". Satan is preparing the world to accept his explanation for
this bizarre phenomenon of the resurrection of the dead. The scenario already
had been prepared to explain the disappearance of Christians and the so-called
zombies. This is no joke.
Please watch this video title "Canadian Parliament
Canada will remain zombie free" [2](February
14, 2013).
Immediately following the resurrection of the dead, those who are alive, believers of Christ will be transformed and will be caught
up in heaven with the resurrected dead in Christ. How will the world react? International News Media will
broadcast prepared explanations that UFO’s, inter-planetary living beings
intervened to save the world. They will view the resurrected dead as zombies
caused by a mysterious disease, a contagious disease that infected the living
people also. This will explain the disappearance of thousands of infected
Christians. Following this incredible event, the anti-christ will be revealled
and receive all the credit for saving the world. Many will accept the lies,
nevertheless many will not.
"3 Let no one
deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away
comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,
7 For the
mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so
until He is taken out of the way," 2 Thessalonians 2:3,7 NKJ.
Paul also gives details that this event will happen at the
sound of the last trumpet blow, which could refer to Matthew 24:31. This
trumpet is the cause of division among Christians who study eschatology and
conclude that the resurrection occurs either during or at the end of the great
tribulation. Here is a brief summary of the differing opinions[3]:
·
Mid-Tribulation Rapture - That Christ will rapture the
church at the Mid-point of The Tribulation
·
Post Tribulation Rapture - That Christ will rapture the
church at the end of the Tribulation
·
Pre-Wrath Rapture - That Christ will rapture the church
just before the Battle of Armageddon
·
Partial Rapture - That Christ will rapture those who are
ready and leave the rest to go through the Tribulation
·
Multiple Rapture - That there are more than one raptures,
during which Christ receives those who are ready
·
"Pan-Trib" Position - No clue about future
events, but think it will "all pan out in the end"
First and foremost, none of
these view points are a subject of losing salvation. It is not by knowing when
Christ returns that one is saved but by believing in the "Gospel of Christ
Resurrection". Personally, there are many scriptures in support of a
Pre-Tribulation Rapture event and this is one that I favour most:
"For God did not appoint us
to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ," 1
Thessalonians 5:9 NKJ.
Not to be appointed to wrath
means not to be part of the period called Jacob’s Trouble. This is the period
where God will be judging the whole world.
The Last Trumpet Blow
Therefore, what is this last
trumpet blow? This is my opinion. The trumpet sound of
verse 52 indicates the last action of many of God's activities that were part
of His plan for the Church. The Church era started at Pentecost with a sound
from heaven, as of a rushing and mighty wind, Acts 2:2. It resembled a wind but
did not feel as a wind. A strong and mighty wind usually creates havoc, not in
this case, it only sounded similar to a wind. What if it was a type of trumpet
sound in heaven? The Easy-to-Read Version read as such, "Suddenly a
noise came from heaven. It sounded like a strong wind blowing..."
Could this been the first sound of trumpet announcing the Church inauguration?
Do you get my point? Blowing a
trumpet has one purpose, which is to draw attention. The trumpet sound comes in
many form of melody for many different reasons. In Matthew 6:2, it is to draw
the attention to a wealthy donor. In the Book of Moses, blowing the trumpets is
to announce a special gathering for God's people. In the book of Joshua, the
trumpet was sound for different ceremony. In the Books of the Major and Minor
Prophets, the sound of the trumpet is the alarm of war. In the book of Psalm,
it is to praise God. In the book of Revelation, John heard a voice like a
trumpet, Rev 1:10, 4:1, and angels sound the trumpet at different interval of
God judgement on the people of the earth. Inasmuch as Jesus uttered His last
word “It is finished” in John 19:30, the last trumpet sound of 1 Corinthians
15:52 indicate that God's special work to the Church is finished and this sound
of the trumpet could be considered as a victory sound as described in verse
54 "Death is swallowed in
victory".
This event will happen only when
the following conditions are met:
1. until we
all reach the unity of faith and knowledge of God’s Son,
Ephesians 4:13 CEB
2. until the
full number of the Gentiles comes in, Romans 11:25 CEB
Let's continue explaining 1 Corinthians 15:53-55 in all it
context:
"It’s
necessary for this rotting body to be clothed with what can’t decay, and for
the body that is dying to be clothed in what can’t die. 54 And
when the rotting body has been clothed in what can’t decay, and the dying body
has been clothed in what can’t die, then this statement in scripture will
happen: CEB
The emphasis again is about entering eternity with a body
that will not be growing old, degenerate and die.
“Death is swallowed in victory.”
55 “O
death, where is your victory?
Where is your power to hurt?”
Paul quotes Isaiah 25:8, the fulfillment of a prophecy.
All prophecy that pointed to Jesus as the coming redeemer came to past 2009
years ago. Christ died and resurrected. Many witness Christ alive before and
after His crucifixion.
"He appeared to Cephas,
then to the Twelve, and then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and
sisters at once—most of them are still alive to this day, though some have
died. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he
appeared to me, as if I were born at the wrong time. I’m the least important of
the apostles. I don’t deserve to be called an apostle, because I harassed God’s
church," 1 Corinthians 15:5-9 CEB.
Not only did Jesus appeared to a multitude of witnesses
for 40 days after His resurrection, on the day of His resurrection all saints
who died believing on the promise of a redeemer resurrected at the same time.
"And behold, the veil of
the Temple was rent in twain, from the top to the bottom, and the earth did
quake, and the stones were cloven. And
the graves did open themselves, and many bodies of the Saints, which slept,
arose, and came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the
holy city, and appeared unto many," Matthew 27:51-53, 1599
GNV.
Who are these saints? These saints resurrected came from a
special place reserved for them. That place is mentioned in Jesus' story of
"The Rich Man and Lazarus" in Luke 16:19-31. This special place is
named Sheol, Abraham bosom, Hades also knows as Paradise.
It was a waiting place for every one who died from Adam to
Christ's resurrection. They believed in the promise for the redeemer to come.
They resurrected fallowing Christ resurrection, including the criminal who was
hanged with Jesus and died on the same day. Jesus instructed him that He would
see meet him in Paradise;
"And Jesus said to him,
“Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise,”" Luke
23:43 NKJ
Can you imagine the commotion created by these resurrected
saints walking in Jerusalem not counting the surrounding area? This also
included Jews and gentiles. Whoever believed in the one to come. Do you
remember the Samaritan woman that Jesus meets at the well in John 4:25? She
believed in the coming Messiah. Many gentiles died believing in the redeemer,
the Jewish Messiah - the Anointed One. Jesus at His resurrection brought them
all out of Sheol with Him. They are now in heaven with a new immortal body. The
graves were open and an incorruptible body was given to them. They are not part
of the Church.
The Church is made out of those who believed in the one
that came - The Son of God. Their
bodies are in their graves waiting for His return. The believers of the Church
era do not go the Sheol in a waiting area for Christ return, nor do they go to
heaven. Their bodies are still in the
grave waiting for the final sound of the trumpet. Visit a cemetery and you will
find the proof that they did not receive incorruptible bodies. The graves are
still full.
However, that does contradict verses that state that God
is the God of the living and not of the dead, Mark 12:27, and that whoever
lives and believes in Jesus will never die:
Jesus said to her, “I am the
resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me will live, even though they
die. Everyone who lives and believes in
me will never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26 CEB
Jesus is affirmative, "Everyone who lives and
believes in me will never die." If Christians do not go to heaven
immediately after death and never die, then where do they go? As discussed
previously believers of the Old Testament era raised from the graves
simultaneously after Jesus resurrected first, Matthew 27:53. Since the Old
Testament believers are already in heaven with Jesus, there are many Christians
that assume that it is the case also with the New Testament believers -
Christians. That is exactly what it is, an assumption, an error. I myself was
misled. My parent indoctrinated me in
the Catholic faith. Mindless to say that it is part of the Catholic doctrine to
believe that Christians go to heaven and that they (as saints) may even
intervene in your behalf. Praying to the
dead is a grave sin called 'idolatry'. Please read my commentary title "Praying
to Dead Saints or love one"[4]
The believers of the New Testament entered a new era, a
new covenant. It is a covenant that surpasses all previous covenants and the
following one. It is a covenant founded on grace only and one promise: they
will never die. Following their last breath, all believers immediately
enter eternal life. How could this possible? Their rotten bodies are still in
the grave and none have received their incorruptible body. The proof, all you
need to do is to go to a cemetery and you will see for yourself that the graves
are still un-open. As it was with the saints resurrected on the same day Jesus
resurrection, their body were in the grave.
"and the graves were
opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised," Matthew
27:52 NKJ
Lambert Dolphin in a commentary title "Thy Kingdom
Come" explained in this fashion:
"When an individual dies he or she leaves time and
enters eternity. Some scholars think that all believers travel through eternity
immediately, "in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye," to arrive at
the Rapture the next instant in his or her personal experience. If that is the
case, all believers arrive in heaven at the same "time." Thus,
"to be absent from the body is to be at home with the Lord." (2
Corinthians 5:8) We may have difficulty picturing this if we do not realize
that eternity runs according to an entirely different time than the
one-dimensional time frame in which we are constrained to live while in our
mortal bodies. For more on the issue of Time, see Appendix F: The Complexities Of
Time, toward the end of the book."[5]
I am inclined to accept Lambert Dolphins explanation that
'eternity runs according to an entirely different time'. There is evidence in
God's creation that time is infinite. The scientific community pride themselves
with the accuracy of the atomic clock precision. They conclude that the earth
rotation is exactly 23 hours, 56 minutes and 4 seconds. What wrong with this
result? This factor: What came first,
the rotation of earth or manmade clock? The rotation of the earth came first.
God perfect creation came first. By stating that the earth is not exactly 24
hours, they belittle God. Most scientists refute God as the creator; therefore
will not admit that their clock is not accurate. In fact, they omit an important
factor: Pi, The number π is a mathematical constant that is the ratio of a
circle's circumference to its diameter, its decimal representation never ends
and never settles into a permanent repeating pattern. To me, it represent God
infinite wisdom, no manmade clock can ever match exactly the rotation time of
the earth.
Another important factor that the scientific community
refute is that God created time. On the fourth day, the universe was created.
The galaxies, the solar system, the sun and planets including earth travels
around the sun at different orbit, and the moon circulating the earth, all came
about in one day, the fourth day, amazing. Some argue that it is impossible
since the universe is expending and that the speed of light proves that by the time
the light from a distance galaxy reaches earth millions of years have pass.
They concluded that the universe is billions of years old. The error in that
theory is that God created the universe and the law of physic all in one day,
therefore setting in motion from that advent the expansion of the universe.
What a contrast compared with the theory of the big bang where many argue that
the big bang first came about. Please watch this video title "Signs in the Heavens"[6].
God creates time. Therefore, He controls time. There is
three occasions in the Old Testament where God did just that:
"So Isaiah the prophet
cried out to the LORD, and He brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which
it had gone down on the sundial of Ahaz," 2 Kings
20:11.
“Behold, I will bring the shadow
on the sundial, which has gone down with the sun on the sundial of Ahaz, ten
degrees backward.” So the sun returned ten degrees on the dial by which it had
gone down," Isaiah 38:8.
"So, the sun stood still,
and the moon stopped, till the people had revenge, upon their enemies," Joshua
10:13.
So, what does all this has to do with the resurrection of
Christians? I want to prove to you that since God control time, He can made
time stop for the dead in Christ. The explanation is found in Daniel 70th
week prophecy. Time stopped for the fulfilment of God prophecy for Israel,
consequently time stop for the Church era, therefore time stop for those who
died in Christ.
"Seventy weeks are appointed
for your people and for your holy city to complete the rebellion, to end sins,
to cover over wrongdoing, to bring eternal righteousness, to seal up prophetic
vision, and to anoint the most holy place.
“So you must know and gain
wisdom about this: There will be seven weeks from the moment the word went out
to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until a leader is anointed. And for sixty-two
weeks the city will be rebuilt with a courtyard and a moat. But in difficult
times, after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one will be eliminated. No one
will support him. The army of a future leader will destroy the city and the
sanctuary. His end will come in a flood, but devastations will be decreed until
the end of the war. For one week, he will make a strong covenant with many
people. For a half-week, he will stop both sacrifices and offerings. In their
place will be the desolating monstrosities until the decreed destruction sweeps
over the devastator.”," Daniel 9:24-27 CEB.
For those who are not familiar with this prophecy it will
not be easy to understand. It wasn't
easy for me. First and foremost, to understand Bible prophecy it is crucial to
recognize that Israel is still part of God plan for humanity. Basically, this
prophecy foretell the return of the Jews to their land after its captivity in
Babylon. God has given them time to rebuild the Temple and it nation before the
promise Messiah shows up. When the Messiah did show up the Jewish authorities
didn't recognized Him and rejected Him. The consequence was the destruction of
the Temple and of the nation of Israel. Its people were dispersed all over the
world and will be so until the Church era is accomplished. Ezekiel 37 prophecy also foretells that
Israel will return to their land and once the Church is taken away, Israel will
continue it relationship with God according to the Leviticus worship system.
There are 7 years left out of the 490 years prophecy better known as the 70th
Weeks of Daniel.
The Church era is now at the 483 weeks, and has been so
for over 2000 years since Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey to claim His
Kingdom and was rejected causing the clock to stop. The fulfillment of
70th weeks of Daniel prophecy was interrupted. The clock has been stopped ever
since because of the church. The clock will only start again when the Church
era is over and that will happen only when Church membership is completed and
when this happens Israel eyes will open and realize who is Jesus, Romans
11:25. Please see footnote to understand
Daniel 70 week's prophecy[7]
The Church era is in a time zone of it own. The dead in
Christ had gone nowhere. God prophetic time for Israel stopped over 2000 years
ago and could continue for another 100 years, until the fullness of the
Gentiles has come in. When the fullness of the Gentiles has come in that is
when the event called the rapture will take place: The dead in Christ will
resurrect all at the same time since they all died in this stop time zone. Then
we who are alive will be changed in a blink of an eye and we will all go up to
meet our Saviour in the sky.
Please do not underestimate to power of God. He created
heaven and earth and sustain all His creation. God is beyond heaven and earth
since He created them. Time is God creation and He sustains it as He will for
His purpose. He kept His promise that those who died in Christ will never die,
and this is how He kept His promise by stopping time. How is it that time is
still going in our eye? Our eyes cannot
see beyond the physical world - we cannot see eternity.
Exception to the rule
There was exception in the Old Testament. Moses was one of
them; he did not rise from the dead with the believers of the Old Testament
era. God resurrected Moses sometime after he was buried.
"Then Moses, the Lord’s
servant, died—right there in the land of Moab, according to the Lord’s
command. The Lord buried him in a
valley in Moabite country across from Beth-peor. Even now, no one knows where
Moses’ grave is," Deuteronomy 34:5-6 CEB.
The Lord buried Moses out of the sight of the Israelites
so that it would not cause the Israelites to return and to commit idolatry,
worshipping the deceased Moses. An undetermined period of time passed before
Moses was taken to heaven. No one knows when. Even Satan tried to interrupt
God's plan by trying to steel Moses' body.
"Michael argued with the
devil about who would have the body of Moses," Jude
1:9b ERV.
You may argue that this doesn't prove that Moses
resurrected and now in heaven. You will find the evidence when Moses appeared
to a few chosen disciples. This event is better known as Jesus Transfigured on
the Mount.
"Now after six days Jesus
took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by
themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun,
and His clothes became as white as the light. And behold, Moses and Elijah
appeared to them, talking with Him," Matthew 17:1-3 NKJ.
"And Elijah appeared to
them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus," Mark
9:4 NKJ.
"And behold, two men talked
with Him, who were Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of His
decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem," Luke
9:30-31 NKJ.
Moses and Elijah showed up to discuss with Jesus what
death He should die in Jerusalem. Peter, James, and John were chosen to witness
the Kingdom of God with power just as Jesus predicted six days earlier:
"And He said to them,
"Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not
taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power,"" Mark
9:1 NKJV. Ref. 2 Peter 1:16-18
There are theologians who quote John 3:13 to prove there
view that no one ever went to heaven other than Jesus
"For no man ascendeth up to
heaven, but he that had descended from heaven, that Son of man which is in
heaven," John 3:13 GNV.
They omit the context of the verse they quoted. They are taking this verse literally without
considering the circumstance of Jesus comment. Jesus was teaching Nicodemus.
Nicodemus had great difficulty to understand.
“Jesus answered, “You are a teacher of Israel and you don’t know
these things? I assure you that we speak about what we know and testify about
what we have seen, but you don’t receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and
you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has gone up to heaven
except the one who came down from heaven, the Son of Man," John 3:9-12
CEB.
With this context, Jesus explained that no human being
ever went to heaven to gain knowledge and return to teach. The 1599 Geneva
Bible footnote states: No man mean only Christ can teach us heavenly
things, and had any spiritual light and understanding, or ever had, but only
that Son of God, which came down to us. Moses and Elijah responsibility at the
time they appear to Jesus was to plan Jesus death in Jerusalem and not to
teach.
Now, you notice that Elijah also appeared with Moses. Unlike Moses, Elijah never knew death. He was never buried, therefore was not
resurrected. Yet, he is in heaven. How and when did he turn up in heaven?
"And it came to pass, when
the Lord was about to take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah
went with Elisha from Gilgal".
"Then it happened, as they
continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses
of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into
heaven," 2 Kings 2:2, 11 NKJ.
This is what I call a "Rapture" occurrence.
Elijah did not know death and was transform as described in 1 Corinthians
15:51-52: "We shall not all
sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an
eye". One more individual was also taking away without knowing death,
and it served as a testimony of the immortality of souls and bodies. Enoch was
the first one mention to be taking away into heaven.
"And Enoch walked with God,
and he was no more seen: for God took him away," Genesis
5:24 GNV.
"Enoch was carried away
from this earth, so he never died. The Scriptures tell us that before he was
carried off, he was a man who pleased God. Later, no one knew where he was,
because God had taken Enoch to be with him. This all happened because he had
faith," Hebrews 11:5 ERV
Some went to heaven while others went to "Sheol also
called Paradise - Abraham bosom". In both cases, faith is required. To
decide who end up in heaven or Sheol that is God's business. Eli was fully
aware of this -
So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. “He is the
Lord, ” Eli said. “He will do as he pleases.” 1 Samuel
3:18 CEB
"Yes, God’s riches are very
great! His wisdom and knowledge have no end! No one can explain what God
decides. No one can understand his ways.
In the same token, no one goes to hell (lake of fire) without first being judge by Jesus at the end of time.
“I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and scrolls were opened. Another scroll was opened too; this is the scroll of life. And the dead were judged on the basis of what was written in the scrolls about what they had done. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and Death and the Grave (Sh’ol) gave up the dead that were in them, and people were judged by what they had done,” Revelation 20:12-13(CEB).
[6] Missler - Signs in the
Heavens - Pt 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSMDw8XCyE8&feature=youtu.be
[7] Jack Kelly from
http://gracethrufaith.com/ explains it in this fashion: Daniel’s 70 weeks
prophecy (Daniel 9:24-27) makes the timeline clear. In verse 24 the angel
Gabriel decreed 70 sevens for Israel to complete what we now call the
dispensation of Law. A seven is a period of 7 years, so 70 sevens equal 490
years. In verse 25 he said there would be 7 sevens and then 62 sevens for a
total of 69 sevens or 483 years. In verse 26 he said after the 483 years had
passed, the Messiah would be cut off (executed) and Jerusalem and the Temple
would be destroyed by the people of a coming ruler. Then in verse 27 he said
this ruler would confirm a covenant with many for one final seven year
period. In the middle of that final
period, he will put an end to sacrifice and offering and set up an abomination
that causes desolation.
[8] Please view this video title "The Resurrection Body" http://www.gty.org/resources/sermons/90-411
