26-Questions about Death - RSV

1. What Does Paul Mean by the Expression "Absent From the Body and Present with the Lord?".

2 Corinthians 5:6 So we are _always_ of good _courage_; we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord,

2 Corinthians 5:8 We are of good _courage_, and we would _rather_ be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

2 Corinthians 5:4 For while we are still in this tent, we sigh with anxiety; not that we would be _unclothed_, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be _swallowed_ up by life.

In these verses Paul contrasts the earthly perishable body subject to sickness, disease, and death, with the glorious, eternal, immortal body which God has prepared for us when we are taken to heaven.

The expression "absent from the body" means absent from the mortal body with its earthly infirmities. The expression "present with the Lord" means present in the glorious immortal body received at Jesus Second Coming.

2. Paul Is Saying the Same Thing in 1 Corinthians 15.

1 Corinthians 15:51-54 Lo! I tell you a _mystery_. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, [52] in a moment, in the _twinkling_ of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. [53] For this perishable nature must put on the imperishable, and this mortal nature must put on immortality. [54] When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the _saying_ that is _written_: "Death is _swallowed_ up in _victory_."

In 1 Corinthians 15 as well as 2 Corinthians 5, Paul longs for Jesus Second Coming.

3. Notice Paul's Sentiments in His Second Letter to Timothy.

2 Timothy 4:6-8 For I am already on the point of being _sacrificed_; the time of my _departure_ has come. [7] I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. [8] _Henceforth_ there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his _appearing_.

4. If the Dead Are Asleep, How Could the Witch of Endor Bring the Prophet Samuel Back From the Dead to Speak to King Saul?

1 Samuel 28:15 Then Samuel said to Saul, "Why have you _disturbed_ me by bringing me up?" Saul answered, "I am in great distress; for the _Philistines_ are warring against me, and God has turned away from me and answers me no more, either by prophets or by dreams; _therefore_ I have summoned you to tell me what I shall do."

5. There Are Three Important Facts to Observe About This Story:

First, God's Clear Command Through the Entire Old Testament Period Was That Spiritualists Be Driven Out of the Land of Israel.

Any found in the land were to be put to death. The word of God unmasks all spiritualism as the work of satanic forces (see Deuteronomy 18:10-15; Isaiah 47:13, 14).

6. Second, Saul Had Already Rejected the Prophet Samuel's Council. He Had Inquired of God and Had Received No Answer.

1 Samuel 28:6 And when Saul _inquired_ of the LORD, the LORD did not answer him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by _prophets_.

7. Saul Went to the Witch of Endor Because He Had Received No Answer From the Lord. What Saul Saw Was Not Samuel.

Notice What the Witch Says She Sees and What Saul Perceives.

1 Samuel 28:13-14 The king said to her, "Have no fear; what do you see?" And the woman said to Saul, "I see a god coming up out of the earth." [14] He said to her, "What is his appearance?" And she said, "An old man is coming up; and he is _wrapped_ in a robe." And Saul knew that it was _Samuel_, and he bowed with his face to the _ground_, and did _obeisance_.

8. Since the Dead Know Nothing, It Has to Be Satan Masquerading As the Form of the Dead Imitating Their Form and Voices.

Revelation 16:14 For they are demonic spirits, _performing_ signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the _Almighty_.

9. Third, the Ultimate Result of Saul's Visit to the Witch of Endor Was Not Repentance and Confession of Sin, But Rather Despair, Discouragement, and Death.

He went to the battle field without any hope.

10. Doesn't Paul Imply That a Person Goes Directly to Heaven by Stating That He Wanted to Depart to Be with Christ and That Death Is Gain?

Philippians 1:21 For to me to live is _Christ_, and to die is _gain_.

Philippians 1:23 I am hard _pressed_ between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far _better_.

The Bible does not contradict itself. Paul doesn't say one thing in one place and something different in another place.

11. Paul Says That at the Second Coming of Jesus, the Righteous Dead Are Resurrected to Receive Their Eternal Reward.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 For the Lord _himself_ will _descend_ from heaven with a cry of _command_, with the archangel's call, and with the sound of the _trumpet_ of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first; [17] then we who are alive, who are left, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we shall always be with the Lord.

12. Paul Says That Our Citizenship Is in Heaven From Where Jesus Will Take Us After Giving Us Bodies Like His Own.

Philippians 3:20-21 But our _commonwealth_ is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, [21] who will change our lowly body to be like his _glorious_ body, by the power which enables him even to subject all things to himself.

13. From Prison Paul Writes to Timothy Saying That He Is Ready to Die and Looks Forward to the Day When Jesus Comes Back for All Those Who Love His Appearing.

2 Timothy 4:7-8 I have fought the good fight, I have _finished_ the race, I have kept the faith. [8] _Henceforth_ there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his _appearing_.

Paul longed for the Return of Jesus when he would see his Lord's face and be ushered into eternity. In this case, it is easy to see why Paul would say death is gain. For him it would mean freedom from pain, deliverance from bondage in a Roman prison, and security from the temptations of Satan.

To Paul, death was a sleep with no conscious passage of time. The next event for him after closing his eyes in the sleep of death was to depart this earth and be with the Lord.

Since there is no conscious passing of time from death to Christ's Second Coming, for Paul, death meant closing his eyes in sleep and waking up to be with the Lord.

14. In the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, the Rich Man Goes Immediately to Hell and Lazarus to Heaven. Why Did Jesus Use This Parable If the Dead Are Sleeping?

Luke 16:19-31 "There was a rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who _feasted_ _sumptuously_ every day. [20] And at his gate lay a poor man named Laz'arus, full of sores, [21] who _desired_ to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table; _moreover_ the dogs came and licked his sores. [22] The poor man died and was _carried_ by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried; [23] and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes, and saw Abraham far off and Laz'arus in his bosom. [24] And he called out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy upon me, and send Laz'arus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in anguish in this flame.' [25] But Abraham said, 'Son, _remember_ that you in your _lifetime_ _received_ your good things, and Laz'arus in like _manner_ evil things; but now he is _comforted_ here, and you are in anguish. [26] And _besides_ all this, _between_ us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.' [27] And he said, 'Then I beg you, father, to send him to my _father's_ house, [28] for I have five _brothers_, so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.' [29] But Abraham said, 'They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.' [30] And he said, 'No, father Abraham; but if some one goes to them from the dead, they will _repent_.' [31] He said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, _neither_ will they be _convinced_ if some one _should_ rise from the dead.'"

It is important to notice that this is a parable. It is the fifth of a series of parables (the lost sheep, the lost coin, the lost boy (luke 15), and the unjust steward (luke 16:1-11). Parables are designed to teach great moral principles. Each feature of the parable is not taken literally. We do not have the features of the sheep, or the properties of the coin.

The question to ask while studying each parable is what are the great moral lessons? It becomes a problem when we take each aspect of a parable literally rather than seeking the lesson Jesus is teaching.

Let's assume that the parable of the rich man and Lazarus is a literal story. Do people actually have conversations between heaven and hell? Can those in heaven see people burning in hell? Can they hear their screams? Do souls actually have fingers and tongues as described in the parable? Abraham must have a large bosom to contain all the individuals who go there.

To take the parable literally is to create huge problems. Heaven would be a terrible place if we beheld the constant, ever present suffering of our friends.

Why did Jesus tell this story? What lessons was He trying to teach?

The Jews had a common story describing death as passing through a valley of darkness picturing salvation as fleeing to the security of Abraham's bosom and the eternally lost going to destruction.

Jesus used this story to teach three lessons.

The Jews believed that riches were a sign of God's favor and poverty a sign of His displeasure. In the story, the rich man who the Jews thought was blessed of God ends up in hell and the poor man in heaven. Jesus reverses the expected outcome.

Lesson #1 Riches gained by greed, dishonesty, or oppressing the poor are never a sign of God's favor.

Lesson #2 The parable describes a great gulf that is fixed. There is no second chance or opportunity for growing into God's favor once a person is lost. The decisions made in this life determine our eternal destiny.

Lesson #3 Jesus points out that since the Pharisees had rejected the clear teachings of God's Word regarding salvation, they would also reject a supernatural miracle such as someone rising from the dead.

15. The Jews Were Always Asking Jesus for a Sign. He Gave Them the Greatest Sign. A Short While Later, He Raised Lazarus From the Dead.

John 11:11-14 Thus he spoke, and then he said to them, "Our friend Laz'arus has fallen asleep, but I go to awake him out of sleep." [12] The _disciples_ said to him, "Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will _recover_." [13] Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they _thought_ that he meant taking rest in sleep. [14] Then Jesus told them _plainly_, "Laz'arus is dead;

John 11:43-44 When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, "Laz'arus, come out." [44] The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with bandages, and his face _wrapped_ with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "_Unbind_ him, and let him go."

16. As a Result of This Mighty Miracle, the Jewish Leaders Became Threatened and Decided to Kill Lazarus.

John 12:9-11 When the great crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, they came, not only on account of Jesus but also to see Laz'arus, whom he had raised from the dead. [10] So the chief _priests_ _planned_ to put Laz'arus also to death, [11] _because_ on account of him many of the Jews were going away and _believing_ in Jesus.

17. They Became So Angry at Jesus-They Were So Deceived That They Plotted to Destroy Jesus As Well. They Had Read the Bible with a Veil Over Their Eyes. They Had Failed to Understand That "All Scriptures" Testify of Jesus.

John 5:39 You search the _scriptures_, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear _witness_ to me;

18. When Jesus Raised Lazarus From the Dead, They Did Not Believe. His Words in Luke 16 Were Prophetic.

Luke 16:31 He said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the _prophets_, _neither_ will they be convinced if some one should rise from the dead.'"

In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, Jesus was using a popular story to make a powerful lesson.

19. What Does It Mean in Revelation 6 Where It Describes the Souls Under the Alter Crying with a Loud Voice.

Revelation 6:9-11 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the _witness_ they had borne; [10] they cried out with a loud voice, "O _Sovereign_ Lord, holy and true, how long before thou wilt judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell upon the earth?" [11] Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow _servants_ and their _brethren_ should be _complete_, who were to be killed as they _themselves_ had been.

Next Bible Study: 27-Millennium - 1000 Years of Peace

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