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LIFE AND DEATH
Death is when the physical
body ceases to function, for whatever reason. When this happens consciousness is lost, body activities stop and the
body begins to decay.
Life can be defined as the
ability to grow, respond to stimuli and to reproduce. There are six types of life that we are aware of. 1
The single cell or very few cell organisms. These would include viruses, bacteria and microscopic life. 2
The next level would be plant life. 3 Animal life exhibits a certain level of intelligence, not seen in
the first two forms. 4 Human life, which features an even higher level of intelligence, the ability to reason
and to imagine. 5 Spirit life, which appears to lack the ability to reproduce but is otherwise fully
alive and is self contained life, not requiring the input of energy to maintain life. 6 God life.
Which is fully self-contained life, featuring the highest level of energy and intelligence.
Each layer of life
has distinct improvements over the previous layers. Animals have more freedom of movement and are able to form attachments
that we might consider emotional interactions. Plants cannot do this. Humans have considerably more intelligence
and ability than animals. The human has something that we call a mind, that animals do not have. What is a mind?
Biblically it is called a spirit. There is a spirit that is given to humans, that enables them to perform; thinking,
imagining, creating functions, far beyond the ability of any animal. Pro 18:14, 20:27 and 25:28; James 2:26; 1 Cor 2:11, Gen
45:27. Animals do not have a mind, they do not have this type of spirit.
When a human person dies, the spirit
that God placed in him goes back to the God who gave it. Ecc 12:7. When we are concieved and develope into a fully
formed individual, we are born and God places a spirit in us. When we die that spirit is removed and goes back to God. I
realize that this analogy may not be perfect but, to illustrate this point: We might liken the body to a computer and
the spirit of man to a disc. The disc allows the computer to function at a higher level while recording everything that
the computer does. Our spirit lifts our level of function from the animal level and records every thing we think, say
or do! When the computer wears out or is turned off, the disc may be removed and put into a new, better computer.
So, when our body fails, our spirit can be removed and placed into a new body whenever God is ready to do so. Either
the same type of body or into a much upgraded model! While our bodies are certainly ours and are part of us, everything
that you are, your thoughts, knowledge, experience, beliefs, memories and character are contained in the mind, the spirit
of man.
Now the disc even though it contains so much information REQUIRES the computer to function. It cannot
function on it's own. Even so, the spirit in man, the human mind, REQUIRES a body to function. It MUST be
plugged into a body to function. It CANNOT see, hear, think, feel or perform any function whatsoever, if it not
placed in a living, functioning body. For it is written that the dead know not anything Ecc 9:4-5.
To further illustrate the point, we may turn to nature. Much about the mind of God can be learned by looking at His
creation. It is written; Thou worm Jacob Isa 41:14 and again; man is but a worm Job 25:6. A little inquiry
here will show that the word rendered worm, is actually a maggot or caterpillar. Lets examine the life-cycle of the
worm or caterpillar.
They start off a wormlike creature that consumes voraciously and grows. They then
enter a cocoon where hidden from all eyes a dramatic change take place. They then emerge as a totally new creature,
one that could not even have been imagined by just looking at the caterpillar or maggot. Their life consists of
three stages; development and growth, followed by the apparent death of the creature and completed by the change into a totally
new creature. Just think, a caterpillar appears to die and emerges a beautiful butterfly! A man lives his life
learning and building his character, then dies and is then changed into a NEW CREATURE.
His spirit, which is the
very crux of what he is, is put into a NEW BODY and his life goes on.
The spirit of man or the mind of man, IS
the man. When the body shuts down, it has served it's purpose and is of no more use than is the castings of the
maggot or caterpillar. It will decay and return to dust. Whether that body is cremated or buried or eaten by wild beasts does
not really matter. The spirit, the sum of the person has gone back to God and is in God's hands. Where are
these spirits kept by God? God knows, I don't, but I do know that are not animate, not functioning until they are placed
into a new body. Rev 6:9 indicates that the souls (Greek psuche spirits) of God's people are kept under God's
altar in heaven, whether the spirits of those who died not knowing God, are kept in some other place or not I do not know.
I do know that the spirits of all men shall be placed in a new body. That body may be made of spirit itself or it may
be a new fleshly body. Those who are Christ's at His coming will receive a new body made of spirit. The rest
of the dead shall receive a new physical body at their resurrection, until such time as they are judged by God. At that
time they shall be changed into a spiritual body or they shall be destroyed in the second death Rev 21:7-8, for God is able
to destroy BOTH FLESH AND SPIRIT Mat 10:28
As the spirit of man raised him above the animals, so the Spirit of
God is higher than man. God has called some through the ages and given them a limited amount of His Spirit.
This raised the mind or spirit of man to a still higher level, for he will begin to understand the things of God. As
no animal can understand the things of a man, so no man can comprehend the things of God. Man must have his mind expanded
by the addition of the Holy Spirit of God, to begin to understand the things of God. Those who receive this GIFT OF
GOD and are willing to REPENT to CHANGE their nature, by following where God's Spirit leads and to embrace the things
that God's Spirit reveals will be given a new body made of Spirit and become the CHILDREN OF GOD!
If we do
not have the Holy Spirit of God added to our spirit, we can not even begin to understand the things of God. Rom 8:7.
We will not be subject to Him and we can not be born of Him. We must be made flesh again and this time be given
God's Spirit, so that we may begin to comprehend the things of God.
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THE RESURRECTIONS
The resurrections can be divided into several types. I
would like to call the first type: Demonstration Resurrections.
Jesus said I am the resurrection Joh 11:25.
To demonstrate and prove this point, he waited for several days until Lazarus was well known by everyone to be absolutely
dead and then raised him back to his physical life Joh 11. Later, at Christ's death, God raised many that had
been dead, back to physical life Mat 27:52-53. This was to demonstrate the power of God and to give the saints hope
through a display of that power. In like manner, to demonstrate the power of God in His apostles and prophets, both Peter
Acts 9:40 and Elisha 2 Kings 8:5 raised the dead to physical life. These events were performed to give us hope and to
demonstrate the power and glory of God.
Next is the resurrection to eternal life in spirit. Jesus Christ
was resurrected into eternal life as the only begotten Son of God. A firstborn of many brethren. The first of
the firstfruits. The beginning of the early harvest. Changed into eternal self living SPIRIT as a child of God.
Those who are His at His coming will be resurrected or changed to become like Him Ph'p 3:21. I do not think that
I need to quote the scriptures concerning the resurrection of Christ, which are very many and well known.
So far
we have 1 Demonstration resurrections 2 The resurrection of Christ 3 The resurrection of the firstfruits and then
comes 4 A final resurrection to physical life of the main body of mankind. Rev 20:11-14, Ezek 37
When their judgement is completed they will either be destroyed Rev 20:15 or be given eternal life Rev 22:14 for the
second death, is the FINAL death. There is No resurrection from the second death Rev 20:14-15.
After the
resurrection of the firstfruits, they are to rule the earth for one thousand years, in peace, with Jesus Christ. Rev
20:4. During that time there will be NO other resurrections for it is written; But the rest of the dead lived NOT
again until the thousand years were finished. Rev 20:5. When the thousand years are expired, satan shall be loosed Rev
20:7-10 for a short time, after which he will be removed forever! This is probably because, after one thousand years
of peace, mankind will have forgotten the evil of sin. Those living at the end of this time will have had no experience
with the suffering that sin brings, they will have become complacent and unbelieving and they will NEED a reminder.
AFTER the thousand years there will be a resurrection of ALL the other remaining dead and they will be judged Rev 20:10-15.
This is the main harvest of mankind. The time of the INGATHERING of all nations into the Family of God. All humanity
will be raised, in their courses and taught the way of God, being given understanding and the Spirit of God. They will
be given a certain amount of time to learn and develop and to prove themselves. If they repent, turning from their commandment
breaking and willingly follow where God's Spirit leads, It shall lead them into the Family of God. If they do not, then
the second death awaits. Rev 20:13-15. They shall all be judged by their own conduct, according to the words of
the Book of Life, the Holy Scripture. This main harvest of the Great White Throne judgement Rev 20:11 when completed,
will be followed by a NEW heaven and earth Rev 21, a NEW BEGINNING for ALL mankind, at last at total PEACE in HARMONY with
GOD and each other.
For a greater understanding
of this final resurrection, please read the article on the FALL FESTIVALS.
For more on the resurrection
of the firstfruits please read the article on the SPRING FESTIVALS.
1 Corinthians 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
by Kenneth Hoeck
The sun had set and it was becoming very dark. A young boy was seen cutting across the cemetery
and was later asked by an observer, "Aren't you afraid?" "No," said the boy. "I only cut through
here to get home."
The boy didn't see any reason to fear the cemetery; the graveyard was only a place
he passed through for but a moment. The only thing he focused on was that he was going home. In the same way, we have
no reason to fear death; it is merely a shortcut to our heavenly home which shall descend from God. The Bible tells us that,
because in death we have no feelings, memories or consciousness, it will seem for us to be only an instant that we are absent
from this life and this body that we are present with the Lord.
Ecclesiastes
9:5 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. [They have no conscious thoughts but sleep soundly in
the grave-kh] Job 14:13-15 O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest
keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me! If a man die,
shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. Thou shalt
call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands.
1 Corinthians 15:52-54 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.
What a comforting thought! Friends, if we have entered covenant
with the Lord as our Savior, we have an eternity yet to live with Him! We should rejoice in that fact and keep our eyes firmly
fixed on Christ until we so long for the Kingdom that, like the little boy, we see no reason to fear the shortcut home. Death
for you, as a child of God, is to fall asleep in His arms and awake in your new body, alive forever beyond the power of pain,
safe forever from all sickness and suffering.
Another analogy one can draw upon is that dying is like when you
were a small child that fell asleep on the way home from grandma’s house, and after mom and dad had driven you home,
youe woke up in your own room but didn't remember the trip, being carried to your room or tucked into your bed.
So it is with dying. We fall asleep here on earth and wake up in the room Jesus has prepared for us in the kingdom (John 14:1-4 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in
me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place
for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where
I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.).
You don’t have
to be scared to death of death. Jesus taught us about this on the cross when he died for you and me. At his death,
unafraid and confident, he quoted Psalm 31:5: “Into thine hand I commit my spirit” Trusting in his Father
to deliver him, he put Himself entirely in his Father’s hands and let go of his bodily life on earth. He knew his
Father would restore Him to Himself in heaven. He promised to return for you and call you from your grave to
eternal life with Him. So what do you have to be afraid of? Paradise lies on the other side of death.
A sick man turned to his doctor, as he was leaving the room after paying a visit, and said, "Doctor, I am afraid
to die. Tell me what lies on the other side." Very quietly the doctor said, "I don't know."
The patient retorted,"What? You don't know? You, a medical professional and Christian man, do not know what is on
the other side?"
The doctor was holding the handle of the door; on the other side of which came an eager sound
of scratching and whining, and as he opened the door a dog sprang into the room and leaped on him with an eager show of gladness
and affection.
Turning to the patient, the doctor said, "Did you notice my dog? He's never been in this
room before. He didn't know what was inside. He knew nothing except that his master was here, and when
the door opened he sprang in without fear. I know little of what is on the other side of death, but I do
know one thing: I know my Master is there, and that is enough. And when the door opens, I shall pass through
not only with no fear, but with great joy and anticipation."
2 Corinthians 5:1-8 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have
a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed
upon with our house which is from heaven: If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we that are in this
tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed
up of life. Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk
by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the
Lord.
Revelation 21:2-4 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven,
prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God
is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall
there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
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