There is a great problem today about understanding he teaching of the Bible and applying it properly. This problem is different from all other problems that man faces. The problem with a lack of understanding of God’s Word is different from any other problem because a failure to understand God’s Word will be the difference between our going to Heaven or to gehenna (i.e. the lake of fire). Perhaps some of our readers do not consider this matter as worthy of so serious a consideration but after we examine this proposition, I am sure you will have changed your mind. You see, there is nothing worse than loosing ones soul, the only possession that we have that is truly of eternal value (i.e. priceless) is our soul. Note the circumstance of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 12:16-21,
“16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 17 and he reasoned within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have not where to bestow my fruits? 18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, be merry. 20 But God said unto him, Thou foolish one, this night is thy soul required of thee; and the things which thou hast prepared, whose shall they be? 21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” (ASV)
You will notice that the rich man did not understand that his soul was really the most important possession he had – vs. 20. The rich man in the parable is like many of us today , we become so involved in the affairs of this life that we just do not take time to reflect on deeper matters of life, that there might be something of great importance that we are neglecting – the rich man was surely such a person.
WHY IS THE SOUL SUCH A VALUABLE ASSET?
Our soul has an eternal value (i.e. it outlasts the physical body), that part of us that is the life force; whenever it leaves the physical body it does not end. Because it does not end we must adequately prepare for it wherever it is going. The Book of God says that the soul of man is eternal and will reside in one of two places after death depending upon how we prepare for it when we physically die – Look carefully at Luke 20:35-38,
“35 but they that are accounted worthy to attain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: 36 for neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. 37 But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in (the place concerning) the Bush, when he calleth the Lord, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. 38 Now he is not the God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him.” (ASV)
Since the soul will survive physical death to be resurrected at the last day, every person ought to be alerted to the reality of this event and examine the nature of the resurrection and events that follow.
HOW DOES A PERSON KNOW WHAT PRECEDES And WHAT FOLLOWS THE RESURRECTION?
Each person may understand the nature of birth, life, physical death, the resurrection, judgment, and eternal life or eternal torment {i.e. death}. This understanding is found whenever a person turns to God’s Written Word and searches it for such important details about these matters.
1. BIRTH, This is the natural process that God put into action after he had created man and woman (i.e. Adam and Eve), Genesis 1-3
2. LIFE, is what happens to those that are born {i.e. physically} into this world, each person begans to grow into adulthood.
NOTE: During this time (i.e. living life) each person begins to understand many facets of life, we learn about other people, education (i.e. development of the mind and senses), we come to realize that in life each person is a product of their choices. Indeed, choice makes each person whatever he or she becomes – we choose between right (GOOD) and wrong (EVIL) as we decide upon our course of life. Many times we choose those things that are not wrong in and of themselves but we become so involved it them that we have no time or spend no time in contemplation, therefore we ignore sometimes the important things for the mundane things of life. You see, God instructs us to “seek first the Kingdom of God (i.e. recognize that God’s way is more important) cf. Matt 6:33 – before other things. A person will not want to waste this time that he/she has on the earth, they will want to make arrangements so that when they leave this life they will know where the soul will go. Paul said of this life in 2 Timothy 4:5-8,
“5 But be thou sober in all things, suffer hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill thy ministry. 6 For I am already being offered, and the time of my departure is come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith: 8 henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give to me at that day; and not to me only, but also to all them that have loved his appearing.” (ASV)
To the church at Smyrna the John wrote, Revelation 2:10, “Fear not the things which thou art about to suffer: behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life.” (ASV)
As a person can see by studying God’s Word, understanding of these important matters occurs because we do seek answers where real answers may be found, in God’s Written Word (i.e. the Bible).PHYSICAL
3. DEATH, The death of everyone is assured by the testimony of God:
Hebrews 9:27, “And inasmuch as it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this (cometh) judgment;
1 Corinthians 15:51-55, “51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We all shall not sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 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. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 But when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting?” (ASV)
4. THE RESURRECTION, The resurrection of everyone is just as sure a reality as physical death. That the resurrection follows death is a Biblical doctrine that cannot be denied. With regard to the resurrection let us examine the teaching of the Bible:
* Hebrews 9:27, “And inasmuch as it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this (cometh) judgment;
** John 5:28-29, “28 Marvel not at this: for the hour cometh, in which all that are in the tombs shall hear his voice, 29 and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of judgment.” (ASV)
*** Acts 24:15, “having hope toward God, which these also themselves look for, that there shall be a resurrection both of the just and unjust.” (ASV)
**** 1 Corinthians 15:21, “For since by man (came) death, by man (came) also the resurrection of the dead.”
5. THE JUDGMENT, The judgment of all mankind will take place before the Righteous Judge, Jesus Christ:
2 Timothy 4:1, “I charge (thee) in the sight of God, and of Christ Jesus, who shall judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:” (ASV)
2 Timothy 4:8, “henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give to me at that day; and not to me only, but also to all them that have loved his appearing.” (ASV)
THE FOLLOWING VERSES WILL TELL US WHAT THE STANDARD OF JUDGMENT WILL BE:
“… The word that I speak (i.e. the words of Jesus Christ) …” is the standard – are measuring up to the standard? John 12:48, “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my sayings, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I spake, the same shall judge him in the last day.” ASV
6. THE LAST DAY, The trumpet of God will sound, all the dead will be raised, everyone will be judges and sentenced on the “… last day …” All things created by God in the beginning will be dissolved and immortality of the resurrected will commence.
CONSIDER THIS FACT: There will be only one last day. If the last day is not the last day then God has erred, we know that this is impossible, therefore there cannot be 1,000 years after the last day.
NOTE:
1 Corinthians 15:52-53, “52 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. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.” (ASV)
John 6:39-40, “39 And this is the will of him that sent me, that of all that which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that every one that beholdeth the Son, and believeth on him, should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”
John 11:24-25, “24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth on me, though he die, yet shall he live;” (ASV)
John 12:48, “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my sayings, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I spake, the same shall judge him in the last day.” (ASV)
SUMMATION: Do we understand these things? We ought to study until we have reached an understanding of these important issues, that pertain to life, death, and the hear-after. Without a clear understanding of these things we will be unable to experience “JOY” in our lives and “The peace that passes understanding” will escape us – cf.
Philippians 4:4-8, “4 Rejoice in the Lord always: again I will say, Rejoice. 5 Let your forbearance be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” (ASV)