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We are the New Covenant Israelites, of the faith of Abraham; reconciled through a Spiritual adoption to eternal life through our Messiah Yah'shua, by the grace of Yahweh. |
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The Natural Congregation of Yahweh is what the secular world, modern traditional 'Christians', and the modern 'Jews', would phrase as, "The Natural Church of God" |
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OUR HOPE OF ETERNAL LIFE: THE CASE OF THE MISSING BODY It could have been a mystery for Sherlock Holmes to solve. The Jewish religious leaders, the Roman authorities and even the disciples were all asking themselves: "Why was the body of Yah’shua the Messiah missing?" It was bad news for the Roman civil and Jewish religious authorities who desperately wanted to show that Yah’shua was dead and buried. Neither group wanted the prophesied resurrection story to surface unchallenged. Possession of the body of the Messiah was the trump card that could totally debunk the claim. Ironically, the precautions the Jews and Romans took to prevent the Messiah's body from being stolen, served to frustrate their major objective of disproving the resurrection, by actually demonstrating that the resurrection was the only explanation of the missing body! Both the burial site conditions and the official sealing of the tomb did as well. There were also many witnesses to the resurrection of the Messiah. Let's examine each briefly. For starters, all four Gospel writers mentioned that the entrance to the Messiah's tomb was blocked by a large stone. Historians and archaeologists give an estimate of the stone's probable size as between one and one half, and two tons. The ramp on which the stone would have stood, was slightly inclined toward the opening. To close the entrance, the stone would be rolled down the ramp in front of the door - gravity would do the rest. Now let's consider the Roman guards. The chief priests and Pharisees asked Pontius Pilate for military guards to be posted at the tomb so the Messiah's body could not be stolen (Matt. 27:62-66). It is estimated that a Roman guard unit consisted of between 8 to 16 soldiers. They were part of a well-trained fighting machine. Once posted, no one would dare attempt to remove the stone or even come near the entrance. But while the Roman contingent was ON GUARD, an angel materialized in their midst (Matt. 28:2-4). The angel caused an earthquake that rolled back the stone from the entrance - three days after the burial. Some of the frightened guards ran to the religious leaders and reported what had happened. What the chief priests heard, perhaps bolstered by an on-site inspection, convinced them the matter had to be hushed up quickly (vv. 11-15). The religious leaders first cover-up effort was to attempt bribing of the guards. They then devised a spurious story to explain the missing body: "You are to say, `His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep'" (v. 13). The concocted story about a shift of the Roman guards falling asleep and the disciples moving the nearly two ton stone without waking them, must have caused many a chuckle in Jerusalem! Two of several breaches of Roman military discipline that demanded the death penalty, were leaving a night watch and deserting one's post. Falling asleep on one's post was certainly not to be taken lightly! Execution of those guilty was often horrible, to make them examples to other soldiers. Such a penalty would surely have kept them awake - and certainly would have reduced their enthusiasm for telling their superiors that they had fallen asleep on the job! The warden at the Philippi jail for example, was ready to commit suicide when he realized that Paul and Silas had escaped from their chains (Acts 16:25-28). The tomb guards would have had similar fears, which makes the idea of their having fallen asleep, ludicrous. The suggestion that the massive stone could have been moved without waking them is even more absurd. Pilate did more than simply post guards. He also ordered that an official seal be put on the tomb's entrance stone itself (Matt. 27:66). (We have something similar today, when police place a yellow tape, marking off a designated crime area.) The Roman guards would have stretched a cord across the rock blocking the entrance. The cord would be fastened at each end with sealing clay, and the clay packs would have been stamped with the official signet of the Roman governor. The Roman seal was a public verification that the Messiah's body was indeed sealed in the tomb. Tampering with the official seal was to incur the fury of the Roman governor - and it meant automatic execution. The disciples had displayed cowardice at Yah’shua' trial and dejected indifference afterward. Would they suddenly have been willing to defy Roman authority, fight the guards off, then move the stone, remove the body without being seen, and then dispose of the body in some manner that none of the Roman authorities or the Jewish religious leaders could ever find it? Hardly! Yet the body was found to be missing. Where was it? Why was it never produced to counter the apostles claim of the resurrection? After all, the body would certainly have put a stop to the resurrection claim once and for all, by those that wanted it hushed up - that is why they went to such lengths to guard the tomb in the first place! In his first sermon in Jerusalem, just weeks after Yah’shua' death and burial, Peter spoke openly and passionately about Messiah's resurrection (Acts 2:24,32). However, no one produced a body, or even stepped forward to verbally dispute the claim! It would have been simple to contradict Peter's insistence that Yah’shua had risen - one public display of the body by the Jews or the Romans would have destroyed all credibility to the apostles' testimony. A short walk to the tomb to view the corpse would have embarrassed them into silence. No attempt to exhume the body for the purpose of discrediting the resurrection story was ever made - because every one living there at the time, accepted the fact that the tomb was indeed empty! Consider the prominent Jewish leader, Gamaliel, a member of the Sanhedrin. He was willing to concede that the apostles were doing the work of Yahweh in proclaiming Yah’shua' resurrection (Acts 5:29-39). He would never have done so if he or the Sanhedrin (who had violently opposed the Messiah while He was alive) had any knowledge of the Messiah's dead body. During the many years that the apostolic Church was headquartered in Jerusalem, not one party came forward to say he had seen the Messiah's body. There was no denial, official or otherwise from the Roman government.
Besides the embarrassingly empty tomb, there were
the many witnesses that had seen the risen Messiah. Yah’shua appeared to people
on a number of occasions during those 40 days after He arose (Acts 1:3). There
were appearances to one or two disciples, or to large groups, as much as 500 at
one time, mentioned by Paul (1 Cor. 15:6). Most interesting is that Yah’shua did
not appear to the male disciples first. He chose to appear to Mary Magdalene
first, while she was at the tomb with several other women (John 20:1-18); Matt.
28:1;
In those times women were not considered to be good witnesses in legal cases. Mary especially would have been suspect, as she was once known as an evil (demon possessed) party (Luke 8:2). Yet each of the Gospel writers acknowledge her as one of the first witnesses. Suppose the Gospel writers had tried to fabricate a resurrection story. They certainly would not have included Mary Magdalene as a witness, much less as a prime first witness of the event. A most convincing proof that the Messiah was resurrected is the apostle's sudden bold preaching of the event. The book of Acts alone, shows the apostles proclaiming this message many times in the face of harsh opposition, life-threatening beatings, arrest, threat of imprisonment and death. Why would they suddenly change, and put their lives on the line to preach a resurrection story if they knew it was a lie? They would not have! In the final analysis, none of the arguments drummed up against Yah’shua the Messiah's resurrection hold up under even the slightest scrutiny. All the facts, as the Gospel writers present them, argue for a miracle. Three days after He was dead and buried, Yah’shua was resurrected and glorified by Yahweh the Father, just like He said He would be (Matt. 12:40, 28:6). Our faith, the substance of things HOPED for, is rooted in that resurrection. Yah’shua' rising from the dead is a witness to us; evidence that we too will be resurrected by our Father in a future resurrection to eternal life ! (1 Cor. 15:12-22, 51-55). TOP ^
REVELATION: THE GOSPEL OF Yah’shua
What is the true Gospel? Yah’shua said, "He who
believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be
condemned" (Mark 16:16). Believes what? Why, believes that which He (and His
disciples) preached, of course - the Gospel that originated from Yahweh the
Father. Yahweh promised that in
The very first sermon by which Yahweh had the Gospel preached to Gentiles, when Peter was sent to the house of the Gentile Cornelius, recorded in the 10th chapter of Acts, gives us an understanding of the Gospel. "The word which Yahweh sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Yah’shua the Messiah - He is Lord of all - that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached" (verse 36-37). Notice carefully: 1) with whom did the message originate? Peter said, "The word which Yahweh sent". It did not originate with Yah’shua, or Peter or Paul - it was sent by Yahweh the Father.
2) by whom was it sent? Who was the divine
Messenger? Who preached the message? Peter said, "by Yah’shua the Messiah".
Malachi called him "the Messenger of the Covenant". That message, then, is the
New Covenant, as Moses was the mediator of the Old and Yah’shua the Messiah of
the New, as affirmed by Scriptures such as
3) where was it preached first? Peter said it, "began from Galilee". 4) when did Yah’shua begin to preach this particular Gospel? Peter, again, said, "After the baptism which John preached". The true New Covenant Gospel, then, began after John had completed his baptismal ministry. Now these points lead us directly to the first chapter of Mark. The first verse tells us this is the record of the beginning of the Gospel of Yah’shua the Messiah. Then it relates the baptizing ministry of John, preaching "the baptism of repentance", which prepares the way for the Gospel Yahweh sent by Yah’shua the Messiah. And the exact time then; "Now after John was put in prison" (verse 14-15) was the beginning of the preaching of the true Gospel - "Yah’shua" there is the divine Messenger by whom Yahweh sent it "came to Galilee" the precise location - so now we have the time, the place and the Messenger - so whatever Yah’shua is here, preaching, is his true Gospel. And what do we read? "Yah’shua came to Galilee, preaching the Gospel of the kingdom of Yahweh, and saying the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of Yahweh is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Gospel [truth]". Notice, Yah’shua said; "believe in the Gospel". What Gospel - the one He was sent to proclaim "the Gospel of the kingdom of Yahweh". It is called in scripture, the Gospel of Yahweh. The Gospel of Yahweh is Yahweh's Gospel - His message - His good news that He sent to earth by Yah’shua. We hear a great deal today of a Gospel about the party of Yah’shua the Messiah. And certainly Yahweh's Gospel includes the truth about Yah’shua the Messiah, His life, death and resurrection. But to confine the message solely to the things ABOUT Yah’shua is to tell only part of the story. As a result millions believe on the Messiah (or in the Messiah) who do not actually believe the Messiah! Yah’shua' Gospel is also His message and His teachings about "the kingdom of Yahweh". And Yah’shua Himself, said His Gospel was not only His, but His Father's who sent Him; "For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. And I know that His command is everlasting life. therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak". And, as Yah’shua told us, "and this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Yah’shua the Messiah, whom you have sent" (John 12:49-50 and 17:3). Eternal life is given to those who have faith to obey Yahweh and Yah’shua the Messiah. The good news is that it is possible to have a relationship with Yahweh the Father (not only with Yah’shua). Yah’shua, through His saving work of redemption, reconciles us (those who were lost): "For it pleased the Father, that in Him, all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in Heaven, having made peace through the blood of His stake. And you, who were once alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and irreproachable in His sight - if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the Gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister" (Colossians 1:19-23). Modern Christian confusion has many believing that the Gospel of the kingdom of Yahweh is not for this age - the New Covenant time of grace. They have rejected the very conditions to salvation. But as Paul said to the Thessalonians, I would not have you to be ignorant of the very Gospel that can bring us eternal life! A vital step in the conversion process is to believe the Gospel (Mark 1:15). For millions of Christians, the term Gospel has little meaning aside from the life of Yah’shua, His death on the stake and the meaning of His resurrection. These important facts are all part of the New Covenant Gospel, but Yah’shua preached the Gospel as meaning "the good news" of "the kingdom of Yahweh" (Mark 1:14). The good news is that man can be reconciled to Yahweh. As a result of sin, we have been separated from Yahweh (Isaiah 59:2). This separation has been the condition of mankind since the garden of Eden. As revealed in Genesis, Adam and Eve were expelled from the presence of Yahweh. Paul tells us: "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of Yahweh is eternal life in Messiah Yah’shua our Lord" (Romans 6:23). The "good news", or Gospel, is that we have a Redeemer who has paid the death penalty our sins have incurred. Further good news is that we may receive the gift of eternal life in the kingdom of Yahweh. Yah’shua Himself is to return to earth as King and divine ruler - the ultimate hope for mankind. The English word "Gospell" or Gospel comes from the old world word Godspell, and literally means "good news". Yah’shua said it was the good news of the "Kingdom of Yahweh". What is a kingdom? Primarily, it is a government - a nation and the government that rules it. And especially in the Biblical sense, there is a dual sense of the nation, including all its subjects or citizens, and the government by which it is ruled. And in Bible usage, a kingdom is often a family from a single line of descent grown into a nation. Four things are necessary to constitute a kingdom: 1) territory of land and waters with boundaries, 2) a king, ruler or governing agent, 3) subjects within the territorial jurisdiction, 4) laws and a form of Government. The kingdom of Yahweh that Yah’shua preached is both present and future reality for true Israelites - the elect. The Gospel includes the good news of the forgiveness of sins, redemption by our Saviour, and that as Israelites we are to love our fellow humans and live by every word of Yahweh. Also, that Yahweh will bring us world peace by establishing His divine kingdom over all nations at Yah’shua' Second Coming, when He will take control and rule by Yahweh's law. We find the four requisites of the kingdom in both the present and future reality of the kingdom of Yahweh: 1) we live in the territory of this present world, 2) we acknowledge Yah’shua as our Lord and Saviour, 3) our citizenship is “registered in heaven”, 4) we obey the laws that form the basis of Yahweh's government. In addition to partaking of the benefits and responsibilities of the kingdom of Yahweh as it is presently manifested on earth, we also "desire a better, that is, heavenly country" (Hebrews 11:16) - the future reality of the kingdom of Yahweh. The Bible says the future reality of the kingdom of Yahweh will also include: 1) territory which the Bible reveals will be this entire earth; 2) the King of Kings - who will return to rule it; 3) people from all nations, kindreds and tongues; and 4) the law and government of Yahweh over all the earth.
Notice when Nicodemus came to Yah’shua in
Just two things we do to become "born again" Israelites - "repent" and "believe". We must believe the Gospel which also means believing on Yah’shua the Messiah, the King of Kings over all families on earth; as Saviour, as High Priest now and as our coming King. We must also repent - meaning a total, complete change of mind and life. It means we repent of transgressing the Will and law of Yahweh. Yah’shua said to the young man who asked him how to inherit eternal life; "But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments" (Matthew 19:17). He discussed a few of them with the young man, but He indeed said: keep all the commandments. Peter concluded his inspiring sermon on Pentecost with the words "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Yah’shua the Messiah for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of His Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38).
Israelites must be born from above - we must
repent and believe, in order to be baptized by His Holy Spirit. (See chapter 12,
for the truth about baptism.) The New Covenant refers to this as walking in
newness of life; putting on the new man; being resurrected from the world as a
child of Yahweh. "Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that
we should be called children of Yahweh!... and everyone who has this hope in him
purifies himself, just as He is pure" (1
Yah’shua kept the commandments, and was pure. He taught all of these commandments for us to keep - to purify ourselves. This is the law of Yahweh; the kingdom of Yahweh. Yah’shua also commanded His disciples in building His Congregation - to teach this same Gospel. "Then He called His twelve disciples together...and He sent them to preach the kingdom of Yahweh" (Luke 9:1-2). "After these things the Messiah appointed 70 others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. Then He said to them...heal the sick who are there, and say to them the Kingdom of Yahweh has come near to you" (Luke 10:1,2,9). Yah’shua' prayer was "your kingdom come" - for His kingdom (with its laws) and that alone, can bring peace and happiness to this sin-sick, war-weary world. Yah’shua' Gospel involves making "disciples of all the nations" (Matthew 28:19). Phillip preached in Samaria (Acts 8:12): "But when they believed Phillip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of Yahweh and the name of Yah’shua the Messiah, both men and women were baptized". Paul preached to the Gentiles in (Acts 28:30-31): "Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of Yahweh and teaching the things which concern the Lord Yah’shua the Messiah". Notice Isaiah's prophecy about the Messiah's coming government on this earth: "For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder...of the increase of His government and peace [on earth] there will be no end..." (Isaiah 9:6-7). When the Messiah returns with all the power of Yahweh - He will be with authority to establish Yahweh's law - His kingdom - the universal knowledge of the truth of Yahweh leading to eternal life and peace on earth. What a wonderful message of hope - the substance of our faith. No wonder Paul wrote; "I am not ashamed of the Gospel of the Messiah, for it is the power of Yahweh to salvation for everyone who believes" (Romans 1:16). Many modern Christians - most of whom do not keep the commandments of Yahweh, especially the Sabbath and the annual Holy Days commandments of Yahweh, allow themselves to be further deceived into believing they are doing "okay" because the "works" of the "Holy Spirit" are so evident in their personal and church lives.
They seem to overlook two very vital facts. First,
the Bible says clearly that; "Then many false prophets will arise and show great
signs and wonders, so as to deceive, if possible, even the elect" (Matthew 24:11
& 14). And second, that these false prophets would be demons - Satan's workers -
deceiving the world under the name of Christianity. "Beloved, do not believe
every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of Yahweh; because false
prophets have gone out into the world" (1
In other words, His Holy Spirit is not the only "spirit" that can perform miracles, both the good and evil spirits can. In the "spirit of deception" - the evil spirits; the influence of Satan and his demons, often cause the illusion of "good" miracles such as healings or speaking in tongues. Such FALSE PROOFS lure many victims to false religions. This does not mean that His Holy Spirit is not in the Christian, it simply can mean, and DOES mean - because the Bible says so - that "the many" not the "few" would be deceived by this very thing - deceived into believing they were being led by His Holy Spirit, when in fact they were being led by the "unholy" spirit; the influence of Satan and his demons, into the false security of traditional Christianity or other false religions and New Age thinking trends. Satan knows that "for whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble on one point, he is guilty of all" (James 2:10). Satan is the ultimate con-artist, the great deceiver (after all, the Bible says he has indeed deceived almost the whole world). For him, performing many of the miracles of healing, or rebuking demons, or any of the miraculous signs and wonders appearing as the gifts of His Holy Spirit, is an easy "trade-off" for the fact that he has, by so doing, led literally millions to a false Yah’shua, a false "gospel". He has done this by leading them to modern traditional Christianity, which by its own deceived ministers, causes people to transgress Yahweh's laws, to break His Sabbath commandment almost universally, and worse, to insult Him by maintaining pagan "sun" worship traditions. This is not the Gospel of the Messiah. This is the gospel of the false Messiah - or the various "false Christs", of the many religious denominations and non-denominational "Christians", as well as the many other false religions and faiths, as prophesied (predicted) in your Bible more times than any other subject! Yah’shua further clarifies this in His Revelation, when in Chapter 3:14-22, He speaks to the "lukewarm Congregation". The lukewarm Congregation is one of the 7 Congregations (groups of called out ones) in Asia Minor, that represents by its then present condition, Yah’shua' prophesied state of condition of a great many within the Church, at the time of the end, which is now. So the spiritual condition of the Congregation at Laodicea represents a type of spiritual condition prevalent in modern spiritual Israel. As stated, this is made perfectly clear, as in verses 16 thru 18: "So then, because you are lukewarm...I will spew you out of my mouth. Because you say, `I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing' - and do not know that you are poor, wretched, miserable, blind and naked...I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with salve, that you may see".
Now the Revelation is written in symbolic language
- but readily and easily translated by other passages in the Bible. With a
little honest effort, anyone can find the meaning of this passage: Traditional
Christians have deceived themselves into a false richness, or wealth of faith
respecting their salvation. Yahweh counsels them to buy gold, which in many
passages such as
Daniel further explains this false security held by traditional Christians, when he clarified this symbology in chapter 12:10, "Many shall be purified, made white, and refined". When the Messiah counsels the false Christians to buy gold and white garments, He is in effect, advising them that they must become righteous, if they wish to enter the kingdom of Yahweh: "for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints" (Rev. 19:8). And we know that the saints are those that enter the kingdom of Yahweh, through obedience to Yahweh's laws - Yah’shua said so on several occasions.
The ENTIRE Bible is a sort of "manual" on how to
become a "good and faithful servant" - that we might enter the kingdom of
Yahweh; "here are those who keep the commandments of Yahweh and faith of
Yah’shua" (Revelation 14:12). As in the New Covenant
In other words, obedience to the commandments of Yahweh, allows Yahweh to sanctify us - to set us apart for His holy purpose. And faith in Yah’shua the Messiah will preserve us into everlasting life in Yahweh's kingdom. Just don't fall for the clever trap of Satan, followed by most traditional Christians, which is that faith without works (obedience) will get you eternal life. It won't! "Faith without works is dead"! Obedience to Yahweh is the key and the Messiah is the door - both are essential! One final irony. Satan is basically dishonest - he does not care how he gets what he wants - but he revels in getting it. Yahweh created Lucifer, as the archangel in charge of praise and worship to Yahweh. Lucifer desired to exalt himself above the throne of Yahweh - Lucifer desired to receive praise and worship - the most beautiful praise and worship that he was able to orchestrate. It is no small coincidence that this world offers meditational praise and worship universally, and strangely enough, quite uniformly, to the gods of Buddhists, Shintoists, Sikhs, fascists, communists, New Age universal Force/Power thinkers and unfortunately most sects of traditional denominational and non-denominational Christians. In spite of the huge contrasts in the various "faiths", these people all offer praise and worship, or meditation either to their "god" or to their "state", and Satan, albeit through trickery (but he doesn't care), receives and revels in this offering of praise and worship - precisely as the authoritative Word of Yahweh has prophesied: "Many false Christs shall arise...", well Satan, the Bible says, is the father of all lies - the father of all of these false Christs! The Bible says quite clearly and for a reason that the true Yahweh is a jealous God, and that He considers anything offered to "other gods" an abomination in His sight. When all the aforementioned peoples utilise meditation to seek their god, or offer praise and worship to "their gods" (state or religious), they are deceived into praising and worshipping Satan, regardless of their intentions! Satan has created all these false religions and false systems for his benefit (certainly not for ours). Yahweh's authoritative Word clearly says that our God is the God we obey. If anyone obeys a religion or a system that teaches contrary to Yahweh's Word, such as "no-worship" New Age faiths, other false religions, or Sunday, Easter and Christmas keeping "Christians", they are, according to the Bible, offering all of their praise and worship to Satan - even if their intent is to offer it to the true God! Yahweh says adamantly that "ignorance will not excuse", that this worship is utterly in "vain" and no human reasoning, excuse or explaining can ever make the Word of Yahweh of no effect. But disobedience can and does, because it is replaced with obedience to the false gods - Satan, who has orchestrated this in a most masterfully cunning and deceitful manner. You cannot enter and serve in Yahweh's eternal kingdom, unless you first obey Yahweh, and, live by every Word of Yahweh! Yahweh's Commandments; His eternal commandments must come first. First before any consideration as to state or religious habits and traditions. Worship Yahweh in spirit and in truth! Yah’shua said, "thy Word is truth!" If our HOPE is to receive of Yahweh's most precious gift - eternal life in His kingdom, we must develop obedience to our FAITH, "the substance of things HOPED for". TOP ^
REVELATION'S LIFE AFTER DEATH Some religions teach being reborn again and again, and Christians usually believe humans have immortal souls that live on after death in another, more "heavenly" world. Have these souls of the "saved dead" wafted into heaven? Are they watching us here, now? What about the unsaved dead? Are they already in some horrible ever-burning hellfire? Most Christians would not agree that death ends it all, but they often disagree on the supposed nature of life after death. Ask them, for example, to define the word "resurrection", which simply means "a rising of the dead to life", and you would get a variety of ideas as to what it means. But why do some Christians even believe in a resurrection when they also believe in the "immortal soul"? Why would an immortal soul need a physical, "resurrected" body after leaving this physical world? Ask a Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim or Jew and you would get still different views. The truth is, no human being of himself can know what lies on the other side of death. Only Yahweh can fill in the exact outlines of whatever life after death might exist. The Bible explains this mystery like a jigsaw puzzle which must be assembled from scattered references throughout its pages. The prophet Isaiah said: "Who will he teach knowledge? And whom will he make to understand the message? ...Precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little" (Isaiah 28:9-11). So let's piece together the truth about life after death. The Bible mentions more than one resurrection, each fitting into Yahweh's purpose in working with the human family. The sequence of resurrections is briefly sketched out below - the details and significance of each, being filled in later. 1) Until Yah’shua returns all those who lived and died will remain in their graves - dead. At Yah’shua' return, to restore the kingdom of Yahweh to this earth, those select few who were called and "trained of Yahweh" (chosen - or elect) through the ages will be resurrected to immortal life. They will rule with the Messiah over the remaining human family, for a 1,000 year period; the millennium. Yahweh will THEN offer salvation to all humans remaining alive (at the beginning of the millennium), plus all who will be born into, and live during that time. 2) At the end of the millennium, all those who lived (and died) in past ages and were not called by Yahweh as saints in the first resurrection, will be resurrected to physical (mortal) life for a short time. They too, will be given an opportunity for salvation; the second resurrection. These people will compare the civilizations in which they had lived with that of Yah’shua' new civilization established over the 1,000 years under the laws of the kingdom of Yahweh. The vast majority will choose Yahweh's way, and will ultimately be changed from physical, mortal humans, to immortal spirit beings. All who have ever lived, will by this time have had an opportunity to choose salvation. 3) Finally, those who rejected their opportunity will be resurrected to physical, mortal life and Yahweh will pass His judgement on them. They will be destroyed in the lake of fire and cease to exist. This is the "second death". Until the New Covenant Congregation began in the 1st century, only a handful of Old Covenant personalities such as Abel, Job, Abraham, Sarah, Joseph, Moses, Deborah, David, Jeremiah and Daniel were called by Yahweh through His Spirit. These overcame trials and temptation, receiving a promise during their lifetime of a future life after death. Have they already gone to their reward? Consider Moses the humblest man of his time (Numbers 12:3) with whom Yahweh spoke face to face (Deuteronomy 34:10). What about Sarah - an example of a Godly woman? Are they conscious and watching us now? Have they gone to some kind of eternal reward? The Bible answer is that every single one of these great men and women of Yahweh is still dead, and still buried. Their minds are unconscious and their bodies disintegrated.
Solomon tells us in
The Jews of Yah’shua' day understood that those who had died were still dead. The Pharisees challenged Yah’shua when He said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death" (John 8:51). Yah’shua was of course, saying that one who was obedient to His Word would not experience the eternal - or second death. But the Jews replied: "Now we know you have a demon! Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and You say, `If anyone keeps My word he shall never taste death. Are you greater than our father Abraham who is dead? And the prophets are dead?'" (John 8:52-53). Yah’shua did not dispute their statement about Abraham and the prophets - they were indeed dead and buried when Yah’shua spoke those words. Paul confirmed this fact by writing about these very Hebrew people of faith, "These all died in faith, not having received the promises" (Hebrews 11:13); they trusted in Yahweh, "that they might obtain a better resurrection" (Hebrews 11:35). Yah’shua had to straighten out the Sadducees who taught there was no resurrection, He said, "But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by Yahweh, saying, `I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?' Yahweh is not the God of the dead, but of the living" (Matthew 22:31-32). Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are dead and buried. Yet, they are as good as alive because the Almighty Yahweh is able to resurrect them to eternal life. As Peter says in his inspired sermon on Pentecost: "Men and Brethren, let me speak freely to you of the Patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried". And later, "David did not ascend into the heavens" (Acts 2:29-34). Did David have hope of an eternal life? Yes! The prophet Jeremiah said of a time yet future, called the "latter days", that Yahweh promises the following will happen: "And David their king...I will raise up for them [the House of Jacob]". (Jeremiah 30:8-9,24). Many prophecies show that David is to be resurrected an immortal, supernatural king over his people (Exekiel 37:24). So David will come up out of his grave in the future. And so will every party who has been called and trained by Yahweh throughout the ages and later died. But all such parties will remain dead until a certain important event occurs - the Second Coming of the Messiah. Yah’shua said, "The hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth - those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation" (John 5:28-29). Those coming up in the resurrection of life will do so at the Messiah's return, and those to the resurrection of death, will do so much later. Paul said, "It is appointed for men to die once" (Hebrews 9:27). That is the fate of every human. The Bible calls death as one who is "asleep" until it is Yahweh's purpose to bring that specific individual back to life. Humans do not have "immortal souls" that remain alive and conscious after death. The two words "immortal soul" are a contradiction in terms. A human "soul" is mortal and is perishable. A "human" is a "soul". We read where Yahweh "formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul" (Genesis 2:7). Man is a soul. The Hebrew word translated to "soul" is "nephesh" - it simply means living, breathing creature. The same word "nephesh" or "soul" is frequently used in Genesis and elsewhere in reference to animals. This same word "nephesh" or its English translation, "soul" can also refer to a dead body (Leviticus 21:11).
In
Now there is also the spirit essence in man that gives him the capacity for thought. As Paul says, "For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him?" (1 Corinthians 2:11). This spirit comes from Yahweh; "Thus says Yahweh, who stretches out the heavens, lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him" (Zechariah 12:1). This spirit essence Yahweh formed within us, allows us to think, reason and be aware of ourselves. This essence must see through human eyes, hear through human ears, think through the human brain - it has no consciousness apart from the body. When the body and brain die, Yahweh - one might say - pulls out and stores this human spirit as though extracting a floppy disk from a computer. A disk is functionless without its hardware. A human's spirit essence is in the same situation - it has no function (consciousness) apart from its "hardware", the body. By themselves both a computer disk, and the spirit in man, merely store information. Solomon wrote of death; "then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to Yahweh who gave it" (Ecclesiastes 12:7). (This was written many centuries before Yahweh gave us His Holy Spirit through faith in the Messiah.) Yahweh can preserve this spiritual "disk" containing a memory of all that you are, or Yahweh can erase it. Once Yahweh erases memory from a party's spirit essence, that party's memory is utterly wiped out. He or she cannot be resurrected. But Yahweh is still preserving the spirit of every individual who has ever lived and died. The spirit in each man maintains the identity of one who has lived, and using this as a kind of spiritual data base, Yahweh will resurrect either a physical or spiritual body, providing that one party with this memory again, at the appropriate resurrection. There is only one way for dead saints to be "re-programmed" and live again; "we also eagerly wait for the Saviour, the Lord Yah’shua the Messiah, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body" (Philippians 3:20-21). This redemption, or change is our only hope for life after death. Paul says: "It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body...as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man" (1 Corinthians 15:35;44-49). He ended this thought by pointing out that flesh and blood cannot enter into the spirit realm of the kingdom of Yahweh (verse 50); humans would have to be given immortal spirit bodies. In summary, "Behold, I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep [remain dead], but we shall be changed - 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" (verse 51-52). So Paul tells us firstly, that our only hope for life after death is that we will be raised from the dead by a resurrection, and secondly that this will not happen until after the Messiah's return "at the last trumpet", when the Messiah comes to restore the kingdom of Yahweh on this earth. Paul said this plan was conceived "before the foundation of the world" (Ephesians 1:4). Part of the plan called for Yahweh to select a few individuals during the first 4,000 years of humanity for specific responsibilities, people that Yahweh empowered through His Spirit for very special callings: Noah to build the ark; Abraham to be father of the faithful; Joseph to stand before Pharaoh and bring Israel to Egypt; Moses to lead the people out of Egypt and give them Yahweh's laws; Deborah to judge a nation; David to be a king; Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel to prophesy of future events, and others. In the process, these people lived and wrote the Bible, which became the foundation of truth, WHICH ALL PEOPLE WOULD ONE DAY NEED TO UNDERSTAND (Ephesians 2:20)! Peter said of these individuals, "Of this salvation the prophets come to you...To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the Gospel to you" (1 Peter 1:10,12). This salvation, of course, was through Yah’shua, who came to pay the penalty for our sins. After Yah’shua' crucifixion, He was resurrected from the dead - the first born of those who would, in their proper time, also be resurrected. Yah’shua has been seated at the right hand of the Father for nearly 19 centuries. "Seeing then that we have a great High Priest, who has passed through the heavens, Yah’shua the Son of Yahweh, let us hold fast our confession" (Hebrews 4:14). During this time, He has been working out the next phase of Yahweh's plan to ultimately bring salvation to every single human who has lived or will live. For the present, Yah’shua is spiritually purifying Yahweh's Congregation, or congregation of "called out ones"; those called to salvation in this age. This group must preach the message of His soon to come, kingdom, as Yah’shua prophesied: "And this Gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness", just before His return, as the "sign of His Coming" (Matthew 24:14). These called-out individuals are the "elect" (Matthew 24:24), the saints, who are among those to be resurrected immortal at the Messiah's Second Coming. This group is far smaller than most people think. Every other human being who has lived and died will remain in the grave awaiting another, later resurrection - one to mortal, physical life. Each will then be given the opportunity to repent to obedience to Yahweh's laws and receive understanding leading to eternal life. Yah’shua said, "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 to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also" (John 14:2-3). Yah’shua is preparing places or positions of responsibility for every true Israelite. These positions, "rewards" include living at a location identical to where the Messiah is to be at His Second Coming. The rewards are not yet dispensed, that's why He said: "Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven" (Matthew 5:12). It's now being "held in trust" by Yah’shua on behalf of us and it will be meted out as found in the last chapter, last verses of the Bible, "And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work" (Revelation 22:12). The reward is now "in" heaven in trust. The Messiah will bring the reward of eternal life, from heaven, to earth at His Second Coming. "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him...Then the King will say to those on His right hand `Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world'" (Matthew 25:31-32,34).
The time element begins with the Messiah's return,
and He is pictured as bestowing eternal life and an inheritance in the "kingdom
of Yahweh" or "kingdom of heaven". The kingdom of Yahweh is "heaven", hence it
is called also, the kingdom of heaven, as distinct from the kingdoms of men,
which this heavenly kingdom of Yahweh will supersede. "Heaven" is not inherited
by those made immortal. "Heaven" is the description of the place where Yahweh (Elohom)
is from time to time. Compare
This does not mean that the meek stay on earth and the poor in spirit go to heaven. The kingdom of heaven will become Yahweh's kingdom on earth simply by virtue of the fact that the Messiah will change the location of His residence to this planet. In other words, living in the heaven of Yahweh, is when we are living in the heavenly presence of either the now-glorified Yah’shua or Yahweh the Father. It is living in their very presence, through His Holy Spirit now, or directly in their presence in "heaven on earth", during and after the millennium. That's why it's called kingdom of heaven now, and why our reward is "reserved in heaven". It will soon become, the kingdom of Yahweh on earth, where all those called by Yahweh from both the "meek" and "poor in spirit" will reside! "We who are alive and remain until the coming of the Messiah will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Messiah Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of Yahweh. And the dead in the Messiah will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Messiah in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Messiah" (1 Thess. 4:15-17). The following is clear: Whichever saints are alive at the Messiah's return will be changed "in the twinkling of an eye" to spirit beings as Paul told the Corinthians, and immediately preceding this change in the living saints, the dead in the Messiah will be resurrected immortal. Both groups will ascend together, but only as high as the clouds while the Messiah descends from heaven. From that moment on, the resurrected saints will be with the Messiah, not in "heaven", but right here on earth! It is the kingdoms of this world that become the Messiah's, "Behold the Messiah comes with 10,000's of His saints, to execute judgement on all" (Jude 14-15). Yah’shua is not going "back to heaven"; He is coming to earth. In a sense, if you are really intent on going to "heaven", you could say you are, because heaven; the Messiah's presence, is coming to everyone on earth! Zechariah, as many other prophets do, calls this the "day of Yahweh" (Zechariah 4:1): "And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two..." (verse 2-4) "...and the Messiah shall be king over all the earth" (verse 9). The Messiah will descend from the clouds with His saints, immediately beginning to institute His government; the kingdom of Yahweh over all the nations. Even over the many nations that WILL OPPOSE Him!
Revelation and other prophecies say His first job
will be to obliterate the OPPOSING armies of the heathen! The now IMMORTAL
SAINTS will remain with the Messiah on earth and assist Him in the formation of
His new government bringing 1,000 years of peace and happiness to humanity.
There are many prophecies describing this wonderful peace to come to earth such
as
During this 1,000 year period Yahweh will save billions of humans who will be physically born into it by begetting them spiritually upon their repentance to obedience to His laws. Salvation will be open to all; all having an opportunity to grow in grace and character with the help of Yahweh's Spirit. Upon qualifying, (at various individual rates) they will earn responsibilities in the kingdom of Yahweh and be made immortal "in the twinkling of an eye".
These resurrected and immortal saints will have
offices of governmental and ecclesiastical services to perform, "Your teachers
will not be moved into a corner anymore, but your eyes shall see your teachers,
your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, `This is the way, walk in it'"
(Isaiah 30:20-21). And as John said in
So far we see that Yahweh's purpose has been to call only a small number of people during the 6,000 years of human civilization; only these "few" have had an opportunity for salvation, their minds and hearts being opened through Yahweh's Spirit to His ways and thoughts. But during the 1,000 years of Yahweh's kingdom on earth, all MORTAL humans still alive (obviously not including the IMMORTAL SAINTS, or the opposing heathen killed in battle), plus all who will then be born into it (the millennium), as physical, mortal beings, will THEN have an opportunity for salvation, (except those that wilfully and knowingly reject Yahweh).
During the millennium the Bible says Satan, who
had deceived the "many" during the 6,000 years will be restrained by Yahweh; "so
that he should deceive the nations no more till the 1,000 years were finished"
(Revelation 20:2-3). At the end of the 1,000 years, Satan will be released for a
short time and he will immediately go out and deceive great multitudes of mortal
people then living who will have taken for granted what was being taught them in
the kingdom of Yahweh. The Bible says they will allow themselves to be
spiritually seduced, "They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded
the camp of the saints and the beloved city [Jerusalem]" (Revelation 20:9).
Yahweh punishes this final rebellion and Satan is permanently removed from
deceiving humans ever again.
So what about the hundreds of millions through the ages that were not called of Yahweh or who may never have heard of Him. And what about the very few who knowingly and deliberately rejected Him. First we must understand that Yahweh has not been, nor is He trying to save the world for the last 6,000 years, including these last few years. If He had planned to, He most assuredly would have done so. Paul tells us that; "the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly but because of Him who subjected it in hope" (Romans 8:20). Humanity's suffering is necessary and not without purpose. Yahweh will make life "fair" for everyone by offering all people eternal life - by choice - evidenced by obedience in the face of temptation. Also in verse 21, Paul says "The creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption [death, resulting from being separated from Yahweh's laws] into the glorious liberty of the children of Yahweh". Yahweh has allowed a rebellious Satan to sway the world for 6,000 years. Satan has been the god of this world since Adam and Eve listened to his lies (Genesis 3:1-6)! He is called the "god of this age" who has blinded or deceived mankind (2 Corinthians 4:4), and "deceives the whole world" (Revelation 12:9), and he is the "prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience" (Ephesians 2:2). Once these Satan-inspired human civilizations that we are now living in have been ended and the Messiah has expressed the awesome glory and splendour of Yahweh's kingdom on earth for 1,000 years, then Yahweh is going to take time to "tie up loose ends" so to speak. He can now fulfill His ultimate goal in this great plan; "For this is good and acceptable in the sight of Yahweh our Saviour, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:4). This period after Satan is permanently bound is called the Great White Throne Judgement. There is a time when every single dead party, Israelite or otherwise, who hadn't been called by Yahweh as a saint, will be resurrected to physical life, each opened to spiritual truth. "...and the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books" (Revelation 20:11-13). The works by which they will be judged are not past works of this lifetime. Rather, the judgement on these people will be based on works they exhibit after their resurrection to mortal life. This coming period of judgement will be one lifetime, in which all will be taught how to grow spiritually. All these previously dead, will learn to trust and obey Yahweh, after which, if they continue in obedience, they will be changed into immortal spirit. The judgement of this lifetime we are now living in, is merely to determine which of the future resurrections we will partake of - the one before, or one of the two after the millennium.
This, the second resurrection occurs after the 1,000 years, prior to the Great White Throne Judgement. Then there is the third resurrection; "resurrection to condemnation". There are, as explained earlier, two groups of people who have done evil, who are yet in the grave. The vast majority did so in ignorance, and they are resurrected after the 1,000 years to the Judgement period, and judged during a mortal, physical lifetime during which they will receive their first and only opportunity for salvation. Yah’shua also referred to a small group of unrepentant dead who will be raised later to a sentence of condemnation or damnation. These, together with any who fail during the Judgement period, will be quickly burned up, destroyed forever in a lake of fire reserved for this purpose - the second death. What happens when this work of salvation is finished - will the Messiah then return to heaven with the saints? No! Salvation is just the beginning of Yahweh's plan. The job of recreating humans in Yahweh's spiritual image and composition is merely the preparatory stage for the real work that Yahweh has in store. Salvation merely produces the tools, the obedient Yahweh-family members, to do the work to come. Yahweh has a great plan about which He tells us little in His Word except that it does exist. He wants us to concentrate on the task at hand. To kick off His new plan, Yahweh will bring something very special to what is called "a new earth" (Revelation 21:1). In His vision John saw that the "first earth had passed away" and Peter refers to this as; "We, according to His promise, look for a new heaven and a new earth in which righteousness dwells" (2 Peter 3:13).
Yahweh's next step in launching His great plan is
set out in
The enormous revelation of these statements is not that the Messiah or the saints go to heaven, but HEAVEN TRULY DOES COME TO EARTH WHEN GOD COMES TO DWELL WITH US after the work of salvation has been completed! Yahweh will be dwelling with us on earth and He will say "behold, I make all things new" (Revelation 21:5). Yes, there will be new works, exciting projects, indescribable vistas of which we know nothing. This soon-to-end period of "salvation" then, is the act of reuniting us with the presence of Yahweh - with heaven! The making of thousands of millions of immortal spirit beings in the image of the one Creator Yahweh is only the beginning. Yahweh will then start His real project with His new headquarters (tabernacle) in New Jerusalem on the New Earth. Earth is destined to become the centre of all activity in every spiritual and physical dimension of the universe. The heaven of Yahweh's throne is actually coming to earth - that's why there is not one single scripture in the Bible that says all people, including Christians will go to heaven when they die. Revelation sums it up in chapter 21:6-7, "I will give the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son". Here Yahweh tells us that our destiny is to be His sons and that we are to "inherit all things". In the Greek language, the word translated to "all things" literally means the "universe"! It is awesome beyond our human imagination, but whatever the next phase of Yahweh's plan includes, it starts with us being truly the sons of the Creator of the universe, and with us inheriting the creation! Salvation to eternal life after death is a key element in the overall, long range purposes of Yahweh, a part of which included His sending Yah’shua. "For Yahweh so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). Yahweh sent Yah’shua into the world so that "the world through Him might be saved" (John 3:17). Our salvation is possible only through Yah’shua, as Peter said, "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). In Yahweh's plan of salvation we must be justified and made right with Yahweh. Justification is much more than Yahweh pardoning our sins, though it certainly includes that. Yahweh actually rescues us from sin and enables us to trust, love and obey Him through the power of His Holy Spirit. Paul said: "Through one Man's righteous act the free gift [of Yahweh's grace] came to all men, resulting in justification of life" (Romans 5:18), and, "A man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Yah’shua the Messiah" (Galatians 2:16). This means quite simply and literally, that we have been justified in our reconciliation to Yahweh the Father, who will therefore freely give us His Holy Spirit through our faith in the Messiah. With faith then, we receive His Holy Spirit, and with His Holy Spirit, we receive the power to be obedient. Salvation will indeed be offered to all - but to be a saint is a blessing of Yahweh bestowed on only those "few" that Yahweh's Word says have proven through OBEDIENCE, to be "good and faithful servants" during this lifetime.
As John said in
It does mean however, that sadly, they ("the many") will miss out on experiencing the wonderful "utopian" lifestyle that so many Bible prophecies outline that the Messiah will create during the 1,000 years of the Kingdom of Yahweh on earth - the millennium. It also means they will miss out on being kings and priests and rulers during this time. But Yahweh is a fair God, and they ("the many") will receive of Yahweh's most precious gift - eternal life and the inheritance of their part in "the new heavens and a new earth" - the universe in the very presence of Yahweh!
It is very well summed up in
Much the same way as if a track and field competitor was disqualified from a race for infractions. As humans, we have been disqualified from the race to salvation by sin. The track and field competitor may pay a fine, or penalty, and be re-entered into the race, but he does not necessarily win the race, until he "runs" the race. In like manner, Yah’shua did pay the "penalty" for our "infractions"; our sin, and reconciled or justified our right to re-enter the race to salvation. This reconciliation is not the sole means to the end, rather it provides the opportunity to run the race, and to therefore "win" our inheritance as saints; our salvation through OBEDIENCE to Yahweh's Commandments! By keeping the faith - by obediently doing the works, which means keeping all of Yahweh's Commandments, including doing good deeds, keeping the Sabbath, managing our own annual Festival Tithes (giving any annual excess plus each third year Tithe to the poor), and by keeping the annual Holy Days, and others, we will choose to honour Yahweh, for which Yahweh has promised to "sanctify" us. Many traditional Christians falsely define doing the "works" as described in the Bible, as only referring to good deeds and charitable activities. Such good deeds are important, however they are only a small part of the "works" Yahweh has commanded us to keep. ALL of Yahweh's Commandments, are indeed the "works" referred to in the Bible! Yahweh's promise to sanctify those of us that choose to be obedient to His Commandments, includes two very special messages. Firstly, for this life, we will be blessed with the material wealth promised to our forefathers "throughout your generations" (and we will be expected to further honour Yahweh by preaching this true Gospel of His kingdom). Secondly, Yahweh has promised to set us apart for His holy use and purpose in the eternal kingdom, as priests and rulers with the Messiah - FOREVER! TOP ^
Life After Death In Yahweh's Family (Part 1)
Of Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph and
Moses, to name some of those listed in
Many people are surprised to discover what the Bible really says about what happens to us when we die. Yet, when we remove our preconceived notions, the answer becomes quite clear from the Scriptures - and it is immensely encouraging to all. Notice what Yahweh inspired King Solomon to write about the state of the dead: "For the living know that they will die; but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten" (Ecclesiastes 9:5).
Scripture clearly tells us that at death we cease
to know anything. The dead are unconscious and unaware. All our emotions,
thoughts, knowledge and feelings go to the grave with us. No consciousness
continues living in another place or state. We do not have an immortal soul that
goes on living somewhere else. In
The patriarch Job echoes Solomon's words. He writes: "... Man dies and is laid away; indeed he breathes his last and where is he? As water disappears from the sea, and a river becomes parched and dries up, so man lies down and does not rise. Till the heavens are no more, they will not awake nor be roused from their sleep" (Job 14:10-12). Job goes on to ask the most crucial question about life after death: "If a man dies, shall he live again?" (verse 14). His answer is found in Yah’shua the Messiah's own words. The key to the mystery of life after death is revealed in the resurrection of Yah’shua the Messiah. He said, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me. though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die" (John 11:25-26). It is because the Messiah was resurrected from the grave that we can be assured that we, too, will he resurrected (1 Corinthians 15:12-21). Throughout the 15th chapter of I Corinthians, the apostle Paul eloquently argues this important fact, that since Yah'shua was resurrected from the grave, He will resurrect all those who have been faithful to Him. Job, as we saw above, raised the question of life after death. Notice how he answered it: "0 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 lime [the time of the resurrection], 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 shall call, and I will answer thee..."(Job 14:13-15. King James Version).
Job understood that life after death comes about
by Yahweh's divine power. Speaking of each person whom the Father would call to
understand His truth, Yah'shua explains, "I will raise him up at the last day"
(John 6:44). The promise of life after death hinges on Yah’shua the Messiah's
resurrection (1 Corinthians 15). The fact that Yah’shua the Messiah was
resurrected to become "the firstborn from the dead" (Colossians 1:18:
The raising of the dead is a mighty and magnificent part of Yahweh's great master plan. Through it, mankind has the opportunity to live again, as faithful Job knew and confirmed, even before the birth of the Messiah. The doctrine of the resurrection is listed among the fundamental doctrines of the Bible (Hebrews 6:1-2). It is the hope of all true Israelites, for it nullifies and makes void death itself (I Corinthians 15:54). Paul confirms that many people were eyewitnesses to the fact that Yah’shua the Messiah had indeed risen from the grave: "For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that the Messiah died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas [Peter], then by the twelve [apostles]. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep [in death]. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time" (I Corinthians 15:3-8).
The writers of the Bible describe our experience
after death not as going to heaven or hell, but simply as sleep. Notice, for
example, how Daniel refers to the state of the dead in this prophecy of the
resurrection: "And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake,
some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt" I
Yah'shua Himself also spoke of death as sleep.
Speaking of a deceased girl whom He intended to raise from the dead, He told the
mourners, “Do not weep: she is not dead, but sleeping " (Luke 8:52: compare
The dead in the Messiah will be resurrected to immortal life at Yah’shua the Messiah's return to earth, along with those faithful servants who are still alive at that time. The mystery of what happens to human beings after they die is incontrovertibly solved in the vibrant life of the resurrected Messiah. Our future life beyond the grave is directly connected to the resurrected Yah’shua the Messiah and the fact that He is the One who will raise us. Too many credible witnesses saw and interacted with Yah’shua the Messiah after He was raised from the dead for His resurrection to be denied. Paul also offers a simple but incontestable logic about how our resurrection from the dead is directly tied to Yah'shua's resurrection: "But if it is preached that the Messiah has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even the Messiah has been raised. And if the Messiah has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about Yahweh, for we have testified about Yahweh that he raised the Messiah from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For it the dead are not raised, then the Messiah has not been raised either. And if the Messiah has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in the Messiah are lost. If only for this life we have hope in the Messiah, we are to be pitied more than all men. But the Messiah has indeed been raised from the dead, the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep [in death]. For since death came through a man [Adam], the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man [Yah’shua the Messiah] (1 Cor. 15:12-21).
All of the dead - good and not so good alike -
will eventually be resurrected, each in his own time (I Corinthians 15:20-23).
The dead in the Messiah will be resurrected to immortal life at Yah’shua the
Messiah's return to earth, and those faithful servants who are still alive at
that time will be changed from mortal to immortal. Specifically, this happens at
the sounding of "the trumpet of Yahweh" (I Thessalonians 4:15-17), called "the
last trumpet" in
This event is called "the first resurrection" in
Verse 6 goes on to explain: "Blessed and holy is
he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no
power [because they will then be the resurrected, immortal children of Yahweh],
but they shall be priests of Yahweh and of the Messiah, and shall reign with Him
a thousand years."
Since the Messiah is coming back to earth
(Zechariah 14:34), it makes good sense that that's where we will be. After all,
Yah'shua said that we would be with Him: "And if I go and prepare a place for
you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may
he also" (John 14:3; compare
Another resurrection follows. So if there is first resurrection in which Yahweh's faithful servants are raised to immortality to reign with Yah’shua the Messiah, will there be other resurrections? And what happens to those who lived and died without ever knowing or hearing the name of Yah'shua, the only name by which we can be saved (Acts 4:12)? Those who died without knowing the Messiah will be resurrected to physical life and given their time to repent and receive salvation 1,000 years later (Revelation 20:11 -13). Verse 5 tells us clearly that "the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished." Many mistakenly believe that this group “has no excuse” for they claim that Yahweh has made Himself known to all men through His very creation. That is true, but He did not make His Messiah known to all men through His very creation, and it is only through the Messiah, that one can be saved!
Each person raised to life again in this great
resurrection will be given sufficient time to learn Yahweh's way of life (see
These "books" (biblion in Greek, from which we get the word Bible) are the Scriptures, the only source of the knowledge of eternal life and the basic standard by which all are ultimately judged. Most, probably the vast majority, will go on to receive eternal life because the Bible tells us that "all Israel will be saved" (Romans 11:26) - and by extension most of the gentile world likely will be saved as well, as in the Messiah, all have become as one.
Some individuals, regrettably, will stubbornly
choose to reject this marvellous opportunity for eternal life. But rather than
suffer torment for eternity in hell (as many people incorrectly assume the Bible
teaches), Scripture shows their fate will be to be consumed in the lake of lire,
"the second death." As
You CAN take something with you! People of many ancient cultures, such as the Egyptians, buried items of physical worth with their dead. They believed that the deceased would be able to use those important things in the next life. Yet the patriarch Job refuted this idea: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there" (Job 1:21). This may be where we get the oft-repeated saying, "You can't take it with you." However, this old cliché is not entirely true. In a sense, Yahweh will allow you to take something with you when you die - your godly character. A true Israelite is one who builds Yahweh's character for the duration of his natural life (1 Corinthians 3:9-15). When raised lo life again in the resurrection, that same character will be a part of us in our new life.
For the true Israelite, that godly character will
be with him forever (1
In time he came to comprehend that the common
denominator to all human death was and is the resurrection of Yah’shua the
Messiah to eternal life, and that His resurrection guarantees our resurrection,
too. Although death is a great enemy of human beings - and it has hurt and stung
many deeply with the passing of loved ones - we can take great comfort in
Yahweh's truth. As Paul explains in
Yah’shua the Messiah reveals that in time Yahweh the Father will come to the earth (Revelation 21:1-3, 10). Listen to Yah’shua the Messiah's description of this time: "And Yahweh will wipe away every tear from their eyes: there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away" (Revelation 21:4). Knowing Yahweh's ultimate plan for mankind - that human death doesn't end it all - gives us a great and wonderful comfort and sets us free from the myth of a passive eternity in heaven or eternal torment in hell. Finally, the apostle Paul in I Thessalonians 4:18 urges us to share this holy truth with others: "Therefore comfort one another with these words." TOP ^
Life After Death In Yahweh's Family (Part 2)
For example,
After all, they were familiar with biblical passages showing that such notable figures as Job (Job 14:14-15), David (Psalm 16:9-10) and Isaiah (Isaiah 26:19) clearly expected to be raised from the grave. Yah'shua's close friend Martha, for example, told Yah'shua that she knew that her dead brother Lazarus would "rise again in the resurrection at the last day" (John 11:24). So what did Yah'shua teach about the resurrection? Who will be in it? When will it lake place? Will there be more than one resurrection? Let's examine His words to be sure we understand the coming resurrection "at the last day".
In
The Messiah explains that He is the very power behind that coming resurrection; that He will raise those who believe in Him. Note that He also tells us the timing of the resurrection - that the dead will rise again "at the last day." In biblical terminology, "last day" generally refers to the time surrounding Messiah's second coming or beyond. The apostle Paul discusses the resurrection at length in I Corinthians 15. He tells us that the dead are resurrected in a specific order. First Yah'shua Himself, then "afterward those who are the Messiah's at His coming" (verse 23). In verses 51- 52 he is even more specific: "Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed - 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."
When is this "last trumpet"?
"The dead in the Messiah" are raised. At this
seventh trumpet Yah'shua returns to earth and "those who are the Messiah's" rise
from their graves to meet Him. Paul spells out more details in
As Paul describes it, both the faithful who have died in centuries past as well as the faithful still living at that time will be part of this resurrection. They are a specific group of people. In the verses quoted above, Paul calls them "the dead in the Messiah" and "those who are the Messiah's." Yah'shua Himself refers to this as "the resurrection of the righteous" (Luke 14:14, New International Version). Those in this resurrection, the Messiah tells us, "can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are Yahweh's children, since they are children of the resurrection" (Luke 20:36, NIV). In other words, the family of Yahweh, currently composed of Yahweh the Father and Yah'shua the Son, will expand dramatically to include many more immortal spirit members. This is why Scripture calls Yah'shua "the firstborn among many brothers" (Romans 8:29, NIV).
What will those who are given immortality in
Yahweh's family in this resurrection be like? Paul asks and answers this
question in
In other words, says Paul, we will be raised with
a glorified, immortal, powerful spirit body! In fact,
But what will those who are raised to glorified,
powerful spirit immortality do? They will not be raised to a life of endless
leisure and idleness in heaven. No, Yahweh has something far more important in
mind! Yah'shua reveals the future of His faithful servants to His friend and
disciple John in the book of Revelation.
Where do they reign? At that time Yah’shua the
Messiah will have returned to earth to establish His Kingdom, so they will live
and reign with Him on earth, rebuilding and re-educating the entire world in
Yahweh's way of life. They will be the leaders and overseers of this new and
transformed civilization to be built under Messiah's rule.
This 1,000-year reign of Yah’shua the Messiah and
His saints is commonly known as the Millennium (after the Latin for "thousand
years"). Describing this time,
Continuing in
John's vision then fast-forwards 1,000 years to the incredible time when "the rest of the dead" of verse 5 are raised. Notice verse 12: "And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before Yahweh, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were [then] written in the books." What is this resurrection all about? How does this differ from the first resurrection? We first need to recognize that many billions of people have lived and died having never heard the name of Yah’shua the Messiah, the only name by which they could be saved (Acts 4:12). They never had the opportunity to learn of Yahweh and His way of life, especially of His Messiah. So what happens to them? Not understanding this second resurrection, theologians and religious teachers have wrestled with this question for centuries. Some think those in this category get a free pass into heaven; others think they burn forever in hell. Still others mistakenly believe that this group “has no excuse” for they claim that Yahweh has made Himself known to all men through His very creation. None are remotely close to the truth, for Yahweh is eminently fair and just in all His dealings with all of humanity. Yahweh will neither condemn nor reward those who have never heard or learned of His truth, that all men must be saved through Yah’shua the Messiah. This fact is not at all evidenced by Yahweh’s creation! However, He will, in His own time, give every man, woman and child who has ever lived an opportunity lo learn and accept that truth, repent and receive His gift of eternal life through His first-born Son, Yah’shua the Messiah. And that is what this great resurrection is all about.
When we remove our preconceived notions, we see
that
Yah'shua himself draws the distinction between these resurrections by inspiring John in 5:28-29. "Do not marvel at this." He says, "for an hour is coming in which all those in the tombs will hear His voice. And they will come out, the ones having done good into a resurrection of life; and the ones having practiced evil into a resurrection of judgment" (Green's Literal Translation). Those who have lived righteously come up in what Yah'shua calls "a resurrection of life." As noted earlier, this is the first resurrection, to divine spirit immortality. The other resurrection, of those who have lived a life apart from knowledge of Yahweh, His ways and His Messiah, will be "a resurrection of judgment" - the time when they will have their opportunity to learn Yahweh's truth and accept or reject it, and they will be judged on that basis. It is not merely a time to mete out a pre-determined “sentence” as most mistakenly believe. That mistaken belief presumes that Yahweh would resurrect these people simply to turn around and put them to death again!
With this background we can properly understand
one of Yah’shua the Messiah's most puzzling statements, found in
Yah'shua here describes an astounding time when the long-dead people of the ancient Assyrian capital of Nineveh (of Jonah's day) and the Queen of Sheba (from Solomon's era) will live again alongside those from The Messiah's generation. And while they had lived and died many centuries before Yah'shua was even born, they will point out that those of The Messiah's time had no excuse for rejecting the very Son of Yahweh.
In
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The
key to the mystery of life after death is revealed in the resurrection of
Yah’shua the Messiah. It is because the Messiah was resurrected from the grave
that we can be assured that we too, will be resurrected.