We see this in Revelation 12:11 which reads "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death."
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony;
Through Christ's shed blood on the cross, He purchased us, and died for our sins. We are now the overcomers because Christ overcame Satan at the cross.
That's why John says in 1 John 4:4 that greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world, and that we have already overcome the spirit of antichrist.
So they overcame him, in the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony. And they loved not their lives unto death.
I think that's interesting. How far along do I love my life? Well, I'm willing to give it up right up to death. I mean, that might be a little too far.
In the book of Acts, as Paul was traveling towards Jerusalem, there were different prophecies given along the way that if Paul was going to go to Jerusalem, he was going to be persecuted and taken captive there.
And so the prophecies didn't say don't go. The prophecies just said you're going to face trouble. You're going to be imprisoned. You're going to be chained.
Because of those prophecies, the Christians tried to stop him from going. But Paul says to them "I don't count my life dear to myself. God has told me to go. If that's what awaits me, so be it!"
I think it is interesting that he says I don't count my life dear to myself. But that's the way we have a tendency to interpret some things that happen to us. That's because we love our lives too much.
Just think if someone came knocking on your door and asked are you a believer in Christ, and you said yes, and they said come on out here, you're next to be put to death. They do not love their lives unto death.
My understanding is like Adam's, just to add to what Adam said. You should study on your own, there are different views.
The belief that our soul is immortal comes from ancient Greek philosophy. The meaning of death, being a separation of the soul from the body also came from ancient Greek philosophy that is different than what we see in the Old Testament.
It is Platonism, Augustine of Hippo held this philosophy. He was a theologian, and philosopher with a strong influence on doctrines in the church, in the fourth and early fifth century.
Gen. 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. The spirit/breath gives us life.
The Hebrew word nephesh means a soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, and emotion. The Greek word psuche means the soul, life, self, and a person's distinct identity. If you study them, it is also used for all living beings' fish, animals, birds, and man.
Physically we live AND die, eternally we live OR die, our choice of the gift of God that is through Jesus Christ our Lord, eternal life, or die the second death.
The word spirit, the Bible writers used the Hebrew word ruach meaning breath, wind, spirit, or the Greek word pneuma also meaning wind, breath, spirit, this life-giving breath/spirit is what goes back to God.
We are buried dead, mortal, in corruption and we are raised immortally incorruptible 1 Corinthians 15:42-44. That is when we will be absent from this flesh body.
All consciousness ends when we die. Psalm 6:5Job 14:12-14Job 17:13-16Psalm 89:48Psalm 115:17Ecclesiastes 9:5-10
We sleep in death until resurrection day, the day of redemption. 1 Corinthians 15:51-54Ephesians 4:30
Our spirit (breath) given to us by God is what keeps us alive, and we are a living soul. Ecclesiastes 12:7Psalm 104:29Psalm 146:4James 2:26
I thought I was on the right track, but all my life I have heard the statement "Absent from the body means you're present with God. The sad part is that I have even heard it a funerals. I guess it gives the family and love one peace but I would prefer to be told the truth.......
Also you seldom hear hell preached at a funeral ..... Thank you for your time and Knowledge much appreciated!
The Bible says we will sleep until Christ's return:
Daniel 12:2
Job 14:12
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
1 Corinthians 15:18-20
Matthew 9:24
A common reason why people assume they go straight to heaven is misinterpreting 2 Cor 5:8-10. The misinterpretation has been repeated so much its become standard dogma to many well meaning Bible readers. But the only problem is the Bible doesn't say that. Paul only says he'd "rather" absent from the body and present with the Lord. The word Rather is a preference. He's not making a broad statement about the afterlife that 100% of the time, when 100% of all people die, that instantly you skip judgment and are immediately with the Lord 100% of the time.
Adding further support to this is Paul in the previous book in 1 Corinthians 5:3 already said he was "absent" from the body when he couldn't meet with the Corinthians in person. Based on the same wording used, I think people are extrapolating way too much from Paul's preferential (rather) statement while ignoring the verses that already say everyone will face judgment and all the sleeping until Christ returns, etc. I would find it hard to ignore 5 verses in favor of one "rather" statement that Paul already used before. Paul also preferred everyone remain single like him- so the inferences seem to be disproportionately applied.
Yes, Paul said to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. That is why I said that when our physical body dies, our spirit departs to go be with the Lord. That's what it means to be absent from the body. It is our spirit that will be absent.
Now, the body we now live in is a corruptible body. One day when Christ comes, He will raise our body as an incorruptible body, a perfect body incapable of sin, sickness or death. It is then that our spirit will reunite with our new glorified raised body.
1 Corinthians 15:53 says "For this corruptible must put on incorruption." Why? Because we cannot get into the kingdom of heaven with flesh and blood. This mortal, which means death, 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. ( 1 Corinthians 15:54) That is from Isaiah 25:8.
You are on the right track. I pray that the Lord will continue to give you a hunger for His word. Stay faithful to Christ and His word. Before you begin reading the bible, ask God's Spirit to open up your heart to be receptive to what it is that He wants to teach you, and also ask that He might clear your mind from all outside distractions so that you can remain focused. May the Lord bless you in your study, and may you, through continual study, grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
We see this in Revelation 12:11 which reads "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death."
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony;
Through Christ's shed blood on the cross, He purchased us, and died for our sins. We are now the overcomers because Christ overcame Satan at the cross.
That's why John says in 1 John 4:4 that greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world, and that we have already overcome the spirit of antichrist.
So they overcame him, in the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony. And they loved not their lives unto death.
I think that's interesting. How far along do I love my life? Well, I'm willing to give it up right up to death. I mean, that might be a little too far.
In the book of Acts, as Paul was traveling towards Jerusalem, there were different prophecies given along the way that if Paul was going to go to Jerusalem, he was going to be persecuted and taken captive there.
And so the prophecies didn't say don't go. The prophecies just said you're going to face trouble. You're going to be imprisoned. You're going to be chained.
Because of those prophecies, the Christians tried to stop him from going. But Paul says to them "I don't count my life dear to myself. God has told me to go. If that's what awaits me, so be it!"
I think it is interesting that he says I don't count my life dear to myself. But that's the way we have a tendency to interpret some things that happen to us. That's because we love our lives too much.
Just think if someone came knocking on your door and asked are you a believer in Christ, and you said yes, and they said come on out here, you're next to be put to death. They do not love their lives unto death.
Hope this helps!
When we die, it is said to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. If we are already in heaven and dwelling with
the Lord, what is the purpose of our fleshly bodies being raptured later on. Do we need the old bodies for the new heaven and
earth. Thank you for any answer.
My understanding is like Adam's, just to add to what Adam said. You should study on your own, there are different views.
The belief that our soul is immortal comes from ancient Greek philosophy. The meaning of death, being a separation of the soul from the body also came from ancient Greek philosophy that is different than what we see in the Old Testament.
It is Platonism, Augustine of Hippo held this philosophy. He was a theologian, and philosopher with a strong influence on doctrines in the church, in the fourth and early fifth century.
Gen. 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. The spirit/breath gives us life.
The Hebrew word nephesh means a soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, and emotion. The Greek word psuche means the soul, life, self, and a person's distinct identity. If you study them, it is also used for all living beings' fish, animals, birds, and man.
Physically we live AND die, eternally we live OR die, our choice of the gift of God that is through Jesus Christ our Lord, eternal life, or die the second death.
The word spirit, the Bible writers used the Hebrew word ruach meaning breath, wind, spirit, or the Greek word pneuma also meaning wind, breath, spirit, this life-giving breath/spirit is what goes back to God.
We are buried dead, mortal, in corruption and we are raised immortally incorruptible 1 Corinthians 15:42-44. That is when we will be absent from this flesh body.
All consciousness ends when we die. Psalm 6:5 Job 14:12-14 Job 17:13-16 Psalm 89:48 Psalm 115:17 Ecclesiastes 9:5-10
We sleep in death until resurrection day, the day of redemption. 1 Corinthians 15:51-54 Ephesians 4:30
Our spirit (breath) given to us by God is what keeps us alive, and we are a living soul. Ecclesiastes 12:7 Psalm 104:29 Psalm 146:4 James 2:26
May this help your study.
God bless,
RLW
Also you seldom hear hell preached at a funeral ..... Thank you for your time and Knowledge much appreciated!
Jackie
The Bible says we will sleep until Christ's return:
Daniel 12:2
Job 14:12
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
1 Corinthians 15:18-20
Matthew 9:24
A common reason why people assume they go straight to heaven is misinterpreting 2 Cor 5:8-10. The misinterpretation has been repeated so much its become standard dogma to many well meaning Bible readers. But the only problem is the Bible doesn't say that. Paul only says he'd "rather" absent from the body and present with the Lord. The word Rather is a preference. He's not making a broad statement about the afterlife that 100% of the time, when 100% of all people die, that instantly you skip judgment and are immediately with the Lord 100% of the time.
Adding further support to this is Paul in the previous book in 1 Corinthians 5:3 already said he was "absent" from the body when he couldn't meet with the Corinthians in person. Based on the same wording used, I think people are extrapolating way too much from Paul's preferential (rather) statement while ignoring the verses that already say everyone will face judgment and all the sleeping until Christ returns, etc. I would find it hard to ignore 5 verses in favor of one "rather" statement that Paul already used before. Paul also preferred everyone remain single like him- so the inferences seem to be disproportionately applied.
God bless.
Unfortunately, that is not what is being preached in most churches, or places of worship. This is leading a lot of people to
believe that the person is with the Lord, and not asleep. I sure it is a comfort for the family to believe this or hear this. I just
leaves the average person with so many questions. I guess that's where studying your Bible is needed.
Thank you for taking your time to answer me.
May God Bless You
Jackie
Yes, Paul said to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. That is why I said that when our physical body dies, our spirit departs to go be with the Lord. That's what it means to be absent from the body. It is our spirit that will be absent.
Now, the body we now live in is a corruptible body. One day when Christ comes, He will raise our body as an incorruptible body, a perfect body incapable of sin, sickness or death. It is then that our spirit will reunite with our new glorified raised body.
1 Corinthians 15:53 says "For this corruptible must put on incorruption." Why? Because we cannot get into the kingdom of heaven with flesh and blood. This mortal, which means death, 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. ( 1 Corinthians 15:54) That is from Isaiah 25:8.
I hope this answers your question?
Blessings to you in Christ Jesus!
there I need to take time to find them. Ask the holy spirit to lead and guide me.
Again, thank you for your knowledge,
and patience in answering my questions
Jackie
You are on the right track. I pray that the Lord will continue to give you a hunger for His word. Stay faithful to Christ and His word. Before you begin reading the bible, ask God's Spirit to open up your heart to be receptive to what it is that He wants to teach you, and also ask that He might clear your mind from all outside distractions so that you can remain focused. May the Lord bless you in your study, and may you, through continual study, grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
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