OUR GOD IS NOT A GOD OF THE DEAD, BUT OF THE LIVING.
In answer to a trick question by the Sadducees on the resurrection of the dead (see Luke 20:27-33), Jesus gave very important insights about the nature of God. From (Luke 20:34-38).
From the passage, we learn that those who will be accounted worthy to obtain the glorious world to come will first have to be resurrected. This is because our God is not "a God of the dead, but of the living: and that all who dwell in His presence "live unto Him" (Luke 20:38). This passage above clearly helps us to understand that the dead do not reside in the presence of the Lord. Rather, it is the living that do reside in God's presence. The righteous dead rest in their graves to await the glorious resurrection at the second coming of Christ when their corruptible bodies will be changed into incorruptible immortal bodies (1 Corinthians 15:50-55). Friends, it is only after the resurrection that the righteous dead can live in the presence of the living God.
In contrast to the popular teaching that is making rounds in Christendom that the spirits of the righteous dead reside in the presence of God, Scripture actually make it clear that it is the living who reside in the presence of God in heaven. The Bible records the account of some few persons who were given the precious privilege to be taken into heaven ahead of the general provision that God has made for the righteous at the end of time (John 5:28-29; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). The incredible stories about these righteous folk who now reside in heaven.
i) ENOCH
5:24 AND ENOCH WALKED WITH GOD: AND HE WAS NOT; FOR GOD TOOK HIM." (Genesis 5:21-24)
"BY FAITH ENOCH WAS TRANSLATED THAT HE SHOULD NOT SEE DEATH; AND WAS NOT FOUND, BECAUSE GOD HAD TRANSLATED HIM: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God" (Hebrews 11:5).
Friends, we learn from the books of Genesis and Hebrews that Enoch did not see death, for God took him. Enoch now lives in the presence of God in heaven. It is important for us to note that Enoch was alive before he was taken to heaven.
ii) ELIJAH
2:11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; AND ELIJAH WENT UP BY A WHIRLWIND INTO HEAVEN.
(2 Kings 2:9-12)
The passage in 2 Kings above clearly indicates that Elijah was also privileged to be taken by God into heaven. He was also alive before being escorted by the chariots of God (angels; see Psalm 68:17) into heaven.
iii) MOSES
34:7 And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated." (Deuteronomy 34:1-7)
The passage above clearly indicates that Moses died on the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah. But we come across another passage in Romans that show us that something drastic happened to Moses after his death. From Romans 5:14, we read the following from the apostle Paul: "Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come."
Friends, the text above clearly tells us that the power or victory that death seemed to have over the human race was broken at the death of Moses. Death had reigned right from Adam's time over the children of men. But somehow, death did not reign over the body of Moses because this humble servant of God was resurrected by Christ and taken into the presence of God in heaven.
You might say how do you know this for sure? Well beloved, the Bible gives us further light into the case of Moses. From the book of Jude, we read the following in relation to the death of Moses: "Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee" (Jude 1:9).
Beloved, something unprecedented happened when Moses died. Satan, through the ages had claimed all the dead right from Adam as his captives. He had accused them before the universe as not deserving of life because of the sins they had committed in their lifetime. At the death of Moses, the devil thought he had got another captive. However, Michael (who is actually Jesus Christ; see Revelation 12:7-9; Jude 1:9; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; John 5:28-29) descended from heaven and challenged the devil that not all the dead are actually his. At the spot where Moses lay, Christ made Satan to understand that there were some men and women who like Moses had repented of their sins; they had believed in the atoning sacrifice of the Redeemer to come (Genesis 3:15; Colossians 1:14) - and hence such people among the dead were not to be considered his captives. After Christ had made the devil to understand this important point, He went ahead to raise Moses from the dead. The devil could not do anything about it because Christ, the Creator God (see John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:16) was at work.
ELIJAH AND MOSES ON THE MOUNT OF TRANSFIGURATION
Friends, there is another proof in Scripture that shows that Elijah and Moses are alive in heaven today. We find this account in the gospels of Luke and Matthew.
(Luke 9:28-36, see also Matthew 17:1-13)
Friends, the Scripture details clearly state that Moses and Elijah showed up in glory at the transfiguration of Christ. No question, they had come from the heavenly courts to inspire the Son of God to go ahead with His supreme sacrifice for the human race. The verse 31 of Luke 9 reports that Moses and Elijah spoke with Christ concerning His death which He should accomplish at Jerusalem.
Beloved, the destiny of the entire human race was centred on the atoning death of Christ that He should accomplish at Jerusalem. Should the Son of God refuse to go through with His sacrifice, the seed of Adam was doomed to destruction. Moses and Elijah who had been given advance passport to heaven pleaded with Christ on behalf of the human race. Should Christ refuse to go through this sacrifice, even their own stay in heaven was to be cut short. This is because no one enters into the city of God on their own merits but rather on the merits of Christ's sacrifice at Calvary.
On the mount of transfiguration, Elijah and Moses represented the two classes of people who will enter the city of God because of what Christ had done for the human race. Elijah is a figure of all those who will live to see Jesus come the second time. Like Elijah, these saints of God will be translated into heaven without seeing death. Moses on the other hand represents all the saints of God who will be resurrected from the dead, and taken into the city of God in heaven (see Luke 14:13-14; Revelation 20:4-6; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
Thus friends, when Christ raised Moses from the dead on the mountain of Nebo, He clearly made the devil to understand that through His supreme sacrifice for mankind, all those who believed in Him will one day be resurrected and taken into the city of God just like His servant Moses. Moses, even though experienced death, is one of the few humans who live in the presence of God today. And beloved, it is important for us to note that this humble servant of God was resurrected before entering into the city of God in heaven.
iTHE RESURRECTED SAINTS
(Matthew 27:50-53)
The passage from Matthew 27 makes it clear that some dead saints were resurrected when the earth quaked at the death of Christ. These saints, we are told came out of their graves after Christ's resurrection on Sunday morning. They went into the Holy City; that is Jerusalem, and showed themselves unto many people. In other words, these resurrected saints, some of whom possibly wrote about the coming Messiah, went into the Holy city and testified that Christ was the Saviour to come and that He had been resurrected from the dead. The Bible provides a clear insight as to what happened to these saints after their resurrection. From Ephesians 4:8, we read the following in relation to the resurrected saints: "That is why the Scriptures say, When he ascended to the heights, he led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to his people" (NLT).
Friends, these saints ascended with Christ into heaven after our Saviour's forty days sojourn here with His disciples. Our Lord took them to heaven to present them to the Father as trophies or first fruits of the great harvest that will accompany Him later on into the city of God as a result of His sacrifice for mankind. It is important to once again note that these saints who accompanied Christ to heaven were resurrected before they could ascend with the Lord into the city of the living God.
Beloved, the above examples all go a long way to prove the point that it is only the living that dwell in the presence of God. Christ rightly stated that our God is not a God of the dead, but of the living (Luke 20:38). It is only the living that dwell in His presence. Just like David, the righteous dead has not ascended up into heaven yet (see Acts 2:29, 34). They rest in their graves awaiting the glorious resurrection to come at the second coming of Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:16).
It is my sincere prayer that the Lord will continue to shed more light on His word as we diligently seek after His truth.
Stay blessed and keep shining for King Jesus.Preparing God's People for the Second Coming of Christ.
In answer to a trick question by the Sadducees on the resurrection of the dead (see Luke 20:27-33), Jesus gave very important insights about the nature of God. From (Luke 20:34-38).
From the passage, we learn that those who will be accounted worthy to obtain the glorious world to come will first have to be resurrected. This is because our God is not "a God of the dead, but of the living: and that all who dwell in His presence "live unto Him" (Luke 20:38). This passage above clearly helps us to understand that the dead do not reside in the presence of the Lord. Rather, it is the living that do reside in God's presence. The righteous dead rest in their graves to await the glorious resurrection at the second coming of Christ when their corruptible bodies will be changed into incorruptible immortal bodies (1 Corinthians 15:50-55). Friends, it is only after the resurrection that the righteous dead can live in the presence of the living God.
In contrast to the popular teaching that is making rounds in Christendom that the spirits of the righteous dead reside in the presence of God, Scripture actually make it clear that it is the living who reside in the presence of God in heaven. The Bible records the account of some few persons who were given the precious privilege to be taken into heaven ahead of the general provision that God has made for the righteous at the end of time (John 5:28-29; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). The incredible stories about these righteous folk who now reside in heaven.
i) ENOCH
5:24 AND ENOCH WALKED WITH GOD: AND HE WAS NOT; FOR GOD TOOK HIM." (Genesis 5:21-24)
"BY FAITH ENOCH WAS TRANSLATED THAT HE SHOULD NOT SEE DEATH; AND WAS NOT FOUND, BECAUSE GOD HAD TRANSLATED HIM: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God" (Hebrews 11:5).
Friends, we learn from the books of Genesis and Hebrews that Enoch did not see death, for God took him. Enoch now lives in the presence of God in heaven. It is important for us to note that Enoch was alive before he was taken to heaven.
ii) ELIJAH
2:11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; AND ELIJAH WENT UP BY A WHIRLWIND INTO HEAVEN.
(2 Kings 2:9-12)
The passage in 2 Kings above clearly indicates that Elijah was also privileged to be taken by God into heaven. He was also alive before being escorted by the chariots of God (angels; see Psalm 68:17) into heaven.
iii) MOSES
34:7 And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated." (Deuteronomy 34:1-7)
The passage above clearly indicates that Moses died on the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah. But we come across another passage in Romans that show us that something drastic happened to Moses after his death. From Romans 5:14, we read the following from the apostle Paul: "Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come."
Friends, the text above clearly tells us that the power or victory that death seemed to have over the human race was broken at the death of Moses. Death had reigned right from Adam's time over the children of men. But somehow, death did not reign over the body of Moses because this humble servant of God was resurrected by Christ and taken into the presence of God in heaven.
You might say how do you know this for sure? Well beloved, the Bible gives us further light into the case of Moses. From the book of Jude, we read the following in relation to the death of Moses: "Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee" (Jude 1:9).
Beloved, something unprecedented happened when Moses died. Satan, through the ages had claimed all the dead right from Adam as his captives. He had accused them before the universe as not deserving of life because of the sins they had committed in their lifetime. At the death of Moses, the devil thought he had got another captive. However, Michael (who is actually Jesus Christ; see Revelation 12:7-9; Jude 1:9; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; John 5:28-29) descended from heaven and challenged the devil that not all the dead are actually his. At the spot where Moses lay, Christ made Satan to understand that there were some men and women who like Moses had repented of their sins; they had believed in the atoning sacrifice of the Redeemer to come (Genesis 3:15; Colossians 1:14) - and hence such people among the dead were not to be considered his captives. After Christ had made the devil to understand this important point, He went ahead to raise Moses from the dead. The devil could not do anything about it because Christ, the Creator God (see John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:16) was at work.
ELIJAH AND MOSES ON THE MOUNT OF TRANSFIGURATION
Friends, there is another proof in Scripture that shows that Elijah and Moses are alive in heaven today. We find this account in the gospels of Luke and Matthew.
(Luke 9:28-36, see also Matthew 17:1-13)
Friends, the Scripture details clearly state that Moses and Elijah showed up in glory at the transfiguration of Christ. No question, they had come from the heavenly courts to inspire the Son of God to go ahead with His supreme sacrifice for the human race. The verse 31 of Luke 9 reports that Moses and Elijah spoke with Christ concerning His death which He should accomplish at Jerusalem.
Beloved, the destiny of the entire human race was centred on the atoning death of Christ that He should accomplish at Jerusalem. Should the Son of God refuse to go through with His sacrifice, the seed of Adam was doomed to destruction. Moses and Elijah who had been given advance passport to heaven pleaded with Christ on behalf of the human race. Should Christ refuse to go through this sacrifice, even their own stay in heaven was to be cut short. This is because no one enters into the city of God on their own merits but rather on the merits of Christ's sacrifice at Calvary.
On the mount of transfiguration, Elijah and Moses represented the two classes of people who will enter the city of God because of what Christ had done for the human race. Elijah is a figure of all those who will live to see Jesus come the second time. Like Elijah, these saints of God will be translated into heaven without seeing death. Moses on the other hand represents all the saints of God who will be resurrected from the dead, and taken into the city of God in heaven (see Luke 14:13-14; Revelation 20:4-6; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
Thus friends, when Christ raised Moses from the dead on the mountain of Nebo, He clearly made the devil to understand that through His supreme sacrifice for mankind, all those who believed in Him will one day be resurrected and taken into the city of God just like His servant Moses. Moses, even though experienced death, is one of the few humans who live in the presence of God today. And beloved, it is important for us to note that this humble servant of God was resurrected before entering into the city of God in heaven.
iTHE RESURRECTED SAINTS
(Matthew 27:50-53)
The passage from Matthew 27 makes it clear that some dead saints were resurrected when the earth quaked at the death of Christ. These saints, we are told came out of their graves after Christ's resurrection on Sunday morning. They went into the Holy City; that is Jerusalem, and showed themselves unto many people. In other words, these resurrected saints, some of whom possibly wrote about the coming Messiah, went into the Holy city and testified that Christ was the Saviour to come and that He had been resurrected from the dead. The Bible provides a clear insight as to what happened to these saints after their resurrection. From Ephesians 4:8, we read the following in relation to the resurrected saints: "That is why the Scriptures say, When he ascended to the heights, he led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to his people" (NLT).
Friends, these saints ascended with Christ into heaven after our Saviour's forty days sojourn here with His disciples. Our Lord took them to heaven to present them to the Father as trophies or first fruits of the great harvest that will accompany Him later on into the city of God as a result of His sacrifice for mankind. It is important to once again note that these saints who accompanied Christ to heaven were resurrected before they could ascend with the Lord into the city of the living God.
Beloved, the above examples all go a long way to prove the point that it is only the living that dwell in the presence of God. Christ rightly stated that our God is not a God of the dead, but of the living (Luke 20:38). It is only the living that dwell in His presence. Just like David, the righteous dead has not ascended up into heaven yet (see Acts 2:29, 34). They rest in their graves awaiting the glorious resurrection to come at the second coming of Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:16).
It is my sincere prayer that the Lord will continue to shed more light on His word as we diligently seek after His truth.
Stay blessed and keep shining for King Jesus.Preparing God's People for the Second Coming of Christ.
OUR GOD IS NOT A GOD OF THE DEAD, BUT OF THE LIVING.
In answer to a trick question by the Sadducees on the resurrection of the dead (see Luke 20:27-33), Jesus gave very important insights about the nature of God. From (Luke 20:34-38).
From the passage, we learn that those who will be accounted worthy to obtain the glorious world to come will first have to be resurrected. This is because our God is not "a God of the dead, but of the living: and that all who dwell in His presence "live unto Him" (Luke 20:38). This passage above clearly helps us to understand that the dead do not reside in the presence of the Lord. Rather, it is the living that do reside in God's presence. The righteous dead rest in their graves to await the glorious resurrection at the second coming of Christ when their corruptible bodies will be changed into incorruptible immortal bodies (1 Corinthians 15:50-55). Friends, it is only after the resurrection that the righteous dead can live in the presence of the living God.
In contrast to the popular teaching that is making rounds in Christendom that the spirits of the righteous dead reside in the presence of God, Scripture actually make it clear that it is the living who reside in the presence of God in heaven. The Bible records the account of some few persons who were given the precious privilege to be taken into heaven ahead of the general provision that God has made for the righteous at the end of time (John 5:28-29; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). The incredible stories about these righteous folk who now reside in heaven.
i) ENOCH
5:24 AND ENOCH WALKED WITH GOD: AND HE WAS NOT; FOR GOD TOOK HIM." (Genesis 5:21-24)
"BY FAITH ENOCH WAS TRANSLATED THAT HE SHOULD NOT SEE DEATH; AND WAS NOT FOUND, BECAUSE GOD HAD TRANSLATED HIM: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God" (Hebrews 11:5).
Friends, we learn from the books of Genesis and Hebrews that Enoch did not see death, for God took him. Enoch now lives in the presence of God in heaven. It is important for us to note that Enoch was alive before he was taken to heaven.
ii) ELIJAH
2:11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; AND ELIJAH WENT UP BY A WHIRLWIND INTO HEAVEN.
(2 Kings 2:9-12)
The passage in 2 Kings above clearly indicates that Elijah was also privileged to be taken by God into heaven. He was also alive before being escorted by the chariots of God (angels; see Psalm 68:17) into heaven.
iii) MOSES
34:7 And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated." (Deuteronomy 34:1-7)
The passage above clearly indicates that Moses died on the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah. But we come across another passage in Romans that show us that something drastic happened to Moses after his death. From Romans 5:14, we read the following from the apostle Paul: "Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come."
Friends, the text above clearly tells us that the power or victory that death seemed to have over the human race was broken at the death of Moses. Death had reigned right from Adam's time over the children of men. But somehow, death did not reign over the body of Moses because this humble servant of God was resurrected by Christ and taken into the presence of God in heaven.
You might say how do you know this for sure? Well beloved, the Bible gives us further light into the case of Moses. From the book of Jude, we read the following in relation to the death of Moses: "Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee" (Jude 1:9).
Beloved, something unprecedented happened when Moses died. Satan, through the ages had claimed all the dead right from Adam as his captives. He had accused them before the universe as not deserving of life because of the sins they had committed in their lifetime. At the death of Moses, the devil thought he had got another captive. However, Michael (who is actually Jesus Christ; see Revelation 12:7-9; Jude 1:9; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; John 5:28-29) descended from heaven and challenged the devil that not all the dead are actually his. At the spot where Moses lay, Christ made Satan to understand that there were some men and women who like Moses had repented of their sins; they had believed in the atoning sacrifice of the Redeemer to come (Genesis 3:15; Colossians 1:14) - and hence such people among the dead were not to be considered his captives. After Christ had made the devil to understand this important point, He went ahead to raise Moses from the dead. The devil could not do anything about it because Christ, the Creator God (see John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:16) was at work.
ELIJAH AND MOSES ON THE MOUNT OF TRANSFIGURATION
Friends, there is another proof in Scripture that shows that Elijah and Moses are alive in heaven today. We find this account in the gospels of Luke and Matthew.
(Luke 9:28-36, see also Matthew 17:1-13)
Friends, the Scripture details clearly state that Moses and Elijah showed up in glory at the transfiguration of Christ. No question, they had come from the heavenly courts to inspire the Son of God to go ahead with His supreme sacrifice for the human race. The verse 31 of Luke 9 reports that Moses and Elijah spoke with Christ concerning His death which He should accomplish at Jerusalem.
Beloved, the destiny of the entire human race was centred on the atoning death of Christ that He should accomplish at Jerusalem. Should the Son of God refuse to go through with His sacrifice, the seed of Adam was doomed to destruction. Moses and Elijah who had been given advance passport to heaven pleaded with Christ on behalf of the human race. Should Christ refuse to go through this sacrifice, even their own stay in heaven was to be cut short. This is because no one enters into the city of God on their own merits but rather on the merits of Christ's sacrifice at Calvary.
On the mount of transfiguration, Elijah and Moses represented the two classes of people who will enter the city of God because of what Christ had done for the human race. Elijah is a figure of all those who will live to see Jesus come the second time. Like Elijah, these saints of God will be translated into heaven without seeing death. Moses on the other hand represents all the saints of God who will be resurrected from the dead, and taken into the city of God in heaven (see Luke 14:13-14; Revelation 20:4-6; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
Thus friends, when Christ raised Moses from the dead on the mountain of Nebo, He clearly made the devil to understand that through His supreme sacrifice for mankind, all those who believed in Him will one day be resurrected and taken into the city of God just like His servant Moses. Moses, even though experienced death, is one of the few humans who live in the presence of God today. And beloved, it is important for us to note that this humble servant of God was resurrected before entering into the city of God in heaven.
iTHE RESURRECTED SAINTS
(Matthew 27:50-53)
The passage from Matthew 27 makes it clear that some dead saints were resurrected when the earth quaked at the death of Christ. These saints, we are told came out of their graves after Christ's resurrection on Sunday morning. They went into the Holy City; that is Jerusalem, and showed themselves unto many people. In other words, these resurrected saints, some of whom possibly wrote about the coming Messiah, went into the Holy city and testified that Christ was the Saviour to come and that He had been resurrected from the dead. The Bible provides a clear insight as to what happened to these saints after their resurrection. From Ephesians 4:8, we read the following in relation to the resurrected saints: "That is why the Scriptures say, When he ascended to the heights, he led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to his people" (NLT).
Friends, these saints ascended with Christ into heaven after our Saviour's forty days sojourn here with His disciples. Our Lord took them to heaven to present them to the Father as trophies or first fruits of the great harvest that will accompany Him later on into the city of God as a result of His sacrifice for mankind. It is important to once again note that these saints who accompanied Christ to heaven were resurrected before they could ascend with the Lord into the city of the living God.
Beloved, the above examples all go a long way to prove the point that it is only the living that dwell in the presence of God. Christ rightly stated that our God is not a God of the dead, but of the living (Luke 20:38). It is only the living that dwell in His presence. Just like David, the righteous dead has not ascended up into heaven yet (see Acts 2:29, 34). They rest in their graves awaiting the glorious resurrection to come at the second coming of Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:16).
It is my sincere prayer that the Lord will continue to shed more light on His word as we diligently seek after His truth.
Stay blessed and keep shining for King Jesus.Preparing God's People for the Second Coming of Christ.
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