(see a member of the office staff for the online directory logon and password)

 
 

Last Things

The Immortality of the Soul

2 Tim. 1:8-12

      In the earliest times Job asked, "If a man dies, will he live again?" (14:4) There are any number of answers to that question:

·        Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, On Death and Dying, observing the terminally ill, said, "I do not simply believe in life after death.  I know there is life after death."

·        There are those who have reported to me personally that they have had "out-of-body" experiences: a dark tunnel, bright light at the end, seeing Jesus. Ray Moody in Life After Life. (I have not been convinced by these "resuscitation" stories.)

·        Materialists, who like the Sadducees did not believe in life after death; this life is all there is

·        There are many today who espouse the idea of "reincarnation":  that one continuously lives and is reborn in another life form after death

The Bible is our source of truth on the matter and on every matter

Man Has A Soul or Spirit from God

·        Gen. 1:26-28  man, made in God's image, is unlike any other creature made by God

·        Heb. 12:9  God is the "father of our spirits"--God Himself is a spirit being John 4:24

·        James 2:26  Death is the separation of the body and the spirit

·        Matt. 10:28 Fear God who can destroy both body and soul in hell

·        1 Thess. 5:23 Salvation is of the body, soul and spirit--our spirits are more than just the breath of our bodies

The Bible teaches that Man's Spirit Survives Death

·        Eccl. 12:7 "then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it."  He is not here speaking of one's breath

·        Luke 23:43,46  "Truly I say to you, today, you shall be with me in Paradise."  Three hours later, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "Father, into Thy hands I commit my spirit."  And having said this, He breathed His last."  Spirit and breath are not the same!!

·        2 Cor. 5:6-8 "absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord."

·        Phil. 1:21-24  "to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better."

·        Luke 16:19ff  Lazarus and the rich man both had conscious existence after this life is over

The Bible says that Men Choose Their Eternal Destiny

·        John 5:28-29  the coming resurrection of all

·        Rom. 2:6-11 God is impartial and will judge all men fairly on the basis of how they live and whether they respond to the grace of God!

·        2 Cor. 5:10 "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad."

You today are making choices of how you will live and whether or not you will respond in obedience to the grace of Christ. The decisions you make in this life will determine whether our eternity is a paradise or a hell.

·        Matt. 25:34 "Come, you who are blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."

·        Matt. 25:41 "Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels."

Every man, woman, boy and girl will one day face God--I pray that it will be with joy and blessing.

      It has truly been amazing to me what people have done to prepare for the future: life insurance, last will and testament, arrangements with a funeral home, and trusts for our children and grandchildren. A cabinetmaker built a casket for himself and displayed it on his front porch. How foolish it would be to have prepared for all these things and then to have neglected to prepare our souls for heaven!

What Happens At Death?

"If a man dies, will he live again?” (Job 14:14)

The Brevity of Life:

·        James 4:13-17 your life is a vapor that appears for a little while

·        Job 16:22 For when a few years are past,  I shall go the way of no return.

·        Ps. 89:47,48 Remember what my span of life is; For what vanity Thou hast created all the sons of men!  What man can live and not see death? Can he deliver his soul from the power of Sheol?          

·        Psalm 39:4-6 LORD, make me to know my end, And what is the extent of my days, Let me know how transient I am.  Behold, Thou hast made my days as handbreadths, And my lifetime as nothing in Thy sight, Surely every man at his best is a mere breath. Selah. Surely every man walks about as a phantom; surely they make an uproar for nothing; He amasses riches, and does not know who will gather them.

·        Ps. 90:10-12 As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years, Or if due to strength, eighty years, Yet their pride is but labor and sorrow; For soon it is gone and we fly away. Who understands the power of Thine anger, And Thy fury, according to the fear that is due Thee?  So teach us to number our days, That we may present to Thee a heart of wisdom.

·        Ps. 144:4 Man is like a mere breath; His days are like a passing shadow.

God Knows the Length of Our Days

      Psalm 139:16 Thine eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Thy book they were all written, The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them.

      Job 14:5 "Since his days are determined,  The number of his months is with Thee,  And his limits Thou hast set so that he cannot pass.

      Heb. 9:27 And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment.

The Meaning of Death

      The word “death” means “separation.”  It is the end of life and the loss of all vital functions.  It takes place physically when the spirit (or soul) separates from the body (James 2:26; 1 Kings 17:21,22). Genesis describes the death of Rachel:  “And it came about as her soul was departing (for she died), that she named him Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin. So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem)” (Gen. 35:18,19).  The Bible regards a live person differently than a dead body.  Notice the references to Dorcas in life and in death (Acts 9:36-42).  While dead, the references are not to “her” but to a “body.”  We cannot have physical life and death at the same time (Phil. 1:20-23). Death is the result of sin (Gen. 3:16ff.; Rom. 5:12).

Uses of the Word “Death”

1.      Physical Death  (Matt. 20:18; Luke 2:26)

2.      Evil Living  (Rom. 8:6; 1 Tim. 5:6)

3.      Spiritual Death in Sin (Col. 2:13) because one is separated from God (Isa. 59:1,2; Eph. 2:1, 11-12)

4.      Spiritual Death to Sin (Rom. 6:1-6)  we are no longer alive to sinful living

5.      Second Death, which is the lake of fire or hell (Rev. 2:11; 20:14; 21:8)

Assurance of Life after Death

There are some things about which we will never know in this life.

(Eccl. 3:11; Deut. 29:29)

Old Testament Passages Which Teach Life after Death

      Deut. 32:29   "Would that they were wise, that they understood this, That they would discern their future!

      Psalm 17:15 As for me, I shall behold Thy face in righteousness; I will be satisfied with Thy likeness when I awake.

      Eccl. 12:7 then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.

      Isa. 26:19 Your dead will live; Their corpses will rise.  You who lie in the dust, awake and shout for joy, For your dew is as the dew of the dawn, And the earth will give birth to the departed spirits.

      Job 3:17-19 "There the wicked cease from raging, And there the weary are at rest. The prisoners are at ease together; they do not hear the voice of the taskmaster.  The small and the great are there, and the slave is free from his master.”

      Job 19:26,27 "Even after my skin is destroyed, Yet from my flesh I shall see God; Whom I myself shall behold, And whom my eyes shall see and not another.  My heart faints within me.

      2 Sam 12:23   "But now he has died; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me."

      Dan. 12:2  "And many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt.

New Testament Passages Which Teach Life after Death

1.      Jesus’ Teaching in the Gospel of John

      John 4:36; 5:28,29; 6:40,44,54; 10:28; 11:25,26; 12:25; 14:19; 17:2,3

2.   Other passages

      Acts 13:48

      Rom. 2:6-10

       2 Tim. 1:10 our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel

When Jesus Comes Again:

1.     Jesus will find wickedness and unfaithfulness on earth (Lk. 17:26-30; 18:8).

2.     The dead will hear his voice and be raised—both the righteous and the unrighteous. (John 5:25-29; 1 Thess. 4:13-17).

3.     This will be the end of death (1 Cor. 15:26,55; Rev. 20:14).

4.     Living Christians will be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye to have an immortal body (1 Cor. 15:51ff.)

5.     Then Christians will be caught up to be with the Lord in the air and ever be with Him there (1 Thess. 4:16-17).

6.     God will take vengeance in flaming fire upon those who do not know God and upon those who do not obey the gospel (2 Thess. 1:7-9).

7.     The earth and its works will be burned up (2 Pet. 3:10-12; Matt. 24:35; Rev. 20:11.).

8.     The devil’s work will end, and his torment will begin (Matt. 25:41; Rev. 20:10).

9.     Christ will be glorified in his saints (2 Thess. 1:10-12).

10. All people will be gathered before the great white throne and separated—the righteous from the unrighteous (Rev. 20:11-15; Matt. 25:31-46; John 5:22; 2 Tim. 4:1).  The “day of salvation” will have passed (2 Cor. 6:1,2).

11. Each person will stand before the judgment seat of Christ and be judged according to his works (Rom. 14:10; 2 Cor. 5:10; Rev. 20:12-15).

12. Christ will deliver up the kingdom to God (1 Cor. 15:23-24).

13. The unrighteous will be cast into the lake that burns with fire and brimstone (Rev. 20:14,15; 21:8; 22:15).

14. The righteous, whose names are in the Lamb’s book of life, whose robes are washed, will enter the city and have a right to eat of the tree of life  (John 5:29; Rev. 22:14; cf. 1 Pet. 1:3-5; John 14:1-3).  We will enter the place he has prepared for us.

Christians should be:

·        looking for His coming and preparing ourselves (2 Pet. 3:12).

·        eagerly waiting His coming for His coming (1 Cor. 1:7; 1 Thess. 1:10; James 5:7).

·        continuing to endure until it happens (Matt. 25:1-13).

·        doing what is necessary to prepare for His coming (Matt. 24:44; 25:14-30).

·        love His appearing (2 Tim. 4:8); rejoice at His coming (1 Pet. 4:13).

·        those who refuse to obey will be afraid and mourn (Heb. 10:31; Rev. 1:7; 6:15-17).

The Second Coming of Christ

Acts 1:6-11

Godet said the history of the world in its essential character is summed up in three sayings: He is coming; He has come; and He is coming again. We live between two visits of the Lord. The first is history; the second is prophecy. (Heb. 9:27,28)

The Certainty of His Coining

·        John 14:1-3 “If it were not so, I would have told you”

·        Acts 1:6-11 He will come in the same manner as you see Him ascending

·        1 Cor 11:26 our supper proclaims His death “until He comes”

The Manner of His Coming

·        Personal “this Jesus” (Acts 1:6-11) “I will come again” (John 14:1-3)

·        Audible (1 Thess. 4:16)

·        Visible (Rev. 1:7; 1 John 3:2)

·        In the clouds (Acts 1:9-11; 1 Thess. 4:16-18)

·        Jesus will not set foot on the earth (2 Pet. 3:7)

·        In the glory of God and the angels and fire (Matt. 16:27; 25:31; 2 Thess. 1:5-9; Tit 2:11-14; Heb. 9:27,28)

The Time of His Coming

·        Malt 24:35-25:13 Jesus himself does not know the day nor hour

·        1 Thess. 5:1-5 “like a thief in the night” (no one knows when a thief comes)

·        2 Pet. 3:3-10 “like a thief in the night” (unexpected)

What He Will Do

·        Sound the Trumpet: 1 Thess. 4:16; 1 Cor. 15:52

·        Christ will appear in Glory with His angels: Acts 1:9-11; Rev. 1:7

·        Christ will bring back with Him those who have Died: 1 Thess 4:13-17

·        The Dead will be raised: John 5:28,29; 1 Car. 15:20-23; 1 These. 4:13-18

·        Resurrected Saints and changed, living Christians will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air: 1 Thess. 4:15-17; Malt. 24:40,41; 1 Cor. 15:52

·        Judgment:   1 Tim. 4:1; Matt. 25:3146; Rev. 20:11-15; Malt. 7:21-23.

·        The Earth and Its Works to Be Burned up 2 Pet. 3:10-15; Heb. 1:10,1 1; Malt. 24:34, 35.

·        Christ will Deliver His Kingdom to the Father: 1 Cor. 15:23-28

·        Christians will receive their inheritance: 1 Car. 15:50; 1 Pet. 1:3-5

·        Those whose names are not written in the Lamb’s Book of Life will be cast in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone: Rev. 20:11-15

The Judgment

By What Will We Be Judged

·        By the Word of God John 12:48;Rom.2:16; Rev. 20:12;James2:12

·        By our words Matt. 12:32-37; Jude 15

·        By our thoughts Matt. 5:22,28; Eccl. 12:14; Jer. 17:10; Rev. 2:23

·        By our actions Malt. 10:43; Rom. 2:5-11; 2 Cor. 5:10; Rev. 20:llff.; Eccl. 12:13; Rev. 1l:18;22:12;Matt. 25:31-46;Matt. 16:27; Gal. 6:7,8

·        By our secrets Rom. 2:16; 1 Cor. 4:5; Mk. 4:22

·        By sins of omission  James 4:13-17

·         By the use of talents            Malt. 25:14-30; Lk. 19:12-27; John 15:5-8

All People Will Be Judged

·        The dead and the living 2 Tim. 4:1; 1 Pet. 4:5; Rev. 20:12

·        All will be gathered Malt. 25:31-33; Heb. 9:27; 12:23; Eccl. 3:17

·        Those who do not believe Mark 16:16; John 3:18; John 8:24

·        Those who do not believe the truth 2 Thess. 2:12

·        Angels will be judged 2 Pet. 2:4; Jude 6; 1 Cor. 6:3

·        Fornicators and adulterers Heb. 13:4

·        Judgment will begin with the house of God 1 Pet. 4:17

·        Satan was judged by the death of Jesus John 12:31; 16:8-11

·        Against all ungodliness and unrighteousness Rom. 1:18; John 3:19,36

How God Will Judge Various People

·        Teachers will receive a stricter judgment James 3:1; Mk. 12:38-40

·        Those who know the will of God will receive greater punishment Lk. 12:42-48

·        Those who neglect advantages increase condemnation Mt. 11:20-24; Lk. 11:29-32

·        Those who turn from God will be punished worse than unbelievers 2 Pet. 2:20-22

·        God judges impartially Rom. 2:11; Acts 10:34; Col. 3:25

·        God judges righteously 1 Pet. 2:23; Rev. 16:17; 19:2; 2 Tim. 4:8; Ps. 98:9; Acts 17:3 1

·        God rewards the righteous 2 Tim. 4:8; Heb. 10:35-38

·        God will punish the wicked Malt. 13:40-42; 25:46; Heb. 10:26-31

·        How God will punish heathens Rom. 2:12-15

·        How God will judge the Jews Rom. 2:15

·        The religiously deceived and deceiving Matt. 7:21-27; Tit. 3:10,11; 1 Pet. 2:7,8; 2 Pet. 2:1-10

The Place of Christ in the Judgment

·        God gave judgment into the hands of Christ John 5:22; Acts 10:42; 17:31.

·   Jesus first came not to judge but to save John 3:17; 12:47

·        But his coming separates the good from the evil and thereby judges Mt. 10:34; Jn. 9:39

·        The work of Christ prior to Judgment Heb. 7:24; 1 Tim. 2:3-6; 1 John 2:1,2

The Day of Judgment is called

·        Day of God 2 Pet. 3:12

·        Day of the Lord 2 Pet. 3:10; 1 Thess. 5:2 Lord Jesus 1 Cor. 5:5; 1:8

·        Day of Christ Phil. 2:16

·        That Day 2Thess. 1:10

·        The last day Jn. 12:48

·        The great day Jude 6

·        Day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God Rom. 2:5

·        Great day of their wrath Rev. 6:17

·        Great day of Almighty God Rev. 16:14

·        Day of Judgment 1 John 4:17; Matt. 10:15; 11:22,24; 12:36; Mk. 6:11; 2 Pet. 2:9; 3:7

·        Day of visitation 1 Pet. 2:12

Who will be in the Judgment?

Acts 17:30,31

      Man's most urgent task is to prepare to meet God. Judgment day is the great day of all; it is the culmination and consummation of the Christian system and the eternal purpose of God. The thought of such a day is often vague and "far off"; we are too prone to live for today. Eccl. 8:11 says, "Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed quickly, therefore the hearts of the sons of men among them are given fully to do evil." The certainty of just such a day is proven by the resurrection; that day truly is the "last day." John 6:44 says we will be raised on the "last day." John 12:48 says the words of Jesus will judge men at the "last day."

Who will be In the Judgment?

·        Rev. 20:11-15  every person great and small of all ages

·        Jude 14,15  the ungodly will be judged

·        Matt. 7:21-23 religious people who practice lawlessness

·        1 Cor. 4:5  secret sins will be brought to light

·        Luke 10:13-15 those who have lived beneath their opportunities; some have had many opportunities but never grasped them.

·        Matt. 13:41 those who are in the church (cf. 1 Pet. 4:17,18; Rom. 14:10-12)

·        Matt. 5:7; James 2:13 the merciful and the unmerciful

·        Matt. 25:31-46 those who have done good and those who have neglected to do good

·        2 Thess. 1:7-9 those who know not God and those who do not obey the gospel

Christ Will Be There As Our Savior and Our Judge

      1. We can rejoice in the fact that He knows and loves us

      2. What will matter is if we are in His kingdom, the church, if we have been washed by His blood, if we have been faithful, and if our name is written in the Lamb's book of Life

      3. God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34; Rom. 2:6-11)

      4. Gen. 18:25  "Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?"  Favoritism or emotional outcries will not sway God. 

6.      Each one will receive according to his works (Rom. 14:12; 2 Cor. 5:10; Rev. 20:11-15).

Is Man Reincarnated?

Heb. 9:27

      1. Reincarnation is a doctrine found in both the East and the West: Among the Eastern religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikism.  They believe that our "karma" in this life determines whether we will have a good next life. Buddhists recycle 49 days after death. In Western philosophy, Pythagoras was the first to suggest reincarnation.  Plato in his Republic believed that the recycling took place in groups of fifty and that each one chose what form he was to take.

    &