Few Find the Way.

2Ti 4:1  I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom

I have a question, if the living (quick) and the dead (not living) will be judged at the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ- who exactly is He judging? 

What do I mean? The living and the dead cover everybody who was ever lived from Adam to the baby born a moment before His return, right?

Let me rephrase the question- how can the Lord Jesus Christ judge the dead if… they… are… not… dead?

What do I mean?

The majority of people believe that death is just another way of living, don't they?

Raise your hand if you've been taught that when you die you are instantly living in the world of those who have died. You've either gone to heaven, or an place of torture, or you've gone to a waiting/working place until you can get to heaven.  In this place you've gone you can still witness all your loved ones till living in the flesh and some believe you can help those still living in the flesh.

Keep your hand raised if you believe in some sort of after death instant life- reincarnation, paradise, etc.

People have sought proof of this instant life after dying, and they say they have the proof from various people who have died and come back to life. Some of these people tell about the wondrous heaven they've encountered. Some talk about walking to a light. Some say they've seen themselves dead as they left their bodies and all this proves that they'll live again as soon as they die.

Let me ask my original question again in light of all we've just talked about.

Let me rephrase the question- how can the Lord Jesus Christ judge the dead if… they… are… not… dead?

If we are either only living in the flesh or living in the non-flesh form we're given immediately upon dying, then we are all alive in one form or another, aren't we?

And if we are told the Lord Jesus Christ will raise the dead upon His return, isn't that odd? What is He raising them from if they are all already raised? Seriously, what is He raising up?

And how could David still be among us in his grave having never received his reward, if he was brought into a new form of life right after he died?

1Th_4:16  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first

Act 2:25  For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: 

Act 2:26  Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: 

Act 2:27  Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 

Act 2:28  Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. 

Act 2:29  Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. 

Act 2:30  Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; 

Act 2:31  He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. 

Act 2:32  This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. 

Act 2:33  Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. 

Act 2:34  For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, 

Act 2:35  Until I make thy foes thy footstool. 

Abel all the way down to Samuel, David, the prophets… have NOT received the promise.

Heb 11:39  And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: 

Heb 11:40  God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect

They- all those who died in Christ- would not be made perfect without all those who haven't died in Christ, but are Christ's.

Why does it all matter?

I was recently told that believing you go right to heaven upon death isn't such a big deal.

No, it isn't such a big deal if you want to believe that Jesus Christ died for no reason.

Seriously. Why would Jesus have had to come to earth in the flesh and suffer if people just automatically go on to live upon death already? If a system was already set up for people to live in heaven, why die?  Where is the significance of death if you just live? Where is the significance in Jesus dying if it only means as soon as He died He lived in a new form? We talk about believing that when Jesus died for some reason He didn't instantly live again like others, He stayed in His grave - why, how, if that's not how death works? Why did He tell His disciple Mary not to touch Him until He'd ascended to the Father? That makes absolutely no sense whatsoever if Jesus died and instantly took on His new form and went to heaven, instantly meeting God. That's not what happened though, He didn't go instantly in a new form like most believe everyone does, to a new spirit life. 

And why, please tell me why, Jesus would bring a person back to life from death if they've suffered through the worst of life-dying- and entered their new and much better life?

IT MAKES NO SENSE and IT DOES MATTER A LOT because, if we believe a lie we are DECEIVED.  If we choose deception over truth whose side are we really on?

Ignorance of the truth is one thing, coming face to face with the truth and turning from it is another.

Everything makes perfect sense if the dead truly are just that- dead (not living). If the breath of life given to them returns to God, and they sleep in the dust of the earth until Christ returns to raise them to life out of that dust, is makes perfect sense. Christ raising from the grave is so much more a miracle when we realize the dead aren't raised from the grave automatically, but only by a special dispensation. That is why it is remarkable when we read about the very few who have been raised from the dead.  That is why a body couldn't be found for Enoch, Elijah… Jesus, because they'd been raised from the dead- their entire body raised and then transformed, or simply taken while still alive. That is why so many remarkable men and women of God have not received that promise yet, they are still in the dust of the earth- or else we would read about how they have received their promised reward.

It's important, it really is, because Satan used it as his first lie to deceive Eve.

Gen 3:2  And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 

Gen 3:3  But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. 

Gen 3:4  And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die

What would it matter if she died if it meant a better life for her?

Why was death something to fear, if it means a better life?

Death is an end to existence and that end is ONLY temporary until our Savior returns and wakes us up-  some to life and some to another death.

Rev 20:6  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power

Dan 12:1  And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. 

Dan 12:2  And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 

Who exactly are sleeping in the dust of the earth that need waking up, if they are already and have already been awake this whole time- in a new form?

 Are we to allow ourselves to be deceived by the same lie that Satan told Eve which set us on a course of sin, or are we going to believe the truth, and recognize our need of a Savior for our salvation. Are we going to believe that eternal life is to be lived in Christ upon His return for all of His people- living and dead? Are we going to believe the we will receive the promise along with all the others that are Christ's, all of us together, or believe the lies of Satan.  Is our hope in Christ and salvation offered through Him or do we place our hope in Satan's lie and live for the lie he offers?

It matters.  Truth matters.

We must remember this--

Mat 24:24  For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. 

Great signs and wonders will be used to deceive people… and they will be so great that if God didn't intervene through the Holy Spirit- that even the very elect - those who are God's, would be deceived.

When you say you witness a loved one in spirit form - communicating with you - please know that a whole hoard of evil spirits can do many things to perpetuate deception.

2Co_11:14  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

Hold fast to truth, always seek truth! Do not believe in comfortable, soothing lies just because they've been handed down to you, and just because the majority believe the lies.

Mat_7:14  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Mat_7:13  Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat

And…

Mat 7:21  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 

Mat 7:22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 

Mat 7:23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

God help us ALL.

All in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, NOW and FOREVER!!!!!!!

May we be truly Yours, Lord, truly Yours!

All glory, power, honor, praise, all thanksgiving unto you LORD, always!

Amen.