Resurrection | Afterlife | Conditional Immortality, Soul Sleep and Annihilationism

Paradise

August 8, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Recently, my pastor and his family went on vacation, and he asked me and my family to house-sit their residence. It was an interesting experience. His house is much larger, and in a much nicer neighbourhood than any I have lived in. When I went on my daily walks, I found myself contemplating the beauty and orderliness and spaciousness of the neighbourhood. I was not exactly envious – God has taken care of me and mine; I have never had a reason to complain. But I could not help but be struck by the extravagance of it all.

As I was musing over this one morning on one of my walks, I found myself praying to God. He asked me to take a good look at all this wealth, blessing and provision. Then he asked me to imagine myself (as he often does) a million years into the future. Looking back on those few days in the pastor’s neighbourhood helps me to keep things in perspective. It helps me to realize that my entire life is simply a short temporary stay in (as it were) a borrowed house. What my Father has in store for me, when I get where he wants me, will be so magnificent that those few days among the well-off will seem like slumming. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotional, Resurrection, Uncategorized, What's New

victory through resurrection

April 17, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Devotional Thoughts from 1 Corinthians 15.

Republished from marmsky.wordpress.com with permission

It is clear from what Paul says in this chapter that some in the Corinthian churches were trying to downplay the doctrine of the resurrection. Paul encourages the Corinthians to continue to preach it, because the victory that the believer has is the resurrection. If you take away the resurrection, Christianity is an empty religion with no real hope, and believers are “of all people most to be pitied” (19). The reason is that all human beings are born mortal. We have a death sentence hanging over us because of Adam’s rebellion. We imitate Adam by being creatures who return to the dust. But the resurrection gives us an opportunity to imitate Christ, the man from heaven (48). This will happen at the last trumpet, when Christ returns (52-53). The resurrection is our victory.

LORD, give us the courage and the wisdom to keep preaching the resurrection.

Filed Under: Conditional Immortality, Devotional, Resurrection, What's New Tagged With: 1 Corinthians 15, Bible Standard, mortal, Resurrection

from temporary to permanent

April 16, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Devotional Thoughts from 2 Corinthians 4:1-5:10.

Republished from marmsky.wordpress.com with permission

The context of Paul’s earthly tent passage is Paul’s jars of clay passage. He is defending his speaking ministry by saying that he speaks by faith, “knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence” (4:14). His faith is not in a conscious intermediate state, but in the resurrection from the dead. He does not want to be found naked (the intermediate state) but to be clothed with immortal life at the resurrection (5:4). Since he has this hope, he is able to face tribulation and death confidently, knowing that anything he faces in this life is but a “light momentary affliction” (4:17). His hope is in a permanent “building from God” (5:1).

LORD, we put our faith in you, and confidently expect you to bring us out of this temporary state and into a permanent one.

Filed Under: Conditional Immortality, Devotional, Resurrection, What's New Tagged With: Conditional Immortality, jars of clay

Resurrection Revealed by Beryl Ching Final Part: RESURRECTION IN THE APOCALYPSE FDTL 48

April 1, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

continued from Part 15

General Resurrection

In proclaiming Himself to John the Apostle in the vision on Patmos, one of the things the Lord said about Himself was, “{I} have the keys of hell and of death” (Rev. 1:18). He was thus informing John, and the churches, of His power to release those who had died, from the bonds of death.

In each of the letters to the seven churches in Revelation chapters two and three, promises are made to overcomers which can only become true through the resurrection of those addressed, as all of them are now dead. In addition, to the church of Smyrna He says, “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life” (2:10). What is this, but a promise that if they die as martyrs for the faith, there will be a resurrection?

In Revelation 11:18 we find the words, “The time of the dead, that they should be judged (is come)”. The verse goes on to say that God’s servants, prophets, and saints, will be rewarded, and that those who destroy the earth will be destroyed. Obviously this judgement cannot take place unless there is a resurrection first. [Read more...]

Filed Under: From Death To Life, Publications, Resurrection, Theology, What's New

the gospel on trial

March 4, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Devotional Thoughts from Acts 25:1-26:32.

Republished from marmsky.wordpress.com with permission

During his two years in prison at Caesarea, Paul had opportunity to defend his actions against the accusations of his Jewish antagonists. In doing so, Paul makes it clear that the gospel message he has preached is really what is on trial. He outlines that gospel message this way. God calls upon all people to repent (26:20), to surrender to his will for their sanctification (26:18), to obey his word by proving their faith with works (26:20). God promises present forgiveness (26:18), and a future resurrection to eternal life (25:19; 26:6-8, 23). That is the hope which Paul proclaimed.

LORD, give us the courage to proclaim your gospel, and the understanding to proclaim the whole gospel.

Filed Under: Devotional, Resurrection, What's New

The Dead who Die in the Lord

December 30, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

Devotional Thoughts from Rev. 14.

Republished from marmsky.wordpress.com with permission

John in exile on Patmos had much time to reflect. He thought about the choices that he had made in his life, and the results of those choices. When he had the choice to give in to the pressures of the idolatrous world around him, he made his choice. He would not drink the wine of Babylon (8). When he had the choice to follow the Lamb wherever he goes (like the 144,000 of his generation who gave their lives for the gospel) he made his choice. No regrets. The voice he heard told him that, like those who died for their faith, he too would rest from his labours, and his deeds will follow him (13). A life spent for Jesus is never wasted.

LORD, thank you for the blessed assurance.

Filed Under: Devotional, Resurrection Tagged With: Resurrection

To Be Like a Tree

December 30, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

Devotional Thoughts from Job 14:7-15. Republished from marmsky.wordpress.com with permission. Job is depressed by the limitations of his mortal life. He imagines what it would be like if he were like a tree. Even after it is cut down, there is hope that the stump might sprout again to new life. He prays that God might hide him in Sheol (the state of death) and then remember him. He imagines God calling, and then his dead body would hear God’s voice and answer. Jesus says that Job’s wish will come true one day (John 5:28-29). We are like trees!

LORD, thank you for the hope of the resurrection.

Filed Under: Devotional, Resurrection Tagged With: Resurrection

resurrection joy, resurrection prayer, resurrection peace

December 29, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

Devotional Thoughts from John 16. Republished from marmsky.wordpress.com with permission

The difference between sorrow and joy for the disciples would be the resurrection (21-22). That event would give them courage to pray in Christ’s name to the Father and have fullness of joy because of that divine connection (23-24). That event would give them courage to face a world of tribulation but still keep their inner peace in Christ (33).

LORD, help us to cling firmly to the resurrection event – that we never lose our joy, our confidence in prayer, or our peace in Christ.

Filed Under: Conditional Immortality, Conditional Immortality and Salvation, Devotional, Resurrection Tagged With: Christ, Jesus, Resurrection, Resurrection of Jesus

Resurrection Revealed Part 15- The Resurrection in the Epistles—Part 2 by Beryl Ching FDTL Iss 47

December 6, 2010 By admin 1 Comment

continued from Part 14
General Resurrection (cont.)

A very precious passage which has been a comfort and encouragement to mourning Christians over the centuries, as it was meant to be, is 1 Thess.4:13-18. In these verses Paul teaches the young Christians in Thessalonica that those who have died since they believed are not lost, and that there will be no difference between them and those who are still alive when Christ returns. The fact that Paul speaks of the last trump is proof that he is not speaking of a saint’s death, but of that day at the end of time when all will be raised. “He says that those who have died will not be left behind; those living will not precede the dead.” In his comment on this passage Ladd adds, “The goal of the Christian existence is not ‘to die and go to heaven’, as it is often expressed, but rather, it is the resurrection of the body at the Second Advent of Christ.” ¹ [Read more...]

G.E.Ladd. Bible Characters and Doctrines. Scripture Union. Vol. 16, Study 29. [↩]

Filed Under: From Death To Life, Resurrection

Words of Comfort by Geo A Brown from pg 77 Bible Standard July 1878

October 21, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

Words of Comfort by Geo A Brown pg 77 Bible Standard July 1878

“Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” 1 Thess. iv. 18.

THE last enemy, death, which is to be destroyed at the judgment day is ever busy in his sphere of desolating the happy homes of loving families, and robbing the social circle of some of its brightest jewels, leaving kindred and friends behind to mourn their absence, and grieve while calling to mind reminiscences of brighter days gone by.

But to such, and to all such, we would say, “Concerning them (the absent ones) which are asleep, that ye sorrow not even as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him… 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: then we which are alive and remain (so, till Christ comes) shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort. one another with these words.” (1 Thess, iv. 13-18.)

Dear beloved ones, we have no cause to grieve: for the foregoing assurance has in it the greatest consolation that ever saluted the lost race of Adam. The fact that we are yet to behold those fair though lifeless forms, and press them to our bosom, real and tangible, all reanimated with life and vigour, but a thousand times brighter and lovelier: hear that same familiar voice in firmer, sweeter tones than when we last heard them, or listen to their sweeter accents while they join in singing the song of the redeemed as they stand with palms of victory in their hands: and while we gaze upon these lovely resurrected, immortalized ones who were’ as near and dear to us as the apple of our eye, that it is the same identical person that we followed to the burying ground, as literal as ever ill the world, and are again restored to us safe and sound, with all the life and beauty of a spiritual existence, far beyond the power of death and the grave, and to remain with us forever, and go no more out into the dismal night of death, to know these things is the greatest consolation and joy.

“Comfort ye one another with these words.” O blessed thought, to be assured of such a restoration! We shall know each other there. And the same familiar forms and faces, glorified. No shadow of immateriality that you never saw nor ever can see, will there be presented for you to recognize; but the same material organism that you can see with your eyes, and recognize with your understanding, This is the work of the resurrection, and is the substance of the Christian’s hope, and affords him the greatest comfort. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bible Standard | Conditional Immortality, Resurrection

The Saints’ Inheritance by Geo. A Brown

October 21, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

Republished from pg 80 The Bible Standard July 1878

THE Apostle says, “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man, the things God hath prepared for them that love Him: but God hath revealed them unto us by His spirit.” The things so mysteriously hidden from the natural mind, are, nevertheless, “revealed” by the “spirit” in the prophecies of the Scripture; still, our minds, as believers, are not always in that advanced state that enables us to receive the indwelling spirit, so as through its teachings to receive and accept the teachings of Divine revelation, on questions of much interest.

Jesus said to His disciples, just before He went away, “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.” Moses wished to see God’s glory, but he was answered, “Thou canst not see My face: for there shall no man see Me and live.”

In our present state, faith is the test of our love to God, and is that by which we are and shall be justified, and for unbelief be condemned. The promises and oath of God are the basis on which faith is built. Faith trusts God to do all He has said, and embraces the idea that “He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.” True, “we now see through a glass darkly,” but in due time, after we have walked by faith, we shall see all things clearly. If we could now see all that we wish to know, it is doubtful if we could “live” any more than Moses could, had his prayer to see God’s glory been answered.

The beloved disciple, John, had such a sight of his glorified Redeemer, on the Isle of Patmos, that he “fell at His feet as one dead.”

The Next ‘You’ Rev. Jefferson Vann FDTL Iss 46

September 22, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

Part of this essay was used as the basis for the sermon at David Burge’s funeral:

Jeff Vann speaking on 1 Cor 15:50-58 at the funeral for David Burge, 10 July 2010 from E†B: ExplainingTheBible.com on Vimeo.

———————————

Law enforcement officers in this age of expanding technology have a number of new tools. Among the most intriguing are age advancement photography programs. Using these programs, one can alter a photograph of someone, and produce a photo of what that someone would look like years later. For example, photos of children who were abducted years ago can now be altered so that the public can see what they would look like today. Many lost children have been found due to this important tool.

Christian believers are also interested in what we will look like in the future, especially the post resurrection future. One of our favourite places to look for snapshots of our post-resurrection selves is 1 Corinthians 15.1 Here, the apostle Paul gives the Corinthian believers some insights into God’s plan for their resurrection. Paul does not do this simply to indulge their curiosity. This doctrinal section is intended to bolster the practical applications he seeks in his letter.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: From Death To Life, Resurrection

Resurrection Revealed Part 14 by Beryl Ching Part 1 FDTL Iss 46

September 22, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

Resurrection in the Epistles- Part 1

General Resurrection

We find God described in Rom. 4:17 as “God, who quickeneth the dead” or as the N.I.V. translates it, “the God who gives life to the dead”. The New Bible Commentary says, “God’s life-giving power is seen in the miracle of Abraham’s procreation of Isaac (19; cf. Heb. xi. 12, ‘and him as good as dead’), by the deliverance of Isaac upon the sacrificial altar (cf. Heb. xi. 19, ‘God was able to raise him up, even from the dead’), and by the resurrection of Christ (24).” As Paul, later in his epistle, speaks of the resurrection of believers, we can assume that he also had in mind the power of God to raise from the dead all those who have faith in Him.

In Rom. 6:4, 5 both Christ’s resurrection and ours are mentioned, because our resurrection depends on Christ’s. Paul points out that we are one with Christ – if we have died with Him, we will also be resurrected with Him. The theme is continued in v. 8 and 9. We can believe that we shall live with Christ, because He, having been raised from the dead, will not die again – death does not have any further dominion over him.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: From Death To Life, Resurrection, Uncategorized

The Mount of Transfiguration Matthew 17:1-9, Mark 9:2-9, Luke 9:28-36 by Warren Prestidge

August 30, 2010 By admin 2 Comments

The Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-9, Mark 9:2-9, Luke 9:28-36) was a “vision” experience (Matt 17:9). This doesn’t necessarily mean it wasn’t objectively real at all. But it does mean that it was the work and gift of God, impossible without God. And in a vision, therefore, anything is possible.

The transfiguration of Jesus was “an anticipatory vision of the glory of Jesus at his resurrection or his parousia (second coming)” (I. H. Marshall). This is clear from the context, where Jesus has just predicted his resurrection, and has just promised that some would see the fulfilment of God’s Kingdom, and where afterwards he forbids the disciples to report the whole thing until he has risen from the dead. Also the description in Matt 17:2 is resurrection/kingdom language (Daniel 12:3, Matthew 13:43). The white clothes, cloud and glory all recall Daniel 7:9-13, where the Son of Man receives the kingdom (see also Revelation 1:16). It is following his resurrection that Jesus entered into his glory, of course (e.g. Luke 24:26, 46, etc. etc.).

We are Going to be Like Jesus by Rev. David W. Davis

January 8, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

Guest post today from Rev. David W. Davis pastor of Sunshine Advent Christian Church. He is sharing with us a devotion for next fall’s edition of the Maranatha Devotions which celebrates 150 years of the Advent Christian denomination.

1 Corinthians 15:35-49

Late in winter avid gardeners prepare potting mix, trays, fertilizer and choose a selection of seeds. Each seed chosen by the gardener is unique, carrying with it the DNA to make its kind–whether a tomato plant, bean bush or cucumber vine. Paul used this analogy from creation to describe what God’s children are going to be—along with other examples: types of flesh (human, animals, birds, fish); celestial bodies (sun, moon, stars, earth); and finally Jesus’ body and our own.

Paul used these arguments because the Corinthians had serious questions for him about the final state of man. These Greeks were uncertain because of the paradox that their philosophy taught them (matter was evil and to be escaped from, the spirit is what really mattered) as contrasted with Paul’s message (God will redeem body and spirit). Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Paul showed the Corinthians that what we are now in the flesh is not what we are going to be, no more than the seeds a gardener plants remain seeds when planted.

Paul knew that Jesus has “abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Timothy 1:10, NRSV). Therefore, though we (unless Jesus returns before we die) are planted into the sleep of death (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) with a body that will return to dust (Genesis 3:19)—perishable, dishonored, weak and physical—the Holy Spirit within us has the spiritual DNA to transform our body at the time of resurrection to one that is imperishable, glorious, powerful and spiritual. Paul says that in the end we will “bear the image of the man of heaven [Jesus]”. The Apostle John agrees as he states, “Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is” (1 John 3:2, NRSV)!

Heavenly Father, please continue your Spirit’s transforming work in me, so that I will be like Jesus (Philippians 1:6).

Filed Under: Resurrection Tagged With: Resurrection

Life Death and the Resurrection #6

October 28, 2009 By admin 3 Comments

Video number six, the final video in the series Life Death and the Resurrection is entitled, ”In the End What?” Here is the outline that goes with the video.

Reading: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

“The public are turning to psychics in droves” (Noel O’Hare). Instead, we must listen to God’s Word (Isa. 8:19-20, 1Thess 4:1-5).

People today are confused. Why?

The Hope of The Righteous (Part 1)

October 7, 2009 By admin 2 Comments

This is the fifth of a series of sermons I am preaching at my church. This one is entitled, The Hope of The Righteous: The Kingdom of God on Earth! (Part 1). It is less directly related to Conditional Immortality – and I know not all conditionalists agree with the main thesis: that the hope of the righteous is still a resurrection to eternal life in the kingdom of God on earth. It does however show that nowhere in the Old Testament are the righteous told to hope for “heaven at death.”

1. The “kingdom” when it refers to God’s sovereign rule over the universe exists from all eternity.

“The Lord has established his throne in heaven and his kingdom rules over all” (Psa. 103:19).

2. God’s plan was (and still is) to manifest his kingdom rule on earth through Adam and his kin.

To Adam and Eve God said, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” (Gen. 1:26-29).

Even after the fall, God did not abandoned his plan. Rather he promised that one would come, “the seed of the woman”, to win back humanity’s birth right:“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel” (Genesis 3:15).

So to Noah God gave the same commission as to Adam: “[God said], “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth. The fear and dread of you will fall upon all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air, upon every creature that moves along the ground, and upon all the fish of the sea; they are given into your hands. Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything” (Gen. 9:1-3).

Nowhere here is there any hint that Adam or his kin were ever promised that they would go to heaven when they die. Rather, Adam was promised (conditional upon his obedience to God) the chance to take from the fruit of the “tree of life” and live forever on a paradisical earth.

3. God promised Abraham that his children by faith would inherit the Land.

The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.”I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” (Gen. 12:1-3).

There is here a threefold promise of Land, Seed (or descendants) and Blessing.

Later Paul tells us, ”Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world” (Rom. 4:13).

As to the hope of the righteous, the writer to the Hebrews tells us that Abraham believed in the resurrection: “Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death” (Heb. 11:19). Again, we have no hint that Abraham or any of the chosen family believed in “heaven when you die.”

4. Israel was to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.

Through Moses, Israel was told: “Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:5-6). Again no hint of heaven at death for the chosen people.

So it continues under Joshua and the Judges. God’s promise to the righteous is life in the Land.

5. The Kingdom of David and Solomon was a type of the Kingdom of God to come.

Saul was the king that Israel asked for. David was the king God chose.

God made this promise to David: “I declare to you that the LORD will build a house for you: When your days are over and you go to be with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. I will never take my love away from him, as I took it away from your predecessor. I will set him over my house and my kingdom forever; his throne will be established forever.” (1Chr. 17:10-14).

Again, there are three aspects to this promise:

A Royal House [Dynasty];
A Royal Throne / Kingdom; and,
A Royal “Sonship”.

The promise centred around Jerusalem and David’s earthly kingdom. There is nothing said of heaven when we die.

After Solomon the Kingdom was divided. The people fell away from God. The Lord sent Assyria to conquer Israel (c. 725 BC) in the north and Babylon to conquer Judah (c. 585 BC) in the south. The “Times of the Gentiles” had begun.

6. The prophets still looked toward a worldwide empire under God.

Isaiah said, “The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play near the hole of the cobra, and the young child put his hand into the viper’s nest. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.” (Isa. 11:6-9).

Daniel too had a vision: “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed. (Daniel 7:13,14).

This kingdom is what became known as the “kingdom of God.”

Daniel goes on: “Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be handed over to the saints, the people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.” (Daniel 7:27).

As you might now be beginning to expect, there is no hint here of heaven when you die. The saints are destined to reign with Messiah in his kingdom.

The Jews did return to the Land in 539 BC but this was in no way the promised restoration of the kingdom.

Nehemiah, having returned to the Land, prayed: “But see, we are slaves today, slaves in the land you gave our forefathers so they could eat its fruit and the other good things it produces. Because of our sins, its abundant harvest goes to the kings you have placed over us. They rule over our bodies and our cattle as they please. We are in great distress.” (Nehemiah 9:36-37).

They were still waiting for Messiah and his kingdom to come.

No wonder there was much excitement when Jesus arrived saying, “Repent for the Kingdom of God is near.” (Matthew 4:17).

There is more to come but that will have to wait until next week …

Filed Under: Conditional Immortality and Salvation, Heaven | Afterlife, Resurrection Tagged With: heaven

Life Death and the Resurrection #3

October 6, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

The following is the insert provided with Warren’s videos. It will provide an outline for the third video which will be available on You Tube soon.

The following is the insert provided with Warren’s videos. It will provide an outline for the third video which will be available on You Tube soon.

Video #3 The Easter Hope

Reading: I Cor 15:35-58

(1)Death is “the last enemy” (v. 26). It is the pall that overhangs our lives (Isa. 25:7). Fear of death holds us prisioner (Heb 2:15). It is an enemy, not a friend. It calls in question the whole meaning of life (1Cor 15:32). It stands in the way of God’s kingdom (1Cor 15:50). But God has the answer (Isa. 25:7-8)!

(2) The only answer to death is God’s answer: resurrection (vv. I6-I8) not the survival of the human soul. This latter idea:

Makes no sense, human beings are whole persons, psycho-somatic units (1Cor. 6:15).
Is untrue, for we are “dust” (1Cor. 15:22, 47, 49). Death is cessation and silence (Ps 115:17, Eccles 9:10, Job 3:17). We must be realistic about death, in order to be wise (Ps 90:12) and put our hope entirely in God.
Is a delusion, pointing us to ourselves, not God (Psa. 39:4-7, 2Cor. 1:9).

(3) Resurrection is the true answer, God’s answer, to death (v. 22):

It makes sense. It means the whole person, in a new, glorified and immortal existence: “a spiritual body” (1 Cor 15:42-49), not “being found naked” (2Cor. 5:2-4).
It is feasible. See John Hick, Death and Eternal Life, Collins, Glasgow, ch 14-15. Consider, first, the knowledge power and faithfulness of God (Psa. 139:13-16; Luke 20:27-40). Consider, second, analogies in nature (1Cor. 15:35-41).
It is a fact. “Christ has been raised” already (1Cor. 15:20, 3-11). The Easter fact is the whole basis of the true Christian understanding of future hope and judgement (Acts 17:30-31).
It is God centred. The resurrection faith is true faith (Rom. 4:17).
(4) The key to resurrection and immortality is Jesus Christ. It is He who has already been raised. He is the life-giver (vv. 45, 48). And it is at His personal return that we will be raised (v. 23) and death itself will be destroyed (v. 26). Now our nature is mortal (vv 46-49), but then it will be “changed” (v. 52) and Isa. 25:6-8 will be fulfilled (1Cor. 15:54).

Our real problem, the “Sting of death” (v56), is sin. It is not just that we die, but that we deserve to (Rom. 1:32). But here, too, Christ is the key, for He has died in our place.

“Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory” (v. 57).

Filed Under: Resurrection Tagged With: Life Death and the Resurrection, Warren Prestidge

Life, Death and the Resurrection #1

September 30, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

LIFE, DEATH AND THE RESURRECTION #1: “TO BE OR NOT TO BE”

The following was the first part of an insert provided with Warren’s videos. It will provide an outline for those who wish to study the videos.

WELCOME to a video series which asks and answers the great human questions: What is death? What follows? Is there a life greater than death? How do we find it? What if we do not? Our answers are based on the Bible, centred upon Jesus Christ. Why? Because Jesus, and only Jesus, has conquered death: Revelation 1:17-18,1 Corinthians 15:3-4. When it comes to death, the Bible offers, neither make-believe nor cynicism, but stern realism (Genesis 3:19) and genuine hope (1 Corinthians 15:22).

DEATH – AND RESURRECTION

What is death? Scientifically, the irreversible loss of breathing, blood pressure, body temperature, heart-beat and brain function: the end of active, conscious existence. Is death complete? What of near-death experiences? By definition, they happen before death and tell us nothing about what comes after death. Is there an immortal soul or spirit in human nature which survives death in a personal or conscious way? Spiritism says yes: but the Bible rejects spiritism (Deuteronomy 18:10-11). Much traditional Hindu, Buddhist and Christian teaching says yes: but the great Christian creeds do not. Traditional Western ideas of an immortal human soul go back, not to the Bible, but to the Greek philosopher Plato (c428-c348 B.C.). The Biblical view: “God alone is immortal” (1 Timothy 6:16). Human beings die in the same way animals die: completely (Ecclesiastes 3:19-20, Genesis 3:19,1 Corinthians 15:47, Psalm 146:3-4). It is wrong to trust in our own nature (Genesis 3:4-5).

The answer to death is not in us, but in God and Jesus, His Son (John 5:25-29). Human beings are by nature mortal. The dead know nothing (Ecclesiastes 9:5). Death is real. But there is an answer even to death. Immortality can only be obtained as a new gift of God, through Jesus Christ, by resurrection (1 Cor 15:20-22). Resurrection wil occur when Christ returns in person to complete God’s purpose (ICor 15:23). All will be raised, but only those who belong to Christ will receive immortality (1 Cor 15:3-4, John 5:25-29).

What of those whom God finally rejects?

THE DESTINY OF THOSE GOD FINALLY REJECTS

The lost will be finally destroyed, along with all evil (Romans 6:23, 2 Peter 3:13). Not all will be saved. This view, universalism”, is contradicted by Jesus Himself (Matthew 7:13). But neither will anyone suffer in hell forever. God is just (Psalm 98:7-8)! “Both soul and body” will be “destroyed” (Matthew 10:28), will die (Ezek 18:4, Rom 1:32, Rev 20:14-15), will be brought to an end (Obadiah 16), after facing God’s justice (Ps 145:17,20). And then even “death will be no more” (Revelation 21:4) and God will be all in all” (1 Corinthians 15:28).

SUMMARY OF CONDITIONAL IMMORTALITY

When human beings die, the whole person dies. Human nature is mortal, not divine.
God, however, offers to all the gift of immortal life, through Jesus Christ, by resurrection, at His return. We must receive God and His gift by faith-commitment.
Those who reject God, God will judge and completely destroy.

Filed Under: Body/Soul, Conditional Immortality and the Inbetween State, Heaven | Afterlife, Resurrection Tagged With: Life Death and the Resurrection, Warren Prestidge

Life Death and the Resurrection Video #1

September 29, 2009 By admin 2 Comments

In 1993 Pastor Warren Prestidge made a 6-part video series (now available on DVD) , entitled Life, Death and the Resurrection, which provides thought provoking teaching on these subjects from a biblical (conditional immortality) perspective.

We are now making Warren’s videos available on “You Tube” in the hope that this will make the material available to a much wider audience.

Video 1: To Be or Not to Be is available here.

Please do pass the link on to as many people as you think may be interested. The rest of the videos will be posted as soon as I can make them available.

Filed Under: Heaven | Afterlife, Resurrection, Video