Wednesday, January 27, 2016

The Lord adds...

When the Gospel is preached...things happen!

Acts 2 - Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls...obviously the Spirit puts men into Christ...three thousand in one day. What an operation! ...and the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

What happens when you die?

At the time of death – the human physical body goes to the grave, burial vault, cremation, etc.

At the time of death the soul/spirit instantaneously goes to the eternal abode of the dead. The abode of the dead is Biblical place known as Abraham’s Bosom or Paradise found in the words of the Holy Scripture. To be more precise – Sheol is an eternal place in the Hebrew text of the Old Testament records. Hades is an eternal place in the Greek text found in the (4) Gospels and New Testament records.

The eternal abode of the dead is the unseen world for the righteous and the unrighteous souls – which God determines upon the soul of every man – in this life before death to the physical body.  The Holy Scriptures of the Bible term this unseen world as Heaven or Hell. Both places eternally exist for the righteous Judgment of the souls of men. Righteous Judgment is made by God Almighty as a determination for man’s belief or unbelief of God, the creator of all things – in this present life.

Hebrews 9:27…And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

The prophetic picture of a resurrected Christ (taken from the book of Psalms)

Psalm 16:9-11...Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

This prophecy about the promised Messiah and His resurrection from the grave. It was  foretold and written by David in the book of Psalms. God made this prophetic statement through David and described how the physical body of Christ "would not" see corruption as David's physical body would in death to the physical. In this prophecy the miracle of a Savior was foretold.  At the time of death David's body was placed in the sepulchre (the grave) and still remains there. At the time of death Christ's body was placed in a tomb...but was miraculously "changed" or "glorified" in the miracle of a resurrection. Christ's body did not see corruption (after death) nor does Christ's body remain in a tomb at present.

Psalm 16:10...For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

David's prophetic utterance in Psalms 16:10 about, "Leaving the soul in Hell"...is a Biblical description of the "unseen world" or the "spiritual abode of the dead". Souls of just and unjust men will go to the unseen world (the abode of the dead) when their physical body is laid in the grave. In the Old Testament records the unseen world and abode of the dead was known as Abraham's Bosom. Abraham's bosom was defined by Christ in Luke 16 - as place of comfort; and a place of torment. Lazurus and the rich man both went to Abraham's Bosom and could see each other but could not cross the great gulf between both places. Paradise (which is Heaven) and Hades (which is Hell) are both places inside of Abraham's Bosom.

"Psalm 16:10... concerning the resurrection of Christ was preached by the Apostle Peter in Acts 2, and also by the Apostle Paul in Acts 13. Both Apostles pointed the fact that Christ "rose" from the grave in a bodily resurrection. The body of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was resurrected and did not experience decay or corruption like David's body experienced."

The miracle of the death, burial, and resurrection of the the Holy One (Christ) fulfilled David's prophecy of Psalm 16:9-11.

Psalm 16:9-11...Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Here are three other prophecies about the resurrection of Israel's promised Messiah. All prophecies of a resurrected Lord were foretold and recorded  by King David in the book of Psalms.

Psalm 2:7...I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.

Psalm 110:1...The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

Psalm 132: 11...The LORD hath sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn from it; Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne.