Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] The following Bible study tract is entitled what about those fallen asleep in Christ? By ll. Christensen in one Thessalonians 413 we find, but I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not even as others which have no hope.
[00:00:25] What hope did the apostle Paul have in mind? How important is that hope that some do not have?
[00:00:33] Will some have eternal life, those asleep in Christ, if that hope is never fulfilled?
[00:00:42] Paul explains that hope in very clear language in that same chapter.
[00:00:50] 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.
[00:01:05] That's one. Thessalonians 416.
[00:01:09] In Acts 25 we read that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust.
[00:01:19] Furthermore, reading in one Corinthians 15, we note, so also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown incorruption, it is raised incorruptible. It is then at that time at the resurrection, that quote, this mortal shall have put on immortality and quote, death is swallowed up in victory.
[00:01:47] Paul wrote much about this subject in one Corinthians 15, he mentioned that over 500 had seen Christ after his resurrection, but some are fallen asleep, the margin says, have died.
[00:02:03] When Lazarus died in John eleven, Jesus said, our friend Lazarus sleepeth.
[00:02:12] Moments later he explained, Lazarus is dead. In this case, sleep and death are equal.
[00:02:21] Do we realize that quote, it is appointed unto men once to die. Hebrews 927 and that quote, death passed upon all men.
[00:02:36] Romans 512 and that quote, man dieth and wasteth away.
[00:02:43] Job 1410 this poses a question for some.
[00:02:50] Didn't the Master say that those who believe in him shall never die?
[00:02:55] What did he mean?
[00:02:58] Didn't Lazarus a believer die?
[00:03:02] Didn't the 500 mentioned above die?
[00:03:06] Doesn't death require a resurrection in order to live? Again, in considering the question at hand, we must not in any way deny, contradict, or cover up any Scripture already quoted.
[00:03:26] It is a fact that man is mortal and therefore is subject to death. As we all see, when man sinned in the Garden of Eden, God prevented him from eating of the tree of life in Genesis three so he wouldn't live forever in the flesh.
[00:03:46] Adam and Eve had been warned that sin would bring death. Quote for dost thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
[00:03:57] Genesis 319 Adam lived 930 years and he died.
[00:04:08] Question Didn't Adam's soul go to heaven or paradise and live on?
[00:04:17] The Bible is totally silent about Adam's soul going anyplace except to say that when he was created, he, the man himself, became a living soul.
[00:04:33] Nothing is said about a soul being put inside Adam. The breath of God caused Adam to, quote, become a living soul. It doesn't say immortal soul any place in the Bible in God's word. We read that quote, the soul that sinneth, it shall die. That's Ezekiel 18, verses four and 20.
[00:05:00] Learning more, we read Revelation 211. That quote, he that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death, which is explained to be the Lake of Fire in Revelation 2014. Therefore, those who believe in Christ will not experience the second death, but they do fall asleep in Christ. For quote, in Adam, all die.
[00:05:26] One Corinthians 1522. Jesus called this cessation of life, both sleep and death. Read chapter eleven of John carefully.
[00:05:38] Paul harmonized with our Savior on this point as also on all other points.
[00:05:46] David in Psalm 146 speaks of mortal man, his breath goeth forth. He returneth to his earth. In that very day his thoughts perish.
[00:06:00] Solomon wrote, for the living know that they shall die, but the dead know not anything also, for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave whither thou goest. Ecclesiastes nine, five, and ten.
[00:06:22] Peter wrote, for David has not ascended into the heavens.
[00:06:27] That's Acts 234.
[00:06:30] Likely Peter had read David's words in Psalm 40 915. Quote, but God shall redeem my soul from the power of the grave, for he shall receive me when quote, blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection, on such the second death hath no power. Revelation 26 Job knew he was going to die.
[00:07:06] He knew where he would be then.
[00:07:10] Quote, O that thou wouldst hide me in the grave.
[00:07:15] If a man die, shall he live again?
[00:07:19] All the days of my appointed time will I wait till my change come? Where would he wait?
[00:07:27] If I wait, the grave is mine house. I have made my bed in the darkness.
[00:07:35] However, he did have hope.
[00:07:40] Quote, thou shalt call, and I will answer thee when the resurrection takes place.
[00:07:51] Returning to John Eleven, Jesus said to Martha, thy brother shall rise again.
[00:07:59] Did she think Lazarus had gone to heaven?
[00:08:03] Please notice where her hope was. Quote, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
[00:08:12] Apparently, she didn't have the more modern idea that her brother had gone somewhere, to paradise or glory land, and therefore didn't need any resurrection.
[00:08:27] Jesus had said to Martha, I am the resurrection and the life.
[00:08:33] Earlier in John five, he said, all that are in the graves shall come forth some unto everlasting life some to damnation.
[00:08:46] See verses 28 and 29.
[00:08:50] You and I would want to have a part in the first resurrection.
[00:08:58] Please notice Paul's hope and joy in one Thessalonians 219.
[00:09:04] For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye, meaning the Thessalonians, in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ, when at his coming?
[00:09:20] Read that again.
[00:09:23] Paul's hope of seeing those saints in the presence of our Lord was when Christ returned.
[00:09:31] For it is then that the resurrection takes place, and the saved are in the presence of the Lord. Quote so shall we ever be with the Lord. Quote they that are Christ's at his coming.
[00:09:50] Paul makes it very clear in one Corinthians 15 that the resurrection is altogether important.
[00:09:59] It is a must, for without it there is no hope.
[00:10:04] Verses twelve to 23 as is revealed, our resurrection depends on the resurrection of Christ and since he did resurrect, so likewise will the faithful and holy saints.
[00:10:23] But quote if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain, ye are yet in your sins. End quote.
[00:10:34] The next verse is very important.
[00:10:37] Quote Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished, end quote. That is, if there is no resurrection. Thus it is seen that life beyond the grave depends on a resurrection, not on any immortal soul.
[00:10:58] Man cannot bypass the resurrection and go straight to glory before Christ returns to raise the dead.
[00:11:07] Some may ask, doesn't the Spirit return to God who gave it?
[00:11:13] They reply, we dare not interpret the fact so as to upset, contradict, or set aside the much Scripture already given, and ignore it as meaningless.
[00:11:28] The power to live, to be conscious in the beginning, dependent on God breathing into Adam the breath of life. Nothing is said about that breath of life as being a conscious entity or spirit before it entered into Adam's body. All life is not conscious life. God help us all to be ready to meet the Lord when he returns. Personally. Signed by ll. Christensen and we do thank you for listening today.
[00:12:03] More information can be found on WCOG seven.
