(n2thelight;10755)
As to where the dead are, we need not guess; for, Scripture is clear―that at the moment that we die―we go back to God the Father, and our flesh body goes back into the dust whence it came:Ecclesiastes 12:77 Then [at death] shall the dust [flesh] return to the earth as it was: and the spirit [the part of us that lives on] shall return unto God who gave it. KJV
Give me a Bible study which says we are this spirit, and that it isn't just the breath of life.(n2thelight;10755)
Paul knew that upon death we go back to the Lord. But, as you see, our flesh body does not travel with us; it remains here to rot in the grave. But we are not in that grave with our rotting flesh―God forbid―rather, we are in Heaven with the Lord (Heaven is wherever God is; it is His abode):2 Corinthians 5:6-86 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:7(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. KJV In the above, Paul is giving an either/or. In other words, you are in only one of two places; you are either here in the flesh (living on the Earth in your flesh body), or you are with God (in your spiritual body) after your flesh deceases. There is no third place. You are either here or there, and that goes for the wicked and for the good―we ALL go back to God the Father after we die down here.
I'll be honest, i am too tired to answer these texts; it is obviously misunderstood, but i will give a place where i have mentioned it before;
http://www.inthepursuitofgod.com/forum/deb....html#post66755(n2thelight;10755)
Are the Dead Sleeping? Some say that the dead just sleep after they die, and then are resurrected for the final part of Rev 20 and Judgement Day. They call this theory, Soul Sleep. But are they really sleeping? There are a few places in Scripture where we see that the dead are clearly not sleeping, and they are quite aware. One of those places, and one that is Cleary not a parable is below:Revelation 6:9-119 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled. KJV
I am quoting from
http://www.inthepursuitofgod.com/forum/deb...ation-soul.html
Originally Posted by billinjackson View PostIn (Lk: 16) Abraham, Lazarus and the rich man all died yet are described as being alive!
If you want to take this as literal then maybe you should eat magic mushrooms and prove Jesus right about Him saying that whatever enters a man does not defile him. Or perhaps leave a tape recorder going in your house and listen to the bricks and wood talking to eachother.The Bible says God will wipe away all tears, what? He's going to make us immune to compassion when we see some of our family and friends roasting forever crying for water. I could go on but i will leave it.
Originally Posted by billinjackson View PostFurthermore, in (Rev 6: 9-10) we see the souls and Martyrs pleading to the lamb for those suffering on earth. Notice, to plead means you have existence and not annihilation.
First of all they are not pleading for those suffering on earth, they are pleading for vengeance. If you believe that literal beasts are going to run around in the last day that is your choice.Which one is it? Luke or Revelation? they both contradict, one says we goto Abraham, the other says we get stuck under an alter, one is crying for punishment on the wicked, yet the other sees the wicked being punished. Even top theologans who believe in the immortal soul will tell you that this is not literal (yet they will go on to tell you that it proves soul immortality), how can you pick and choose from scripture, this scene is either all literal or all not.(n2thelight;10755)
These were Cleary people who had died, and they certainly were not unconscious nor sleeping; for, they were speaking to God, pray to Him, if you would. And they were answered with a direct and informative sentence. Another place that we find the dead conscious is in Luke chapter 16. Yes, this is a parable, but a parable must always have as its base, a truth. A parable can not be an untruth, though it is modified so that we, reading one thing, can understand another. I will post that parable below, highlighting certain things to bring your attention to them. Now, I know that a spiritual being feels no pain from thirst and flame―that part is a parable to illustrate the suffering of those certain souls as they see that they have done wrong and that it is too late for them to change it. We cannot now understand how this despair is felt in a spiritual being, such as those on the bad side of the "great gulf" in Heaven; that is why Jesus used a parable that we could grasp in our flesh and limited minds.
If you would like, we could go over every single parable in the Bible, and see that these things cannot be taken literally.(n2thelight;10755)
The fact remains, those on the other side of the gulf, IN HEAVEN, I might add, do suffer and feel great despair, and they are quite conscious and also realize that there is no hope for them. For the man in the below never once prays for himself to be saved himself, only to be relieved of the torment. He never asks for a second chance for himself; but rather, that one might be sent to warn his brothers of the fate that he has brought upon himself, so that they can avoid the fires that come to all the ungodly, his own fate that he no doubt saw off in the distance. This soul certainly was not sleeping, nor did he find any rest night and day, as other Scriptures declare of this place called "Hell":Luke 16:19-3119 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. KJV And one has been sent to them from the dead, and as Abraham declared, many are not persuaded by the risen Jesus Christ. Was the above a parable? Sure. But was it a true rendition of the state of the dead who have died outside of salvation. Yes. And also the happiness of the dead that died in a saved state such as Lazarus? Yes. These two were not "soul sleeping," lest Jesus made the whole thing up―God forbid! Jesus, as "God with us", (Mat 1:23-25) cannot lie:
If you can give me texts outside parables sure, this is not a question to whether Jesus has lied or not, if all His parables are literally to be taken true, then i can go out right now and prove Him a liar. Just one example - from the same chapter "And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations." verse 9. This is a parable, and not literal. If it was to be taken literally i would be cheerin' because i love money.God bless!!