[ ROUGH DRAFT ]
QUICK INTRODUCTION:
Most people think their "destination" is heaven when they die. I can show our destination is the Eternal Kingdom of God on this earth after the Messiah returns. Regardless if you believe you are going to heaven or sleep until the Second Coming of the Messiah, Scripture is clear, the Messiah will rule ask King of Kings and Lord of Lords for all eternity from his throne in the New Jerusalem. The point is we should be "Kingdom-minded" in starting to act now under the rule and reign of the Messiah as our Lord and King. This presents the next question: What rules?
Did you know that the Messiah will rule the earth by God's Laws in the Old Testament, The Torah, the very same laws that traditional churches say are done away with? See Micah 4:2-3.
This is Satan's biggest work: To convince people who love God not to obey him. Obedience to God is the foundation of being in right relationship with him. Many traditional churches say to ignore God's commands. Who do you think is right? God or man? The amount of verses highlighted below should seriously make one re-think the idea that when we die "we go to heaven."
Do We Go to Heaven When We Die?
What Does The Messiah Say?
John 3:12-13:
(12) If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things?
(13) No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.
What Does the Apostle Paul Say?
Romans 10:6
"But the righteousness based on faith says, "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'"
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
(13) But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are ASLEEP...
(14) For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have FALLEN ASLEEP.
(15) For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have FALLEN ASLEEP.
(16) For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the DEAD IN CHRIST will rise first.
(17) Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.
(18) Therefore encourage one another with these words.
Daniel 12:1-2
"... But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. And many of THOSE WHO SLEEP in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt."
THE MESSIAH TALKING ABOUT HIS 2ND COMING:
"Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when ALL WHO ARE IN THE TOMBS will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment."
- the Messiah in John 5:28-29
John 11:11,13-14
After saying these things, he (Jesus/Y'shua) said to them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him."
(13) Now Jesus had spoken of his death...
(14) Then Jesus told them plainly, "Lazarus has died"
Ecclesiastes 9:5
"For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing..."
Psalms 146:4 NASB
"His spirit departs, he returns to the earth; In that very day his thoughts perish (wander away)."
Ecclesiastes 12:7
"and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it."
James 2:26
"For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead."
Acts 7:59-60
"And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." And when he had said this, HE FELL ASLEEP.
THE APOSTLE PAUL:
1 Corinthians 15:17-20
And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. (18) Then those also WHO HAVE FALLEN ASLEEP in Christ have perished. (19) If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. (20) But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have FALLEN ASLEEP."
Psalms 17:15
"As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness."
Psalms 115:17
"The dead do not praise the LORD, Nor any who go down into silence."
Psalms 6:5
"For in death there is no remembrance of You (God); In the grave who will give You thanks?"
Those who have fallen asleep will be made alive upon the Messiah's Return.
1 Corinthians 15:20-23, the Apostle Paul:
(20) But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have FALLEN ASLEEP.
(21) For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. (22) For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.
(23) But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, THEN AT HIS COMING THOSE WHO BELONG TO CHRIST.
Rapture to Where?
If you study the verses on the Rapture, it speaks of meeting the Messiah in the sky, but does not specifically mention a destination (heaven or earth), to this there is no dispute. The Rapture, simply put, is the Resurrection Day, when the Messiah returns to earth, when the dead in Messiah are raised from the dead and we all get new bodies - and meet him in the sky. It is only the destination of us all is hotly debated. But the Scripture only reveals a Second Coming of the Messiah to earth, not a Third Coming. The Second Coming of the Messiah to earth is to rule forever as King of Kings and Lord of Lords forever.
I've mentioned to some that believe we are being raptured to heaven, asking: "Does that not make the Messiah coming back to earth later a Third Coming, never mentioned in Scripture?" Scripture only mentions a Second Coming, not a third. They try to find a way around it and mention, well, he might be in the sky, but his feet has not touched the earth yet.
MORE LATER...
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TO UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS of death and what dies and what lives on, one must study the 3 different parts of a person. To do this, dive into the study of the Real Biblical Trinity - 3 parts to one person. That we are made in his likeness and we too have 3 parts. READ THE STUDY to understand the invisible true self that lives on after our body dies.
Ecclesiastes 9:5
"For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing..."
Psalms 146:4 NASB
"His spirit departs, he returns to the earth; In that very day his thoughts perish (wander away)."
Ecclesiastes 12:7
"and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it."
James 2:26
"For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead."
