THE FUTURE OF BELIEVERS
"And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abides forever" 1 John 2: 17.Whoever does the will of God lives forever.
"Verily, verily, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word he shall never see death" John 8: 51.
He who believes in Jesus will never die, he who keeps God's word will never see death. Believers in Christ go to sleep, they never die (Acts 7: 60)
"We do not, brethren, that you be ignorant about those who are asleep, you do not grieve as others which have no hope.While we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we believe that God will bring with Jesus and with him those who have fallen asleep. Here, indeed, what we say to you, from a word of the Lord we live, remain until the coming of the Lord, not precede those who have fallen asleep. "1 Thessalonians 4: 13-15.Until the coming of the Lord, believers who have left this earth "sleep".
QUESTIONS:
What is sleeping? Is it a state of unconsciousness?
This word is used it to distinguish it from that of a waking state, or to distinguish it from death?
"I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is by far the best, but for your sake it is necessary that I remain in the flesh. "Philippians 1: 23-24.
"We are always full of courage and we know that living in this body, we remain far from the Lord.For we walk by faith not by sight. We are full of courage and we like to leave this body and home with the Lord "(2 Corinthians 5: 6-8).
When the believer leaves his body, he goes to be with Christ; absent from the body, it is present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 12: 2-4).
What will be the precise and defined our existence, from the time we will be "absent from the body" and "present" with the Lord, and when the Lord returns and we will be of our heavenly home?
The Bible does not seem to explain very specific about it. She said, however, that this state will be better than where we are today. (Philippians 1: 23).
This idea excludes the tortures of purgatory on one side or the unconscious state of the other.
"We know in fact that if our earthly dwelling, which is a tent, is destroyed, we have in heaven a building that is the work of God, an eternal house not made by the hands of men. Also in this tent we groan, desiring to be clothed with our heavenly home above the other, if indeed we found clothed, not naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do, we will not undress, but we assume, that what is mortal may be swallowed up of life. "(2 Corinthians 5: 1-4 ).
"For the Lord himself, at a given signal, with the voice of an archangel, the sound of the trumpet of God shall descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ shall rise first. "(1 Thessalonians 4: 16).
1 Corinthians 15: 12-13:
With the advent of Jesus, the bodies of those who have fallen asleep in him will rise, but not with the same body.It's the same principle as the grain planted. The grain germ that is not exactly like that which was sown the seed thrown on the ground is falling apart and most of its components vanish nowhere. But the principle initial absorbs a large number of new elements which no one can explain the origin. It is the same for the resurrection.
1 Corinthians 5: 1
In the resurrection, it will be given in place of our tent land (physical body) a building that is the work of God, an eternal house not made with hands, a resurrection body (Philippians 3: 20-21).
A °) characteristic features of the resurrection body
"But someone will say how the dead raised and with what body do they come? Fool! What you sow does not take life unless it dies. And what you sow is not the body to come, but a bare grain, perhaps of wheat or some other grain, then God gives it a body as he wishes, and each seed is gives its own body. "1 Corinthians 15 :35-38.
It will not be the same body which shall be deposited in the grave (1 Corinthians 15: 50-51).It will not be a body of flesh and blood (Luke 24: 39, Philippians 3: 20).It will not be a purely spiritual body, but it will be flesh and blood (1 Corinthians 15: 42).It will be immortal, unable to corrupt (1Corithiens 15: 43).It will be glorious (Acts 1: 13-17).It will be full of strength. The days of fatigue and weakness will be gone forever. The body will be able to do what the Spirit desires.
"The first man of the earth is earthly. The second man from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly "1 Corinthians 15: 47-48.
This body will be in heaven, it will be a luminous body, dazzling, splendid as the sun (Matthew 13: 43, Daniel 12: 3). We will not marry and men are like the angels (Matthew 22: 30).
"For in the resurrection they shall not take women, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. "Luke 20: 35-36.
The resurrected bodies differ from each other."There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars for one star differs from another star shine. So is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, and it is raised imperishable. "1 Corinthians 15: 41-42.
The resurrection body will be the end of our adoption, the celebration of the quality of our son, a clear sign that we are children of God (Romans 8: 23).
The return of Jesus Christ and the resurrection of those who sleep in Jesus, believers, then living on earth, will join those who will be resurrected and will be removed all together to meet the Lord in the air. (1Th 4: 17, John 14: 3; John 12: 26).
Where the believers will be:
John 14: 2, Hebrews 11: 10-16.We will be in a place prepared for us by Jesus Christ Himself.We will be in a city whose God is the architect and builder.
This city will be immutable. Hebrews 13: 14.
We will not worship in any building, but we worship the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb. Apocalypse 21: 22 and 27. There will be no unclean or abominable. We will see the glory of Christ and we look like (1 John 3: 2). We will be heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ glorified together with him. (Romans 8: 17, Romans 8: 18, 2 Corinthians 4: 17, John 17: 22).
"He who had received the five talents came and brought five other talents, and said, Lord, you delivered to me five talents: behold, I have gained five more. His master said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things I set you over many things: enter into the joy of your master. The one who received the two talents came and said, Lord, you delivered to me two talents, here I have gained two more. His master said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant thou hast been faithful over a few things, I set you over many things: enter into the joy of your master "(Matthew 25: 20-23).
On his return Jesus Christ asked his servants to account, those who have been faithful will receive his praise and enter into the joy of their master (Luke 19: 12, 13, 19). The rewards vary depending on the faithfulness in service. We are saved by faith, but rewarded for works carried out (Matthew 6: 20, 1 Corinthians 3: 11-15). Apocalypse 7: 9-10; Jacques 1: 12.
Those who supported the temptation will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. "Support" does not mean simply "suffer", but continue or persevere in the race. This is proof of true love for Christ, proof that we will remain faithful in difficult times and that's what will be worth the crown of life.
"Now the crown of righteousness reserved for me, the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day, not just to me but to all who have loved his appearance. "2 Timothy 4: 8 1 Peter 5: 1-4 There are three crowns: the crown of" life ", the crown of" justice ", the crown of" glory ".
Who are those who must receive it?
"Listen my beloved brethren, Has not God chosen the poor in the world, to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom he promised those who love him? "Jacques 2: 5
"Ye are they which have continued with me in my trials, so I have to make the kingdom, as my Father has for me ..." Luke 22: 28-29. "Fear not, little flock, for your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. "Luke 12: 32 God promised the kingdom, Christ has and is the Father's good pleasure to give to those who love and persevered with Christ in the temptation
Remarks about the kingdom:Revelation 20: 6. In this kingdom we shall reign with Christ and we are priests to God.Matthew 25: 34. This kingdom has been prepared from the foundation of the world. Hebrews 12: 28. This kingdom is unshakable.
Promises made to him who overcomes:-The tree of life. Revelation 2: 7He will not suffer the second death (hell). Apocalypse 2: 11Christ will give him a white stone and a new name. Revelation 2: 17Christ will give him authority over the nations. Revelation 2: 26-28-A white garment. Revelation 3: 4-5 Revelation-3: 21;Revelation 21: 4.
