|
SOME SCRIPTURES WRESTED TO TEACH HERESY (note that a future judgment disproves "instant reward or punishment in heaven or hell"- Cp Daniel 12v1-3,2nd Tim.4v1). Matthew 5v12-"Rejoice, and be exceeding glad; for great is your reward in heaven". EXPLANATION. We do not go to heaven to re- ceive this reward. Rather it is brought to us when Christ returns. Revelation 22v12- "And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be". 2nd Corinthians 5v6,12,1-"..whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord..We are..willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord..we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens". EXPLANATION. What "body" was it that Paul desired to be "absent from"? It was "our mortal flesh", "our body", "our earthly house", 2nd Corinthians 4v11,10;5v1. And did Paul look forward to being a disembodied "spirit" or something similar? No, he looked forward to "a building of God..clothed upon with our house..that mortality might be swallowed up of life...flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption..We shall not all sleep, but we shall all BE CHANGED..For this corruptible must PUT ON INCORRUPTION, and this mortal must PUT ON IMMORTAL- ITY", 2nd Corinthians 5v1,2,4; 1st Corinthians 15v50,51,53. And al- though this "immortal..house" is at the present time "in the heavens", just as the "reward" now there will be brought to us (see above), so our new immortal body will be brought to us when Christ returns."..De- siring to be clothed upon with our house WHICH IS FROM HEAVEN", 2nd Corinthians 5v2. The reward and immortal nature will be ours. 2nd Peter 1v14-"shortly I must put off this my tabernacle". EXPLANATION. As shown above, the present "tabernacle" is "our mortal flesh", "our body". If we are faithful, this mortal body will be changed, and we shall be granted AN IMMORTAL BODY. Philippians 1v21,23,24- "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain..having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you". EXPLANATION. Paul looked forward to "attain(ing) to the resurrection of the dead", Philippians 3v11, which would be "at (Christ's) appearing and his kingdom", 2nd Timothy 4v1. It would not be instantaneous in real terms- but to all those asleep in Christ, it would appear so, for "the dead know not anything", Ecclesiastes 9v5. Re "the flesh", see above. John 14v2-"In my Father's house are many mansions...I go to pre- pare a place for you". EXPLANATION. "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I WILL COME AGAIN, and receive you unto myself; that WHERE I AM, THERE YE MAY BE ALSO"(v3). The word ren- dered "mansions"(v2) is translated "abode" in v23. Two stages of "abiding" are revealed. Firstly, "the spirit of (orig.'the') truth (will) abide with you", v16,17. Secondly, Christ "will.. receive" the faithful at His re- turn. In the meantime, we must "abide in" Him, and His "words" must "abide in" us, as "branches..in the vine..bear fruit", John 15v1-8. We are called to be "living stones " now in God's "spiritual house"- see 1st Peter 2v1-10. If faithful, we shall be granted our own permanent "abiding-places" in the Kingdom of God upon earth- link to the following- 'promises'..'2nd Timothy 2'..'the Lord's day'..'leprous' 1st John 5v11-"And this is the record, that God hath given to us e- ternal life, and this life is in his Son". EXPLANATION. We are also given the Truth, 1st Timothy 5v20, but it can be lost. We can now "lay hold on eternal life", but must wait for the return of Christ, "Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient con- tinuance in well doing SEEK FOR glory and honour AND IMMOR- TALITY, (Christ will give) ETERNAL LIFE", Romans 2v6,7. Matthew 16v26- "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in ex- change for his soul?". Cp Mark8v36,37- almost identical words. EXPLANATION. The parallel quote in Luke 9v25 reads"..and lose HIM- SELF". The word translated "soul" means 'breath', and this same word is translated more correctly "life" in Matthew 16v25,Mark 9v35, & Luke 9v 24. If "an immortal soul" was to be read into these verses, the absurdity would be apparent, and so the inconsistency of the translators is evident. 'Immortal' and 'soul' do not appear together in Scripture. The Hebrew and Greek words translated 'soul' simply describe aspects of mortal life. Souls die– Ezekiel 18v4,20, and can be destroyed– Matthew 10v28. The Hebrew is used of all living creatures in Genesis 1v20,21,30;2v7,19 etc. Note in ch.2v7 - man was created "of the dust of the ground" (cp ch.3v19- "for DUST THOU ART").And when God "breathed into his nostrils the breath of life(air)..man became a living (not an ever-living) soul (creature)". return to p.1 return to index go to judgment |