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THE MORTALITY OF MAN heaven & hell going a fiction Pagan beliefs, including "immortal souls", were adopted into the apostate "church" - see Revelation 17v5 - "MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT" 'Babylon' signifies 'confusion' - link to the process of apostacy is traced out in 'departure'. Let us look instead at what the Bible really teaches. Scripture tells us that "the dead know not anything" - Ecclesiastes 9v4-6,10. He that "understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish"-Psa. 49v12,19,20. Jesus showed that the only hope of future life after death is by a resurrection from the dead - see John 11v23-26 - "I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live". Jesus also proved the necessity of resurrection for there to be any life atall after death when in Luke 20v37 He quoted from Exodus 3v6, where God revealed Himself as "the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob". Look at the Lord's comments upon this in v38 - "For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living; for all live unto him". That is, all who are destined to live again are already alive in the mind of God. This is upon the principle forth by the Apostle Paul in Romans 4v17 - "God, who quickeneth the dead, and CALLETH THOSE THINGS WHICH BE NOT AS THOUGH THEY WERE" - link here to 'Sin and Death and Divine Selection'. Regarding the "all", this is not universalism, but as seen above, only applies to "all..in Christ" - link to 'judge' - page 2. As we see from 'judge' - page 1 the prime purpose of resurrection is judgment. The purpose of God to redeem a multitude & fill the earth with His glory are blessed events which result - Revelation 7v9-17; Numbers 14v21. We know that some quote Jesus' words to try to prove the pagan idea of an "immortal soul". This would totally negate the purpose of Jesus, which was, as He stated, to prove "THAT THE DEAD ARE RAISED". We must realise that those to whom He spoke were "the Sadducees, WHICH DENY THAT THERE IS ANY RESURRECTION" - Luke 20v27-38. Jesus proved the resurrection to be necessary for future life. At the time of the Exodus the patriarchs were all dead. And if Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were really alive in some form, when God said He was their God, how could it prove the necessity for them to be raised for this to be true? In v39, 40 we see that the force of His words was well understood by those who heard Him. So much so, we read "And after that they durst not ask him any questions at all". Link here to 'promises'. The resurrection is a doctrine which has always been part of the faith of the true believers. It is only when apostacy has resulted, as we see it today in false Christianity, that present possession of immortality has been taught as Biblical doctrine. This was prophesied by Jesus and the Apostle Paul - Matthew 24v4-13; Acts 20v28-32. One ploy used by the apostates was to teach "that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some" - 2nd Timothy 2v18. By such means the idea of 'immortal-soulism' and like pagan ideas came to represent the beliefs of false believers - link to 'soul' for a complete explanation of this word. Paul, however, taught that "the Lord Jesus Christ..shall judge the quick (i.e. the living) and the dead AT HIS APPEARING AND HIS KINGDOM" - 2nd Timothy 4v1. This is obviously totally destructive of 'immortal-soulism'. But Paul also wrote that apostacy would prevail before the Lord's return, v3,4. Only by believing and proclaiming the word of God would believers be able to maintain their integrity and ultimately be saved - v2 cp Acts 20v32. Further re the process of apostacy link to 'departure'. More Bible passages for study include: Job 3v11-17; 34v14,15; Psalm 6v5; 39v12,13; 146v2-4; Proverbs 21v16; Isaiah 26v13,14; 38v18,19; Luke 13v1-5; John 3v13; Acts 2v29-34; 13v36,37; 1st Thessalonians 4v13-18. As a final thought, consider the following: "the King eternal, IMMORTAL...the only wise God...WHO ONLY HATH IMMORTALITY" - 1st Timothy 1v17; 6v16. "Jesus Christ...hath brought LIFE AND IMMORTALITY TO LIGHT THROUGH THE GOSPEL" - 2nd Timothy 1v10. "To them who by patient continuance in well-doing SEEK FOR GLORY AND HONOUR AND IMMORTALITY (will be granted) ETERNAL LIFE" - Romans 2v7. God only has inherent immortality. Jesus Christ has revealed the way for us to gain immortality. We must seek by faithfulness for the reward of immortality. |