What do you think things would be like if every enemy across this world simply stood up, laid down their guns and said, “I’m done with this, I want to live” and then all of them quietly walked away? Or what if every criminal in the world stopped committing crimes of whatever kind and simply and quietly went about living their lives? Better yet, what if every person on earth decided to follow Jesus Christ, the Ten Commandments and wanted to live a rewarding life?
Would you say there would be unspeakable peace? Would you say that everyone would be able to give a huge sigh of relief? And what would then be everyone’s reaction to such a great peace? Maybe a nice and enjoyable meal? Or maybe it could be a peaceful night’s sleep without all the nightmares? You know, that peaceful sweet and sound sleep…
I would be so happy to never have to worry about anything; no more stress about finances or anything else that stresses us on a daily basis. (Maybe our children would then have adoring parents once again!) Neighbors helping each other out, block parties taking place, wouldn’t that be nice? People dancing in the streets out of pure joy…for such a great peace. Thus we would wonder, how long would that peace last? A few seconds, minutes or an hour, if that…
Of course we would have all the naysayers running about letting everyone know that a scenario like this would be impossible. It’s a nice dream, but not practical. At least not practical in a world full of humans, that is. And everyone reading this article would agree with that. And why? It’s simple:
Ephesians 2:1-3 “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.”
I have emphasized words in the Scripture above for a reason. It explains to you and me the reason this world will NEVER see peace. It is a fearful description of exactly who we truly are as humans, and who is influencing us every second of every day. It lays bare who that influencer is and who are his followers.
By the same token, it also draws the big black line between those who follow Jesus Christ and those who do not. However, both sides are stuck here on this little planet and the Rapture or death are the only ways out of it.
There is a paradox here, “You can’t live for fear of dying and dying is the greatest fear of living.”
The crux of the matter is that everyone already knows innately, judgment for how one has lived follows death. Don’t believe me? Take a few moments and look all around, you will see people scrambling to live their lives, because they know death seeks them at almost every turn.
My friends, I am not writing fiction here. Does the Bible not call our lives a vapor, here for but a moment and then it vanishes? And this is from God’s own lips to your ears and mine as written in the Bible. If you smell smoke…there is definitely a fire, of whatever size—somewhere!
There is another paradox as well and it is one that makes me absolutely crazy in the head, every time I think about it. Everyone wants to have nice things; clothes, a house to call home, a decent enough car and friends that stand with you and never leave you. We seek a mate for love and affection—to be tied to one that will never defeat us in any manner. And if we look at all these things, we would agree they are great things to have, great things to seek out, the path to prosperity and success. Would you agree with this?
Among other things, everyone would like to live forever and never taste death and that would include disease or pestilence, hunger or famine; that everything would be in the correct place and sufficient for an entire lifetime, right?
Having said that, who would want to burn to death, or be torn asunder all the time? No one…right?
Then explain to me, why the vast majority of humanity chooses NOT to follow Jesus Christ? Why would they choose to go to hell and then into the lake of fire?
No one in his or her “right mind” enjoys losing a loved one and yet we all know if you are born, one day you will die. Its one of the “gimmie’s” in life. So now, I hear from non-believers, they ask the question, “If God is such a wonderful and loving God, why does he allow all the bad stuff to happen?”
Matthew 5:45: “That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.”
As Bible students, we see there is a definite difference in the ones this verse is talking to: The evil and the good, the just and the unjust. And we are able to see this as being fair to all involved, yet divided none-the-less.
1 Corinthians 15:44: “It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body.There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.”
Again we see, that there is a difference stated here; one is a natural, physical body (what you are in right now). Then there is a spiritual body which is also in you and is very much alive as your physical body. One (the physical body) can die, but the (spiritual body) never dies and returns to God.
So now we see that death of the physical body…is NOT the end! It is…the beginning of the eternal life, as God has intended it to be.
Romans 5:12: “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.”
Romans 5:18: “Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.”
Now we see that it is “sin” alone that brings about death and by the same token, because of the death of Jesus Christ on that Roman Cross at Calvary, our “sins” is forgiven and we then see eternal life with Jesus.
So now we see that sin causes death and it is a thing to be afraid of. That is if our sins are not forgiven by Jesus Christ. We know that children who have not reached the age of knowledge (accountability) go straight to heaven to be with Jesus Christ. Outside of being a child, everything is accountable to each adult and then to God the Father.
Understanding this we see there is a simple difference; death to heaven or death to hell. As far as the Rapture is concerned, only the born-again believers and followers of Jesus Christ will go. That being the case, we understand that our physical bodies are temporary and that one day they will cease to function, so we bury them in a grave. Everything associated with the physical…stays here on earth. And I mean everything. There is no escape!
Once your physical body dies, you step into eternity, this is where your “spirit” will dwell. So again, the death of the physical body is nothing. What is worse is dying without your sins being forgiven by Jesus Christ. There is a “second death” and that death is to hell and then the lake of fire. No repentance of your sins through the blood of Jesus Christ, no heaven for you!
Revelation 20:10: “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.”
Please pay attention to the emboldened Scripture…it is absolute truth from the Bible!
Revelation 20:11-15: “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
If you enjoy living…then why would you choose death in eternity? Simple arithmetic will prove that eternity outweighs the 80 or so years here on earth. So then the question becomes, “Why would you give up your eternal existence? This is something everyone will have either in heaven or hell. Is that a question, one that will make you crazy in the head or is it just me? The result is simple!