Sermon Nuggets Week of August 2, 2010 Intermediate State
Sermon Nuggets Mon. Aug 2
Theme The Intermediate State
Verses- 1Thes 4:14-18 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.
15 According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.
16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
18 Therefore encourage each other with these words.
Intermediate State
The comedian and movie producer Woody Allen had this to say about death: “I am not afraid to die; I just don’t want to be there when it happens.”
Last week I defined death from a Biblical illustration as a separation. James 2:26 says, “The body without the spirit is dead.”
Just like God is depicted as a Trinity as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, so I believe Scriptures give good evidence that we were created as triune beings. We see that as body, soul and spirit.
Dale Lundgren who saw I was doing a series on death had done some study on the subject and shared with me some of his notes, for which I appreciate. I liked his statement that said, “The body is our earthly awareness. The Soul is our self awareness and the Spirit is our God awareness”
When we look at death we have said we see separation from God in three ways bodily, spiritually dead to him in a relationship and an eternal separation of our soul. We are saved our souls, our beings and consciousness will always be with the Lord. The Spirit is alive to divine things and we are given his Holy Spirit from above, and when our bodies are separated for a time from our souls and spirits we are also given the promise of the resurrection, which Lord willing I will talk about next time, the resurrected body and what it will be like. The Bible is also very clear the Jesus is coming again. When he comes again our bodies will awaken or come alive and we will have new bodies forever.
What I want to address is the question what happens immediately after I die. What does the Bible teach about the time between our death and resurrection?
I am surprised how many are influenced by movies and TV today. There are many who believe that we become angels, or we must in some spirit form do good works to earn our wings.
I watched a move awhile ago called. “What Dreams may Come”, starring Robin Williams. It had wonderful photography, and beautiful music intriguing philosophy but differs drastically from the Biblical teaching of what happens when we die. The majority of the movie takes place in the afterlife. Chris is met with a soul guide. He finds heaven to be pretty much how he wishes it to be. It fulfills your greatest dreams. Heaven is painted landscapes, color and variety of attractive styles.
You can add to that list all types of movies about the afterlife and ghost returning back from the dead. Even classics like It’s a Wonderful Life, or The Christmas Carol address contact from the death in literary form to make some important theme or statement. As inspiring or as Hollywood uses it’s dazzle with afterlife themes most of them have wonderful photography, and beautiful music intriguing philosophy but differs drastically from the Biblical teaching of what happens when we die. Most movies end with happy Heavenly stories because this is the way we want things to be, but since all the prophecies of the Bible have come true and have been fulfilled to an astronomical rate of prediction it is with confidence we can place our faith in this book being the word of God and must ask, what does the Bible teach on this subject.
This is the way we want things to be, but since all the prophecies of the Bible have come true and have been fulfilled to an astronomical rate of prediction it is with confidence we can place our faith in this book being the word of God and must ask, what does the Bible teach on this subject.
Now I need to preface my remarks with two other comments. I follow an interpretive principle regarding Bible study. I include the principles what is clearly and plainly and repeated stated in the Bible believe strongly. What is unclear, confusing, and mentioned only once, believe, but allow for various interpretations and don’t be so dogmatic. I find that sometimes people major on minor issues, and minor on the major ones.
On this subject there will be some things I share that are clear and plain and other details which may be open for other interpretations which are held by good evangelical, Christ honoring people. I will try to tell you how I interpret some passages and other things are pretty hard to deny.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Tues Aug 3 – Conscious Existence.
Verses- Matt 22:31-33 But about the resurrection of the dead-- have you not read what God said to you, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is not the God of the dead but of the living."
Rev 6:9-10 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice, "How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?"
The Bible teaches There is Conscious existence after our bodies die.
That is one of the clear, repeated and plain parts that cannot be denied. Not only do all the faiths of the world teach about an afterlife, it is clearly believed in both the old and the New Testament that there is an afterlife. That is clear from Matthew’s passage quoted above.
In case anyone had any doubts, the Lord allowed three disciples to see Moses and Elijah up with Jesus on the Mountain of Transfiguration in Mat.17:
But what happens in this period after the body dies and before Christ’s return? The Jehovah Witnesses and 7th Day Adventists and many modernist will teach what is called a soul sleep. That means since there are passages from the Bible that use the term sleep when it refers to death. They believe the soul and spirit are dormant also until Jesus returns.
Although some will teach the unsaved soul never wakes up. That teaching is called Annialihism. I am surprised that some evangelicals hold that view because the concept of Hell is so. You can’t change the truth just because you don’t like it. Politicians try to do that every day, but God does not change truth.
Others will point to the passages for instance when Jesus raises people from the dead in the New Testament he refers to them as sleeping. But it seems that even when he tells them to get up he is talking to them as they are alive. “Lazarus come forth” “Little girl get up.” He is commanding their spirits which are conscious. In each case Jesus speaks to the person as if he were alive. We can only answer that each was alive. As G. Campbell Morgan says: “The body was dead. The man was not dead. No man is ever dead when his body lies dead!” The soul of man will never enter into a state of non-existence nor unconsciousness.
We get a glimpse behind heaven in the book of Revelations 6. Notice the souls are communicating with the Lord when will be the time for his return. We know at the return of Christ there will be bodily resurrection.
My favorite Bible verse of Paul’s teaching is 2 Cor 5:8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.” We will have conscious awareness of the glory of God and the power of Jesus Christ and being in his presence is sufficient.
The departed saints are truly alive and conscious-
The passage in Luke 16 19-31 relates the story of the rich man and Lazarus. It is a vivid description of these two having consciousness along with Abraham after physical death. The question has been raised by some Bible teachers if this a parable or if it is a prophecy or if it is description of reality. Most commonly in Luke he tells us plainly when he moves into a parable. There is none of that here. In prophecy there is a description of what will be in the future. This is a descriptive story that I believe we must take literally that there is conscious awareness immediately after death and many who experienced near death experiences, or even claimed to have died and returned to the body are immediately made aware of something very real at the gates of the place of dead. The reason that I say that is that we know there will be a final judgment and a resurrection of the bodies of the righteous when Jesus returns and after the Millenium which we will also speak on in one of these sermons there will be later according to Revelations 20 a resurrection of the wicked or unsaved. Neither the resurrection nor the judgment had occurred in this passage. The rich man is pleading to give word to his brothers so they can get saved. The judgment hadn’t come yet. Fully conscious of what is going on.
We have heard many stories of some people, even youngsters, who see Jesus, or grandparents, or loved ones at the point of death and then revived. Likewise I have heard stories of darkness, fear, and horrors. How do we describe those experiences?
Last week we defined death in three ways. The context of the passage also shows that when sleep is referred to it is the bodily death of the separation of the soul from the body. But the soul lives in related to the body. At Christ’s return there will be the reuniting of our soul with a new body.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Weds August 4, 2010 Place of the dead
Verses- Psalm 139:7-8 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.”
Ps 31:17 Let me not be put to shame, O LORD, for I have cried out to you; but let the wicked be put to shame and lie silent in the grave.
Isa 5:14 Therefore the grave enlarges its appetite and opens its mouth without limit; into it will descend their nobles and masses with all their brawlers and revelers.
Matt 16:17-18 Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.
18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
Luke 23:42-43 Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."
The Bible Describes the place of the dead in three ways.
The first term used is the Hebrew word Sheol. That Hebrew term is translated 3 different ways. It is used 65 times. The KJV translates it hell 31 times, the grave 31 times and the pit 3 times. Most of the time sheol is translated grave in the NIV and the Authorized version simply gives you the Hebrew word sheol, letting the reader define it.
The first way in which Sheol is commonly used means “The place of the dead.” It can mean grave, the resting place of the body, but most commonly it does refer to the inner parts of the earth where the Hebrews believed the souls of the departed existed.
We have many words in English that are have different meaning depending on the context in how they are used. In the United States you can say, “I’m mad about my flat” which probably means you are angry that you have a flat tire. In England however that same phrase probably means you are excited about your apartment. The context and location determines the meaning.
Sheol is mostly thought of as down under, somewhere in a hollow part of the earth. Isa 14:9 The grave below is all astir to meet you at your coming; it rouses the spirits of the departed to greet you-- all those who were leaders in the world; it makes them rise from their thrones-- all those who were kings over the nations.
Sheol can be described as a place the wicked go: Num 16:31-35 quote the judgment of God upon the wicked. But likewise Sheol can refer to the place where the righteous or godly also go. Ps 16:9-10 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay.
Psalm 139:7-8 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.” Jacob was looking forward to going to his son Joseph to Sheol Gen 36 and 44.
How we are to interpret words mostly deals with the context of the passage. Most of the time both the righteous and the unrighteous go to Sheol when they die. When it relates to the body it is probably appropriate to translate it grave, when it relates to the resting place or temporary dwelling of the soul then it means more than that.
There is another term, it is the Greek term Hades. In the new Testament it is used 10 times. Sometimes it is figurative referring also to the place of the dead. It is translated hell by KJV, but there is another term called Gehenna which is the term we will discuss in a few weeks when we preach on Hell. So I don’t think that is the best translation. The NIV usually says grave. And can include the resting place for souls of the righteous and the wicked, just like Sheol.
Jesus has, in three other places, Matt 11 and 16, and Luke 10, referred to Hades as a real place. Luke 16:19-31 is the story of Lazarus and the rich man. Now I will admit there is differing interpretation regarding this passage. Some will say this is a parable that isn’t true, but rather a story that is given by Jesus to teach some basic principle to be saved and there will be judgment to come. Some teach this is an expression of the future of what hell will be like as Jesus is looking into the future. Others, including myself will say this is a real story showing what is going on right now among the place of the dead.
The reason that I say that is that we know there will be a final judgment and a resurrection of the bodies of the righteous when Jesus returns and after the Millennium. Neither the resurrection nor the judgment had occurred in this passage. The rich man is pleading to give word to his brothers so they can get saved. The judgment hadn’t come yet.
Also it shows Lazarus to be in the bosom of Abraham, which seems to mean to be gathered unto his people. You are comforted by the saints of the Old Testament and Abraham is the father of the Hebrews. The Jews of Jesus day look to Abraham as the comforter of the people as the father of the nation. This place of the dead refers to a place where Abraham was, and implies that those who are righteous and have passed away are (or were) there being comforted with him.
They both went to Hades, but there is a section of Hades where there is a gulf fixed between the rich man and Lazarus and that I believe is how the passage should be looked at. Just like Sheol is shown to be a place of wicked and righteous now we see there are two areas for each to go. The one is described as rest and peace, the other is in torment and pain and anguish of soul. It is a place which I think is described as not only consciousness but one can reflect on the past. He is reminded of the life he lives in selfishness and prejudice and hardness of heart. He is not objecting to his situation as being unfair. He recalls the past, but is also mindful of the present. Not only wishing a drop of water could be placed on his tongue to cool, but the burden of his heart is to get the message to his brothers so they can repent. I will talk about that more in a bit also.
There is a third expression that is used in the Bible as a place for the dead. It is only used in the New Testament and it is called Paradise. “Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." Luke 23:42-43
There are not many times the term paradise is used in the Bible. But when it is it involves a nice place with the presence of God or Jesus there. What does Jesus mean when he tells the thief who is reaching out in faith? Today you will be alive with me in a place called paradise.
No longer do people go to be with Abraham and the place of their fathers. We do to be where Jesus is. Those who are believers in Jesus Christ are in his presence when they die. The Apostle Paul indicates this to be true when he teaches to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.
In my studies for this sermon there is also a most interesting passage in 2 Corinthians when Paul is described as being taken up into paradise. Dr. Lehmann Straus relates this incident as Paul describes 14 years ago as a time of his near death experience. He believes he was allows to go to this place too wonderful to describe, but then let to remain on earth to carry out the conclusion of his work. From that time on he was so confident of being with the Lord, and looking at that as being far better than being here.
Whether Paul had a vision in his body, or out of his body he does not know so we don’t know either. But the soul consciousness was in a heavenly place.
The three ways the Bible describes the place of the dead are Sheol, Hades, and Paradise, (Abraham’s bosom) and they are described by grave, place of wicked, and place of righteous with conscious awareness, and interaction.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Thurs Aug 5 – Jesus in Hades
Verses- Eph 4:8-10 This is why it says: "When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men." (What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)
Jesus had a Ministry to the Place of the Dead.
Now get this. According to Acts 2 it says Jesus went to the grave, or Hades. Paul taught this in the Ephesians 4 passage quoted above.
Part of the Apostles Creed says “I believe that Jesus descended into hell.” It is a difficult statement, but probably taken from 1 Pet 3:18-20 “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water,”
Now these are confusing passages but if you put them together this is what they seem to teach. Two things seem clear, first, Christ was put to death. Second he went and preached to the spirits in prison who once were disobedient when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah.
It seems that after his death Jesus went and preached to a people in one place. What does that mean? Many commentaries don’t agree so I’ll give you my thoughts. First I believe there was a praise and worship experience unlike anything we have ever seen for the people with Abraham. The Old Testament saints were explained the plan of God and the redemption of the world bought by the Messiah. The departed saints according to Ephesians were then taken up to be with Jesus in the presence of the Father.
But Jesus had another mission. It was to declare judgment on Satan and the demons. They are lost. Jesus won. They were spirits definitely defeated and prepared now for the final judgment to carry out their eternal sentence. Those who died in unbelief also heard and saw and understand. It seems Christ descended to the place of the dead- Hades to make the good news known.
Now the conclusion I have come to is that part of Christ’s work, after committing His Spirit to the Father and dying on the cross, was to descend to Hades, take the ‘keys’ to death and Hades, (whether that be symbolic or actual is for us to find out later I suppose), and to preach the gospel message to those who were in Hades. Jesus then emptied Paradise, by taking all of those who had fallen asleep in Him up to that point, home to heaven...including the repentant thief.
There is also an interesting passage in 2 Corinthians when Paul described being taken up into paradise. Dr. Lehmann Straus relates this incident as Paul describes 14 years ago as a time of his near death experience. He believes he was allowed to go to this place too wonderful to describe, but remained on earth to carry out the conclusion of his work. From that time on he was so confident of being with the Lord, and looking at that as being far better than being here.
Whether Paul had a vision in his body, or out of his body he does not know so we don’t know either. But the soul consciousness was in a heavenly place.
Jesus went to the place of the dead preaching victory to the saved and judgment, to the lost. He releasing the souls of faith to paradise with him in consciousness and glory until the next great event, His return to earth.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Friday August 6, 2010
Verses- Luke 16:26-3 1
And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.'"He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.'
"Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.'
"'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.'
"He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'"
What about Purgatory?
The gulf between Lazarus and the rich man was fixed. The desire to witness and work is over. There is no earning your wings or suffering to get out of purgatory. Purgatory was a medieval concept that no one was good enough for heaven so we had to pay off our sins in suffering after death and everyone eventually will be saved. Nothing like that is taught in the Bible. Indeed. Jesus paid for all our sins and there is nothing more to be done than accept it. To think you will have another chance is wrong. Now is the time to accept Jesus Christ and you will not want to put it off.
One occasion I was asked if I would do a funeral service, but the request was very unusual. They were not religious people except one of the family members. It was important to that family member to have a minister. But the person who died was not a believer nor have any interest in church or clergy. They thought it was more appropriate that I have readings and poems, but they were not interested in hearing anything Christian. I told them I would be respectful of their grief, but I am a Christian minister and would share from the Bible and my prayers were acknowledging Jesus Christ, or they should find someone else because this is my calling.
After reading again the story of Lazarus and the rich man I felt the Lord convicted my heart. I know doing a funeral service for someone who has refused believing in Jesus Christ it is hard to find comfort. But dear people, what do you think the rich man would have me share at his own funeral if he would have had the chance to tell me after his death? Simply this- Do everything in your power to make sure my loved ones are not where I am right now. Perhaps the greatest evangelists would be those who have gone already into Hades without Christ and came back the next day to preach their own funeral sermon.
Heb 9:27-28 Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.”
Our opportunity to witness for Christ will be gone. Do you have a brother, sister, mother, father, relative, friend, neighbor, co-worker, fellow-student who is unsaved? Has God convicted you to share your faith? We cannot save anyone else. That is something each person must face himself or herself. We can pray and we can share out of love.
Someone has gone back from the dead. His name is Jesus! After we die our opportunity to serve Christ will be Gone. John 9:4 "I must work the works of Him who sent me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.
We are not yet talking about final glories of heaven yet to come, nor are we talking about the final judgment of hell yet to come. We are talking about this waiting period where there is rest already and comfort for those in Christ. Heaven as far as being with Christ in that sense has begun already. But for those who are in Hades, the place of the unsaved death ,a form of hell has begun as well, but this is not their eternal abode yet.
The very thought of death is terrifying to unbelievers and it should be. But for those who have made their peace with God through Jesus Christ it is a blessing. If you have been saved by trusting in Jesus, relax. Your destiny is secured. If you have never trusted Christ for salvation, your destiny is unsettled. One minute after you die, you will be alive, you will be conscious, you will be either in Hades or Paradise with Jesus.
I Jn 5:12-13 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” Are you ready?
Pastor Dale
