2 Corinthians 5:8 We are of good courage, I say, and are willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be at home with the Lord.
Many people have been taught that what Paul is teaching in this verse is that when the saved die they go right to be with the Lord. But is this what Paul is really saying or is it something that is read into the verse to support a false doctrine?
Let us test all things and hold on to what is good.
In the context of this verse we find Paul talking about an earthly house, made without hands, in the heavens.
2 Corinthians 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
He continues on to say we are waiting to be clothed with this new house, which is a body that is immortal. This is where mortality, the body we have now, is swollowed up by life.
2 Corinthians 5:-4 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life.
Now my question is, does this putting of immortality where motality is swallowed up by life come at the moment of death or at the resurrection?
Let us continue in the teachings of Paul.
1 Corinthians 12:51-54 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory.''
We see here very clearly in Paul's consistant teachings that immortality is put on at the resurrection where mortality is swallowed up by life. This is what Paul was longing forward when he said, "We are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord." Notice how, in context of the verses, he says he would perfer rather to absent from his mortal body and be with the Lord in his new immortal body that's waiting for him in heaven. Paul was only stating his desire, he wasn't teaching us what happens when we die.
Now the next question, when was Paul expecting to be forever with the Lord? At the moment of his death or at the resurrection?
Let us continue in Paul's teachings.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.
Notice how we who are alive when Jesus comes do not go to be with the Lord before those who are already dead? That means the dead are still dead in their graves when Jesus comes for them. And when does Jesus come for them? At the last trumpet.
And when does the trumpet sound? At the monmet of our death or at the resurrection?
1 Corinthians 15-51-55 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory.'' "O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?''
Paul also tells us in 1 Thessalonians to comfort one another with these truths. If our brothers and sisters were already in heaven when Jesus comes there would be no need for us to comfort one another with these things because they would have already been in heaven when Paul made that statement.
Let us not be so easily led astray, but rather, let's let the Bible interpret the Bible.
Many people have been taught that what Paul is teaching in this verse is that when the saved die they go right to be with the Lord. But is this what Paul is really saying or is it something that is read into the verse to support a false doctrine?
Let us test all things and hold on to what is good.
In the context of this verse we find Paul talking about an earthly house, made without hands, in the heavens.
2 Corinthians 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
He continues on to say we are waiting to be clothed with this new house, which is a body that is immortal. This is where mortality, the body we have now, is swollowed up by life.
2 Corinthians 5:-4 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life.
Now my question is, does this putting of immortality where motality is swallowed up by life come at the moment of death or at the resurrection?
Let us continue in the teachings of Paul.
1 Corinthians 12:51-54 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory.''
We see here very clearly in Paul's consistant teachings that immortality is put on at the resurrection where mortality is swallowed up by life. This is what Paul was longing forward when he said, "We are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord." Notice how, in context of the verses, he says he would perfer rather to absent from his mortal body and be with the Lord in his new immortal body that's waiting for him in heaven. Paul was only stating his desire, he wasn't teaching us what happens when we die.
Now the next question, when was Paul expecting to be forever with the Lord? At the moment of his death or at the resurrection?
Let us continue in Paul's teachings.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.
Notice how we who are alive when Jesus comes do not go to be with the Lord before those who are already dead? That means the dead are still dead in their graves when Jesus comes for them. And when does Jesus come for them? At the last trumpet.
And when does the trumpet sound? At the monmet of our death or at the resurrection?
1 Corinthians 15-51-55 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory.'' "O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?''
Paul also tells us in 1 Thessalonians to comfort one another with these truths. If our brothers and sisters were already in heaven when Jesus comes there would be no need for us to comfort one another with these things because they would have already been in heaven when Paul made that statement.
Let us not be so easily led astray, but rather, let's let the Bible interpret the Bible.
