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Vol. 3 ... #5
Rejoice in the Lord (The Word)
Philippians 3:1 Paul tells us to rejoice in The Lord ...
The Word is the Lord. Jesus Christ is The Word.
Do we rejoice in The Word.
I certainly do!
I rejoice in knowing I Thess. 4 ...
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep (dead), that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent (precede) them which are asleep (dead).
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Both the dead and those who are still alive when Jesus comes will be caught up in the air.
I Cor. 15 says those who are still alive when Jesus returns will be "changed", given a spiritual body. Our current bodies will not go into the air with us. We will not have these current bodies in heaven for these bodies we are in now are subject to corruption (disease, pain, deformity, decay). None of those things will exist in heaven according to the apostle John.
Revelation 21 ... 1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
The current heaven and earth will be destroyed by God.
II Peter 3 ... 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
Why then should we, who belong to God fret ourselves over what we see going on in the world today ... the injustice of man, lawlessness, corruption of rulers, corruption of neighbors, damages to our houses on this earth, elections of governments of men, and such ... for in the end, all that we can see with our natural eye will be destroyed by God.
We will then be given "spiritual bodies" ... not subject to pain, disease, decay.
All things will be new and the former things will not even come to mind. (I Cor. 15 & Rev. 21 & Isaiah 65:17)
Isaiah 65 ...For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth:
and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.
I rejoice greatly in knowing these things.