(Comments by Joan Boney)
When a memory of my mother or father comes to my mind, I see them in the physical form as they walked on this earth. I recall their spirit more than their actual bodies.
But I never think of either of them as dead people.
The apostle Paul tells us:
I Thessalonians 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.
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Before we are taken into heaven we will all be changed into our new spiritual bodies:
48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
(God is a spirit. I was taken into heaven twice shortly after I was born again. I was with God, with Jesus, and with the Holy Spirit. I saw no physical images of God or Jesus or Holy Spirit but they were very real to me though in a spirit form. At that time, I was merged into the body of Jesus, made one with the Word of God, God and Holy Spirit witnessing.)
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep (die), but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep (die), but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
(Blink! That is how fast we will be changed into our new spiritual bodies.)
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
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We all meet Jesus "in the air" and are then taken to the new heaven and the new earth which God has created for us, wherein dwelleth only righteousness.
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.
(We will have our new spiritual bodies which are not subject to death, sorrow, crying or pain. We will no longer have these physical bodies whereby we can be hurt.)
5And HE that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.
5And HE that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.
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So when I think of my mother or father I see them as they were when they were on this earth. I never even remember they are "dead".
I don't go to graveyards and decorate graves. Neither do I go to funeral homes to look at corpses in caskets.
I see the living, then and now. They are temporarily sleeping but will rise when Jesus comes for the church for they were born again and I have full assurance of this. And those who are born again will never die.
John 6:40 Jesus said: And this is the will of HIM that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on HIM, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
(I believe this!)
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