Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet
I believe the dead in Christ are simply asleep and when Jesus returns they will rise in their new spiritual bodies and will meet Jesus in the air.
The apostle Paul told us he would not have us sorrow as the world sorrows for they have no hope.
When we really believe this, we look on death differently.
I mentioned death to a young woman recently and she quickly fought the concept of death through speaking a platitude of meaningless words. Most people, even many who say they are Christians, treat death in the same way the world treats death. They go into periods of mourning and decorate graves and visit graves of dead people.
Why?
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I Thessalonians 4:13-18 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
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.
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:
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.
Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
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When we believe these scriptures about death we will not act as the people of this world do about death.
The fact that we believe what the scriptures say causes us to view death differently.
That person who dies has simply fallen asleep.
Jesus will come and awake those who have died. Then will be the judgment where we receive for that which we have done on this present earth, whether good or bad.
John 5:28-29 for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice,
And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
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We will be given new spiritual bodies which have no flesh therefore are not subject to the flesh as the bodies we now have are subject to the flesh. Therefore there will be no more pain, nor sorrow, nor death.
This is what we have to look forward to.
Because we believe the scriptures we rejoice in death knowing it frees us from these earthly bodies.
And we know in our new spiritual bodies we will be as the angels, fully able to worship God through all eternity.
All these things we know because of the scriptures and because we believe the scriptures.
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Mark 12:25 For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven.
I Corinthians 15:42-44 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
I Corinthians 15:50-52 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep (die), but we shall all be changed, 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.
Revelation 21:1-5 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. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 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.
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.
And HE that sat upon the throne said,
Behold, I make all things new.
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