As I wrote previously, "…twisted theology also robs us of our genuine hope, replacing it with a false counterfeit hope, which lacks any hint of comfort…" The subject of our hope needs to be explored and set right.
Galatians 5:5 For through the Spirit (gift of holy spirit), by faith (this is the measure of faith which is given to all saints), we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. (ESV)
Our "eagerly waiting for the hope of righteousness" cannot be faked or duplicated by any who are not born again. This waiting is enabled as a function of the gift of holy spirit.
1 Thessalonians 4:13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. (ESV)
It is NOT the will of God for any of us to be ignorant or uninstructed about these matters! Here is our genuine, real hope, from the scriptures:
1 Thessalonians 4:16–18
[16] For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. [17] Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. [18] Therefore encourage one another with these words. (ESV)
As Paul declared in 1 Corinthians 15, this is when we all receive our new, spiritual bodies. From that moment, wherever our Lord goes, so we will go and be with him - ALWAYS!
In all these scriptures we have covered so far, examine what is said and what is NOT said. We have read nothing about "heaven" or "hell". We have read nothing about a judgement for the saints. So, about judgment:
John 5:24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. (ESV)
Did Jesus lie, or did he tell the truth? You decide.
Another verse, which is another aspect of our hope:
2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. (ESV)
Interesting! Again, we are blind to the actual meaning, not understanding the cultural term used here. This "judgment seat" comes from an athletic term, "reward stand". In the Greek culture this stand is where the awards were given to the winners in their athletic contests. We appear at the reward stand of Christ, in our new, spiritual bodies, not for a judgement to condemnation. We appear for our rewards, for our work, our deeds done in the body of Christ.
Other verses regarding the work we WILL (future) be called upon to do (yes, we will have work to do):
1 Corinthians 6:2–3
[2] Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? [3] Do you not know that we are to judge (demonic) angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life! (ESV)
Yes, there will be judgments, but the saints won't be judged, they will be performing the judgments! Praise God!
A Man Who Didn't Die?
There is one more record that we should handle, about a man who pleased God.
Hebrews 11:5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. (ESV)
Traditionally this account is taught as if Enoch was taken up into heaven, so that he would never die, he would never experience death. The difficulty here is the word "see". We are taught to understand that this means "experience". However, it actually means to "observe (see) with the eyes". Enoch "walked with God", which is the same as saying he walked by the spirit. "…God had taken him…" is as simple as God giving Enoch directions on where to go and where not to go. The intent of these directions was so that he would not be in the vicinity where someone was going to die.
There is a similar expression used of Elijah in 1 Kings 18, 11, 12.
What is left out of the traditional teaching is this one verse -
Hebrews 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. (ESV)
So, did Enoch die, or is he flying around in heaven? You decide.
In another account, a chariot of fire took up Elijah, and it is taught that it took him up into heaven, where he remains to this day. However, such teachings, don’t mention a record during the reign of Jehoram in Judah. Elijah wrote Jehoram a letter, which is found in 2 Chronicles 21:12. This happened after the chariot took him up. I wonder what postal service he used?
Finally
Any other religious, theological arguments on this subject, MUST first be in agreement with these clearly understood scriptures. It is up to the critic to harmonize any other scriptures (used by the critic), with those presented here, before promoting another doctrine.
We have seen what the scriptures have to say about our REAL, GENUINE hope of righteousness. What is propounded by the corporate theological realm on this subject is simply a counterfeit, false hope, which provides little or no comfort.
Is there any human watching over you from heaven? NO.
When you die are you going to heaven or hell? NO.
When you die are you going to a judgment to determine if you will go to heaven or hell? NO
When you die, is any part of you functioning or alive? NO
Corporate religious theology regarding heaven and hell was derived from Greek and Roman paganism. The grievous demonic lie "…you will not surely die…" continues to be promoted by corporate religion to this day. As we have seen, it is not Biblical, Godly, or True. Choose this day what you will believe, choose the hope which gives real comfort.
You Will Not Surely Die: Part 3 - Our Hope
You Will Not Surely Die: Part 3 - Our Hope
You Will Not Surely Die: Part 3 - Our Hope
Our Hope
As I wrote previously, "…twisted theology also robs us of our genuine hope, replacing it with a false counterfeit hope, which lacks any hint of comfort…" The subject of our hope needs to be explored and set right.
Galatians 5:5 For through the Spirit (gift of holy spirit), by faith (this is the measure of faith which is given to all saints), we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. (ESV)
Our "eagerly waiting for the hope of righteousness" cannot be faked or duplicated by any who are not born again. This waiting is enabled as a function of the gift of holy spirit.
1 Thessalonians 4:13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. (ESV)
It is NOT the will of God for any of us to be ignorant or uninstructed about these matters! Here is our genuine, real hope, from the scriptures:
1 Thessalonians 4:16–18
[16] For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. [17] Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. [18] Therefore encourage one another with these words. (ESV)
As Paul declared in 1 Corinthians 15, this is when we all receive our new, spiritual bodies. From that moment, wherever our Lord goes, so we will go and be with him - ALWAYS!
In all these scriptures we have covered so far, examine what is said and what is NOT said. We have read nothing about "heaven" or "hell". We have read nothing about a judgement for the saints. So, about judgment:
John 5:24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. (ESV)
Did Jesus lie, or did he tell the truth? You decide.
Another verse, which is another aspect of our hope:
2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. (ESV)
Interesting! Again, we are blind to the actual meaning, not understanding the cultural term used here. This "judgment seat" comes from an athletic term, "reward stand". In the Greek culture this stand is where the awards were given to the winners in their athletic contests. We appear at the reward stand of Christ, in our new, spiritual bodies, not for a judgement to condemnation. We appear for our rewards, for our work, our deeds done in the body of Christ.
Other verses regarding the work we WILL (future) be called upon to do (yes, we will have work to do):
1 Corinthians 6:2–3
[2] Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? [3] Do you not know that we are to judge (demonic) angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life! (ESV)
Yes, there will be judgments, but the saints won't be judged, they will be performing the judgments! Praise God!
A Man Who Didn't Die?
There is one more record that we should handle, about a man who pleased God.
Hebrews 11:5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. (ESV)
Traditionally this account is taught as if Enoch was taken up into heaven, so that he would never die, he would never experience death. The difficulty here is the word "see". We are taught to understand that this means "experience". However, it actually means to "observe (see) with the eyes". Enoch "walked with God", which is the same as saying he walked by the spirit. "…God had taken him…" is as simple as God giving Enoch directions on where to go and where not to go. The intent of these directions was so that he would not be in the vicinity where someone was going to die.
There is a similar expression used of Elijah in 1 Kings 18, 11, 12.
What is left out of the traditional teaching is this one verse -
Hebrews 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. (ESV)
So, did Enoch die, or is he flying around in heaven? You decide.
In another account, a chariot of fire took up Elijah, and it is taught that it took him up into heaven, where he remains to this day. However, such teachings, don’t mention a record during the reign of Jehoram in Judah. Elijah wrote Jehoram a letter, which is found in 2 Chronicles 21:12. This happened after the chariot took him up. I wonder what postal service he used?
Finally
Any other religious, theological arguments on this subject, MUST first be in agreement with these clearly understood scriptures. It is up to the critic to harmonize any other scriptures (used by the critic), with those presented here, before promoting another doctrine.
We have seen what the scriptures have to say about our REAL, GENUINE hope of righteousness. What is propounded by the corporate theological realm on this subject is simply a counterfeit, false hope, which provides little or no comfort.
Is there any human watching over you from heaven? NO.
When you die are you going to heaven or hell? NO.
When you die are you going to a judgment to determine if you will go to heaven or hell? NO
When you die, is any part of you functioning or alive? NO
Corporate religious theology regarding heaven and hell was derived from Greek and Roman paganism. The grievous demonic lie "…you will not surely die…" continues to be promoted by corporate religion to this day. As we have seen, it is not Biblical, Godly, or True. Choose this day what you will believe, choose the hope which gives real comfort.
©2022 Keith S. Radcliffe