THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST

 

             THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST

 

 "Suffering death" generally refers to the process of dying (experiencing pain, distress, or fear before passing), rather than experiencing the state of being dead, which is non-existence. It entails enduring physical, emotional, or spiritual distress in the final moments, which is distinct from simply passing away peacefully. Hebrews 2:9 .............he suffered death so that by the grace of GOD he might taste death for everyone."  Jesus died a horrible death in great pain and suffering. Many other human beings do too. 

Isaiah 57:2 "Those who walk uprightly enter into peace, they find rest as they lie in death,"

Daniel 12:13  "But go your way till the end for you will rest and then you will arise to your inheritance at the end of days."

As a disembodied spirit how can a person suffer after they have died ?

At death all suffering ends.  The dead enter a state of non-existence.  

According to the gospel of Jesus and the preaching of the Apostles the dead can only live again by a resurrection of the dead.

1 Cornthians 15:20-23

20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. 

Notice it is at the return of Jesus that the dead live again.  I am fully aware that certain scriptures can be viewed as saying we have immediate life after death but this misunderstanding is contrary to the message of the gospel.  Even Jesus said, "No one can come to me unless the FATHER who sent me draws them and I will raise them up at the last day."  John 6:44

To live again after you die is a promise, a hope that Jesus gives to the saints and not immediately after death.   1 John 2:25 "And this is the promise HE has promised us, everlasting life."

"In this hope we are saved. No one hopes for something they already have other wise hope would not be hope. If we hope for what we do not yet have we wait for it patiently."  Romans 8:24-25

Everlasting life is a gift from GOD which means we do not have it by nature as this mortal must put on immortality. 

! Corinthians 15 is called the resurrection chapter and Paul explains how the dead in Christ are made alive again by a resurrection when Jesus returns.  This is the hope of the saints, the promise GOD gives us, the gift we receive at the return of Jesus. Until that day the dead are dead just as Solomon describes in Ecclesiastes 9:5 "For the living know that they will die but the dead know not anything."

1 Timothy 6:7  "For we brought nothing into the world so we cannot carry anything out of it."

This promise of everlasting life we have not yet received but in hope we wait for it in death just like those ancient saints who died without receiving the promise.  Hebrews 11:13  "These all died in the faith not having received the promises but having seen them afar off and were persuaded of them and embraced them...."  These saints are just like us, waiting for the promises to be fulfilled.  Hebrews 11:39-40 "These were all commended for their faith yet did not receive the promises.  GOD planned something better for us that together with us they would be made perfect." 

All the ancient saints fell asleep, rested with their fathers just as we will when we die but we die in the hope of the promise of the gospel that when Jesus returns we will be raised from the dead as immortal spirit beings.

Job understood this, Job 14:14

14 If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.

15 Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands.

 And this fits perfectly with 1 Corinthians 15:52  "in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet:for the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised and we shall be changed."

Any idea you any have that gives life immediately after death is NOT the gospel of Jesus Christ and this is very dangerous for you.  

Galatians 1:6-9

 6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.