Gen 6:1 When man began to multiply on the face of the land and daughters were born to them,

Gen 6:2 the sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive. And they took as their wives any they chose.

The “sons of God” are referencing angelic beings. Otherwise there would have been no distinction made between “God” and “man” and the phrase would have just been rendered “sons of man” just as “daughters of man” was properly rendered. Or even “sons of God” and “daughters of God” would have served just as well.

Or do we infer that women- or “daughters,” ARE NOT of God- but rather of man? On the contrary, it is clearly understood that both “men and women” are the sons and daughters of, and by way of man (and woman), who procreate in accordance to God. And that angelic beings are by way of, and directly of God.

No where in Genesis is Adam ever referred to as “the son of God” and he was the first human ever created. Furthermore, if sons of man are from God, so are the daughters of man. But a distinction between God and man, has clearly been made in Genesis.

These angelic beings no doubt, were the fallen ones. The ones who left their first abode, or dwelling place, and went after STRANGE flesh and sexual perversions:

Jude 1:6 Remember the angels who did not stay within the limits of their proper authority, but abandoned their own dwelling place: they are bound with eternal chains in the darkness below, where God is keeping them for that great Day on which they will be condemned.

Jude 1:7 Remember Sodom and Gomorrah, and the nearby towns, whose people acted as those angels did and indulged in sexual immorality and perversion: they suffer the punishment of eternal fire as a plain warning to all. (Good News Bible)

Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities about them, ACTED IN LIKE MANNER (Like the Fallen Angels) indulging in sexual immorality and perversion and are now set forth as an example to these sinning angels as to what type of punishment awaits them.

The people of Sodom and Gomorrah fornicated with strange flesh, man with man and woman with woman. And probably were engaged with bestiality as well. They engaged in unnatural and deviant sexual activity not condoned by the Almighty.

And so did the angelic beings when they took daughters of men as their wives and mated with them. This abnormal junction or union between a spiritual being and a fleshy, mortal woman, resulted in a hybrid breed of giants and super humans called the Nephilim.

Gen 6:4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown.

The above verse tells us that the Nephilim were on the earth in THOSE DAYS (of Genesis 6:1-2) when this unnatural union was initially occurring. But it states that they were ALSO here AFTERWARD… meaning they were here AGAIN sometime after those days (of Genesis) when this union re-occurred a second time, perhaps after Noah’s flood. That is why after the flood, the Bible once more speaks of the Nephilim (Numbers 13:33) and of other Giants like Goliath.

History tells us that “the mighty men of old, men of renown”, are none other than the mythical heroes like, Achilles and Hercules, who were hybrids, half human and half god. In those days it was believed that gods and goddesses would mate with humans and produce these super-strength heroes who now live in the pages of history as having accomplished unbelievable feats. That is what I call renown!

The people of ancient times no doubt, equated these angelic beings to gods. And so classical mythology is full of these unions between gods and mortals.

But I know, I know…  Some will quickly exclaim that angels can’t marry and will offer the following so-called evidence:

Mat 22:30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in Heaven.

This, my friends, proves nothing! This doesn’t say angels aren’t capable of marrying or reproducing, it only tells us that IN HEAVEN, they don’t.

The evidence produced earlier suggests that angels can marry, did and will be punished for it.

Paul has an interesting thing to say in regards to man, angels and women:

1 Corinthians 11:10 On account of the angels, then, a woman should have a covering over her head to show that she is under her husband’s authority. (Good News Bible)

Why would a woman have to show the angels- or the “sons of God”, that she’s under her husband’s authority? It’s almost like attempting to demonstrate to them that she is married and already taken and therefore, unavailable.

Another interesting thing to ponder on, is the fact that God himself implies that Satan (representing the fallen angels) would have offspring with women and possibly starting with Eve!

Genesis 3:15 I will put enmity between you (Satan-the serpent) and the woman (Eve), and between your offspring and her offspring…

So the Nephilim, from the union of angelic beings (Sons of God) and mortals, would always be at war with the lineage of full-blooded mortals.

The bible has always called angels, the “sons of God”. See, Job 1:6; 2:1 and 38:7. And it appears that the only time men will be considered as such is sometime in the future. Please see: Matt.5:9; Luke 20:36 and Romans 8:19.

Right now we are technically considered the sons and daughters of God if we are led by His Spirit and live accordingly. BUT… as long as we are alive, there is always the possibility of straying and losing that relationship. It is only in the resurrection of the just that we will attain a spiritual essence and be considered to be “sons of God” like the angels in heaven.

Look for more upcoming articles in regards to this very interesting subject.

In recent years, there’s been plenty of buzz in cyberspace in regards to PLANET X. And yet, there are still plenty of folks who’ve practically never heard of it.

PLANET X is supposedly a large celestial body that is anchored to our solar system by the means of an irregular, ecliptic orbit that brings its passing, or fly-by, close to earth and its neighboring planets every few thousand years. And the latest news is that it is scheduled to make its next fly-by in the year 2012.

In its fly-bys, PLANET X supposedly accompanies another celestial body, a Dark Star, our own sun’s Dark Sister. Even though this Dark Star remains at a further distant than PLANET X (or Nibiru, as it is known in ancient Sumerian texts) during the crossing, it is still a fearful and dreadful sight that also contributes heavily to the chaos on earth and the surrounding planets.

This frightful and destructive, enormous planet, has been called different names by the ancients. It was known as:

‘Nibiru’ by the Sumerians;

‘Phaeton’ by the Greeks;

‘Typhon’ by the Pliny;

‘Frightener’ by the Celts;

And ‘The Destroyer’ by the Egyptians and Hebrews.

Now-a-days modern man knows it as PLANET X and the Bible, yes the Bible, also calls it “THE DESTROYER”.

It is believed that this Dark Star and its accompanying celestial army, namely PLANET X, are responsible for the solar calamities that caused the extinction of the dinosaurs and for having wiped out every thriving ancient civilization at its height of glory that existed in man’s ancient and glorious past.

It is also believed that PLANET X, or Planet of the Crossing as it is known in texts of antiquity, was also responsible for the great deluge of Noah’s day.

Some have speculated that these are the celestial instruments that God Himself has appointed to cleanse, or purge humanity from the climax and height of evil and sin, just as in Noah’s day. This purging has a recurring time frame set and locked within our solar calendar. It’s unavoidable!

I will be adding additional articles on this very interesting topic with a Biblical Perspective. So keep checking back under the Category PLANET X, when you visit back.

Some argue that Paul specifically stated that to be absent from the body “is to be” present with the Lord when speaking of his own death.

This of course, is not true and is grossly taken out of context.

This is what Paul really says:

2 Corinthians 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

As you can see, it is much different than the assumed version. This in no way implies inherent immortality or uninterrupted life at death by the means of some immortal soul.

If you read the entire context very carefully you’ll see that Paul was talking about the three conditions affecting the Christian: Mortality, Death and Immortality.

The one he was presently clothed upon as he spoke this, was a dissolvable, MORTAL and temporary condition he describes as a house, tent or tabernacle.

The middle stage he describes as an UNCLOTHED or NAKED condition known as DEATH. In this stage one is neither clothed upon with an earthly house- nor a heavenly house, hence the NAKEDNESS.

And the third and more desirable, PERMANENT or IMMORTAL condition (which all Christians will attain to some day at the resurrection), he describes as an eternal and more glorious building (from God) in heaven.

Read it for yourself, but pay close attention to verses 2-4, which indicate that Paul was burdened by the thought of eventually having to die, or be found naked or unclothed.

Those people who twist this verse around to accommodate their beliefs, entirely skip over this middle condition known as the NAKED or UNCLOTHED condition WHICH IS DEATH. They go from the first, directly to the third, and yet Paul clearly says that there is a middle or NAKED condition known as death, which burdened him.

Paul’s hope and desire was that Christ might return before HIS DEATH so that we might not be found UNCLOTHED and NAKED; but rather clothed upon with immortality… that mortality might be swallowed up of life!

2 Corinthians 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

2 Corinthians 5:2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:

2 Corinthians 5:3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.

2 Corinthians 5:4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.

2 Corinthians 5:5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 5:6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:

2 Corinthians 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

2 Corinthians 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

In other words, Paul’s WILLING DESIRE was to go directly from this earthly, mortal condition to the permanent and eternal condition in heaven WITHOUT being troubled or burdened with the thought of having to go through the NAKED or UNCLOTHED stage known as death first. He didn’t want to experience the sting of death.

Notice that throughout his apostolic life his hope was that Christ might return while he still lived:

“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.” 1Thessalonians 4:16-17

Besides that, if we were indeed immortal and never really died at all, there wouldn’t be the need to groan or be burdened by the thought of having to die- or be found naked, would there?

So all that Paul is really saying is that he prefers, or willing rather to be absent from this body- or tent and be present with the Lord- or clothed with the permanent building from heaven WITHOUT having to die- or be found unclothed or naked.

Nothing of a mystery there, I’m sure we’d all PREFER to be clothed upon with immortality NOW and be with Christ in heaven NOW, rather than to be living in this sinful and deteriorating world with the grim realization of having to ACTUALLY feel the sting of death someday, and then be with Christ LATER, or AFTERWARDS at the Resurrection of THE DEAD.

I for one don’t want to die, Paul didn’t either and I’m sure neither do you. So hopefully Christ returns in our lifetime so that we won’t have to experience the sting of death. That’s exactly what Paul had desired in his own lifetime.

I would also like to bring attention to Verse 4, especially to the phrase Paul uses, “that mortality might be swallowed up of life”.

Paul is saying that the “clothed upon” stage which he desires is the one in which “Mortality might be swallowed up of life”; which misguided men interpret as happening immediately upon death so that it accommodates their belief system.

But elsewhere, as in the following verses, this same Paul tells us exactly when this actually happens and it IS NOT immediately upon death.

Please notice also  Paul’s implication here and that is, that he refers to those who’ve ALREADY died and have DECAYED in their graves as, “CORRUPTIBLE who must put on INCORRUPTION”. And those who ARE STILL ALIVE, he refers to as, “MORTALS who must put on IMMORTALITY”.

So he’s talking about two classes of people when Christ returns, the living and the dead!

Please Note:

1 Corinthians 15:51 Behold, I speak a mystery to you; we shall not all fall asleep, but we shall all be changed;

1 Corinthians 15:52 in a moment, in a glance of an eye, at the last trumpet. For a trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and WE (who are alive) shall all be changed.

1 Corinthians 15:53 For this corruptible (those who’ve already died) must put on incorruption, and this mortal (those still living)  must put on immortality (or else they’d  die and also succumb to DECAY and CORRUPTION).

1 Corinthians 15:54-55 But when this corruptible shall put on incorruption, and when this mortal shall put on immortality, THEN will take place the word that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your sting? O grave, where is your victory?”

So you see, Paul makes it clear as to WHEN “mortality might be swallowed up of life” and that isn’t UNTIL THE RESURRECTION when CHRIST RETURNS at the LAST TRUMP.

Again, the word of God DOES NOT contradict itself. So “Absent from the Body” DOES NOT mean “An immediate CONSCIOUS Presence with the Lord”.

Let the Bible reveal the answer and not misguided men who have Scholarship and Church tradition to uphold.

The obvious and biblical answer is – NO.

“And no man hath ascended up to heaven…” John 3:13

Are the current DEAD conscious? NO, not unless we are immortal beings or possess an immortal soul.

Are we immortal or do we have an immortal soul? NO! The bible speaks loud and clear:

“He ALONE is immortal…” 1 Timothy 6:16.

So much for the theory of immortality! This means that YOU aren’t immortal, I’m not immortal, your body isn’t immortal and a soul can’t be immortal! If any of us were immortal in any way, form, manner or condition, THEN, HE ALONE, WOULD NOT be immortal as scripture claims!

Why is that phrase so hard for some to digest? It needs no interpretation as it is one of the easiest verses in the bible to be understood. And since the bible doesn’t contradict itself, then anything that appears to imply anything other than that, can therefore not be correct and so, must have some other explanation.

Is it any wonder that we are told that Christ has brought immortality to light and that we must seek for it?

“But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and IMMORTALITY to light through the gospel…” 2 Timothy 1:10

“To them who by patient continuance in well doing SEEK for glory and honor and IMMORTALITY, eternal life…” Romans 2:7

Now if immortality was already an inherent human possession, then there would be no need to seek it, would there?

Surely the above message is for YOU and ME, to all of us (the REAL us) who are capable of seeking for it. Obviously an inert shell body isn’t capable of anything, right? According to the immortal view, it’s only a shell that houses the soul and therefore, doesn’t have the capacity to do anything, much less SEEK for immortality.

The immortal soul persuasion would have us believe that the conscious souls of the righteous dead like Moses, Elijah and Enoch, are currently in heaven; but this, my friends, is impossible!

“NO ONE has seen God at any time; the Only-begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him. “ John 1:18

“And NO ONE has ascended up to heaven except He who came down from Heaven, the Son of Man who is in Heaven.” John 3:13

Notice very carefully the information contained in these two verses. First, they tell us that NO ONE has ever seen God at ANYTIME. How can anyone have ascended into heaven and not ever see God?

And then it is made clear as to why no one has ever seen God at anytime and that’s because ABSOLUTELY NO ONE has ever ascended up to heaven where God dwells.

So that means that at their deaths, neither Enoch, Elijah, Moses or any other person for that matter, has ever ascended into heaven where God dwells. And no, neither did anyone else at the time of Christ’s resurrection, not even the thief on the cross!

NOTICE VERY CAREFULLY, John wrote the Gospel of John some time after the death and resurrection of Christ. So please notice how John 3:13 reflects this by indicating, “WHO IS” (present-tense) in heaven! So when John wrote his gospel, Christ had already resurrected to heaven- but in the same sentence John makes it very clear that NO ONE ELSE has EVER gone there!

Read it again! That is a very clear and profound statement.

So that means my friends, that the thief on the cross DID NOT ascend into heaven or paradise, with Christ on that day- or any other day for that matter as is popularly believed. It also means that at Christ’s ascension, NO ONE in some parabolic mythical place called “Abraham’s Bosom”,  followed him into heaven either as is widely being claimed.

Friends, the word of God doesn’t have to repeat something twenty times over to make a point. If the reference is clear and without vagueness, and easily understood… then consider the point as having been well made.

According to the Bible, NO ONE is- or has gone to heaven at death; Because no one but God, is immortal. That’s why it also tells us that we humans must seek for it (immortality).

And John is also very specific in his implication that Christ ascended to and is in heaven, but that NO ONE else is there- or has EVER gone there at anytime!

So when we die, WE REALLY DIE!… and remain in our graves where we obliviously await for the promised resurrection “of the dead” just as scripture promises and claims.

The following verses are used as a proof reference to show that men have an immortal soul and that when they die; they go immediately to heaven in a conscious state. They are suppose to prove that souls of men are consciously in heaven right NOW.

Revelation 6:9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:

Revelation 6:10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

Revelation 6:11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

This proves absolutely nothing about anyone ever having gone to heaven- or already being in heaven. Especially when you consider the evidence already presented, that no one ever has! Please read our article, “Where Do the Souls of Men Go at Death?”

The wording here is symbolic and is in figurative language just as in so many other instances in Revelation. Nevertheless, the message is clear, these souls “ARE DEAD”.

The evidence in context also appears to indicate that “these souls” are killed during the events (Tribulation Period) contained in the preceding verses (2-8), especially verse 8, which are events yet to happen! They haven’t happened yet.

These are killed due to their testimony and for their word of God. Jesus tells us that at the end-times (Matthew 24:9; 29), many will be killed for His name’s sake. So the evidence appears more favorably to suggest that these souls will be killed during the Tribulation Period during the reign of the Beast (Revelation 20:4), rather than to suggest that these souls are symbolically under the altar right NOW. But whether they symbolically represent Tribulation saints, or those souls killed during ages past, matters not. The point is they are dead!

We are told these souls are slain! And they are told (symbolically speaking of course, because after all, THEY ARE DEAD) that they “should rest YET” for a little while longer until their fellow servants and brethren should be killed as they were!

The key phrase here that proves these ARE DEAD souls is, “should rest YET”. Meaning that these souls should continue in their resting condition until a certain time period has expired. This state of rest, or resting condition, is also known as death! See the following example:

Daniel 12:13 So, Daniel, be faithful until the end! You will rest, and at the end of time, YOU will rise from death to receive your reward.

Pretty clear isn’t it? It isn’t Daniel’s inert shell body being addressed here as some would have us believe, but rather Daniel, the COMPLETE being himself! The very soul who will rest in the condition known as death and at the end will rise from it to receive his reward.

Another phrase that also catches the eye here is: “And white robes were given unto every one of them“…

How can a spirit, or souls, wear a robe? Remember, their physical bodies are in their graves! So it would be illogical to see it any other way other than symbolically speaking.

So we clearly see no evidence in Revelation 6:9-11, that indicates that the souls of the righteous dead go consciously to heaven at death, or that some have already ascended to heaven and are already there. All the evidence solidifies the direct opposite of that.

Instead of letting the Bible teach them, men will twist and pervert scripture in order to try and force it to say what they believe. Nevertheless, let men be wrong and the Mighty weight of the Word of God, be right!

There are those who will tell anyone willing to listen that man has an immortal soul in him. That when he dies here on the earth, he, in the form of an immortal soul, will immediately go to heaven or hell without interruption of life.

His body, it is claimed, is what goes and remains in the grave until the promised resurrection. And at the time of this resurrection of the body, both body and soul will again be reunited before eventually being sent back to where the disembodied soul was before this reunification. It is said by them, that the only reason for the resurrection, is to reunite the soul with its body.

This folks, is a scenario that you will not find in your bible. Yet, it is being crammed in our ears from pulpits all over the world.

Listen to what your bible says:

Ephesians 5:14 Therefore He says: “Awake, you who are sleeping, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

So the question begs to be asked, “If one is already fully AWAKE and alive in either heaven or hell, how can you also AWAKE or come back to life in the grave?”

Is it possible to be awake in two different places at once? Is it possible to be alive in two separate places at once? This is exactly what they would have us believe!

And how can it be said that Christ will shine on you when you awake from your grave- when He should have already been shinning on you while being present with Him in heaven in the form of an immortal soul?

That train of thought makes no sense!

What happened to Lazarus when he was awakened from death?

When he awoke from death at his tomb, was he also awake in heaven or in Abraham’s bosom too and at the same time? Or did he have to die first in either of these two places to come back to life in his body?

Did his soul or spirit have to come down from heaven immediately to go back into his body in order to be able to awaken from death???

Why didn’t he ever mention anything about being in heaven or in Abraham’s bosom? Ever wonder about that?

Why didn’t he ever mention anything about ever being ALIVE anywhere else? You’d figure he’d have numerous things to say about this. And yet, he was completely silent.

The reason he had nothing to say about all of this was because HE WAS IN A STATE OF DEATH or UNCONSCIOUS SLEEP in his tomb!

He wasn’t even aware that he existed in life at one point in time! Neither was he aware that he was even lying dead in his tomb! Neither was he aware of time and space! Absolutely aware of nothing!

As a matter of fact, being dead in his tomb was like he’d never been born!

Death is the total cessation of life!

Is it any wonder that the Bible tells us in regards to God that…

“He ALONE is immortal…” 1Timothy 6:16.

That means that YOU AND I, therefore, can’t be!

And this is the reason that Lazarus had absolutely nothing to say about being ALIVE elsewhere, while at the same time being dead in his grave!

We must let the Bible interpret the Bible.

1Corinthians 15:26, “The last enemy to be destroyed is death.”

Death will be the last enemy cast into the lake of fire and therefore, will be the last enemy to be destroyed!

Why is that? There is a very good reason for this.

Because the Lake of Fire, which is called The Second Death (Revelation 20:14), is also the reward of the wicked!

All of the wicked will be cast ALIVE into the Lake of Fire FIRST (BEFORE Death!), where they will PERMANENTLY DIE the second death and be utterly destroyed. There will be no further resurrection from this second death- it is FINAL!

THEN (AFTERWARDS) DEATH itself will be cast into this Lake of Fire and be forever destroyed! Then Death will be a thing of the past and will no longer have any power over any living thing being how it will no longer exist.

Remember, once Death has been destroyed in the lake of fire, Death will be no more- and therefore, NO ONE can die afterwards!

But the main reason it is the last enemy to be destroyed is because if it were destroyed BEFORE the wicked are- then the wicked would live eternally in torture in this lake of fire being that death… having PREVIOUSLY been completely destroyed and no longer existed, wouldn’t have the power of death over any of them! And therefore, they- the wicked, could no longer ever die being that death no longer existed in order to accomplish that task!

Then it could really be said that they would be tortured forever in hellfire without ever being able to die!

But the fact that death is the last enemy to be destroyed, gives credence to the verse, “The wages of sin IS DEATH” (Romans 6:23)!

The unrepentant sinners who are cast into the Lake of Fire, which IS the Second Death, WILL DIE this permanent and final second death and therefore, justly earning their wages of sin as scripture so profoundly warns.

Is it any wonder the Bible tells us what happens after the wicked and Death are completely destroyed?

Revelation 21:4, “And God will wipe away all tears from their eyes. And there will be no more death, nor mourning, nor crying out, nor will there be any more pain; for the first things passed away.”

No more crying and no more pain! This COULD NOT be the case if people were being eternally tormented in some lake of fire!

The Bible clearly DOES NOT support Eternal Torture!

Abraham’s Bosom: Part 4 of 4

(Please be sure you’ve read Parts 1-3 first)

Folks, the record shows there was only ONE ascension into heaven and that was Christ’s!

This also proves there was only ONE resurrection to immortality and that was Christ’s. In order for any of the dead to have ascended into heaven, they would have first needed to be resurrected unto immortality because, as the bible has clearly shown, they were (and are still) dead! But the record only shows ONE resurrection unto immortality and ONE ascension into heaven! Both belonging to Christ alone!

And just for the record, there were other resurrections AFTER the resurrection of Christ, however, Christ’s was still first! But these weren’t the same type of resurrections. Christ’s resurrection was unto incorruption and immortality… spirtual! The few resurrections that followed AFTER His, were of a miraculous nature like that of Lazarus and others who had previously been brought back from death to normal life, but would eventually die again some time later. And besides, none of these ever ascended into heaven like Christ did. You can find the record here: Matthew 27: 52-53.

And for the immortal soul theorists, how do you resurrect an immortal soul if it can’t even die in the first place? To resurrect- or resurrection, means to restore to life or bring back to life! In this theory, the soul is what is considered having life and the body is just an inert glob of mud and clay housing this life. The biblical doctrine of a resurrection then destroys your theory of an undying immortal soul! For the resurrection RESTORES life to ONLY that which once (past tense) had it, but has since ceased living! It does not restore life to that which is incapable of life- or that which never had it in the first place.

So one more time, when will we be resurrected and gathered unto Christ?

1Co 15:23 But each in his own order: Christ the first-fruit, and afterward they who are Christ’s at His coming;

Once again, the bible is in agreement as to when we will be gathered to Christ- and that is at His coming!

Now let’s backup a bit:

The phrase, “When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive and gave gifts to men” is what really throws off so many lacking real solid study.

Is it being implied that Christ held Abraham and other souls as prisoners (captives) and led them away into heaven?

Isn’t Christ the author and authority on free will and free choice? Why would he have to take anyone CAPTIVE to heaven? When one is being taken captive- it is usually against their free will isn’t it?

Isn’t the phrase in question already telling us as to who is being led away as a captive though? Sure it is:

“He led CAPTIVITY captive…”

Leading Captivity captive speaks of the utter demise of CAPTIVITY! The “FORCES” who held God’s people captive- or in captivity, have now been led captive!

Jesus Christ, at the cross (and resurrection), has triumphed over and bound forever THE POWERS of Satan, sin and death, which once held man in absolute captivity.

And as a result of the total annihilation of these enemies, God freely gives gifts to men such as the possibility of eternal life for any who chooses to follow its path of obedience.

The gift of eternal life is promised to the righteous ONLY!

But if man- whether he is righteous or not, already possesses immortality through an immortal soul, then what need would there be of the promised gift of eternal life? Even this promise would be made vain and to no effect- wouldn’t it? Sure it would!

So the bottom line is this: Every belief and every claim you make as being biblical, must harmonize with the rest of the bible. ALL OF IT!

You can’t take one isolated phrase out of context such as “Abraham’s Bosom” and try and force your false interpretation of it to harmonize with the rest of the bible- it’s impossible! You must let the Bible interpret the Bible!

And when you see that it doesn’t harmonize but rather contradicts, then you must let it go and accept whatever truths your bible is actually pointing you to.

Abraham’s Bosom was never a literal place. It was mentioned only once in the entire bible in the parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man.

Again, please check back often for the upcoming article, “Lazarus and the Rich Man”.

Check through the categories on the right hand side for this and other interesting facts.

Abraham’s Bosom: Part 3 of 4

(Please be sure you’ve read Parts 1 and 2 first)

The following verses are often shown as evidence that Abraham and all the other righteous souls who resided at his bosom followed Christ to heaven during Christ’s ascension:

Ephesians 4:8 Therefore He says, “When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive and gave gifts to men.”

Ephesians 4:9 (Now that He ascended, what is it but that He also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?

Ephesians 4:10 He who descended is the same also as He who ascended up far above all heavens, that He might fill all things.)

But is this what it really says and is this possible? Again, this view raises more questions and answers absolutely none!

Christ says in some of the above verses that we have already seen in this article, that He will gather us unto himself when He RETURNS AGAIN! Not when HE IS LEAVING US at the time of His ascension.

So how could it possibly be that Abraham and the rest of the righteous have already been gathered to him, without Him ever having RETURNED for us as He promised?

And also remember that the bible also says that WE- you and I, are to be gathered unto Christ TOGETHER with all of the other righteous (dead or living) including Abraham, at the same time!

Furthermore we are told that Christ was to be the first fruit (first to ascend into heaven). Notice in the following passage that the word firsfruit, is SINGULAR – not plural! Indicating only one single resurrection and ascension during the time of His ascension into heaven!

1Corinthians 15:20 But now Christ has risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruit of those who slept.

WHO has risen from the dead? The above verse indicates that Christ ALONE- THE FIRSTFRUIT, has risen from the dead unto life eternal! That means that the rest of the dead are still dead! Abraham and the others could not have been raised to immortality- eternal life; otherwise it would have been FIRSTFRUITS and not Christ the FIRSTFRUIT!

Some other bible versions do render the word “FIRSTFRUITS”, but this is just an indication that there will be OTHERS to follow unto life eternal, as in the FIRST resurrection- those to be resurrected first among all mankind and ascend unto Christ in heaven. Christ, however, is the very first among all! After all, it is Christ Himself that will be receiving the firstfruits among men when He returns!

So this also proves that if Christ was and is the FIRST FRUIT to rise from the dead and ascend to the Father in heaven, then no one has preceded him there! Not Enoch, Not Elijah, Not Moses, NOT ANYONE!

So this proves that CHRIST- not some disensouled body, was actually DEAD! And was the firsfruit of those who SLEPT to be resurrected to immortality and ascend unto the Father in heaven! As always, the bible describes death itself as a sleep! But immortal soul advocates claim that there is no such thing as soul (apart from the body) sleep and I agree, the bible is silent as far as us actually being an independent soul apart from the body. WE ARE SOULS! And that includes our bodies! Here is the record:

Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man (This clay- or dust from the ground) became a living soul.

Whoever and whatever you are- YOU, THE REAL YOU- THE SOUL, is what actually dies!

The bible says that death is like a sleep. So what happens when you fall asleep? You just lie there like a log! Unconscious and completely unaware of time, space and your surroundings!

Please go to Part 4, the final part of this article.

Abraham’s Bosom: Part 2 of 4

(Please be sure you’ve read Part 1 first)

Once again, here are the facts in regards to Abraham and Abraham’s Bosom:

The Phrase Abraham’s Bosom, is only found once in the entire bible- in a New Testament parable! Please see Luke 16:19-31.

The Bible tells us that Abraham and the rest of the Old Testament Patriarchs DIED and therefore are still dead- being that God ALONE is immortal (1 Timothy 6:16), and that they have not yet received the promises:

Hebrews 11:13 These all died by way of faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off.

For even David, a man after God’s own heart, is still dead, buried and has not yet ascended into the heavens:

Acts 2:29 Men, brothers, it is permitted to say to you with plainness as to the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.

Acts 2:34 For David has not ascended into the heavens…

And Abraham also died without finding the city from God:

Hebrews 11:10 For he looked for a city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

The same city which Christ has promised to the righteous:

John 14:2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

But, NO ONE can go to that city in heaven now- it’s impossible! Therefore not even Abraham is there now!

John 13:36 Simon Peter said to Him, Lord, where do You go? Jesus answered him, Where I go YOU CANNOT now follow Me, but you shall follow Me afterward.

So WHEN will we be able to follow him into that glorious city which is currently in heaven?

John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come AGAIN and receive you to Myself, so that where I am, you may be also.

There you have it! No one is in heaven right now! Not Abraham, not David, not the thief on the cross, not any one! It’s impossible! The only way and the only time we will get there is when Christ RETURNS AGAIN! Only at that time will he receive us unto Himself just as he has so clearly stated in scripture.

The bible plainly states that when Christ returns for us, we, who are alive will by no means, precede Abraham and the other currently dead righteous- for we will all be made perfect together AT THE SAME TIME:

1Thessalonians 4:15 For we say this to you by the Word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord shall not go before those who are asleep.

1Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ shall rise first.

1Thessalonians 4:17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. And so we shall ever be with the Lord.

Yes, Abraham and all the other Patriarchs are still dead and buried, without having received the promise of being made perfect. They will be made perfect with us when Christ returns for all of us at his second coming and not at any other time before that!

Hebrews 11:39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, did not receive the promise,

Hebrews 11:40 for God had provided some better thing for us, that they should not be made perfect without us.

The Bible is clear! Abraham, David and all the other patriarchs are still dead, buried and are still here with us today, not having obtained the promise yet! For they, will not be made perfect before us, but rather with us!

So the only place where Abraham’s Bosom ever existed was in a parable! It never was a literal place for disembodied righteous souls.

Please go to Part 3 of this article.