Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: BURIED (04/01/21)
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TITLE: We Bury The Body, But Not The Soul | Previous Challenge Entry
By Doug Laird
04/07/21 -
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Depending on what (if any) post mortem arrangements take place, there are bodily remains present in various stages of decomposition, eventually returning to dust (Gen. 3: 19/Eccl. 3: 20).
At the moment of physical death, the body that was once the dwelling place of the soul, immediately becomes a corpse.
The eyes of a corpse can no longer see. The ears of a corpse can no longer hear. A corpse does not experience pain nor is there the sense of touch.
No postmodern activity in or outside of "Church" will change what is to become of the corpse. No post mortem activity can change what is going to become of the departed soul, as this was predetermined by the choices (John 3: 18/Luke 9: 23) the departed soul made while here on Earth.
When The Rapture (1Thess. 4: 16, 17) takes place, the dust (or decomposing bodily remains) of a born again believer will be raised up in the form of a glorious resurrected body.
This WILL take place regardless of what post mortem arrangements were or were not available or made for the disposition of the corpse.
These are words of comfort for those whose had loved ones depart under circumstances that did not provide the opportunity to make post mortem arrangements. Our omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent God is fully aware of the location of where the dust or decaying remains are, and will raise them up in resurrected form.
When it is raised up, the glorious resurrected body will be reunited with soul that departed from it at the moment of physical death.
So where then, have the departed souls gone?
The departed souls of all born again believers are in interim bodies (2Cor. 5: 1) in the 3rd Heaven (2Cor. 12: 2) in the presence of God (2Cor. 5: 8). They are THERE consciously (Rev. 6: 9 - 11) resting in peace from the production of divine good they were involved in while here on Earth.
I believe that just as a day of hard labor here on Earth can provide its producer with a good night's sleep, a life-time of producing of divine good will enrich the conscious rest that a departed soul experiences while in Heaven, awaiting the Rapture.
At the appointed time for the Rapture, the departed believers presently in Heaven will return with Lord and be IN THE AIR above the Earth.
At that same time, born again believers who are alive on the Earth will have their earthly bodies instantaneously transformed into resurrected bodies (1Cor. 15: 52) and be united with those who returned with the Lord.
From that moment forward, this unified group (aka the Church) be forever with the Lord, involved in whatever plans He has for them throughout eternity future (e.g. Rev. 20: 6/Rev 21: 1- 7).
Where then, have the departed souls of unbelievers gone, having never been born again (John 3: 5, 7)?
Prior to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, all departed human souls descended into one of two areas or sections within Hades (Luke 16: 22, 23) located in the heart (depths) of the Earth (Matt. 12: 40).
Believers descended to the section called Paradise (Luke 23: 43) where they received comfort (Luke 16: 25).
Unbelievers, descended to the area or section called Torments where they suffer in intense heat (Luke 16: 25). The departed souls suffering in Torments could see the souls of believers being comforted in Paradise, but no one could cross over the "great chasm - Luke 16: 26)" separating the two sections.
As of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, there are no longer any souls in the Paradise of Hades, as all departed believers are in the Third Heaven, indwelling interim bodies (2Cor. 5: 1).
Like the angels, in order to serve divine purposes, departed human souls (Matt. 17: 12) have unique bodies with supernatural capabilities, but one must be careful not to elevate them to positions or functions exceeding God's plan or purpose (Isa. 42: 8).
At the appointed time, the growing population of unbelievers in the Torments of Hades, will be summoned to the Court of Heaven, judged, and then sent into the lake of fire where they will suffer and spend all of eternity (Rev. 20: 13, 15).
We bury the body, not the soul. But for departed believers, BOTH have eternal significance.
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