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Death
seminole:
Okay, My question that is really tearing me up. I lost a family member to a murderous person. I also have a friend that has recently suffered the lost of her beloved grandmother. She was very upset and I was too to be told something that was not comforting. I won't list any names, throw stones, etc. but the response came from a person on the forum. We were both told that our loved ones were asleep. We both read in the Bible that absent from our bodies , present with the Lord. We were told that their bodies were asleep and deteriorating in the grave. My loved one was murdered and cremated. Needless to say the body is not rotting in the grave. The body is dust. Where does that put the "sleeping". There is no body any longer. The only comfort I derive other than that the murderer is now dead is that my loved one is gone on to the next world and is in the presence of Jesus and the Father. My friend is very upset though.
Nole
Pax Vobiscum:
Oh, Seminole,
My heart breaks for you and your friend. How noble of you to think of your friend's feelings while you are also grieving.
I have no answers for you, but wanted to add my support. While there is quite a debate in esoteric circles about what happens after life, the Blessed Assurance is that whatever happens in whatever order, there is peace, there is love, there is God.
It is my hope that you and the ones around you find your peace as well.
Peace
seminole:
Pax, that was so kind of you. I am far from noble as many on the forum would tell you! It is a hard place to be in. My friend is gutted right now and I just want to help. you are right. God's got it in His hands however it comes down. Thanks again,
Seminole
Kat:
Hi seminole,
There is a common fear of death, because nobody wants it to end there. But the church is not of very much help, with there wishy washy heaven teachings. The truth of the matter is the spirit goes by to God that gave it.
Ecc 12:7 then the dust shall return to the earth as it was, and the spirit shall return to God who gave it.
I think it is in pretty safe keeping with Him :)
The scripture that you were referring to, about being absent from the body. Here is a email from Ray.
http://www.forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,1736.0.html ----
Dear June:
The Scripture in question is II Cor. 5:8--"We are confiden, I say, and willing ['confident AND willing'--two things, not one] rather to be absent from the body, AND TO BE PRESENT ['absent and be present'--two things, not one] with the Lord."
It is "AND to be present," and "IS to be present." This makes it two differnt things, not one and the same thing. Furthermore, "TO BE" is future tense not present tense as in the same instance as death, but rather something that will happen after in the future--AT THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD.
Paul knew that he would be resurrected from the dead in the future, not that he would be present with the Lord the instant that he died (See I Cor. 15:50-54).
God be with you,
Ray
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So all who have died are waiting for God to resurrect them, that is the hope we have in Christ, because He is resurrected from the dead. Here is a passage that Paul is speaking of this hope. We know that we will be raised because Christ already has been, He was the first.
1Co 15:12 Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
v.13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen.
v. 14 And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.
v. 15 Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up--if in fact the dead do not rise.
v. 16 For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen.
v. 17 And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!
v. 18 Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.
v. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.
What we are saying here is no one goes to hell or heaven. All are awaiting the resurrection, and will be saved.
1Cor 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.
1Tim 2:3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
v. 4 who will have all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
John 12:32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all to Myself.
It hard to let go of false beliefs, because they seem better than what God is working out for mankind. I believe Gods plan to be absolutely perfect, but we just can not understand it all yet.
1Cor 2:9 But as it is written:
"Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him."
mercy, peace, and love
Kat
M_Oliver:
Ray says it best...
http://bible-truths.com/death.htm
Mark
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