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Deception from the Beginning
If It Were Not So: Deception from the Beginning
Ecclesiastes 9:5
“For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.”
What happens if something we think is true is not true? We open ourselves up to even greater deception in the last days.
For instance, so many people believe in the “immortal soul.” They believe that when we die, our soul goes “somewhere” – either to heaven or hell or a spiritual world. But the Bible tells us that:
“Who [God] only hath immortality…” 1 Timothy 6:16
“For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.” 1 Corinthians 15:53
The belief that the soul is immortal was the very first lie that Satan told Eve:
“And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die.” Genesis 3:4
The Bible tells us that the soul can die and be destroyed.
“Behold, all souls are mine… the soul that sinneth, it shall die.” Ezekiel 18:4
“… fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 12:10
The majority of Christians believe that when they die that their soul will immediately go to heaven. However, the Bible does not support this belief. In fact, the Bible clearly tells us that when you die, you await the second coming of Christ for the first resurrection. We are told throughout the Bible that death is like a sleep.
“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.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16
It wouldn’t make much sense for God to send “the dead” back to the grave to raise them up at the second coming. If those who had died in Christ were immediately whisked away to heaven, wouldn’t they just stay?
“Wherefore He saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.”
Ephesians 5:14
“…He saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. Then said the disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. Then Jesus said unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.” John 11:11-14
When a person dies, their thoughts perish and they cannot praise God.
“For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not anything.” Ecclesiastes 9:5
“The dead praise not the Lord…” Psalm 115:17
When Lazarus had been in the grave for four days… do you think he had been to heaven? If he had been in heaven, don’t you think he would have said something? People have always wondered what death was like. And if he had been in heaven for four days, it would be a rude awakening to be brought back to the suffering of this world.
The Bible tells us that when Jesus died…
“… the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after His resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.” Matthew 27:51-53
There is no mention of what heaven was like from any of these saints. However, we are told specifically that these saints arose from their “sleep.”
So, you might wonder, ‘What about the thief on the cross? Didn’t Jesus say he would be with Him in paradise that very day?’ Well, we know that the Bible does not contradict itself, so let’s look at it. The verse reads:
“And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto you, Today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:43
The Greek language has no punctuation. So, the scholars who translated the Bible had to insert commas where they felt it was appropriate. If you move the comma over one word, how does it read?
“And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee today, you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:43
The entire meaning of the verse is changed! We also know that Jesus did not go to heaven when he died. Jesus could not have been with the thief in paradise that very day because he spent his time in the grave. The Bible says:
“Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father…” John 20:17
We also know that David, the man after God’s own heart, has not yet been taken to heaven.
“Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulcher is with us into this day.” Acts 2:29
“For David is not ascended into the heavens…” Acts 2:34
Isn’t that amazing? I love how clear the Bible is about all things! The mistake people make is that rather than studying the Bible line upon line, precept upon precept, and here a little, there a little they take one or two verses and make assumptions, pulling the meaning of the verse out of context. A person must look at all the verses about a particular subject to gain clarity in the meaning.
If a person believes that the dead in Christ go to heaven immediately, they often also believe that their loved one can “come back” to give them messages. How easily Satan can deceive those who do not understand!
“And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.” Revelation 16:13-15
In the last days it is said that there will be devils working miracles. What would happen to those who believed their dear loved one was in heaven and then they had a “visit” from that person? They would believe whatever that person told them. How easily a person can be deceived! And all because they did not wrestle the Scriptures for the truth!
It is imperative that we protect ourselves from the devil’s deception. We must put on the armor of God.
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” Ephesians 6:10-18
What is Heaven Like?
Have you ever dreamed of heaven? I love to talk about what heaven might be like. Especially with my children. We imagine what kinds of things we’ll get to do in heaven, pets we want to have, etc. I mean, have you ever really thought about heaven? A lot of people think it will be boring, that we’ll float around and play harps or lead meaningless lives. But that is far from the truth.
One of my favorite things “to do” when I get to heaven is to swim under water with the dolphins. Can you imagine? No drowning in heaven!
I love my horses here. They bring me a lot of joy. But, wow, in heaven, I won’t have to muck out stall, clean horse feet, or worry about hay, feed, blankets, and water in the winter. Joy!
The Bible tells us quite a bit about heaven, but I think the descriptions will pale in comparison to the real thing.
- God has prepared a place for us that is far greater than anything we could think of on our own! “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” 1 Corinthians 2: 9
- We won’t have to worry about violence or destruction there. “Violence shall no more be heard in your land, devastation or destruction within your borders; you shall call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise.” Isaiah 60:18
- All the animals will be friendly! “The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them.” Isaiah 11:6
- There will be no more disabilities. “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.” Isaiah 35:5,6
- We will build houses! I will eventually have my ultimate dream home! Plus, we will enjoy working with our hands and the work will not be in vain. Things will work out right and never go wrong. And those of us with black thumbs will finally get green ones. I plan to have a big garden in heaven! “They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat; for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands.” Isaiah 65:21,22
- We will gather for worship each Sabbath. “From new moon to new moon, and from Sabbath to Sabbath, all flesh shall come to worship before me,declares the LORD.” Isaiah 66:23
- We will eat from the tree of life! “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.” Revelation 22:1,2
- We will get to see God face to face. Glory! “They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.” Revelation 22:4
- There will be no more pain, sorrow, sickness, or death!! “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:4
- We’ll get to sit down and have a chat with Adam and Eve or Abraham or even Noah and Moses! King David! Esther! Ruth! Oh, and Matthew, Mark, Luke and John! Who do you want to talk to? “I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 8:11
The Bible also tells us that the New Jerusalem will be adorned as a bride. Beautiful!
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.” Revelation 21:1-3
- The city of God is about the size of the state of Colorado. It is the shape of a cube: about 350 miles wide, 350 miles long, and 350 miles high! Plenty of room for everyone who wants to go! ” The city lies foursquare, its length the same as its width. And he measured the city with his rod, 12,000 stadia. Its length and width and height are equal.” Revelation 21:16
- The foundation are named after the twelve apostles. “And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.” Revelation 21:14
- Its gates are made of giant pearls and the streets are made of pure gold like transparent glass!“And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, transparent as glass.” Revelation 21:21
I hope you are as excited about seeing heaven and living there with Jesus forever as I am! I hope you’ll be there!
The Sweetest Type of Heaven
Home should be made all that the word implies. It shoulf be a little heaven upon earth, a place where the affections are cultivated instead of being studiously repressed. Our happiness depends upon this cultivation of love, sympathy, and true courtesy to one another.
The sweetest type of heaven is a home where the Spirit of the Lord presides. If the will of God is fulfilled, the husband and wife will respect each other and cultivate love and confidence.
– Signs of the Times, Ellen White, June 20, 1911
