People are always asking questions about Death, Jesus’ return and the Judgment. Let’s read the Word of the Lord, it will tell you what you want to know.Turn to Genesis 2:7, where we read that the “the Lord God formed man out of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the Breath of Life; and man became a living soul. It did not say that God put a soul in man, but that, man became a living soul. Then the Lord told the man not to eat of the tree that was in the midst of the garden, the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, Genesis 2:8-9, 17. The Lord said, “…for in the day that thou eatest thereof, thou shall surely die”.
Now, I always ask: What if man had not eaten of the forbidden tree of knowledge of good and evil? However, that is not what happened.
Turn to Genesis 3:1-5, this is where the great lie started. The serpent told the women that if she ate from the Tree, she would not die. She ate from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil and gave to her husband with her and he did eat. After they ate from the forbidden Tree, the Lord said unto Adam, “….Because thou listened to thy wife and has eaten of the Tree which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it.”, Genesis 3:17; the Lord told Adam that he would return to the dust from which he came, Genesis 3:19.
Keep in mind where Adam came from and where he was told that he would return to. The lie that the Serpent told in Genesis 3:4, is still told today at practically every funeral: “That isn’t Sister Sarah, in the coffin, she has made her Homecoming. She is gone on to glory to her tabernacle in Heaven. She has made her homecoming and is looking down from Heaven.
Now, let us examine whose homecoming it would be to return to Heaven. In Revelation 12:7-9, we read that, “….the Great Dragon was cast out, that Old Serpent called the Devil and Satan, was cast out of heaven and down to the earth; and his Angels were cast out with him.”
Do not forget that the Serpent came from Heaven. Let’s explore what the Scriptures say about Death. Job says, “….a man dies, wasteth away, man will give up the ghost (breath), and where is he?” Job 14:10.
Excellent question! Where is he? So man, “….lieth down and riseth not, till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep; Job 14:12.
Job said, “Oh that thou wouldest hide me in the grave till thy wrath is past; Job 14:13. Job did not ask the Lord to take him to heaven, but to hide him in the grave. Job also asked, “If a man die shall he live again?”; Job 14:14. Job said that he would wait till his change comes; he said , he would be in the grave till the Lord calls, then he will answer, and the Lord will have a desire to the work of Thy hands.
Now let us turn to I Corinthians 15:51-52. Here we read that we all shall be changed even those that are asleep (dead). Jesus said all that are in the grave shall hear His voice; John 5:24-29. He did not say He would call them from heaven, but from the grave! When he calls and the trumpet is sounded, the dead in Christ shall rise first, in the resurrection and reign with Christ a thousand years, “…..but the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection; Revelation 20:4-6.
So, there are two resurrections, surprise, surprise. I doubt that your Pastor has ever told you that! My question to you is: Where Does Man Go When He Dies?
Read Ecclesiastes 9:2-10; no one has gone to heaven where God and the Angels are; John 3:13. Jesus said, “where I go you cannot come; John 7:33-34, John 8:21; John 13:3?
Let us move on to the “Homecoming”, which is preached at funerals when they say the dearly departed are gone to heaven. However, heaven is not man’s home (origin). The first man Adam was made a living soul; 1 Corinthians 15:47. The scripture clearly states that Adam is from the earth (dust of the ground) and when he died he returned to the earth; Genesis 3:19.
When the Lord came from heaven and was made in the likeness of man, Philippians 2:5-7, and died for our sins; he rose on the third day, and later returned to heaven, John 3:13, from where He came from. Let’s reflect on if we have this right, Adam made his “homecoming” when he returned to the earth, and Jesus made His home-coming when He returned to heaven, where the Father and the Holy Angels are!
Let us investigate how the lie got started and who started it. The lie that, …when we die we return to heaven; …that Jesus will take us to Heaven where the Father is. Remember when we read in Revelation 12:7-9, …how the Serpent was cast out of Heaven onto the Earth. So we see that the Devil came from Heaven, and he wants to return to Heaven; Isaiah 14:12-14. “Make his home coming?” Wait a minute, did he say he wants to got to heaven? So, HE is the one that says he will take you to heaven, and be your God for you know that he wants to be worshiped. Just look at what he said to Jesus in Luke 4:5-7; he wants to be worshiped. So he has followers that want to go with him to heaven. These preach another Jesus; 2 Corinthians 11:4, 13-15, another Gospel, one of going to Heaven. However, Jesus said that no man ascended up to Heaven but He which came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in Heaven; John 3:13. Now, when you hear your Pastor say you are going to Heaven, you will know whose gospel he is preaching and whose Apostle he really is.
I often wonder when people pray the Lord’s Prayer if they really understand what they are saying. We are asking for the Father to bring His Kingdom to the earth; Matthew 6:9-13. This is what Jesus teaches us to pray, however, that is the Father’s Kingdom that Jesus is speaking of. We will read more on the Father’s Kingdom, later.
Let’s move on to more reading about Jesus and His return, His Saints, and His Kingdom. Yes, Jesus has His own Kingdom! There are three Kingdoms, just as there are also three heavens. We have the Kingdom of man, which we are born into; flesh and blood: man and the beasts of the field, every fowl of the air; Genesis 2:18-20. Next we have Jesus’ Kingdom which also will be on the Earth. This Kingdom is the one we will be reading about, and then we have the Father’s Kingdom, we will read about this one also! Jesus’ Kingdom will be composed of the Saints, Angels, and flesh and blood man living together on the Earth for one thousand years which is prophesied as the Day of the Lord.
Turn to Daniel 7:13-14, 18, 27. Here we read of Daniel prophesying for us that the son of man (Jesus) came with the clouds of heaven and that a Kingdom was given to Him and the Saints shall take the Kingdom under the whole Heaven (earth). Daniel tells us that Jesus will come with His Saints to the earth. Let’s see how this works, since the Father, the son and the Angels are the only Ones in Heaven. How could the Saints come with Jesus?
In John 14:1-3 we read that Jesus is talking about the Father’s Kingdom, and that He was going there to prepare a place for us and that He would come again and receive us unto Himself, “…that where I am, there you may be also.” Where is that?? Some misread this and say He will come and take us back to Heaven. Let’s keep reading, because Jesus says, “…we know where he will be and that we know the way; John 14:4.
After Jesus was crucified and rose from the grave, he was seen by many for forty days, speaking of things pertaining to the Father’s Kingdom, then after He had given commandments to the Apostles He was taken up; Acts 1:2-3, 9-12. A cloud received Him out of their sight, and as they looked steadfastly toward Heaven as He went up, behold two men stood by them in white apparel telling them, “This same Jesus which is taken up from you into Heaven shall so come to you in like manner as you have seen Him go into heaven. They were on the Mount of Olivet, which is where Jesus ascended into Heaven, a days journey from Jerusalem.
Now we know where Jesus left the earth from. Now, let’s examine how and when He will return and who is coming with Him. There is much that has to happen before Jesus Christ returns.
The ten toes of the statue in Daniel, has to become a nation, the anti-Christ has to sit in the temple, and the ‘Great Tribulation must take place before Jesus returns; . The trumpets must sound and much more. We will be reading about all of these events, in the coming months.
For now let’s continue reading about Jesus’ return. Turn to Revelation 19:1-16. Here we see heaven opened and behold a white horse, and he that sat on the horse was called the Word of God (Jesus); John 1:1, and the armies which were in Heaven followed Him. The Army that came out of Heaven with Jesus was His mighty Angels, 2Thessalonians 1:7. Did you notice as you are reading that there is no mention of the Saints coming out of Heaven with Jesus and His mighty Angels? Let’s continue reading because the scriptures say He came with His Armies, more than one. We know that Enoch prophesied, in the days before the flood, of the Lord coming with ten thousands of His Saints; Jude 1:14. So where did these Saints come from, which are part of the army that the Lord will bring with Him. Turn to Matthew 24:29-30 where we read of Jesus returning after the Great Tribulation, however, pay close attention to Matthew 24:31. As Jesus is returning to the earth in verse :30 He sends His angels to gather His Elect (Saints) at the sound of the great trumpet, from one end of heaven (earth) to the other. When the Angels gather His elect they will leave the Earth to meet the Lord in the clouds; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. The Question that should be asked is: “After we meet the Lord in the air where do we go from there? Now let’s study the Scriptures closely. Some say the resurrection has already happened. Others say the Lord is coming to take His Church to Heaven (the Rapture); 2 Timothy 2:15, 18. However, the Lord will do nothing till He reveals His secrets unto His servants, the Prophets; Amos 3:7. Let us search the Scriptures to find the answers to “Where will we be with the Lord, for ever?”
Let’s read Isaiah 28:9-10, 13, this is how the Lord teaches knowledge, when we read “here a little, there a little’.
Let’s continue reading here a little, there a little and rightly dividing the word of truth. We shall be changed at the last trump, the dead in Christ shall be raised and we which are alive shall be changed; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52, and meet the Lord in the clouds. When the Saints meet the Lord in the air, they will be given “two-edged swords”; Psalms 149:1, 6-9, to return to the Earth with the Lord and His mighty Angels. The Lord will come with His Angels; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8, and His Saints; 1 Thessalonians 3:8, to the Mount of Olives. In that day the Lord goes forth to fight against the nations; Zechariah 14:3-5. The Saints shall take the Kingdoms; Daniel 7:18, 27, under the whole Heaven and reign with Christ for one thousand years; Revelation 20:4.
Now it is clear where we will be when we meet the Lord in the air; 1 Thessalonians 4:17! The dead shall be raised first and we which are alive will be changed. This is the first resurrection; Revelation 20:6, and we will return to the Earth to the Mount of Olives with the Lord and His Angels.
Now, do you understand when Jesus said”, …no man hath ascended up to Heaven, but He that came down from Heaven”; John3:13, and where I go, you can not come; John 7:33-34, John 8:21, John 13:33.
How many times does the Lord have to tell us that we can not go to Heaven, the third Heaven, where He and the Father and the Holy Angels are, 2 Corinthians 12:2? Yes there are three heavens. Let not your heart be troubled that you are not leaving the first heaven, because Jesus said in Father’s House there are many mansions, He also said that “I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there you may be also. Where I go you know, and the way you know.
Jesus says that you KNOW where He’s going and you know the way; John 14:1-4. Now that you know where Jesus will be it is you duty to study His Word; 2Timothy 2:15 and to keep His Commandments; Exodus 20:1-17 His Laws and Statutes; Genesis 26:5, as did faithful Abraham. We shall sit on thrones and rule and reign with Christ Jesus; Psalms 132:12, if you heed His Word and endure until the end; Revelation 3:21-22! We will be in the first resurrection; Revelation 20:6, ruling over the nations with Christ for a thousand years, putting down all rule and all authority and power until the end: When Jesus shall deliver up the Kingdom to the Father; 1 Corinthians 15:24-26.
At the end of the “seventh day” (thousand year millennial reign), the Devil will be loosed out of his prison and shall go out to deceive the nations that will be here on the Earth. There will be peace on the Earth while Satan is chained up for a thousand years; Revelation 20:1-3.
After he deceives the nations they will attempt to attack the camp of the Saints, and fire shall come down from God out of Heaven and devour them; Revelation 20:8-9.
Peter also spoke of this in 2 Peter 3:9-11, after these things comes the second resurrection and Judgment Day. All that come up in the second resurrection will stand in judgment of the things written in the Books (Holy Scriptures); Revelation 20:12-15. Every man shall be rewarded according to his works; Matthew 17:27, Revelation 20:12, Revelation 22:12.
Most Preachers say you don’t have to do any works, so if you don’t have any works, your name is not written in the book of life; Revelation 20:12, 15. The Bible says “…you will be cast into the Lake of Fire, so it is imperative that you find out what works you will be judged on.
After these things are fulfilled, New Jerusalem will come down from God out of Heaven. This is the Father’s House; John 14:2. This is the city that Abraham looked for; Hebrews 11:8-10. No flesh and blood shall enter the City of God – the Father’s House; 1 Corinthians 15:50. You must be born again to enter the Kingdom of God – New Jerusalem; John 3:3. In that day we all will be immortal beings, and we will all be Gods, who are found worthy to enter the Father’s Kingdom; 1 Corinthians 15:28
Yes, we will be Gods, the Lord said that we are Gods; John 10:34, Psalms 82:6. This is what we were created for, to be over the works of His hand; Psalms 8:3-6, Hebrews 2:5-7. The Angels are waiting for the Heirs of salvation to take their rightful place. We cannot fathom that which the Lord has prepared for us; 1 Corinthians 2:9-10, Isaiah 64:4. We have much to look forward to, if we keep His commandments, laws, and statutes.
One last comment, have you noticed that none of this is in Heaven, but on the Earth? I pray that you have gotten some understanding from all this.
Peace,
Bro Tyrone
