View from Death's Door - Part 2 - Part B

I was thinking this week. I mean this one of the greatest things in heaven that I would enjoy is being with you without limitation.

You know we get to connect sometimes out for service in exchange hello and pray for one another, but then we have to go home service. There will be we can hang out for to 300,000 million billion years, and move on to the next person God forever. CS Lewis once pointed out that everyone we meet is an eternal differences. Some are eternally blessed and some are not. The choice between the two is entirely up to you today on connect with Skip Heitzig Skip explores that critical decision about your eternity right now want to tell you about resource potential on an interesting journey, insight into Middle East affairs here Skip with Joel Rosenberg to talk about this month's offer Joel's book the Jerusalem assassin Joel Rosenberg releases a new book.

I can't wait to read it. He never disappoints. Recently, I was able to talk with Joel about this book from his home in Jerusalem is about an American president who's about to roll out his Middle East peace plan Joel Rosenberg's novels are dramatic stories from the reality of today's headlines have a savvy Israeli peace plan would be huge. That will be historic.

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Jerusalem assassin by Joel Rosenberg is our special offer. This month your hardcover copy of the Jerusalem assassin is our thinking gift when you get $35 or more today to help expand this Bible teaching outreach with Skip Heitzig so call now to get your copy 800 922 teen 88 will give online securely connectwithskip.com/offer. I hope you will order your copy of the Jerusalem assassin by Joel Rosenberg get a behind-the-scenes look at global events and you will be supporting our view that 800 922 online securely connectwithskip.com/offer opportunities. Teaching first Thessalonians chapter 4 front of the doctor who actually wrote a piece of paper and handed it to me, something he read in the graveyard. He was walking by a tombstone at the fella's name on it and then Psalm 1716. Then one big word underneath." Satisfied. There's a man who's now satisfied when this happens when death happens for the Christian there will never again be any distractions that you have to push out of your mind.

You know how it is here. Send out the Bible. Your Sonata price K this is God's time and the phone rings or forget the phone. Your thoughts go to million directions, you pull them back and concentrator it second service Sunday morning and it's like I can't concentrate with this guy is saying is way out there yet yet to discipline yourself to plug.

You'll never again be distracted. Never again will anything tempt you never will. Anything ever compete for time with God. Never again will you have to close your eyes and concentrate the prayer depend on a certain mood of the worship music will be in his presence. Face-to-face now want to talk about something and brace that I'll develop in the next several weeks. At the moment of death at the moment of death, which by the way, the best Bible description that I read about death is James chapter 2 verse 26 says this for as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead. Think about that first part that defines death, the body without the spirit is dead, and when that happens when a Christian dies today. Their body remains their spirit is gone from the body and goes to be in the presence of God. What is that state like the theologians give that a term they call this the intermediate state.

This is before the resurrected body before you get resurrected here in heaven your spirits inevitable.

What sound like theologians call it funny. Theologians are funny people is like what's the most unattractive term the intermediate state where you going to go to the intermediate state. What are you punished or something. So what is that like while here's where it gets cloudy to follow me there's not a whole lot definitive in the Bible about this intermediate state where the spirit leaves the body and goes to be with the Lord. Even Wilbur Smith wrote, however abundant the scriptural data is on the resurrection and life in heaven. The state of the soul between death and resurrection is rarely referred to, she got a cot couple possibilities is to trigger some think some people believe that when a Christian dies and their spirit goes to be with the Lord, the God gives them a temporary form a temporary body before the resurrected body because how can we relate to Christ. How can we relate to each other.

Otherwise, Kadesh is thought to push it aside because will deal with it later. Some people think that when a Christian dies. Their spirit goes to be with the Lord that their soul, their spirit takes on some functions like a body or like a form because there is a text one of them. In Revelation chapter 6 says the souls that were under the altar.

These were souls. These are people who were killed for their faith in the tribulation. And their souls awaiting resurrection are with the Lord under the altar and the souls under the altar cry out how long, old Lord until you avenge our enemies. So here these souls. These spirits are able to articulate and feel having some kind of ability like a like a body would all get more on that and in studies to come. The most important thing to remember since it's sketchy is that you will be fully conscious, and the relationship gets really good. However, you imagine, that is how you imagine perhaps the moment you die you will see angels escorting you in the God's presence because in Luke chapter 16 the story Jesus gave of the rich man and the beggar Lazarus says the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's bosom. Maybe you'll see that the moment of your death.

Perhaps at the moment of your death.

You'll hear Jesus call your name and maybe you'll see him as he stands to receive you in his presence. When Stephen was being pelted with stones before he died in acts chapter 7 he said look I see the heavens opened, and Jesus standing at the right hand of the father welcoming him in heaven.

Maybe you'll hear him call your name because Jesus said in John chapter 10 I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep.

They hear my voice and I will call them by name what could be cooler than that for you to hear the Lord Jesus Christ.

Announce your name as you enter into his presence. Hi, I heard of a pastor who had a friend and the friend lost his wife and the pastor came up to his friend and said, I'm so sorry I heard that you lost your wife and the demand turned to the pastor and smiled and said come on Pastor you know better than that, something is lost when you know where it is.

She's not lost. I didn't lose her. I know what you meant by that, but I know exactly where she is.

That's the most important truth. The third truth here that brings assurance to the believer is what death leads to at least two resurrection. Look at verse 15 and 16 for this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. Keep in mind Paul is writing to the Thessalonians who thought, oh what about my loved ones who died to miss out when Jesus comes back to think that they won't miss anything for the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel with the trumpet of God and the dead in Christ will rise.

There's the resurrection will rise.

So when Jesus comes back for the church.

Recall that the rapture that will be the resurrection day for the dead believers in Christ. That's resurrection and will be transformation day for all those who haven't died, who are alive and that listen to Paul's writing in Philippians 320 and 21 uses for our citizenship. Literally our politics is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to his glorious body, according to the working by which he is able to subdue all things to himself. I know if you agree with Paul's description about your body, as we called it will transform our lowly body. Now you may not agree with that but I'll daresay the older you get, you'll start nodding more and more with text of Scripture like this you and I think he had a right especially when you think where it's can end up in the resurrection. He's the transform our lowly body into his glorious body ever see extreme makeover. This is the ultimate extreme makeover, your body will be totally change of the resurrection it says here in our text, that the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout member wink when the Lord stood before the tomb of Lazarus. He didn't whisper did and say*it's me. He shouted Lazarus come forth. Why did he shout because Lazarus was dead and he could now it's not why he did it. He did it to announce the event for the presence of everyone standing around. This will be a shout from heaven.

So here's the sequence at the coming of the Lord for the church, the rapture, the first thing that will happen is all those who have died in past history who are believers in Christ at that moment will be a resurrection.

That's where they are joined to their newly redone body immediately after that event and probably almost simultaneous to immediately afterwards will be a total physical transformation of believers who are alive. It's like a transformational resurrection without having to die for those who are alive, so a combination of the descending Lord from heaven in the ass sending saints on earth. First Corinthians 15 verse 51 through 53 no first 2015 will be a passage will look at more in the future. But let me just what your appetite because you gotta pull in a lot of these to understand Paul's and the Lord's theology on these truths. Paul writes this I tell you a mystery. We shall not shall not all sleep, which means die. I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. I hear there's a church somewhere that has that over there nursery, we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, but that is not what it's referring to at all. In this passage, he continues in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound in the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed for this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

Imagine what what's what's included in these verses the earth and the sea building up the desk. The particles of all of the dead who've ever died were believers in Christ and a transforming miracle whereby all of those particles are transformed into a body that will see no death, no sickness, no pain, no disease, and then a quick space trip up to heaven were always with the Lord, all in the twinkling of an eye. That's the resurrection that we look forward to. There were a couple guys who were raised in the jungles of Indonesia. They had never seen a large city before they had never been to America, they were saved by a couple of missionaries who went there they brought these guys back to New York City imagining that you be raising the jungles and seeing New York for the first time so they walk into large hotel they'd never seen an elevator. They just see these doors open up and these two elderly women walked to the doors of the elevator. The doors close to see they go into a room and then the numbers move up and back and then five minutes later the doors open to get out walk to young beautiful girls they'd never seen this before. So imagine what their thinking the guy turns to the other guy and said home and we got to bring our lives derived and got machine. Now you don't will all have an extreme makeover at the resurrection coming of the Lord in all of this again go back to verse 14. All of this is based upon what already happened. The death burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead because he raised will be raised. Our bodies will also be raised and totally totally transformed. I read something that was a very helpful analogy to me. Maybe it will be to you. There was a scientist working in his lab and he had a beaker of very strong acid as he was working and there was a beaker of acid on the table and object made out of silver fell into the acid and it immediately dissolved so the scientist placed some chemical compound into that solution and after a period of time.

All the particles of silver came together at the bottom of the vase in a formless mass he drain the beaker wash off the silver and send it to a silversmith where he reconstructed and made it a beautiful shiny silver goblet total change from those existing materials and that is a good illustration really of the resurrection, what will happen to our bodies as they get reconstituted resurrected exchanging the old for the new, more on that later. Look at verse 17. Here's the fourth truth that brings assurance it's can end in a beautiful reunion. Verse 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 thus we shall always be with the Lord. Notice those words together with them who's the them. Those who have died and are now resurrected.

Those who are alive. Let's say the Lord comes back tomorrow.

All of that instantaneous change occurs and then your to gather with them. No wonder he writes in verse 18 comfort one another with these words, there's gonna be a reunion with your father who's in God's presence today or your mother was in God's presence today are your brothers or your children in your heart is been aching so long because you miss them so much.

You will see them again if they are believers in Christ and you are a believer in Christ.

I love the story.

It's in Luke chapter 7 where Jesus is in the little town called Naiman there's a son of a widow who dies and Jesus goes to the town raises the boy from the dead, that it says Jesus presented the boy to the mother. I think you took great delight in that tender here. Here's the reunion here's your son back.

You can now enjoy life together. Jesus will have that same tender ministry in heaven of reuniting families and spouses and friends together so death is the great separator. But Jesus is the great reunite her. What a great thought. I was thinking this week and I mean this one of the greatest things in heaven that I'm to know enjoy is being with you without limitation.

You know we get to connect sometimes after service in exchange allowance pray for one another, but then we have to go home or will there's another service to do but there will be home we can hang out for to 300,000 million billion years, and move on to the next person because we got forever just endless joy in that reunion that brings up a question that I would I want to address here before we close it is often asked, especially as we think through all of these choose we've heard so far, spirit or soul leaves the body were in God's presence would second be like in here comes the inevitable question. Will we recognize each other in heaven. We recognize each other in heaven after all Jesus said in heaven.

There's not marrying are given in marriage, or were like the angels will discuss what that means.

At a later date. We recognize each other in heaven or remember when Jesus, Moses and Elijah were transfigured before the disciples and Peter, James and John were there to see it. Did they recognize Moses and Elijah, though they'd been dead 900 years yet instantly, intuitively, they did. I don't think Moses wore a name tag or Elijah. Elijah, I don't think Jesus had to give a formal introduction, Moses, Peter, Peter, Elijah, I don't think he had to do that them just this intuitive knowledge in that event, and I believe in heaven. On the other side of this earthly existence. Since we have such limited knowledge. Now, our knowledge will be greatly expanded so that will immediately know those that we've known pick up where we left off, and recognize others who we've heard about but have not yet met. And that's because in first Corinthians 13 verse 12 Paul writes for now we see through a glass darkly, but then face-to-face. Now I know in part but I shall fully know is the translation even as I am fully known. I've always loved.

I think he did it the best.

The way Charles Spurgeon answered this very question. Someone came up to him and said Mr. Spurgeon. We recognize each other in heaven, and he simply said you think in heaven will be more stupid than we are now. If you can do it here and now, don't you think in heaven you have at least that same ability. Well, there is great assurance and confidence and enough as it says in verse 18 comfort one another with these words. I like to close with a story.

Philip Yancey likens death to birth in a very inventive way. Listen to what he says.

Each of our individual deaths rights Yancey can be seen as a birth. Imagine what it would be like if you had full consciousness as a fetus and could remember those sensations.

Your world is dark safe, secure your bathe in warm liquid cushioned from shock you do nothing for yourself, your fat automatically in a murmuring heartbeat assures you that someone larger than you fills all of your needs, your life consists of simple waiting. Not sure what to wait for but any change seems far away and scary you meet no sharp objects. There is no pain, no threatening adventures to find existence. One day you feel a tug. The walls are falling in on you those soft cushions are now pulsing and beating against you, crushing you downwards. Your body is bent double your limbs twisted and retched your falling upside down for the first time in your life you feel pain you're in a sea of rolling matter. There's more pressure almost too intense to bear your head is squeezed flat and you are pushed harder and harder into a dark tunnel.

Oh, the pain, the noise, more pressure you heard all over you hear a groaning sound and an awful's sudden sheet of fear rushes through you.

It's happening, your world is collapsing, you're sure it's the end. Then you Skip piercing, blinding light and cold rough hands pull it you in a painful slap. Congratulations he writes you have just been born rights Yancey death is like that on this end of the birth canal. It seems fearsome pretentious and full of pain. Death is a scary tunnel and we are being sucked toward it by a powerful force to really brilliant description of death because two of two of to a child about to be born.

What is birth and wonderful life must seem horrible and cold and foreign painful but in life, so it is in our death, which seems painful will give birth to a meeting.

Satisfied relationship with Christ future resurrection of our body and reunion with those we miss of your no wonder discomfort when another.

These have some Skip Heitzigs message from the series from the edge of eternity. Now we want to let you know about a unique opportunity you have to pursue biblical studies in a way that works with your schedule looking to take your life purpose to a whole new level. Calvary colleges offering on-site classes in biblical studies at Calvary church of Albuquerque and the next term starts August 17. You can combine on-site and online classes to fit your life and your schedule plus Calvary college courses with Veritas international University at Calvary Chapel University give you options and flexibility. Whether you're working toward an accredited degree or simply want to increase your knowledge of God's word. On-site classes include theology in church history and worldview apologetics both undergraduate and graduate level all starting August 17. Apply today Calvary ABQ.College that Calvary BBQ.college. Thank you for joining us today.

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