The Dead In Christ Shall Rise First

[Eric Stahl]

The dead in Christ shall rise first

 

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

¹³ But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

¹⁴ For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

¹⁵ For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

¹⁶ 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:

¹⁷ Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

¹⁸ Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

 

When a Christian dies our spirit is taken to heaven by the Holy Spirit that has sealed us during our life. He will never leave us nor forsake us so when we go to heaven he will go to heaven with us.

 

2 Corinthians 5:1-9

¹ For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle (((Earthly body))) were dissolved (((Dead))), we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

² For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:

³ If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.

⁴ For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.

⁵ Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.

⁶ Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:

⁷ (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

 

⁸We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

 

⁹ Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.

 

 

When Jesus comes back in the heavens to call up the living Christians the sin nature will be removed from our bodies.

 

 

1 Corinthians 15:50:55

⁵⁰ Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

⁵¹ Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

⁵² In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

⁵³ For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

[John81]

While there is reference to angels conveying saints away at death, what is your reference for the Holy Ghost doing this?

 

To be clear, I'm not suggesting the Holy Ghost leaves us, or isn't with us when we die. I'm only asking about who actually takes us to heaven.

[Eric Stahl]

While there is reference to angels conveying saints away at death, what is your reference for the Holy Ghost doing this?

 

To be clear, I'm not suggesting the Holy Ghost leaves us, or isn't with us when we die. I'm only asking about who actually takes us to heaven.

I have seen the reference to angels carrying old testament saints to heaven but I have not seen that in the New Testament have you?

[John81]

The main reference would be with regards to Jesus relating the story of the rich man and Lazarus.

 

I'm not aware of any reference in Scripture that indicates any other than angels escorted or escorts dead saints to heaven.

 

From what I can glean, since only angels have been mentioned performing such, and there's never been a mention of anything different, this would lend the idea to still being very likely, though without any further clear indication in Scripture I wouldn't say such is the case emphatically.

 

At the same time, unless there is a reference to the Holy Ghost taking over that function, or another, or that we are on our own in travelling to heaven, I don't see grounds for any of these to supersede angels.

 

My question was simply wondering if there was a reference to what you mentioned which I may have overlooked.

 

Not that they are necessarily correct on the matter, but thus far every Baptist pastor I've heard who touched upon this matter all preached that angels carry us to heaven upon our deaths.

[Eric Stahl]

The main reference would be with regards to Jesus relating the story of the rich man and Lazarus.

 

I'm not aware of any reference in Scripture that indicates any other than angels escorted or escorts dead saints to heaven.

 

From what I can glean, since only angels have been mentioned performing such, and there's never been a mention of anything different, this would lend the idea to still being very likely, though without any further clear indication in Scripture I wouldn't say such is the case emphatically.

 

At the same time, unless there is a reference to the Holy Ghost taking over that function, or another, or that we are on our own in travelling to heaven, I don't see grounds for any of these to supersede angels.

 

My question was simply wondering if there was a reference to what you mentioned which I may have overlooked.

 

Not that they are necessarily correct on the matter, but thus far every Baptist pastor I've heard who touched upon this matter all preached that angels carry us to heaven upon our deaths.

I doubt that the Holy Spirit needs the help of angels to take us to heaven.

 

The Holy Spirit did not stay in the Old Testament saints so they needed the help of the angels. I guess we will find out when we die.

[John81]

I would agree the Holy Spirit doesn't need help per se yet we don't have any indication at all in Scripture that one of the functions of the Holy Spirit is carrying a person to heaven.

 

At the same time, we do have indication that angels have had that function (though we have no certain saying as to whether they still do or not) and while the Holy Spirit is sent to be our seal and teacher, angels serve as ministering agents.

 

Indeed, we won't know for sure until/unless we die. In the meantime, Christ may return before then, in which case the point will be moot for us. Perhaps sometime after that we will learn from saints who passed before us just how they made the trip to heaven.

 

In the meantime, we can rest assured the Lord has our trip to heaven fully planned and prepared for us!

[Eric Stahl]

I would agree the Holy Spirit doesn't need help per se yet we don't have any indication at all in Scripture that one of the functions of the Holy Spirit is carrying a person to heaven.

 

At the same time, we do have indication that angels have had that function (though we have no certain saying as to whether they still do or not) and while the Holy Spirit is sent to be our seal and teacher, angels serve as ministering agents.

 

Indeed, we won't know for sure until/unless we die. In the meantime, Christ may return before then, in which case the point will be moot for us. Perhaps sometime after that we will learn from saints who passed before us just how they made the trip to heaven.

 

In the meantime, we can rest assured the Lord has our trip to heaven fully planned and prepared for us!

 

 

Yes and I can't wait!