the way in which to determine the meaning of the word is to find verse which use it in a similar context. For example, Matt 10.28. 'Do not fear those who can kill the BODY but CANNOT kill the SOUL, rather fear the One Who is able to destroy BOTH SOUL AND BODY in Hell.'
Even you with your blurred interpretations must see that here Jesus made a clear distinction between the body and the soul.
When it comes to the afterlife
the soul is separate from the body.
This distinction is again brought out in Rev 6.9.
'I saw under the altar the SOULS of those who had been slain for the word of God and the witness which they had borne --- (they were) told to rest a little longer until the number of their fellow-servants and their brothers should be complete who were to be killed as they themselves had been'
Why were they resting? Their SOULS were awaiting the resurrection.
Because of that very confusion in the English language, some newer translations improved that English understanding by wording it this way:
The confusion is on YOUR part, There is no confusion about the above two verses. The are quite clear. In the afterlife the soul is distinct from the body. So you had better close your eyes. Then you might be able to hold on to your heresy.
Revelation 20:4-5 (HCSB)
[SUP]4 [/SUP] Then I saw thrones, and people seated on them who were given authority to judge. ⌊I⌋ also ⌊saw⌋ the people who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of God’s word, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and who had not accepted the mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with the Messiah for 1,000 years.
[SUP]5 [/SUP] The rest of the dead did not come to life until the 1,000 years were completed. This is the first resurrection.
This LITERALLY translates as, 'I saw also the SOULS of those who had been beheaded for their testimony to Jesus --- and of those who had not worshiped the Beast and his image'.
SOULS, SOULS, SOULS, not bodies. See above.
So how do I explain that John could see souls or spirits of those beheaded under the altar (Rev. 6:9).
So you admit that there SOULS means SOULS? See what I mean about playing with the Greek?
I think it is evidence that John's spirit was literally take out of his body for that temporary period of time and literally taken to heaven to see these things. There is a great deal of Scriptures that support the idea that the entire spiritual realm of Created Beings can see each other, especially in Heaven; even though to us mortals they are invisible, and they are never seen by mortals, UNLESS those angels WANT TO BE SEEN by the mortals.
No one is arguing against that. Their SOULS can be seen. that is who John saw as living and reigning with Christ.
The nature of one who is spiritually immature, is that he or she will examine every new wind of doctrine, and his or her understanding is thereby is constantly changing, and he or she will rarely can take a firm stance on anything.
The nature of the one who is hardened in worldly doctrines is to be too inflexible to open their eyes when they hear the truth.
A spiritually mature person is one who has already examined the teachings by comparing Scripture to Scripture, and comes to an absolute understanding of that subject, having let the Scriptures define that understanding. Therefore the spiritually mature person, will be unshakable from his or her BELIEFS.
Such arrogance. So you have come to an absolute understanding of the interpretation of Daniel and Revelation? I have never come across such arrogance and stupidity in all my long life. NO ONE HAS AN ABSOLUTE UNDERSTANDING OF DANIEL AND
REVELATION and only a fool thinks otherwise.
You are confusing the First Resurrection with becoming spiritually Born Again. They are NOT the same thing,
I am not confusing anything. The first resurrection was the resurrection of Jesus Christ. All power in Heaven and earth was then released. And we are born from above the day we are united with Him in His resurrection. We are MADE ALIVE and raised with Him and seated with Him in heavenly places (Eph 2.5-6). Resurrection indeed.
the First Resurrection is when true Believers have their Bodies come out of the graves
.
SHOW ME ONE SCRIPTURE that says that about the first resurrection. I have shown you that Christ
That born again experience is when the Holy Spirit immerses us into the spiritual body of Jesus Christ. THAT IS A FACT, BUT IT NOT THE FIRST RESURRECTION.
Luke 14:14 (NASB)
[SUP]
14 [/SUP] and you will be blessed, since they do not have
the means to repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."
{Spoken of as a separate event from the Resurrection of the Unrighteous}
Acts 24:15 (HCSB)
[SUP]
15 [/SUP] And I have a hope in God, which these men themselves also accept, that there is going to be a resurrection, both of the righteous and the unrighteous.
{TWO EVENTS}
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You said: "I wonder who he had in mind here. Was it Darby? Or Newton? Or Scofield? Or maybe all three?"
I cannot comment on that, because I have never studied the writings of Darby, and Newton, I do not even know who he is, and Scofield was way too liberal for me to bother reading.
As I stated before, I am a CONSERVATIVE EVANGELICAL not associated with any particular Denomination; and I will STAND FIRM on our Beliefs.
Grace to You Doctrinal Statement of Faith