Ecclesiastes 12:6-7
6 Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher
be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern (flesh body dies).
7 Then shall the dust (flesh body) return to the earth as it was:
and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
2 Corinthians 5:8
We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body,
and to be present with the Lord.
Now let's examine absent from the body...
Many people quote this verse out of context to prove immediate judgment and reward
or punishment. This is not the meaning Paul intended. This statement is a colloquialism
that Paul used. Let's see this...
1Co 5:3 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already,
as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,
Where was Paul? In spirit present in heaven? Nope, he was not at Corinth but he was
on the earth as a human being in the flesh.
Col 2:5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and
beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.
This verse clarifies what he meant by being absent from the body (the church)
but present in spirit.
His colloquialism is separated from us by nearly 2000 years. Do we use any colloquialisms
today that would be difficult for those 2000 years ago to understand. Think about it.
Just a note as to why Christ spoke in parables...
Mat 13:13 Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see,
and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.
Mat 13:14 And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says:
'HEARING YOU WILL HEAR AND SHALL NOT UNDERSTAND,
AND SEEING YOU WILL SEE AND NOT PERCEIVE;
Christ spoke in parables to hide the meanings from those who are not called
and had this particular miracle occur in their lives...
Luk 24:45 And He opened their understanding,
that they might comprehend the Scriptures.
This takes special intervention and is not a wholesale act.
It is only done for those whom the Father calls in this age...
Joh 6:44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him;
and I will raise him up at the last day. And He said, "Therefore I have said to
you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father."
Not all are called in this age. God has a 7000 year plan to save all mankind...
2Pe 3:8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day
is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness,
but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should
come to repentance.
Now this is not universal salvation, it plainly says God is not WILLING. If one does
choose, in full knowledge of the truth, to reject God, then there is an end for them...
Rev 20:13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up
the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.
Rev 20:14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Rev 20:15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
Mal 4:1 "For behold, the day is coming, Burning like an oven, And all the proud, yes,
all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up,"
Says the LORD of hosts, "That will leave them neither root nor branch.
Mal 4:2 But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise With
healing in His wings; And you shall go out And grow fat like stall-fed calves.
Mal 4:3 You shall trample the wicked, For they shall be ashes under the soles of
your feet On the day that I do this," Says the LORD of hosts.
Mat 10:28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.
But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Unfortunately, there are those who will choose to reject God's mercy
and salvation but it will be the few, not the many.
There end result is not endless torment in an everburning fire, God simply puts them
out of existence so they are not miserable and they do not make those around them miserable.
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Word here for perish is...
a?p?´???µ?
apollumi
ap-ol'-loo-mee
From G575 and the base of G3639; to destroy fully (reflexively to perish, or lose),
literally or figuratively: - destroy, die, lose, mar, perish.
Not life in hell, but death...
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death;
but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
God is merciful to even those who refuse, He does not allow them to suffer
for eternity, He simply puts them out of existence.
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