ED: This article was originally posted in 7/16, but became unavailable on the website. This is a re-posting.
“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”
Hebrews 9: 27
When attending funerals, I have often heard many of the presiding religionists say this: “he is up there and now, watching over us.” Really, where is “up there’’? Is this what the Bible teaches?
Most people I am familiar with believe that when someone dies, they go to heaven or hell. A few, in my experience, believe there is no afterlife. Usually those who believe in afterlife are optimistic that their loved ones go to heaven. Many others who believe in the afterlife will assign a bad person to hell.
Here are some verses from the Bible that provide a biblical insight into death:
Ecclesiastes 9:5
“For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing,”
Ecclesiastes 9:10
“There is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, wither thou goest.”
Psalm 146:4
“His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.”
Scripture seems to indicate that after death there are NO thoughts of any kind. In fact, death is referred to as sleep. In Psalm 13:3, King David speaks of death as, “the sleep of death.” Messiah spoke of death as sleep as well. In Matthew 9:24 he described what others thought was death was sleep. Again, Messiah referred to the death of his friend Lazarus as sleep. (John 11: 11) In at least 36 verses in the Old Testament a dead man is said to have “slept with his fathers.”
The Bible does not indicate any activity or thoughts in death. We see nothing, and we know nothing. Is this the end of us?
In the Old Testament, the prophet Daniel proclaims that, “many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake.” (Daniel 12: 2) We also discover in Ezekiel 37 that dead bodies are given life again.
The Old Testament does not give us much information about life after death. However, the New Testament gives us much more information by introducing the concept of resurrection.
Messiah informs us in John 3:13: ”no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.” Only he has been in heaven. The rest of mankind lives and then sleeps. When they wake up, that is, resurrected, they find themselves here on earth!
It is the Apostle Paul who really clarifies this process of resurrection or waking up from death. We find this insight in first Corinthians 15: 20-23: “But now is Messiah risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Messiah all shall be made alive. But every man in his own order: Messiah the first fruits, afterwards they that are Messiah’s at his coming.”
Paul tells us that Messiah was the first to be resurrected. Then he indicates a second resurrection, which will occur when he returns. This will be for those who are considered HIS.
Those that are resurrected when Messiah returns are called saints. (Jude 1: 14, Zechariah 14: 5, Psalm 50: 5-6) We can learn even more about the saints in Revelation 14:1-5. We are told there are 144,000 saints and they are also called firstfruits.
Is this all that will be resurrected? Paul answers this for us in First Corinthians 15:22 when he said, “shall all be made alive.” Billions are to be resurrected, not just the 144,000.
This is confirmed in Revelation 20:5 where we are told that: “the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.” John is telling us that ALL mankind is to be resurrected. Not one human being is lost. However, those in the resurrection following the 1,000 years will find themselves in a physical resurrection. The 144,000 saints are resurrected as spirit beings upon whom the second death has no power. (Rev. 20: 5 )
So what is different about the resurrection of all mankind after the 1,000 years? It is a resurrection to physical life. This is what we find described in Ezekiel 37. More is revealed about what happens after this resurrection in the book of Joel 2:28-32. It is revealed in this Old Testament passage that Yahweh will give his spirit to all flesh at that time. All mankind will still have to face the second death and be transformed into spirit beings in the new heaven and new earth. Those who do not repent will go into the lake of fire. These will then be resurrected into the new heaven and new earth as spiritual beings.
It is important to state at this time what Paul tells us in Hebrews 11:35 -- that the 144,000 are in the “better resurrection”. Why is this better? It is a resurrection to spirit life without any further requirement of death. The saints will be with Messiah, are considered HIS and will have an advanced understanding and status when the rest of all mankind are resurrected after the 1,000 years.
It is a great revelation that death is destroyed (1Cor. 15: 26). How is this done? All those who died are restored to life. “Death is swallowed up in victory.” (1Cor. 15: 54)
Mankind does NOT go to heaven. Mankind remains on earth but as spiritual beings. Yahweh comes to us. He brings his throne to a new earth. New Jerusalem descends from Heaven. Here you will find the Father, his Son, the saints and others who are selected to be around his throne. Outside of new Jerusalem will be many other spirit beings. The new earth shall be divided with nations and kings. (Rev. 21: 24) Outside New Jerusalem will be those who did not repent and had to suffer the second death. (Rev. 21: 8, 22: 15)
The good news is that there is no eternal torture and all mankind will be resurrected as spirit beings, eventually. The question you may be asking is how do I qualify for the better resurrection?
Our website tells you about the importance of baptism in the name of YahwehShua. Please consider what the apostle Peter told us in Acts 2:38: “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of YahwehShua the Messiah for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Your King James Bible says “jesus” but this is a lie. Why, you may say. Because it is revealed in Joel 2: 32 that: “Whosoever shall call on the name of Yahweh shall be delivered.” Again your King James Version of the Bible says LORD, which also is a lie. The Hebrew language from which this English translation is taken says, yod, hey, waw, hey or Yahweh! This understanding is very critical to your understanding of the significance of the name of Yahweh in baptism. Please study the information you find on our website very carefully. Here you will find the truth, instead of lies or deceptions.
Without baptism in YahwehShua, you’ll not receive the down payment of Spirit that is promised. Without the Spirit of Messiah being formed within you (Galatians 4: 19) the path to the better resurrection is not open to you!
Only 144,000 are resurrected when Messiah returns. This proves the truth of the scripture that says, “Many are called, few are chosen.” (Mat. 22: 14)
The Messiah said,” I am the door.” (John 10: 7, 9) It is only through HIM that you can enter the better resurrection and therefore enter New Jerusalem. New Jerusalem has 12 gates or doors. You must have the name of the Father and the Son on your forehead prior to your entry. (Rev. 14: 1)
Those who have access to a Bible owe this opportunity to the work of the Apostle Paul. Paul was led by a vision to go to the Macedonian city of Philippi. Philippi was located on the edge of Europe. The baptisms Paul performed there led to the formation of an assembly or ekklesia which eventually funneled the word of Yahweh into Europe and then onto America.
Today, the work of YahwehShua is available in the United States with brethren scattered among different states. The knowledge of the work of YahwehShua was brought to Embu, Kenya, which is now the gateway to Africa. The spread of the message of YahwehShua has just begun in this end time.
YahwehShua (the inherited name of Messiah, Hebrews 1: 4) is the door through which you must go to even strive for the better resurrection. Being in this resurrection when Messiah returns will position you to enter New Jerusalem when the new heaven and new earth are created. (Rev. 21: 1)
All mankind will be resurrected and live on the same spirit level with Yahweh. This is the promise. There is also a reward. (Rev. 22: 12; Matt. 16: 27) Is this for you? Pray for truth to Yahweh and find out if he will lead you to all truth. Remember, what we are told in John 6:44: “no man can come to me except the Father which hath sent me draw him:” Unless you ask, seek, and knock you may never know! (Luke 11: 9-10)
Read, study and pray for truth and understanding from Yahweh and then contact an elder of the Light of YahwehShua who stand ready to assist you. Your journey through the door, the Gateway, begins with this contact. May Yahweh lead you.
If you wish to submit a question or comment, please email our Elder at john12e4567@gmail.com.