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| RESOURCES — SHORT ARTICLES | |||||||
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| SHORT ARTICLES BY TOM ELSEROAD | |||||
| 2020-07-14 | Will We Meet Jesus as Soon as We Die? | ||||
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Three thoughts from three passages: Joh 14:1 "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. Joh 14:2 In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. Jesus tells us some wonderful news to encourage the disciples. 1. The language Jesus uses concerns His coming for us. If this is not the rapture, then there must be multiple raptures. But that is not the case. Jesus says, “I will come again and receive you to Myself”. The word “receive” is the Greek word, paralambano. The word paralambano means, 'to receive near' or 'to take with oneself'. The same word is used in Luke 17:34-36 and Matthew 24:40-41 referring to the same event. Luk 17:34 I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left. Luk 17:35 Two women will be grinding together: the one will be taken and the other left. Luk 17:36 Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left." Notice the English word “taken” in each verse above is the same Greek word paralambano. These verses would probably be clearer in English if they were translated “received” as in John 14. Jesus comes and “receives” believers to Himself. Jesus comes and “takes” believers to Himself. Where is the Father's house? The Father's house is in heaven (Mt.6:9, Our Father in heaven). That is where Jesus said He is going. What is Jesus doing there? He is preparing a place for us. This refers to the place Jesus is preparing for us when He comes for us. 2. But then what about now before the rapture takes place? 2Co 5:6 So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 2Co 5:7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 2Co 5:8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. 2Co 5:9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. Paul says there are two options: (1) we are at home in our physical body, or (2) we are at home in the presence of the Lord. So when the body dies we are at home (in the presence of) with the Lord. To die is to lose the body temporarily and to go to be with the Lord. At the rapture even our physical bodies will be resurrected. 3. Leaving this physical body at death brings us into the presence of the Lord. Php 1:22 But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. Php 1:23 For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Php 1:24 Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. Paul again sees two possibilities (1) to go on living here in the body or (2) to go to be with Christ which is far better. So in death we will be with the Lord in heaven. Paul was confident that leaving this body would result in him, and all believers, being in the presence of the Lord. Paul's third choice is to stay here alive in the body and work for the Lord. Paul's second choice is to be with the Lord without the body through death. Paul's first choice is, “Come Lord Jesus” and give me a new body at the rapture. Pastor Tom Elseroad |
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 An Evangelical Free Church of America |
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23304 E Wellesley
Ave. Otis Orchards, WA 99027 Church Office: 509.926.9552 Church Cell: 509.342.9145 Pastor Cell: 509.828.8843 tomelseroad@gmail.com |