We believe that Jesus died for us - in our place as we say.  It’s pretty common to believe that Jesus did in fact die a literal death - went to the grave - and then on Sunday rose again - yea, from the dead.  And he did it for you.

We often limit this thinking to the fact that Jesus suffered for us.  He took the whippings I deserved, stood trial instead on me... but then, not guilty of what he was accused (or of anything deserving any form of annihilation) he died... my death.  Yep... I don’t have to remain dead forever... he took that away from me by dying in my place.

Cool Words

Immortality - this means never having to die.  Or being immune to death.

Indestructible - meaning no one will be able to destroy me.  I shall be indestructible - by body will not grow old or wear out.

I Cor 15.51-55 - 51 Behold! I tell 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 trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

    "Death is swallowed up in victory." 55 "O death, where is your victory?

   O death, where is your sting?"

Jesus says - but they are just taking a nap

I refer again to the first death - napping - and the second death - eternal, gone forever.  Jesus would talk of death while he was here on earth as sleeping, and as if to prove his point would go wake someone up. This was pretty impressive to those around him at the time.  but there is a death that is very very final - and Jesus died that death for us - so we still might sleep, but Jesus will wake us up... hence the resurrection.

When is the resurrection - well, it’s obviously after you die!  For those who died in Christ, it will be at his return (check out I Thessalonians 4.13-18), but should you not desire or require Jesus’ help in this matter, then we are pretty sure that it’ll be closer to the time when the New Jerusalem comes to earth (unless you have the ability to raise yourself, or are counting on someone, or something else other than Jesus).  FOr more on this timing - you’ll find Revelation 20.7-10 helpful I would think.  Either way, if you have stood by an open occupied coffin, you will know that resurrection is a very, very big deal.

Soul Sleep

Adventist are part of the Christian family that do not believe you go to heaven or hell when you die.  We believe that death is very real, and not simply another form of life in the under (or over) world.  God, in the Garden of Eden, said that if you eat of this tree then you will die.  Satan claimed God was lying and said you would not die if you ate from this particular tree. 

The fact that much of the church at large (and religion in general) believes that you never really die, but rather go onto another form of life (and different religions and faiths believe in a variety of forms of this life), makes me think that the devil might be winning this argument.  But making the argument - winning or otherwise - does not make eternal life true - eternal life comes from the life giver, not the life taker. 

There might be many ways to Jesus, and therefore salvation.  But I believe that Jesus is the one who has made it all possible and has demonstrated the power and authority to raise you from the dead.  I don’t think it really matters when he does it - obviously the sooner the better I guess!  But as I read the Bible, there are a great deal of resurrections when Jesus comes... but don’t take my word for it, check it out for yourself.

Scripture verses

Romans 6v23 - 1 Timothy 6v15, 16 - Ecclesiastes 9v5, 6 - Psalms 146v3, 4 - John 11v11-14; Colossians 3v4; - Corinthians. 15v51-54 - 1 Thessalonians. 4v13-17 - John 5v28, 29 - Revelation 20v1-10.

Official language

The wages of sin is death. But God, who alone is immortal, will grant eternal life to His redeemed. Until that day death is an unconscious state for all people. When Christ, who is our life, appears, the resurrected righteous and the living righteous will be glorified and caught up to meet their Lord. The second resurrection, the resurrection of the unrighteous, will take place a thousand years later.