Death, Then What? - By Grant Phillips - http://raptureready.com/featured/phillips/phillips316.html
In speaking with a fellow Christian lately via email, his last response was, "Many church people are scared of dying and the thought of End Times. Part of it is due to the uncertainty of where they are going. Another part is pastors have done such a poor job of telling them what Heaven is really like. Most Christians think we will just sit around, sing and listen to Jesus preach. Hollywood has taken all the joy and excitement out of going to Heaven and the church has done little to counter it."
· Is it possible that Christians are afraid of dying?
· Is it possible that Christians become frightened when speaking of End Times?
· Is it possible that Christians are not sure where they're going after they die?
· Is it possible that pastors have done a poor job of informing the flock of Heaven?
· Is it possible that Christians think we sit around in Heaven, just singing and listening to Jesus preach?
· Is it possible that Hollywood has confused so many about Heaven, and the Church has done little to counter it?
I've read my friend's statement several times, and would have to totally agree. All that is stated is not only possible, but it must be true. As I recall my experiences with other Christians, listening closely to their comments, it becomes quite evident they are experiencing fear when they should be enjoying peace and an excited expectation of our Lord's return. Generally though, this isn't the case.
· Is it possible that Christians are afraid of dying?
I don't guess anyone looks forward to the dying process, but a Christian should have no fear of death. Actually, none of us really dies. Our body dies, but the real 'me' never dies, Christian or non-Christian.
When the Christian dies, he or she leaves the body and goes immediately to Heaven to be with God. When the non-Christian dies, he or she leaves the body and goes immediately to hell to be apart from God.
The Christian: "We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord." (2 Corinthians 5:8)
The non-Christian: "... the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments ..." (Acts 16:22-23)
Let's go back to that part of the actual dying process. Should we fear dying? We can see that the Christian should have no fear of death, but what about getting there; i.e. the dying process. The first verse that comes to mind is one that is very familiar to all of us. It goes like this.
"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." (Psalms 23:4)
I believe with all my heart that the Lord pours out additional grace for His children when it is time for us to go home. Notice from the verse that as we go through the dying process we have no fear, because the Lord Himself is with us and He provides the comfort only He can give.
· Is it possible that Christians become frightened when speaking of End Times?
Perhaps the reason for being scared of End Time events is not realizing that if you are a Christian, you won't be here.
It is most evident when reading about the seals, trumpets and bowl judgments that life on earth during the Tribulation is going to be so bad that God will cut it short so that all of humanity will not be slaughtered. BUT, if you are a Christian, you will not be here. You will be in Heaven.
Jesus says to the Church in John 14:1-4 that He will take us out first.
He says in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 the same thing.
He says in Revelation 3:10 He will keep us FROM that hour (of Tribulation).
He says in 1 Thessalonians 5:9 that we (the Church) are not appointed to wrath (the Tribulation).
He shows us in Revelation 4:1 that as soon as the Church age ends, the Church is removed from the earth and taken to Heaven and the Tribulation begins afterwards.
I haven't gone in depth but these Scriptures give us brief but solid evidence the Church will not be here when the bad stuff happens. We'll be in Heaven. So don't be afraid about the End Times. For the Christian, there is nothing to fear.
I love the way the New Living Translation (NLT) translates Philippians 4:6, "Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done."
· Is it possible that Christians are not sure where they're going after they die?
To answer this question, go back and read the answers to "Is it possible that Christians are afraid of dying?" Again, we should not fear. Our home is in Heaven, and when the last breath leaves our body, we will be home with the Lord.
· Is it possible that pastors have done a poor job of informing the flock of Heaven?
Oh Yeah! Is it ever?! This is one of my biggest pet peeves, pastors who refuse to declare the WHOLE Word of God. Prophecy comprises at least 25-33% of the Bible, yet it is totally ignored by most that stand behind the pulpit. And then there are those pastors and religious speakers who address prophecy, but are so inept at doing so they confuse the confused even more.
Do as the Bereans. "And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul's message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth." (NLT)
Wherever you attend church, listen eagerly, (not critically) and search the Scriptures daily while asking for God's guidance.
· Is it possible that Christians think we sit around in Heaven, just singing and listening to Jesus preach?
Strangely enough, this is exactly what so many unlearned Christians think, and there can be only one reason for that, laziness. I'm sorry for being so blunt, but that's pretty much it in a nutshell. So many Christians are just too lazy to actually study the Bible. Most don't even read it, let alone study it. What does God say about this?
"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15)
Right there is the number one problem from the pulpit to the pew. It is a lack of getting into the Word and asking God to lead us by His Spirt in knowing what He wants us to know.
I've known many preachers who don't study (you can tell), but get up and 'speak off the cuff,' or 'study' the night before. Apparently, they think what they have to say is more important than what God has to say.
If you are not being nutritionally fed, then maybe you need to go elsewhere. Concerning prophecy, it may never come from your local shepherd, or it may be distorted. With that in mind, you may need to look around even more.
One thing about the millennial period and Heaven we should all know is that we will be busy. We each will have responsibilities assigned us by the Lord based on our faithfulness to Him while on earth. It can be seen with just a casual reading of the Bible that God does not endorse laziness. We will be busy and loving every minute of it.
· Is it possible that Hollywood has confused so many about Heaven, and the Church has done little to counter it?
It most certainly is possible. Can't you just hear, "I saw the movie, so it must be true." "It was on the History channel, and you know they wouldn't lie."
Hollywood pours out the garbage, and a lot of people have become garbage collectors. They say, "One person's trash is another person's treasure." That may work occasionally in antique collecting, but not in the spiritual realm. Trash is trash, and will always be trash and garbage is garbage.
I would hesitate to even guess at what percentage Hollywood, from the big screen to the living room screen, has affected our thinking in the United States of America. Could it be that nearly all our beliefs have been grown from the seeds that Hollywood has planted in our brains over the last 50-60 years? By the way, they've kept those seeds well fertilized with an abundant supply of manure.
Think about the influence on our minds from; movies, TV shows, talk shows, comedies, sitcoms, reality shows, political programs, news programs, even sports, etc.
Our brains have been bombarded from all these sources and are at the mercy of someone else's point of view. That is why it is very important as Christians to saturate our minds with the Word of God! HOWEVER, most Christians do not do that, and this is why they are so confused about "What is the Truth?" How are we going to know the Truth, when all we listen to is the bologna coming from Satan's pundits?
Wrapping this up let me say this, as a Christian you do not need to fear or be in doubt. Everything you need to grow spiritually and overcome the doubts and fears has been provided by God in His Word. In addition, His Spirit resides in you and will patiently lead you throughout your life and bring you safely home when the time comes.
So relax, and enjoy your walk with the Lord on earth, because when we leave here it gets even better, so much better the Apostle Paul couldn't even put it in words.
"that I was caught up to paradise and heard things so astounding that they cannot be expressed in words, things no human is allowed to tell." (2 Corinthians 12:4) NLT
Grant Phillips
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