When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice, "How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?"
Beauty products abound, each promising to make us look like movie stars or athletes. Wrinkles must be removed; hair must be tinted to hide the gray and blemishes must disappear. Yet our bodies were only made to last a short period of time before they die and are gone. We see it in the aging process, even though we try to hide or prevent it.
I wonder what would happen if people put one tenth of the time devoted to spiritual health and beauty which lasts for all eternity as opposed to the physical which is like a vapor, here and then gone. Now, I agree that we should be concerned about our bodies and take care of them, but I want us to think about the body we will have for eternity.
D.L. Moody said before he died, “Soon you will read in the papers that Moody is dead. Don’t believe it, for in that moment I will be more alive than I have ever been.”
Last week we explored Biblical teachings on the existence immediately after physical death. You might call that the intermediary state of people. I also prefaced my remarks following the Bible interpretation that suggests what is clear and plain and repeated believe strongly. What is unclear, confusing, and mentioned only once or very seldom, believe, but allow for various interpretations and don’t be so dogmatic.
I mentioned last week the waiting place of the dead was called Sheol in Hebrew and Hades in the Greek. Further illustrations indicated that in the place of the dead there was a division; “Gathered to my people” identified with Abraham for the Old Testament saints. The New Testament uses Paradise and being with Jesus. After the crucifixion, we are brought immediately into the presence of Jesus Christ in glory. The key figure in the place of the dead is no longer Abraham, but rather Jesus, and our confidence is to be absent from the body and to be immediately in the presence of the Lord.
We read, before the return of Jesus, the souls of the martyrs called out from under the altar in a loud voice, "How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?" When we are immediately with the Lord we will know a lot, but still not know all things until after Jesus return.
We will explore this week some more verses as well as some opinions regarding this conscience experience after death.
Prayer: Lord, teach me and refresh me in Your Word as I meditate on this study. Reveal to me Your truth.
