"to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord"

LESSON 6

TO BE ABSENT FROM THE BODY AND TO BE PRESENT WITH THE LORD: AN EXPOSITION ON PAUL'S WORDS IN 2 CORINTHIANS 5:8

You are welcome to another edition of Insights from God's Word, a Bible study programme that is committed to sharing God's Word by allowing the Bible to speak for itself.

In this edition, we continue with our series on The Truth About Death. In this study, I want us to consider the topic: "...to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord: An exposition on Paul's words in 2 Corinthians 5:8. The complete message in this text reads: "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).

1. A RECAP OF KEY POINTS FROM OUR PREVIOUS STUDIES

From our previous studies in this series on death, we have gained the following biblical foundations:

i) The human being is composed of two elements: the dust of the ground and breath of life (Genesis 2:7). The human being does not possess a third component called spirit that continues to live on after mortal death. In a lot of instances where the word spirit is used in relation to death, it is basically used as a synonym for the breath of life (see Job 27:3; James 2:26).

ii) The dead know nothing (Ecclesiastes 9:5-6, 10; Psalm 146:3-4; Job 14:20-21).

iii) The dead are not in paradise, hell, purgatory, limbo, or some spirit world. The dead rest or sleep in their graves awaiting one of two resurrections (Job 17:13-16; Job 7:9-10; John 5:28-29; Daniel 12:2).

(For a detailed biblical explanation of the three points above, please request for our previous studies: 1) What happens to man after death and 2) When a person dies, where does he go? through any of our WhatsApp Numbers at the end of the lesson).

2. THE SCRIPTURE CANNOT BE BROKEN

Friends, from John 10:35, Christ makes a very important statement in regard to the unity of Scripture. From John 10:35, we read the following clear words of Christ: "the Scriptures cannot be broken". What this statement means is that the Scripture is consistent. In other words, what we read about a teaching or doctrine from one part of the Bible should synchronize or agree with what we read about the same topic in other portions of the Bible.

From this principle, we should expect that the interpretation of the key text we are considering in this study (that is; 2 Corinthians 5:8) should synchronise with what we have already studied about the state of the dead from other portions of Scripture. The text we are considering in this study reads: "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 popular interpretation in regard to the above text within Christendom is that the moment a faithful child of God dies, his spirit departs from the body to be with the Lord in paradise. But beloved, this teaching is contrary to the principle of the unity of Scripture we have just gone through. Our previous knowledge on the state of the dead clearly emphasize that the dead are not conscious of anything (Ecclesiastes 9:5-6, 10; Psalm 146:3-4; Job 14:20-21), and that their abode is in the grave (Job 17:13-16; Job 7:9-10; John 5:28-29; Daniel 12:2).

Friends, since the popular interpretation of 2 Corinthians 5:8 does not harmonize with other portions of Scripture, it cannot be a correct interpretation. We must therefore critically consider what the apostle Paul really meant when he made the statement "to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord" (2 Corinthians 5:8).

3. PETER'S COUNSEL ON THE INTERPRETATION OF PAUL'S LETTERS

Friends, one thing we need to understand is that Paul's letters are tough. Even Peter, a contemporary of the apostle Paul had this to say in relation to Pauline epistles: "15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; 16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction" (2 Peter 3:15-16).Beloved, the counsel of the apostle Peter in relation to Paul's writings is very important. If we are not careful, we will interpret them wrongly unto our own destruction. It is my prayer that the Spirit of God will lead us as we try to uncover the deeper meaning of the words of the apostle Paul as found in 2 Corinthians 5:8.

4. THE PASSAGE OF CONTENTION (2 CORINTHIANS 5:1-9)

Friends, for us to obtain a clear understanding of difficult verses of Scripture, we need to consider among other things the entire passage in which the difficult text is positioned. And so in this segment of our study, we are going to consider the entire passage of 2 Corinthians 5:1-9. I believe an analysis of the various verses in this passage will help us to come away with an understanding of the text in 2 Corinthians 5:8. The entire passage from which our key text is found reads:

5:1 "For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens."

Key Explanation: If we lose this physical body (earthly house or tabernacle) in death, there is an eternal body or house that God has prepared for us.

5:2 "For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:"

Key Explanation: We desire to have the eternal body that God has prepared for us.

5:3 "If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked."

Key Explanation: Once we have this eternal body, we will be free from death. It is important to note that the Scripture uses the word naked in relation to physical birth and death. Notice how the word NAKED is used in relation to birth and death in the following texts:

"And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD" (Job 1:21).

"As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand" (Ecclesiastes 5:15).

Thus friends, the combined explanation of the texts in the verses 2 and 3 is that once we obtain the eternal heavenly body from God, we will be free from the agony of physical death.

5:4 "For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life."

Key Explanation: While we continue to possess this body, we have cause to worry, not because of physical death, but rather our concern is to obtain the immortal body from God which is not subject to death.

5:5 "Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit."

Key Explanation: The One who has given us this promise of eternal life is God.

5:6 "Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:"

Key Explanation: To be at home in the body basically means to continue to possess the physical nature which is subject to death. While we continue to possess this physical body, we are physically absent from the Lord.

From 1 Corinthians 15:50-56, we read the following parallel passage from the apostle Paul: "15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

15:53 FOR THIS CORRUPTIBLE MUST PUT ON INCORRUPTION, AND THIS MORTAL MUST PUT ON IMMORTALITY.

15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?"

(1 Corinthians 15:50-55; Capital Emphasis Added)The passage above supplies important details about the change that will take place in respect to our physical nature at the second coming of Christ. This change from a corruptible to an incorruptible body takes place before we can be physically present with the Lord.

The verses 7 and 8 of our key passage read:

"5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight)

5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord."

Key Explanation: To be absent from the body basically means to leave behind our physical bodies in death. Since the righteous dead do not know anything (Ecclesiastes 9:5-6, 10; Psalm 146:3-4; Job 14:20-21), their next conscious thought will be in the presence of their Lord; that is, at the resurrection of the just (Luke 14:13-14) at the second coming of Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).

The verse 9 of our key passage reads:

5:9 "Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him."

Key Explanation: Thus, we take note of our works, so that whether we are alive or dead, we may be accepted of Him at His coming. Beloved, it is important to notice that if absent in verse 9 means one is already with Christ in paradise, then it suggests that Paul's latter words (we may be accepted of Him) does not make sense as such people in paradise have already been accepted and rewarded by God already.

5. A SECOND PASSAGE OF CONTENTION (PHILIPPIANS 1:21-25)

A similar passage in Scripture that parallels our key passage in this study is found in Philippians 1:21-25. Many Bible interpreters quote this passage to support the teaching that the spirits of the righteous go to paradise to be with the Lord immediately when they die. But as we have noted earlier, this text, like all other texts in relation to death, must also synchronize with what the Scripture teach on the state or condition of the dead. The content of this parallel Pauline passage reads: "1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

1:22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.

1:23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

1:24 Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.

1:25 And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;"

(Philippians 1:21-25)Friends, it is important to note that the apostle Paul wrote this letter to the believers at Philippi when he was in prison, possibly at Rome. At this stage of his life, he knew he could be sentenced to death at any time. However, with a knowledge of the joy that God has reserved for His children in heaven (see 1 Corinthians 2:9; 2 Corinthians 12:1-4; Colossians 1:5), the apostle Paul frequently talked about death in a positive manner. As far as he was concerned, to die was gain (Philippians 1:21) because he believed in the promise of the glorious resurrection of the just (Luke 14:13-14; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). To him, to depart or die, was to be with Christ, which was far better than his present suffering in bondage as a prisoner. However, when he thought of the welfare of the church at Philippi, he wished to stay alive to offer the needed pastoral services to the flock of Christ (see verses 23 and 24 of Philippians 1).

Beloved, the apostle Paul was not suggesting by the passage above (especially the statement in verse 23: "having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ") that he was going to be with Christ immediately after his death. The learned apostle knew from the Old Testament Scriptures that the dead (both righteous and wicked) know nothing (Ecclesiastes 9:5-6, 10; Psalm 146:3-4; Job 14:20-21). He knew that the righteous dead do not have a knowledge of the passing of time; and as a result their next conscious thought will be in the presence of their Lord Jesus Christ when He resurrects them at His second coming. Thus for Paul, to depart from this life or die, was to 'simultaneously' be with Christ in glory.

In fact, the apostle Paul actually made it clear that the Lord will reward him for his good works not when he died but when the Lord appeared the second time. From 2 Timothy 4:7-8, we read the following clear words from horses own mouth: "7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me AT THAT DAY: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love HIS APPEARING" (Capital Emphasis Added).

Friends, I want us to do a little bit of thinking here. You see, if the righteous went to Paradise or heaven to be with the Lord immediately after death, then it means they have already received their reward. But the Bible makes it clear that the righteous as well as the wicked receive their reward when Christ appears the second time. From the words of Christ in Revelation 22:12, we read the following: "And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be" (see also Matthew 25:31-46).

6. WHEN WILL THE RIGHTEOUS BE WITH THE LORD?

Friends, the Bible clearly teach that righteous dead will be with the Lord in heaven only after they are rewarded with the precious gift of immortality at the second coming of Christ. Let's consider some passages of Scripture that shed light on this important point:

i) From 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, we read the following assuring words from the apostle Paul:"4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: AND SO SHALL WE EVER BE WITH THE LORD.

4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words."

(1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Capital Emphasis Added)Beloved, the passage above is clear. The righteous dead rest in their graves awaiting the second coming of their king. It is only when Christ appears the second time that the saints will be resurrected and forever be with their Lord.

ii) From the popular passage of John 14:1-3, we obtain another beautiful insight in connection with the time that the saints will be with Christ. The passage in John 14:1-3 reads: "1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 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. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."

From this passage in John 14, Christ Himself makes it clear that the disciples will be with Him in heaven when He comes again the second time. In the meantime, He tells them where He was going, they cannot follow Him, but that they will follow Him later on (John 13:36). They must wait for Him to go and prepare a place for them. After that, He will come back and take them to where He was (John 14:1-3). Thus friends, the disciples of Christ understood that they will be with their Lord in heaven not at the point of death but when He came back the second time (see also 1 Peter 1:3-4; Colossians 1:5).

The apostle Paul summarizes what I'm trying hard to point out with these beautiful words: "20 For our CITIZENSHIP IS IN HEAVEN, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 WHO WILL TRANSFORM OUR LOWLY BODY THAT IT MAY BE CONFORMED TO HIS GLORIOUS BODY, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself" (Philippians 3:20-21; Capital Emphasis Added).

7. WHAT ABOUT THE THIEF ON THE CROSS?

At this point, I believe someone is pondering over the question; What about the account of the thief on the cross as recorded in Luke 23:39-43? Didn't Christ say he was going to be with Him in Paradise that fateful Friday? Beloved, this question in relation to the thief on the cross as found in Luke 23:39-43 has been well answered in our previous presentation captioned: When a person dies, where does he go? In case you are yet to read this study, please do well to request for it from any of our WhatsApp Numbers at the end of the lesson.

8 a) A GOD OF THE LIVING

In answer to a trick question by the Sadducees on the resurrection of the dead (see Luke 20:27-33), Jesus gave very important insights about the nature of God. From Luke 20:34-38, we read the following response from Christ: "20:34 And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage:

20:35 But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:

20:36 Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.

20:37 Now that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.

20:38 For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him."

(Luke 20:34-38)From the passage above, we learn that those who will be accounted worthy to obtain the glorious world to come will first have to be resurrected. This is because our God is not "a God of the dead, but of the living: and that all who dwell in His presence "live unto Him" (Luke 20:38). This passage above clearly helps us to understand that the dead do not reside in the presence of the Lord. Rather, it is the living that do reside in God's presence. The righteous dead rest in their graves to await the glorious resurrection at the second coming of Christ when their corruptible bodies will be changed into incorruptible immortal bodies (1 Corinthians 15:50-55). Friends, it is only after the resurrection that the righteous dead can live in the presence of the living God.

In contrast to the popular teaching that is making rounds in Christendom that the spirits of the righteous dead reside in the presence of God, Scripture actually make it clear that it is the living who reside in the presence of God in heaven. The Bible records the account of some few persons who were given the precious privilege to be taken into heaven ahead of the general provision that God has made for the righteous at the end of time (John 5:28-29; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). The incredible stories about these righteous folk who now reside in heaven provides us with some clear insights in relation to our key passage as recorded in 1 Corinthians 5:1-8. Let us now go to the Bible and consider the stories of these people one after the other:

i) ENOCH"5:21 And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah.

5:22 And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters.

5:23 And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years.

5:24 AND ENOCH WALKED WITH GOD: AND HE WAS NOT; FOR GOD TOOK HIM."

(Genesis 5:21-24; Capital Emphasis Added)"BY FAITH ENOCH WAS TRANSLATED THAT HE SHOULD NOT SEE DEATH; AND WAS NOT FOUND, BECAUSE GOD HAD TRANSLATED HIM: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God" (Hebrews 11:5; Capital Emphasis Added).

Friends, we learn from the books of Genesis and Hebrews that Enoch did not see death, for God took him. Enoch now lives in the presence of God in heaven. It is important for us to note that Enoch was alive before he was taken to heaven.

ii) ELIJAH"2:9 And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.

2:10 And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so.

2:11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; AND ELIJAH WENT UP BY A WHIRLWIND INTO HEAVEN.

2:12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces."

(2 Kings 2:9-12; Capital Emphasis Added)The passage in 2 Kings above clearly indicates that Elijah was also privileged to be taken by God into heaven. He was also alive before being escorted by the chariots of God (angels; see Psalm 68:17) into heaven.

iii) MOSES"34:1 And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is over against Jericho. And the LORD shewed him all the land of Gilead, unto Dan,

34:2 And all Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim, and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah, unto the utmost sea,

34:3 And the south, and the plain of the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, unto Zoar.

34:4 And the LORD said unto him, This is the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, saying, I will give it unto thy seed: I have caused thee to see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not go over thither.

34:5 So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD.

34:6 And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Bethpeor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day.

34:7 And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated."

(Deuteronomy 34:1-7)The passage above clearly indicates that Moses died on the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah. But we come across another passage in Romans that show us that something drastic happened to Moses after his death. From Romans 5:14, we read the following from the apostle Paul: "Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come."

Friends, the text above clearly tells us that the power or victory that death seemed to have over the human race was broken at the death of Moses. Death had reigned right from Adam's time over the children of men. But somehow, death did not reign over the body of Moses because this humble servant of God was resurrected by Christ and taken into the presence of God in heaven.

You might say how do you know this for sure? Well beloved, the Bible gives us further light into the case of Moses. From the book of Jude, we read the following in relation to the death of Moses: "Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee" (Jude 1:9).

Beloved, something unprecedented happened when Moses died. Satan, through the ages had claimed all the dead right from Adam as his captives. He had accused them before the universe as not deserving of life because of the sins they had committed in their lifetime. At the death of Moses, the devil thought he had got another captive. However, Michael (who is actually Jesus Christ; see Revelation 12:7-9; Jude 1:9; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; John 5:28-29) descended from heaven and challenged the devil that not all the dead are actually his. At the spot where Moses lay, Christ made Satan to understand that there were some men and women who like Moses had repented of their sins; they had believed in the atoning sacrifice of the Redeemer to come (Genesis 3:15; Colossians 1:14) - and hence such people among the dead were not to be considered his captives. After Christ had made the devil to understand this important point, He went ahead to raise Moses from the dead. The devil could not do anything about it because Christ, the Creator God (see John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:16) was at work.

8 b) ELIJAH AND MOSES ON THE MOUNT OF TRANSFIGURATION

Friends, there is another proof in Scripture that shows that Elijah and Moses are alive in heaven today. We find this account in the gospels of Luke and Matthew. From Luke 9:28-36, we read the following in relation to the transfiguration of Christ: "9:28 And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.

9:29 And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.

9:30 AND BEHOLD, THERE TALKED WITH HIM TWO MEN, WHICH WERE MOSES AND ELIAS:

9:31 WHO APPEARED IN GLORY, AND SPAKE OF HIS DECEASE WHICH HE SHOULD ACCOMPLISH AT JERUSALEM.

9:32 But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him.

9:33 And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for THEE, and one for MOSES, and one for ELIAS: not knowing what he said.

9:34 While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud.

9:35 And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.

9:36 And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen."

(Luke 9:28-36; Capital Emphasis Added, see also Matthew 17:1-13)Friends, the Scripture details clearly that Moses and Elijah showed up in glory at the transfiguration of Christ. No question, they had come from the heavenly courts to inspire the Son of God to go ahead with His supreme sacrifice for the human race. The verse 31 of Luke 9 reports that Moses and Elijah spoke with Christ concerning His death which He should accomplish at Jerusalem.

Beloved, the destiny of the entire human race was centred on the atoning death of Christ that He should accomplish at Jerusalem. Should the Son of God refuse to go through with His sacrifice, the seed of Adam was doomed to destruction. Moses and Elijah who had been given advance passport to heaven pleaded with Christ on behalf of the human race. Should Christ refuse to go through this sacrifice, even their own stay in heaven was to be cut short. This is because no one enters into the city of God on their own merits but rather on the merits of Christ's sacrifice at Calvary.

On the mount of transfiguration, Elijah and Moses represented the two classes of people who will enter the city of God because of what Christ had done for the human race. Elijah is a figure of all those who will live to see Jesus come the second time. Like Elijah, these saints of God will be translated into heaven without seeing death. Moses on the other hand represents all the saints of God who will be resurrected from the dead, and taken into the city of God in heaven (see Luke 14:13-14; Revelation 20:4-6; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).

Thus friends, when Christ raised Moses from the dead on the mountain of Nebo, He clearly made the devil to understand that through His supreme sacrifice for mankind, all those who believed in Him will one day be resurrected and taken into the city of God just like His servant Moses. Moses, even though experienced death, is one of the few humans who live in the presence of God today. And beloved, it is important for us to note that this humble servant of God was resurrected before entering into the city of God in heaven.

iv) THE RESURRECTED SAINTS"27:50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.

27:51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;

27:52 AND THE GRAVES WERE OPENED; AND MANY BODIES OF THE SAINTS WHICH SLEPT AROSE,

27:53 AND CAME OUT OF THE GRAVES AFTER HIS RESURRECTION, AND WENT INTO THE HOLY CITY, AND APPEARED UNTO MANY."

(Matthew 27:50-53; Capital Emphasis Added)The passage from Matthew 27 above makes it clear that some dead saints were resurrected when the earth quaked at the death of Christ. These saints, we are told came out of their graves after Christ's resurrection on Sunday morning. They went into the Holy City; that is Jerusalem, and showed themselves unto many people. In other words, these resurrected saints, some of whom possibly wrote about the coming Messiah, went into the Holy city and testified that Christ was the Saviour to come and that He had been resurrected from the dead. The Bible provides a clear insight as to what happened to these saints after their resurrection. From Ephesians 4:8, we read the following in relation to the resurrected saints: "That is why the Scriptures say, When he ascended to the heights, he led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to his people" (NLT).

Friends, these saints ascended with Christ into heaven after our Saviour's forty days sojourn here with His disciples. Our Lord took them to heaven to present them to the Father as trophies or first fruits of the great harvest that will accompany Him later on into the city of God as a result of His sacrifice for mankind. It is important to once again note that these saints who accompanied Christ to heaven were resurrected before they could ascend with the Lord into the city of the living God.

Beloved, the above examples all go a long way to prove the point that it is only the living that dwell in the presence of God. Christ rightly stated that our God is not a God of the dead, but of the living (Luke 20:38). It is only the living that dwell in His presence. Just like David, the righteous dead has not ascended up into heaven yet (see Acts 2:29, 34). They rest in their graves awaiting the glorious resurrection to come at the second coming of Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:16).

9. At this point in our study, an important question that begs for an answer is this: "How do we reconcile Christ's words in John 3:13 with the biblical fact that Enoch, Elijah and Moses have actually been taken to heaven by God?"

The apostle John records Christ's words in John 3:13 as follows: "And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven" (John 3:13). For us to understand certain difficult verses of Scripture such as the one in John 3:13, it is important for us to consider the entire passage in which the difficult text is positioned. In relation to this controversial verse in John 3:13, a consideration of the key passage of John 3:11-13 is paramount for a complete understanding of the verse. The passage of John 3:11-13 reads: "3:11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.

3:12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?

3:13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven."

(John 3:11-13) A careful examination of the passage above brings out a clear meaning of the text in John 3:13. In the verses 11 and 12, Jesus' point is that besides earthly things, He can also testify to Nicodemus about heavenly things that He Himself knows, and have seen. For He (Christ) is the only 'man' who has been in heaven, and come down to our earth, and so can tell mankind of heavenly things (see John 3:13; John 6:38, 51).

You see friends, even though Enoch, Elijah and Moses were taken to heaven by God (review Genesis 5:21-24; Hebrews 11:5; 2 Kings 2:9-11; Deuteronomy 34:1-7; Romans 5:14; Jude 1:9), there are no scriptural accounts that tell us that they returned to fraternise with mankind, and in so doing revealed unto them the heavenly things they have seen. When Elijah and Moses returned to earth from heaven, they only had the purpose to encourage Christ to go through with His sacrificial death for mankind (Matthew 17:1-8; Luke 9:27-36). Thus, the passage of John 3:11-13 can refer to only Christ who had experienced heaven, and descended from there to our planet as Saviour of the world (John 3:16), and hence can tell us of heavenly things. From the explanation above, it is clear that the text of John 3:13 does not teach that besides Jesus, no one else has been taken to heaven. In fact, the explanation we have gone through so far synchronises with our understanding of the already established scriptural point concerning the recent abode of Enoch, Elijah and Moses as being in the courts of heaven.

10. Friends, from what we have studied so far from the Bible, it is clear that the popular teaching that the spirits of the righteous dead go to reside in the presence of the Lord in paradise or heaven is not based on the Bible. It is clear that the texts in 2 Corinthians 5:8 and Philippians 1:23 has been grossly misinterpreted in several quarters in Christendom. It is my sincere prayer that the Lord will continue to shed more light on His word as we diligently seek after His truth.

Exhortation: From Paul’s first epistle to the Corinthians, we read the following clear words in relation to the resurrection of the dead: "15:12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?

15:13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:

15:14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.

15:15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.

15:16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:

15:17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.

15:18 THEN THEY ALSO WHICH ARE FALLEN ASLEEP IN CHRIST ARE PERISHED.

15:19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable."

(1 Corinthians 15:12-19; Capital Emphasis Added)

Thought Question: How can Paul refer to the righteous dead as perished if they were actually with Christ in Paradise?

In our next study, we will consider the topic: "by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison": An exposition on Peter's words in 1 Peter 3:19 . The Bible Study references for this study are 1 Peter 3:18-21, Isaiah 42:1-7, Isaiah 61:1-2, Luke 4:18-19, Isaiah 14:12-17, 1 John 3:8, John 10:10 and Romans 8:10-11. Please do well to go through these passages before the next study is released.

Stay blessed and keep shining for King Jesus.

Maranatha!

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