And so it is written, "The first man Adam became a living being (psyche)...
In the New Testament, the Greek word or equivalent for "nephesh" is the word "psyche". It means life, being or a breathing person. Psyche is translated as "life" (41 times) as well as "soul. However, not once does the New Testament use the word "psyche" to speak of eternal life. We frequently read about eternal or immortal life from another Greek word "Zoe", but never of eternal or immortal "psyche".
Biblical Evidence #8: James 2:26
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead.
The Greek word used there is the word “pnuema” which is similar in meaning to the Hebrew word “ruach” and “nephesh”. It is used here to mean breath of life and it is also used to describe the Spirit of God, a person’s mood or disposition, spirituality, thoughts etc. It is a description of the whole, living person.
9 When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” Rev 6:9-10
Can you imagine souls under the altar and not around it? John is speaking figuratively. Those who were martyr for Jesus will be vindicated by God.
He said today. It won't be yesterday or tomorrow. It's "today you will be with me in Paradise." And the first person that Jesus greeted in Paradise, I believe, was that thief.”
There is a problem here: Jesus did not go to heaven that same day. He went after he rose from the grave. How could the thief have gone to heaven with Jesus that day when Jesus did not go to heaven until three days after?
“Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.” Jn 20:17.
The original biblical manuscripts did not have punctuation marks. They were added later. The comma in this text was missed placed. As well as in the following text;
“So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.” Act 19:12.
There is no such thing as a sick handkerchief. The comma should have been place after the word sick.
Given the clear evidence from scripture regarding death as a sleep, and Jesus going to heaven after his resurrection, the comma should be place after the word today and not before. Thus the scripture should read; “And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee Today, shalt thou be with me in paradise.” Lk 23:43
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The bible says that when Christ left the cross he went into the bowels of the earth, and he introduced himself as the conqueror from the cross. And then he let go all those who were in captivity. All the OT souls into the paradise of God.
John Hagee
Sermon entitled: “He Lives”
18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, 19 by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison 20 who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, 21and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge[b] of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22who has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him. 1 Peter 3:18-22
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So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. 9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. 1Cor 5:6-9.
Paul is comparing the earthly house (body) to the body that God has prepared for us in heaven. And is point is to share that the former is temporal while the latter is eternal. And thus he has a longing for the time when morality would be swallowed up in life. He was a longing for the day when it’s a reality. Then he begins to share two facts: While on earth we are absent from the Lord (or not in heaven) but during this time we live by faith, believing though we were in heavenly places.
But he far more prefer the real deal. Which is not to be on earth with the mortal corruptible body. But to be in heaven with the Lord in the eternal incorruptible body.
There is no mention of any instantaneous transition between the two. Nor is there any mention or hint of the passage of a spirit from earth to heaven upon death. The only thing Paul mentioned taking place between the two contrast states is the believer walking by faith. The instantaneous transition he says will take place at the resurrection, when the dead in Christ shall arise and those that are alive will meet Him at His glorious appearing in the air.
21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. 24 Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. Phil 1:21-24.
Paul is not referring to any instantaneous transition from death to being with Christ. In fact to him death is like sleep where the believer is not aware of the passage of time so the next face he would see is the Face of Christ. Yet he is again longing for heaven and to be with Christ. He values ministry, but he prefers being with Christ. He cannot wait for it to be all done and over with.
13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words. 1Thess 4:13-18.
I am not concerned about being put into a casket and then into a grave. No one will ever shovel dirt on my face. I am not going to be in the grave. You say ah, he is going to be, buried at sea. No. I am not going to be, Oh My body will be in one. But when people are perhaps gathered around the open hole in the ground and perhaps a few tears are shed. I will be looking down from paradise. I will be more alive than I’ve ever been alive in my life. Not only am I never going to be in a grave or a casket. This may startle some of you. But I, am never going to die. And if you are planning to die I really feel sorry for you. How can you say that? Jesus Christ said it. He said “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he may die, he shall still. 26 And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. I live, I believe in him, I will never die. Sorry about you.
Dr. D. James Kennedy
Sermon entitled:
“Is there really life after death?”
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23 Jesus said to her, Your brother will live again. 24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he may die, he shall still. 26 And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this? John 11:23-26.
Those who are dead in Christ when Jesus comes back on the resurrection at the last day, will be raised to life. There will also be believers on that day who will be alive and they will be changed and translated to meet the those who were raised in the air. In this way those who are alive when Jesus comes back will never die.
Many uses this text to teach that vs. 14 is saying that Jesus will bring back the souls of those believers who died back to earth with him on the day of resurrection. And that at this time he will reunite their soul with their body.
By using the words “even so”, Paul is assuring those who are alive that they will be raised from the dead just like Jesus was raised. Then the next event after the resurrection is their ascension into heaven, depicted by God bringing them with Jesus into heaven, not from heaven. No mention of any unification of the soul with the body, but simply a raising of the body.
Furthermore, in vs. 15-18, Paul expanded on the events surrounding the resurrection, and the biblical evidence clearly outlines that the dead in Christ will be raised first and those who are alive will be translated and together they will meet Jesus in the air .
It was by the same Spirit (Holy Spirit) who raised Jesus from the dead he spoke to the people during the days of Noah who were entrapped in evil. It was by the same Spirit he spoke leading people to freedom from spiritual bondage. 18 “ The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me...To proclaim liberty to the captives.” Luke 4: 18. No mention of Jesus going to hell after he died to preach to spirits in prison.
Jesus is saying, I am making a promise to you now. You shall be with me in paradise. And then after Jesus died he rest in the grave during the Sabbath period, as if asleep.
25 He who loves his life (psyche) will lose it, and he who hates his life (psyche) in this world will keep it for eternal life. John 12:25.
The continuity between the present and the future life is guaranteed, by the faithfulness of God who gives eternal life to believers.
28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Matt 28:10.
The soul (psyche) that cannot be killed is the eternal life or the continuity of life guaranteed or promised to the believer at the resurrection. Death is only temporary. However, God can make a person non-existent forever. The life is gone, as well as the body forever.
