She's in a better place, my son . . .

A few months ago, I attended the funeral of a friend's grandmother. The Methodist minister, comforting my friend's parents, told them that "She's in a better place now. She's with Jesus."

Not according to my Bible!

Being at a funeral, I determined it was not an appropriate time to witness God's Truth to the minister (I'll call him Pastor Feelgood, for reasons soon to become apparent). Rather, I resolved to speak with him privately on the matter.

When I, not a member of the church, called to say that I wanted to discuss part of the minister's service, he was more than accommodating. I wonder if he saw a possibility to share discussion of God, or perhaps add to the collection plate? Either way, I agreed to meet him at the church and chat.

"What can I do for you?" Pastor Feelgood leaned forward in his chair, eager to offer guidance.

"A comment you made in the service, and which you repeated to [my friend's parents], caught my attention. I'm just hoping to explore some of your ideas a little further."

His brow furrowed as he wondered what he could have said that was controversial. "What comment was that?"

"You said that [my friend's grandmother] was with Jesus now, and in a better place. That's not what the Bible says, so I'm curious where you got that idea."

He hesitated, then asked, "What do you think the Bible says, exactly?"

I informed him that the Bible clearly states that the dead are dead, and do not have consciousness, until the Resurrection at the Day of Judgment. At that point, the saints -- that is, the faithful, not man-made Catholic "saints" -- would be resurrected in the first Resurrection, into glory and eternal service of God. Everyone else, in the second Resurrection, would be resurrected into judgment and be cast into the lake of fire. I laid out this position as follows:

Revelation 20: 4-5

I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection.

Followed by the second resurrection:

Revelation 20: 12-13

And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done.

This in no way suggests that there were any dead in Heaven, does it? They couldn't be in Heaven, as they'd not yet been judged.

Lest John not be an adequate source for you -- some have decided that Revelation is not really the Word of God, but a political screed, but that's another discussion -- let's listen to Paul describing his own beliefs:

Acts 24: 14-15

But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.

A resurrection of the dead, not a continuation of life in other than bodily form. In order to be resurrected, one must first be dead.

Daniel prophesies in Daniel 12:1-2

And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

This indicates to me that the dead will remain dead (sleeping) until they are resurrected at Judgment. Daniel states that some will awake to everlasting life; this clearly demonstrates that most or all of the dead who will enter Heaven will be in the ground for many years beforehand.

Additionally, more of Paul:

1 Corinthians 15:50-54

I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."

This describes both the "Rapture" and the Resurrection. Paul is saying that those who are still alive and faithful will not die but will change; but also indicates that the dead are currently dead, unraised.

II Corinthians 5:10 states, quite clearly,

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that everyone may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

We must be judged. Judgment comes after Resurrection. Resurrection happens en masse.

Finally, Ecclesiastes 9:5,

For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.

I asked Pastor Feelgood how, given what Scripture states, he could in good conscience tell [my friend's parents] that [my friend's grandmother] was presently in Heaven with Jesus. He fumbled about for a bit, but eventually came to the truth: "It eases their pain."

I'm personally appalled and disgusted that ministers lie daily at funerals, convincing people that their loved ones are up "with Jesus" (when, let's face it, only God knows what was in the deceased's heart, and where he or she will really end up) when they know better. Lies like this encourages belief in all manner of occult nonsense, like ghosts and Ouija boards . . . all wonderful opportunities for Satan to play tricks with our gullible minds!

This incident got me counting the many other things ministers routinely lie about . . . There is much about which to blog, let me tell you!

What are your thoughts on life after death? Do we go to our eternal reward immediately, as the Pastors Feelgood of the world would have us believe? Or do we remain dead in the ground until Judgment Day and the Resurrection, as the Bible so clearly indicates?

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