>>Announcer: It has
stood the test of time.
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God's book, The Bible
00:00:14.96\00:00:18.10
Still relevant in
today's complex world
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It Is Written
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Sharing messages of
hope around the world!
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>>Chris: There is no doubt that
the Bible clearly teaches that
00:00:42.23\00:00:46.00
heaven is a real place. The
question that many have is when
do we get to go to heaven.
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Some say that it happens
immediately after we die, others
say that there is a
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waiting time in purgatory, and
others say that it happens when
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Jesus comes again. When is it
that we get to go to heaven. I'd
like for us to go on a
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little journey today. I'd like
us to go to ancient Egypt, there
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in ancient Egypt we may discover
the secret to immortal life and
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when we will go to heaven. Why
to Egypt? In ancient Egyptian
culture and religion, the
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afterlife was very important.
In fact some of the greatest
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monuments and treasures found in
Egypt have been in regard to the
after-life. As we travel
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back to ancient Egypt and visit
some of those tombs, we would
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find coffins nested one inside
another. The innermost coffin
would contain the embalmed body
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of the deceased. The embalming
process involved removing all
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the body's fluids, often all of
the organs except the heart and
then wrapping the body
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and included in that wrap would
be placed the Book of the Dead.
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Now the book of the dead would
not have been a book like we
think of today.a bound book, but
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rather it would have been likely
on a papyrus scroll. The book of
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the dead was in the Egyptian
mind, inscriptions to guard and
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protect the spirit of the dead.
As Egyptologists have worked to
decipher the book, they
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have found a ceremony called
the weighing of the heart. The
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weighing of the heart was an act
performed by the gods of
weighing the heart to determine
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a person's destiny. Friend
aren't you glad that Jesus
doesn't work that way. His
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grace is freely received and
can save us to the uttermost. He
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doesn't measure whether we done
600 hundred good deeds, but then
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finds 601 bad deeds and banishes
us. No, Jesus stands for us and
as long as we given our life
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to Him, He will save us.
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During the Egyptian process of
preparing a body. At the end of
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that process the deceased's
mouth would be opened so the
would again be able to
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eat, breath, drink and speak.
The Egyptians didn't believe
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death was the end, they believed
in an after life. In fact the
first century history,
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Herodotus in his book
The Histories, said this,
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And it is here that we begin to
see that an understanding about
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what happens at death and when
we go to heaven is such an
important topic. What we
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begin to see emerge are really
two lines of thinking. You have
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the pagan doctrine of
immortality conceived by the
Egyptians and handed
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down to the Greeks, which would
become known as Greek dualism
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and then what the Bible teaches
about immortality and the
afterlife. Two streams:
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man's thoughts and ideas then
God' true principles. The
question is which will
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we believe and follow? So what
happens when we die and when do
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we get to go to heaven? The only
reliable answer on this topic is
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found in God's word.
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So where do we start? The only
logical answer is at the
beginning. In fact,
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the only way to understand what
happens to a person when they
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die, is to know first
how life begins. Genesis 2:7,
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Notice the simple formula that
is used here. God took the dust
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of the ground, He breathed into
his nostrils the breath of life
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and man became a living soul.
Notice that man doesn't have a
soul but rather he is a soul.
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The equation is not that
complicated.dust plus spirit
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equals a living soul. Or even
more simply, the elements of the
earth, plus the breath of God
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equals a living being. The soul
is not some separate conscious
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entity, but rather is the being.
So the word soul could be simply
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said to be a person. Some say
that the soul is immortal.
However from a Biblical point of
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view, that is not the case.
A soul is a person. In fact
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Ezekiel 18:4 is quite clear,
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The soul is not an immortal
entity. It is the person and a
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person can die. In fact some of
the more modern versions of the
Bible state that the
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person who sins shall die. In
the Bible 'soul' is used in one
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of two ways. If the Bible is
talking about soul as the
product of body and spirit
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together-God formed man out
of the dust of the ground; God
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breathed into his nostrils the
breath of life-he's a living
soul, he's a living person, a
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living being.If the Bible talks
about the soul as something I
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am, it's always, 'I am a living
person'. Secondly, if the Bible
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talks about the souls as
something I have, it's always
'life' or the very essence and
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core of who I am. We have a soul
in the sense that we have life.
But the soul is not
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immortal. In fact none of us are
inherently immortal. 1 Timothy
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6:15 states clearly,
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It is God alone who has
immortality no one else. In fact
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the Bible uses the word soul
over 1500 times and never once
is it in reference used in the
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context of an immortal soul.
Notice how Jesus himself uses
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the word soul. In Matthew
16:24-26, Jesus says these
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words, Notice how Jesus uses the
word life and soul
interchangeably. Soul is
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never immortal in the Bible.
It is a description of the very
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life of an individual but not
some separate immortal entity.
Job 4:17 is clear when it
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say that,
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Man is called mortal, not
immortal. In fact Romans 2:7
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tell us this certainty,
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Please take note that the
scripture is clear that we seek
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immortality. Why would we need
to seek it, if we already
possessed it? It is because we
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are not naturally immortal.
1 Corinthians 15 tells us that
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some day that will
happen in verse 51-54,
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Again friend, listen to the
words of scripture, we must
obtain immortal life.
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When does the Bible say
that it will happen? At the last
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trumpet. When is that trumpet
blown? 1 Thessalonians 4 leaves
little doubt in our mind
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as to when this event will take
place - at the second coming of
00:12:05.93\00:12:13.23
Jesus. The Bible is clear
friends, immortality is not
granted to humanity until the
00:12:13.23\00:12:18.70
second coming of Jesus. The
Father, Son and Holy Spirit are
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alone in their possession of
eternal life. It is not granted
to us until the second
00:12:24.66\00:12:31.13
coming.
00:12:31.13\00:12:33.93
You see pagan and Greek dualism
has entered the church and
00:12:34.86\00:12:39.60
brought with it the false
teaching that the body and soul
are separate entities and that
00:12:39.60\00:12:43.93
the soul exists eternally.
No, the Bible clearly delineates
00:12:43.93\00:12:51.06
that we are a soul or a living
being and very mortal. Listen to
these words of Strabo, an
00:12:51.06\00:12:58.26
ancient Greek historian
and philosopher, speaking about
00:12:58.26\00:13:04.80
Christians in
his book Geographica,
00:13:04.80\00:13:07.20
Early Christian writer,
Justin Martyr, who was just one
00:13:18.76\00:13:24.23
generation after the
disciples said these words,
00:13:24.23\00:13:27.73
Justin Martyr has strong words
about an error that entered the
00:13:53.43\00:13:58.73
church in the early days. He
himself is demonstrating the
Biblical understanding that a
00:13:58.73\00:14:04.83
soul is a living person and a
person is mortal and shall die.
00:14:04.83\00:14:12.23
So if the Christian church did
not teach that a person would be
00:14:13.43\00:14:18.70
taken immediately to heaven
after death, what does the Bible
00:14:18.70\00:14:24.73
teach about death. What we will
find is that the Bible teaches
that death is simply an
00:14:24.73\00:14:30.63
unconscious sleep waiting for
the return of Jesus. Friend and
00:14:30.63\00:14:37.90
student of the Bible, death
is merely creation in reverse.
00:14:37.90\00:14:52.03
Ecclesiastes 12:7
describes what happens,
00:14:52.03\00:14:55.83
Death is the cessation of life
and entering into an unconscious
00:15:09.00\00:15:16.66
sleep awaiting the return of
Jesus. In ancient Hebrew the
word for spirit and the word
00:15:16.66\00:15:21.83
for breath are the same. It
is the Hebrew word Ruach. The
00:15:21.83\00:15:27.93
spirit or breath is simply a
reference to God's life giving
00:15:27.93\00:15:35.46
power. When we die that power is
returned to Him and there is a
ceasing of existence, until
00:15:35.46\00:15:42.00
Jesus comes again. Notice in Job
27:3 that the words spirit and
00:15:42.00\00:15:51.03
breath are used interchangeably
in the King James Version as
well as other versions,
00:15:51.03\00:15:58.86
This interchangeable use
demonstrates that the spirit or
00:16:06.50\00:16:11.16
breath is the life-giving power
of God. We can't live without
it. James 2:26 says,
00:16:11.16\00:16:27.40
There is no in between state, no
spirit life. Once we die, we are
00:16:35.80\00:16:43.63
dead awaiting the
wake up call of Jesus.
00:16:43.63\00:16:47.30
It is comparable to a box. What
do you need to do to build a
00:16:48.20\00:16:54.40
box? Well, you'll need some
boards and you'll need some
screws. The formula and plan for
00:16:54.40\00:16:59.00
building a box is rather easy,
boards plus screws equals a box.
00:16:59.00\00:17:07.36
Take away the screws - you have
boards; take away the boards and
00:17:07.36\00:17:11.86
you have screws. Without both
components the box simply ceases
00:17:11.86\00:17:22.23
to exist. When we die. We rest.
We're not a living being
anymore. We no longer have life.
00:17:22.23\00:17:27.73
It's like resting in the arms of
Jesus for a believer. It's
resting secure in His
00:17:27.73\00:17:32.53
love. There is no conscious
thought processes until the day
00:17:32.53\00:17:37.96
that Jesus comes and in a
moment, in a twinkling of an eye
00:17:37.96\00:17:43.70
Jesus comes and we're
resurrected from the dead. Psalm
00:17:43.70\00:17:56.70
146:4 says, When a person dies
they are sleeping. Their
thoughts perish. There's
00:18:06.00\00:18:10.80
no conscious existence there.
Ecclesiastes 9:5-6 offer further
00:18:10.80\00:18:25.73
insight, The dead know nothing.
Their thoughts stop, their
emotions stop. Why?
00:18:47.73\00:18:52.93
Because death is a
sleep. As sleep where we wait,
00:18:52.93\00:19:00.46
unconsciously for Jesus.Thank
God, friends, that your dead
loved ones do not see have to
00:19:00.46\00:19:09.20
see the sorrows of life. Your
loved one that died of cancer no
00:19:09.20\00:19:13.80
longer suffers but they are
sleeping, resting until the
glorious day of the resurrection
00:19:13.80\00:19:19.76
that Jesus comes. But we can be
thankful that death is not the
00:19:19.76\00:19:27.16
end. You will again see that
husband that died in Jesus. You
will again see that wife
00:19:27.16\00:19:31.73
that died in Jesus. You can
see that son that died in Jesus.
00:19:31.73\00:19:38.60
Jesus Christ is coming
again. They'll be a powerful
00:19:39.53\00:19:45.70
resurrection that day and they
will be raised from the dead, if
they've been believers and
00:19:45.70\00:19:51.83
followers of Jesus, with
immortal bodies. We who are
alive will receive the
00:19:51.83\00:20:01.46
immortal bodies and caught
up together with them to meet
00:20:01.46\00:20:07.26
Christ in the air. Death is but
a sleep. David called it a sleep
00:20:07.26\00:20:21.36
in Psalm 13:3, Friends the Bible
is clear that death is a
peaceful sleep awaiting Jesus.
00:20:30.70\00:20:39.20
Psalm 115:17 says,
00:20:39.20\00:20:44.96
Death is a sleep awaiting that
last trumpet of God - the second
00:21:08.16\00:21:13.36
coming of Jesus when this mortal
will put on immortality and we
will be with Jesus forever.
00:21:13.36\00:21:20.60
Friend, I know that today's
topic may have been new to you.
00:21:20.60\00:21:24.43
It may be unsettling. But I
encourage you to study your
Bible on this topic
00:21:24.43\00:21:29.13
and draw near to Jesus. Ask the
Holy Spirit for guidance. I know
00:21:29.13\00:21:34.06
there are questions, what about
the thief on the cross, what
about Lazarus, and what
00:21:34.06\00:21:38.43
about those who say they have
had near death experiences. We
00:21:38.43\00:21:43.33
will answer all those questions
and more in the coming weeks
00:21:43.33\00:21:48.66
programs. In the meantime, let
us be thankful to Jesus that in
His mercy and in His
00:21:48.66\00:21:53.60
grace, He came to save us. Let
us be thankful that while death
00:21:53.60\00:21:58.43
is like a sleep - it isn't
forever. It isn't like the
atheist says that it is simply a
00:21:58.43\00:22:06.83
time of nothingness never to
exist again. No death is a
temporary pause. It
00:22:06.83\00:22:12.43
is a pause that only Jesus can
release. It is because He is our
00:22:12.43\00:22:19.80
Wonderful and Merciful
Savior that he came to save us.
00:22:19.80\00:22:24.66
Wonderful, merciful Saviour
00:22:27.86\00:22:33.36
Precious Redeemer and Friend
00:22:33.56\00:22:39.53
Who would've
thought that a lamb could
00:22:39.86\00:22:45.93
Rescue the souls of men?
00:22:46.13\00:22:50.83
Oh, you rescue the souls of men.
00:22:51.13\00:22:59.40
Counsellor, Comforter, Keeper
00:23:02.60\00:23:08.00
Spirit we long to embrace
00:23:08.30\00:23:14.33
You offer hope
when our hearts have
00:23:14.60\00:23:20.70
Hopelessly lost our way
00:23:20.93\00:23:25.53
Oh, we've
hopelessly lost our way.
00:23:25.80\00:23:32.56
You are the One that we praise
00:23:34.16\00:23:39.56
You are the One we adore
00:23:40.00\00:23:45.56
You give the healing and grace
00:23:45.56\00:23:50.36
Our hearts always hunger for
00:23:50.70\00:23:55.86
Oh, our hearts
always hunger for.
00:23:56.10\00:24:03.70
Almighty, infinite Father
00:24:40.93\00:24:46.16
Faithfully loving your own
00:24:46.50\00:24:52.36
Here in our weakness you find us
00:24:52.70\00:24:59.10
Falling before your throne
00:24:59.63\00:25:03.86
Oh, we're falling
before your throne
00:25:04.26\00:25:11.66
You are the One that we praise
00:25:12.33\00:25:18.13
You are the One we adore
00:25:18.50\00:25:24.13
You give the healing and grace
00:25:24.46\00:25:30.46
Our hearts always hunger for
00:25:30.93\00:25:35.83
Oh, our hearts
always hunger for.
00:25:36.26\00:25:42.93
You are the One that we praise
00:25:43.80\00:25:49.66
You are the One we adore
00:25:50.03\00:25:55.60
You give the healing and grace
00:25:56.23\00:26:00.63
Our hearts always hunger for
00:26:01.16\00:26:07.13
Oh, our hearts
always hunger for.
00:26:07.43\00:26:19.83
>>Chris: Friend, the subject of
heaven is vital because we want
00:26:30.26\00:26:33.60
to be there. Part of
understanding that subject is
00:26:33.60\00:26:37.13
understanding what happens when
we die. As a resource to help
you build your spiritual
00:26:37.13\00:26:42.13
library, I want to offer today
to you the special edition Signs
of the Times magazine that
00:26:42.13\00:26:47.70
is called "What happens when you
die?" There, you'll find more
00:26:47.70\00:26:52.83
information than we covered
today in the program, and it
00:26:52.83\00:26:55.96
will certainly help you
understand this topic
thoroughly. Here's the
00:26:55.96\00:26:59.86
information that you
need to get today's offer.
00:26:59.86\00:27:04.36
Friend, I know that
today's program is a challenging
00:27:53.23\00:27:58.00
program, but it is exciting to
know that Jesus loves us, Jesus
takes care of us, and
00:27:58.00\00:28:03.80
Jesus is coming soon to take us
home. I want to invite you to go
00:28:03.80\00:28:07.96
to our website,
itiswrittencanada.ca and there
00:28:07.96\00:28:12.03
you'll find more resources to
help you grow in your
relationship with Jesus. You can
00:28:12.03\00:28:16.86
also go to
youtube.com/iiw.canada and there
you can find archived programs.
00:28:16.86\00:28:24.70
I hope you'll join us next week.
Until then, it is written, "Man
00:28:24.70\00:28:30.20
shall not live by bre alone, but
by every word that proceeds from
00:28:30.20\00:28:34.90
the mouth of
God." $$$$$$$$$$$$$$
00:28:37.30\00:28:39.76
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
00:28:57.46\00:28:58.46