Pastor Steve, in our reading today Paul talks about how the dead in Christ will rise and meet Jesus together with us, and II Cor 5:8 says when we're absent from the body we're present with the Lord.  I'm confused about what really happens when we who know the Lord die, and it's really important to me to know what the Bible says about this because of some family situations.  If you could write about that sometime, it would really help me and maybe some other folks are wondering too?  Oh, and happy belated birthday!  We love you!

P. Steve says:
Thanks for the question Cindy!
When the Bible talks about "the dead in Christ" rising first, the bodies of those who have died will rise along with us in the rapture of the Church, but their spirits are not in their bodies like ours are, their spirits left their bodies and went to be with the Lord when they expired.  So you could say that their spirits are "re-united" with their bodies at the rapture, then changed in the same manner that we are. 

The Scripture that tells us this is 1 Thess. 4:13-14:  "But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as those who have no hope.  for if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus."

And all in the twinkling of an eye!

Of course, the next question is, "What about those who have no bodies on this earth?  Whose bodies and bones have been burned up, decayed, or destroyed?"  I don't know the answer to that.  Since all of the molecules that made up their bodies are still here in some form, God can reconstruct them if He wants to.  I'm not saying that He will do it that way, but I'm sure God has a plan!

Comments

[Cindy Rice]

Pastor Steve, thank you so much for taking the time to answer this - it really helps!!