I Introduction
A Before the resurrection of Jesus, where did the souls of those who believed in the God of Israel (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, etc.) go after they died?
1 When people died under the Old Covenant of the Law, the Bible describes as “gave up the ghost” and were “gathered unto his people.” (Gen. 25.8, 17, KJV; 35.29 KJV).
a “Giving up the ghost” is a phrase used to describe when the soul & spirit depart from the body.
b These Old Covenant saints were then ushered into a place where there people were already. Paradise.
2 Luke 16, tells us that prior to the resurrection of Christ the souls/spirits of all people (righteous & unrighteous) were carried into the Sheol compartment under the earth.
a Righteous in one section, unrighteous in another, separated by a “great gulf”, chasma (chasim).
b Read Luke 16, there are some startling facts about hell.
aa When Lazarus died, angles carried him to paradise to be w/ Abraham (supposedly others too) the rich man died & went to hell (lonely).
bb Hell & Heaven are separated & no one can cross the gap.
cc The Rich man & Abraham reasoned, communicated, and maintained their identities from earth. (As did Lazarus)
dd They had physical forms. (Rich man had a tongue, thirsty; Lazarus had a finger & water was available in paradise.)
ee The rich man remembers his lost brothers . . . possibly sees them. “Send Lazarus!” (Consciousness after death, clear memory of Earth/people.)
c There are numerous debates on these text, but undoubtably Jesus wants us to picture people in the afterlife as real humans, with thoughts & capacities (maybe w/ bodies)
aa All those thoughts can be suggested in Scripture directly or indirectly but none as graphically or memorably as Luke 16.19-31.
bb When people die on earth they go to one of two real places: Heaven or Hell.
d When Jesus told us this story, it was before the resurrection and souls who had faith in God we’re sent to paradise.
B After Jesus’ resurrection they were transferred from under the earth to a new location in heaven.
1 On the cross, one thief received Jesus as Savior by asking Him to remember him when He entered His kingdom, “Today you will be with me in Paradise” (Luke 23.43).
a When Jesus died on Calvary, the synoptic gospels tells us He cried out “It is finished,” and He “gave up the ghost” (Mark 15.37; Luke 23.46; John 19.30 KJV).
b Jesus spirit/soul departed His body & descended under the earth, chambers under the earth & preached!
aa Ephesians 4.9-10; 1 Peter 3.18-19.
bb I believe He preached to righteous souls in Paradise of God’s redemptive plan and reveled what He had accomplished on Earth.
cc Jesus may have said, “Do you want another testimony?” He then points to the repentant thief who died next to him, “Here is an eye witness who saw the whole thing!”
c The proof was what occurred the morning Jesus rose from the dead.
aa Matt. 27.51-53
bb The spirit/soul joined their bodies (how many, which ones is not known), but went into Jerusalem & were seen by the population.
cc These weren’t resurrected glorified bodies, live on w/o dying & still be with us.
2 What about their resurrection, rapture. (Before we can get around to where we’re going, loved ones are, we need to find out about those before Calvary. IF GOD DIDN’T FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THEM, MAYBE HE’LL NOT FOLLOW THROUGH WITH US!
C Christ died on Passover, buried during Unleavened Bread, and rose on the first day after the Sabboth, started feast of First Fruits.
1 1 Cor. 15.20
a “Those who have fallen asleep” would refer to the O.T. saints.
aa During First Fruits, the Holy Priest marks the first ripened barely in the field, he presents the first fruits @ the temple along w/ a lamb (Lev. 23.10-12).
bb Offering the first fruits makes the remaining field holy before God.
b On resurrection morning, Mary Magdalene, came to Jesus’ tomb. John 20.17-19.
aa Jesus was about to ascend to heaven, just got out hell/Sheol. Why?
bb Hebrews 9.23-24; 9.11-12
cc First, to purify the Temple heaven, Lucifer’s rebellion in ages past had defiled the heavenly Temple.
dd Secondly, to allow the souls/spirits of those who died in the Old Covenant (3,500 years between Adam & the Cross) to have a new resting place away from the compartments under the earth.
2 Some think right after Jesus sprinkled His blood in the heavenly Temple the righteous spirits/souls in Sheol assended to heaven.
a Acts 1.9 “cloud received Him”. We think white/fluffy cloud.
aa Hebrews 12.1 the same word “cloud” is a witness of souls (Enoch, Abel, Noah, Abraham, Jacob from Heb. 11)
bb It’s possible, when Christ ascended to sit @ the Father’s right hand (Heb. 12.2), He was joined w/ a great cloud of saints whom He brought out of the earth only 50 days prior!
b Now, when the righteous pass away, their souls/spirits are separated from their body by angels of the Lord, and are carried instantly into heaven, an intermediate heaven.
aa Next Sunday, we’ll talk about what heaven right now looks like, and what heaven/New Earth will look like after the Thousand Year reign is over.
bb Why it’s essential for God to redeem the earth!
D What will life be like in heaven? What are they doing there right now? Revelation 6.9-11, tells us volumes if we really read it!
1 Unless this one group of martyrs is particularly special, and I see no such indication, the we should assume that what we observe is true of them is also true of loved ones already there, and will be true of us when we die.
a Souls (psuche) doesn’t usually mean disembodied spirits, but rather the whole person!
aa (IL.) 1,200 Souls Lost TITANIC
bb Rev. 12.11 “lives” psuche
cc No distinction b’twn corporeal or noncorpereal.
b Die on earth, relocated in heaven (v.9)
c You will be you in heaven. (Heb. 12.23)
aa Thy died for Christ & earth & it’s remembered.
bb People in heaven are rem. for their lives here.
cc They remembered their lives on earth. (Killed)
d “They called out” (v.10)
aa Able to express themselves audibly, Mouth? Tongue? Vocal chords?
bb Loud! Express emotion? Like people on earth.
cc They ask God questions. (Not all knowing.)
dd God answers them! Just a bit longer...answer!
e They are aware of what the situation is on earth.
aa When will judge? (Very concerned about justice/retribution)
bb Their executioners are still unpunished, when are you going to make it right, God?
cc They are UNION! (V.11) They see us here as fellow servants/brethren continuing the ministry they died doing.
dd They are acting in solidarity with, and in effect interceding for suffering saints on Earth. (Maybe they see & pray for us now.)
II There are at least 3 very interesting questions from Rev. 6.
A Do people in heaven remember earth?
1 The martyrs clearly remembered stuff (killed)
a Luke 16.25, In heaven you’re given comfort for what you’ve endured, if you can’t remember you can’t be.
b 2 Cor. 5.10; Matt 12.36, Account. If you can’t remember, can’t give account.
2 When you die, you’re hard drive isn’t erased. (Personality)
B Do they see what is happening on Earth?
1 The martyrs were aware that their punishers were yet unpunished. . . so to some extent, yes. They could see.
a Rev. 18.20, Angels see Babylon fall; Rev. 19.1-5, multitudes rejoice as God’s judgement poured.
b Heaven is rooting for God & earth is centercourt!
aa America is @ war Afghanistan/Iraq, we pay attention.
bb Heaven is at war w/ enemy, they watch!
c People on earth may be ignorant of heaven, but heaven is not ignorant of earth.
2 Luke 15.7,10 (Not rejoice by angels, but in their presence)
a They see sinners getting saved!
b Leads us into the last question.
C Can it be heaven if they are aware of anything bad on earth?
1 Rev. 21.4, After the end of the old earth, GWTJ, New Earth/Eternal . . . no more tears.
a intermidiate heaven & eternal home are not the same, & scripture doesn’t state that there can be no sorrow there (intermediate heaven).
b God knows everything about earth, people, & it doesn’t diminish heaven for Him.
aa Angels see earth, torments of hell (Rev. 14.10), doesn’t stop their joy in heaven.
bb Abraham/Lazarus saw rich man in hell, paradise didn’t stop being paradise.
2 Joy is unspeakable in the intermediate heaven, but there could still be intermediate sadness because the world is still under the curse, evil, pain.
a Matt. 23.37-39; Jn 11.33-36; Jesus grieved for people while on earth, did he stop when He went to heaven?
b Acts 9.4-5; Jesus is in heaven, Saul is persecuting ch.
aa If Jesus felt persecuted because of folks on earth, might not others in heaven grieve too.
bb It’s one thing to no longer cry when there’s nothing to cry about, which will be true on the New Earth . . . Earth is right now still under the curse.
cc Being in Christ’s presence isn’t going to make us less compassionate.
3 Heaven’s citizens aren’t happy because God is hiding anything from them. Happy because of perspective.
a They are living as righteous beings in a sinless environment, worshiping God.
aa Looking forward to His return, bodily resurrection, final judgement, New Earth.
bb Then . . . all tears will be wiped away, all sorrow, evil, suffering done away with.
b Then we’ll experience the fullness of the joy Jesus died to give us!
Conclusion:
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Respectfully,
Mike Fogerson
