Living is Christ….And Dying Gain

Hi, there!  To say Christians who have died are fortunate and blessed above all other humans  because of our expectation in Christ has to be the most universal understatement of all time!!

Paul was so looking forward to his passing on from this life because to him (and to every true believer/Christian) it is “gain” as we access to the presence of Christ Jesus and God the Father when we die. (Philippians 1:21….Rotherham’s).

Again, in 2 Corinthians 5:8 Paul writes: “we have courage, and are well pleased rather to be away from the home of the body, and to be at home with the Lord.”

However, these statements need the clarification that follows.

As brought out in the Post “Death”, the dying of all humans is equivalent to a peaceful sleep. No one, not even believers such as Paul, ascends directly into heaven after dying (John 3:13). But rather, the Post brings out how the Scriptures constantly refer to death as a “sleep”, and it will seem like mere moments (as it is with any good sleep we get as humans) before we awake to be in our consciousness again. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 confirms that those who have “fallen ASLEEP” “shall rise first”!! (Rotherham’s….emphasis mine)

With this renewed consciousness, for the believer, it will seem almost like a mere instant between our demise and our subsequent awakening again to be found in our new, glorious and transfigured Christ-life celestial (heavenly)  bodies….meeting our Savior in the air! (Philippians 3:21, 1 Thessalonians 4:17….Rotherham’s)

Truly, all Christians can joyously look forward to death as a “gain”, as did Paul.

Take care, in Christ,

Fred

Angels…..And Your Wing Size Is?

Greetings….actually, many seem to believe Christians will be fitted for wings after they pass those pearly gates. Not true…..whew!!!…..and, thankfully so.  Let’s see what the Scriptures say we will look like and the gear we will be packing, along with some interesting information about “angels”.

First off, 2 heavenly beings are definitely characterized as having wings…..Cherubim (Exodus 25:20) and Seraphim (Isaiah 6:2-3). To the best of my knowledge, they are never said to be “angels” or “messengers” and are the ONLY ones noted as having wings among the celestials.

Secondly, I know of no verses that indicate “angels” (“messengers”) have wings……they are described as “spirits” (Hebrews 1:14) who can take on various forms.

Thirdly, the only reference resurrected Christians are said to be like angels is in Matthew 22:30, and that, only in the sense that we will not marry, like them, in our glorified existence.

Finally, what exactly will we look like? It is clearly stated in 1 Corinthians 15:48-49 and Philippians 3:21 that we will be found in a celestial body after the resurrection in the same image as Christ Jesus, Himself!  What He looks like, regarding the composition of the body, we will appear as, also…… glorious, celestial beings, WITHOUT wings!!.

Please also reference the Post on “Our Glorious New Bodies”.

Hope to see you later.

Fred

(If you wish to leave a comment rest assured your email information is never shared)