cman

If there is a second death then there was a first.....sooooo death seems to have been survived at least once....what is death? Thanks to God for the victory over death!

But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

A thousand years as one day and one day a thousand years..... Better hang on to mercy and forgiveness cause when that serpent uncoils, you will get bit. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog, and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.

It seems more likely that Revelations is about many things already done. Since the scriptures declare we are seated in the heavenlies and passed from death to life.

Using scripture to beat people up is not for me.

I don't think I'd do well in this category. I'll take the lake of fire for $1000 please, probably a thousand years, that's ok with me. The flaming sword turning every way, keeping the tree of life is probably there. You still are not making a point Mark. I know the scripture.

Is that what really happened? Previous teachings and learning should be looked at with some reason, logic and intellect.

So up on throwing people around, aren't you? I don't think those verses say what you think they say.

Hm... yeah... the books are open... book of life

Well hell.... I think all the people were raised when Jesus Christ was raised or right after that. Then we each are resurrected after we die.

Being a Christian is not a bad thing, nor is it limited in expectations and insight. If I'm quiet enough inside I can see many things and do many things that are godly and miraculous. But it's not me but what God does and has done inside me. The work is finished as Jesus said. Just and unjust are inside you, the wheat and tares are inside you. Masculine and feminine as well. John was caught up into heaven, Paul spoke about it too. This is not limited to the apostles of the bible. Your statement does not describe me or anyone I know. I have not ignored anything and any religious beliefs I have or you have are deep spiritual things. I am not bound by any doctrine, especially the kindergarten type stuff that is very superficial.

Mark... have you learned anything over the past decades? FEAR is what you are promoting with all your guesswork. If it's not the goodness of God that is promoted then I don't have much time for it. I'm here to tell you that there is life after death, immediately after death. The Revelations of Jesus Christ is the Revelations of Jesus Christ, not some fictional end of the world scenario.

Like the wheat and the tares, just and unjust are assumed to be two groups of people at the same time.

Cherry picking some things to be symbolic, and other things are not? Genesis is a lot more informative then at first glance. Thinking of Adam being the masculine and Eve being the feminine would fit with symbolism. Anyway, death has been defeated. I'm not really sure what your point is, Mark.

How? I don't know either except that what I am will continue after I die, and in what form, I don't know. Good work on Revelations there, a lot to think about. If the work of Jesus Christ was complete, then why wouldn't the dead live on. The work is completed, there is no need for him to come again as separated from us to reconcile, it's already done. Any reconciliation would be on an individual basis as is all the work of God coming from the inside of his greatest work.

You guys and girls know the doctrine of the second coming and all that involves, people go to sleep when they die and don't wake up until Christ comes back, deal. I don't think that is true in any part of it. I believe all the scriptures that are said to support the second coming theory actually support the idea that the dead are alive now.

Your interpretation of this scripture is laughable. No real independent thinking. Just pfal stupid. This was a man writing to people who knew what he was talking about. They didn't consider or guess about what Paul was thinking or feeling.

A good note to keep in mind. Not only Christianity but other faiths as well, just labels though, I don't like labels, they tend to be narrow minded.

Can you "explain" that? Doubt it.... I'm sure there are many times we each had known something that there was no reasonable explanation for knowing it.

Reason, intellect and other types of thinking can only go so far. Spiritual understanding goes further, how far, I don't know. Seems to me the things thought foolish might be looked into a bit further if seeking spiritual understanding. Reminds me of vpw being against spiritualism, could be that he never understood it. Even with spiritualism and spirit understanding, reason still has much to do.

There is a lot of things I can't prove to someone else, so what? It's those things that forever keep me sane and knowing miracles and many other things. There are a few people who know I'm telling the truth, if anyone doesn't believe me, I don't really care that much about it. I'm not going to spend much time explaining what God can explain to you if you listen and haven't given up on answers to supernatural, spiritual and enlightening matters.

Good post STL, I like it!

I have evidence, get your own. It's not out of some book. The only "soul" I harken to is my own. I can't provide any evidence that you seem to be asking for. I thought I knew some things once, until the Spirit moved inside of me. Can't prove it to anyone except for those who know the same kind of deal.

Faith is underestimated. God has things well done. There's no worries cause things not seen are still very real.

or broke every law, fulfilling it...