Our God is the God of the living not of the dead! Matt.22:32
A. Main scriptures: Jn.8:20-24
1. These words spoke he in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man took him; because his hour was not yet come. Jn.8:20
2. He said therefore again unto them, I go away, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sin: whither I go, ye cannot come. Jn.8:21
3. The Jews therefore said, Will he kill himself, that he said: Whither I go, ye cannot come? Jn.8:22
4. And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. Jn.8:23
5. I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for except ye believe that I am, ye shall die in your sins. Jn8:24
6. For every living soul belongs to me, the father as well as the son-- both alike belong to me. The soul who sins is the one who will die. Eze.18:4
7. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment. Heb.9:27
B. The dead are talking! Luke 16:22-23
1. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and that he was carried away by the angels into Abraham's bosom:
and the rich man also died, and was buried. Lk.16:22
2. And in Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and sees Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. Lk.16:23
C. That are in the tombs shall hear his voice! Jn.5:28-29
1. Marvel not at this: for the hour cometh, in which all that are in the tombs shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good,
unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of judgment. Jn.5:28-29
2. The dead man came out from his tomb! Jn.11:39-44
Jesus said: Take ye away the stone.
Martha, the sister of him that was dead, said unto him: Lord, by this time the body decayed; for he has been four days. Jn.11:39
And when he had thus spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. Jn.11:43
He that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with grave-clothes; and his face was bound about with a napkin.
Jesus said unto them, Loose him, and let him go. Jn.11:44
3. Many bodies of the saints raised entered into the holy city. Matt.27:52-53
And Jesus cried again with a loud voice, and yielded up his spirit. Matt.27:50
And behold, the veil of the temple was rent in two from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake; and the rocks were rent; Matt.27:51
and the tombs were opened; and many bodies of the saints that had fallen asleep were raised; Matt.27:52
and coming forth out of the tombs after his resurrection they entered into the holy city and appeared unto many. Matt.27:53
4. What happened to the cremated? This means become invisible! These people find God right there at their face! Heb.10:31
5. Forever tormented in the lake of fire. Rev.20:10
And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur,
where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Rev.20:10
6. These people were alive to face judgment!
The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them,
and each person was judged according to what he had done. Rev.20:13
7. The second death is not death either! Rev.20:10
Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. Rev.20:14
D. Many wish so much to die! Rev.9:1-6
1. And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star from heaven fallen unto the earth: and there was given to him the key of the pit of the abyss. Rev.9:1
2. And he opened the pit of the abyss; and there went up a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace;
and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. Rev.9:2
3. And out of the smoke came forth locusts upon the earth; and power was given them, as the scorpions of the earth have power. Rev.9:3
4. And it was said unto them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing,
neither any tree, but only such men as have not the seal of God on their foreheads. Rev.9:4
5. And it was given them that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months:
and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when it strike a man. Rev.9:5
6. And in those days men shall seek death, and shall in no wise find it; and they shall desire to die, and death flee from them. Rev.,9:5
E. Conclusion: The dead in Christ shall rise first! 1Thes.4:16-18
1. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven, with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God:
and the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we that are alive, that are left, shall together with them be caught up in the clouds,
to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 1Thes.4:16-17
2. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. 1Thes.4:18
May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with the saints. Amen. Rev.22:21 Written September 18, 2021.