2016년 6월 25일 토요일

Still, there is no paradise in heaven

In the funeral, most pastor pray for the dead, commonly saying to his family members and other attendees that today he shall go to paradise in heaven. Then, this is unfortunately wrong. Actually, all dead people cannot go to there ‘today’, because still there is no paradise in heaven. Furthermore, almost all dead people are supposed to be taken into hell. Even though strongly regrettable, it’s absolutely true. To know why it is, now, let’s make a scrutiny into the Bible:
The hell is the second heaven
Here, the hell is just the world under the reigning of Satan. Paul the Apostle said that Satan is the prince of the power of the air. And, also, Jesus told to his disciples. “I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.” Just this heaven and the air means the hell, the spiritual world under the reigning of Satan (Ephesians 2:2, Luke 10:18):
Ephesians 2:2. Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:Luke 10:18. And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
Thus, there are three heavens. This universe with the earth is the first one, the hell is the second, and finally, the third heaven that Paul the Apostle confessed his being caught up to. It is the world where God and Jesus are staying (2 Corinthians 12:2):
2. I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
Since the expulsion from the garden of Eden, all dead ones are destined to go to hell. It’s written, in the Revelation, like this: “Death is always followed by Hell” (Revelation 6:8):
8. And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.
The First Death and the First Resurrection
So, inevitably, until before the Resurrection of Jesus, all the dead had been taken into hell by two devils. Therefore, even the saints – dead before the Resurrection of Jesus – could not help being taken to the hell. But, after the Resurrection of Jesus, at last, the very way – to escape the hell or not to go to hell – was opened. Sensing this in advance, David the King eagerly wished. “Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption” (Acts 2:25~27):
25. For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:
26. Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:
27. Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
Indeed, after the Resurrection, Jesus had the keys of hell and of death (Revelation 1:18):
18. I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
With this key of hell, Jesus saved the saints from the hell, eventually getting them into the holy city in the third heaven. This holy scene was shown to Matthew the Apostle in his dream (Matthew 27:52~53):
52. And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
53. And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
This means the first resurrection. It is written, in the Revelation 20:6, like this: “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection.” It’s due to the fact that they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years (Revelation 20:6):
6. 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.
The Second Death and the Second Resurrection 
Most of spirits taken to the hell after the first death should wait in the hell, until the last war between God and Satan finishes (Revelation 20:5~10):
5. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
6. 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.
7. And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
8. 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.
9. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
10. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
After that, they are supposed to be judged by the righteous number – 144,000. Among them, many spirits written in the books was cast into the lake of fire. It is the second death. Therefore, it is easily sensed that the number of spirits written in another book – the book of life – is much smaller than them written in the books. (Revelation 20:11~15):
11. And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
12. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the bookswere opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
13. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
14. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Paradise: a New Heaven and a New Earth
On the other hand, the spirits written in another book – the book of life – are destined to be alive. It is the second resurrection. They will live in a new heaven and a new earth, aka paradise (Revelation 21:1):
1. And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
In a nutshell, the paradise – a new heaven and a new earth – shall be made, after casting Satan and his followers into the lake of fire and brimstone and judging spirits in the books and another book – the book of life: Still, there is no paradise in heaven.

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