Part 2 - The Original Lie and Something Better
| This Article is part of a multi-part Study Series called The Soul of Man is NOT Inherently Immortal. |
It was in fact SATAN (represented as a Serpent) who LIED to Eve, telling her that if she ate the fruit of “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” she would NOT DIE.
“And the serpent said unto the woman, YE SHALL NOT SURELY DIE: 5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” (Gen. 3:4-5)
In deceiving Eve, Satan attempted to diminish God’s authority by claiming that defiance of His instruction would NOT result in DEATH, but that she, like God, would have the ability to decide what is right and wrong. Satan also said she, being like God, would NOT DIE. You could say Eve ate of the tree of independence from God… the only source of Eternal LIFE.
Thus, Satan introduced the concept of the “IMMORTAL SOUL” of unregenerate humans. we see this lie perpetuated by both the Pagan and Christian religionist. Satan’s deception concerning the “IMMORTAL SOUL” has become the standard teaching of Christendom, borrowed from the beliefs of Ancient Pagans.
Clearly, ‘The Soul That Sins Will Die,’ applying to all of us.
In a prophetic message given in Ezekiel 18, God emphasizes that He will bless and preserve those who live righteously (verses 5-9). Then in verse 4 He states emphatically: “Behold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine; the Soul Who Sins Shall Die.”
The word translated “soul(s)” four times in this verse is the same Hebrew word (nephesh) should be translated “living being” in Genesis 2:7. When God withdraws life, the “living being” becomes a “dead being”—just as God had warned Adam.
Jesus of Nazareth confirms this also, saying;
“And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell [Grk. gehenna, “the lake of fire”].” (Matthew 10:28 (KJV)
We can also see in the Bible the state of the soul of all men while dead in “the grave.” Solomon declared in Ecclesiastes 9:10 (KJV).
“For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing.” In the same context Solomon wrote, “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.” (Ecclesiastes 9:10 (KJV).
In other words, Solomon urges us to make the most of our lives because after we die there is no longer any consciousness, awareness, knowledge, or productivity.
Let’s now consider why there is a need for the Biblical Resurrection and Judgment for some, but … the ‘putting on’ of IMMORTALITY for the BELIEVERS in Christ as Savior?
Considering the above verse in the context of others we’ve seen reveals a sequence of events. After a person DIES, he or she will go to “the grave” awaiting their resurrection. Jesus spoke to His believing Jewish disciples of a time to come when ALL who have died will be resurrected. He describes it as a time of either; 1) a “Resurrection of LIFE” or, 2) a “Resurrection of Condemnation” at the judgment.
“Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which ALL Who Are In The Graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the Resurrection of LIFE, and those who have done evil, to the Resurrection of CONDEMNATION” (John 5:28-29).
The unbelieving lost person will be resurrected in “the Resurrection of Condemnation” to appear at “the Great White Throne Judgment” of ALL the lost dead. John the revelator gives us this account of the “Resurrection of Condemnation.” NOTE that Only the lost dead souls of all ages will be resurrected to appear at this judgment ... then going unto “the lake of fire.”
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 Books Were 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 [Grk. hades, the grave] delivered up the dead which were in them: and They Were Judged Every Man According to Their Works.
14 And death and hell [Grk. hades, the grave] 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. (Rev. 20:11-15 (KJV)
The apostle Paul, to the Gentile members of “the body of Christ,” wrote that there is a time to come when we believers who are currently mortal will “put on” immortality:
“For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we [the living at the time of the Rapture] shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must PUT ON IMMORTALITY” (1 Corinthians 15:52-53).
Paul’s point is that humans do not yet have immortality. Only believers will “put on” immortality.
- Why would Paul say this IF it were true that we were already immortal souls?
- What is the point of a resurrection if a person never really dies?
- Why would there be a need for a future judgment… if we supposedly go to our reward at the moment of death?
- Why must this mortal “put on immortality” if all men are already immortal?
The obvious answer is that the religious teaching about the so-called ‘Immortal Soul’ is a Lie of the Devil that is passed onto us through religion, including most all of Christendom.
The fact is that a person who dies will then be in “the grave” — unconscious and not aware of the passing of time—unknowingly Awaiting Their Resurrection.
If our loved ones don’t move on to a “better place” when they die, is there any consolation about the fate of the dead? There is Something Better to Come for Believers: ETERNAL LIFE!
One of the best-known scriptures in the Bible says that God’s ultimate purpose for mankind is to give us something we do not yet have. I quoted it earlier.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not PERISH [Grk. apollymi, be utterly destroyed] but have [Christ’s own resurrected] EVERLASTING LIFE” (John 3:16, emphasis added).
Paul writes that he lived “in hope of Eternal LIFE which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began.” (Tit. 1:2)
None of us, including believers, has the full blossoming of Eternal life as yet. It is the gift that God will to give to us in the form of a new Incorruptible, Immortal, Body, which we will received in the Rapture’s Resurrection… when we are “caught up” to meet Christ at His appearing.
“For our conversation [KJV Old English for “citizenship”] is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21 Who shall change our vile [corruptible] body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious [resurrection] body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. Philippians 3:20-21 (KJV)
“For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the Likeness of His [Jesus’] Resurrection:” (Romans 6:5 (KJV)
Sadly, the religion’s false teaching of an innate immortality of the soul for all humans obscures our understanding of God’s incredible plan to grant believers the Gift of Christ’s own ETERNAL LIFE. When we strip away that lies of Satan, we can discover that the truth that the Bible reveals concerning the genuine hope we as believers have in this life and forever. Thus, we Christians are;
“Looking for that BLESSED HOPE, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” (Titus 2:13 (KJV)
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