biblelesson

1 John 5:14 - This scripture is not saying that we are to pray saying "thy will be done." Although many of us end our prayer this way. But doing so is our choice and it has no affect on what God does. This scriptures is saying if we ask anything "THAT IS ACCORDING TO HIS WILL he hears us. Meaning we must APPEAR before God, not in words, but in the "POSITION" of FAITH the way God has ORDAINED in order for our prayers to be answered. We ourselves are BRINGING into the prayer OUR HEARTFELT TRUST in God according to His will, meaning that God requires that we believe Him and trust Him. What we say means nothing if we present ourselves to God in the wrong POSITION in prayer. That's what according to His will means. 1 John 5:15, "And if we know that He hears us. Do we know He hears us? "Whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desire of him." Do we know we have the petition that we desire of Him? This scripture says 1)whatsoever we ask., and 2) we know that we have the petition we desire." Do you hear that? If we doubt this or teach others to doubt this, then we doubt the word of God, and we are doubting faith. There is too much suffering out here. God want's us to know Him. And one aspect of knowing God, is to know He wants to answer our prayers to be a Father; a loving Father. I don't want to deny people the truth about God, who wants to give us everything we want. He is pleased with us when we truly believe Him. And I'm talking abut suffering Christians. Not people who are looking for material things. But Christians who need to know that it's Ok, to believe God, and know God answers prayers. We must be in the right POSITION to receive. Additional scripture showing what is according to His will: Hebrews 11:6, "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."

I'm not sure how you are seeing" according to His will." But people say "according to His will" means he will sometimes not answer. My point is "According to His will" does not mean He will not answer. According to His will means He answers according to His own will. Meaning, we have in our minds how we want situations to go, but God says His way are higher than our ways, Isaiah 55:8. Also, we must be walking in ways that pleases the Lord. And what's that? humble, meek, loving, trusting, kind: the Fruit of the Spirit. We can't ask in our carnal minds, we must be in the Spirit. And the answer to our prayer is according to God's own Will, not our own will. For example, many times God answer my prayers was according to His way, His will. He answered completely different from the way I had expected in my mind. I can say He performed miracles where I could not doubt it was Him. So what comes with God's answers, are miracles as well to where He is glorified for all to see. His ways are higher than our ways, Isaiah 55:8-9. Also he will answer whatsoever we ask, 1 John 3:22. And what is according to His will when we ask? To do those things which pleases Him, and whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, 1 John 3:22. So let's not doubt God, and I'm guilty also. But as James says, "But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering (doubting), For he that wavereth (doubts), is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed," James 1:6. So, we must understand what the Word of God is saying, and not with just one verse. We must study to show thyself approved, rightly dividing the word of truth, 2 Timothy 2:15. We lack understanding of faith and God's promises due to a lack of understanding. God says my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge, Hosea 4:6. There is a warning here: "because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee..." We can also take this to mean, because we have reject knowledge, God will reject us and not answer our prayer.

I know that this is an old post. I hope more comments can be generated from what I have to share. I think the problem is we are not really hearing what Jesus said about prayer and about believing, Mark 11:24. It's our faith. I have to admit, I do not possess the kind of faith that Jesus talks about pertaining a situation I'm dealing with. But when I look back on those times my prayers were answered, I had no doubt, and my faith was strong. Each time! We are to work on our faith, like the disciples said to Jesus, "Increase my faith." Build our faith up to be strong, not weak. Jesus said many times to the disciples, "Oh ye of little faith." So that tells me that we must not have little faith. It's a lesson of spiritual growth, like all lessons of spiritual growth in the gospel. We should not be praying for years over, and over again, for the same thing to happen without learning the lesson. The lesson is our faith is not right, and we must learn why we lack faith, and what is the right faith in Christ. I want to share something that was revealed to me a long time ago that really opened my eyes to faith. People say all we need is a little faith like the mustard seed because a mustard seed is tiny. But that's absolutely not true. It's because the mustard seed is tiny, that it had great faith. What happens when a tiny mustard seed is planted. That little, tiny seed's faith is so great because it believes it will be a great flowing willow tree, thousands times bigger that the seed itself. The tiny seed's faith was large enough to produce a large tree. So, if you can see it, that we must have great faith, you can see why Jesus told Peter, . "Oh ye of little faith." If little faith was needed, then why would Jesus say "Oh ye of little faith." And it was the little faith that stopped Peter from walking on water. So we got it backwards. So, we have been listening to people who don't know what they are talking about. It's not little faith, it's great faith. We also listen to people who say God will answer our prayer if it's according to His will. That's not true either. Of course being a Christian we know we can't ask God for things that's a sin But, God will answer our prayer if we believe. Like Jesus said, "Ask what you will, and believe in your heart and don't doubt, and you will have what you ask for." So it's up to us to believe God will do it. Faith is a law, and we must learn the lesson of faith. It's very hard because of our old way of thinking and believing. And because of our fears we must deal with. It's a renewing of the mind like Apostle Paul tells us.

You’ve stepped into the furnace of affliction, Isaiah 48:10. During this time God stays silent with us, Psalms 22:2. But not forever. If He stop your growth now, you remain a weak Christian. You will lack the Fruit of the Spirit. But if he stays silent and allow your pain and hurt and frustration, you will call on Him, the only one who can make you like iron, Micah 4:13. You are doing what He expects. He know you will be troubled. He knows you will be angry at Him. He knows you will be confused. You are in His hands. Your pain is glorifying the Lord, because He is building you up in Christ to strengthen you to do His work. He can’t use you if you remain the same. It took me a long time to come to terms with this. I didn’t even want to I say “let thy will be done” at first. Because I didn’t want it. But the more you cry out to God, the more He builds you up spiritually. Little by little - so He is speaking to you! His way at first. As you grow, and yes, through the furnace of fire, you will start to hear Him because your spirit will be softened enough to hear the guidance of the Holy Spirit. So, count it all joy because our suffering due to God’s chastisement means we are His children, Hebrews 12:8.

No, we are seeing the Dead. Discernment is called for here. The souls in Revelation under the alter were killed, yet they are communicating with God. And based on this account, there are souls in heaven. You are saying souls are those who are alive, and breathing, And that's true based on Revelation 16:3, and many other verses in the bible. But we are also called souls when we die based on the following: 1) Souls had been slain (killed) and were under the alter of God. Revelation 6:9, "And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the alter the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held. Whose's alter were they under? How could those alive be given white robes, and be under God's alter? No, based on the simplicity of God's word, it's obvious souls who had been killed were under God's alter in Heaven. Are you saying these souls didn't die, but they were under God's alter. If not, are you saying the bible is lying? What are you saying? These souls ask God how long would it be before He avenge their blood, Revelation 6:10. So why avenge their blood? The reason why is because they were killed, and they were asking God to avenge their blood that was spilled from their death. 2) God spoke to the souls under the alter and told them to rest a little while until their fellow servants also and their brethren should be "killed as they were." Revelation 6:11. God said their brethren had to be killed like they had been killed. Therefore it is obvious these souls had been killed. They were dead. It is absolutely clear that Revelation 6:9-11, is talking about people who had been killed, and were called souls in heaven resting. Another clue is they were given white robes, Revelation 6:11, And white robes were given unto every one of them..." White robes were given to them because they were saints, and although they were in heaven, they would be resurrected when Christ descends from heaven, like everyone else who die in Christ, 1 Thessalonians 4:16.

What I do, I don’t want to do. What I don’t want to do, I do. Who can save me from this body of death? Thanks be to Christ! The Holy Spirit changed us! Our old self is crucified with Christ, and we walk in newness of life, the new man, the Spirit of Christ. We all must have and walk in the Spirit of Christ, or we are none of His, Romans 8:9. Same thing goes for the homosexual! Their life can be changed by the Spirit of Christ.

We are all filthy rags, Isaiah 64:6.

Even more, Sodom and Gomorrah gives a good account of same sex relations, where the men of Sodom wanted to have sex with God's angles thinking they were men. Lot offered his daughters, but the men of Sodom refused and told Lot to stand back! Genesis 19:4-8.

One of the sad things we don't alway understand about the gay community is the reason many are gay. I had an opportunity to speak with someone who was so willing to tell his story. He was saddened that no one ever asked him the question of why he was gay. He told me that when he was a little boy, his father would whip him severely if he played with girls. Maybe his father wanted to prevent him from getting a young girl pregnant or something, but apparently he went overboard. But, this gay guy said he was so afraid of his father that he would never play with girls, nor talk to them. But because his father never said anything about boys, he didn't think anything was wrong when he was approached by an older male at school one day. He said he was molested, but because of how his father punished him about girls, he thought it was the correct thing to do at a very young age. So that started his life with males. Of course as he got older, he realized he was wrong. But now he's caught, and it's truly like any addiction. He can't let it go. It has all of the hallmarks of addiction: Shame, guilt, disgust, inability to stop, etc. etc. Anyone who is caught in a real addiction cannot let it go. And the shame and guilt is so strong, they need help to stop. But because he feels so ashamed about it, he dare not talk to anyone about getting help. He's in a real catch 22. So, sometimes, it's more than just a person is a horrible person for doing such a thing. No, it's more than we can understand. This person is a wonderful person, but just caught in 1) unresolved feelings over the abuse by a father, 2) unresolved guilt over abuse by an older person, 3) lifestyle forced upon him, and 4) struggle go overcome. Can you imagine a young child whose father psychologically abuse them for years. No human being can help that person, only God. Because to that young mind, the father was God.

It's the same as he who is without sin, cast the first stone! We have no right to judge because we are just a guilty of sin! People seem to think that, Romans 1:28, "God gave them over to a reprobate mind...," means God is turning you over to a reprobate mind where a person is struck with such a mind, and then cannot change. But that's not what's being said. A reprobate is simply a sinner, like all of us, who is sinning and not willing to change. It's the same as telling your child, "if you don't change your behavior, I will just leave you to the consequences of our behavior. So to turn over to a reprobated mind, Romans 1:28, is saying the same thing: "If the reprobate sinful behavior is not changed, or if there is an unwillingness to change, God then gave them over to that mindset they were already operating in, reprobate, and will I leave them to the consequences of their actions! It does not mean that God struck them with a reprobate mind like so many believe! They were already operating reprobate, and God just turned them over.

Messiah has already come being foretold in Isaiah, 7:14, "Messiah would be born of a virgin. Micah 5:2, Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. Isaiah 7:14, Messiah would be called Immanuel. Isaiah 40:3, A messenger will prepare the way (John the Baptist). Psalm 69:8, Isaiah 53:3, Messiah would be rejected by his own people. Isaiah 53:5, Messiah will be wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities.." Psalm 78:2, Messiah would speak in parables. Jeremiah 31:15, Children will be massacred at Messiah's birth. There are many more prophecies foretelling the coming of Messiah, who has already come. The Judgment seat is of Christ, 2 Corinthians 5:10. We are to call our savior Jesus because the angel Gabriel (who stand in the presence of God, Luke 1:19) was sent from God, and gave a message to Mary, Luke 1:31, "And, behold, thou shalt conceive in they womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS! There are those today who say Messiah has not come yet, denying the fact that He came and was born of a virgin. These people are waiting for His first coming. However, we are waiting for Jesus second coming who came as the Messiah the first time. Being foretold in the old testament, Messiah has come, and was born of a virgin, and his name is called, JESUS, who is the Christ - Jesus Christ! I think it's important to note that the old covenant ended at Jesus's death, where the vail was ripped, bringing the new covenant, Hebrews 9:16-17. Some may not understand but Apostle Paul points out the problem with the reading of the old testament, 2 Corinthians 3:12-14: 12, "Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech; 13, "And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not steadfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: 14, "But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament which vail is don away in Christ." We have to be able to discern which part of the old testament leads us into the New Testament, and which part does not. At this time of Christ, there is no mixing of the new and the old testament. So we must pray for discernment in reading of the old testament. If we are not sure, we look for what's been moved from the old to the new under the gospel writings. That's safer because in Christ we are saved by the gospel only: Romans 16:25, "Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ.." Romans 2:16, "In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel." 2 Timothy 2:6, "Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel." 1 Corinthians 15:1-2, "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved..." 2 Thessalonians 2:14, "Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." Because the gospel is the power of salvation unto everyone that believeth, Romans 1:16. So when we are told we must believe on Jesus, we are being told to believe on Jesus Christ's and His Gospel. The gospel of Christ, 1 Corinthians 15:1, "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand..." Lazarus and the rich man: Jesus was speaking to His disciples in parables, so when He spoke about Lazarus and the rich man, this was a parable that was among others that Jesus had been speaking about. So we have to look at what the bible says. We are not at liberty to make things up as we go along. Although we die, and are buried, our souls go to heaven. Revelation explains this. There are souls in heaven during the tribulation, before the White Throne Judgment: Revelation 6:9,"And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the alter the souls of them that were slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held;" These souls could even talk to God, Revelation 6:10, "And the cried with a loud voice saying, How long, O Lord, holy land true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood..." So these verses alone tells us that our souls go to heaven, although we are buried when we die. The issue of the rich man and the beggar: What's important to consider is the bible says the beggar was "carried by the angles into Abraham's bosom," Luke 16:22. So how could this not be true if an angel of God carried the beggar into Abraham's bosom. The parable is explaining that somewhere after death, angles get involved with the righteous to carry them to a place of safety. But apparently the wicked is not carried to a place of safety, and they seem to be tormented. So maybe we don't fully understand the purpose of the White throne Judgment. Because none of those who are saved, and are with Christ will be judged at the White Throne Judgment. They will take part in the first resurrection, Revelation 20:6, "Blessed is 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." So, if the beggar was in Abraham's bosom, and the rich man could see Father Abraham, and ask Abraham for help, then it stands to reason that it's true that the beggar was in Abraham's bosom. So if the beggar was in Abraham's bosom, where was/is the rich man? The bible says the rich man was in torment of fire and looked over and saw Abraham and saw Lazarus in his bosom.

No, it's not that I did not understand the question or the thread. Faith is throughout the bible from Genesis to Revelation. There is no way to dictate to a person how to think or process information based on a simple question, especially when no one said, "Oh, you must answer in this way." Nonetheless, my statement to you was, I did not understand what you were saying. I was letting you know that your comments were not said in a way to where it could be understood based on true bible knowledge. You were rambling on without any reference to scripture which is a dangerous thing to do. My opinion and your opinion does not matter. We are not God! We can think what we want, but we can't say anyone should hear us simply because we said it, especially if God did not say it in His word.

Thank you for your extensive review and comments. One point I have is I'm unable to see how "certain meaning of words" in the bible can be interpreted based on the Greek language, considering the bible has been interpreted already 400 or so years ago. To do this is considered changing the word of God to be interpreted the way a person want it to be, to their liking, and not the way it has already been interpreted by those God entrusted to do so so many hundred years ago. We are not Greek scholars. We don't speak the Greek language. It's my opinion that people doing this is making a grave mistake. Second, I'm not up to my own opinion on the Word of God. I can't say what God won't do because it doesn't sound right to me. I can only list what the Word of God says, and show the scriptures. If the scriptures don't show us what God is doing, then that's fine. But I can't say it's not true simply because it doesn't make sense to me. I'm not God, and I didn't write the Bible. I'm unable to see your view based on the references you have provided. It does not flow well for me, based on other scripture context I'm familiar with, to where I can understand your conclusions.

Abel's offering was a sin offering, the shedding of the blood of the animal. Cain's offering was not a sin offering such as to be able to atone for sin. Jesus died for our sins by shedding His blood, being a sin offering for us unto God. The day of atonement which required a sacrifice of an animal was a day the Children of Israel kept unto the veil of the temple was ripped at Christ's crucifixion. Other sin offerings were required under Moses's laws for the sins of Israel until Christ's came. God would be pleased with Able's offering, and not Cains.

This is an older thread, but I'm glad I found something on prayer. Just want to say I realize I have misunderstood prayer. Ephesians 6:18, "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints..." I thought this meant to pray constantly, all day. But now I understand it to mean, when you pray, to pray always in the Spirit. Not pray all day in the Spirit. I think it's just how Apostle Pauls forms his sentences and words in certain passages. Praying always in the Spirit. This means I must not pray in the flesh, that is, the carnal man. I must be in the New Man (Spiritual Man), for my prayers to be effective. Now this is a problem. How to get to the point that I pray in the Spirit, if I'm not walking in the Spirit. If my prayer end up being frustrating. If I feel I'm simply praying and praying, and feeling like I'm not being heard by God. This becomes an issue if we are not praying in the Spirit, like we are told. We are disobedient. Not our fault. We are not disobedient because we chose to be. We are disobedient due to lack of knowledge. Hosea 4:6, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." Do anyone realize that the Lord's prayer is not the prayer we are to be praying. Jesus was talking to those under the law. He had not died yet to bring in the New Testament, so some of Jesus's teachings were for those under the law. We are not under the law in Christ. Apostle Paul made reference to this in 2 Corinthians 3:13-15, and most people don't understand what Paul is saying. "...until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. The New Testament starts with Roman. A testament is not in affect until after the testator dies, which is Christ, Hebrews 9:17. So, another misunderstanding. We continue to pray in the flesh thinking God will hear our prayers. This might be objectionable to some people, but when we continue to pray in the flesh, we are not in right relationship with God. Although God loves us and want to blessed us, He is a Righteous God, and hate sin. When we approach God in the flesh in our prayers, we are approaching Him in sin. Simply a lack of knowledge. So, we must pray in the Spirit. But how ? Just bare with me! There is only one spiritual language that the bible talks about. If there are many spiritual languages, please let me know. But the bible says there is only One Spirit, Ephesians 4:4. What is that Spiritual language. Apostle Pauls defines it in 1 Corinthians 14:14-15, "For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also. When praying to God, 1 Corinthians 14:28, "...let him speak to himself and to God. Praying in the Spirit is unfruitful because we don't know what the spirit is saying. But God does and want us to based on John 4:23-24, "The hour cometh, and now is (when the testator dies for our sins bringing in the New Testament) when the true worshippers shall worship the Father i the spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship in spirt and in truth. This is the reason why tongues were introduced first to the disciples. Tongues is also a sign for those who believe, Mark 16:17, "And these signs shall follow them that believe; in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues." So we must be speaking in tongue, in the spirit in our prayers. It's the spirit that takes over and makes intercessions for us, and God hears those prayers, Romans 6:7, Romans 8:26-27. We don't know what the language is saying, but it builds us up, edifies us, and builds our faith, and allows us to praise God without effort. That't the Power. If we are not speaking in tongues, we must ask God about it. No one can cause a person to speak in tongue. It is a gift from God. So take the scripture in Luke `11:13, "If ye being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? When God blessed us with speaking in tongues, speaking in the spirit, then we can start praying in the spirit, then God will be pleased, then our prayers will be head, and He will answer!

So we can look at what scripture says! Apostle Paul is identifying the timeframe and events that are take place in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17. The events that's taking place is 1) there will be a shout, 2) there will be the trump of God, 3) Jesus will be descending, 4) the saints will be with Him. Shout: Jesus will shout. Another account of this is when Jesus brought Lazarus back. "He cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth," John 11:43. Trumpet: 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 is talking about Jesus's second coming. Revelation 11:14, when the seventh trumpet sounded, the verse in Revelation reads, "The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign forever and ever. This account is in Mark 14:62, "And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven." Acts 1:11, "...this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." At Jesus's second coming all of His saints will be with Him, 1 Thessalonians 3:13. Jesus is descending: 1 Thessalonians 4:16, "For the Lord Himself will descend...." All Jesus's saints will be with Him: As Jesus is descending, He first calls His saints up to meet him in the clouds, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17. When Christ appear in His glory, His saints appear with Him, Colossians 3:4. So they will descend with Him at His second coming. The saints will descend with Christ to set Their feet on the Mount of Olive with Jesus to do battle, in the war of Armageddon, Revelation 16:16, " Jude 14 & 15, "...the Lord cometh with ten thousand of His saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of the their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed..."

I'm lost. I don't know what your point is as it relates to scripture. I don't know what you are saying.

This is a good topic to study, because the seven churches in Revelation 1:20, Revelation 2:1-29, Revelation 3:1-22 shows Jesus is giving certain warnings to the churches. There are behaviors that Jesus is warning these churches about, and warns them that they must repent. Although these churches which received the gospel message during their time, that gospel message has spread throughout the world, over the centuries, and into the churches today. This is where you find Christians today, in churches, and Christian groups. Some Christians have gotten themselves involved in false worship without knowing it and hopefully will be lead out. I know I did, and when God revealed to me what was going, I quickly repented. It was a lack of understanding on my part. I did not do it purposely. Nonetheless, the warning still stands and Jesus will not overlook it when He returns unless we repent. So, I do think the five foolish virgins and five wise virgins are being identified in the churches in Revelation also. If you take Matthew 25:13, "Watch therefore; for ye know neither the day or the hour wherein the Son of man cometh, it's the same warning in Revelation where the churches are spoken about, Revelation 3:3, "Remember therefore how thou has received and heard, and hold fast and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come up on thee." Believers are the ten virgins, and are the churches, and we are to watch. The warning "watch therefore" is also in other parables, for example, Matthew 24:42-44. When Jesus comes, not only is He coming as the bridegroom, He is also coming as the Judge.

It will be just like at Jesus's resurrection, when the graves opened and the saints came out of them. The saints in Christ, who die in Christ, and whose souls are in heaven with Christ, their graves will open, and they will come out of their graves, and meet Christ in the air, 1 Thessalonians 4:17. But they will not go back to heaven because Jesus is descending to earth, 1 Thessalonians 4:16. The saints will descend with Jesus after they are resurrected in the 1st resurrection. The reason why Jesus told Mary not to touch Him has to do with first fruits. God (the husbandman) must be first partaker of the first fruit, 2 Timothy 2:6. Search the scriptures on the meaning of the first fruits being present to God. Jesus is the first fruits, 1 Corinthians 15:20-23. Therefore, Jesus had to be present to God first before Mary touch Him, John 20:17. Afterwards, he retuned from heaven and spoke with his disciples, John 20:19. Research the scriptures regarding first fruits. Here is a script, Leviticus 23:20, "And the priest shall wave them with the bread of the first fruits for a wave offering before the Lord with the two lambs: they shall be holy to the Lord for the priest. Christ is our High Priest, Hebrews 4:14, who is the first fruits of them who slept, 1 Corinthians 15:20. Based on God's requirement for a High Priest, and based on the first fruits requirement, He had to appear before God before anyone touched Him.

We must understand the difference between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant. Jesus had to take care of the Old Covenant because He was bringing in the New Covenant. As long as the testator is alive, a covenant cannot be in full force, Hebrews 9:16, "For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator." Hebrews 9:17, For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth." When Jesus died, the Old Testament/Old Covenant was done away with, nailed to the cross, Colossians 2:14. If Jesus had not taken care of everything under Old Testament, the New Testament would be of no strength for our salvation. So because those in Abraham's bosom were of the Old Testament, Jesus took care of those saints, descended to set the captive free, they ascended with Him to heaven, under the Old Covenant. There is to be no mixture between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant for salvation. One is done away with while the other is in full force.

I would like to show you, through the bible, resurrection, Abraham's bosom, and where the saint's souls go when they die. Abraham's bosom: Lazarus and the Rich man both died and both were buried. However, before Christ, the two were under the Old Covenant, the law, and when they died, Lazarus the bagger was taken by the angel to a place of safety, Abraham's bosom, Luke 16:19-24, but the Rich man was tormented in fire (hell). Lazarus's soul was in Abraham's bosom, and the Rich man's soul was in hell. It was prophesied that at Jesus's crucifixion, He said, thou would not leave my soul in hell, Psalm 16:10, Acts 2:27. This explains when Jesus died, He descended into the lower parts of the earth, Ephesians 4:9; He went and preached to spirits in prison, 1 Peter 3:19. Jesus preached the gospel to those who were dead to be judged in the flesh, but to live to God in the spirit, 1 Peter 4:6. When Jesus ascended he lead captivity captive, Ephesians 4:8,. So those in Abraham's bosom were taken out of that place, and taken to heaven with him. After Jesus's resurrection, graves were opened, and the saints that slept rose and appeared to men, Matthew 27:52-53. We know they must have gone with Jesus when Jesus ascended, Ephesians 4:8, because those who came out of their graves were called "saints." I don't know if some people think that these people which had been dead, buried and rose, would live again in the flesh. But consider that after Jesus rose, He also appeared to His disciples for many days, where He had a different type of body where he could walk through closed doors, John 20:26, but His body could be touch by man, specifically, Thomas, John 20:27. So it stand to reason that the graves that opened had bodies like Jesus's body, and when Jesus ascended, they ascended with Him to heaven. Abraham's bosom was for those under the "Old Covenant," and they have been released from that place of safety, and their souls are with Christ. They have been given their heavenly bodies. Those who die after Christ has already ascended and is sitting on the right hand of God the Father, their souls will go to be with Christ, Philippians 1:23, 2 Corinthians 5:8. Even consider Revelation 6:9-11. When Jesus comes down, those souls in heaven, their graves will open, 1 Thessalonians 4:16, and those alive will be changed, 1 Thessalonians 4:17. The way it happened when Jesus was raised from the dead where those in Abraham's bosom's graves opened, and their souls were taken with Jesus to Heaven, a similar thing will take place. The souls that are under the "New Covenant," in Christ, when they die, their souls go to be with Christ in heaven. At Christ's return, in the first resurrection, their graves will open and they will come out of their graves; again although their souls are with Christ. This is the joining of all the saints in Christ, the Old and the New Covenant, to be with Christ forever, 1 Thessalonians 4:17, Revelation 7:9, Jesus is the Lord over all! Those in hell, will be thrown into the Lake of Fire, Revelation 20:14, where they will never die. I know some will not see this the way I see it. But, I have tried to list as may scriptures for your review.

The issue is not really knowing what Christ has done, and not understanding what being made free, Galatians 5:1, means in our Christian life. Once we believe in Christ, and are sealed, Ephesians 1:13, the Holy Spirit begins His work on us, John 16:13, 2 Corinthians 4:7, Philippians 1:6, Galatians 3:5. God is of no respect of persons, Romans 2:11. God loves us all greatly and has redeemed us in His Son, 1 John 4:9-11. God has shed his love abroad to all men. We have been set free from sin, Romans 6:18, and sin is not imputed unto us, Romans 5:13. The law has been nailed to the cross, Colossians 2:14, and we have been crucified with Christ, Galatians 2:20, therefore, the law charges nothing against us, we cannot be condemned, Romans 8:1, Romans 8:33, and we are to not condemn ourselves, 1 Corinthians 4:3. This revelation truth is only revealed by the Holy Spirit to make it experiential in our lives. The Holy Spirit brings the light of Christ, 2 Corinthians 4:6, Colossians 1:12, 1 Thessalonians 5:5. Also the issues is not having the God given revelation of our flesh, our old man having been crucified with Christ on the cross, Romans 6:6: The God given revelation of this allows the Holy Spirit to bring about this truth experientially in our life. But the requirement is to believe, Romans 1:6, Romans 15:13, 1 Corinthians 2:3. So, if the flesh has been crucified on the cross with Christ, we can only then work out our salvation by the Power of God, the Power of the Holy Spirit, Romans 15:13, 1 Corinthians 2:4-5. Without this revelation knowledge, we only know to come from the position of the flesh, and not the Spirit. The flesh does not believe God loves us; the flesh fights against the Spirit, Galatians 5:17. With this war going on, and this happens to all Christians, yet not understanding what's happening, we remain in the carnal mind, without having our minds renewed by the Spirit, Ephesians 4:23. The carnal mind is enmity against God, Romans 8:7. But God knows our flesh, and has helped us out. He crucified our flesh on the Cross with Christ, Galatians 5:24. We are to believe He has done this, and we are to put off the old man (fleshly man), Ephesians 4:22, and put on the new man (spiritual man), Ephesians 4:24 Thus we can walk in newness of life, Romans 6:4, and we are to be renewed in the spirit of our minds, Ephesians 4:23, Romans 12:2, by the Holy Spirit, Ephesians 3:20, Colossians 1:11, Ephesians 1:19. None of us can do the work on our own. If we could have, then Christ would not have had to die for us, and God would not have crucified our fleshly man/carnal man on the cross with Christ. It is by God's Spirit that we received Power, 2 Timothy 1:7, and that we are quickened, and walk in newness of life, Romans 8:11.