(01/15/2017) Signs From The Dead?

Lazarus reborn and in Abraham’s Bosom

Today, additional points are shared on communicating with the dead and those now thought to be in heaven.  It is correct to be cautious in opening ourselves to others while we are in bereavement, for there are many who do not share our faith and our private understandings.  In addition to those who will impose opinions that arise from their own lack of sacred knowledge, often there are also those who are intrusive, overbearing, and presumptuous.  The mourner must be vigilant, for even those who seem to be harmless and well-meaning may corrupt and disrespect carefully-selected things that truly are necessary in our ongoing growth and recovery.  Having said this, the mourner must have the boldness to fashion their own new life, and should not shrink from learning and sharing again.


THE BATTLE AXE:  The Comfort Through Christ? (01/13/2017)—The hope of the living must be in GOD.  Desire for communication and exchange with the dead arises from aspects of carnal reasoning along with existence being understood as a condition that is only material, physical, and social.  For those in bereavement, features such as appetite (e.g., hunger, thirst, sexual cravings), sensation (e.g., hearing, seeing, tasting, touching), and emotion/mental functions (e.g., anger, fear, imagination, recall) become objects for focus and response, rather than interaction and life experience as directed through divine spirit content.  It is correct to say there are specific divine laws and rules that govern both the living and the dead, and the Bible is our most trusted source for that kind of information.  Mechanical, recurring, and routine aspects of living are described as being experienced and shared by all.  Because concentration upon the occult and the supernatural usually result in spiritual confusion, mature believers often discourage faith within the living that relies too heavily upon apparitions, dreams, signs, or visitations from the dead.  Contact with those who died and are now alive again through resurrection (e.g., Jesus, his mother Mary, and certain of the saints) through sacred events (we say, miracles) and through the Holy Spirit must be carefully examined using earlier Scripture accounts as legitimate sacred standards.  Thus, while the parable shared by the Savior using Lazarus, a beggar, and Dives, a rich man, is not intended as a revelation that describes heaven such as later appears through prophecy, the account makes many points concerning the divine law and restrictions that set heaven apart as sanctified.  All who appear in the divine presence are alive, yet, not in the same form and manner as that required to be upon the earth.  Consider the Scriptures below.


THE GOLDEN ARROW:  Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump:  for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.  So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.  O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?  The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.  But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  (1st Corinthians 15:  51-57, King James Version, KJV)


THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  The Purpose of Resurrection (07/05/2016); The Dimensions of Death? (04/24/2016); The Return to Dust? (06/14/2015); Death is a Divine Tool (09/15/2014); A Sleep and a Second Death (09/16/2014); Resurrection from the Dead? (04/23/2014); Not A Matter Of Opinion (04/24/2014)  


Comfort to the believers in Christ includes the following:

(1.)  Matthew 5:  4, King James Version (KJV):  4 Blessed are they that mourn:  for they shall be comforted.

(2.)  Psalms 146:  3-5, KJV:  3 Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.  4 His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.  5 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:

(3.)  Isaiah 8:  19-20, KJV:  19 And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter:  should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?  20 To the law and to the testimony:  if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

(4.)  Matthew 22:  31-33, KJV:  31 But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,  32 I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.  33 And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine.

(5.)  Ecclesiastes 9:  1-6, KJV:  1 For all this I considered in my heart even to declare all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God:  no man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them.  2 All things come alike to all:  there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not:  as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.  3 This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all:  yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead.  4 For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope:  for a living dog is better than a dead lion.  5 For the living know that they shall die:  but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.  6 Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.

(6.)  1st Corinthians 15:  12-22, KJV:  12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?  13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:  14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.  15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ:  whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.  16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:  17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.  18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.  19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.  20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.  21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.  22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended.  (For example, (7.)  Luke 16:  19-31, KJV:  19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:  20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,  21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table:  moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.  22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom:  the rich man also died, and was buried;  23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.  24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.  25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things:  but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.  26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed:  so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.  27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:  28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.  29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.  30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham:  but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.  31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX 
Washington, DC

(11/26/2014) Concerning Meekness

Focus upon meekness as a spiritual gift through the Holy Spirit is continued, today.  Meekness is to characterize and be visible in both the believer’s approach to learning from GOD as well as their approach to sharing and teaching the things of GOD to others.  Meekness is an appetite for spiritual nourishment, and appears as readiness to learn, receptiveness, and willingness to respond to divine instruction with enthusiasm, humility and zeal.  In the same way a small child may repeatedly express a desire to contribute to adult work, and to help their parents when they see them doing chores and tasks about their own home, mature believers will express a desire to cooperate in the spiritual work of those sent (i.e., the bishops, deacons, evangelists, pastors, praise and prayer leaders, and other servants of GOD).  While the gifts of prophecy and speaking in tongues are welcome within the church as supernatural manifestations of the Holy Spirit, meekness with willingness to learn and study should be understood as primary for the process of acquiring sacred knowledge on a day to day basis.  Because they have not “done their homework” and they lack correct spiritual knowledge, young people often are frustrated, and feel their prayers go unanswered.  Many developing believers mistakenly insist that they need not listen to preaching, or read such holy writings as the Bible, commentaries by anointed teachers, and devotional materials.  For them, GOD is to be experienced through episodes and one-time, rare events.  In their understanding, faith, feelings, intuition and miracles are to direct a believer.  More correctly, mature believers choosing to build up and edify the community of faith also will display lesser known spiritual gifts such as discernment, discipline, gratitude, hospitality, meekness, perseverance, restraint, and vigilance.


THE BATTLE AXE:  The Gift of Meekness (11/25/2014)

Isaiah 1:  16-18, KJV—Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;  17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.  18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD:   though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Isaiah 26:  8-10, KJV—Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O LORD, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee.  9 With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early:  for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.  10 Let favour be shewed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness:  in the land of uprightness will he deal unjustly, and will not behold the majesty of the LORD.

Isaiah 29:  17-24, KJV—Is it not yet a very little while, and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest?  18 And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness.  19 The meek also shall increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.  20 For the terrible one is brought to nought, and the scorner is consumed, and all that watch for iniquity are cut off:  21 That make a man an offender for a word, and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate, and turn aside the just for a thing of nought.  22 Therefore thus saith the LORD, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob, Jacob shall not now be ashamed, neither shall his face now wax pale.  23 But when he seeth his children, the work of mine hands, in the midst of him, they shall sanctify my name, and sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall fear the God of Israel.  24 They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine.

Matthew 11:  28-30, KJV—Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart:  and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

John 7:  16-18, KJV—Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.  17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.  18 He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory:  but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.

Psalms 119:  40-45, KJV—Behold, I have longed after thy precepts:  quicken me in thy righteousness.  41 Let thy mercies come also unto me, O LORD, even thy salvation, according to thy word.  42 So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me:  for I trust in thy word.  43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments.  44 So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever.  45 And I will walk at liberty:  for I seek thy precepts.

Psalms 119:  57-63, KJV—Thou art my portion, O LORD:  I have said that I would keep thy words.  58 I intreated thy favour with my whole heart:  be merciful unto me according to thy word.  59 I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.  60 I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments.  61 The bands of the wicked have robbed me:  but I have not forgotten thy law.  62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments.  63 I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.

Psalms 119:  98-105, KJV—Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies:  for they are ever with me.  99 I have more understanding than all my teachers:  for thy testimonies are my meditation.  100 I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.  101 I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.  102 I have not departed from thy judgments:  for thou hast taught me.  103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!  104 Through thy precepts I get understanding:  therefore I hate every false way.  105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

1st Corinthians 12:  1-11, KJV—Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.  2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.   3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed:  and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.  4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.  5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.  6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.  7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.  8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;  9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;  10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:  11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

Isaiah 50:  4-10, KJV—The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary:  he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.  5 The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.  6 I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair:  I hid not my face from shame and spitting.  7 For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded:  therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.  8 He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with me? let us stand together: who is mine adversary? let him come near to me.  9 Behold, the Lord GOD will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? lo, they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up.  10 Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God.

Proverbs 15:  33, KJV—The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.

James 1:  5-8, KJV—If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.  6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.  7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.  8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

James 3:  12-14, KJV—Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.  13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.  14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.

James 1:  16-22, KJV—Do not err, my beloved brethren.  17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.  18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.  19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:  20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.  21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.  22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

Matthew 7:  7-8, KJV—Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:  8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

Galatians 5:  13-23, KJV—For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.  14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.  15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.  16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.  17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh:  and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.  18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.  19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,  20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,  21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like:  of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.  22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,  23 Meekness, temperance:  against such there is no law.

1st Corinthians 14:  1-5, KJV—Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.  2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God:  for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.  3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.  4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.  5 I would that ye all spake with tongues but rather that ye prophesied:  for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

1st Corinthians 14:  27-33, KJV—If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.  28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.  29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.  30 If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.  31 For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.  32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.  33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

Colossians 3:  1-10, KJV—If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.  2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.  3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.  4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.  5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:  6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:  7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.  8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.  9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;  10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

Colossians 3:  12-17, KJV—Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;  13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any:  even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.  14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.  15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.  16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.  17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Exodus 4:  10-12, KJV—And Moses said unto the LORD, O my LORD, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant:  but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.  11 And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man’s mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?  12 Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.

1st John 2:  26-28, KJV—These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.  27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you:  but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.  28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.

2nd Timothy 2:  15-16, KJV—Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.  16 But shun profane and vain babblings:  for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

2nd Timothy 2:  22-26, KJV—Flee also youthful lusts:  but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.  23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.  24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,  25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;  26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

Galatians 6:  1-10, KJV—Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.  2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.  3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.  4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.  5 For every man shall bear his own burden.  6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.  7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked:  for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.  8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.  9 And let us not be weary in well doing:  for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.  10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

1st Peter 4:  9-11, KJV—Use hospitality one to another without grudging.  10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.  11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth:  that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

(05/14/2013) Can GOD Die?

      Focus, today, is upon a question generated by a television program that regularly uses fictional accounts, and portrays supernatural creatures and events. A viewer asks whether or not GOD can be overcome by death. Also, there is more on whether humans must really die. The “Yahoo! Answers” writer using ID “GOOGLE” (Level 1 with 95 points, a member since September 22, 2011) posted the following:


Christians: Can God die?

I was just watching Supernatural, in one of the episodes, it said, that Death (the 4th horseman) can reap God when it’s his time. Also, the episode started that Death and God are about the same age, maybe Death being a little bit older. Since that show bases of the bible (80% accurate), I was wondering if God can die?

Additional Details

If god wanted to die, could he die? I mean I don’t see why not. A new God could always take over…

Jesus is not god. He is a prohit of the lord. In otherwords, he is god’s son. Even the bible states that Jesus is a prophit not god. Has much as I like Jesus, he is not god. Just a prophit.


THE BATTLE AXE: Must We Really Die? (05/13/2013)—Using the impersonal and mechanical frameworks of time and space, mortality describes life as a temporal event having both a beginning and an ending; where immortality describes the operation of life process as continuous, everlasting, permanent, perpetual, and unbounded by time. Mortality is a life process only among created beings and living creatures designed to remain upon the earth. Such spirit beings as angels, demons, and sacred beasts living in heaven or operating upon the earth are neither mortal, nor immortal. Their duration is generated through divine grace, sacred purpose, and the sovereign will of GOD. For Christian believers, the equation is not correct that declares death (to sleep) is the same as damnation (perdition; the second death; to be deprived of all existence, and completely terminated). Those who sleep are said to “rest,” and continue to have being and existence, however, without also having the forms of body, and mind. When Christ comes to harvest those who are his from the earth, the ones then asleep in death will be awakened, and those who are awake will be taken from the earth without experiencing the sleep of death. As carnal beings in bodies of flesh, mankind absolutely must respond to the frames of time and space as well as many truths of material and physical being. Included are external and internal demands for adaptation, aging, change, decay, growth, learning, pain, pressure, reproduction, and survival. Once the frameworks that presently direct, limit, and order human experience are removed, being and existence will continue structured by accord, divinity, incorruption, immortality, and unity.


THE GOLDEN ARROW: For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen. (1st Timothy 6: 10-16, KJV)


THE DOUBLE DAGGER: A GOD of War? (03/12/2013); “Authorized Personnel Only”? (03/13/2013); Double Standard? (10/12/2012); Life and Death (09/26/2012); Before Creation? (02/02/2012); The One Unseen (02/03/2012); (08/30/2011) Dispatch 20: The Ally (Able to Stand); Normal? (02/22/2011); TV Shows (02/02/2011)

    
     GOOGLE, here are some points to consider that are important among many Christian believers as truth that agrees with the holy Scriptures:

(1.) GOD is a divine person who exists without the aspects of form that describe angels, mankind, and other created beings and living creatures. For want of a better word, we say, GOD is a “spirit“. By this we also seek to say, GOD is not a material being, object, or thing such as clouds, fog, mist and smoke.

(2.) The substance of GOD is understood as spirit matter. Included are faith, holiness, joy, longsuffering, love, mercy, righteousness, wisdom, and wrath against sin.

(3.) GOD may appear (i.e., be present in awareness, become known and manifest) within the emotional, intellectual, psychological and spiritual consciousness of the living.

(4.) Among Christian believers, death is understood as a peculiar life process (not a sacred or supernatural person) whereby the condition of mortality is completed and finished. All created beings and living creatures are not mortal as mankind; and only GOD (not angels, devils, or the process of death) is eternal and immortal.
    
     There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, (5.) As an aspect of revelation, the divine process wherein GOD makes divinity known and visible to mankind, the Almighty has appeared incarnate in the person of Jesus Christ. This device allows eternal and sacred operations that otherwise would be impossible. Atonement, birth, life, suffering, death, obedience, resurrection, and ascension to the celestial presence were all demonstrated through Christ.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC