Where do Christians go when they 'die'?

[B-A-C]

Good article, I've read something very similar before. I think I agree with most of it. The one exception would be those raised from the dead at Jesus's crucifixion.
Matt 27:52-53; says these people weren't raised up to heaven, but walked around and "appeared to many" in Jerusalem.

I've always thought they were "temporarily" raised from the dead, and died a natural death again at some later time. (Like Lazarus)
Otherwise I have two questions... why didn't they get resurrected to heaven? Why did they stay on the Earth?
Also... if they were resurrected to eternal life... where are these people now? Surely they would be on the news, they would be about 2,000 years old now.

 

[Dave M]

I've always thought they were "temporarily" raised from the dead, and died a natural death again at some later time. (Like Lazarus)
Otherwise I have two questions... why didn't they get resurrected to heaven? Why did they stay on the Earth?
Also... if they were resurrected to eternal life... where are these people now? Surely they would be on the news, they would be about 2,000 years old now.

excellent points something I never here any preachers talking about at all. I think I like your analogy of like Lazarus best it makes sense

.I would love to here them talk about there NDE like everyone and there mother does on youtube

 

[B-A-C]

For the sake of argument, let us say all Christians reign with Jesus during the millennial reign. Well OK... that's only a thousand years.
Now what. That's not forever. Now it's possible that a thousand years is symbolic for some other indeterminate amount of time... but even so, it is a limited length of time. Not eternity.
So where do we go after this (assuming everyone is resurrected by now).

The most likely place to me seems to be the New Jerusalem. I do have scriptures for this, but want to hear thoughts on this first.
Remember the New Jerusalem comes down "out of heaven". ( Rev 21:10; ) so it seems to me, that this isn't heaven itself.

Rev 21:27; says those who's name are written in the Book of Life will be able to enter it.
Rev 22:14; says those who "wash their robes" (there's those robes again) may enter the city. It may be worth a study about the robes. That's the third time they are mentioned,

This leads me to believe this is where will be a lot of the time. If Jesus/God are there, it makes sense we would be there.

 

[PloughBoy]

That's the question.

There are several trains of thought here. (I may even be missing some)

1. Is it "all" the saints who have ever died since the human race began?
The problem with this is... Rev 20:4 only mentions those who were martyred and didn't take the mark of the beast. It doesn't mention any of the other saints who died "normal" deaths.
2. Is it ONLY those who were martyred during the tribulation?
3. Is it only those who martyred at any time since the human race began.

Now if you believe in the "pre-tribulation rapture". There is another possibility.

The "church" is raptured before the tribulation begins. When Jesus returns He will brings those people back with Him to reign with Him.
The problem with this is... Rev 20:5-6; says the "first resurrection" doesn't happen until "after" the 1,000 year reign.
The other problem is... if the church is already "taken up".. then who are the believers who are martyred?

One theory is they are people who got saved "after" the rapture.

That is exactly what I have been saying, if a person stay out of others "schools of thought" and the only source of information is what they are getting out of the Bible and that is how they come to the conclusion of "The Book". I thank God when I got saved I trusted no teacher no pastor no ministers I just bought 3 very expensive study bibles and dictionary's and got busy from front to back ASV RSV KJV, NIV in a year or less read them through not skipping one word about 5-6 times and read in separated study on top of that the NT over at 20 times in the same process. That was just in year one. I did not trust nobody. I thought as a Christian , you was to at least know the whole bible by heart. I ate and slept Bible. For about 3 year then went to Reformed Bible College, and still was green as cow manure!
Ain't no where in the world I was going to learn eschatology from a church or seminary, or a man or woman or a book some snake oil peddler, a person getting something out of the Bible and rewriting it, and telling about, what Gods is going to to do. Not me, my mama did not raise no fool. I grew up watching "W.C. Fields"! And "Little Rascals"!

So I thank God my eschatology came straight from the Bible and I just happen to lean more to the Pre-tribulation pattern of biblical thinking in relating to the text.
So essence I follow no group or any groups theological prospectus concerning end times events.

Only to let all know where I stand. "Read the Book" and do not be "tainted" by any church, man, woman, society, pamphlet, copied post & stick, or related books trying to enlighten "The Bible" or the prescribe text. "You cannot put more light on the light"! Because Satan do appears as a "angel of the light"!

I was a Pre-milliennium or Pre-tribulation before I knew such things or words existed. I just knew what the Bible said: and it blew my mind. I wanted to show everybody what I found in there. I was finding nuggets everywhere in there every times I would start over from the beginning. And it was adding up. The view was getting bigger and bigger. Forget that Sunday school and bible class stuff! This stuff do not come to a end! I would say a lot of times are we reading the same book?

Famous quote they would use against me:
"Now, don't you be so Heavenly minded that you ain't no earthly good"!

PS most people has no idea how the book of Revelation is written. They be listing verses behind verses, and do not even understand what it is "The Revealing of Jesus Christ"! They read it like a book sitting in Starbucks with religious materials in the pages.

 

[Nicola Jane]

That is what I believe also brother.




I do not believe we go to heaven when we die on earth, scripture tells us how our body is made up and tells us the body goes to the grave, the spirit and soul goes to be with God. That is how it remains until the 'last day' when we are resurrected to new life.




I fully agree brother, I do wonder where some of these thoughts come from (no need to reply)




God's speed all will be revealed, we just have to practice righteousness and be ready.

And the New Jerusalem is being prepared in Heaven, that was why Jesus said. 'I will go and 'prepare' a place for you.' He is still preparing it.

The New Jerusalem will not be complete until the Church is complete and all Names in the Book of Life and the Lamb are in place.

We as humans in this life do not go to heaven, only our spirit and soul goes to heaven when we die. Our bodies go back to the dust of the earth, they cannot be raised up on the last day unless they are laid to rest in the grave first. Unless a grain of wheat falls.....

I believe the New Heaven and New Earth will not be new as we think new, another new item, they will be the original made new, back to their former glory. Paradise in Eden that paradise is in heaven. The New Jerusalem, the Church, will come down out of heaven onto the newly restored earth. We know the size and description of it, that I believe will be where the banquet will be, that is where the rooms in the Father's Mansion will be.

All thoughts very welcome , its good to Talk Jesus.

Shalom

To give a simple me thought as you all know much more as we all on different parts of our journey and im really blessed since joining this forum and im loving reading your posts but as long as im with jesus and he says well done good and faithfull servant enter in im happy as can be thats heaven to me.
so i pray to be and become the faithfull servant above all else Amen x

 

[Nicola Jane]

That is exactly what I have been saying, if a person stay out of others "schools of thought" and the only source of information is what they are getting out of the Bible and that is how they come to the conclusion of "The Book". I thank God when I got saved I trusted no teacher no pastor no ministers I just bought 3 very expensive study bibles and dictionary's and got busy from front to back ASV RSV KJV, NIV in a year or less read them through not skipping one word about 5-6 times and read in separated study on top of that the NT over at 20 times in the same process. That was just in year one. I did not trust nobody. I thought as a Christian , you was to at least know the whole bible by heart. I ate and slept Bible. For about 3 year then went to Reformed Bible College, and still was green as cow manure!
Ain't no where in the world I was going to learn eschatology from a church or seminary, or a man or woman or a book some snake oil peddler, a person getting something out of the Bible and rewriting it, and telling about, what Gods is going to to do. Not me, my mama did not raise no fool. I grew up watching "W.C. Fields"! And "Little Rascals"!

So I thank God my eschatology came straight from the Bible and I just happen to lean more to the Pre-tribulation pattern of biblical thinking in relating to the text.
So essence I follow no group or any groups theological prospectus concerning end times events.

Only to let all know where I stand. "Read the Book" and do not be "tainted" by any church, man, woman, society, pamphlet, copied post & stick, or related books trying to enlighten "The Bible" or the prescribe text. "You cannot put more light on the light"! Because Satan do appears as a "angel of the light"!

I was a Pre-milliennium or Pre-tribulation before I knew such things or words existed. I just knew what the Bible said: and it blew my mind. I wanted to show everybody what I found in there. I was finding nuggets everywhere in there every times I would start over from the beginning. And it was adding up. The view was getting bigger and bigger. Forget that Sunday school and bible class stuff! This stuff do not come to a end! I would say a lot of times are we reading the same book?

Famous quote they would use against me:
"Now, don't you be so Heavenly minded that you ain't no earthly good"!

PS most people has no idea how the book of Revelation is written. They be listing verses behind verses, and do not even understand what it is "The Revealing of Jesus Christ"! They read it like a book sitting in Starbucks with religious materials in the pages.

wow i can tell you read your bibles many times powerfull !!! this forum is well hidden in air waves of google im so not.tech it a miracle im on here .so blessed as my worst time in life is being turned into my best time as im deeper and closer to God and im learning so much from you all so God.bless you all
your lights in a dark place x

 

[Dave M]

, let us say all Christians reign with Jesus during the millennial reign. Well OK... that's only a thousand years.
Now what.

now the new earth and heavens are created I am pretty sure you knew this

Revelation 21:1
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.


2 Peter 3:13
But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

Isaiah 65:17
“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.

 

[Sue D.]

God is going to bring the New Jerusalem down with Him from heaven = new heaven and new earth. And That is going to be 'eternity'. Yes, the Rev. 21 passage.

 

[Hekuran]

God is going to bring the New Jerusalem down with Him from heaven = new heaven and new earth. And That is going to be 'eternity'. Yes, the Rev. 21 passage.

Absolutely. We look forward to being resurrected to creation made new, when heaven and earth are in reunited in perfect harmony, as God intended from the beginning.

 

[B-A-C]

Is Heaven a physical place? I have thought it was a spiritual meta-dimensional place. But as I was reading tonight some things came to mind... now I am wondering.

In Exod 25-30; instruction are given on how to build the tabernacle. Nearly 5 whole chapters.
A little more is given about the second temple in 1 Chron 28.

Exod 25:9; "According to all that I am going to show you, as the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furniture, just so you shall construct it.

There is quite a bit of description here. What materials to use, what kind of wood, what to make the candles out of.
How many cubits long, how many cubits tall, onyx stones, acacia wood, rams skins, purple and scarlet dye, Inner and outer curtains, the bronze altar.
There are quite a bit of very specific instructions here.

There are plenty of images out on google that show what the 'tent tabernacle' would have looked like. Many of the images are surprisingly similar to each other.

1Kings 9:3; The LORD said to him, "I have heard your prayer and your supplication, which you have made before Me; I have consecrated this house which you have built by putting My name there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually.

So what does all this have to do with heaven?

In Hebrews 8:2-5 it says there is a tabernacle in heaven also. It says the one in Exodus was a "copy" of one in heaven.
Hebrews 9:1-10; go back and revisit the tabernacle instructions somewhat.
In Hebrews 9:10-11 it says Jesus went to the tabernacle in heaven.
In Hebrews 9:21-24 it says Jesus entered a temple not made by human hands in heaven. He went into the Holy of Holies and sprinkled blood on the mercy seat.

Hebrews 12:22; could be mentioning the New Jerusalem.

All of this is to say... if such specific instructions were given on how to build a tabernacle on Earth, that is really a copy of one in heaven.... could heaven have
a tabernacle made of onyx stones, acacia wood, rams skins, and gold candle stands? With curtains, and inner sanctuaries and the Holy of Holies.
Is it possible physical things exist in heaven?

 

[Dave M]

whear we go when we die we have the story of the rich man and Lazerus and that tells us we are living spirits and we when we leave these earthly tent we will still have conscious.

We have scripture saying Jesus himself went and preached to the spirits in Prison, so obviously they have conscious

We have Paul himself saying he went to HEAVEN and was not allowed to speak of such things, and he did not know weather he was in spirit or body.

these are just a few examples that confirm with out a doubt that our spirits live on when we die and go to be with the Lord,, this is conclusive to me, I have to go to work but so much scripture talks about our spirits in the after life

. and yes we do get resurrected in the flesh with our glorified bodies also but that comes at a later time

 

[Hekuran]

Yes, the state of our existence between our deaths and our resurrection is not crystal clear in the Bible. There are hints at Paradise and the 'many mansions', but it's never described as 'heaven'. Others conclude that it's soul sleep until we rise again.

 

[B-A-C]

Yes, the state of our existence between our deaths and our resurrection is not crystal clear in the Bible. There are hints at Paradise and the 'many mansions', but it's never described as 'heaven'. Others conclude that it's soul sleep until we rise again.

You do bring up a good point here. If it's not soul sleep, and our spirit/souls are "out there somewhere". Then where?

Eccl 12:7; then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.
2Tim 2:11' It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him;

John 14:2; "In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.
John 14:3; "If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.
John 14:4; "And you know the way where I am going."

Two interesting points about the passage above.
1. Where Jesus is.... there you may be also. It seems we go be "with" Jesus wherever He is.
If there is no soul sleep, then right now Jesus is in Heaven. ...however... and this is important...
2. It says "I will come again" and (THEN) I will receive you to myself. (so that you can be where I am)
So to me it seems we don't go to be with Him... until He comes back and receives us.

But if we are with Jesus immediately after we die.. (in the current state of things).. then '@Dave M' question becomes relevant.
Where is Jesus now?

Acts 1:11; They also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven."
Eph 1:20; which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,
Col 3:1; Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
John 16:7; "But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.
Eph 6:9; And masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.
Col 1:5; because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel
Col 4:1; Masters, grant to your slaves justice and fairness, knowing that you too have a Master in heaven.
1Thes 4:16; For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
2Thes 1:7; and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire,
1Pet 3:22; who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.

So, if we go to be with Jesus immediately... it would seem we go to heaven. (At least until He comes back to Earth).

 

[Brother-Paul]

Even if this is true. The current earth is just "re-newed" as opposed to altogether new, and heaven is "re-newed" as opposed to altogether new from scratch.
Either way... it hasn't happened yet. That is my point.

The New Jerusalem is in heaven now, the third heaven, where God is, where Jesus is, who is sat at God's right hand.

The New Jerusalem is the spiritual Jerusalem, it is being built up as we speak, it is the Church, the ekklesia. The New Jerusalem is not complete yet because all the Names in the book of Life and the Lamb are not in it, it is being built up and Christ is the Head.

As you say brother, it doesn't matter to us whether the earth is new or new as existing earth renewed, which ever happens according to God's will, will be Paradise, no sin on earth, no curse on the earth, everything will be restored, made new.

As far as the New Jerusalem... I believe you are right. Now while heaven may or may not be a physical place. The New Jerusalem is definitely a physical place with physical dimensions
made of physical elements.

The New Jerusalem in heaven now I believe is spiritual, some say it is physical because when it comes to earth it is physical, it depends on how we view heaven, is heaven spiritual or physical, I understand it as being spiritual, therefore the New Jerusalem which is not complete and is in heaven must also be spiritual. We welcome all comments of course and are open minded to the translation and understanding of the scriptures.

Now when John was called up into heaven he saw the New Jerusalem, not as it is now, being built up, but in it's completed form. What a sight brother.

Revelation 1:1-2 (NKJV)
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants--things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw.

John saw the finished New Jerusalem, and he saw it come down onto the new earth. The New Jerusalem is the Church, the ekklesia, the spirit and souls of all who are saved. In the OT was the Tabernacle and the Temple, but in the NT time of the Gentiles it is the Church of Jesus Christ, made up from those spiritual stones on earth who have followed Christ as Lord and Head of His Church.

In heaven now it is spiritual, when it comes down to earth it will be physical, I believe, how can this be? Nothing is impossible for God, and after all did he not create our planet, did he not create the universe from nothing, he sure did. PTL.

The New Jerusalem, the Tabernacle of God, the Holy City is heaven on earth, God with man, Emmanuel.

John saw the final stages of God coming back down to earth to be with his people, Christ is on the throne, he has created a place for us. I believe God's mansion we read where he has created a place for us (saved souls) is in the New Jerusalem. Sadly this scripture is used for so many funerals and crematorium services, wrong teachings spoken to the grieving souls, making them believe the person who has passed away, who is not saved, has gone to heaven (no one goes to heaven, only the spirit and soul of a true believer). The world believes the lie. Sad, very sad. I have a Christian brother not far from here, I remember him telling me last year, he went to the funeral service of a close family member, after the service he approached the minister and expressed his concern for telling lies, scriptural untruths to those still living. The minister became annoyed and after words like, how dare you talk to me like that my brother in Christ came away, brushing the sand off his feet, but the lies had been told. Sad, very sad.

But if I understand you correctly here (and it's possible I am mistaken)... you believe the dead saints are currently floating around in heaven as bodiless apparitions?
That either will be re-joined with their old bodys or else get new bodys at the resurrection. You believe that when Jesus says "the dead will rise", it simply means the bodies.
The Bible does say even the wicked are resurrected in a couple of places. Where are their souls/spirits now?

What I am saying is that the saved spirit and soul goes to be with the Lord, as I understand it, floating around I do not know, I have not read scripture confirming this. But I do believe that is the case, we are spirits, spiritual stones in the ekklesia, the spiritual body of Christ. But one day, the last day, we will receive our new glorious bodies and be with the Lord 'on earth' for ever.

We do not go to heaven, only the spirit and soul of believers for a period of time. We do not go to heaven, God made earth for us, he will restore, make new earth for us, then God, through Jesus will return to earth to be with us forever. Emmanuel God with us. (Not us with God, we are with him but He comes to us)

Hope I am making sense brother, I welcome the understanding of other brothers and sisters, including your dear self my friend.

There are troubling times ahead but, it will all be worth it for every saved soul, what a place the new earth will be, what a building the New Jerusalem will be, we will be in awe my friend.

PTL \o/

 

[Brother-Paul]

Rev 6:9; When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained;
Rev 6:10; and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?"
Rev 6:11; And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also.

We aren't told exactly who these people are, and where they have come from yet.... but in the next chapter...

Rev 7:13; Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, "These who are clothed in the white robes, who are they, and where have they come from?"
Rev 7:14; I said to him, "My lord, you know." And he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

It seems these people in the robes (who were under the altar in chapter 6) are the Christians who were martyred during the tribulation.
Now some people believe the Jews are the only ones being saved who will go through the tribulation.... but the Bible seems to say otherwise.

Rev 7:9; After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands;

It seems somewhere between Revelation 6 and 7 these people were avenged and released. But notice in verse 9 above, this isn't just Jews. Its people from every race and nation.
Also notice it isn't just 144,000 people. It's a great multitude that no one can count.

I was going to say we have diverged here... but not really I think. We are still talking about where Christians will go when they die (even if they are martyred during the tribulation).

Rev 20:4; Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
Rev 20:5; The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection.

It may just be coincidence (I don't think so) but notice why the people in Rev 6:9; were killed. Also notice why the people Rev 20:4; were killed. It's almost exactly the same.
Could the people in rev 20:4; be the same people in Rev 6:9; ?

If the "rest of the dead" don't come to life until after the thousand years. Does that include "the dead in Christ"?

Amen brother.

 

[B-A-C]

In heaven now it is spiritual, when it comes down to earth it will be physical, I believe,

I could go with that. It is possible. But when it is revealed to John (perhaps in a future state) it has physical dimensions, and is made of physical elements, and affects physical objects.
A lot of specific description is given about what it is made of and how big it is... too much for me to believe it is simply spiritual.

 

[Brother-Paul]

If the great tribulation already happened in 70ad, Why is Satan still running around?
Why are Christians still persecuted? Why are there still other religions?
When was a third of mankind killed? Then another third? Then another third?
When did Jesus reign over the earth "with a rod of iron" for a thousand years?

No, the great tribulation hasn't happened yet.

I totally agree brother, the tribulation and great tribulation hasn't happened yet, the question is I think, are we on the edge of the start of the first three and a half years?

We have seen the birth pangs Jesus spoke about, though we do not know how long the birth pangs will last, but we do know that they get more severe towards the end. Jesus did say, when we see things this is not the end, so true because the tribulation periods have to follow. It seems to me that the birth pangs we are seeing before our eyes, will run until the end of the Great Tribulation period. They will worsen, as prophesied, in the Tribulation period and get more extreme in the great tribulation period.

Many of us will live through these periods, many with be martyred, we are to be strong and of good faith, understanding what The Word of God tells us.

May the Peace which transends all understanding be with us all.

 

[B-A-C]

the question is I think, are we on the edge of the start of the first three and a half years?

That is a very very good question.

 

[B-A-C]

Rev 21:22; I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.
Rev 22:1; Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb,
Rev 22:2; in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. (Ezek 47:12; )
Rev 22:3; There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him;
Rev 22:4; they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads.
Rev 22:5; And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever.

Now then if we eventually go to be with Jesus (pre-trib, post-trib, pre-millennial, soul-sleep, spirit-only, whatever otherwise) but no matter what you believe about those things.
Eventually we go to be "with" Jesus at some point.

Now Jesus is currently in heaven seated at the right hand of the Father.
But the verses above say Jesus (and the Father) will move their thrones to the New Jerusalem. (not the new heaven or the new earth).
So it seems to me... if we are to be "with" Jesus. When He dwells in the New Jerusalem, that is where we will dwell also.

 

[Brother-Paul]

I could go with that. It is possible. But when it is revealed to John (perhaps in a future state) it has physical dimensions, and is made of physical elements, and affects physical objects.
A lot of specific description is given about what it is made of and how big it is... too much for me to believe it is simply spiritual.

So true brother, but heaven is spiritual, the New Jerusalem is spiritual, many think it is physical in heaven, I do not see any scripture to say this, except in Revelation. But what we read in Revelation, which was shown to John, was when 'The New Jerusalem was complete'. John saw, the completed New Jerusalem, come down from heaven onto the earth. What was on earth was physical, as you say we have the dimensions and the finer detail already in scripture that John was told to write down for us.

Man will not understand the things of God. How can our finite human mind describe the infinite God? It is not possible, how can we fathom the unfathomable? We will never find words to compare God’s infinitely indescribable mercy with our human finite minds? God can turn dust into man, give him a spirit, give him life. God can take back that life after a period and spit the earth from the spirit and soul. God can keep these until the last day then raise them to judgement, God can and will give us new bodies, God can build up the spiritual Jerusalem in heaven and when build bring it to earth as a physical structure.

Nothing is impossible for God, but understanding the infinite with finite mans is impossible to fully comprehend. The Holy Spirit will reveal what we need when we need it, what we need to know when we need to know it, but he will never reveal all God is possible of. God is all powerful, even a consuming fire.

Paul didn’t know how to express it either

2 Corinthians 9:10-15 (NKJV)
10 Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness,
11 while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.
12 For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God,
13 while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men,
14 and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you.
15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

Shalom