DEATH AND BEYOND

What does the text mean about preaching to spirits in prison? The one that preached to those in bondage to sin was the Holy Spirit, the same one that raised Christ from the dead. Romans 8:11. The preaching was done in the time of Noah and we have Bible evidence for this in Genesis 6:3. ‘My Spirit shall not always strive with man.’ Therefore Christ has through the Holy Spirit brought conviction of sin to every generation and continues to do so today.

1 Thessalonians 4:14 says: ‘For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.’

Does not this refer to souls being re-united with their bodies? Please explain!
The word for ‘bring’ is the Greek word ago meaning ‘to lead forth’. Hebrews 13:20 uses the same word and it is translated thus: ‘Now the God of peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus …’ In the text in question, the literal translation would read as follows, ‘Them also which sleep in Jesus will God lead forth with Him.’

They are spoken of as asleep (verses 13, 14 15), then the call comes to awake them. They are then led forth from their tombs and are taken to heaven together (verse 17) with those who are alive to see Jesus come. We are all led forth to heaven together. The true understanding is seen in the words ‘sleep in Jesus’. The Bible view is that we sleep to await our resurrection. We awake when the heavens will be no more. They will pass away at the Second Coming of Jesus with the power of His glory.
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, 2 Peter 3:10; And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the

heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: Isaiah 34:4; And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. Revelation 6:14.
Until that time we are kept ‘secret’, but then God will come for us. The appointed time of our sleep will be over and we shall awake and be changed.
Job 14:12-14. ‘So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.

O that Thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that Thou wouldest keep me secret, until Thy wrath be past, that Thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me! If a man die, shall he live again? All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.’ 1 Corinthians 15:51 ‘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’ These things were known about in the both the Old Testament and in the New Testament. We shall be led forth with singing. Isaiah 26:19 ‘Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.’
Those who have died and those who are alive to see Jesus come will all go to be with the Lord together and at the same time. None will go to heaven before any other.

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