This wonderfully blessed book is designed to comfort and encourage the people of the entire human race that death of the flesh is not only good, it is necessary if we want to be resurrected into the Kingdom of God. Since Jesus died on the cross for the sins of this world, death, hell, and the grave were all conquered at the foot of the cross. Our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ has given His followers the VICTORY to overcome this world and enter gracefully into the everlasting Kingdom of God. Death is an occurrence that most individuals still fear in today's world, especially when old age starts to creep in. It is a known fact that human beings will often fear the unknown. When we learn the truth about what really happens when we die, fear will suddenly leave. This extraordinary book will fully explain what happens when we die in the flesh and leave this earthly realm. Once we've learned the importance of stepping over into eternity, then we will know what a true blessing it is to enter into the presence of God! Jesus voluntarily gave His life on the cross so that you and I could enjoy everlasting life in God's eternal Kingdom. Don't be left out! We invite you to visit our website at www.EdifyYourSpirit.com where there is a blessing waiting just for you!
Absent in the Body, Present with the Lord
What really happens when we die?By Carl BriceAuthorHouse
Copyright © 2009 Carl Brice
All right reserved.ISBN: 978-1-4389-5776-0Contents
Acknowledgment......................................................vMission Statement...................................................ixIntroduction........................................................xvWhat Happens to Us When We Die?.....................................1Life after Death....................................................5Who's Your Father?..................................................8Absent in the Body, Present with the Lord...........................10How to Approach Funerals............................................15What Does Death Really Mean?........................................17Do You Trust God?...................................................19Hope in Death.......................................................22Sickness not unto Death.............................................25Why We Rejoice in the First Death...................................28The Purpose of Rejoicing............................................29Our Mission on Earth................................................31Our Mission.........................................................33Family Support......................................................35Church Support......................................................37Did You Know that Your Soul Will Live Forever?......................38All Souls Come from God.............................................41We Are Born into Captivity..........................................43The Angel appears to Joseph.........................................44The Angel appears to Mary...........................................45The Wages of Sin Are Death..........................................47The Will to Live....................................................51The Lord Can Grant Us Extra Years...................................54Death in the Flesh Eliminates Suffering.............................55Don't Look Back!....................................................61Mourning............................................................63Grief and Sorrow....................................................65Cherish the Memories................................................67How to Handle Major Catastrophes....................................71The Curse...........................................................72Are You Spiritually Dead?...........................................75The Sting of Death Removed..........................................77Fear of Death Brings Bondage........................................81Be Faithful unto Death..............................................83Do You Believe that Hell Exists?....................................85Hell the Place......................................................87Hell the Spirit/Person..............................................88The Unforgivable Sin................................................91Webster's Dictionary................................................91The Keys to Not Sinning against the Holy Spirit.....................93Life Is Short, Eternity Is Forever..................................96The Second Death and How to Avoid It................................100The Dream...........................................................103The Interpretation..................................................104King Nebuchadnezzar Reacts..........................................105Daniel's Interpretation Fulfilled...................................105Let the Redeemed of the Lord Say So.................................110Death of the Born-Again Christians..................................113The Beauty of the Holy City.........................................114No more suffering...................................................116Glossary............................................................119
Chapter One
What Happens to Us When We Die?
Have you ever taken the time to think about what happens when we die? One thing is for sure; your flesh will return back to the ground to a state of dust from whence it came. Have you ever thought about what happens after that? The Bible tells us when our bodies die on earth, only our flesh dies off, not our soul and spirit. The Bible refers to this as the first death or death of the body. There is a second death that the Bible speaks about that some men will indeed face.
The good news of the gospel tells us that Jesus saved His followers from death, hell, and the grave. These three enemies have no authority over the born-again, blood-washed Christian believers. The Bible lets us know that the Lake of Fire and Brimstone is called and referred to as the second death. Christian born-again believers have been saved and spared from this awful event scheduled to take place in the near future. Therefore, let us act accordingly when the time comes for our flesh to expire on earth. Remember that we have a personal relationship with the Savior of the world, and his name is Jesus the Christ.
Even though our fleshly bodies expire on earth, we must never forget that our soul and spirit will live forever. In essence, death is not the end; it's the new beginning of eternal life with God. This enemy called death and even hell will be destroyed in the End Times by Christ Himself. The Bible tells us that they both will be cast into the Lake of Fire and Brimstone. Death will be the very last enemy of God destroyed in this fiery lake.
Scripture
"And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire" (Revelation 20:14-15).
"The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death" (1 Corinthians 15:26).
The Word of God tells us that once the flesh dies the spirit of man returns to God. The fleshly body returns to the ground in the earth from whence it came, and the spirit returns back to God who gave it. We must fully embrace this truth and continue to have faith and hope in the same.
Scripture
"Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it" (Ecclesiastes 12:7).
When mankind does not read the Word of God, it is the same as rejecting the Lord, whether we realize it or not. If we go through life believing that when we are dead we are just dead, this kind of false thinking will cause us to have no restraint in our everyday living. Our behavior becomes unruly and very selfish, because we have no hope in the future. Anyone who chooses to reject the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ will eventually spend eternity separated from God.
No one but God knows what truly goes on inside the heart of a man or woman. That is why we have to be very busy ministering the Word of God to all souls who are willing to receive what "thus saith the Lord." We have to let the children of the earth know what special provisions God has made on their behalf. The world must know that Jesus is the prophesied Messiah sent from God. He paid the ultimate price for sin once and for all by voluntarily laying down His innocent, sinless life on the cross at Calvary. This great sacrifice was made for sinful individuals and a world contaminated with sin. This is God's provision, not man's doing. Therefore, while your loved ones live, make sure you tell them about the precious love of Jesus Christ and how His grace will save their souls.
If you remember anything, remember this. Mankind and/or the many religions of this world have no heaven or hell to put you in. Only the true and living God of the universe who created the heavens and the earth has that kind of sovereign power. Do not be deceived or tricked into thinking that your soul is in good standing without the shed blood of Jesus Christ our Lord. There is no such thing as a good person among mankind. We as human beings should stop saying that about ourselves. Jesus said there is only one that is good, and that is God.
When we think we are good, it keeps us from realizing just how much we are in need of a Savior. Once sin becomes a reality, the Holy Spirit of God shows us our true self. That's when we realize just how filthy we are without the Savior's blood. The Bible tells us that we are as filthy rags in the eyes of God. We must understand that all souls are born into this world with a sinful nature. We have all broken all of the Ten Commandments in our lifetime. This means that the wages of sin are still death, simply because God spoke it in His Holy Word.
If it wasn't for the shed blood of Jesus the Savior, we all would be worthy of death. The only way to cleanse our souls from the stain of sin is to get covered with the Holy Blood of Jesus. He is the one and only Lord and Savior of this world. Aren't you glad that you have come to yourself and received Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord? Only God knows where death is waiting for each one of us. We as Christian believers have been given the authority to finish our course of service for the Kingdom of God. While serving in our purpose, there is no need for us to be concerned about death in the flesh. As long as we continue to serve the Lord and be about our Father's business, death in the flesh will wait on us.
Scripture
The Apostle Paul said, "But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God" (Acts 20:24).
"For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labor: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwix two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you" (Philippians 1:21-24).
This is evidence that, as long as we honor our service to the Lord and minister to the lost souls, death cannot prematurely snatch us from this world. Paul the apostle taught us that he never put anything or anybody in front of what he had to do for the Lord. He let us know that there is a course we as servants must complete. We must minister the gospel of God's grace to all that have an ear to hear.
The Apostle Paul said, "To live is Christ, and to die is gain." The apostle realized that as long as he remained in the flesh, he could perform his labor assignment given to him by Jesus Christ. This ordained service was more beneficial to mankind rather than the apostle. "To die is gain," because the apostle would then be ushered into the presence of the Almighty God. This would be considered perfect fellowship with the Savior. The Apostle Paul found pleasure in living, because it was an opportunity for him to continue serving the Lord Jesus. Upon completion of his course set before him here on earth, Paul knew that the eternal Kingdom awaited him. This means he would step over into eternity with the Lord, which would be far better than this life.
The bottom line is this; the only thing that really matters in life is when you can answer yes to this question. Do you know the Lord Jesus in the pardoning of your sins? When you have been guaranteed eternal life in Christ Jesus, your worries are over. The joy of the Lord will overshadow you. You will become a spokesperson for the Kingdom of God. You could not keep silent even if you wanted to.
Then, you will begin to experience and share the love of God through His Holy Spirit. This is the same unconditional love that eventually saved each one of us out of sin. This type of love redirected our lives and placed us on the path of righteousness, even when the devil thought he had us bound. Therefore, worry no longer over death in the flesh knowing that Jesus has given us victory over death, hell, and the grave. Just like the grave could not hold our Savior and Lord, this same victory has been given to all that believe.
Scripture
"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God" (1 John 5:4-5)?
Those who believe in the Son of God will overcome this world. While performing the will of God here on earth, we must partake in the labor of love for His mighty Kingdom. Meanwhile, as we continue in our service to God, let us never stop looking up for the return of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Life after Death
There are still many souls on earth today who struggle with this particular question, "Is there life after death?" Despite everything you have learned thus far, there are individuals who are not privileged to the word of truth. They have chosen not to seek the Word of God. They do not understand that The Holy Bible holds all the answers both pertaining to life and death. The question to ask is this, "What is the definition of life?"
According to Webster's New World Dictionary, life is defined as a living being; esp. a human being, a time a person or thing is alive or exists, the existence of the soul (eternal life).
Another definition is explained this way; that property of plants and animals that make it possible for them to take food, get energy from it, grow, adapt themselves to their surroundings, and reproduce their kind: it is the quality that distinguishes a living animal or plant from inorganic matter or a dead organism.
Life is explained in many ways. Every living organism has the ability to receive food, produce some form of energy, and grow from a beginning stage to a mature stage of life. All these things are made and sustained by God whether mankind is willing to acknowledge it or not. The biggest question of today is whether or not there is life after death. The only ones who constantly ask this question are the unbelievers of this world. Since the world system is being influenced everyday by the enemies of God that explains why nonbelievers have difficulty when it comes to the concept of eternal life. Christian born-again believers fully understand what happens when the saints of God die in their flesh. These God fearing believers have chosen to place the Word of God above any and everything pertaining to life.
If you were to stop strangers on the street and ask the question whether or not they believed in God, most individuals would probably say yes. Even though most of the responses would probably be yes, the churches are still having a problem filling their pews on Sunday morning. What this shows is that even when people say they believe in God, the question still remains, will you serve Him with your whole heart? Will you make Jesus Christ your Lord and personal Savior, or will heaven and hell remain a figment of your imagination? Just knowing that there is a God, and perhaps even knowing His Holy Word, does not amount to much by itself.
Remember, the devil and all of his fallen angels who followed him knew and believed in God. They just chose to rebel on purpose. Therefore, if mankind wants to have a step up above Satan, then he must obey the Lord and learn to love His perfect will. If not, then there is not much difference between the devil and men who claim they know what the Word of God says. Those who accept the Lord's provision for salvation through His only begotten Son Jesus, all have one thing in common. They all love the Lord. This is something that Satan or anyone affiliated with Satan would never do.
This is why anyone who rejects the Word of God fully embraces the enemy's agenda without awareness. These souls have fallen victim to the deception that the devil uses to deceive this world. This is why many souls still feel that when you are dead, you're just gone, never to be thought of again. How wrong they are. Too many living souls on earth love straddling the fence concerning heaven or hell and what it takes to get there. The problem arises when individuals believe that there is no heaven or hell. That is when they tend to live like the devil. They have no regard for others as they go through life accountable to no one.
Those who truly believe in their hearts that God and His glorious Kingdom are real tend to allow their behavior to reflect moral accountability. For they know that God has commanded certain laws to be obeyed in this world. The violation of these laws carries severe consequences to the violator. When a person is blinded to the will of God, they fail to recognize that the corruption they are reaping is from the sins they have previously sown. They go into captivity and fail to realize why. Only those who seek the Lord will have their eyes uncovered where they can actually see the glory of His Majesty. Therefore, do not let your own limited thoughts lead you; if so, your soul will be led right into captivity. This means a trap, snare, or bondage of some sort. This is what God has said concerning the men and women He created who say there is no God!
Scripture
"The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one" (Psalm 14:1-3).
Therefore, if you are one of these individuals who at one time or another have said there is no God, the Word of God calls you a fool! Hopefully you no longer feel that way after being exposed to the word of truth. God is recording everything we say and do while we wander through life's journey. Be not deceived any longer. Whatever is written in The Holy Bible has and will come to pass.
Who's Your Father?
Mankind has a choice who he will serve. When we are born into this world, we are temporary captives of the enemy, Satan. Many of you will wonder how and why this is possible. First of all, this is not our fault; we inherited what is called a sin nature from the first man, Adam. When mankind commits evil deeds, this behavior glorifies Satan. The same applies when mankind performs the will of God; he glorifies the Father who art in heaven.
The provision that God made for His creation allows mankind to be adopted into the family of God. This corrects the disobedient mistake Adam made in the Garden of Eden, which ushered sin into this world. When Adam disobeyed God by eating from the forbidden tree, he caused sin to come upon the entire world. When Jesus died on the cross, He made a way for the entire world to be redeemed from the hands of the enemy. Salvation cannot be obtained through others. Every soul must fend for oneself. God will accept any man or woman who calls on the name of Jesus. Those who accept God's provision through His only begotten Son Jesus the Messiah have a new Holy Father. Jesus tells us in His Holy Word that we will do the will of our Father.
Scripture
Jesus said to the Jews, "I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father" (John 8:38).
"Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not" (John 8:41-45).
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Excerpted from Absent in the Body, Present with the Lordby Carl Brice Copyright © 2009 by Carl Brice. Excerpted by permission.
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