Saturday, November 26, 2016

The Empty Cocoon


     Let's learn what happens to people who repent, stop sinning, believe Jesus is God, and trust daily in Jesus crucified after they leave their earthly bodies. First remember that saved believers in Jesus as God never die; Jesus said at John 11:26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die: Believest thou this? But unbelievers who reject Jesus as God die twice. First unbelievers in Jesus as God die and go to hell. This is proven by the rich man who refused to help Lazarus. When this rich man died he immediately went to hell. Then at the great white throne judgment, all the dead unbelievers are delivered up to the Judge Jesus and experience the second death where they are cast into the lake of fire. 

     How comforting to know that saints overcome with Jesus according to John 16:33: These things I (Jesus) have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace, In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. Therefore according to Revelation 2:11 saved saints are overcomers receiving this blessed promise: He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death (lake of fire). Saved saints with Jesus never die.

     OK, to understand what happens to a saint who believes Jesus is God when they leave this earth remember that all saints have a body, soul, and spirit. 2 Corinthians 5:8 tells us We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. According to this scripture the very second a saint leaves his body on this earth, their soul and spirit is immediately present with the Lord Jesus. That saint is no longer in his cocoon shell body the very instant he leaves this earth. According to 1 Thessalonians 5:23 that saint's whole spirit and soul and body is preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

     Now take time to look at the above picture of a caterpillar who leaves his cocoon and becomes a beautiful glorious butterfly. This change from a caterpillar in a cocoon to a butterfly is what saved saints experience when they leave this earth. The very moment that a saint leaves his empty cocoon shell body, he is in his glorious new body with Jesus. Note that when any saint leaves his earthly body, time no longer limits that saint. Isaiah 57:15 says that God inhabiteth eternity; Therefore when any saint is absent from the body, they are present with the Lord in eternity not limited by time. They can go back in time, have time stand still, or go forward in time beyond all time dispensations to receive their glorified body in the kingdom of God billions of years into the future. That saint is promised eternal life and can travel billions of years into the future rejoicing in his glorious body with our Lord Jesus forevermore. 

     According to time limitations, all the saints of Jesus Christ (dead and alive) will receive their glorified bodies during the rapture. This is stated at Philippians 3:20-21: For our conversation (defined as citizenship) is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ (that appears at the rapture): Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself. After death, the bodies of sinners and the dead in Christ remain seen on present earth limited by time: The souls and spirits of the dead in Christ live forever with Jesus while the souls and spirits of unbelieving sinners go to hell and the lake of fire.




     Like the beautiful butterfly pictured above with two wings who no longer is a caterpillar, saints also receive blessed glorious bodies when they leave their vile earthly bodies. Pictured above Philippians 3:21 promises Who (Jesus) shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby His is able even to subdue all things unto Himself.

     I've had many people ask Brother Bob how are the dead in Christ raised up? The bible asks this question and gives us the answer. 1 Corinthians 15:35-38 tells us But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die; And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain. But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased Him, and to every seed his own body. According to this scripture, by faith we know that Jesus will give a saint a glorious body the very instant he leaves his earthly body.

     How comforting to know that according to the third picture, when saints are absent from the body, they immediately become present with the Lord in a glorious body. These dead in Christ can travel instantly in time to where their sleeping bodies transform into glorious bodies as they are caught up to be with Jesus in the clouds blessed by eternal peace forevermore.

     Take time to carefully and slowly read the promise of 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 that says But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep (the dead in Christ), that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him (note that these dead in Christ are not in their graves; they are alive with Jesus who brings their souls and spirits alive with Him in the clouds to be united to their glorious bodies that were sleeping during the catching up of the saints). But remember, the dead in Christ are not limited by time and can instantly move to the catching up where they receive whole glorious bodies, souls, and spirits like Jesus. To be absent from the body, is to be present with the Lord Jesus in a glorious body in eternity not limited by time in eternal peace.

     People have also asked Brother Bob what happens to the dead in Christ who have been cremated where their ashes are cast into the depths of the ocean? Jesus showed Brother Bob that the answer to this question can be found by looking at how a caterpillar leaves his cocoon to become a butterfly. The butterfly is no longer in his shell cocoon; the butterfly is free from his earthly cocoon shell and can fly in glory to heaven in his glorious body.

     Like the butterflies, the dead in Christ are no longer in their cocoon shell earthly bodies. If you go to a wake and see a loved one in a coffin, that saint like the butterfly is not in his earthly cocoon shell. And if a loved one gets burned and cremated, they are not in that cocoon shell. If I take a caterpillar's cocoon, crumble it up, throw it to the ground, burn it, and scatter the ashes over the ocean; that butterfly is alive and flying in his glorious body with two wings.

     From this we learn that if any dead person in Christ is cremated, burned, and reduced to ashes that are cast into an ocean, like the butterfly, they are flying free in their glorious bodies. Remember it doesn't matter what I do to a cocoon; crumble the cocoon, burn the cocoon, or scatter the cocoon's ashes over an ocean; the butterfly exists and is flying free in his glorious body. It doesn't matter what anyone does to our earthly cocoon shell bodies after we leave this earth. When Brother Bob leaves this earth, I don't care what anyone does with my cocoon shell body. My cocoon will be empty and I'll be flying free like a butterfly in my glorious peaceful body with my Lord Jesus forevermore.
 


     Alright, as you look at the pictures above, remember our glorious bodies will be fashioned like Jesus' glorious body. 2 Corinthians 5 tells us that we are naked in our earthly bodies; but we become clothed when we receive our glorious bodies. The scripture says For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven. If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened; not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. When we get our glorified bodies, it will be like putting clothes on and no longer feeling naked in our earthly bodies.

     How comforting to know that in the first picture above like Jesus our tombs will be empty with empty cocoon shells. Buddha and Mohammed are still in their graves; but glory to God, Jesus is not in His tomb. Scientists have found no trace of the DNA flesh of Jesus after searching every piece of dirt in Jesus' tomb (no bone fragments, no pieces of hair, nothing but dirt). I got news for these scientists; let them look through every piece of dirt in Jesus' tomb; they'll never find any trace of Jesus' flesh from His tomb because Jesus is risen and lives forevermore. The angel proclaimed He is not here: for He is risen, as He said (Matthew 28:6). And Romans 8:11 promises saved saints But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken (bring to life) your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you.

     Like Jesus, saved saints will have glorified bodies fashioned like unto Jesus' glorified 30 year old perfect body. Babies, elderly, and young saved people will receive new perfect glorified 30 year old bodies. Our new glorified bodies will be infinitely better than the best time anyone experienced on this earth. I once saw a movie of an elderly man and an elderly woman rowing on a boat to heaven. When they arrived at heaven, the woman was a beautiful model and the man became young and strong with perfect healthy restored bodies forever. And all the saved saints will recognize one another with great joy. 1 Corinthians 13:12 tells us For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 

     Let's take a look at what Jesus' glorified body looks like in the second picture above. When Jesus appeared in His glorified body to the disciples, Jesus had flesh and bones (not flesh and blood because flesh and blood can not inherit the kingdom of God). And note that Jesus in his glorified body was able to travel through walls and closed doors and eat fish and a honeycomb. Like Jesus, saved saints' glorified bodies will travel through closed doors and walls and can eat food.

     The second picture where Jesus appeared in His glorified body to the disciples is at Luke 24:39. Jesus said to the disciples Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. And when He had thus spoken, He shewed them His hands and His feet. And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, He said unto them Have ye here any meat? And they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And He took it, and did eat before them.


     For our final thought today about the glorified bodies that old testament saints will soon receive, lets look at the above picture and the prophet Ezekial's vision of the valley of dry bones for the whole house of Israel. Ezekial saw all the old testament saints' dry bones receiving glorified bodies of new sinew, flesh, and skin as they lived and became a great army for our Lord Jesus.

     Ezekial 37:7-10 tells us how these old testament saints will receive glorious bodies. The scripture says So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone. And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above; but there was no breath in them.

     Ezekial 37:9 goes on to say Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord God; Come from the four winds, O breathe, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.

     Ezekial 37:11 says Then He (the Lord Jesus) said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts. Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves. 

     This rapture of old testament saints will occur along with the rapture of the bride church when Jesus appears in the clouds. Note though that an earlier rapture of 144000 old testament Jewish saints (called firstfruits) occurs earlier after Jesus is resurrected from the cross (See 1 Corinthians 15:22-23, Matthew 27:52-53, and Revelation 14:4). The order of raptures is Jesus first, the 144000 who are firstfruits, then the bride church with the rest of the old testament saints called the harvest, and finally the tribulation saints called the gleanings.   

Right Now Get Saved: Repent, Decide To Stop Sinning
Confess That Jesus Is God And Believe The Gospel 
That Jesus Died For You On The Cross
Was Buried And Is Risen From The Dead

     I pray in Jesus name this bible study blesses multitudes all over this earth. Feel free to email Brother Bob anytime at rz9tlm@gmail.com or write to Brother Bob Malkin, 2233 Pinetree Lane, Apt. N., Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068. (614) 604-7133. Until we all meet again soon to lift up our Lord Jesus, everyone have a blessed day in Jesus name.

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