Discuss Ecclesiastes 12 Page 2

Lord, I pray that you will guide my words for a fit answer.

I've thought about this quite a bit being the oldest of 10. I was raised with the idea Santa is real. Well, I learn that santa is not real. I do however learn the 10 commandments.

The second commandment really speaks to me about holiday celebrations. We are instructed to not make any graven image unto the lord. Nothing from the heavens, the earth, or from below in the sea.

Exodus 20:4-6

4 "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:

5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments."

Celebrating a false idol such as Santa, is a violation of the second commandment.

However, if we are to celebrate the glory of God, and Jesus Christ. Then I agree with Christmas. There is also nothing wrong with spending time to with family and friends. As long as it will bring glory to our Lord. Also, to make memories and celebrate life and love with your family which was designed by God is a Glory unto our lord.

My final Conclusion on how you should live.

Ecclesiastes 12:13

"Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man."

Hey Giannis,

Part 1

I want to thank you; this discussion has been a blessing. It has stretched me in my understanding and the realization of some answers to some questions the Holy Spirit may not show us, maybe it is to see if we show love to one another. In our discussion the spirit and the soul are the keys, what part of us are they? Are the spirit and soul the same? Sometimes, in scripture, they seem interchangeable but is the spirit or the soul immortal, that is the key to the answer.

Spirit in Hebrew the word ruach means breath, wind, spirit, and in Greek, the word pneuma also means wind, breath, spirit. Our spirit is our driving force, energy, and stamina, and is the conduit of communication to God through His Spirit. Soul in Hebrew the word nephesh means a soul, living being, life, self, person. The Greek word psuche means the soul, life, self, and a person's distinct identity.

In Gen. 2:7 God breathed into Adam's nose the breath of life and he became a living soul. Adam became a living soul he was not given a soul. The breath, spirit, given by God became life, a soul. Also, in Genesis 1 all living animals are soul's nephesh. The soul is a living being human or animal, the life in us, but it is also our identity, we are all different in looks and personality, all our feelings, our thoughts, emotions, all that makes us, us.

Does scripture say the spirit leaves this body? Ecclesiastes 12:7 Jesus in Luke 23:46 Stephen in Acts 7:59. Does scripture say the soul leaves this body? In the resurrection 1 Cor. 15:52-57 If our soul is immortal would we not already be a spiritual being? Does scripture support death as the separation of the soul from the body and the soul is immortal? Does that come from Socrates, Plato, and then Augustine's encouragement in the church, and over the years it is fixed?

See Part 2

22) Proverbs 23:31 - God instructs not to look at intoxicating drinks.

23) Proverbs 23:32 - Alcoholic drinks bite like a serpent, sting like an adder.

24) Proverbs 23:33 - Alcohol causes the drinker to have strange and adulterous thoughts, produces willfulness, and prevents reformation.

25) Proverbs 23:34 - Alcohol makes the drinker unstable

26) Proverbs 23:35 - Alcohol makes the drinker insensitive to pain so he does not perceive it as a warning. Alcohol is habit forming.

27) Proverb 31:4-5 - Kings, Princes, and others who rule and judge must not drink alcohol. Alcohol perverts good judgment.

28) Proverbs 31:6-7 - Strong drink could be given to those about to perish or those in pain. Better anesthetics are available today.

29) Ecclesiastes 2:3 - The king tried everything, including intoxicating drink, to see if it satisfied. It did not. ( Ecclesiastes 12:8)

30) Ecclesiastes 10:17 - A land is blessed when its leaders do not drink.

31) Isaiah 5:11-12 - Woe to those who get up early to drink and stay up late at night to get drunk.

32) Isaiah 5:22 - Woe to "champion" drinkers and "experts" at mixing drinks.

33) Isaiah 19:14 - Drunken men stagger in their vomit.

34) Isaiah 22:12-13 - The Israelites choose to drink; their future looks hopeless to them.

35) Isaiah 24:9 - Drinkers cannot escape the consequences when God judges.

36) Isaiah 28:1 - God pronounces woe on the drunkards of Ephraim.

37) Isaiah 28:3 - Proud drunkards shall be trodden down.

38) Isaiah 28:7 - Priests and prophets stagger and reel from beer and wine, err in vision, and stumble in judgment.

39) Isaiah 28:8 - Drinkers' tables are covered with vomit and filth.

40) Isaiah 56:9-12 - Drinkers seek their own gain and expect tomorrow to be just like today.

41) Jeremiah 35:2-14 - The Rechabites drank no grape juice or intoxicating wine and were blessed.

42) Ezekiel 44:21 - Again God instructed the priests not to drink wine.

43) Daniel 1:5-17 - Daniel refused the king's intoxicating wine an

Thank you David. You wrote: "how are we born dead in trespasses and sins before being born again of holy spirit." I tried finding this reference in the Bible & the best I could do, was in Ephesians 2:1, "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins." Maybe you have another verse that you're thinking of, so I'd be interested to look at that.

So, using my Ephesians 2:1 verse, I understand that Paul is saying that after sin was imputed to us (through committing the first act), then we died spiritually. Physically alive, but spiritually dead - but God, through His Son, has quickened (enlivened) us, that our spirits might become alive God-wards & not dead, once upon a time having our spirits inclined only towards evil. So, I can't see where we are "BORN dead in trespasses & sins" - I believe that we can only die spiritually after we sin & its imputation to us & not at birth.

Re: "body, soul, & spirit". As I shared in another thread, this triunity of man is given us in the womb - though obviously undeveloped & without expression. I don't understand if you're stating that before our spiritual re-birth, we had only a body & 'breath life soul', without a spirit? Maybe, you're equating the arrival of our spirit only upon the onset of our spiritual rebirth. I could in a small way understand what you're saying (if that's what you're inferring), except for the volume of Scriptures indicating that a human (whatever his spiritual state) must have a human spirit to be alive.

I think these Scriptures reveal what I believe: Haggai 1:14; Job 32:8; Ecclesiastes 12:7; Proverbs 20:27; Zechariah 12:1; 1 Corinthians 2:11; Hebrews 4:12; James 2:26. I've picked a few verses specifically showing the evidence of a human spirit well before ever being touched by God's Spirit. If our spirits are untouched by God's Spirit (i.e. without rebirth), we remain spiritually dead towards God, but humanly alive & our spirits accountable to Him in that coming day.

GOD IS LIFE and LIFE IS GOD

The BODY is only a vessel that holds THE LIFE OF GOD.

When the body DIES (the wages of sin is death: Romans 6:23) it returns to the dust from whence it came.

Ecclesiastes 3:20 ALL go unto one place; for all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.

Job 34:15 ALL FLESH shall perish together and man shall turn again into dust.

Ecclesiastes 12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit (LIFE) shall return unto God who gave it.

Ephesians 4:4 ONE SPIRIT .....one LIFE

1 Corinthians 15:38 For God giveth it (the new creation, YOU, Christ resurrected) a body as it hath pleased him, and to every SEED his (Christ's) own BODY.

Ephesians 4:4 ONE BODY ....

HELL (Hades) is the grave, where men, the dust of the earth go.

The NEW MAN goes to the presence of God, the Father. as the BODY of Christ resurrected.

Ephesians 4:6 ONE GOD and FATHER OF ALL .......

Revelation 20:6 Blesses and HOLY is he (the new creation) who hath part in the FIRST RESURRECTION.

Matthew 16:24 .....DENY YOURSELF ......

Colossians 1:27 .....this mystery ......CHRIST IN YOU ..... you the body (of Christ).

John 17:21 That they (new creation) may be ONE, as thou Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they (new creation) may be ONE IN US ....

Revelation 12:2 And SHE (the church, Christ's bride) being with child (the new man) cried, travailing in BIRTH, and pained to BE DELIVERED.

Whosoever BELIEVES SHALL (at the death of this body of flesh) BE SAVED ....... DELIVERED.

May God give us eyes to see and ears to hear.

God BLESS.

I wouldn't call it a spirit world but I understand your question. The majority of modern churches teach there's no Heaven after death for the elect. This is a lie from Satan. Now, under the Old Covenant those who died in God had been for a time in Hades (the paradise side of Sheol)...such as we understand in part from Solomon

Ecclesiastes 12:7 - Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

These verse describe not only our being born again in Salvation but equally that God gives those washed in His Blood an eternity with him (Heaven...like or lump it)

John 5:24 - Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

There are two sides of the grave after death: From the unsaved there's Hell and the save eternal life with God

Christ warns...

Matthew 10:28 - And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

So, I wouldn't necessarily say Spirit world as the Holy Spirit lives in every born again believer. So, we know in part of that already. The body can be injured, hurt and pass away. But the soul cannot die and has only one of two destinies after death. That's why Salvation is so very important:

John 3:16-18

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."

The ending of the Book of Ecclesiastes implies that he repented, Ecclesiastes 12:8-14.

Continued Hebrews 4

The Moral law contains the Love and legal code God has for His Universe and beloved children. It is;

Written in stone by God's own finger - Exodus 31:18, Deuteronomy 4:12-13, 9:10

Has always existed & will be kept throughout eternity and throughout all the universe - Psalm 111:7,8, Romans 5:19 refers to Adam sinning in the Garden of Eden

Jesus said He did not come to destroy it but to fulfil it - Matt 5:17 - 19

Jesus said 'If you love me keep my commandments' John 14:15 and that 'He is the Lord of the Sabbath - Mark 2:28 - yet never mentions it being dissolved or changed

God's people are commanded to keep the Commandments of God for all eternity & God's people are identified by it because they keep it out of love to God and by faith - Exodus 19:5, Ecclesiastes 12:13,14, Psalm 111:7,8, Revelation 14:12, 12:17

Lives in the heart of God's children - Psalms 40:8

We are judged by them - James 2:12

Blessed with access to the Tree of Life if you keep them by faith - Revelation 22:14

Hello Yakima. The Bible doesn't specifically record that Solomon repented of his many sins; but then again, the Bible doesn't always give us every detail of someone's life, especially if the repenter has chosen not to record it or there were no witnesses to it. Only God knew Solomon's heart, as He does each one of us, so whether we stand or fall, we do so before God alone & under His Judgement.

However, in Ecclesiastes 12:13,14, we read Solomon finally expressing: "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil." Maybe, this is the only (small) evidence of a man who has realized his errors in life & his life was always exposed before a Just & All-seeing God.

Hi JF Maddox. Ecclesiastes 12:6,7: "Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it." These might be the verses you're thinking of.

Or even of the hymn from the same Scripture:

Some day the silver cord will break,

And I no more as now shall sing;

But, O the joy when I shall wake

Within the presence of the King!



Refrain

And I shall see Him face to face,

And tell the story, saved by grace:

And I shall see Him face to face,

And tell the story, saved by grace.

(and 3 more verses)

These verses in Ecclesiastes speak of the certainty of human death (of the body & its return to earth), but of the eternality of the human spirit which returns to God.

Dear "JF Maddox"

Ecclesiastes 12:6

Stay Blessed in His Holy Name Jesus, love u in Christ. Luke 8:40-56

I wrote this yesterday. S

Genesis 2:7

And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a LIVING SOUL.

Ecclesiastes 3:18-21

I said in my heart with regard to the children of man that God is testing them that they may see that they themselves are but beasts. For what happens to the children of man and what happens to the beasts is the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and man has no advantage over the beasts, for all is vanity. All go to one place. All are from the dust, and to dust all return. Who knows whether the spirit of man goes upward and the spirit of the beast goes down into the earth?

Job 12:7-10 But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you; or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?

***In His hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of ALL mankind.***

Ecclesiastes 12:7

And the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

Everything returns to dust upon death. The spirits return to God. (Immediately)

Genesis 2:7

And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a LIVING SOUL.

Ecclesiastes 3:18-21

I said in my heart with regard to the children of man that God is testing them that they may see that they themselves are but beasts. For what happens to the children of man and what happens to the beasts is the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and man has no advantage over the beasts, for all is vanity. All go to one place. All are from the dust, and to dust all return. Who knows whether the spirit of man goes upward and the spirit of the beast goes down into the earth?

Job 35:11 Who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth and makes us wiser than the birds of the heavens?

Job 12:7-10 But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you; or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.

** Ecclesiastes 12:7

And the dust returns to the earth as it was, and THE SPIRIT returns to God who gave it.

comment: Everything returns to dust upon death. The spirits return to God. [ there will be animals and birds in heaven]

Micah 6:8 sums up the whole duty of man just like Matthew 22 summarizes what is important in the completed witness of the law and the prophets.

Micah 6:8

He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

Matthew 22

35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,

36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

38 This is the first and great commandment.

39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Irene 123 pointed out Eccl 12:13, which is also a summation of all that God requires of men.

Ecclesiastes 12:13

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

Hi GiGi, May Jesus bless you very much.

My Nanma Margaret passed away peacefully on 6th March.

Our faithful Lord allowed me to see my beloved grandmother twice before she left.

Both my parents were able to see her also, and others from the family. Once we had all seen her, she passed in the very early hours of the next morning. I believe the Lord waited until we had all said our goodbyes.

I felt led to read scriptures to her as she rested, I listed them below. When reading from God's Word, she seemed to stir and try to respond in her frail condition.

Thank you GiGi, for your faithful prayers and well-wishes, and for sharing with me more understanding about being confirmed into the Anglican church. This gives me much comfort and hope for her salvation.

She is already missed. This was the first passing of someone who I was close with, but I have peace about it because I know we loved each other, and I could see God moving throughout my time with her, even til the end.

The scriptures I felt led to read to my Nanma:

Matthew 6:9-13 (KJV)

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (KJV)

Psalm 23 (KJV)

Isaiah 12:2-5 (KJV)

Ecclesiastes 12:7 (KJV)

God bless you very much GiGi. I let my Nanma know there were people all over the world praying for her (with you and others from this forum in mind). Thank you GiGi. I'm praying for you also.

Alex N,

The Holy Spirit is the gift of God, our heavenly Father gave us so we could understand what's written. Everlasting Father is a title for Jesus. The scriptures bare this out unless I am mistaken.

Below, it appears as though God gave the Holy Spirit to Jesus and Jesus gave it to us. God's the boss, all spirits go back to God, Ecclesiastes 12:7

Acts 2:33

33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.

You can have a look at the following OT Scriptures:

Psalm 23 (especially verse 4); Psalm 48:14; Psalm 49:15; Psalm 73:26; Psalm 116:15; Ecclesiastes 12:6,7; Isaiah 25:8.

Ecclesiastes 12:7

"Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it."

King James Version (KJV) tells us this

He was referring you to ECCLESIASTICUS

Go back to the Red Link page and look for this grouping:

KJV Bible

KJV Standard

KJV 1611

KJV Introduction

KJV Apocrypha ************

KJV Mobile Site

KJV Store

Study

Note: the Apocrypha was NOT canonized into the King James Bible. Googling history of the King James Bible will explain why.

Dear Ronald

thank you so much for replying I already was told 43:11 even Googled it but

I just received this copy of King James Version new large print but there isn't a chapter 43 only 12 chapters.

Do I have an abridged version or something other?

If so that's a disappointment.

Yvonne,

It is in Ecclesiasticus 43:11, on the site, click on more, then click on Standard King James Bible Apocrypha. Click on Ecclesiasticus go to chapter 43 and there you go verse 11.

God bless,

RLW

I apologize I put my comment under Song of Solomon

I cannot find in Ecclesiastes the verse "Look upon the rainbow and praise him."

Krystin,

I am sure you will get different replies on this, my understanding is close to what is in your post. Soul and spirit are two different words but seem to think of being the same and are hard to separate in our mind. What happens to these when we die there are different understandings, does the soul sleep in the earth with the body, or is it immortal and go to two different places?

The word soul in Hebrew is nephesh meaning a soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion. The Greek word psuche meaning the soul, life, self, a person's distinct identity.

The word spirit, the Bible writers used the Hebrew word ruach meaning breath, wind, spirit, or the Greek word pneuma also meaning wind, breath, spirit, when writing about the spirit.

Genesis 2:7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

The spirit goes back to God Ecclesiastes 12:7

The Holy Spirit seals us until when? Ephesians 4:30

We are buried mortal, dead, in corruption and we are raised immortal incorruptible 1 Corinthians 15:42-44

All consciousness ends when we die. Psalm 6:5 Job 14:12-14 Job 17:13-16 Psalm 89:48 Psalm 115:17 Ecclesiastes 9:5-10

We sleep in the dust until resurrection day, the day of redemption. 1 Corinthians 15:51 1 Thessalonians 4:14 1 Corinthians 15:52-54

God raised Jesus from the dead after three days and three nights, so, Romans 8:1 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 your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

Have not found any scripture that says we or our soul or spirit is immortal, may someone else provide it if it is in the bible.

God bless,

RLW

Praise the Lord with joy in our hearts. Fear the Lord for He is the Judge of our lives here on earth and this MUST make us to repent of our sins. We thank you ABBA Father that You have wiped away all sin through Jesus Christ Your Son. We thank you Father for your Grace and Mercy that cause us to worship the only true Lord and King Eternal. What joy should fill our hearts each day. Your Saints rejoice in Your blessings during the daylight and in the evening as we sleep, You are the Good Shepherd and we are your Sheep. I love Your Commandments forevermore! All because You gave us Jesus to die for those sins that once separated us from You.

Jesse Good stuff When WE work so hard without spiritual help we accomplish so little, and our labor is

in vain. Ecclesiastes 12:13 the whole duty of man.

Brother Bill. I too have enjoyed sharing with you these very precious Scriptures & being exercised in mind & spirit to view them from another perspective.

I sense that our exchange will end shortly, as I do find agreement in what you have written about the apostle expressing a deep longing to "exit the trials of this life and enter the rest...". And likewise, with the Philippians verses, we are reminded again of his yearning to "be with Christ". As much as those of us who lean strongly to the departure of the spirit at death & immediately into the Lord's Presence, I'm still left wondering if that were not the case, then where do our spirits go? In the Old Testament, we get a view of a holding place (which is taken as a parable by many) & even Ecclesiastes 12:7, but what about post-Cross? Since I know your understanding of this, I don't wish to re-hash what has been discussed previously, but I feel that if I too held the position you hold, I would earnestly seek to learn what are the possible options before us of where the spirit of the dead go, if at all. There can't be too many options - is there no indication or hint in the NT of this interim state? If none, would it be strange that none of the apostles spoke of this? If I were a part of that early community, this would be a pressing enquiry, just as the apostle's words of assurance of the resurrection & the coming of the Lord to those despairing believers.

Ok, I understand that you were focussing on 2 Timothy 2:11 & not the whole. My mistake. I certainly can agree on that one, that the rapture is not referred to here.

Again, thank you for taking so much time to share your understanding & thoughts - I'm sure many of us have been benefited from them & no doubt will be able to take in those Scriptures with a fresh look & appreciation. Every blessing brother Bill.

Part 2

When we die it is the same as when we sleep, we are not conscious, we are asleep in Jesus, Psalm 146:4 Ecclesiastes 9:5,10 we have no knowledge of our surroundings or time. This is the spirit that goes back to God who gave it. Ecclesiastes 12:7.

1 Thessalonians 4:14, when Jesus returns, this earth is round and those that are Christs will come from all over, and we see different places describing the gathering, Matthew 24:31, Mark 13:27, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 along with Jesus, God brings those that are Christs with Him, the second coming back to earth to set up the kingdom on earth. I understand those who believe in the rapture being carried to heaven will disagree.

Soul; Hebrew, nephesh, meaning a soul, living being animal or human, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion. Greek psuch meaning, life, as the seat of affections and will, the self, the conscience, the individual. In our conscience that is in our soul is where the battle of the desires of the flesh and the Spirit. This is what remains asleep in the grave where ever the grave may be, awaiting resurrection when we put on immortality. Psalms 49:15 John 5:28-29

When are we absent from this body? 2 Corinthians 2:6-10 When do we appear at the judgment seat? 1 Thessalonians 2:19 1 Corinthians 15:22-23. When is a corn plant absent from its seed is it not when it springs forth from its grave of the earth? We are sown and until we are resurrected, being changed like the corn seed from corruption to incorruption, and this mortal puts on immortality being freed from this body of corruption, then we will be present with the Lord.

Sorry I got wordy I am sure not all will agree but that is ok this is just what I see.

God bless us all in the love of Jesus.

RLW

1 Thessalonians 5:23

Precious brother Chris says: "I cannot find a suitable answer for," and asks Great Questions:

Where does the spirit of man go? Ecclesiastes 12:7 cp James 2:26

me: Does the soul also depart? Genesis 35:18

Is there a holding place for such? And where could this place be?

1) Before The Resurrection Of The LORD JESUS CHRIST, the paradise 'hold' was in "the heart {lower parts} of the earth" Matthew 12:40 Ephesians 4:9, Abraham's bosom, across a chasm from the 'torment' hold Luke 16:19-31 cp Luke 23:43

2) After The Resurrection Of The LORD JESUS CHRIST, paradise is now with The Throne Of God {Third Heaven?}, and Body Of CHRIST 'members' Immediately, upon physical death {'sleep' is the metaphor for the 'dead body'} "Depart to be WITH our Blessed God And Saviour, JESUS CHRIST!" 2 Corinthians 5:6,8 Philippians 1:21,23 'Confirmed' By:

3) ...Those 'asleep In JESUS'..." {metaphor for 'resting' in JESUS}, "...Will God {JESUS} Bring With HIM!" 1 Thessalonians 4:14 At our Great GRACE Departure! 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 Amen?

4) Is the "sleep/rest" UNconscious? Scripture?: Luke 16:19-31 cp Revelation 6:9-11

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Ed Bedore says: "A proper understanding of what the Bible teaches about Hell, Sheol, Hades, and the Grave dispels confusion over what happens to the soul at the time of physical death and guards against being led astray by those teaching the false doctrines of soul-sleep, eradication of the soul, the universal reconciliation of mankind, and the annihilation of the lost.":

More can be learned from his Excellent Article about this Bible Doctrine:

Hell, Sheol, Hades, Paradise, and the Grave by W. Edward Bedore

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Please Be Richly Encouraged, Enlightened, Exhorted, and Edified!

( 2 Timothy 2:15; Romans 16:25; Ephesians 1:3-9; Ephesians 3:9 = Grace/Mystery fellowship {Romans - Philemon}, For ALL "to SEE," today,?): Link

James. Please see Ecclesiastes 12:1-8, especially verses 6 & 7.

Messenger,

Thanks for sharing all of the great scripture.

I think this scripture basically summarizes what is expected of me as a Christ follower:

Ecclesiastes 12: 13-14

13Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 14For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

And again this is reiterated by Jesus Christ many years after his death in Revelation to apostle John.

Revelation 12: 12-14

12And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. 13I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. 14Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

This is Jesus/God telling us that he will judge us in the manner above!

God Bless.