Everyone will inherit eternal life

The above title is not an incorrect phrase. Everyone who will ever live soul will never die. God created the soul to exist forever. So no one ceases to exist as some have taught. There is no such things as annihilation-ism. 

The Bible in Daniel 12:1-2 says, "At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such has never been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name is written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt."  

What Daniel is explaining is that those who are currently dead will be resurrected, that is raised out of the grave to receive judgment. Those who died in Christ will receive everlasting life, and those who died in sin will receive eternal damnation. 

In John 5:28-29 we read Jesus speaking, "Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment."

In Revelation 14:9-11, And another angel, a third followed them saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God's wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of his name."

And the last passage we need to examine is in Luke 16:23. We read of a rich man dying, and waking up in hell. Noticed that in hell his soul was wide awake and that he was fully aware of where he was - he was in torment and anguish and desired relief (vs 23-24). Why was the rich man there? Because he was evil and had apparently lived an unholy rebellious life while on earth. The rich had reached the eternal state. Or as we typically use the phrase, "He has reached the other side".

The point I am making is that whether one is in Christ or in sin, we all live forever. If one is in Jesus, you will receive a glorified body fit for heaven (Phil 3:21;1 Cor 15:51-58;1 Thess 4:13-18) If you die in sin you will receive a body fit for hell (Rev 20:11-15).  No one ever ceases to exist. 

I am not saying that we will not die. The body will eventually expire, and return to the dust from where it came, but after physical death is where eternity begins for that soul. The soul of man never dies. Once again, it either is forever with its creator or forever separated from its creator. 

Slain in the "Spirit?"

What is this practice or phenomenon known as the slain in the spirit? Well, it is when people in the Church supposedly fall out under the power of God when hands are laid on them for physical healing or some other blessing. The biggest advocate of this practice is televangelist Benny Hinn. He is notorious for waving his hands or his coat in front of people and they fall backward under the supposed power of God. 

 See what happens in this video clip:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvx0xjnBGh0 

To say Benny Hinn and those like him are frauds is an understatement. One does not receive the anointing of God by someone waving their hands or coat at you - ridiculous! What we are witnessing is a dog-and-pony show and not the power of God. It is utter blasphemy and shameful that men in pulpits across America would engage in this type of behavior in the name of Jesus.

To be slain in the Spirit is not biblical. It makes the true Church of Jesus Christ look foolish, yet entertaining to the uninitiated. When a Church sorely lacks Biblical exposition, it covers up with chicanery, often an overdose of music, and useless fillers to keep parishioners entertained (i.e. being slain in the Spirit). 

What happened to those who really experienced God's glory and power? 

When Isaiah saw the Lord high and lifted up, he was awestruck, afraid and ashamed. He said, "Woe is me! For I am lost! I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts" (Isa 6:5)!

Isaiah knew he was in the presence of the Almighty and was humiliated because he knew he was a sinner.

When Daniel saw visions from the Lord he was overcome, sick and retained no strength (Dan 8:27;10:9). The real power of God is often too much for a human to endure. 

When John the Apostle saw Jesus in His glory in the book of Revelation he fell down as if he was dead (Rev 1:17). Jesus told him to "fear not", strengthening him. 

These are only three accounts of the power of God. God's true power can bring one to their knees in worship and fear, but certainly, will not have someone fall out and convulse on the floor. That type of behavior is typical of one that is demon possessed.

What is God's anointing?

The Greek word for anointing is Chrisma. It means one separated by God for a special purpose and service. Jesus who is the Christ means anointed one. Christ is Jesus' title, his function and not his last name. In the OT, the anointing was symbolized by the pouring of olive oil on someone's head - setting them apart for service. This was conferred on the OT priests and kings (Ex 40:13;1 Kings 1:34,39. In the NT, the anointing is symbolized by the indwelling Holy Spirit. (1 John 2:20,27). 

Every Christian is anointed. Why? Because all Christians have the Holy Spirit dwelling on the inside of them. We all have been set apart and made holy by God to serve Him and others. That is why we are here. To have the anointing of God is not a play thing! God has graciously chosen to have his Spirit dwell in us so that we can be a light in this thick sinful dark world we live in. God's anointing is not in anyone's coat that can be thrown around and people fall out supposedly subdued by God's power. This is nonsense. This madness is rehearsed, and you usually see the same suspects performing these antics every week. I know, I have personally witnessed it at churches I attended years ago. 

Concluding, I have no doubt that God's power can be an emotional experience and bring someone to their knees, but what I am against is the foolishness we see on television - often on the Trinity Broadcast Network (TBN), and other places. If you are attending a Church where this ungodly practice is occurring do yourself a favor and leave that Church immediately. If you remain, you are sacrificing Biblical substance for sensationalism which dishonors God. 

1 Corinthians 10:13

"No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man.  God is faithful who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape that you may be able to bear it."

                                                                                                                        - 1 Corinthians 10:13


I woke up this morning with this verse on my mind for some reason so I felt I needed to write about it. Paul the writer is saying that any temptation we go through is a common temptation, it is not something strange that is happening to the believer. The word temptation in the Greek is  peirasmos which means trial or test.

When God is testing us, it is for our growth and edification. We see this clearly when God allowed Satan to severely afflict Job (see chapters 1 and 2 of Job).  Job never knew why He suffered so greatly, but what the trials taught him is to fully put his whole life in the care of His God; even if the trials cost Job his life which they almost did. 

Also, when Paul says that God will provide the way of escape that you may be able to bear it does not mean God is removing the trial from us, rather He is fortifying us through the trial that He ordained that we would endure.

Why?

Let's go to 1 Peter 1:5-9, "Who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials (same Greek word peirasmos), so that the tested genuineness of your faith more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire may be found to result in praise and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls."

The Apostle by inspiration of the Holy Spirit perfectly answers why we must go through trials:

1. To test and try our faith in God (vs 7)
2. For the praise and glory of God ( vs 7b)
3. To bolster our belief in God (vs 8)
4. So that one day we will see the outcome of our faith - soul salvation (vs 9)

In Acts 9:15-16 Jesus appears in a vision to one of his servants named Ananias. Jesus said to him that Paul was a chosen vessel of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and children of Israel. For I must show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.

Paul speaking to the Philippians said this, "For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake (Phil 1:29).

We know faith to be a gift from God (Eph 2:8-9), but we are not familiar or comfortable with suffering being a gift from God, are we?

The last one that I cannot leave out is in James 1:2-4, "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete lacking nothing."

Notice what Paul says, count it or evaluate your trial and determine, make up your mind to be joyful. The trial itself is not joy, but our response to it can be one of joy because we know the trial has a redeeming benefit for us - to produce patience in us by the trial sent to humble us. The negative of this process is if we fail the test that God has sent our way, it can lead to a temptation to sin. Our attitude toward the trials is the key - will we choose to rejoice through the pain of the trial (Phil 3:1), develop patience and strengthen our faith in God, or will the trial defeat us and we throw up our hands, lose the battle and commit sin only to have to go through the same process all over again?

We all have to choose.