“That means all souls return to the Maker that sent them.” This has the ring of new age religion, not Biblical Christianity. For believers, ONLY BELIEVERS, to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. The reason for this is the Presence of The Holy Spirit in the Believer’s spirit thus the Believer has the state of righteousness to allow being in the Presence of God’s Righteousness. Without His Spirit one is without His righteousness. No unrighteousness is allowed in His Presence.
Actually..
Ecclesiastes 12:7
...and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
This is NOT actually what the Book says...
Paul is expressing a SENTIMENT:
2 Corinthians 5:8
We are confident, I say, and would prefer rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
It does NOT say it is an either/or situation.
Else just WHO are the Dead In Christ that will RISE from the tombs at the Last Trump?
HOW would that be accomplished if they are already with Christ?
Looks like ‘Justmythoughts” boogied for now....
I’m out for dinner ...
Interesting how the catholics left the thread...maybe will be back. But this guy sure has some strange teachings...just asked him what the origin is...maybe he’ll answer later..
Cynthia
Ecclesiastes 12:6 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,
7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God Who gave it.
Maybe that sounds 'new age religion' to you, but it tells me that all return to the Maker that sent them.
In the parable of the rich man, he could see Abraham with Lazarus, but was separated from them.