Chapter 9 -WHAT HAPPENS TO OUR DEAD LOVED ONES?

RESURRECTION TO WHERE?

A limited number of men and women will be resurrected to life in heaven.  As kings and priests with Jesus, they will share in  undoing all the effects of death that mankind inherited from the first man, Adam.  (Romans 5:12; Revelation 5:9, 10)  How many will God take to heaven to rule with Christ?  According to the Bible, only  144,000.  (Revelation 7:4; 14:1)  Jehovah will give each of these resurrected  ones a spirit body so that they can live in heaven. -1 Corinthians 15:35, 38, 42-45; 1 Peter 3:18.

By far the majority of those who  have died will be resurrected to a paradise earth.  (Psalm 37:11, 29; Matthew 6:10)  Part of the reason for resurrecting some to heaven is to complete God's purpose for the earth.  Jesus Christ and the 144,000 in  heaven will progressively bring obedient  mankind back to the perfection that our original parents threw away.  This will include resurrected ones, as indicated by Jesus when he told the dying man impaled next to him:  "You will be with me in Paradise." -Luke 23:42, 43.

On the Paradise earth, death, which today produces such futility, will be removed.  (Romans 8:19-21) The prophet Isaiah declared that Jehovah God "will actually swallow up death forever."  (Isaiah 25:8) The apostle John was given a vision of the time when obedient mankind will experience freedom from pain and death.  Yes, "God himself will be with them.   And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore.  The former things have passed away." -Revelation 21:1-4.

The Bible's clear teachings remove confusion about what happens to the dead.  The Scriptures plainly state that death is "the last enemy" that will be destroyed. (1 Corinthians 15:26) What strength and comfort we can draw from knowledge of the resurrection hope! And how glad we can be that our dead loved ones who are in God's memory will awaken from the sleep of death to enjoy all the good things he has in store for those who love him!  (Psalm 145:16) Such blessings will be accomplished through God's Kingdom.  But when was its rule to begin? Let us see.

Next time:GOD'S KINGDOM RULES

The Book - KNOWLEDGE That Leads To Everlasting Life, 1995