Centuries before Christ was born, Isaiah prophesied that God would send a
deliverer who would liberate mankind. Jesus himself stood in a Jewish
synagogue one Sabbath and reminded the world of this prophecy. “And when
he had opened the book, [Jesus] found the place where it was written
[by Isaiah], ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed
me to preach the gospel to the poor; he has sent me to heal the
brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight
to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed.’ …Today this
scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:17-21, NKJV).
Decoded
“And when
he had opened the book, [Jesus] found the place where it was written
[by Isaiah], ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed
me to preach the gospel (Good News) to the poor (in spiritual understanding); he has sent me to heal the
brokenhearted (put a new spirit within you), to proclaim liberty to the captives (of sin) and recovery of sight
to the blind, (spiritual blindness) to set at liberty those who are oppressed.’ (by trials, temptations, and death)
If Jesus came to preach the Good News, why would He say this?... And He [Jesus] said, “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that ‘Seeing they may not see, And hearing they may not understand.’
~ Luke 8:10
Jesus did not say it is impossible to understand, only they "may not understand." He only opens the eyes of the spiritually blind when they are ready to receive His revelation and act upon it.
Today many Christians struggle to understand the deeper spiritual message that Jesus taught. When we have eyes to see and ears to hear then we will begin to understand the "mysteries." The key to decoding the mysteries is that the Bible is written from two points of view... physical and spiritual. Example: The Old Testament is about the first Adam (physical), the New Testament is about the last Adam (spiritual). ~ 1 Corinthians 15:45
The whole universe comes in "twos"... day and night, positive and negative, revealed and unrevealed. Good and evil are twins, both were on the Tree of Knowledge, And both "good and evil" are necessary for the perfecting of spiritual children of God.
The mystery of the resurrection from physical death to spirit life is not preached in most Churches. Instead, babes in Christ unskilled in the Word are taught that people go directly to heaven or hell at death. The transformation from physical life to spirit life is a process best illustrated by the caterpillar turning into a butterfly.
Churchanity likes to preach smooth things that tickle the ears. It is comforting to think Mama is in heaven instead of in the grave awaiting the resurrection. John stated: "No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven."
~ John 3:13
Heaven is God's throne, not a place for "saved sinners" to live in mansions on streets of gold. The word mansion simply means an abode or dwelling. Decoded, the message becomes clear: "In My Father’s house (family of God) are many mansions (places of abode); if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you (in My Father's household)."
~ John 14:2
So, what does the Bible say about death and eternity? Read God's Great Plan
You are cordially invited to join Renew Your Strength Bible Study Group
The purpose of this post is to get people to think about what they believe and why they believe it, not debate who's right or wrong.
To
learn the revealed truth of God we must know and understand the true
meaning of the words God inspired to be written. Use Strong's
Concordance to check the original word before it was translated. Do your own research, make up your own mind, rely on the Holy Spirit to guide you.
