That ["... [[One Baptism said] For instance, some incorrectly teach that upon the first death of any person they are immediately rewarded with either eternal punishments/torments in hell/fire, or are enraptured in the joys of Heaven. ..."] is simply the teaching of Scripture.
Assertion before evidence. Cart before horse. Self defined and stated apriori. That part of the response may be ignored for this reason. Let us stay to the texts as closely as possible.
... Christ teaches a dead unbeliever in Hades in torment, and in that Age, Lazarus in "the Bosom of Abraham," a Jewish euphemism for Sheol/Hades.
Assertion before evidence. Cart before horse. Self defined and stated apriori. That may also be ignored for that reason. In order to use the passage of Luke 16 in a justification for your [or my] belief, it must first be shown from the text, not simply asserted, that it teaches such. In order to determine whether the text is evidence for or against the assertion it must first be gone into in studied [prayerfully] detail, using the scriptural methods/rules which God laid out in scripture [KJB] for us.
However, before going into it or any other text or passages, please decide on one, and let us consider it. If you want to consider Luke 16 [KJB] in context, etc, we can.
... [ref. 2 Corinthians 5:6-8 KJB]
The context in this chapter is Paul desiring, not to die, but to be glorified in the Rapture. The context is specific to what happens to men when they die. ...
Assertion before evidence. We need to go into each passage in detail, not simply cite and assert.
Before moving onto a completely different text and context from Luke 16 [to 2 Corinthians 5], please choose one to look at first, then we may incorporate others as we consider the immediate context of each first.
If you want to look at 2 Corinthians 5:6-8 KJB, we can, but please choose between this and Luke 16. Otherwise we will have entirely too much on the table at once. We should go slowly, ask questions of the text, and one another, to make sure that we are coming into agreement with the text itself. The word of God is Truth [John 17:17 KJB], since JEHOVAH is eternal truth [Deuteronomy 32:4; Psalms 31:5; Isaiah 65:16; John 14:6, etc], our assertions/apriori are not necessarily so.
A question might be, Do I agree with the what the text says in its words? And my answer is, "Yes". Yet, I would supect you would say the same. Why then the two conclusions about what those words say/teach? Therein is the matter for discussion/study, to find out where either of us is incorrect, or both. Yet again, please choose one to begin with.
... And again, we have to carefully distinguish between what happened to men in past Ages and what takes place now that Christ has opened the Holiest of All (Heaven) that the spirits of men might come into the presence of God (and this too deserves its own thread, but again is relevant to the current discussion). ..
There are assertions being made [though behind them are scripture references, but I cannot aford to assume where you are drawing from], without evidence again. Cart before horse. I do not mean to tire anyone with this repetition, but it is happening each time. Slowly, please. I do not jump to your conclusions, because I do not begin with your assertions, nor apriori. I read the same words, but come to differing conclusions based upon what those very words in the scriptural references mean, as they are defined in scripture itself, according to its own internal rules.
... That is in fact the purpose of this thread. To show that through some minor errors in understanding, some have embraced Annihilation and Soul Sleep. ...
So far, I have seen no demonstration from the scripture [KJB] that the belief/teaching of "annihilation" or "soul sleep" are in error, in any way, and even the two passages thus mentioned [without any study therein] so far, I agree with 100% and are not detrimental in the least to those two teachings/beliefs/doctrines. Presently, I have seen assertion before demonstration and evidence. Not attempting to be harsh or unkind in any way. I love the idea of the thread to discuss/study the scripture together, and that you have invited me and asked me to do that with yourself, but the practice part of it is missing so far.
...Whereas I will present a Scriptural Basis for the view that all men will live eternally, though unbelievers will do so in the same state of death and separation they are born into, whereas believers (and the Just of the Old Testament will live on and actually have eternal life, because they are indwelt eternally by God, Who is Eternal Life.
God bless.
Ok, that is fair to attempt, but if you will please begin with a single passage that we may look at. So far, both Luke 16 and 2 Corinthians 5 have been cited, but not studied together. To simply assert that they provide evidence for your theological belief [as you say], is not real evidence that they do so.
Also, it would be easier if it were just between you and I, instead of responding to everyone else [on both our parts], but its up to you,
Has what I said made sense so far?
