Introduction : To young people, fall is the season of romance when the sky is high, the air is clear, and the mountains and fields are beautifully colored. It is a pleasant and exciting season. However, to old people, the colorful trees, the various colors of fallen leaves, and the chilly wind bring emptiness and sadness. With the natural changes inside, they appear to be seeing the sunset of their own lives. Then they may ask themselves questions such as, "Will there be another world after death? Will there probably be nothing? What will happen after death?" Let us search for the answers to these questions.
1. The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob (Mk 12:26-27) 1) Moses¢¥ experience in Horeb, the mountain of God (Ex 3:6). - "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." 2) The interpretation of Jesus - "He is not the God of the dead but of the living" (Mt 22:32). (They are all living in the presence of God) 3) What happened on a high mountain (Mt 17:1-3; Lk 9:31). (1) Moses died on Mt. Nebo about 1400 years ago (2) Elijah went up to heaven in a chariot of fire about 900 years ago - They died or went up to heaven a long time ago, but they appeared before Jesus. 4) Two persons went up to heaven without dying physically - Enoch, the seventh from Adam, and Elijah (Ge 5:24; 2Ki 2:11).
2. The apostle Paul¢¥s view about life and death 1) Paul was caught up to the third heaven (2Co 12:1-4). - He didn¢¥t know whether he was in the body or out of the body. 2) Paul¢¥s conviction (1) 2Co 5:1 (2) 2Co 5:8-9 3) Paul¢¥s desire (Php 1:21-23; 1Ti 4:10). 4) Paul¢¥s expectation (2Ti 4:6-8).
3. Jesus¢¥ teaching about the world after death (Lk 16:19) 1) A rich man of influence who was a hedonist and secularist and his life after death (Lk 16:22-25). 2) Lazarus, a beggar who had faith in God and his life after death (Lk 16:20-22). 3) The actual condition of paradise and hell (Lk 16:26-31; 1Th 4:13-14; Jude 1:14; Mk 9:48-49).
Conclusion : Jesus is the most trustworthy evidence for eternal life after death. He is God, and He was born of the body of Mary. As a man He lived, died on the Cross, was buried, and rose from the dead after three days. Jesus is our example (Eph 2:5-6). |