LIFE AFTER DEATH 1

1. "Let one who is doing harm continue to do harm; let the one who is vile Continue to be vile; let the one who is righteous Continue to live righteously; let the one who is holy Continue to be holy."
2. "LOOK, I AM COMING SOON, BRINGING MY REWARD WITH ME TO REPAY ALL PEOPLE ACCORDING TO THEIR DEEDS."
   Revelation 22:11,12 (NLT)

• Life after death is One of the basic Or central tenets of Christianity.

• There are some people who believe that when a person died, the person died like an animal, there is no other life after the person is Dead.
  WHILE some other people believe THEY will reincarnate, and that depends on their karma—the sum of their good and bad DEEDS, and their actions in their life time.
  WHICH THEY believe would determine what happens to them in their next LIFE.

• However, Christianity teaches THERE is another life after death, that physical death is not the end of all things.
WHAT happens to an individual after his or her departure on earth is based on the decision made by the person whilst living.
JESUS died, resurrected, and promised to come back to receive those who have faith in Him, that they may be where He is (John 14:1-3).

1. "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me [Jesus].
2. "In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I GO TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU.
3. "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I WILL COME AGAIN AND RECEIVE YOU TO MYSELF; THAT WHERE I AM, THERE YOU MAY BE ALSO."
   John 14:1-3 (NKJV)

• It is also taught in Christianity: WHOEVER believes that Christ died a substitutionary death for his or her sin, and thus accepted Him as Saviour and Lord, would have their names written in the Book of Life (Romans 4:25; 10:9,10; Revelation 21:27).

• And those whose names are found written in the Book of Life would be with Christ Jesus in His Kingdom after their journey on the earth.

1. "And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, AND SHOWED ME THE GREAT CITY, THE HOLY JERUSALEM, descending out of heaven from God.
2. But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, BUT ONLY THOSE WHO ARE WRITTEN IN THE LAMB'S BOOK OF LIFE."
   Revelation 21:10,27 (NKJV)

BUT those whose names are not found written in the Book of Life would end their journey in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15).

• As Jesus promises to come again for those who accepted Him as Saviour and Lord, He did promise to come with reward: "And behold, I am coming quickly, AND MY REWARD IS WITH ME, TO GIVE TO EVERYONE ACCORDING TO HIS [her] WORK" (Revelation 22:12).

• Jesus' suffering, death, and resurrection are meant to reconcile whoever believes in Him to God (Romans 5:8-11; 2 Corinthians 5:18).
  THOSE who are reconciled to God through faith in the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ have their names written in the Book of Life.

• There are three main categories of people on the face of the earth:

THE FIRST CATEGORY are those who do not believe in Christ Jesus, they refuse to acknowledge Him as their Saviour and Lord.
THE Bible says:
17 "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
18 HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM IS NOT CONDEMNED; BUT HE WHO DOES NOT BELIEVE IS CONDEMNED ALREADY, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God" (John 3:17,18).

THE SECOND CATEGORY are those who claimed to believe in Him and have accepted Him as Saviour and Lord, but such are not steadfast in Him:
"THEY PROFESS TO KNOW GOD, BUT IN WORKS THEY DENY HIM, being abominable [detestable], disobedient, and disqualified for every good work" (Titus 1:16).

AND THE THIRD CATEGORY are the people who believe in Him, accepted Him as Saviour and Lord, and are walking in the light of His Word, that is, living their lives in line with His Word:
"Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed in Him, "IF YOU ABIDE IN MY WORD, YOU ARE MY DISCIPLES INDEED" (John 8:31).

• Jesus says whatever each individual is doing, THEY should continue in it, He however is coming with His reward (Revelation 22:12).

• Those who believe in Jesus Christ, do accept Him as Saviour and Lord, would appear at the judgement seat of Christ to receive rewards based on their WORKS on earth (Ephesians 6:8).

"For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, THAT EACH ONE MAY RECEIVE THE THINGS DONE IN THE BODY, ACCORDING TO WHAT HE HAS DONE, whether good or bad."
2 Corinthians 5:14 (NKJV)

• Every Believer's Work would also be tested to know those who are qualified for the rewards

1. "each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; AND THE FIRE WILL TEST EACH ONE'S WORK, OF WHAT SORT IT IS.
2. If anyone's work which he has built on it ENDURES, he will receive a reward.
3. If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire."
   1 Corinthians 3:13-15 (NKJV)

• Those whose works are burnt would be saved, they would be with Christ in His Kingdom but they would not receive any reward (1 Corinthians 3:15).

• They would not be condemned with the world, but there will be no reward for them.
  THE Bible says they will suffer loss, because what they thought to have been built AND be rewarded on, would all be burnt—it would be a great loss to them.
  THEIR hopes would be dashed because they have built with substandard materials (1 Corinthians 3:12,13).

• If you are reading this piece and you have not received Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, you have to do that now because tomorrow might be too late.
  WHOEVER died without taking the step of salvation, surrendering their lives to Christ, lake of fire would be the end of such a person.
  SOMEBODY said he would give his life to Christ when he becomes old, before he finally leaves the earth (Luke 12:19-21).
  HOW do you know you will live till that old age?
  IF death should come today, can you stop him from taking you? (Luke 12:20).

FOR HE SAYS:
"In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you."
BEHOLD, NOW IS THE ACCEPTED TIME; BEHOLD, NOW IS THE DAY OF SALVATION."
2 Corinthians 6:2 (NKJV)

"WHILE IT IS SAID: "Today, if you will hear His voice, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS AS IN THE REBELLION."
Hebrews 3:15 (NKJV)

• You will not fail in Jesus' name.
Peace!
TO BE CONTINUED