Month / June 2024

by In Light Of The Cross

The Thousand Years in Light of the Cross

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Brief Overview: The millennium is the thousand-year reign of Christ with His saints in heaven between the first and second resurrections. During this time the wicked dead will be judged; the earth will be utterly desolate, without living human inhabitants, but occupied by Satan and his angels. At its close Christ with His saints and the Holy City will descend from heaven to earth. The unrighteous dead will then be resurrected, and with Satan and his angels will surround the city; but fire from God will consume them and cleanse the earth. The universe will thus be freed of sin and sinners forever. (Rev. 20; 1 Cor. 6:2,3; Jer. 4:23-26; Rev. 21:1-5; Mal. 4:1; Eze. 28:18, 19.)

Why it is important to know the truth about the millennium: There are many erroneous teachings about the millennium, including the idea some will be given a second chance after the second coming. This is a false security leading many to disregard the exhortation of Paul, “For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.”Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2 NLT

Why it is important to understand the millennium in light of the cross: Only when we get to heaven will we see and realize what Jesus left to come and die for us.

Further Study on the Millennium

What happens to the earth when Jesus comes?

Look! The Lord is about to destroy the earth and make it a vast wasteland. He devastates the surface of the earth and scatters the people. Isaiah 24:1 NLT

What happens to all of the wicked?

In that day those the Lord has slaughtered will fill the earth from one end to the other. No one will mourn for them or gather up their bodies to bury them. They will be scattered on the ground like manure. Jeremiah 25:33 NLT

What happens to the righteousness?

We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 NLT

Note: When Jesus comes the wicked are all slain, the righteous are all taken to heaven, and the earth is left in a desolate state (“without form and void” Jer. 4:23; as a “bottomless pit” Rev. 20:1).

How long is Satan bound to the earth?

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven with the key to the bottomless pit and a heavy chain in his hand. He seized the dragon—that old serpent, who is the devil, Satan—and bound him in chains for a thousand years. The angel threw him into the bottomless pit, which he then shut and locked so Satan could not deceive the nations anymore until the thousand years were finished. Afterward he must be released for a little while. Revelation 20:1-3 NLT

Note: Satan is chained up by circumstances. All the wicked are dead. The righteous are in heaven, and he has no one to tempt or torment. Before his expulsion from heaven he thought he would make a better ruler than God. See Isaiah 14:14. Satan now gets to roam the world for a thousand years and consider the fruits of his empire.

What will the righteous be doing during the thousand years?

Then I saw thrones, and the people sitting on them had been given the authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony about Jesus and for proclaiming the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his statue, nor accepted his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They all came to life again, and they reigned with Christ for a thousand years. Revelation 20:4 NLT

Whom shall they be judging?

Don’t you realize that someday we believers will judge the world? And since you are going to judge the world, can’t you decide even these little things among yourselves? Don’t you realize that we will judge angels? So you should surely be able to resolve ordinary disputes in this life. 1 Corinthians 6:2-3 NLT

Jesus spoke of two resurrections.

Don’t be so surprised! Indeed, the time is coming when all the dead in their graves will hear the voice of God’s Son, and they will rise again. Those who have done good will rise to experience eternal life, and those who have continued in evil will rise to experience judgment. John 5:28-29 NLT

Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. John 5:28-29 KJV

When are the wicked dead raised?

This is the first resurrection. (The rest of the dead did not come back to life until the thousand years had ended.) Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. For them the second death holds no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him a thousand years.Revelation 20:5-6 NLT

What does Satan do when they are raised?

When the thousand years come to an end, Satan will be let out of his prison. He will go out to deceive the nations—called Gog and Magog—in every corner of the earth. He will gather them together for battle—a mighty army, as numberless as sand along the seashore. Revelation 20:7-8 NLT

What descends down from God?

And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. Revelation 21:2 NLT

What does Satan attempt and what happens?

And I saw them as they went up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded God’s people and the beloved city. But fire from heaven came down on the attacking armies and consumed them. Revelation 20:9 NLT

What is this fire called?

Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death. Revelation 20:14 NLT

What will God create from the ashes?

But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment. Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live, looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. On that day, he will set the heavens on fire, and the elements will melt away in the flames. But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness. 2 Peter 3:10-13 NLT

What will the new earth be like?

In those days people will live in the houses they build and eat the fruit of their own vineyards. Unlike the past, invaders will not take their houses and confiscate their vineyards. For my people will live as long as trees, and my chosen ones will have time to enjoy their hard-won gains. They will not work in vain, and their children will not be doomed to misfortune. For they are people blessed by the Lord, and their children, too, will be blessed. I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers! The wolf and the lamb will feed together. The lion will eat hay like a cow. But the snakes will eat dust. In those days no one will be hurt or destroyed on my holy mountain. I, the Lord, have spoken!” Isaiah 65:21-25 NLT

What promise of God does John receive in vision?

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” Revelation 21:1-5 NLT

You may study this week’s Sabbath School lesson here.

by In Light Of The Cross

13: The Triumph of God’s Love-Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan

Prepared by William Earnhardt, for Sabbath School class, June 29, 2024.

Main Theme: n this quarter’s final lesson, we will see Christ’s steadfast love during the most exciting time in the history of the universe and His complete triumph in the great controversy. The Bible’s last book, Revelation, gives us hope for today, tomorrow, and forever.

Read in Class: Jeremiah 30:5-7, Daniel 12:1-2, and Revelation 22:11-12. Define the common thread of these passages.

Study: What events occur just before the Second Advent?

Apply: Read Psalm 91. What reassuring promises does God give us for the time of trouble in Psalm 91 as well as other portions of Scripture?

Share: Your friend asks you how are we to prepare for the time of trouble? What do you tell your friend? What Bible passages help us to prepare?

Read in Class: John 14:1-3 and Titus 2:11-14. Define the common thread of these passages.

Study: Why are these verses so encouraging in the light of the coming time of trouble and the challenges of the future?

Apply: Read Revelation 6:15-17 and Isaiah 25:8-9. How do you think you would respond if Jesus came right now?

Share: Your friend says he is enjoying the world right now, but plans to come back to God right before probation closes. What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Revelation 20:1-9 and Revelation 21:2-5. Summarize these passages.

Study: What happens to Satan in these passages? What happens to the righteous? What happens to the wicked?

Apply: What do you think we will be judging during the thousand years and why? How will this judgment vindicate God’s character? See 1 Corinthians 6:1-2.

Share: You friend says that during the thousand years the wicked will be given a second chance. What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: John 3:16, John 5:28-29 and Romans 6:23. Define the common thread of these passages.

Study: Who has eternal life, and who perishes?

Apply: What choices are you making today to prepare to be with Jesus for eternity?

Share: As we conclude this quarter’s last lesson, what meaningful insights did you glean from this quarter’s lessons?

by In Light Of The Cross

Reaching a Biblically Illiterate Generation With the Gospel

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Last week I was in a pastor’s meeting where we were reminded, we are preaching the Gospel to a Biblically illiterate generation. Even in the church, for various reasons the current generation is not reading their Bible as the generations before have. Now, before I sound all gloom and doom, I do know many in the current generation who are reading their Bibles. I get invitations from young adults and teens to join their group Bible reading plans on their Bible apps. I get text messages from young people asking questions about a passage of Scripture they just read. Still there are an alarming number of young people who, even though they are attending church, and Bible study groups, they are simply not reading the Bible on their own. Some contributing factors may be that they don’t believe the Bible is real. Also, in previous generations everyone seemed to agree the Bible was the moral standard, regardless of if their lives were in harmony with it or not. They knew the Bible was right. Today’s generation does not think that way. A couple of years ago I had a conversation with a former Adventist academy high school student, who told me she no longer believes in the Bible because it does not harmonize with her feminist views. She also went on to explain that the Bible was hate speech because it condemned homosexuality. In her eyes she was a moral person condemning the Bible because it was immoral. I have just described what could be a discouraging evaluation of our current culture not only in the world but also in the church! yet this is the generation to which the everlasting gospel will be preached. This is the generation that is to experience a reformation of primitive godliness which has not been seen since New Testament times.

So how do we make the Bible relevant to today’s generation? How do we encourage today’s generation to read the Bible on their own, and accept it as the moral standard that judges this generation, instead of this generation judging the Bible? I don’t have all the answers. I don’t even know if I have any of the answers, but I have a few ideas, and would like to hear your ideas also.

1. We need to understand people are Biblically illiterate.

While preaching, we can’t casually refer to a story in the Bible and assume everyone or even anyone knows what we are talking about. We need to share the story from the Bible. This means instead of preaching topical sermons, jumping from passage to passage, we may need to preach on one passage just focusing on one Bible story. This way people can read along in their Bibles, instead of having to find one passage after another. It will also help them become familiar with the actual stories in the Bible and learn their applications. We can focus on one Bible story and make it relevant to today’s generation by finding modern day illustrations to go along with the Bible study. For example, after preaching about Jesus feeding the multitude tell a story about how God provided for you when you had very little.

We need to stop telling the younger generation to only read the KJV. First of all, the King James Version is simply that, a version. It is not the original manuscript. I imagine back when the KJV came out there were probably conspiracy theorists telling people to only read the Geneva Bible or better yet, the original scrolls! I am not going to take too much time to talk about versions of the Bible here, but we can trust that God will protect His Word so that the pure message of the Gospel will not be lost. For more detail let me share an article I wrote a while back. Meanwhile let me just say here, that I have studied with many people who can barely read today’s English let alone 17th century English. A friend once told me, the best version of the Bible is the one that you are reading, I agree! Especially with today’s generation. And don’t worry. I have successfully taught Adventist Bible teachings from the NLT, NIV, and NKJV as well as the KJV, After all, even when reading from the KJV I have to explain mistakes in translations like the misplaced coma in Luke 22:43.

When we are preaching or teaching, instead of just telling people to turn in their Bibles to John 3:16, tell them now to find John 3:16. And take you own time finding John 3:16. Don’t race to it and then make people feel bad for you waiting on them. Again, I know we Adventists love comparing Scripture with Scripture, but there is nothing wrong with sticking to just one passage per presentation. After all, when I was on a mission trip to Peru, a Peruvian Adventist pastor told us, “You American Adventists love using 30 different texts to explain our Bible doctrines. We use 7.” Yes, we want to search the Scriptures. Yes, we want to be well grounded in Bible doctrine, but show me one sermon or parable Jesus gave where He had His listeners refer to several scattered passages of Scripture. Yes, I am aware that in Luke 24 Jesus explained to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself, but that was an exception, and He was not dealing with Scripturally illiterate people in that setting. Yes in Acts 17:11 the people searched the Scriptures daily to see if what Paul said was true. That is the goal, to get people to search the Scriptures for themselves. At the same time, we need to understand point number 2.

2. We need to understand attention spans are smaller in today’s generation.

We can understand this without having to apologize for today’s generation. After all, Jesus never prayed public prayers that lasted all day. His public prayers were extremely brief. Likewise, Jesus never preached long exhausting sermons. His teachings were brief and easy to understand. They were simple, yet profound. His illustrations involved things the people He was talking to worked with every day. I imagine if Jesus was telling parables today, His stories would include computers and cell phones and such. And it is not only today’s younger generation that feels this way. An elderly lady in one of my churches told me the other day she loves it when I preach because my sermons are short. No, she is not in a hurry to get out of church. She is a very devoted, conservative and seasoned Adventist. She just does not like sitting through sermons where the speaker takes all day explaining the same point a hundred different ways. When I fly from Tampa to Dallas I don’t need to fly through New York and Toronto along the way. Likewise, when preaching make a direct route from your introduction to your conclusion, and don’t forget to land the plane and let everyone off. Old people as well as young people will thank you!. And more importantly God will thank you too!

3. We need to assure people the Bible is Truth.

This is why many Bible study guides begin with the prophecy in Daniel 2. So much of Daniel 2 has already been fulfilled it helps the reader to see that God’s Word can be trusted. While we may not rely upon discoveries made by modern archeology to validate the Bible it can be useful to today’s generation. There are a lot of Bible skeptics in the world today, but there is also plenty of evidence in secular research to validate Scripture. Remember one of the reasons Jesus used his humanity to veil His divinity was because He had to gain people’s trust and He knew that would take time. Be patient. Share with new believers reasons why you believe the Bible and how you have found it to be true. If you don’t have plenty of stories to tell about how you have personally tested God’s Word and found it to be true, don’t be so surprised that those who have never tested it may be skeptical.

It may appear we are taking a few steps backwards to reach our current generation with the Gospel but believe me we are not. Simplifying the Gospel is a step forward. After all, Jesus simplified the Gospel in His day. I have heard that if you can’t explain a complex topic to a kindergartner then you really don’t understand it yourself. Simplifying the Gospel does not mean watering it down either. While focusing on the basic teaching of the Bible we are not losing the vision of our Adventists message for the last days. Consider what one of our Adventist pioneers wrote concerning sharing the Gospel in the last days.

“More people than we think are longing to find the way to Christ. Those who preach the last message of mercy should bear in mind that Christ is to be exalted as the sinner’s refuge. Some ministers think that it is not necessary to preach repentance and faith; they take it for granted that their hearers are acquainted with the gospel, and that matters of a different nature must be presented in order to hold their attention. But many people are sadly ignorant in regard to the plan of salvation; they need more instruction upon this all-important subject than upon any other.” –Ellen G. White, Evangelism, pp. 185-186

I have shared some of my ideas. I hope you have more ideas to share with all of us so we can reach this generation for Jesus.

You may study this week’s Sabbath School lesson here.

by In Light Of The Cross

12: Earth’s Closing Events-Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan

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Prepared by William Earnhardt, for Sabbath School class, June 22, 2024.

Main Theme: The Bible tells us what will happen right before Christi’s return and how to prepare for this blessed event.

Read in Class: Proverbs 23:23, John 8:32 and John 17:17. What common thread runs through these verses?

Study: Read 2 Peter 1:16-21. What assurance does the apostle give us regarding prophecy? What illustration does he use to show the importance of God’s prophetic Word?

Apply: “We have not followed “cunningly devised fables.” The prophecies of God’s Word light up the road ahead. They help us distinguish truth from error. Without the Bible, we would be left to the whims of human opinion and easily be deceived. “The people of God are directed to the Scriptures as their safeguard against the influence of false teachers and the delusive power of spirits of darkness. Satan employs every possible device to prevent men from obtaining a knowledge of the Bible; for its plain utterances reveal his deceptions. . . . The last great delusion is soon to open before us. Antichrist is to perform his marvelous works in our sight. So closely will the counterfeit resemble the true that it will be impossible to distinguish between them except by the Holy Scriptures. . . . None but those who have fortified the mind with the truths of the Bible will stand through the last great conflict. To every soul will come the searching test: Shall I obey God rather than men? The decisive hour is even now at hand. Are our feet planted on the rock of God’s immutable word? Are we prepared to stand firm in defense of the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus?”—Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, pp. 593, 594.

Consider the questions in the quote above. What will enable us to stand in the final crisis? What distracts us from studying God’s Word? How might we be compromising truth for personal pleasure?

Share: Your friend says that she hopes to be laid to rest before earth’s final events, so she does not have to endure them? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Exodus 20:8-11, Revelation 7:1-2, Revelation 13:13-17 and Revelation 14:1. define the common thread in these passages.

Study: What elements of a seal are contained in the Sabbath commandment? Where are the seal of God and the mark of the beast received? Why do you think there is a difference?

Apply: Why is day-by-day faithfulness to the Lord the key to being prepared when the final crisis arrives?

Share: Your friend says. “The world is becoming more and more secular and wicked every day. What do you see going om in the world today that makes you think any kind of a Sunday law or any kind of religous law could ever be passed in such a wicked society?” What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Joel 2:21-24, Acts 2:1-4, Acts 2:41-47. Define the common thread on these passages.

Study: What prediction was fulfilled in the first century? What impact did it have?

Apply: How does James 5:7-11 prepare us to be a part of God’s final work before the second coming?

Share: Your friend asks what is the former and latter rain? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Matthew 24:14 and Revelation 18:1-4. Define the common thread of these passages.

Study: How do these verses say God’s work on earth will be finished?

Apply: What is holding back the mighty outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the latter rain, and the loud cry? However small our role as individuals might be, what role can we fill in being open and receptive to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit?

Share: Can you think of someone who you can share the Gospel with this week?

by In Light Of The Cross

11: The Impending Conflict-Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan

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Prepared by William Earnhardt, for Sabbath School class on June 15, 2024.

Main Theme: Lucifer attempts to undermine God’s law in order to establish his own dictatorship. Those who remain loyal to God’s law show their loyalty to God as their Creator and Redeemer.

Read in Class: Revelation 12:17 and Revelation 14:12. Define the common thread of these passages.

Study: How does worshiping the Creator find its final expression?

Apply: Read Daniel 6:4-5. On what basis was Daniel accused and persecuted? Have you ever seen
anyone being persecuted for being loyal to God’s law? Have you ever been persecuted for remaining loyal to God’s law?

Share: Your friend quits keeping the Sabbath to avoid conflict with his wife and her family. He says God understands he has to keep peace in the family. What do you tell your friend? See Matthew 10:34-39 and Revelation 2:10.

Read in Class: Revelation13:1-10. Define the main idea of this passage.

Study: Where does the beast rise from and who gives itauthority?

Apply: How do we live in expectation of the second coming without becoming alarmists every time something happens?  

Share: Your friend asks what this beast does to commit blasphemy? Why was Jesus accused of blasphemy? Is the beast committing blasphemy by claiming to be God? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Revelation 13:11-18. Summarize this passage.

Study: How does this beast differ from the first beast in Revelation13?

Apply: What change do you see in this beast, and how does it speak? Think about the political instability in America today. How might that one day lead to the fulfillment of this prophecy?

Share: Your friend says there is no way a country based on religious freedom could ever turn around and  persecute its own people for religious reasons. What do you tell your friend? What instances in both Biblical and secular history might you base your answer on?

According to Time, Read in Class: Daniel 3:4-24 or portions of this passage.

Study: What parallels do you see between Daniel 3 and Revelation 13?

Apply: What specific things happen in Daniel 3 that encourage you to be faithful to God when Revelation
13 plays out.

Share: Can you think of someone who may be suffering persecution in one way or another who could use some encouragement? How can you encourage them this week?

by In Light Of The Cross

Why Lucifer has to Destroy God’s Law to set up his own Dictatorship

It is time for You to act, O LORD, For they have regarded Your law as void. Psalm 119:126 KJV

The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 NKJV

Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. 1 John 3:4 NKJV

A vast majority of the Christian world celebrates the overthrow of God’s law, not realizing that it is not Jesus who did away with the law, but rather Satan, who wants to create the illusion that the law was done away with. Paul makes it clear that the coming of the lawless one is the work of Satan. Meanwhile Jesus says,

“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:17-19 NKJV

….But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments. Matthew 19:17 NKJV

But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’ Matthew 7:23 NLT

For you ignore God’s law and substitute your own tradition. Mark 7:8 NLT

But that doesn’t mean that the law has lost its force. It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the smallest point of God’s law to be overturned. Luke 16:17 NLT

“If you love me, obey my commandments. John 14:15 NKJV

Clearly Jesus did not come to do away with or change the moral law. It is clearly the anti-Christ or the lawless man of sin who “thinks to change times and laws.” See Daniel 7:25.


Isaiah 14:12-14 gives us the crux of the great controversy where Lucifer wants to usurp God’s authority. By voiding out God’s law and changing it, Lucifer hopes to make void God’s authority, so he can overthrow God and set up his own dictatorship. I say dictatorship because while in Genesis 1 we have the Heavenly Trio working as a community using pronouns “us” and “our,” as in let us make man in our own image. Yet Lucifer’s idea of government in Isaiah 14:12-14 gives no hint of community leadership. The only pronoun used is, “I” which exposes Lucifer’s attempt to become a dictator.

Again, the crux of the great controversy centers around Lucifer, or Satan’s attempt to set up his own government and secure our loyalty and worship. For Satan to secure our loyalty and worship he must overthrow God’s law and substitute his own laws. This is why the mark of the beast offers a day of worship totally contrary to God’s day of worship, just as the tree of knowledge of good and evil and the tree of life tested the loyalty of Adam and Eve. Satan wants us to ignore God’s law, because by ignoring His law we are ignoring His authority, and His right to reign over us. By accepting another day of worship other than the one offered at creation and all of Scripture we are ignoring God as our Creator and Ruler. By accepting another law, or another day of worship we would be ignoring God as our Creator and giving our loyalty and worship to Lucifer.

Thos who do not fall for a false law,  false day of worship or a false government stay loyal to Jesus and His commandments.

Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Revelation 14:12 NKJV

You may study this week’s Sabbath School lesson here.

by In Light Of The Cross

What Does the Bible Teach About the After Life?

Do the Scriptures teach that we go to heaven the moment we die? Let’s look. 

Did the angel tell Daniel he would die and go straight to heaven? No, he told Daniel he would rest and then rise again at the end of the days, at the second coming.

As for you, go your way until the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days, you will rise again to receive the inheritance set aside for you.” Daniel 12:13 NLT

Did Peter say that David went to heaven when he died? No. He says David never ascended into heaven.

For David himself never ascended into heaven, Acts 2:34 NLT

Did Jesus tell the repentant thief that they both would be in paradise that day? No. The original manuscripts had no punctuation. When the Bible was being translated man put the comma in the wrong place. With the comma in the right place the passage makes total sense with the rest of Scripture about the state of the dead. With the comma in the right place Jesus says, “I assure you today, you will be with me in paradise.” With the comma which was placed there by man and not inspiration it makes total sense with Jesus’ statement in John 20:17.

““Don’t cling to me,” Jesus said, “for I haven’t yet ascended to the Father.” John 20:17 NLT

Did Paul say we die and go straight to heaven? No. He explained it this way.

“And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope.  For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died. We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. So encourage each other with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 NLT 

Someone once told me that there may be more to life after death than the Scripture explains, but Paul is saying he wants us to know what happens when we die. In the KJV he says I don’t want you to be ignorant. If he left out some mystery about our souls going to heaven while we are dead, then we would still be ignorant after Paul’s explanation but we are not ignorant because he just told us about the resurrection.

Also, Paul tells us to comfort each other with these words. These words are about the second coming. None of these words mention dying and immediately going home to be with the Lord. Nowhere in Scripture does Paul or anyone else say “They went home to be with the Lord.” Does Paul talk about going to heaven when we die? No. He explains it this way.

But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when he comes back. 1 Corinthians 15:23 NLT

But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies. 1 Corinthians 15:51-53 NLT

Didn’t Paul teach that when we die, we go to be with Jesus? No.

And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing. 2 Timothy 4:8 NLT

Did Jesus tell the disciples they would be with him as soon as they died, or did He teach them He would have to come again so they could be with him again?  He taught them that He would come again and get them so they could be together. 

When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. John 14:3 NLT 

Wait a minute, aren’t all souls immortal?  

“the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality…1 Timothy 6:15-16 NKJV

The soul who sins shall die. Ezekiel 18:4 NKJV

….But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both body and soul in hell. Matthew 10:28 NKJV

Without a single shred of Bible evidence why do so many teach and preach that we go straight to heaven when we die?

For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths. 2 Timothy 4:3-4 NLT

Jesus, Peter and Paul never taught the immortality of the soul but the serpent did!

“You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. Genesis 3:4 NLT

You may study this week’s Sabbath School lesson here.

by In Light Of The Cross

10: Spiritualism Exposed-Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan

Photo by Pavel Danilyuk on Pexels.com

Prepared by William Earnhardt, for Sabbath School class, June 8, 2024.

Main Theme: Our only safeguard against Satan’s last-day delusions is a personal relationship with Christ and a solid grounding in the teachings of the Bible. This includes its teaching about death, regardless of what our eyes and ears and hearts might try to tell us.

Read in Class: Ecclesiastes 9:5, Job 7:7-9, and Isaiah 8:19-20. Define the common theme of these passages.

Study: What do these Bible passages teach us about death and communication with the dead?

Apply: What has been your experience with trying to explain the state of the dead to other Christians? What, if anything, have you found effective?

Share: Your friend says that her late husband appeared to her in her home the other night and even embraced her. She says she knows it was her husband because she saw and felt him, and they talked about things only the two of them knew about. What do you tell your friend? More importantly, what do you share with them from the Bible?

Read in Class: Psalm 6:5, Pslam 115:17, 1 Kings 2:10. Define the common thread in these passages.

Study: What do these verses teach about the state of the dead?

Apply: In the music you hear, and the shows you have watched where have encounterd spiritualism, and what has been your reaction?

Share: Your friend says that it is only our bodies that die. Our spirits and souls are naturally immortal and never die. What do you tell your friend? For help see 1 Timothy 6:15-16, Eclessiasted 12:7, Job 27:3 and Matthew 10:28.

Read in Class: John 11:11-14, John 11:21-25, and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. Define the common thread of these passages.

Study: What do these New Testament passages teach us about death?

Apply: Why is the resurrection such a powerful hope for the Christian faith? What if we had the cross but no resurrection? What hope would we have? Why, then, is the resurrection such an important part of our faith?

Share: Your friend says that it is comforting to think that her late husband is in heaven right now with thier child they both lost. She says it is comforting to know they are both watching her from heaven. What do you tell your friend? How does 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 tell us to comfort each other?

Read in Class: Matthew 24:5, Matthew 24:23-27, Revelation 13:13-14, and 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12. Define the common thread of these passages.

Study: What kind of deceptions will people face in the last days? What do these passages tell us about Satan’s deceptive power and manner of working?

Apply: Why is understanding the truth about how Christ returns, as well as the state of the dead, so important in order not to be deceived?

Share: Can you share some encouraging Scriptures this week with someone who may be mourning the loss of a loved one?