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Immortality
The two key persons in this creation are God and Jesus. They are distinctly different. God alone is perfect: “Who only hath immortality.” (1 Tim. 6:16) Immortality is defined as being without end. God alone is without beginning or end. He existed before this creation. There are worlds without end. God alone has omnipresence and can be anywhere at any time. He is present everywhere through His officers. God alone has omnipotence. He alone is all-powerful with supreme power over the whole Universe. God alone has omniscience. God alone has omniscience. He alone possesses all knowledge. God alone is one. He has no fellow. “30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.” (Mark 12) Every civilization has appreciated the fact that God is real and there is an afterlife
Jesus had to be born the same as other men to become our Savior. “For if through the offence of one [Adam] many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace [resurrection], which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.” (Rom. 5:15) The first verse in the New Testament notes His mortal lineage. “The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.”
The Bible will be our primary reference. What is immortality and salvation? Our spirit is immortal—having no end. It will be united with an immortal physical body in the resurrection. Members of the kingdom of God that lived according to the laws of God during mortal life will inherit the earth [Salvation]. Jesus advised us “strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life [salvation], and few there be that find it.” (Matt. 7:14) The best in eternity requires the greatest effort in life. Jesus gave His life for us to have hope. Jesus is our example. “He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” (1 John 2:6) We were first organized as spirits by Jesus (spiritual immortality). Then our spirit is united with a physical body at birth and we become a mortal living soul. There is only one certainty in life: we are going to die. Our spirit is taken back to Jesus for a preliminary judgment. “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it [Jesus].” (Eccl. 12:7)
Those who obeyed the gospel and lived according to the will and laws of God are taken in the spirit to the bosom of Abraham (heaven). All others are taken to the spirits in prison. Jesus advised us to “seek ye first the kingdom of God, and all these things (including salvation) shall be added unto you.” (Matt. 6:33)
Those who obey the gospel and laws of God are members of the kingdom of God and rise in the first resurrection (physical immortality) and inherit the earth (salvation) when Jesus returns. All others must wait a thousand years with the spirits in prison to rise in the second resurrection and inherit a distant (telestial) place (1 Cor. 15:41). These can be saved (inherit the earth) only after obeying the gospel. Baptism for the dead addresses this. (1 Cor. 15:29) Jesus could not even preach the gospel until He obeyed the gospel “Suffer it be so now; for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness.” (Matt. 3:15)
Phase 1: Spiritual Immortality
There are five phases or estates in our existence from being spirits to becoming immortal physical beings. All things were first organized spiritually and are immortal. Jesus was first. “1 In the beginning [of this creation] was the Word [Jesus], and the Word was with God [the Father], and the Word was God [of this creation]. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 all things [including our spirits] were made by him.” (John 1) “These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God.” (Rev. 3:14)
The account of creation in the beginning of Genesis is the account of the spiritual creation. “And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground.” (Gen. 2:5)
Our existence began with the organization of our spirit by Jesus. “And God said, Let us [Jesus in liaison with God] make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” (Gen. 1:26)
The kingdom of God has existed forever. “4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? 7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?” (Job 38) The term stars relate to the spiritual man. Jesus was first--the bright and morning star—the first and only spirit organized by God. “16 I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.” (Rev. 22) Jesus was the root of David--organized his spirit--and was his offspring in the flesh.
The foundation of every kingdom is law. Without law anarchy reigns. A primary law addresses what authority is required to represent God (priesthood). It was given in the beginning before Adam walked on the earth. “Thou shalt not take the name [authority] of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.” (Ex. 20:7) Like many other laws of God, they are eternal and do not change. “…verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” (Matt. 5:18) If it was change, we could not have faith in God.
Jesus was ordained by God as head of this creation in the beginning. Satan rebelled thinking to stand in Jesus’ place. This was a very grievous offense—breaking a primary law of God. Satan rebelled against this law. He was cast down with about a third of the host of heaven that followed him to spend eternity as ghosts. “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground.” (Isa.14:12) After the second resurrection, they will be cast far away from earth never to associate with this creation again. “The devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone.” (Rev. 20:10)
The sons of God are those that followed Jesus during the great rebellion of Satan in the spirit and can include those that followed Jesus in the flesh. “As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” (John 1:12) They already obeyed the gospel. To become sons of God all must also follow the will and authority of God. The term believe in the Bible is active not passive. It is like gospel faith. “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” (James 2:17-19, 26)
Phase 2: Mortality
Adam was the first physical man. When his spirit was united with his physical body, he became a living soul. “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” (Gen. 2:7) He was immortal at this time and would have lived forever.
Man’s greatest happiness comes only in marriage. The first law given to man in the spirit was marriage (Gen. 1:28) even thou they were only spirits. The first law given to Adam and Eve in the flesh was marriage. When Eve was presented to Adam in the flesh, “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh [through their children].” (Gen. 2:24; Eph. 5:31) Why were Adam and Eve married when Eve was presented to Adam? They could not have children at this time. Their bodies being perfect, they were able to have sexual relations; which God forbids outside of marriage.
God knew “the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.” (Isa. 46:10) He knew that man would fall. God wanted only the best for man. We don’t know how long they lived in the garden. The greatest happiness comes in marriage. “…from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.” (Mark 10:6) Love is the greatest gift. “God is love.” (1 John 4:8) The two greatest laws governing man are based on love; but we must remember that He will punish unrepentant sin—violation of His laws.
Adam and Eve lived in a paradise. They were advised “of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” (Gen. 2:17) Satan was able to deceive Eve. “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.” (Gen. 3:6) Adam was not deceived. This caused a natural rejection, blood flowed in their veins, and they became mortal. The punishment fell on Eve not Adam. Rather than lose his wife he also partook of the forbidden fruit. “Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.” (Gen. 3:16)
Adam was to die “in that day.” “Beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” (2 Pet. 3:8) There were ten generations from Adam to Noah. Nine generations lived on the earth at the same time. Adam lived 930 years to know Noah’s father. There were ten generations from Noah to Abraham. Noah lived 600 years before the flood and 350 years afterwards. Noah knew men from Adam’s son Seth to Abraham. Abraham lived with Noah for thirty-nine years. All ten generations lived at the same time. How easy it was to pass on a correct knowledge of God and His laws over about the first two thousand years.
Abraham was born in the city of Ur in Babylon. King Nimrod--a grandson of Noah--and Abraham lived at the same time. The night he was born there was a very large star which Nimrod’s conjurers told him “betokens the child that has been born to Terah this night, who will grow up and be fruitful, and multiply, and possess all the earth, he and his children for ever, and he and his seed will slay great kings, and inherit the lands.” (Book of Jasher 8:2, 4) Nimrod put Abraham in a furnace and tried to kill him. But he saw Abraham walking around in the furnace with another and released him. He fled Babylon with his family.
Nebuchadnezzar (later, king of Babylon) had a dream of an image with a head of gold (Dan. 2). His conjurers were unable to interpret the dream. Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar the interpretation; which told him of the fall of the great civilizations of mankind from Babylon to Rome and finally in the latter days the ten kingdoms of Europe. “And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.” (Dan. 2:44) “For I am with thee [Israel], saith the LORD, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee.” (Jer. 28:11)
The seed of Abraham through Jacob was chosen by God to be His people. All promises in the Bible are for the seed of Abraham: Israel. “He received the sign of circumcision [of the heart], a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised [in the flesh]: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also.” (Rom. 4:11) They will soon be so again. “And they shall be my people, and I will be their God.” (Jer. 24:7)
Prophets of God led Israel until about 400 years before Moses. He restored direct association with God and the priesthood of God. The sins of the people in the wilderness brought severe judgments upon Israel. They were placed under a temporal law until Jesus. Prophets of God again led Israel until about 400 years before Jesus. Jesus restored the original law of God-- being ordained to the Melchisedec Priesthood as a prophet like Moses (Acts 3:22). This ended the added temporal law. Jesus advised us: “17 Think not that I am come to destroy the [original] law, or the prophets, I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill [end the added law of Moses]. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the [original] law, till all be fulfilled.” (Matt. 5:18)
The birth of Jesus in the flesh was the beginning of the most important events in history. He could only become our Savior if He was born like all other men. “Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.” (Heb. 2:17) “Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh” (Rom. 1:3). “We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” (John 1:45) “Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?” (John 7:42) “Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel.” (2 Tim. 2:8) Only the male caries the seed of man
The Apostle Matthew gave us Jesus’ true lineage in the first chapter of the New Testament. “The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas [Judah]… And Jesse begat David the king… And Jacob begat Joseph [house of David] the husband of Mary.” (Matt. 1) This is “according to the flesh.”
Jesus had to obey the gospel. He went to John the Baptist for baptism of water because he was a priest of the Levitical Priesthood and held authority from God to baptize with water; but not of the Spirit. In John 3:11, he notes this limitation and that Jesus would baptize with the Spirit (“that he comes after me is mightier than I”). John hesitated, so Jesus told him “Suffer it be so now; for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness.” (Matt. 3:15) In other words, Jesus had to obey the gospel law of God to enter the kingdom of God.
When Jesus “went up straightway out of the water; and lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending upon him: and lo a voice from heaven saying, This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matt. 3:16, 17) He was born of the spirit by God because John did hold the necessary authority. This is clearly an account of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as separate identities.
Jesus still did not hold authority from God to preach the gospel and administer its saving ordinances. After baptism, He went into the wilderness where He was tempted of Satan. “13 God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man.” (James 1) “Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.” (Matt. 4:11) What did they minister?
The Melchisedec Priesthood was lost about 400 years before Jesus. Jesus was ordained under the hands of God to the highest office in the Melchisedec Priesthood: a Prophet like Moses (Acts 3:22). “4 And no man taketh this honour [of the priesthood] unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron [by revelation from God]. 5 So Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he [the Father] that said unto him, Thou art my son, to day have I begotten thee. 6 As he saith also in another place, thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.” (John 1)
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He [God] hath anointed [ordained] me to preach the gospel the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised [in prison].” (Luke 4:18) “For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.” (Acts 3:22)
Jesus became the Son of God and “the” Christ of God (ordained of God) through ordination by God. The term Christ translates to “anointed” or ordained. “He said unto them, But whom say ye that I am? Peter answering said, The Christ of God.” (Luke 9:20) “…testify that it is he which was ordained of God.” (Acts 10:42) Now, He held authority from God to preach the gospel. “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand [among you].” (Matt. 4:17)
Jesus’ mission was not complete until His death. Adam’s sin brought mortality on all. Only a man could redeem mankind from the fall. “For if through the offence of one [man, Adam] many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace [resurrection], which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.” (Rom. 5:15) The sin of Adam and Eve brought death on all mankind. The only possible way to reverse Satan’s absolute control over immortal physical life was for one man to live a life without sin. Jesus did exactly that. “Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth.” (1 Pet. 2:22) All mankind must be resurrected. All, though, are not resurrected at the same time and do not inherit the same glory in the resurrection.
Jesus died--like all men. “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.” (Eccl. 12:7) He returned to God as His spirit was organized by God. Everyone else returns to Jesus for a preliminary judgment. The final judgment is after the second resurrection. During the three days Jesus’ body lay in the grave, He went in the spirit to the spirits in prison--who obeyed not the gospel--and opened a dispensation of the gospel there. “By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison.” (1 Pet. 3:19)
God made a provision for obeying the gospel in the spirit through baptism of the dead (1 Cor. 15:20); but this may require hundreds, a thousand years, or even longer. Those that haven’t obeyed the gospel at the end of thousand years after Jesus returns, inherit a place distant from earth because the earth becomes the kingdom of God and there are no aliens.
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He [God] hath anointed [ordained] me to preach the gospel the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised [in prison].” (Luke 4:18) “For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.” (Acts 3:22)
Jesus became the Son of God and “the” Christ of God (ordained of God) through ordination by God. The term Christ translates to “anointed” or ordained. “He said unto them, But whom say ye that I am? Peter answering said, The Christ of God.” (Luke 9:20) “…testify that it is he which was ordained of God.” (Acts 10:42) Now, He held authority from God to preach the gospel. “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand [among you].” (Matt. 4:17)
Jesus’ mission was not complete until His death. Adam’s sin brought mortality on all. Only a man could redeem mankind from the fall. “For if through the offence of one [man, Adam] many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace [resurrection], which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.” (Rom. 5:15) The sin of Adam and Eve brought death on all mankind. The only possible way to reverse Satan’s absolute control over immortal physical life was for one man to live a life without sin. Jesus did exactly that. “Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth.” (1 Pet. 2:22) All mankind must be resurrected. All, though, are not resurrected at the same time and do not inherit the same glory in the resurrection.
Jesus died--like all men. “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.” (Eccl. 12:7) He returned to God as His spirit was organized by God. Everyone else returns to Jesus for a preliminary judgment. The final judgment is after the second resurrection. During the three days Jesus’ body lay in the grave, He went in the spirit to the spirits in prison--who obeyed not the gospel--and opened a dispensation of the gospel there. “By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison.” (1 Pet. 3:19)
God made a provision for obeying the gospel in the spirit through baptism of the dead (1 Cor. 15:20); but this may require hundreds, a thousand years, or even longer. Those that haven’t obeyed the gospel at the end of thousand years after Jesus returns, inherit a place distant from earth because the earth becomes the kingdom of God and there are no aliens.
There are two places for our spirits to await the resurrection and physical immortality: bosom of Abraham (heaven) and the spirits in prison. “22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man died, and was buried; 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.” (Luke 16)
There is no hell. When the King James Bible was translated by the Church of England, this major error was made. Fire and brimstone would have no effect on spirits. The only torment is mental. The concept of hell was adopted from Greek mythology by the Church of England in the King James Version of the Bible. The term hell was removed from the Standard Revised Edition. The doctrine of a place of punishment was not found in the Bible before that. The original terms Sheol, Hades, and Gehenna were replaced with hell. “The English word, from a Teutonic root meaning "to hide" or "cover," had originally the significance of the world of the dead generally. (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Electronic Database Copyright © 1996, 2003 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.) Phase 3: Resurrection and Physical Immortality Jesus’ perfect life required God to raise Him from the dead. “Sin is the transgression of the law.” (1 john 3:4) “Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth.” (1 Pet. 2:22) “Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead.” (Acts 4:10) “And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.” (John 17:5) Jesus returned to God as the first fruits of the resurrection and received all power from God—including power over our resurrection. “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” (Matt. 28:18) He stands “by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.” (Acts 2:33) “20 Which he [God] wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places… 22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things.” (Eph.1) Some of the saints were resurrected at this time. “And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.” (Matt. 27:53) There will be major two major resurrections. The first is when Jesus returns and the second is a thousand years later. Saints of God rise in the FIRST RESURRECTION and inherit the earth. “6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.” Here is SALVATION and eternal life when members of the kingdom of God inherit the earth with an immortal body with Jesus. This is why Paul did not consider himself saved. “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.” (Phil 3:12) No one can be saved in immortality until obeying the gospel and living by the laws of God. “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life.” (Rev. 22:14) The gospel is a law of God. The SECOND RESURRECTION is for those that failed to obey the gospel in life. “But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.” (Rev. 20:5) First Judgement. The earth is soon to see the most marvelous and most horrible events near and after the return of Jesus. God covenanted with Abraham to be the father of the people of God: Israel. The Twelve Tribes of Israel will be gathered back to Jerusalem. The seed of Joseph—son of Jacob— will be gathered to Zion (America)—with converted, faithful gentiles. Israel will once again become the people of God. “7 And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.” (Jer. 24) The righteous will inherit the earth and enjoy the thousand-year Sabbath of Creation—the Millennium. “1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof [authority]: from such turn away.” (2 Tim. 3) Look about you. Churches of man even deny revelation—the foundation of the kingdom of God. “Beware of false prophets [ministers], which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” Matt. 7:15) Why does God not talk to these? “Your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” (Isa. 59:2) “O LORD, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the Gentiles shall come unto thee from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit." (Jer. 16:19) “For the Son of man [Jesus] shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.” (Matt. 16:27) “Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.” (Isa. 40:10) Nations of the gentiles will be destroyed with most gentiles. “16 For as ye have drunk upon my holy mountain, so shall all the heathen [goi, also translated gentile] drink continually, yea, they shall drink, and they shall swallow down, and they shall be as though they had not been. 17 (Obadiah 1) “1 Come near, ye nations, to hear; and hearken, ye people: let the earth hear, and all that is therein; the world, and all things that come forth of it. 2 For the indignation of the LORD is upon all nations, and his fury upon all their armies: he hath utterly destroyed them, he hath delivered them to the slaughter.” (Isa. 34) “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” (Jesus, Matt. 24:21) "5 The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws [of God], changed the ordinance [baptism], broken the everlasting covenant [of priesthood]. 6 Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.” (Isa. 24) Phase Four: Millennium. Everything mentioned in the Bible concerning the Millennium was promised to the seed of Abraham. “The prophet Malachi gives us a corresponding testimony in the 3 chapter of his prophecy, 1, 2, and 3 verses: "Behold, I will send my messenger [most likely James J. Strang] and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: Behold, he shall come saith the Lord of hosts; but who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire and like fuller's soap. [Paul says, in the first chapter of his second epistle to the Thessalonians, 7 and 8 verses, that he shall be revealed in fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and obey not the gospel.] And he shall set as a refiner, and purifier of sliver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness." (Evening and Morning Star, Millennium) Jesus is not returning to Rome, England, or New York, but to His own people: Israel. “Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion [America], and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously.” (Isa. 8:18) “Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients [Adam to Noah] gloriously.” (Isa. 24:23) “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.” (Joel 2:32) Mount Zion is America. Then comes a thousand years of peace on the earth. “Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion. [Isa. 52:8] And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord. [Jer. 31:34] And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plow shares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. [Micah 4;3] The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice's den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. [Isa. 11:6-9]” (Ibid., p. 117) Final judgment—Immortality For All True salvation and physical immortality are not complete until the final judgement at the end of the Millennium when the last of mankind is resurrected. All must stand before the judgement bar of God and be judged according to works in the flesh. "12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works." (Rev. 20) Only members of the kingdom of God can inherit the earth because it will become the kingdom of God and our Lord and there are no aliens in the kingdom. “14 Because strait is the gate [gospel], and narrow is the way [laws of God], which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. 15 Beware of false prophets [ministers], which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves [imposters]. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits.” (Matt. 7) The first law given to man during the spiritual creation was the Sabbath: “God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.” (Gen. 2:3) The seventh day was the honored as the Sabbath throughout the Bible. When and where did Sunday become the official rest day? It was with the unbaptized, pagan Roman Emperor in 324 A.D. “As seen in Constantine’s originating piety, that supreme deity would have been associated with the sun, and pagans would have recognized, with reason, their own solar cult in such Christian practices as orienting churches to the east, worshipping of ‘sun day,’ and celebrating the birth of the deity at the winter solstice.” (James Carroll, Constantine’s Sword, p. 183) “For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.” (Matt. 16:27) Faith alone? "7 He that overcometh [through obedience to the laws of God] shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone." (Rev. 21) “4 He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people. 5 Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.” (Psalm 50) “14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, 15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” (Jude 1) “14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.” (Rev. 2) There are two places and three kingdoms/glories prepared for the final resurrection. "40 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars (telestial): for one star differeth from another star in glory. 42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption." (1 Cor. 15) Consider the difference in glory between the sun and the stars. Members of the kingdom of God that endured faithful and obedient to the end of mortal life inherit the earth in the celestial kingdom like the sun in glory. Those who were slothful and did no more than they felt they had to in life, inherit the earth in the terrestrial kingdom like the moon in glory. No one can inherit a kingdom that he is not prepared to obey the laws of that kingdom. Who can become a citizen of the US without pledging to keep the Constitution? All others inherit a telestial (distant) kingdom in glory like the stars. They cannot inherit the earth because the earth is solely the kingdom of God and there are no aliens. Sons of perdition are cast off as ghosts with Satan forever never to inherit the earth. These are they who were blessed with the Holy Spirit in the flesh and then turned entirely therefrom. (Matt. 12:31) There will be opportunity and progression in eternity. Those in the celestial kingdom will minister to those in the terrestrial kingdom and those in the terrestrial kingdom will minister to those in the telestial. James J. Strang wrote the only ones that will be lost in the end are those that prefer to remain filthy still. Man was given seven thousand years of mortality. Abraham was born about 2,000 years after Adam. Jesus was born about 2,000 years later, about 2,000 years will elapse from Jesus’ mortal mission until He returns, and then the earth and man is to rest for the last 1,000 years. Satan is then released for a short season, mortality ends, and immortality begins. Satan with his followers will be cast off forever as ghosts having no association with this creation. “The devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone.” (Rev. 20:10) This for usurping the authority of God. “Thou shalt not take the name [authority] of God in vain.” (Ex/ 20:7) The concept of this lake was adopted from Greek mythology. Sons of perdition will be those that enjoyed the Holy Spirit and then rejected it. “14 Because strait is the gate [gospel], and narrow is the way [laws of God], which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. 15 Beware of false prophets [ministers], which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits.” (Matt. 7) Phase Five: New Heaven and Earth. “I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away.” (Rev. 21:1) “1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away. 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God.” (Rev. 21) New Jerusalem will be located near the center of Zion (America). Holy Jerusalem will be where Jerusalem is today: “when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion [America], and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously.” (Joel 2:32) There will be a New Jerusalem in America and a holy Jerusalem where it is now. “2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem [Zion], coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God… 10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God.” (Rev. 21) This is—of course—the people not the physical city. "3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven, saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall their be any more pain: for the former things are passed away…27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.” (Rev. 21) You have been given the greatest opportunity in mortal life: to hear and obey the gospel, enter the kingdom of God in the flesh, and have hope of salvation on the earth when Jesus returns. “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve… but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” (Josh. 24:15)
There is no hell. When the King James Bible was translated by the Church of England, this major error was made. Fire and brimstone would have no effect on spirits. The only torment is mental. The concept of hell was adopted from Greek mythology by the Church of England in the King James Version of the Bible. The term hell was removed from the Standard Revised Edition. The doctrine of a place of punishment was not found in the Bible before that. The original terms Sheol, Hades, and Gehenna were replaced with hell. “The English word, from a Teutonic root meaning "to hide" or "cover," had originally the significance of the world of the dead generally. (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Electronic Database Copyright © 1996, 2003 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.) Phase 3: Resurrection and Physical Immortality Jesus’ perfect life required God to raise Him from the dead. “Sin is the transgression of the law.” (1 john 3:4) “Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth.” (1 Pet. 2:22) “Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead.” (Acts 4:10) “And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.” (John 17:5) Jesus returned to God as the first fruits of the resurrection and received all power from God—including power over our resurrection. “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” (Matt. 28:18) He stands “by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.” (Acts 2:33) “20 Which he [God] wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places… 22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things.” (Eph.1) Some of the saints were resurrected at this time. “And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.” (Matt. 27:53) There will be major two major resurrections. The first is when Jesus returns and the second is a thousand years later. Saints of God rise in the FIRST RESURRECTION and inherit the earth. “6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.” Here is SALVATION and eternal life when members of the kingdom of God inherit the earth with an immortal body with Jesus. This is why Paul did not consider himself saved. “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.” (Phil 3:12) No one can be saved in immortality until obeying the gospel and living by the laws of God. “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life.” (Rev. 22:14) The gospel is a law of God. The SECOND RESURRECTION is for those that failed to obey the gospel in life. “But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.” (Rev. 20:5) First Judgement. The earth is soon to see the most marvelous and most horrible events near and after the return of Jesus. God covenanted with Abraham to be the father of the people of God: Israel. The Twelve Tribes of Israel will be gathered back to Jerusalem. The seed of Joseph—son of Jacob— will be gathered to Zion (America)—with converted, faithful gentiles. Israel will once again become the people of God. “7 And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.” (Jer. 24) The righteous will inherit the earth and enjoy the thousand-year Sabbath of Creation—the Millennium. “1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof [authority]: from such turn away.” (2 Tim. 3) Look about you. Churches of man even deny revelation—the foundation of the kingdom of God. “Beware of false prophets [ministers], which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” Matt. 7:15) Why does God not talk to these? “Your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” (Isa. 59:2) “O LORD, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the Gentiles shall come unto thee from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit." (Jer. 16:19) “For the Son of man [Jesus] shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.” (Matt. 16:27) “Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.” (Isa. 40:10) Nations of the gentiles will be destroyed with most gentiles. “16 For as ye have drunk upon my holy mountain, so shall all the heathen [goi, also translated gentile] drink continually, yea, they shall drink, and they shall swallow down, and they shall be as though they had not been. 17 (Obadiah 1) “1 Come near, ye nations, to hear; and hearken, ye people: let the earth hear, and all that is therein; the world, and all things that come forth of it. 2 For the indignation of the LORD is upon all nations, and his fury upon all their armies: he hath utterly destroyed them, he hath delivered them to the slaughter.” (Isa. 34) “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” (Jesus, Matt. 24:21) "5 The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws [of God], changed the ordinance [baptism], broken the everlasting covenant [of priesthood]. 6 Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.” (Isa. 24) Phase Four: Millennium. Everything mentioned in the Bible concerning the Millennium was promised to the seed of Abraham. “The prophet Malachi gives us a corresponding testimony in the 3 chapter of his prophecy, 1, 2, and 3 verses: "Behold, I will send my messenger [most likely James J. Strang] and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: Behold, he shall come saith the Lord of hosts; but who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire and like fuller's soap. [Paul says, in the first chapter of his second epistle to the Thessalonians, 7 and 8 verses, that he shall be revealed in fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and obey not the gospel.] And he shall set as a refiner, and purifier of sliver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness." (Evening and Morning Star, Millennium) Jesus is not returning to Rome, England, or New York, but to His own people: Israel. “Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion [America], and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously.” (Isa. 8:18) “Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients [Adam to Noah] gloriously.” (Isa. 24:23) “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.” (Joel 2:32) Mount Zion is America. Then comes a thousand years of peace on the earth. “Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion. [Isa. 52:8] And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord. [Jer. 31:34] And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plow shares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. [Micah 4;3] The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice's den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. [Isa. 11:6-9]” (Ibid., p. 117) Final judgment—Immortality For All True salvation and physical immortality are not complete until the final judgement at the end of the Millennium when the last of mankind is resurrected. All must stand before the judgement bar of God and be judged according to works in the flesh. "12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works." (Rev. 20) Only members of the kingdom of God can inherit the earth because it will become the kingdom of God and our Lord and there are no aliens in the kingdom. “14 Because strait is the gate [gospel], and narrow is the way [laws of God], which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. 15 Beware of false prophets [ministers], which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves [imposters]. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits.” (Matt. 7) The first law given to man during the spiritual creation was the Sabbath: “God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.” (Gen. 2:3) The seventh day was the honored as the Sabbath throughout the Bible. When and where did Sunday become the official rest day? It was with the unbaptized, pagan Roman Emperor in 324 A.D. “As seen in Constantine’s originating piety, that supreme deity would have been associated with the sun, and pagans would have recognized, with reason, their own solar cult in such Christian practices as orienting churches to the east, worshipping of ‘sun day,’ and celebrating the birth of the deity at the winter solstice.” (James Carroll, Constantine’s Sword, p. 183) “For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.” (Matt. 16:27) Faith alone? "7 He that overcometh [through obedience to the laws of God] shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone." (Rev. 21) “4 He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people. 5 Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.” (Psalm 50) “14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, 15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” (Jude 1) “14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.” (Rev. 2) There are two places and three kingdoms/glories prepared for the final resurrection. "40 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars (telestial): for one star differeth from another star in glory. 42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption." (1 Cor. 15) Consider the difference in glory between the sun and the stars. Members of the kingdom of God that endured faithful and obedient to the end of mortal life inherit the earth in the celestial kingdom like the sun in glory. Those who were slothful and did no more than they felt they had to in life, inherit the earth in the terrestrial kingdom like the moon in glory. No one can inherit a kingdom that he is not prepared to obey the laws of that kingdom. Who can become a citizen of the US without pledging to keep the Constitution? All others inherit a telestial (distant) kingdom in glory like the stars. They cannot inherit the earth because the earth is solely the kingdom of God and there are no aliens. Sons of perdition are cast off as ghosts with Satan forever never to inherit the earth. These are they who were blessed with the Holy Spirit in the flesh and then turned entirely therefrom. (Matt. 12:31) There will be opportunity and progression in eternity. Those in the celestial kingdom will minister to those in the terrestrial kingdom and those in the terrestrial kingdom will minister to those in the telestial. James J. Strang wrote the only ones that will be lost in the end are those that prefer to remain filthy still. Man was given seven thousand years of mortality. Abraham was born about 2,000 years after Adam. Jesus was born about 2,000 years later, about 2,000 years will elapse from Jesus’ mortal mission until He returns, and then the earth and man is to rest for the last 1,000 years. Satan is then released for a short season, mortality ends, and immortality begins. Satan with his followers will be cast off forever as ghosts having no association with this creation. “The devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone.” (Rev. 20:10) This for usurping the authority of God. “Thou shalt not take the name [authority] of God in vain.” (Ex/ 20:7) The concept of this lake was adopted from Greek mythology. Sons of perdition will be those that enjoyed the Holy Spirit and then rejected it. “14 Because strait is the gate [gospel], and narrow is the way [laws of God], which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. 15 Beware of false prophets [ministers], which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits.” (Matt. 7) Phase Five: New Heaven and Earth. “I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away.” (Rev. 21:1) “1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away. 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God.” (Rev. 21) New Jerusalem will be located near the center of Zion (America). Holy Jerusalem will be where Jerusalem is today: “when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion [America], and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously.” (Joel 2:32) There will be a New Jerusalem in America and a holy Jerusalem where it is now. “2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem [Zion], coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God… 10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God.” (Rev. 21) This is—of course—the people not the physical city. "3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven, saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall their be any more pain: for the former things are passed away…27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.” (Rev. 21) You have been given the greatest opportunity in mortal life: to hear and obey the gospel, enter the kingdom of God in the flesh, and have hope of salvation on the earth when Jesus returns. “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve… but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” (Josh. 24:15)