Chapter 6

Road Hazard

Adam says nothing, letting Isaac work things out for himself with the help of the lap top programs and the web. Something on the road ahead of them catches Adam's eye. Paying close attention, Adam sees what looks like a cylindrical object in their lane a short distance in front of them. With the truck moving slowly up the steep grade Adam prepares to drive around the dangerous looking obstacle by changing lanes. Seeing only one dark car a long way behind them and no traffic in the lane on his left, he signals and then starts to move his rig over the white dotted line.

A quarter of the way into the fast lane he checks his passenger mirror to make sure he will miss the jagged end of a large broken pipe. The sound of a blaring horn coming through the driver’s door window startles him. Looking to his left, he sees a dark car overtaking the truck at a rapid pace. The driver fingers him out of the sunroof opening as he flies past, going at least sixty clicks over the buck ten speed limit.

Instinctively steering to his right to avoid a collision with the speeding car, Adam is unable to avoid the sharp end of the pipe with his trailer tires. He watches in his mirror with a grimace as the front right outside duel tire's sidewall scrubs hard on the pipe's broken end, sending it spinning wildly off into the ditch. Immediately, the sound of escaping air reaches Adam. Slight plumes of dust fly off the pavement and into the air each time the tire's rupture rotates to the ground. A few revolutions later and with the hiss of escaping air stopped, the now flat tire is left flopping as it continues to role beside its mate.

“Damn! Stupid Jerk!” Adam yelled at the vanishing car.

Startled, Isaac looked up from the lap top screen, “What's wrong! What's that noise!”

“That's the sound of about four hundred dollars escaping from my pocket,” Adam said angrily. “And about an hour of extra time, if I'm lucky. At least we are almost at the top of the hill. I'll pull a U-turn into the brake check lane on the other side of the road and can put on the spare tire there.” Adam was still fuming but he felt better that at least he had a plan. “Good thing I got a spare along,” he said out loud. While silently in his head he was still heaping curses on the dark car's driver.

Pulling over onto the highways paved shoulder, He waited with his four ways flashing. A couple of cars whizzed past. Seeing no traffic from either direction he cranked the steering wheel to the left as hard as he could. Guiding his truck across all four lanes of the highway and onto the brake check lane they exited off the highway before going down the long steep hill they had just climbed. Staying to his right, Adam pulls about halfway down the empty brake check lot where he dynamites all of the brakes and parks the truck at the top of the long steep hill they had just climbed.

“I've never changed a tire before,” said Isaac excitedly. “This, will, be a trip to remember.”

“Ya, it seems like you always try to have a pleasant uneventful trip, but you only remember the ones that were crappy and you had trouble. The only good thing is that the aggravation usually diminishes with time. You can even find yourself laughing about the troubles later,” Adam tells him with almost half a smile. “Well let’s get started and we can get it done while the weather is nice.”

Using the small outside storage door, Adam gets the wheel tools and a beat-up red hydraulic bottle jack out from the sleeper storage bin along with a small cloth tool bag. Handing them to Isaac, he pulls a six foot long two inch wide hollow chrome pipe out from its resting place between the truck frame and fuel tank. The two of them wrestle the heavy tools to the back of the truck by the trailers flat tire.

Crawling under the trailer, Adam positions the jack so that it will lift on the axle picking the flat tire up off the ground. Getting part way back out from under the trailer, Adam makes his way forward to the spare tire cradle. Unhooking the safety chain that was keeping the spare tire from escaping its confines, Adam slides the tire out of the rest and roles it back to the flat.

Isaac mostly watches but tries to help when he sees the opportunity. Adam explains how the tire tool works by putting it together with the pry-bar and getting it ready to loosen off the first wheel lug nut. Picking up the five foot snipe Adam slides it over the pry-bar; the free end of the snipe is about six feet off the ground. Holding onto the end of the snipe Adam puts all of his weight on the end by dangling under the snipe with his knees bent. Nothing happens so Adam starts to make bouncing movements and slowly the snipe starts to lower towards the ground as the wheel nut begrudgingly turns counter clockwise.

“Well that's one loose, only nine more to go,” Adam says a bit out of breath.

“If there is anything that I can do let me know. So far I haven't been much help,” Isaac said earnestly.

“That's OK. You look a bit light to break these nuts free, but you can loosen them the rest of the way off. They are supposed to be torqued on from five to five hundred and fifty foot pounds, but a little bit of rust in the threads can make them even harder to get off. If we can't break them all free, we may have to drive back to town and find a tire shop. Check in the cloth tool bag and pass me the can of WD40 would you.” After liberally spraying all of the lug nut studs Adam relaxes, sitting on the ground with his back resting against the trailer tires. “We'll let that work on the nuts for a bit, it should make them easier to get off.”

Isaac sits cross legged on the warm pavement. He silently contemplates his thoughts for a moment, then expresses them to Adam. “The primary desire of God is to heal the relationship between himself and mankind, broken by sin at the Garden of Eden. Nothing is more important to him, he loves us. So much in fact that he sent his son Jesus to die for us, so our sins could be forgiven and we could be with him. As Christians, our job is to tell people about Jesus so they can be saved from their sins and join with God as his children. There is no other way for our sins to be forgiven, we must go through Jesus. If a person doesn't accept Jesus they are doomed.”

Adam nodded his head in agreement while Isaac spoke. “Now with that I can wholeheartedly agree. But tell me, when does this accepting of Jesus need to take place?

Isaac was perplexed by the question. “Well, now, while they’re alive and able to. Once they’ve passed on, it’ll be too late for them.”

Frowning, Adam shakes his head slightly. “That way of thinking stems from the conspiracy. It's only to late if this present life is the only time that humans can come to Jesus to be saved. Believing the conspiracy has blinded mankind to the potential they possess and has diminished the privilege and blessings shown by God to those, who do, come to Jesus in this life. Not everyone is capable of coming to Jesus during this life. What if they never heard about Jesus due to a lack of preachers? What if the gospel never made sense to them? People must be drawn to Jesus by God. Christians are called out of this world to follow Jesus, by God himself, but we must choose to follow.”

Adam stands up and starts to undo the lug nuts on the wheel. He doesn't notice Isaac get up and head towards the truck. He soon returns and resumes his position on the pavement. Only this time he has the lap top set up and has started typing.

“What about these verses?” Isaac questions demandingly.

“2 Corinthians 6:1-2 KJV

We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

2 Peter 1:10

Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

It is in this present life that we have to be faithful in following Jesus. We aren’t given any other time to be saved. We have only this life to follow Jesus and we must not turn away,” Isaac continues to read and question.

“Luke 9:62

And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

If we do we will be tossed into the fires of Hell like in the parable of the tares and wheat.

Matthew 13:24-30 New KJV

Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; 25 but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. 26 But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. 27 So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ 28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ 29 But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.”’

We need to accept Jesus now while we can and not put it off. We don't know how much time we will have before the Lord will return for us and we are raptured away.”

Adam stops working the heavy tools long enough to agree with Isaac. “Those points are all very accurate. God's greatest desire is to repair the relationship that mankind has abandoned. His plan is to give everyone the opportunity to accept the salvation brought by Jesus. All will have that chance, but not necessarily during their present life in this world. The majority of mankind has not lived their lives with the ability to learn about Jesus, to become saved. Your belief would place them all in hell, tormented for the rest of eternity. They would be all lost children to God. Aborted out of son-ship before they had the opportunity to even hear of Jesus and the deliverance he brings them.

Christians are individually called out of this world by God, to come to Jesus during this life. If God does not draw us, we cannot come to Jesus. God has shown us love while we still hated him, all of humanity has been blinded to Jesus so that ‘seeing they cannot see and hearing they cannot perceive’. Most Christians don't realize the special gift we have been given through our calling.

Look up the verses that say how we are called or predestined to come to Jesus. God specifically chooses to call the foolish and weak of the world to confound the mighty. The ones that God doesn't call cannot come to Jesus at this time, but they will have their opportunity, when God's time is right.”

Isaac starts to go through Bible references and dutifully reads them out loud as Adam continues to undo wheel nuts.

“Here are some of the scriptures that you referred to, in the KJV” Isaac announced before he started to read the located texts out loud.

“John 12:40
He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.

Matthew 13:13-15
Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: 15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

Luke 8:10
And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.

Mark 4:12
That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.

Romans 11:7-11
What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded. 8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day. 9 And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them: 10 Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway. 11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.

Romans 9:18
Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.

Acts 28:26
Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:

John 9:39
And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.

Matthew 22:14
For many are called, but few [are] chosen.

2 Timothy 1:9
Who hath saved us, and called [us] with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

John 6:44. No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Romans 8:28-30
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose.29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”

Pausing briefly for a few deep breaths and a sip from the pop he pulled from his hoodie pouch, Isaac continues to read out loud.

“1 Corinthians 1:25-29
Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.

Ephesians 1:3-4
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

1 Peter 2:20-21
For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. 21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

Hebrews 3:1
Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;

John 17:24
Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

John 6:37
All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

1 Peter 2:9
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;

1 Peter 1:15-16
But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

2 Thessalonians 2:13-14
But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: 14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 4:7
For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.

Ephesians 1:11
In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:”

Wiping his forehead with the palm of his hand Isaac sits back on his elbows questioning Adam. “Those are interesting scriptures, but where does it say that God is not calling everyone when they are alive?” Isaac Quotes

Romans 1:20,
“For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

See people are without excuse not to know God.” Isaac says contemptuously. “God has made himself available to everyone from the beginning, but mankind has sinfully turned their backs on God, not wanting to follow him.” With eyes narrowing and his face looking stern, Isaac ads. “Sinners deserve to suffer in Hell for the sins that they do in their lives. They must choose to follow God now. That is why Christians have to teach the world about Jesus, as he is the only way to salvation.”

Adam has all of the lug nuts off and has started removing the flat tire off of the axle. Pulling the wheel in a jerky motion he gets it to slide off the hub and free of the axle end. Rolling it off to the side he wipes the sweat from his forehead with a fairly clean rag. Taking a few deep breaths he rests, leaning against the side of the trailer and addresses Isaac, “I think you should read more of that passage in Romans 1, as it will make what Paul is talking about, more clear.”

Isaac obliges quickly, smug in his thoughts of accuracy. “OK, how about this?” he asks sharply.

“Romans 1:18-21.

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”

“That should do” Adam says, stretching out the muscles in his arms and upper body. “Notice that the wrath of God is against the willful sins of the people. They knew right from wrong, but they were willfully sinning, they actively sought out sin. God is revealed through his creation to the world. People are without excuse, but without excuse for what? If we refer to what Paul is talking about at the beginning, we see that it is referring to God's wrath. People are without excuse for encoring the wrath of God by sinning. Later on in Romans, Paul tells us that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. He also goes on to tell us that the wages of sin is death, not eternal torment. The point Paul is making, is that we all need a Savior, Jew or Gentile and the only one who can save us is Jesus.”

Adam wrestles the spare tire into its proper position on the axle. Reaching for the tool bag he pulls out a small tin of never seize, spreading it sparingly onto the threads of each wheel stud with the little brush built into the lid. “That should keep them from rusting on again,” Adam audibly says to himself.

“What?” Isaac says. “It's hard to hear you when your head is turned away.”

“Oh, I was just talking to myself about the studs. Talking to yourself, dangers of the job and old age,” Adam says laughingly.

Picking up where he left off Adam goes on with his thoughts, turning his head more towards Isaac, so as to be better heard as he starts the lug nuts onto the wheel studs. “This visual display of God, through creation, lets people know there is a God. The knowledge of knowing there is a God however is not what is needed for salvation, as you so rightly pointed out, we can only have our sins forgiven if we accept, Jesus, as our Savior.

That is why Paul was not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus, as it is through that message all must be saved. Christians need to share this message about Jesus and the coming kingdom of God with as many people we can. It's through hearing the gospel message that people can learn about Jesus. But it's by seeing the gospel lived out in people’s lives that the world is drawn to Jesus by God. God reaches out to the world through Christians, calling those he has chosen. Those who don't hear the gospel for whatever reason, or who God does not call, have no chance to follow after Jesus during this life.”

Picking up the wheel wrenches Adam laboriously starts to install and tighten the lug nuts back up.

“Just knowing there is a creator God will not save anyone. Like you said, we can only be saved by going through Jesus. The resurrections provide the only time-frame when those, not called by God in this life, can have a chance to learn about Jesus. Coming back to a physical life through a resurrection is the only way most people will have their eyes opened to Jesus and the love of God. Free from the influence of Satan, everyone who has ever lived will have their turn to accept or reject Jesus.”

Chapter 7
One Chance For Salvation

“That means people who aren't called during this life, would get a second life and a second chance later on. That’s just wrong,” Isaac boldly states angrily. Looking up scripture for his proof he reads

Hebrews 9:27.

“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment,”

With his intensity rising Isaac goes on to say. “Man will only live one life, then the judgement of God, with either Heaven or Hell to follow. We don't get second chances at salvation.”

Clearly seeing he has hit a nerve, Adam calmly formulates his response by questioning Isaac. “Did God create people so they could live with him as a family, with God as our father and Jesus our older brother?”

Isaac thinks warily, looking for an ecclesiastical trap. “Yes, I believe that statement could be scripturally supported. Jesus is said to be our older brother, he is the first born of many brethren. We are told repeatedly in the bible we are heirs, God is our father and we will be his children.”

“Will God force us into following him, or do we have freedom of choice?” Adam asks, as he strains down on the snipe, putting the final torque on each lug nut.

Becoming calmer Isaac answers with less apprehension, “Oh yes. We are free moral agents. God is love, he wants us to love him and choose his ways of love because we willingly want to be with him. If he forced himself on us and gave us no choice, he would be a spiritual rapist. He is so dedicated to free will, he even allowed the angels to decide their own destiny. That is when Lucifer became Satan and one third of the angels turned into demons.”

Pausing for a moment Isaac asks. “If I can use a Star Trek expression, Free moral agency would be one of God's prime directives. He won't violate the principle of personal choice, in fact he can't because he is love, it is part of his makeup, it's in his DNA. Being made of love he always has others best interest first and foremost above his own. It wouldn't be love to force people into being with him. God wants us to love him freely with our whole hearts.”

Adam pauses from tightening the lug nuts and adds, “I suppose you could say another prime directive would be that no human can be saved without going through the blood of Jesus.” After making his statement Adam returns to tighten the remaining lug nuts.

Isaac nods his head. “Ya, that would make two basic unbreakable rules of God. He will allow everyone to choose and we can only be forgiven of our sins by going through Jesus, for there is no other name by which we can be saved.”

Having finished with the lug nuts, Adam starts to put things back into the tool bag while asking Isaac. “So with the your traditional thoughts of man's fate, while adhering to those two unbreakable rules and keeping in mind that we can only learn about Jesus and the salvation he alone brings by being taught and called, when do those who lived on the wrong continent, or in the wrong century, get to learn about Jesus so they can be saved?

Isaac thinks about his answer as Adam removes the jack from under the trailer axle. Not until Adam was out from under the trailer and they were carrying tools back to put away in the truck, did Isaac finally answer. “You know, I have never given much thought to the people who haven't heard the gospel. Other than the fact they need to hear about Jesus to be saved and those not saved, will be condemned. I have always believed we need to accept God at some time in this life now.”

“Yes people will be condemned if they don't accept Jesus, but shouldn't they at least have an opportunity to hear about Jesus and his salvation before they are written out of eternity? After all, if God wants all who love him to become his children, for he is no respecter of people and treats all repentant sinners the same, shouldn't everyone be given the opportunity to repent? Adam asks as he puts the tools and snipe back into their storage spaces.

Isaac seemed puzzled by the questions when he stated, “I suppose that some things need to be left up to God. This is just one of those unfathomable mysteries of God where we just have to trust and have faith. But you can't argue with the scripture that tells us man is to only live once.”

Adam is quick to reply. “No, I will not argue with the words that scripture says, but I will argue with the context in which you are framing them. Let’s read the entire passage to see if we can get the context that is used. After all, there are several people in the Bible that have lived more than once. All those who were resurrected back to a physical life, like the young man who fell from the window. He would have lived more than once.”

“OK, I will look it up and read it in the truck,” Isaac agrees. “But first, let’s get that flat tire put into the spare tire cradle under the trailer.”

“You took the words right out of my mouth,” Adam sang, being careful not to sing the next line of the song. Adam hums the rest of the tune while he and Isaac struggle with the heavy tire carcass. Sliding it safely back to where the spare tire belongs, they secure it with the safety chain. Taking one last look for any stray tools or equipment, they head back to the truck.

Adam was getting back into the truck when a police car pulled up alongside of the old Western Star and parked. A tall thin officer stepped out of the cruiser. Putting on his hat, he approached Adam, who was standing beside the driver’s door with one foot on the tank step.

“I’d like to ask you a few questions,” the constable said as he strolled up to Adam. “I have received a complaint about an old blue truck cutting off a car by recklessly changing lanes. There aren't that many old blue trucks on the road, so maybe it was you.”

“Well I don't know. Who was the complainant and what are the details?” Adam responded. Being careful not to incriminate himself by saying too much.

“I had a radar trap set up a few miles down the way, when a fellow officer on his way to Kelowna stopped to complain about getting cut off in the passing lane coming up this hill out of Merit. He gave me a description of the truck as old and blue. He said it all happened so fast that he didn't get a very good look at the truck, but he was very mad at the careless driver.”

“Well I've been here for a while now changing a flat tire. Don't recall any old blue truck going past here. But I was on the other side of the trailer changing a tire, so I couldn't see much traffic. I did see a dark car going like a rocket though. I say see, but I heard it more than I saw it. By the time I looked around, it had already gone by and I was looking at its back end. All I could see was this dark object disappearing down the road. He must have been going Mach two. If you had a trap set up, it's funny you didn't pick him up on your radar when he got close to you?” Adam said curiously.

“Well I did have to extend him some professional courtesy, after I pulled him over. He said he was going to be late for a court appointment in Kelowna,” the wiry red headed constable said with a grin.

“Ya, I’d bet you get all kinds of excuses. It is odd there would be court on a Sunday, don't you think?” said Adam suspiciously. “Anyway, it seems as though I am headed in the wrong direction to have gotten in his way. And besides,” Adam said, walking over to the side of his trailer pointing towards the naked lady mural. “If you were only half paying attention to things, would you describe my truck as, just, old and blue?”

Looking up at the huge painting the constable nodded his head. “Yes I see your point. Perhaps I didn't get the whole story.”

“No doubt, we seldom do,” Adam said as the officer returned towards his car. With the closing of the car door, the cruiser was soon speeding off down the hill, leaving Adam alone as he climbed into his truck and prepared to leave.

“What was that all about? Isaac asked, once Adam had the brakes released and the truck in gear. “What did the police want?”

“Oh it was nothing; he was just looking for some information. I helped him out the best I could. But you know, everything you say, will be used against you, so you dare not say too much.”

“I suppose,” Isaac half-heartedly agreed, thinking Adam must be using more trucker talk. “I found those scriptures,” he said, cheerily changing the subject. “Should I read them now?”

“No, could you wait till I get back onto the road and headed in the right direction. It's hard to listen attentively and do much other stuff.” Adam was checking his mirrors and looking down the hill for traffic. Seeing none, he turns the steering wheel hard to the left when he gets to the freeway entrance. Not wanting to be long crossing all lanes of traffic Adam accelerates the truck as it leaves the on ramp, picking up a gear as he makes the U turn across the four lane highway pointing the truck back up the hill towards Kelowna.

He pins the throttle hard to the floor causing an eruption of black smoke to billow out of the exhaust stack. The engine had cooled off while he spent time changing the blown tire. With the engine pulling hard against the steep incline he steers into the slow lane before any traffic approaches. Adam continues to smoothly up shift, picking up speed, the smoke starts to fade away as the engine temperature quickly rises. Isaac begins to read as they roll ever closer to their destination.

Yelling out to be herd, Isaac continues reading scriptures about living only once and there being only a one time sacrifice for all.

“Hebrews 9:20-28 KJV 20
This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. 21 Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. 22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. 23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: 25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; 26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Hebrews 10:1-17
For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. 2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. 3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. 5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. 7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. 8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; 9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. 10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. 14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. 15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, 16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; 17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

These texts are talking about how the sacrifice of Jesus replaced the law, as a better one time sacrifice, done once and for all. Now we live under a new covenant based on the blood of Jesus.”

“Ya, that about covers it,” agreed Adam. “However, those verses don't say that man will not be brought back to life a second time in a resurrection. Only that judgement comes sometime after we die the first time. It doesn’t specify when that judgement takes place, only that there is a judgement coming after we die.

We are told in other places there is a second death that will not hurt those who love god. If there is a second death it would only stand to reason that mankind would have a second life. Some people speculate that the second death is when our spirit or soul dies. However, they give no scriptural proof to back up the existence of such a soul or spirit possessed by humans. We have gone over the scriptures and have found that man has no eternal soul or spirit. Such is the power of Satan's conspiracy, to blind mankind to the life giving good news of their loving father. God's plans are uplifting for all who understand them.”

“Wait, let me look those second death references up,” Isaac pleads, as he begins to type. He reads them in the order he finds them.

“Revelation 21:8 King James Version,” he announces.
“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: which is the second death.

Revelation 2:11
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

Here is another one.

Revelation 20:6
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.

Last one.

Revelation 20:14
And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

OK it does tell us about a second death. But then why does it say, it is appointed unto men once to die. What do you think it’s talking about?”

Adam tries to explain his understanding. “To start with, the passage refers to the sacrifices the people made to God trying to cleanse themselves from their sins. They made these sacrifices throughout the year, every year. There was no end to the sacrifices for sin.

Then Jesus came and made one sacrifice, the sacrifice of his life. He only had to make it once for all of mankind, for all of the ages. Once to die, is talking about the normal course of our human existence, to live and then die. Jesus didn't have to keep repeating his sacrifice with a new body for every generation. He lived his one life and that was all that was needed, ‘as in Adam all died, so in Christ shall all be made alive’.”

“That's a lot to take in. I need to think about your ideas, I'm not sure they are completely accurate,” Isaac said skeptically.

“Hey, that's not a problem,” Adam said smiling. “A man convinced against his will, is still of the same mind still. My interpretation may not be a hundred percent accurate, but using, ‘it is appointed unto men once to die’, to say that humans can only live one life, can't be right. It contradicts other Bible scriptures, as many people in the Bible were brought back to life after having died. Like I always say, the Bible will not contradict itself, if it seems to be, then we are not understanding the scriptures properly. Let God be true and every man a liar.”

Chapter 8
Prove All Things

“How do these resurrections you talk about fit in with the rapture? Do they take place before the tribulation, when Jesus comes and takes all of the Christians out of this world?” Isaac inquires. “Did you know that rapture is derived from the Latin verb rapere? It means to carry off, or, to catch up. That's what Jesus is going to do with all of the Christians. He is going to come back and get us Christians and leave all the sinners on earth to go through the tribulation. Do you know about the tribulation? When God punishes all sinners left on the earth, with dreadful punishments. It will be the worst time in the history of mankind.”

“Ya, I have heard about it. The ‘Left Behind’ books were based on the belief,” Adam states skeptically. “Are you familiar with the verses that support the belief of being raptured away?”

“You don't sound all that enthusiastic about it. Oh let me guess. You don't think the verses say what I think they say. You probably think I am taking them, out of context,” Isaac says with a dramatic flair and a wave of his hand.

“Talk about a conspiracy addict. You don't seem to believe in anything that normal Christians believe in. Is there an anti-establishment conspiracy that you’re caught up in? Isaac says, frustrated by Adam's nonstop demand for scriptural proof of his religious beliefs and doctrines.

Adam speaks bluntly to Isaac. “Well, has my skepticism been unwarranted so far?

Was mankind created immortal in Genesis as you had thought? How about Sunday, is it commanded to be kept holy? Or, how strongly do the scriptures support the notion that Christians go to heaven once they die? Are you bothered that my questions challenge your beliefs, or that your beliefs aren't as scripturally supported as you had thought? What's better, being faithful to the Bible, or to denominational doctrines?”

Isaac pauses for a moment and then sheepishly answers. “Ya, you’re somewhat right. Your points have made me re-evaluate some of my beliefs. The meaning you bring out of the scriptures is definitely different from what I have ever heard before. It's just that, no matter what belief I talk about, you seem to disagree with it.”

“It's all not that bad,” Adam says encouragingly. “We agree on the essential lifesaving beliefs. People must accept Jesus in order to be saved from their sins and gain eternal life. You and I have the same desire to follow God where ever he may lead us. We both want to live our lives as if Jesus was alive in us. The rest is peripheral. Like the story with Paul and the believers that didn't know about the baptism of the Holy Ghost. God used them with the knowledge they had, and he led them into greater wisdom as they followed him.

Making sure people know all mysteries at the start isn't that critical to God, if it were, he would have made things more obvious and given us a test before we could become a Christian. The most important thing is the love people have inside of them and displaying it to others. Love will be what's most important in the Kingdom. After we are in the Kingdom it won't be important how we got there. Prophesies, discernment of spirits, healing powers, things that we think are important now, won't be of much use or value once we are living in the Kingdom with God as our father.”

“What story about Paul are you talking about? I'm not familiar with it. I'll have to look it up.” Doing a few searches Isaac finds the passage. “Here it is.

Acts 19:1-7

1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,

2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.

4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

7 And all the men were about twelve.”

“That's the one,” Adam says. “They were believers without even knowing about being baptized into the name of Jesus, how long they were in the dark we can only guess, but God led them to where he wanted them in his time. There is a similar story about a preacher, I think it was Apollos. He was instructed by other believers into a better understanding of baptism.”

Isaac starts to type right away. “I think I remember this one,” he says. Finding it quickly Isaac starts to read.

“Acts 18:24-28

And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.

25 This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.

26 And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.

27 And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:

28 For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.

OK I get it. We don't have to know everything right away, we grow in our understanding as God directs.”

“Yes, we learn by following where God leads us,” Adam agrees. “Usually through people we come into contact with. It is by talking about scripture with others that we can grow in the knowledge of God. Iron sharpens iron, our beliefs and doctrines mean nothing if we can't support them from the Bible.

We need to be discerning, judging good from evil, for it's our salvation that is at stake. We need to prove our beliefs for ourselves and not outsource them to others. Like the Bereans did, proving what was true. Once we have the basics understood the Holy Spirit will guide us into more important areas of our Christian faith. We need to worship God in spirit and in truth, and then we can show the full love of Jesus to our fellow man, so that they might praise God because of that love.”

“Are there references for that? Who were the Bereans anyway? Isaac asked as he started typing. “I will try to get your references in order but you made several points all at once.”

Isaac mumbles to himself before he reads aloud. “God teaches us through other people.

Romans 10:12-17

For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?

17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

We sharpen our beliefs by discussing scripture with other people.

Proverbs 27:17

Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

2 Timothy 3 KJV

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”

Finding more proof, Isaac continues. “Need to have our beliefs supported by the Bible.

Hebrews 5:12-14

For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. 13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Our salvation depends on how we respond,” Isaac calls out.

Philippians 2:12

Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

Who were the Bereans?” Isaac answers his own question.

“Acts 17. 10
And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

Basics first, then go on to perfection.

Hebrews 6:1-3

Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this will we do, if God permit.

Then, worship God in Spirit and truth.

John 4:24

24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Dut da da du.” Isaac sings a vocal fan fair. “And lastly, love is the best.

1 Corinthians 13

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

“Are you going to look up all of my references?” Adam questions bewilderedly.

“Sure am. Like you said, I need to prove all things to see if it’s true or not,” Isaac replied with a smile. “It's my salvation and I need to be sure that I’m on the right path. Just like a Berean.”

Chapter Nine
Left Behind

“I can't argue with that,” Adam said. “You do need to be sure that you’re following the word of God to be at your best. But we have gotten distracted a bit. We were going to talk about the rapture and the return of Jesus.”

“Yes. It seemed as though you don’t believe in the rapture,” Isaac stated.

“Well I just thought we should look up the scriptures and read them. That's the best way to be sure you are getting the wisdom of God and not just what others want you to believe,” Adam said sincerely. “I think the foundational scriptures for the belief talked about one taken and the other left behind.”

“I have read these scriptures a lot, I don't think they have been misunderstood,” Isaac boldly stated.

“I'm sure your right, but let’s read through them anyway, just to stay consistent with the rest of our discussions. You never know, we may learn something,” Adam said casually.

“I suppose it wouldn't hurt,” Isaac starts to look up scriptures and reads them out loud. “I found a site that lists verses that talk about the rapture and the return of Jesus. I will read through them first and then we can discuss them. It starts with;

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:52
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

Daniel 12:1-2 King James Version

And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

Matthew 24:27-44

For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

28 For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.

29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:

33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.

34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

37 But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,

39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.

44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

Luke 12:40

Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.

Mark 13:32-37

But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.

33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.

34 For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.

35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:

36 Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.

37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

Luke 17:34-37

34 I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.

35 Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

36 Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

37 And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.

1 Thessalonians 1:10

And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, [even] Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

1 Thessalonians 5:2

For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

2 Thessalonians 2:3-7

Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?

6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.

7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

Mark 14:62

And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

Revelation 3:10

Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

Revelation 20:2-5

And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,

3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

Revelation 11:15-19

15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

16 And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,

17 Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.

18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.

19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.”

Adam paraphrases the scriptures that Isaac just read, “Some of those verses talk about the noisy, obvious return of Jesus, At some unexpected time, to establish the Kingdom of God. The dead believers rise from their graves, just before those who are alive are changed in the twinkling of an eye, according to Jesus in John, ‘on the last day’, at his second coming, the day of the Lord.

Other verses tell us about Satan, being bound for a thousand years, the lake of fire, and all mankind being judged. These versus are all used by people who believe Jesus will return for his believers. There were two sections of verses that are commonly used to support a pe-tribulation rapture. Luke 17:34-37 is one of them, could you read it again?” Adam asked.

“Sure let me find it. OK here it is,” Isaac responded.

34 I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.

35 Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

36 Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

37 And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.”

“Now read the other one. Matthew 24:27-44,” Adam directed.

“Got it,” said Isaac before starting to read.

27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

28 For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.

29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:

33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.

34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

37 But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,

39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.

44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

These are the passages that my profs taught from at school. We will have no notice before Jesus comes to get us. That's why we have to be saved as soon as possible, and not put accepting Jesus off till later. My mom and dad led me to the Lord when I was five. I didn't want to be left behind with all of the sinners after Jesus came back to get his faithful believers. We have to warn everyone and help them see their need for Jesus, so they too can escape the tribulation. I've heard it described as being almost as bad as the torments of Hell,” Isaac passionately recounted.

“Let’s read some verses before and after the passages in Luke to see if we can get complete understanding,” Adam suggested.

“OK,” Agreed Isaac. “If you think it will help. How about if we read from,

Luke 17:22-37?

22 And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it.

23 And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them.

24 For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day.

25 But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation.

26 And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.

27 They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.

28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;

29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.

30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

31 In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back.

32 Remember Lot's wife.

33 Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.

34 I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.

35 Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

36 Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

37 And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.

Let’s start at the beginning,” Isaac said, enthusiastically starting to describe the texts. “Verses 22-24 tells us that the disciples will miss being with Jesus and some people will try to trick them about the return of Jesus, but don't believe them because the return of Jesus will be obvious, like lightning in the dark sky.”

“That's good. You summed up the thoughts nicely,” Adam agrees. “Go on.”

Bolstered by the encouragement, Isaac continues. “25, refers to the Crucifixion and the rejection of Jesus by the Jewish leaders. 26-30 tells us that people won't be expecting the return of Jesus, that it will catch them off guard like in the times of Noah and Lot. Going on 31-33 reminds us to be vigilant in preserving our spiritual lives and not our physical ones. 34-36 are the verses that describe the believers being raptured away to be with Jesus. 37, Jesus tells his disciples, where those left behind can be found. The Eagles are the vultures gathered around the spiritually dead false religious teachers or false saviours. The ones left behind will be with the antichrist and the false ministers of God.”

Adam has a questioning look as he drives, then he says. “I wonder if we could expand on the section of 26-30. It seems like Jesus was very specific about the two examples he used. Both stories involved people dying on a large scale and he does say that, as it was in those days, so it will be when the son of man is revealed. I wonder if there is anything in those stories that we can learn from.”

Isaac ponders the question. “I don't know. I have never thought about it past the fact that destruction took them by surprise. Let’s overlap Mathew 24:37. Let me see here,” Isaac looks up the scriptural texts and scans over the verses. “Mathew 24:37 to 39 should do it.

37 But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

So again the end time will be like it was in the days of Noah.

38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,”

“They were going about their lives like normal until Noah entered the ark,” Adam interjects.”

Isaac nods and continues to read without hardly a pause.

“39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

That's when they were taken by surprise, God took them all away and they perished in the flood, leaving behind only Noah and his family alive to repopulate the earth. It will be the same when Jesus returns,” Isaac elaborates his point.

Adam looks puzzled when he exclaims. “Hey wait a minute, who was taken away? In the rapture scenario, those that love Jesus are supposed to be taken and the evil ones left behind alive on the earth, not the other way around. That happens in the story of Lot as well, the evil people are taken away with fire and brimstone, destroying them all. The evil ones were destroyed and taken away. Lot was left behind alive. The rapture doctrine seems to have it backwards.”

Isaac looks puzzled as well, staring in disbelief at the scriptures on the screen. “I have read these verses countless times and I have never thought of them that way before. Luke 17:30 says.

Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

And in

Mathew 24:39
and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

If the coming of Jesus is to be like it is in those stories, then, the righteous are the ones left behind, not the ones taken away. What about the Eagles or vultures and the body or carcass. What could they represent?” Isaac questioned out loud.

Adam offered a thought. “Maybe the Eagles are not Vultures, but are the majestic chosen of God. As well a body doesn't have to be dead; there are many verses that talk positively about Eagles. Perhaps each story has a slightly different meaning? There are many interpretations for what Jesus said.”

“Ya, there are good Eagle references,” Isaac said, starting to type on the keyboard looking up scripture and reviewing commentaries for differing opinions.

“Here are some verses where the Bible refers to people as eagles, not that they explain the meaning of the other verse, just that eagles, aren't always used in a negative term and can be positively positive.” Isaac joked with a grin. Then read some more.

“Psalm 103:5.

Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

And in;

Isaiah 40:31.

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Another positive reference is in Ezekiel 1:10, where Cherubim are described.

As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle.

The commentaries have different opinions for the meaning of ‘where the eagles gather’. Some say the eagles are the wicked, some say they could be church members like in the Pulpit Commentary. The dead body (the carcass), according to these interpreters, is the body of Christ, and the eagles are his saints, who flock to his presence and who feed upon him, especially in the act of Holy Communion.

Others believe Jesus was just telling the disciples where it would take place. Like here in

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
37. Where—shall this occur?
Wheresoever, etc.—"As birds of prey scent out the carrion, so wherever is found a mass of incurable moral and spiritual corruption, there will be seen alighting the ministers of divine judgment," a proverbial saying terrifically verified at the destruction of Jerusalem, and many times since, though its most tremendous illustration will be at the world's final day.

There is a great variety of opinion. How can they all be right?” Isaac wonders out loud.

“Let's look at this through the lens of mankind not being in possession of an eternal soul. If, as we have read, mankind actually dies when they die, how would that affect the interpretation?” Adam asks. “After all, the faithful in Hebrews did not receive the promise; they have to wait for something better, when all the believers are resurrected at the same time. How has the lie of Satin affected the understanding of those Christians who promote all of these differing opinions?”

“Ah yes, back to the conspiracy,” Isaac teases.

“Well, how would it affect your understanding? If you believed we are only mortal?” Adam asks defensively.

“I suppose to start with,” Isaac starts to talk tentatively. “The dead saints would rise from their graves at the return of Jesus to the earth at his second coming. I think that was somewhere in John. Let me find the verses, ya here they are. John 6. Jesus told them they would be raised at his return, at the last day.

39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

So if all of the faithful from the Old Testament didn't receive the promise of eternal life, separate from those under the new covenant, that means they are still in their graves. I have it here.” Isaac reads the scriptures from the lap top screen.

“Hebrews 11: 39
And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

Those Christians that are still alive, and those who are dead, will be raised all at the same time. Or very close to it, as there is an order to them being made perfect. The dead in Christ shall be raised first, at his return. Like it tells us in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17,” Reading off of the screen Isaac rereads more previously covered material.

“13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

Isaac leans back in his bucket seat and is quiet. He stares blankly out the window at the passing scenery deep in thought. Several minutes go by before he speaks again.

Chapter 10
Show Me

Isaac sits up straight in his chair, looking intently at Adam.

“Not having an immortal soul does change how the end time events would play out. It also changes how mankind relates to God, as well as my understandings of how we come to be with God. These beliefs would all need to be re-thought. I'm just not sure I agree with your belief about our souls dying.

Why is it that N.T. Wright or my professors don't believe anything like what you propose? They have diligently studied the subject for decades. All of N.T.'s material is thoroughly researched, documented and peer reviewed. How is it that an old trucker should know more about the subject that all of the scholars that have devoted their entire lives to the subjects of God and religion? Your ideas are intriguing and interesting to discus, but how can I take you seriously when you have no formal background in the study of God. You just aren't credible.”

Adam pays attention to his driving as he rounds a long sweeping left hand corner and is forced to do several down shift as he ascends a steep hill. Considering Isaac's rebuffs, he does some slow deep breathing to calm himself before responding further. He starts to talk just as the truck starts to pick up speed on the backside of the hill.

“I suppose then, I am the living proof for the verse that says, God calls the foolish and the week to confound the wise and mighty, for I am the most foolish of all, just a dumb old trucker. Wasn't Jesus rejected by the Jews for basically the same reason? Because he was a nobody, the son of a carpenter from a small town, in a backwater part of the country.”

Isaac was quick to respond with sarcasm. “Oh, so now you are comparing yourself to Jesus?”

“No,” Adam said forcefully. “I am not nearly as Jesus like as I should be. I am only pointing out that having credentials and schooling isn't what one needs to understand the plans of God. In fact, having lofty credentials probably hinders your understanding of God. If you have your time and energy invested in those credentials, you could have years of work and a career to lose if you should come to any new understanding.

My first rule in buying things is, never believe the salesman. I like to prove their claims through an unbiased third party. My source for Godly wisdom is, as we agreed on at the start, the word of God as recorded in the Bible. The King James is good, but I find it helpful to use the Strong's concordance to find the proper word used in the original manuscript, like we did to find the proper usage for the word soul in Genesis.

Besides the disciples were not chosen from the elite of society, but from the bottom and despised. My points of view come from the Bible, not from books written by learned men. I do my best not to have any non-biblical preconceived ideas or agendas. Like we said, if it doesn't come from the word of God, it cannot be relied on.”

“We did say that,” Isaac responded reluctantly. “I better look up your references just to be safe.” He finds what he thinks they are and reads them loudly.

“Mark 6:1-6 KJV.

And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him.

2 And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?

3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.

4 But Jesus, said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.

5 And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.

6 And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.

And here in 1 Corinthians 1:18-31.

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.

20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;

24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:

29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.

30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

Are those the verses you were referring to?” Isaac asks, wanting to get the right references.

“I think so, there might be others, but those give us a pretty good picture of what I am referring too,” Adam agrees.

Smiling broadly, not wanting to let the opportunity to tease Adam pass, Isaac says with a laugh. “Well you're certainly right. You do resemble those verses about the weak and foolish.”

“HA. HA,” Adam smiles. “And as far as N.T. Wright is concerned, his book The Resurrection Of The Son Of God, was to prove that Jesus was bodily resurrected from the dead. He was proving the resurrection story wasn't just fantasy made up by the disciples. He didn't like the distorted resurrection teachings that modern scholars and clergy were bringing into mainstream Christianity. If you look in my copy I have the page references of him saying that.”

Isaac picks up Adam's worn copy of the book and checks the hand written notes scrawled on the first few pages. “I think this is it here on page 7 and 8.” Reading silently he then sums up what was written. “It basically states what you said; he wanted to set the discussion on a historically accurate footing.”

“That's right,” Adam said. “He had a narrow agenda based on proving the resurrection of Jesus in history. N.T. wasn't looking at how all of the covered material showed God's plan of salvation for the world. He doesn't even let the facts he uncovers affect his belief in an intermediate state after death, he seems to believe our conscious souls go to heaven to be with God. Even though his research shows this to be a pagan belief, not held by Paul or the Pharisee sect that Paul came out of. Mr. Wright fails to connect the facts that his research highlights to his own beliefs, instead he stays mired in his trust of conjecture and speculation.”

“Whoa, that is a pretty bold statement. I’d like to see you prove that!” Isaac says with astonishment. “His book has been scrutinized by many professionals; I doubt they would have missed something as glaring as that.”

“They would miss it if they weren’t looking for it; because they have similar beliefs as N.T. It was a surprise to you that man was mortal in the Garden of Eden. Other thoughts never occurred to you either. That's why I say Satin has deceived the whole world with his, ‘though shall not surely die’ lie. Take any faith, with the exception of an evolutionary atheist; they all will have some kind of a belief in an afterlife. The belief that mankind possesses an eternal soul is universal and has been with us from our collective beginnings.”

“Don't try and change the subject, we have been through all of that. I want to see your proof about N.T. Wright's book,” Isaac demands.

“OK. I have the notes there on the first pages. You'll need to look them up as I can't do that and drive at the same time.” Adam explained as he corrected the trucks currant trajectory from off of the highway’s paved shoulder.

Isaac checks the books front cover for Adam's scrawling notes. “Here is a prospect. You have the middle of page 31 flagged as, resurrection belief. Let’s see what it says.” Isaac starts to read out of the well-worn paperback book.

“Thus, when the ancients spoke of resurrection, whether denying it or affirming it, they were telling a two-step story. Resurrection itself would be preceded (and was preceded even in the case of Jesus) by an interim period of death-as-a-state. Where we find a single-step story death-as-event being followed at once by a final state, for instance of disembodied bliss – the texts are not talking about resurrection. Resurrection involves a definite content (some sort of re-embodiment) and a definite narrative shape (a two-step story, not a single-step one). This meaning is constant throughout the ancient world, until we come to a new coinage in the second century.

The meaning of 'resurrection' as 'life after “life after death”' cannot be overemphasized, not least because much writing continues to use 'resurrection' as a virtual synonym for 'life after death' in the popular sense. It has sometimes been proposed that this usage was current even for the first century, but the evidence is simply not there. If we are to engage in history, rather than projecting the accidents of (some) contemporary usage on to the remote past, it is vital to keep these distinctions in mind.

So what's your point? It talks about the definition and understanding for the word resurrection.”

Adam looks bewildered at Isaac's lack of ability to see what was so plain to him. “You read it without understanding. The part that said:

'Where we find a single-step story death-as-event being followed at once by a final state, for instance of disembodied bliss – the texts are not talking about resurrection.'

That is telling us the belief in a disembodied state is not referred to as resurrection in the Bible,” Adam explains.

“'Resurrection involves a definite content (some sort of re-embodiment) and a definite narrative shape (a two-step story, not a single-step one). This meaning is constant throughout the ancient world, until we come to a new coinage in the second century,'”

Adam continues to explain what was just read. “The idea that resurrection meant a disembodied state didn't show up till the second century. At least a hundred years after Jesus died. After the apostles were dead and the texts inspired by God were completed. When the scriptures talk about the resurrection of the dead for mankind they are referring to a two-step story. Take a look and see.”

“You mean like in 1 Corinthians 15:20-23.” Isaac brakes into the conversation and starts to read aloud a verse he had on another tab.

“20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.

22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.”

“Exactly, mankind is to be resurrected as Jesus was, a two-step story. We follow the example of Jesus, into our new lives with God,” added Adam agreeably. “The idea that we become a disembodied spirit immediately after death is not a biblical teaching, but a pagan one. We need to believe what God tells us if we want to worship him in Spirit and truth.”

“I have that verse.

John 4:24
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

We read that one before, but I just like it,” quipped Isaac.

Adam nods. “Yes it is a good one and it highlights the importance of knowing the truth about God and his word to the best of our ability. We need to take care to prove that what we believe comes from the word of God. I know Christians that won't do any yoga poses, or use acupuncture for healing, because the origins of those arts stem from paganism. Yet they believe they go to heaven and become a disembodied spirit as soon as they die, wrongly believing it to be a Christian truth. Continue with my notes and see what history Mr. Wright uncovers in his book.”

“OK,” agrees Isaac. He had a lot of respect for Mr. Wright and his research. Isaac was starting to become curious as to what he and his professors missed in N.T.'s large book.

Adam continued to explain further. “N.T. goes into great detail on the pagan beliefs of death and where people end up after they die. These pagan beliefs have a lot in common to the Christian beliefs of today. Their ideas did not come from God or his written word.”

Isaac gets busy at finding more pertinent points out of Adam's scrawled notes. As he finds them he reads them out loud so they can be explored further. “Page 49.

Since for many Greeks 'the immortals' were the gods, there is always the suggestion, at least by implication, that human souls are in some way divine. Because the soul is this sort of thing, it not only survives the death of the body but is delighted to do so. If it had known earlier where its real interests lay it would have been longing for this very moment. It will now flourish in a new way, released from the prison that had hitherto enslaved it. Its new environment will be just what it should have wanted. Popular opinion would attempt to bring the dead back if that were possible, but this would be a mistake. Death is frequently defined precisely in terms of the separation of soul and body, seen as something to be desired.

Hades, in other words, is not a place of gloom, but (in principle at least) of delight. It is not terrifying, as so many ordinary people believe, but offers a range of pleasing activities - of which philosophical discourse may be among the chief, not surprisingly since attention to such matters is the best way, during the present time, of preparing the soul for its future. The reason people do not return from Hades is that life is so good there; they want to stay, rather than to return to the world of space, time and matter. Plato suggests that the word ‘Hades’ itself is derived, in terms both of etymology and basic meaning, either from the word for ‘unseen’, or from the word for ‘knowledge’.

What happens to souls in Hades - at least, to souls who go there to begin with - is then far more interesting than anything envisaged in Homer. Judgement is passed according to the person’s previous behaviour: we see here the philosophical roots of those judgement scenes that became so familiar in the, Page 50. Platonized Christianity (or was it Christianized Platonism?) of the Middle Ages.”

“Here!” Adam breaks in energetically. “N.T. describes Christianity’s belief in the punishment of, sinful souls in Hell, as originating in the philosophies of Plato. These pagan ideas had already been embraced and taught by Christianity in the middle Ages, becoming Platonized Christianity, beliefs that are still prevalent and taught as fact today.”

Isaac nods and then continues to read.

“Three judges are appointed, one each from Europe and Asia and one (Minos, conveniently from Crete, poised as it were between the two continents) as the judge of appeal. At last, after all the botched earthly attempts at justice, truth will win out and judgement will be just; the virtuous will find themselves sent to the Islands of the Blessed, and the wicked will be put in Tartarus.” From here it is a short step to the view of Cicero and others, that virtuous souls go to join the stars. Plato needs to be careful here, since he wants simultaneously to deny the normal gloomy view of the entire underworld (hence the censorship mentioned earlier) and to develop a strong theology of post-mortem punishment for the wicked. His way round this dilemma, clearly, is to emphasize the blessings that await the virtuous - not just the philosophers, but those who exhibit courage in battle and sundry other civic virtues. And the central point is important: judgement, even when negative, is emphatically a good thing, because it brings truth and justice to bear at last on the world of humans.”

Isaac finished the section then adds. “Yes this belief of a soul being rewarded for their actions after death appears to have been taught by Plato, but that might just mean that he took the idea from the Old Testament.”

“That's a stretch, but let’s keep reading about the Greek philosophers, then we’ll see what N.T. tells us about the Jewish concept of death,” Adam suggests.

“OK. Your next note is for page 52.” Isaac finds the page and a logical place to start reading.

“Plato did not sweep the board of subsequent opinion at either a popular or an intellectual level. Socrates’ own followers were clearly unable to sustain the master’s cheerfulness about his departure into the next world; if even they, with his own example, teaching and specific exhortation, could not refrain from inconsolable grief, it was perhaps unwise to suppose that anyone else would manage it either. In any case, other conflicting ideas were on offer as well. We glanced at Democritus and Epicureanism earlier; Stoic philosophers continued to debate such matters. Plato’s ideas on the soul (and much else besides) were, in addition, severely modified by his equally influential pupil Aristotle. He took the view that the soul was the substance, or the species-form, of the living thing; this represents a turning away from, Page 53, the lively Platonic view of the soul as a more or less independent, and superior, entity to the body. Aristotle did allow, however, that ‘the highest aspect of reason might be immortal and divine’. These exceptions do not, however, damage the general rule, followed with innumerable variations over the succeeding centuries: in Greek philosophy, care for and cure of the soul became a central preoccupation. And - this is, after all, the point for our present enquiry - neither in Plato nor in the major alternatives just mentioned do we find any suggestion that resurrection, the return to bodily life of the dead person, was either desirable or possible.”

Adam voices his interpretation. “Ya, this section show that the Pagans had many different ideas about the soul, but none of them believed that it was possible to come back with any kind of a physical body. Only the Christians believed in a bodily resurrection after death and only because they had seen it happen to Jesus,” Adam contends. “The first Christian converts did not believe they would be in a disembodied state after death. They believed they would be following the example of their Savior Jesus and be bodily resurrected after sleeping in their graves.”

“Let me finish these points first, then we can talk,” Isaac complains. “The next point that your notes talk about, picks up on page 54. A quarter ways down the page and it’s underlined.

The similar testimony of Seneca, from a different social and cultural background, is itself evidence that such views were not confined to one cultural stream but made their way widely in the greco-roman world. For Seneca, the immortal human soul has come from beyond this world - from among the stars, in fact - and will make its way back there. Though one might hold that it simply disappeared, it is more likely that it will go to be with the gods. Death is either the end of everything, in which case there is nothing to be alarmed about, or it is a process of change, in which case, since the change is bound to be for the better, one should be glad. The soul, in fact, is at present kept as a prisoner within the body, which is both a weight and a penance to it. One should not, then, fear death; it is the birth day of one’s eternity.' As long as one ceases to hope, one may also cease to fear.” Once again, though the thought has developed somewhat, we are still clearly within the broad stream of Platonism, carrying Cicero and others along with it. And if death is to be welcomed, it follows that an early death is a good thing, despite popular opinion. ‘Those whom the gods love die young’; few who quoted this at the death of Princess Diana will have realized that it goes back to the forth-century BC poet Menander, with echoes in other ancient plays.

I wondered where that saying came from. Just like the Billy Joel song, 'Only The Good Die Young',” Isaac states. “I knew it wasn't from the Bible, but I had no idea it was so old. I thought it might have been from Shakespeare or something.”

“No, it originates from a Pagan belief,” Adam states. “Just like the belief of the immortal soul, or spirit, being an innate part of man.”

Chapter 11
Old Testament Speaks

“Your next point is on page 90, it refers to the Old Testament beliefs of what it was like to be dead.” Isaac runs his finger under the words to keep his place with the constant bouncing of the truck cab. Carefully he reads them out loud. “Page 90.

This combination of themes is taken up and repeated in what becomes the regular formula for dying kings. David ‘slept with his ancestors, and was buried in the city of David’, which is the more interesting since his ancestors were not buried there. ‘Sleeping with one’s ancestors’, in other words, was not simply a way of saying that one was buried in the same grave or cave, but that one had gone to the world of the dead, there to be reunited with one’s forebears. The minimal sort of ‘life’ that the shades had in Sheol, or in the grave, approximated more to sleep than to anything else known by the living. They might be momentarily aroused from their comatose state by an especially distinguished newcomer, as in Isaiah 14, or (as we shall see) by a necromancer; but their normal condition was to be asleep. They were not completely non-existent, but to all intents and purposes they were, so to speak, next to nothing.

Then more on page 93

This explicit link of life with the land and death of exile, coupled with the promise of restoration the other side of exile, is one of the forgotten roots of the fully developed hope of ancient Israel. The dead might be asleep; they might be almost nothing at all; but hope lived on within the covenant and promise of YHWH.

“See,” Isaac sneers. “The dead aren't nothing at all, like you make them out to be. N.T. says that they could be woken up from their slumber, or brought back to life. What about that, your theory doesn't appear to be as strong as you say it is,” Isaac protests. “You were right though, about having to be careful who you believe and trust,” Isaac said with a distrustful tone in his voice as he looks at Adam warily.

“Yes, we do have to be prudent about where we get our information,” Adam agreed. Not acknowledging Isaac’s sarcasm. “Let’s hear exactly what Isaiah 14 says.”

Surprised by Adam's response, Isaac finds and then reads Isaiah 14.

“Isaiah 14 King James Version

1 For the Lord will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land: and the strangers shall be joined with them, and they shall cleave to the house of Jacob.

2 And the people shall take them, and bring them to their place: and the house of Israel shall possess them in the land of the Lord for servants and handmaids: and they shall take them captives, whose captives they were; and they shall rule over their oppressors.

3 And it shall come to pass in the day that the Lord shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve,

4 That thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased!

5 The Lord hath broken the staff of the wicked, and the sceptre of the rulers.

6 He who smote the people in wrath with a continual stroke, he that ruled the nations in anger, is persecuted, and none hindereth.

7 The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they break forth into singing.

8 Yea, the fir trees rejoice at thee, and the cedars of Lebanon, saying, Since thou art laid down, no feller is come up against us.

9 Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations.

10 All they shall speak and say unto thee, Art thou also become weak as we? art thou become like unto us?

11 Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee.

12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!

13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:

14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

16 They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms;

17 That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?

18 All the kings of the nations, even all of them, lie in glory, every one in his own house.

19 But thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch, and as the raiment of those that are slain, thrust through with a sword, that go down to the stones of the pit; as a carcase trodden under feet.

20 Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial, because thou hast destroyed thy land, and slain thy people: the seed of evildoers shall never be renowned.

21 Prepare slaughter for his children for the iniquity of their fathers; that they do not rise, nor possess the land, nor fill the face of the world with cities.

22 For I will rise up against them, saith the Lord of hosts, and cut off from Babylon the name, and remnant, and son, and nephew, saith the Lord.

23 I will also make it a possession for the bittern, and pools of water: and I will sweep it with the besom of destruction, saith the Lord of hosts.

24 The Lord of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand:

25 That I will break the Assyrian in my land, and upon my mountains tread him under foot: then shall his yoke depart from off them, and his burden depart from off their shoulders.

26 This is the purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth: and this is the hand that is stretched out upon all the nations.

27 For the Lord of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?

28 In the year that king Ahaz died was this burden.

29 Rejoice not thou, whole Palestina, because the rod of him that smote thee is broken: for out of the serpent's root shall come forth a cockatrice, and his fruit shall be a fiery flying serpent.

30 And the firstborn of the poor shall feed, and the needy shall lie down in safety: and I will kill thy root with famine, and he shall slay thy remnant.

31 Howl, O gate; cry, O city; thou, whole Palestina, art dissolved: for there shall come from the north a smoke, and none shall be alone in his appointed times.

32 What shall one then answer the messengers of the nation? That the Lord hath founded Zion, and the poor of his people shall trust in it.”

“I don’t think you need to read quite as many verses to get to the point. The scripture I heard about the dead being woken up was around eight or ten. Could you read that part again,” Adam asks Isaac.

“Ya but I don’t want to miss the context, or anything important. Apparently I have made that mistake before and I want to get it right.” says Isaac with a sneer.

“8 Yea, the fir trees rejoice at thee, and the cedars of Lebanon, saying, Since thou art laid down, no feller is come up against us.

9 Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations.

10 All they shall speak and say unto thee, Art thou also become weak as we? art thou become like unto us?

11 Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee.”

“That was it,” Adam said aggressively. “The language of this chapter is very poetic. It wouldn't be such a good idea to build a doctrine about the state of dead people from it. There are plenty of verses that tell us the dead know nothing, or that they are silent and can't even praise God. I'm surprised that N.T. hasn’t come up with a theory that tells us, the trees of the forest can have rational thought and talk, using verse 8 as proof.

And you say that I can't be taken seriously as a credible source on what the Bible has to say. Do you call these verses credible as describing the true state of the dead, or are they poetic allegory and metaphor? Are these some of the verses you were talking about? Where you had to look at them as a whole, to understand how mankind has an eternal soul, verses that are taken out of their contextual meaning!”

Isaac defensively responds. “No! I hadn't thought of these verses, I can see how they seem poetic, the first verses were talking about Israel being re-established in their own land and how Babylon will be punished for its sins. I don't agree with N.T. that these verses are a description of the grave.”

“Oh,” Adam said sheepishly. “Well let’s hear the story about the necromancer. Maybe it will be more accurate in its description of dead people.”

“Got it coming,” Isaac said brightly. He scans the text to find the proper verse. “Let’s see, ya, this is it. 1 Samuel 28:6-25 KJV. I’ll read the whole story for context, if that’s all right?

6 And when Saul enquired of the Lord, the Lord answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.

7 Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor.

8 And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee.

9 And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die?

10 And Saul sware to her by the Lord, saying, As the Lord liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing.

11 Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel.

12 And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul.

13 And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth.

14 And he said unto her, What form is he of? And she said, An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself.

15 And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do.

16 Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the Lord is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy?

17 And the Lord hath done to him, as he spake by me: for the Lord hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy neighbour, even to David:

18 Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the Lord, nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the Lord done this thing unto thee this day.

19 Moreover the Lord will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and to morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me: the Lord also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.

20 Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night.

21 And the woman came unto Saul, and saw that he was sore troubled, and said unto him, Behold, thine handmaid hath obeyed thy voice, and I have put my life in my hand, and have hearkened unto thy words which thou spakest unto me.

22 Now therefore, I pray thee, hearken thou also unto the voice of thine handmaid, and let me set a morsel of bread before thee; and eat, that thou mayest have strength, when thou goest on thy way.

23 But he refused, and said, I will not eat. But his servants, together with the woman, compelled him; and he hearkened unto their voice. So he arose from the earth, and sat upon the bed.

24 And the woman had a fat calf in the house; and she hasted, and killed it, and took flour, and kneaded it, and did bake unleavened bread thereof:

25 And she brought it before Saul, and before his servants; and they did eat. Then they rose up, and went away that night.

11-19 are the verses mostly talking about bringing the dead back to life,” Isaac gives his overview of the scriptures he just read. “Now I must say, N.T. seems to have these verses in context.”

“Yes it does seem that way,” Agreed Adam. “It is a story about the dead. But was Samuel actually brought back to life? Or was Saul beguiled by the woman with the familiar spirits? In verse 13 we see that Saul didn't see Samuel, but took the woman's word for what she saw. We need to keep in mind that she had a familiar satanic spirit. These spirits are real; they are the ones who lead us away from the truths of God. She was often in contact with this spirit and was known for her visions. Verse 14 explains to us, Saul perceived that what she was describing was Samuel. He didn't actually see Samuel.”

“Yes but in verse 15 Saul talks to Samuel,” Isaac contends. “That would make Samuel alive, brought back from the dead.”

“I am surprised you think Satan has the power to raise the dead,” Adam says to Isaac as he steers around an upcoming pot hole. “I thought God was the only one capable of giving life. I'm sure I read that somewhere.”

Isaac pauses for a moment then nods his head as he searches the lap top files. Moments later he triumphantly says with a smile. “Here are a few places,

1 Samuel 2:6.

The Lord killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.

Deuteronomy 32:39.

See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.

John 1:3-4.

All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.”

“Well then,” Adam states matter of factually. “If it is only God who can raise the dead and God wasn't talking to King Saul, then what the woman saw couldn't have been Samuel the prophet of God, but was her familiar spirit giving her a message, that Saul perceived to be Samuel. Going by the scripture, when Saul bowed down, he would have been bowing to the woman who was seeing the vision. The familiar spirit may have been audibly talking through the woman directly to Saul. But to say that Samuel was brought back from the dead, by Satan, to speak to Saul using this passage as proof, displays a superficial understanding of what is actually going on.

As we have already found out, mankind is completely mortal. There is no part of us that lives on beyond our physical lives. God, who has a perfect memory, will re-create us within his time frame through a resurrection process. Once God resurrects us, we will be the same people we were before we died. Our neurological contacts and brain chemistry is what holds our emotions, memories, thoughts and personality. Once they are restored to their original state, we will be back to life as if we had never died.

The Bible does not tell us we have a conscious life after death, but rather tells us the opposite; it tells us we will have no thoughts or ambitions at all in the grave. We will sleep the slumber of death. That is why Christian’s incorruptible inheritance that is undefiled and doesn’t fade away, is reserved in heaven for us and will be revealed at our resurrection. Christians are resurrected into immortality, receiving their inheritance of eternal life at the return of Jesus, just as Jesus told us in John 6.”

“Let me read that last reference,” Isaac was quick to start a search. After reading a couple of sites, Isaac finds the verses and reads them out loud. “I think this is it,

1 Peter 1:3-5.