FINDING HOPE IN THE MIDST OF CRISIS

BIBLE PROPHECY CAN GIVE HOPE?
For  Dr. David R. Reagan
Hope is essential for life. Without it, people descend into deep depression or commit suicide or just lie down and die. During the Holocaust, Viktor Frankl, who later became a world-renowned psychiatrist, was a prisoner in one of the Nazi death camps. He observed that every year as Christmas approached, the hope that the prisoners be released on Christmas Day spread throughout the camp. It was an irrational hope, but was esperanza.Luego, when Christmas came and went with no release hundreds of prisoners tumbarían and die. Without hope, they could not live (1). Frankl concluded, "It is a peculiarity of man that he can live only looking to the future" (2).
Desperate need
The world desperately needs hope in these end times. We live in a world of growing fears - fear of a nuclear holocaust, fear of economic collapse, fear plagues like AIDS, fear of terrorism, fear of war, and of course, fear of life and death.
Our Nation needs hope. Our economy has collapsed. People are losing their jobs. Homes are being foreclosed. Corporations have been American icons for over one hundred years are going bankrupt. Retirement funds have disappeared. Many people are experiencing a sense of hopelessness for the first time in their lives.
Everywhere, people are looking for hope and that includes Christians. Some might respond by saying: "Christians are the only ones with any hope". This is true, but the problem is that most professing Christians can not articulate their hopes beyond a vague statement: "My hope is heaven." UNDER AN IGNORED I realized this one day when I was reading the great love poem by Paul in 1 Corinthians 13. It ends with the famous phrase: "Now abideth faith, hope, love, these three, but the greatest of these is love" (1 Cor. 13:13). As I thought about these words, suddenly occurred to me that he had heard hundreds of sermons about faith and hundreds about love, but I could not think of a single one about hope. At that time the Lord instilled in my heart that hope is the most ignored of the Christian virtues. I knew instantly why this is true. It is because hope is directly related to the knowledge of Bible prophecy from someone, and there is no topic that is most ignored in the modern Church that prophecy. Stop and think about that for a moment. What is your hope? How would explain to an unbeliever? Could go beyond the words, "My hope is heaven?" MY HERITAGE During the first 30 years of my life I received almost no teaching about Bible prophecy and lived with little hope. If you had asked me to define my hope, would have been a pathetic response, based more on Greek philosophy in Hebrew theology. I was taught that if he died before the Lord again, would experience "soul sleep". In other words, I slide into total unconsciousness and would lie in my grave until the Lord returned. Upon their return, they taught me that there would be a "big bang" that evaporizaría the universe. My soul would be resurrected, and I would walk into an ethereal world called Heaven where float around in a cloud and a harp would play forever. To me, it was a bleak picture. I did not like the idea of lying comatose in a tomb for aeons. The "big bang" scared me to death. I repulsed the idea of becoming some sort of disembodied spirit without any individuality or personality. Certainly could not be excited to play a harp forever. I actually found this downright hilarious. You see, I grew up in a church that thought is a terrible sin to play a musical instrument in a worship service. However, we were playing harps in Heaven forever! It made ​​sense to me, so I dismissed as a bunch of meaningless drivel. I had no one to blame but myself, because I did not study the Word of God as I should have. When I finally started doing that and the Holy Spirit began to direct me to the study of biblical prophecy, began to make discoveries about the future great hope that ministered to my spirit. In fact, I became so excited about my discovery that jump started the pews and chandeliers hang from shouting "Hallelujah" and "Praise the Lord!" People thought I had become Pentecostal overnight! No, there was only discovered the wonderful promises of God for the future that are designed to give us hope in the present. FALLACY soul sleep The first discovery I made ​​was related to the "soul sleep". Find out what is unbiblical concept. It is true that when we die, our bodies "sleep" metaphorically, but the spirits of the dead never lose their consciousness. Jesus taught this clearly in His story about the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31). When they died, their spirits went to Hades. The spirit of the rich man went to Hades compartment called "Torment". The spirit of Lazarus was a compartment called "Abraham's bosom". On the Cross, Jesus referred to Abraham as the "Paradise" (Luke 23:43). The two compartments were separated by a "great gulf" that he could not cross. In the story of Jesus, both men are portrayed fully aware. Even holding a conversation with each other. Their souls are not asleep. Additional evidence of consciousness after death can be found in Revelation 7. Juan has been taken to heaven and being given a tour of the throne room of God. He looks "a great multitude ... from every nation and all tribes and peoples and languages", standing before the throne of God, "dressed in white robes" and clapping in worship (Rev. 7:9). They are fully aware as they sing, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb" (Rev. 7:10). John wants to know the identity of these people. He says they are martyrs for Christ to come out of the "great tribulation" (Rev. 7:14). Here are two scenes in Scripture of people who are fully conscious after death. STATEMENTS OF PAUL The apostle Paul said about consciousness after death. In 2 Cor. 5:8 he wrote he would rather "be absent from the body and be at home with the Lord." He repeated this sentiment in his letter to the Philippians he wrote, "to live is Christ and to die is gain" (Phil. 1:21). He elaborated on the meaning of this statement by adding that his desire was "to be with Christ from" (Phil. 1:23). Paul had no concept of lying comatose in a tomb for aeons. At death, expected to be with the Lord immediately. intermediate state My second discovery was that we are not destined to an existence as disembodied spirits ethereal. Immediately after death, both the saved and the lost receive a body that I will call a "spiritual body between." I have given this name because it is a body that is intermediate between our flesh body and the glorified body now definite that the saints will receive at the time of his resurrection. The Bible does not tell us much about this body, except that it is tangible and recognizable. An example of this is found in 1 Samuel 28 where we are told that King Saul, in his rebellion against God, sought the advice of a witch. She, in turn, sought to invoke his familiar demon spirit. Instead, the Lord sent Samuel, who had died long ago. At the time that Samuel appeared, both the witch as Saul recognized him. Another example of intermediate spiritual body can be found in Matthew 17 where it tells the story of the Transfiguration of Jesus. This was when the disciples were given a glimpse of His glory. While testifying this wonderful event, two people suddenly appeared and began talking with them. The two people were Moses and Elijah (Matthew 17:1-5). Additional examples of intermediate spiritual bodies are found in the two biblical scenes that I mentioned: The rich man and Lazarus in Hades (Luke 16) and Tribulation martyrs in heaven (Rev. 7). GLORIFICATION When Jesus returns, the Bible says it will bring with the spirits of the saved (1 Thess. 4:13-14). He will raise their bodies in a great miracle of recreation (whether their bodies are preserved, rotten, cremated or dissolved in the ocean). In a blink, the meet their spirits with their resurrected bodies and then glorify their bodies (1 Thess. 4:15-16). Then, those saints who are alive will be caught up to meet the Lord in heaven and will be processed as they ascend (1 Thess. 4:17). All my life I've heard people say, "There are two things in life that can not avoid: death and taxes. " That statement is wrong. The only thing is we can not avoid taxes and more taxes. A whole generation of believers avoid death - the generation that is alive when the Lord returns for His Church. No wonder Paul concluded this great passage in 1 Thessalonians saying: "Therefore comfort one another with these words" (1 Thes. 4:18). What's a glorified body? Paul wrote an entire chapter on the topic in 1 Corinthians 15. He said that our glorified bodies will be incorruptible, gloriously pure, powerful and spiritual (1 Cor. 15:42-44). Paul further states that the glorified body will be immortal and as such, will no longer be subject to death (1 Cor. 15:53-55). glorified body NATURE OF Paul made ​​a statement in his letter to the Philippians that I think we provide the framework for understanding how our bodies will be glorified. He wrote that when Jesus returns, "transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the power that enables him even to subject to himself all things" (Phil. 3:20 - 21). In other words, our glorified bodies will be like Jesus' resurrected body. Now think about that for a moment. After His resurrection, Jesus had a tangible body that could be touched and recognized (Luke 24:41-43 and Jn. 20:27-28). At first, people had difficulty in recognizing him, but that's understandable. If you buried his friend one day and he hit the door to the next, do you recognize? Do not assume it was someone who looked like her friend? Once the disciples realized that Jesus had truly risen, had no difficulty in recognizing him, even at a distance (John 21:1-7). therefore Jesus had a body similar to the ones we have now. It was tangible and recognizable. He was also a body that ate food. Jesus is described eating with His disciples several times, including a portion of fish on the beach of the Sea of Galilee (Lc.24 :30-31, 41-42 and Jn. 21:10-13). I must admit that I get excited when I read these stories of Jesus eating and when I read about our meal with Him in Heaven in the "marriage supper of the Lamb" (Rev. 19:7-9). I have this fantasy that we will be able to eat whatever we want in our glorified bodies and not have to worry about gaining weight! (This should be enough to cause many of you cry "Maranatha!") a different dimension of Jesus' resurrected body was similar to ours in many ways, but there were some differences. The body of Jesus seemed to have a different dimension, as it could pass through walls of a locked room (John 20:26) and could move from one place to another almost instantly (Luke 24:30-36). One moment I was on the road to Emmaus, the next was in Jerusalem and then appear in the Galilee area. His disciples were so shocked and frightened by their ability to suddenly disappear and reappear elsewhere who thought they were seeing a ghost. But Jesus immediately contradicted that idea by saying: "Handle me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have" (Luke 24:39). When the Word says that our glorified bodies will be "spiritual" in nature (1 Cor. 15:44), does not mean that we will be ethereal spirits. He says that our natural body will be resurrected as a spiritual body, not a spirit. We still have a body, but it will not be controlled more by the old sin nature, the flesh. Instead, it is a body completely surrendered to the control of the Holy Spirit. 's another thing that the Bible reveals about the glorified body that should be a source of great comfort. The glorified body will be a perfected body. That means that the blind see, the deaf hear, the lame walk and the dumb speak. Those who are mentally ill have their minds healed (Isaiah 29:18-19, 32:3-4 and 35:5-6). No more pain or death (Rev. 21:4). God "will wipe away every tear" and "there will be no more mourning or crying or pain" (Revelation 21:4). significant activities My first discovery was that there is no such thing as "soul sleep". We remain conscious after death. My second discovery was that we are not meant to be disembodied spirits. We still have a body - first, a spiritual body intermediate and then a glorified body. My third discovery was that we will not be "bored to tears" for eternity playing harps. We will be engaged in some meaningful activities. If you are a believer and die before the Lord returns, will go to Heaven, where they will be involved in worship (Rev. 7:9-14) and service (Rev. 7:15). It is true that the Bible does not specify about our worship and service, but we can be sure that you will find uplifting and full of satisfaction. It could also be that this will be a time of rest, preparing for vigorous service time will, when the Lord returns to earth. JUDGMENT AND REWARDS At the time of the Rapture (most likely before the Tribulation), the living and the dead in Christ will receive their glorified bodies. We will be in Heaven with the Lord during the Tribulation. This will be the time of our judgment, not to determine our eternal destiny, but to determine our degrees of reward. Each of us will face the judgment seat of Christ and be judged in terms of how we use our spiritual gifts to advance His kingdom (2 Cor. 5:10). Our works will be judged in terms of quantity, quality and motive (1 Cor. 3:13:15 and 4:5). Some will experience shame while all his works are burned as despicable (1 Cor. 3:13-15). Others will receive great rewards. Some of the rewards will be related to the degree of governmental authority that we will be provided during the millennial reign of the Lord (Luke 19:11-27). Others consist of crowns and special garments. There will be a "crown of righteousness" to those who have been longing for the return of Jesus (2 Tim. 4:7-8). A "crown of life" will be given to those who persevere in testing (Rev. 2:10 and Jas. 1:12). Elders and pastors faithful will receive a "crown of glory" (1 Peter 5:4). The soul winners will receive a "crown of rejoicing" (Phil. 4:1 and 1 Thess. 2:19). A "incorruptible crown" will be given to those who exercise self-control (1 Cor. 9:25). Even the clothes we received indicate our degrees of reward. Somehow reflect "the righteous acts of the saints" (Rev. 19:8). At the end of this time of trial, we, the Bride of Christ, we will sit at a banquet table in Heaven to celebrate our union with our Bridegroom, Jesus. The Bible calls the "marriage supper of the Lamb" (Rev. 19:9). It will be a time of unprecedented celebration. The heavens resound with "Hallelujah"! (Rev. 19:1-6). WITNESSES GLORIA When finished the meal, return to earth with Jesus (Rev. 19:11-14). We'll be there in our glorified bodies when your feet step on the Mount of Olives and the mountain will split in half (Zechariah 14:1-9). We will be there to shout "Hosanna to the Son of David! Hosanna to the King of kings! "While ride into the Kidron Valley on his white horse and approach the East Gate. We will be there to witness the opening of the door while supernatural welcomes Jesus into the holy city of Jerusalem (Psalm 24:7-8): Lift up, O gates, your heads, Be lifted up ancient doors forever, And the King of glory. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. 'll be there to shout "Hallelujah!", when Jesus is crowned King of kings and Lord of lords, and His glorious millennial reign begins. millennial reign during the reign of the Lord, the redeemed will be doing anything but floating around on clouds playing harps. We will reign with Jesus over those who are allowed to enter the Millennium in the flesh (which are those believers who are alive at the end of the Tribulation). Jesus will reign over all the earth from Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:1-4) as King of kings and Lord of lords (Rev. 19:16). David, in his glorified body, will reign as king of Israel (Ezekiel 37:24). Those of us who are glorified saints, we will be scattered throughout the earth to help with the reign of Jesus (2 Tim. 2:12). Think about it - every person on earth who is in a position of governmental authority is a saint glorified. Some of us will be in administrative positions, sharing Jesus' reign as presidents, governors or mayors (Luke 19:11-27). Others will serve as judges (1 Cor. 6:3). Most of us act as "shepherds" or teachers, trying to bring those born during the Millennium to faith in Jesus (Isa 66:18-21 and Jer. 3:15). None of us will act as legislators, because the law is given by Jesus Christ Himself and be perfect (Isaiah 2:1-4). There will be no abomination known as the Texas Legislature or the U.S. Congress. Nor will there be any pressure group or political parties. Mr. govern with "a rod of iron" (Ps. 2:9 and Rev. 2:27). The government of the world will be a theocracy, with Jesus acting as the political and spiritual leader. "Then you will receive the royal honor from his throne and rule as king from his throne also serve as a priest and be perfect harmony between their two offices" (Zech. 6:13 New Living Translation.) We will be given the blessing of seeing this ancient sin-sick world flooded with peace, righteousness and justice, "as the waters cover the sea" (Isa. 11:9). There will be homeless or hungry people (Isa. 65:21-22 and Micah. 4:4). Peace cover envelop the earth (Isa. 11:4-5). The Lord's reign will be characterized by justice, equity and faithfulness (Isaiah 11:4-5). "Shall remember and turn unto the Lord all the ends of the earth, and all the families of the nations shall worship before thee" (Ps. 22:27) The eternal state when the millennium ends and we head towards the Eternal State, the Bible gives no details as to what will be our activities. Just tell us three things: we will see the face of God (Rev. 22:4), we will serve the Lord (Rev. 22:3) and reign with Him forever (Rev. 22:5). See the face of God is an exciting prospect, because the Bible says that no one has ever seen his face (Exodus 33:20 and 1 Tim. 6:16). I think the promise of seeing the face of God means that we will enjoy intimacy with Him forever. Most of it will undoubtedly be in the form of worship. I think it also means that we will grow in our knowledge of the Lord forever. He is infinite, and no matter how we come to know, there is much more for us to experience. I am sure this will be one aspect of the study of His eternal Word. I get excited by all this as I think of singing psalms with David or study the book of Romans with Paul. As for the service, I imagine, first, that our gifts and talents will be increased and we will use it to glorify God. Thus, a singer will be able to sing with the range and perfection never before achieved and a painter will be able to paint with a glory never imagined. Reign with the Lord forever means that we will be ruling over someone. Who will not know. It may be the "nations" referred to in Revelation mysterious that seem to inhabit the new earth (Rev. 21:24-27 and 22:2). our eternal home brings me to the fourth and final discovery I made ​​when the Holy Spirit led me to depth study of Bible prophecy. I discovered that the Redeemed will not live forever in an ethereal world called Heaven. I learned, however, that our eternal home will be in a new land. Most Christians are surprised by this truth, which shows how little is taught Bible prophecy in the Church today. Given that the Bible teaches that the earth now is eternal (Psalm 78:69 and 148:6), I have concluded that the "new earth" will present earth renewed by fire. It is true that Peter said that the present land will be "destroyed" by fire (2 Peter 3:10-12), but in the context it is clear that he is referring to a radical transformation of the present earth. Earlier in the same passage, referred to the original land as being "destroyed" by water, talking about the flood of Noah. Land of Noah's day no longer exists, but the flood of "destroyed" in the sense that it radically changed the nature of the land - tilting on its axis, dividing continents, creating the fossil record, depositing marine organisms become oil depots and creating the ocean depths and the heights of the mountains. At the end of the Millennium, the fire will be used by God to burn pollution of Satan's last revolt. Amid the hellfire, God will give you a new way to earth as a ball of hot wax. He refreshed and restored to its original perfection (Acts 3:21). He then will descend to the New Jerusalem to the new earth with the redeemed within (Rev. 21:1-2). Then He Himself will come to earth to live eternally in our presence! "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God" (Rev. 21:3). Heaven is where God resides. When new land is provided, heaven will descend to earth as God takes up residence in this new land. So it is true that the redeemed will live eternally in Heaven, but Heaven will be on earth. REDEMPTION OF ALL CREATION God loves His creation and intends to redeem it - all of it - and not destroy it with a "big bang "mystical. Jesus died on the cross not only to redeem humanity, but also to redeem Creation. That is the reason that the high priest in the Old Testament not only sprinkled blood on the mercy seat of the Ark, but also on the ground before the ark (Lev. 16:15). The blood on the Mercy Seat of the Ark was a symbolic prophecy pointing to the fact that the blood of the Messiah would cover the law of God (the tablets in the Ark) with the mercy and grace of God. The blood on the floor was a reminder of the sacrifice of the Messiah would enable the curse is removed and the animal and plant kingdoms return to their original perfection (Isa. 11:6-9 and Rom. 8:18-23 ). an unwarranted fear Many people are afraid of Bible prophecy. They say it is full of "pessimism". This is true for those who have rejected the Lord. But to those who know him love him, there is only good news. The Old Testament ends with an example of what I mean. He says, "Look, the day is coming, burning like an oven. All the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble, and that day shall burn them "(Malachi 4:1). That's bad news. But the very next verse contains incredible good news to the believers: "But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness, and his wings, and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall" (Mal. 4:2) The Bible is full of prophecy glorious promises that are designed to give God's people a strong sense of hope while living as pilgrims and strangers in the midst of a world that increasingly rejects God wrong. When you read these wonderful promises, you can understand why Paul wrote these words in 1 Corinthians 2:9, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love them. " HOPE ONE GOD As this verse indicates, we can not even begin to imagine the wonderful blessings that God has in store for the redeemed. But the very next verse says that the Holy Spirit has revealed to us these blessings in the Word of God (1 Cor. 2:10). The sad thing is that most Christians are ignorant of these promises and, therefore, have no idea what Paul meant when he wrote: "Well, I have to consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that revealed to us "(Rom. 8:18). In Romans 15:13, Paul wrote: "Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of Holy Spirit. " Our God is a God of hope fill us with hope you like. If you know Jesus as your Savior, you are an heir of some incredible promises, and if you know these promises and believe in them, you can live in this evil world with hope, joy and great expectations. As the world we have built on the dollar collapses around us, keep an eternal perspective with our hope firmly fixed in the soon return of Jesus. Maranatha! Notes: This article is an edited excerpt from Dr. Reagan's book,  Living for Christ in the End Times . 1) Viktor Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning (New York, NY: Washington Square Press, a division of Simon & Schuster, 1963, revised and updated edition in 1998). 2) Ibid., page 115. Translated by Donald Dolmus