MERGED: Does Hell exist today?

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**You stated ** also we have the souls of those who have been martryed crying up to God in revelation.

My reply

(Rev 6:9) And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:

I think this is the verse you referring to. Let me know if I am wrong.

I don’t believe this can be literal souls in heaven. The first reason being that it would be hard for all the souls of the martyrs to fit under the altar. ( The earthy sanctuary was a true representative of the heavenly sanctuary). And secondly, the verse reads " avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth". We know in heaven there will be no sins. Jesus will not be in a place of sin again. These souls ( if they are in heaven) are asking for vengeance, or punishment to those on earth. That would be a sin, for we are to love and forgive.

Similar is that of the previous verses in which John sees white, black, pale horses. we know the horses are symbolic and not to be taken literally.

Those people that have been and will be martyrs of God until the second coming of Jesus, will be at “rest” for a “little longer” (Rev. 6:11). They will be asleep until the second coming.
 
**You stated ** he even writes that when Jesus returns, he will bring those who have fallen asleep in him. how can he bring back those if there is no soul that survives death?

My reply

Hey remember, God can do anything. If he created man and woman, I am sure he can bring us back.( no sarcastic intended).

I think this is the verse…(1Th 4:14) For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

Satan wants you to believe that we do not die, that a part of us will live. That is what he said to Eve in the garden. Satan said you will not die. God said you will surely die.
I believe God will breath the spirit back into the dead that are sleeping at the second coming. Remember, upon death our spirit goes back to God. God knows every head on our bodies, I am sure that He can provide us the breathe of life, to have life eternal with Him.

The verse above is that God will bring with Him ( the saved will go with Jesus, God will bring with Him, them to heaven) I believe this verse is talking about the ascension of the saved, not when Jesus is descending at His second coming. Jesus died ( sleep) and then rose again. Reading after the comma, “them also which sleep”, those that are dead in their graves ( hades), God will raise them up to heaven in a cloud to meet Jesus.

Who will be with Jesus when He returns…(Mat 25:31) When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
(Luk 9:26) For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels. (1Co 15:13) But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:

If Jesus is bring with him the saved souls from heaven, then how come Paul states that when Jesus returns “the dead in Christ will rise first” ? (Mat 24:30) 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.
(Mat 24:31) 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.

written with love
 
/sarcasm on

No Of course not. Hell dosnt exist today. After existing for over 6000 years since the Adam walked the soil and transgressed, God decided to just “forget about it” all in the last few decades so that Man could ignore his commands according to mans whims."

/sarcasm off

OF COURSE NOT!
Todays disbeleiving society dosn’t change Hell!
Mans “science” cannot undo our Lords Plan. There are too many people who think of Hell as “Seperation from God” and in ignorance beleive something wooly and metaphorical about Johns received message. Why would Our Lord speak in riddles, his meaning is clear to those not willfully blind.

Hell is real. Always was, always is and always will be untill the final victory.
 
**You stated ** . God at times stated, "I AM the God of abraham issac and jacob. not i was the God of abraham issac and jacob. why? because they are in his presence. it is also written, he has put immortality in our hearts. why? because though our bodies are mortal, our souls are not. more thoughts to follow, i just lost what i was going to say next. :o i hate it when that happens…lol! peace 🙂

My reply

I am not sure what verse you are talking about that God has put immortality in our hearts?

What is a soul?

God also said ," I AM" the “I AM” of Israel.

written with love
 
/sarcasm on

No Of course not. Hell dosnt exist today. After existing for over 6000 years since the Adam walked the soil and transgressed, God decided to just “forget about it” all in the last few decades so that Man could ignore his commands according to mans whims."

/sarcasm off

OF COURSE NOT!
Todays disbeleiving society dosn’t change Hell!
Mans “science” cannot undo our Lords Plan. There are too many people who think of Hell as “Seperation from God” and in ignorance beleive something wooly and metaphorical about Johns received message. Why would Our Lord speak in riddles, his meaning is clear to those not willfully blind.

Hell is real. Always was, always is and always will be untill the final victory.
with no sarcasm

So many talk a good talk, but do not support their look with the “Book”. They continue to believe the doctrines of man. I try to continually use scripture to support my belief.

written with love
 
So many talk a good talk, but do not support their look with the “Book”. They continue to believe the doctrines of man. I try to continually use scripture to support my belief.

written with love
My dear friend, I haven’t been following this thread but I did take the time to read much of it today.

It seems your questions have been answered more than once by many good Christians here but you refuse to believe them. Apparently you think Our Lord would allow His Church to teach falsehoods for several centuries without allowing the Holy Spirit to correct the error. I’m sorry you feel God is so inept. I will pray that the Holy Spirit gives you guidance.

Nevertheless your tone seems condescending, my friend. It may well be the reason many have stopped responding to you. As my Mom used to say, you catch more flies with honey than vinegar.

Peace 🙂
 
The verses in Job I referred to are from the KVJ. I do use the KVJ bible.

let me know your thoughts on how you read the verses I quoted. With do respect you mention I take things out of context. Please explain how I have done that.

written with love
Hi, BTTG…

Here is an example:

In response to the Biblical evidence of the intercession of the saints, you quoted Psalm 115: 17 to contradict what you just read.

(Psa 115:17) The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence.

Well, if you read the whole psalm and take into account the whole message being conveyed by Psalm 115, it is taking about false idols and comparing them to God.

Verse 17 is a characteristic of false idols, when taken together with the whole psalm.

And beside, as per the articles I sent you, the saints are not dead, they are alive in heaven and with God, praying with God. So, this verse 17 would not apply.

This is what I am trying to impart to you, that you do not take single verses and string them together, but take as many verses before and after the singular verse so that you can take the fullness of the message, that way, you will not get contradictory verses, which I have found in this thread from you (pardon me for calling your attention to it). Keep in mind, the Bible does not contradict itself.
 
Hi, BTTG…

Here is an example:

In response to the Biblical evidence of the intercession of the saints, you quoted Psalm 115: 17 to contradict what you just read.

(Psa 115:17) The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence.

Well, if you read the whole psalm and take into account the whole message being conveyed by Psalm 115, it is taking about false idols and comparing them to God.

Verse 17 is a characteristic of false idols, when taken together with the whole psalm.
What does this last sentence mean?
And beside, as per the articles I sent you, the saints are not dead, they are alive in heaven and with God, praying with God. So, this verse 17 would not apply.
Are you seriously saying that some article supercedes the word of God?
This is what I am trying to impart to you, that you do not take single verses and string them together, but take as many verses before and after the singular verse so that you can take the fullness of the message, that way, you will not get contradictory verses, which I have found in this thread from you (pardon me for calling your attention to it). Keep in mind, the Bible does not contradict itself.
Here’s Psalm 115

Psalm 115
1Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake.

2Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God?

3But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.

4Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.

5They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not:

6They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not:

7They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat.

8They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them.

9O Israel, trust thou in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.

10O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.

11Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.

12The LORD hath been mindful of us: he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron.

13He will bless them that fear the LORD, both small and great.

14The LORD shall increase you more and more, you and your children.

15Ye are blessed of the LORD which made heaven and earth.

16The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD’s: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.

17The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence.

18But we will bless the LORD from this time forth and for evermore. Praise the LORD.

V. 17 says exactly what it says
**The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence. **

In other words they are not in heaven or hell now, because they are dead.
 
What does this last sentence mean?

Are you seriously saying that some article supercedes the word of God?

**Articles…magazine articles, write ups…that discuss the intercession of the saints…check the prevous posts for the links…so that you will know the gist of our discussion…if you want…
**

Here’s Psalm 115

Psalm 115
1Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake.

2Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God?

3But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.

4Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.

5They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not:

6They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not:

7They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat.

8They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them.

9O Israel, trust thou in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.

10O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.

11Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.

12The LORD hath been mindful of us: he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron.

13He will bless them that fear the LORD, both small and great.

14The LORD shall increase you more and more, you and your children.

15Ye are blessed of the LORD which made heaven and earth.

16The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD’s: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.

17The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence.

18But we will bless the LORD from this time forth and for evermore. Praise the LORD.

V. 17 says exactly what it says
**The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence. **

*As I stated, when taken together with the whole psalm, compares false idols with God…
*
In other words they are not in heaven or hell now, because they are dead.
How do you know they are not in heaven? When a mortal dies, isn’t he judged accordingly and sent to heaven, hell or somewhere else?
 
How do you know they are not in heaven?
The bible tells me so.

Psalm6
5For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?

Psalm88
10Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? shall the dead arise and praise thee? Selah.
11Shall thy lovingkindness be declared in the grave? or thy faithfulness in destruction?

Psalm146
3Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.
4His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.

Ecclesiastes 9:5
For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten

Ecc.12
7Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
When a mortal dies, isn’t he judged accordingly and sent to heaven, hell or somewhere else?
When a mortal dies he/she goes into the grave to await the resurrection.
Jn5
28Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
29And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

There will be two resurrections. The first for the righteous. This is talked about in Jn 14:1-3
John 14
1Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

There would be no need for Jesus to recieve souls unto Himself when He returned if they were already with Him.

The second is for the wicked.

2Peter2
9The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

The unjust are “reserved” unto the day of judgement. They are reserved in the grave.
 
When a mortal dies he/she goes into the grave to await the resurrection.
My friend, I don’t think so. 🙂

Matthew 17:3— And behold there appeared to them Moses and Elias talking with him.

Mark 9:4— And there appeared to them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.

Luke 9: 30-31— And behold two men were talking with him. And they were Moses and Elias, appearing in majesty. And they spoke of his decease that he should accomplish in Jerusalem.

And what of the penitent thief? From Luke 23:
42 And he said to Jesus: Lord, remember me when you shall come into your kingdom. 43 And Jesus said to him: Amen I say to you: This day you shall be with me in paradise.
Obviously some who have died have gone to heaven and didn’t have to await the resurrection.
The bible tells me so.
The Bible and “the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15) tell me otherwise my friend. Could your interpretation be wrong? 🙂
 
My friend, I don’t think so. 🙂

Matthew 17:3— And behold there appeared to them Moses and Elias talking with him.

Mark 9:4— And there appeared to them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.

Luke 9: 30-31— And behold two men were talking with him. And they were Moses and Elias, appearing in majesty. And they spoke of his decease that he should accomplish in Jerusalem.
There is no doubt that there are some that are in heaven now, as you have pointed out, but these are exceptions to the rule as I have pointed out.
And what of the penitent thief? From Luke 23:
Jn.20
14And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.

15Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.

16Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.

17Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

As you can see from this passage Jesus had not returned to His Father in heaven three days after His death, so He could not have been in heaven with the thief on the day He was crucified. The problem is with the uninspired translators who misplaced a comma.
Here’s the v. as it appears in Luke 23
43And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.

Now try moving the comma after the word “today” We get

43And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee Today, shalt thou be with me in paradise.

Changes the whole meaning of the sentence.
Obviously some who have died have gone to heaven and didn’t have to await the resurrection.
Operative word here is “some”.
The Bible and “the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15) tell me otherwise my friend. Could your interpretation be wrong? 🙂
Prayerfully look over what I have posted and ask yourself, Could yours be wrong?
 
As you can see from this passage Jesus had not returned to His Father in heaven three days after His death, so He could not have been in heaven with the thief on the day He was crucified. The problem is with the uninspired translators who misplaced a comma.
Here’s the v. as it appears in Luke 23

43And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.

Now try moving the comma after the word “today” We get

43And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee Today, shalt thou be with me in paradise.

Changes the whole meaning of the sentence.
My friend, you didn’t offer any evidence to support your claim that a comma was misplaced in Luke 23. I ‘googled it’ and found this article interesting— Luke 23:43 and misplaced commas. It seems Our Lord used the phrase ‘Verily I say to you,’ 76 times in Holy Scripture, and the comma always comes after the ‘you’.

Honestly, if there is some evidence that the comma was misplaced in Luke 23 I hope you can produce it. If not, you make a mockery of God’s words.
Prayerfully look over what I have posted and ask yourself, Could yours be wrong?
My friend, I ponder a God so inept as to allow falsehood to be taught and to flourish in His Church for several centuries. Is this the God you believe in?
 
**You stated ** My friend, I ponder a God so inept as to allow falsehood to be taught and to flourish in His Church for several centuries. Is this the God you believe in?
  • ** My reply-** When we read the OT, God provided the opportunity for Israel to be His people, to take His word to the world. For thousands of years, there was false doctrines and believes in Israel.
God could zap Satan right now if He wanted too. Why does God allow Satan to continue to harm His children for thousands of years?

written with love
 
My dear friend, I haven’t been following this thread but I did take the time to read much of it today.

It seems your questions have been answered more than once by many good Christians here but you refuse to believe them. Apparently you think Our Lord would allow His Church to teach falsehoods for several centuries without allowing the Holy Spirit to correct the error. I’m sorry you feel God is so inept. I will pray that the Holy Spirit gives you guidance.

Nevertheless your tone seems condescending, my friend. It may well be the reason many have stopped responding to you. As my Mom used to say, you catch more flies with honey than vinegar.

Peace 🙂
Hey, I am sorry that you feel that way. If my tone was condescending I apologize. It is difficult to express one’s message, without the reader knowing the demeanor in which it is meant to be sent.
I ask for your forgiveness in anything that I have written that may have offended you.

I ASK OTHERS TO, THAT IF THEY FEEL THE SAME WAY THAT THEY FORGIVE ME AS WELL.

I try to support all be scripture.

We are all God’s children, just searching for the truth.

written with love
 
**You stated ** My friend, I ponder a God so inept as to allow falsehood to be taught and to flourish in His Church for several centuries. Is this the God you believe in?
  • ** My reply-** When we read the OT, God provided the opportunity for Israel to be His people, to take His word to the world. For thousands of years, there was false doctrines and believes in Israel.
God could zap Satan right now if He wanted too. Why does God allow Satan to continue to harm His children for thousands of years?

written with love

As for Satan being allowed to continue:

The way I see it, it really has been up to us all along. God has been waiting on us to fulfill the Great Commission and bring the Good news to all the world. That must happen first. And it has taken us many centuries to have the tools to do so. We are close, so very close.

But, wait, there is also this problem we have of our capacity to do evil. We blew it in the garden. But think about this:

When Jesus comes and rules for a thousand years of perfect peace, yet, Yet then He must release Lucifer for a little time. Why?because even then, with all that wonderful peace, there will still be people who will join up with the devil and war against Jesus!!! That is how evil we can be of our own free will.

Of course this will be the last war and war will be no more. Humanity must be rid of it’s lingering evil intentions. And that is why there will be the Lake of Fire, wherein Satan and all who rebelled and were doomed to hell are tossed into. That lake of Fire will remain for us to go and see them in there.

only after this will we deserve the perfection of earth made new again.

He is at the Door, waiting for His Father to say" Open’. And the Father is waiting on us.
 
How about Jesus
Jn. 11
11These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.
12Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.
13Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.
14Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.

Jesus equates Lazarus’ death to sleep. Not a state of conciousness in heaven.

23Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.
24Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.

Martha understands the state of the dead as being this state of unconciousness awaiting the resurrection.

42And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.
43And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
44And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

After Jesus prays to the Father He calls Lazarus forth from the grave, not down from heaven, because Lazarus is in the grave not in heaven. Also when Lazarus is awakened he says nothing of the beautiful place he was in and inquire why he had been made to return to this dismal sinful world and the reason for that is because he was not in heaven. He was asleep in the grave.

Paul talks about soul sleep and resurrection in1Thess. 4

13But 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.
14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

God will bring those that have fallen asleep back to heaven with Jesus when they are awakened, at the last tump at the resurrection, at the end of the world.

15For 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.
16For 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:
17Then 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.
18Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Those who have died in Christ remain in the grave to await the resurrection to go with Jesus to the place He has prepared for them

John 14
1Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Jesus doesn’t say that He will bring them back from heaven to be reunited with their bodies. He says He will return and recieve them unto Himself. How could He do that if they were already with Him?
ok Richard, ill play along. what theologian prior to the 1800s took these words of Jesus to mean what your church teaches? this is the real question. im not asking you for your interpretation. im asking for a theologian or scholar that taught the doctrine of soul sleep pre 1800. we all know what Jesus said. find me someone who agreed with E.G. White. with all due respect my friend, throwing more verses out there, misses the point. but as to your question at the very last… they are in spirit form with the Lord. but they must be reunited with their bodies. Christ did not just come to save our souls, he came to redeem all of creation. the physical as well as the spiritual. of things seen, and unseen. also what do you do with the bible where it is written, behold he comes with 10 thousands of his saints, to execute judgement…its jude 1:14, cant remember the whole thing. but this is talking about the second coming. how can he come back with 10 thousands of his saints, while their bodies are still in the ground? simple, people have an element that goes on after the death of the body Richard. Peace and prayer for you. :signofcross:
 
Hey, I am sorry that you feel that way. If my tone was condescending I apologize. It is difficult to express one’s message, without the reader knowing the demeanor in which it is meant to be sent.
I ask for your forgiveness in anything that I have written that may have offended you.

I ASK OTHERS TO, THAT IF THEY FEEL THE SAME WAY THAT THEY FORGIVE ME AS WELL.

I try to support all be scripture.

We are all God’s children, just searching for the truth.

written with love
you are one of the Least condescending people i know Craig. ill vouch for you and your sincerity. if i didnt believe you were honestly searching, i would not have spent as much time with you as i have. also as i have told you in p.m. you keep me on my toes! 👍 Peace to you and yours. 🙂
 
ok Richard, ill play along. what theologian prior to the 1800s took these words of Jesus to mean what your church teaches? this is the real question. im not asking you for your interpretation. im asking for a theologian or scholar that taught the doctrine of soul sleep pre 1800. we all know what Jesus said. find me someone who agreed with E.G. White. with all due respect my friend, throwing more verses out there, misses the point.
I’m hurt that you don’t consider me a theologian and a scholar Ben. You say the real question is finding a theologian that teaches what my church teaches prior to 1800. See, Ben that’s not the question at all. The question you can find up at the top of each one of the post pages and that is “Does Hell exist today?” and all this asking for theologians who teach this doctrine before 1800 is merely diversionary from the OP and needs to be taken to another thead. As for throwing out verses missing the point, that just is not true. You see for me the bible is the ONLY source of truth, so it is only natural that I would defer to it’s wisdom.
but as to your question at the very last… they are in spirit form with the Lord. but they must be reunited with their bodies. Christ did not just come to save our souls, he came to redeem all of creation. the physical as well as the spiritual. of things seen, and unseen.
Ok
 
also what do you do with the bible where it is written, behold he comes with 10 thousands of his saints, to execute judgement…its jude 1:14, cant remember the whole thing. but this is talking about the second coming.:
Now we get into a question of substance the answer to which will give us some insight into the OP.

First we need to look at Jude and see just who it is that Jude is talking about. He is talking about the judgement, condemnation, of the wicked. We have to realize that Jesus returns more than once. The first time He comes He does not set foot on the earth. This return is decribed in

John 14
1Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

and also in

1Thess.4
14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15For 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.
16For 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:
17Then 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.
18Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Ok, we got this so far? The Lord returns to “recieve” all those that are “in Christ” IOW the righteous. So, what happens to the wicked?

2Peter3
9The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
10But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

The wicked along with the earth and all the works of the world are burned up by the brightness of His comming and the righteous go back to heaven to be with Jesus. But this is not the end of the story. God still has to deal with sin and the final outcome of the wicked. So, after 1,000 yrs. in heaven reviewing the books to show that God has done everything that He can to save mankind, He returns the third time to pronounce judgement and set up His kingdom on earth.

Zechariah 14
1Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee.
2For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.
3Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.
4And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.

Notice this time Jesus comes all the way down to this earth. This is a new earth an earth that has laid dormant for 1,000 yrs. The first thing that has to be done on this new earth is to take care of the sin problem. This is what you are reading about in Jude. When Jesus returns this time He has all of the righteous with Him. These are those of the first resurrection They shall never taste death again. The wicked however will be raised up again for one reason and that is to have judgement prononced on them. Rev.20

11And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
12And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
13And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
14And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

You will notice in v.12 that the dead stand before the judgement throne of God. As far as I know the dead cannot stand. So this is refering to the wicked, dead in sin, that have been raised up for the express purpose of condemnation to the second death. Which is destruction for all eternity. After the wicked have been thrown into the lake of fire and have been burned up. The fire will go out and God sets up His eternal kingdom on earth.

Revelation 21
1And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
2And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
4And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
 
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