allenroy@cs.pdx.edu (callen roy) (06/22/91)
This is in response to email I got from J. H. I had planed to email it back but messed up again in the email department. J. H. will know who he is. I also think this is of general interest to everyone on the BB. Hi, J. H. Let me ask you to review the following for me, to see if it makes sense. 2 CORINTHIANS 5:1-10, NIV Now we know that if the earthly tent (mortal body) we live in is destroyed, we have a building (body) from God, an eternal house (immortal body) in Heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our Heavenly dwelling (Immortal Body), because when we are clothed (imortal body) we will not be found naked. (dead) For while we are in this tent (mortal body), we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed (dead) but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling (imortal body), so that what is mortal (mortal body) may be swallowed up by life (imortal body). Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body (mortal body) we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body (mortal body) and at home (immortal body) with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body (mortal body) or away from it (immortal body). For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body (mortal body), whether good or bad. Compare that with 1 Corinthians 15:50-54 I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood acnnot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep (die, be naked), but we will all be changed--in a flash, the the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead(naked) will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: 'Death has been swallowed up in victory.'