Is This Type Of Christianity For You?
By Isaac Aluochier
All scriptural quotations are from the World English Bible available at http://www.ebible.org/bible/WEB/. "Yah'shuah" is a Hebrew rendition of "Jesus".
CONTENTS
Yah'shuah's Command To His Disciples
Matthew 28:18-20 reads,
28:18
Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 28:19Go, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 28:20teaching them to observe all things which I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.Why does Yah'shuah command his disciples to make more disciples, and these of all nations, teaching them to observe all things that he commands them? What benefit do people derive by being disciples of Yah'shuah?
A Benefit Derived By Yah'shuah's Disciples
Mark 16:15-16 reads,
16:15
He said to them, "Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation. 16:16He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who disbelieves will be condemned.Those to be baptised should believe the gospel. Those to be baptised are Yah'shuah's new disciples. Therefore Yah'shuah's new disciples should believe the gospel.
By believing the gospel or good news that is preached to them, and being baptised in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Yah'shuah's new disciples will be saved. But those who do not believe the gospel or good news that is preached to them will be condemned. It therefore appears that a benefit to be derived by Yah'shuah's new disciples is salvation.
What is the gospel or good news that Yah'shuah's new disciples are to believe?
The Good News That Yah'shuah's Disciples Are To Believe
Mark 1:1-15 reads,
1:1
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 1:2As it is written in the prophets,"Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
Who will prepare your way before you.
1:3
The voice of one crying in the wilderness,1:4
John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching the baptism of repentance for forgiveness of sins. 1:5All the country of Judea and all those of Jerusalem went out to him. They were baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. 1:6John was clothed with camel’s hair and a leather belt around his loins. He ate locusts and wild honey. 1:7He preached, saying, "After me comes he who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and loosen. 1:8I baptized you in water, but he will baptize you in the Holy Spirit."1:9
It happened in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 1:10Immediately coming up from the water, he saw the heavens parting, and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 1:11A voice came out of the sky, "You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."1:12
Immediately the Spirit drove him out into the wilderness. 1:13He was there in the wilderness forty days tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals; and the angels ministered to him.1:14
Now after John was taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 1:15and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand! Repent, and believe in the gospel."Yah'shuah's gospel therefore begins with John the Baptist and the work that he did. Yah'shuah's gospel includes the baptism of repentance for forgiveness of sins. This entails a person confessing his sins and being baptised or immersed in water. Yah'shuah's gospel includes believing in the servant who came after John, Yah'shuah. This entails believing in Yah'shuah's baptism in the Holy Spirit. For just as one who believes must be baptised in water on repentance that his sins may be forgiven, so also one who believes must be baptised in the Holy Spirit by Yah'shuah. Yah'shuah's gospel includes believing that he is Yahweh's beloved Son, in whom Yahweh is well pleased. And Yah'shuah's gospel is also called the gospel of the kingdom of Yahweh. Yah'shuah's gospel also entails believing that Yahweh's kingdom is at hand, for the time that was to be fulfilled has indeed been fulfilled.
What Is The Salvation Yah'shuah's Disciples Receive?
Seeing that Mark 16:15-16 states that those who believe Yah'shuah's gospel will be saved, and those who do not believe in it will be condemned, how is it that these believers are saved? And how is it that those who do not believe are condemned? What are believers saved from? What are unbelievers condemned to?
It appears that believers of Yah'shuah's gospel are saved from the condemnation that its unbelievers are condemned to. What is this condemnation?
There Is A New World Or Age To Come
Matthew 12:31-32 reads,
12:31
Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. 12:32Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, neither in this world, nor in that which is to come.Yah'shuah's words show that the current world or age is not the only one. There will be another world or age after this one passes away. And in that world or age to come there will be both forgiveness of sins and the lack of forgiveness of a particular sin.
What world or age is this that is to come?
The Day Of Judgement A Time For Justification And Condemnation
Matthew 12:36-37 reads,
12:36
I tell you that every idle word that men speak, they will give account of it in the Day of Judgment. 12:37For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."Yah'shuah's words indicate that the future day of judgement will be a time for both justification and condemnation. Justification is being right with Yahweh, by one being forgiven one's sins. Condemnation therefore arises out of one not being forgiven one's sin or sins.
When will the day of judgement come about?
When The Day Of Judgement Comes About
Matthew 12:41-42 reads,
12:41
The men of Nineveh will stand up in the judgment with this generation, and will condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, someone greater than Jonah is here. 12:42The queen of the south will rise up in the judgment with this generation, and will condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, someone greater than Solomon is here.The judgement, or the day of judgement, is a time people who have previously lived and died in different generations will all live together in the same time period. For the men of Nineveh and the queen of Sheba lived in different historical periods from the generation of Yah'shuah. The judgement is therefore a time when humans will live again, having been raised to life from the dead!
What are those who are condemned in the day of judgement condemned to?
The Condemnation In The Day Of Judgement
Matthew 5:21-22 reads,
5:21
"You have heard that it was said to them of old time, ‘You shall not murder;’ and ‘Whoever shall murder shall be in danger of the judgment.’ 5:22But I tell you, that everyone who is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment; and whoever shall say to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council; and whoever shall say, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of the fire of Gehenna.Matthew 23:29-33 reads,
23:29
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and decorate the tombs of the righteous, 23:30and say, ‘If we had been in the days of our fathers, we wouldn’t have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.’ 23:31Therefore you testify to yourselves that you are sons of those who killed the prophets. 23:32Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers. 23:33You serpents, you offspring of vipers, how will you escape the judgment of Gehenna?It appears that those who are condemned in the judgement, on account of their sin or sins not being forgiven, are condemned to the fire of Gehenna.
What happens to those who are condemned to the fire of Gehenna in the day of judgement?
The Fate Of Those Condemned To The Fire Of Gehenna
Matthew 5:29-30 reads,
5:29
If your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and cast it from you. For it is profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna. 5:30If your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off, and cast it from you: for it is profitable for you that one of your members should perish, and not your whole body be cast into Gehenna.Matthew 10:28 reads,
10:28
Don’t be afraid of those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. Rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.It appears that the judgement and fire of Gehenna destroys or kills the bodies and souls of those who are cast into it.
Yah'shuah's Saved Disciples Are Not Destroyed In The Fire Of Gehenna
Seeing that there are some people who are justified or forgiven their sins in the day of judgement, and are therefore not condemned to the judgement of Gehenna, it appears that those who are saved are saved from the judgement of Gehenna. In other words, those who are saved, on account of being Yah'shuah's disciples who believe his gospel and are baptised, are saved from the destruction of their bodies and souls in the judgement of Gehenna.
This implies that the souls of those who are saved are not destroyed, but live forever. This further implies that human beings do not have immortal souls, seeing that their souls can indeed be destroyed in the fire of Gehenna. Therefore, to live forever one must indeed become a disciple of Yah'shuah who believes his gospel and is baptised.
Where Human Souls Go To After Death
Seeing that Matthew 10:28 shows that a person's soul does not die when that person's body dies, where does a person's soul exist after he dies but before he is raised to life in the day of judgement?
Luke 16:19-31 reads,
16:19
"Now there was a certain rich man, and he was clothed in purple and fine linen, living in luxury every day. 16:20A certain beggar, named Lazarus, was laid at his gate, full of sores, 16:21and desiring to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Yes, even the dogs came and licked his sores. 16:22It happened that the beggar died, and that he was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died, and was buried. 16:23In Hades, he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far off, and Lazarus at his bosom. 16:24He cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue! For I am in anguish in this flame.’16:25
"But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that you, in your lifetime, received your good things, and Lazarus, in like manner, bad things. But now here he is comforted and you are in anguish. 16:26Besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, that those who want to pass from here to you are not able, and that none may cross over from there to us.’16:27
"He said, ‘I ask you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house; 16:28for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’16:29
"But Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.’16:30
"He said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’16:31
"He said to him, ‘If they don’t listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if one rises from the dead.’"Yah'shuah's words show that some of those who die are carried away by angels to Abraham's bosom, while others who die find themselves in Hades. Abraham's bosom is a place of comfort, while Hades is a place of anguish and torment.
Those in Hades are the unrepentant, implying that those in Abraham's bosom are those who repented of their sins.
It should be appreciated that the entire conversation depicted by Yah'shuah's words was of people who are dead. Seeing that Matthew 10:28 shows that man is made up of both body and soul, and the bodies of those who die remain on earth and generally disintegrate, it appears that the dead in conversation are the souls of the dead. It is therefore the case that angels carry the souls of the repentant to Abraham's bosom, while the souls of the unrepentant find themselves in Hades.
Where is Abraham's bosom?
Revelation 6:9-11 reads,
6:9
When he opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been killed for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held. 6:10They cried with a loud voice, saying, "How long, Master, the holy and true, do you not judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" 6:11There was given to each one of them a white robe. It was said to them that they should rest yet for a little time, until their fellow servants and their brothers, who would also be killed even as they were, had been fulfilled.The time setting of the fifth seal is between the time when some servants of Yahweh have been killed for Yahweh's word, and other servants of his have yet to be killed for the same word, who will also be killed. Revelation 6:11 shows that these souls of the righteous, Yahweh's servants, are in a state of rest, being located under the altar. Revelation 8:3 gives the location of the altar, underneath which the souls of the righteous are located.
Revelation 8:1-5 reads,
8:1
When he opened the seventh seal, there followed a silence in heaven for about half an hour. 8:2I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. 8:3Another angel came and stood over the altar, having a golden censer. Much incense was given to him, that he should add it to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne. 8:4The smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel’s hand. 8:5The angel took the censer, and he filled it with the fire of the altar, and threw it on the earth. There followed thunders, sounds, lightnings, and an earthquake.The altar is before Yahweh's throne in heaven, and is not on the earth, as can also be seen from Revelation 8:5, for the angel took the fire of the altar before Yahweh's throne in heaven and threw it on the earth. It should therefore be clear that the souls of the righteous are currently in a state of rest in heaven, underneath the golden altar before Yahweh's throne. It also appears that this place of rest for righteous souls is that which is called by Yah'shuah as Abraham's bosom, the place of comfort for repentant souls.
Will The Souls Of The Righteous Always Remain In Heaven?
Will the souls of the righteous always remain in heaven, underneath the golden altar before Yahweh's throne?
Revelation 20:4-6 reads,
20:4
I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and for the word of God, and such as didn’t worship the beast nor his image, and didn’t receive the mark on their forehead and on their hand. They lived, and reigned with Christ one thousand years. 20:5The rest of the dead didn’t live until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 20:6Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over these, the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with him one thousand years.The souls mentioned in Revelation 20:4 are the very same souls mentioned in Revelation 6:9-11. These dead are given life and reign with Christ one thousand years. This is the first resurrection, the resurrection of the righteous to life. These will never die again, but will indeed live forever.
When The Day Of Judgement Commences
Revelation 20:5 shows that the rest of the dead don't live until the conclusion of the one thousand year reign of Christ and the resurrected righteous. Seeing that those in the second resurrection are subject to death, and seeing that those in the day of judgement are subject to death or destruction, it indeed appears that the second resurrection is the resurrection of judgement. The day of judgement therefore commences after the conclusion of the one thousand-year rule of Christ and his righteous ones.
Where Christ And The Resurrected Righteous Reign
Where do Christ and the resurrected righteous ones reign in? In heaven, or on earth, or elsewhere?
Revelation 5:1-10 reads,
5:1
I saw, in the right hand of him who sat on the throne, a book written within and on the back, sealed shut with seven seals. 5:2I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the book, and to break its seals?" 5:3No one in heaven, or on the earth, or under the earth, was able to open the book, or to look in it. 5:4And I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open the book, or to look in it. 5:5One of the elders said to me, "Don’t weep. Behold, the Lion who is of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome to open the book and its seven seals." 5:6I saw in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, having seven horns, and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth. 5:7Then he came, and he took it out of the right hand of him who sat on the throne. 5:8Now when he had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 5:9They sang a new song, saying,"You are worthy to take the book,
And to open its seals:
For you were killed,
And bought us for God with your blood,
Out of every tribe, language, people, and nation,
5:10
And made them kings and priests to our God,And they reign on earth."
The Souls Of The Righteous Will Not Always Remain In Heaven
Revelation 5:10 notes that those reigning with the Lamb, Christ, those made kings and priests to Yahweh, reign on EARTH. Revelation 20:6 notes that those made priests of Yahweh and Christ reign with Christ one thousand years. It therefore appears that the righteous ones resurrected in the first resurrection reign with Christ on earth for one thousand years. It therefore also appears that the souls of the righteous will not always remain in comfort in heaven, but will be given life in new bodies in which they will live and reign with Christ for one thousand years on earth.
It therefore appears that Yah'shuah's disciples, who are saved on account of their belief in Yah'shuah's gospel and their baptism, will indeed reign with him for a thousand years on earth. Prior to this reign and after their deaths their souls will be carried by angels to Abraham's bosom, which is located underneath the golden altar before Yahweh's throne in heaven. After their reign will come the day of judgement, to which they shall not be subjected, seeing that they will by then not be subject to death. Only those brought to life in the day of judgement are subjected to death or destruction in the fire of Gehenna. Yah'shuah's faithful disciples will therefore be accorded comfort for their souls in heaven after they die, and thereafter rulership with Yah'shuah for one thousand years on the earth.
Benefits Derived From Being A Disciple Of Yah'shuah
At the beginning of this article the following was stated: Matthew 28:18-20 reads,
28:18
Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 28:19Go, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 28:20teaching them to observe all things which I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.Why does Yah'shuah command his disciples to make more disciples, and these of all nations, teaching them to observe all things that he commands them? What benefit do people derive by being disciples of Yah'shuah?
It should now be evident that the benefits derived by Yah'shuah's disciples include not only being saved from the condemnation of death or destruction in the fire of Gehenna, but also being given everlasting life and ruling with Yah'shuah on earth for a thousand years. This rule takes place after the period of comfort for their souls in heaven underneath the golden altar before Yahweh's throne, comfort that takes place after their human deaths. In addition they are appointed kings and priests of Yahweh and Yah'shuah, even as Yah'shuah is a king and priest of Yahweh.
What Yah'shuah's Disciples Must Do Prior To Receiving Promised Benefits
For Yah'shuah's disciples to receive all these benefits, and avoid the condemnation of the fire of Gehenna and also the torment and anguish of Hades, they must indeed observe all things that Yah'shuah commanded they observe. This includes making new disciples of all nations, and also teaching them to observe all things Yah'shuah has commanded his disciples.
Obeying Yah'shuah's Command Of Making Disciples Of All Nations
The process of making new disciples and learning to observe all things that Yah'shuah commanded his disciples takes time. And seeing that Yah'shuah has commanded his existing disciples to teach new disciples all things he commanded his disciples, it should be clear that existing disciples of Yah'shuah should actively be obeying Yah'shuah's command. They should actively be making new disciples of all nations, and also teaching them to observe all things that Yah'shuah commanded his disciples. And new disciples of Yah'shuah should actively be learning all things that Yah'shuah commanded his disciples, learning these from Yah'shuah's existing disciples. They should also, once they have learned sufficiently, also make new disciples of Yah'shuah, and teach those still newer disciples of Yah'shuah all things that Yah'shuah commanded his disciples.
It should therefore be evident that obeying Yah'shuah involves Yah'shuah's existing disciples making new disciples of Yah'shuah and teaching them to observe all things that Yah'shuah commanded his disciples. The new disciples duplicate this process, in that they too make new disciples and teach them to observe all things that Yah'shuah commanded his disciples. Yah'shuah's disciples should therefore be in a continual mode of making new disciples and teaching them all things that Yah'shuah commanded his disciples, including making newer disciples and teaching the newer disciples to observe the same.
What Existing Disciples Of Yah'shuah Should Do
If you are an existing disciple of Yah'shuah and would like to learn the various things that Yah'shuah commanded his disciples, please check out our articles dealing with the basic doctrines of Yah'shuah's way of life. They will show you what you need to be doing in living as a disciple of Yah'shuah. And by doing these things you will avoid the condemnation of the fire of Gehenna, and also the torment and anguish of Hades prior to the day of judgement.
What Prospective Disciples Of Yah'shuah Should Do
If you, having read what you have above, desire to become a disciple of Yah'shuah and learn how to observe all things that Yah'shuah commanded his disciples, please check out our articles dealing with the basic doctrines of Yah'shuah's way of life. They will show you what you need to do at your commencement of living as a disciple of Yah'shuah. And by doing these things you will avoid the condemnation of the fire of Gehenna, and also the torment and anguish of Hades prior to the day of judgement.
May Yahweh and Yah'shuah guide you in your walk in their way of life, and may they richly reward you with the promises they give to those who faithfully observe all their commands. Amen.
Articles On The Basic Doctrines Of Yah'shuah The Christ
Articles On Other Doctrines Of Yah'shuah The Christ
Click here to inform a friend about this article
Go to Christ the Lamp web site Contents page
Go to Christ the Lamp Home page
© 1999, All rights reserved. Christ the Lamp, P O Box 78, Royston, SG8 7WF, United Kingdom, christthelamp@christthelamp.org. Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this and other documents in the Christ the Lamp web site, http://www.christthelamp.org, unless otherwise stated.