Our Body Swallowed up by LIFE?

©lightwritingmatters 2015

Many people truly have no clue nor hope for the end of their life. They are either not aware of the promises made in the Bible or they do not believe the promises. They jest they will go to hell where their friends are or they believe they decompose and there is nothing at all after death. Some grasp at a number of unproven ‘after life’ destinations or types of existence. But would anyone ever think in terms of their end of life being swallowed up BY LIFE?
Theme Scripture:   “For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life.” – 2 Cor 5:4/1 Cor 15:53
Questions? lightwritingmatters@gmail.com

Tent in the Bible of old for the Israelites referred to the Tabernacle when used as a Holy place of Worship as it moved around and before Solomon’s Temple was built. Of course, tents were used in many ways and were no doubt with multiple designs. But to the Israelites the Tabernacle was inclusive of the covering [tent] and all the spaces and items and services held within the tent. In the Greek scriptures [known to many as the New Testament] Paul’s writings at 2 Cor 5:1  & 5:4 ‘tent’ refers to the believer’s body. The Greek word for ‘Tent’ in 2 Cor 5:1,4 is skēnos/Strong’s # G4636. It translates to ‘Tabernacle’. 

Finally, another way the ‘body’ of the believer is metaphorically identified as a temple.”Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” – 1 Cor 3:16

Lastly, in Paul's words, the word for the believer’s body as a tent/tabernacle above is very different than is used in this context by Paul. It nonetheless refers to the believer’s body as a place of a Holy Dwelling because the Spirit of GOD dwells there.  The Greek word Paul used for ‘temple’ is “naos” and has the following meaning: “metaph. the spiritual temple consisting of the saints of all ages joined together by and in Christ” – Strong’s number G3485 item 3.

You may or may not be familiar with a principle established in the Bible initially in the Hebrew [or Old Testament] in Deut 19:15 and carried through to the Greek scriptures by Jesus at Matt 18:16 and John 8:17. 

The principle is:”At the mouth of two witnesses or at the mouth of three witnesses the matter should stand good…” [Deut 19:15b]

“But if he does not listen, take along with you one or two more, in order that at the mouth of two or three witnesses every matter may be established.” [Matt 18:16]

“Also, in YOUR own Law it is written,‘The witness of two men is true.’ [John 18:7]

To establish the veracity of Paul’s statement about the believer’s body as one witness an additional witness is provided in Peter. The Apostle Peter referred to ‘Tent’ in 2 Peter 1:3 referencing his body using a different Greek word skēnōma/Strong’s #G4638 which also translates to ‘Tabernacle’. In fact if you read vs 4 you see clearly what he means. “Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you, 4 knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me.”-- 2 Peter 1:3-4

Those reverential of Christ's sacrifice and HIS living Temple then should grasp the idea of how we would follow with reverence for our believing body. In essence as this temporal Tabernacle perishes it is swallowed up by LIFE granted to us by GOD through the living Temple, JESUS, when HE either resurrects or raptures us to LIFE with no end. 

As an aside, the word used in Peter to tent [Strong’s number G3485] in its first meaning has to do with the specific ‘holy’ places of the temple, the Holy and Most Holy areas of the Temple. It is the believer’s privilege and honor to be blessed in this tent to have the Holy Spirit dwell in our hearts influencing our mind and spirit now, and after being swallowed up to LIFE to be with Jesus, our High Priest, where HE is. Remembering to be absent from this body is to be present with the Lord. Glory, Honor and Praise be to our GOD the Father, HIS Son and the Holy Spirit. Let GOD reign sovereign in your tabernacle that you may LIVE to do the same in your incorruptible self then. 

We should prayerfully consider the obligation we have to revere our body now as the ‘temple/tabernacle’ of GOD. 

Christianity is the only religion with an historical record of its founder’s life, ministry, and HIS torturous death and thereafter, HIS resurrection.  HE was seen by many people in the few weeks after HIS resurrection. As a result, HIS followers take their afterlife destination seriously. Believing Christians generally have faith they will be resurrected or raptured to heaven. – 1 Corinthians 15:1-8  

NOTICE: If you are feeling inclined or feeling led to want Jesus as your Savior, your leader, your King, your source of Peace and Joy but are feeling woefully inadequate, uninformed on how best to get to know HIM, or find yourself at wit’s end because you believe yourself trapped and in need of GOD, please know Jesus stands ready to welcome you with HIS Holy Spirit. Believe these words: “16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. “—John 3:16

“Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, 20 and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, 21 whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.” – Acts 3:19-20

“Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born [a]again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” – John 3:3-8

If you need help, please feel free to leave a comment and I will respond.  †

DISCLAIMER: The thoughts published on this blog, in total, are the opinions, thoughts and considerations of the writer/author of every post. Images are sourced from various places, mostly from travels done by the author and therefore the sole property of the author.