The Bible on Trial~

Death Always Comes as a Surprise~ Last week I told you about my cousin Gordon who called to tell me that he has pancreatic cancer, and only has a short time to live. This week, I am sad to say, that he died at 3:08 AM this morning (November 16, 2023). This will be 'yesterday' if you are reading this tomorrow. My wife and I knew from his description of how he was feeling that there was not much time left for him on this earth. As it turns out, there was very little time left. His death has hit me hard, knowing him as well as I did in our younger years, and not having much direct contact in the intervening years. Cheryl, his wife of 50 years, texted us this afternoon to tell us the sad news. I am mentioning this for a reason. If the world does not change then all of us will eventually face what Gordon just faced; that is, death that comes slowly, slowly, slowly, then quickly. And as it happens, and even though I have not experience death for myself, the person dying never knows the exact moment that they have died; they simply change states. Why is this important? It seem (as a rule) that younger people that know that death is coming throughout their lives, but pay that knowledge little attention, being busy with life. Yet as they get older they thing about death with some expectation of being able to "cheat it", either through medical science, or if they are persuaded, by the expectation of Jesus coming again, to take them to heaven. But WHAT IF His coming in the clouds of Glory is not how our existence on this earth changes state? What if there is another road in prophey, a Life Road that doesn't require the death and destruction of most of the people on earth to accomplish? What will happen when the people of earth realize that everything has changed, and they DID NOT DIE? When they see the New Jerusalem coming down from Heaven to earth they will know the truth and not be surprised.