As we considered in justbibletruth.com/HowCanFaithHelp.html: Where we have lived in the stream of time impacts what faith (and the possession of God's spirit that results from that faith) can do for us. We read the statement Jesus made to Mary about a time when some would never die at all, (John 11:26) but would live on forever. (Job 33:24-25 ; Job 33:26-30) We have hope that is our time!

If we had lived in the days of Christ's first manifestation, we could have been healed from our illnesses; And then in turn, could have used the spirit to help and teach others. We would then, along with the others of their day, have died in the hope of the resurrection. (John 11:25 ; Luke 14:13-14 ; Acts 24:15 ; John 11:24)

The miracles the first century Christians were able to perform stopped about the time of the completion of the Bible record of their activities. Since the first century, there is no record anyone has been raising the dead; And healings may be suspect. Those gifts of holy spirit served their purpose for the first century. (1 Corinthians 13:8-10) God's spirit always accomplishes in his followers what he wants it to accomplish, in support of his will and purpose: To establish the kingdom of Christ (Matthew 6:9-10 ; Matthew 13:41-43 ; Isaiah 11:1-5) and to break up the works of the devil, (1 John 3:8) and to tell/warn people about this activity of course. Christ's first appearance was to announce the coming kingdom. In our day, Christ has established that kingdom. At some point, kingdom activity will include putting an end to mankind being born only to die. (Isaiah 65:21-25 & Isaiah 66:1-2 + 5) Jesus said some in his day would not die until they saw him in his kingdom. A few days later, in fulfillment of Jesus's promise, some of his followers saw his transfiguration. (Matthew 16:28-17:5) We believe Jesus's statement about some not dying before being witness to him as King has a second fulfillment for those alive in our day. (Matthew 16:28) Our lord Christ Jesus, serving as Jehovah's appointed king, is at this time subduing in the midst of his enemies. (Psalm 110) The established kingdom of Christ is revealed to those seeing with eyes of faith! The revealing of the kingdom is actually accomplishing a separation work among mankind. (Matthew 25:31-34) Everyone alive is [judging themselves and] being separated into one of two groups by their response to the words of Jesus. (John 12:48-50) Christ is likely starting to protect (or preparing to protect) those who have joined themselves to him. The Kingdom will soon be revealed to everyone, with terrible consequences to those who have refused to learn the truth. (Revelation 19:11-16) The righteous will be or are being preserved alive while the wicked are dying. (Luke 17:26-30)

That is what we here want to show the Bible teaches: Jesus said there would be a day when men and women would stop dying and live on forever, without need for a resurrection. (John 11:26) Isn't that a wonderful hope! If it is true, don't you want to be among those who share that hope! We believe knowledge of what Jesus taught can grant that hope. (John 17:3 ; Matthew 12:18-21 ; Romans 15:4) Your hope and faith can then, in turn, grant you life. (Matthew 8:13 ; Matthew 9:29 ; Matthew 15:28 ; Mark 9:23)

In John, chapter 4, in verses 7-15, we find Jesus talking with a Samaritan woman at a well. Jesus asked her for a drink, and she seemed not to like it. She noted to Jesus that Samaritans were looked down upon by Jews, so why would he be asking her for a drink. Jesus said if she knew who it was who was asking, she would have asked him for life giving water. Jesus said those who drank the water he offered them would never get thirsty, but that water would bubble up from their innermost parts to grant everlasting life. We considered in justbibletruth.com/AGatheringOfEagles.html, how our feeding on Jesus means, symbolically, to take advantage of the teachings he offered up his life to provide us. (2 Samuel 23:15-17) The teachings of Jesus become a spring of water which those persons of loving kindness can drink from, and have it well up in them to impart everlasting life. In the past, faith in Christ has brought everlasting life through the hope (or promise) of the resurrection. For those living in the last days, that water of faith in Christ will very literally impart everlasting life.

Jesus said in John 5:24: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, that he that hears my word, and believes him that has sent me, has life eternal, and does not come into judgment, but is passed out of death into life." That has figuratively been true, of course, for everyone who has died with faith in Christ Jesus. They will have the resurrection they died in hope of. Note what Jesus said though, of those persons alive in the day of his second coming, that "he does not come into judgment, but is passed out of death into life."

Everyone who has died has received the judgment of death against sin. (Romans 6:23) The wage sin pays is death, so he that has died has been justified or acquitted of sin. (Romans 6:7) Note Jesus said in John 5:24, those individuals would not come into judgment, but pass from death into life. That scripture applies literally to those alive in the last days, as they will never die at all. (John 11:26)

In the first century, they said the day of Jesus's return would be in "a very little while." (Hebrews 10:37) Ours is that day - the day of Jesus's presence in kingdom power. It is the day for building faith for the preserving alive of the soul. (Hebrews 10:37-39) It presents as a perfect and beautiful solution, as those who have no faith in a God who is good (Hebrews 11:6) can perceive it all as foolishness, or as a fairy tale; Those with eyes of faith (Acts 26:16-18 ; 2 Kings 6:16-17 ; Hebrews 11:27) can see the outworking of Jehovah's purpose to help us in the manifest kingdom of Christ Jesus. They will be preserved alive by their faith. (Hebrews 10:39 ; Matthew 21:21-22 ; Luke 17:19 ; Luke 18:8 ; John 3:16)


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