Ambassador for Christ Ministries, Inc. - 30/"A CASE NOT TO CREMATE"Weekly Bible Study

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30/"A CASE NOT TO CREMATE"

Weekly Bible Study

A CASE NOT TO CREMATE

LET'S LOOK AT SOME WORD DEFINITIONS FOR THIS BIBLE STUDY

cremate - incinerate: to burn a dead body until nothing remains but ashes
sepulcher- burial place: a vault in which somebody is buried
embalm - preserve dead body: 1. to treat a dead body with a preservative substance in order to stop it decaying 2. keep something intact: to preserve something from change or oblivion
mortal - 1. eventually dying: certain to die eventually 2. human: relating to human beings
immortality - able to live or last forever: able to have eternal life or existence
corruptible - immoral or dishonest: 1. immoral or dishonest, especially as shown by the exploitation of a position of power or trust for personal gain. 2. contaminated: contaminated or tainted by something else 3. rotten: putrid or decomposing (archaic) corrupt flesh
incorruptible - 1. incapable of being corrupted: incapable of being morally corrupted, especially incapable of being bribed or motivated by selfish or base interests 2. not subject to decomposition: incapable of being affected by decay or decomposition
resurrected - raise somebody from dead: to come or bring somebody back to life after apparent death
bier - . stand for casket: a table on which a casket or a corpse is placed 2. frame for carrying coffin: a wooden frame on which a corpse or a coffin is carried to where it will be buried
pagan - heathen: somebody who has no religion, or sombody who observes a questionable religion that is considered offensive, such as idol worship, whitchcraft, etc.
sinews - tendons- tough band connecting muscle to bone: an inelastic cord or band of tough white fibrous connective tissue that attaches a muscle to a bone or other part. Also called sinew
burial - the act or ceremony of putting a dead body into the ground
abominable - loathsome: extremely repugnant or offensive
brimstone - sulfur

LUKE 7:14, 15 KJV

14/ AND HE (JESUS) CAME AND TOUCHED THE BIER: AND THEY THAT BARE HIM STOOD STILL. AND HE SAID, YOUNG MAN, I SAY UNTO THEE, ARISE. 15/ AND HE THAT WAS DEAD SAT UP, AND BEGAN TO SPEAK. AND HE DELIVERED HIM TO HIS MOTHER.

Let's consider the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, as the perfect example for every situation we will ever be faced with. After Jesus died on the cross at Calvary, to make payment for the sins of the world; A good and just man, who was a Jewish lawyer and disciple of Jesus, whose name was Joseph; begged Pilate for the body of Jesus. He took it off of the cross and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulcher that was hewn in stone, that no man had ever been laid in before. The women who loved Jesus, which came with Him from Galilee, followed Joseph to the sepulcher to see how Jesus’ body was laid. They then went their way and prepared spices and ointments to embalm him [please see Luke 23:50 thru 56, Luke 24:1 KJV, Mark 15:42-47 KJV & Matthew 27:57 thru 60 KJV]. This is an example for a proper burial for Christians to follow today. The body of Jesus was not cremated. The followers of Jesus knew that He had promised to be raised again in that same body in three days, and He followed through on that promise.

Although now glorified, Jesus rose from that tomb with the nail prints in His hands, and the puncture wound in His side from the Roman soldiers spear. [John 20:24 thru 28 NLT * 24/ One of the disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin*), was not with the others when Jesus came. 25/ They told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.” 26/ Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. He said, "Peace be with you.” 27/ Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!” 28/ “My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed.]

The difference is that now death had no real victory over Jesus. He promises that same victory to us if we will repent of our sins, confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in our heart that God has raised Him from the dead. Our physical mortal bodies will one day be resurrected to immortal, tangible, spiritual bodies just as the body of Jesus was. Jesus spoke to his disciples after He was resurrected in his tangible, spiritual body from His mortal body that had died on the cross. He assured them that his body had been brought back to life. The following scriptures confirm these statements:

Luke 24:39 thru 43 NKJV

39/ "Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have." 40/ When He had said this, He showed them, His hands and His feet. 41/ But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, "Have you any food here?" 42/ So they gave Him a piece of broiled fish and some honeycomb. 43/ And He took it and ate it in their presence.

Romans 10:9 KJV

That if thou shall confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Romans 8:11 KJV

But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead [The Holy Spirit] dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

1st Thessalonians 4:13 thru 18 NLT

13/ And now, brothers and sisters, I want you to know what will happen to the Christians who have died so you will not be full of sorrow like people who have no hope. 14/ For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus comes, God will bring back with Jesus all the Christians who have died. (Their Spirit that had received eternal life, and had gone to heaven to be with the Lord when their mortal body expired [To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. 2nd Corinthians 5:8], will come back with Jesus to possess their deceased, changed body; resurrected from the grave and transformed into immortality. The bodies of Christians will go right up in the air to meet the Lord. [1st Corinthians 15:52 thru 55 KJV 52/ In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53/ For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54/ So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55/ O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?]

1st Thessalonians 4:13 thru 18 NLT continued

15/ I can tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not rise to meet him ahead of those who are in their graves. 16/ For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the call of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God. First, all the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. 17/ Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and remain with him forever. 18/ So comfort and encourage each other with these words.

　THE ISRAELITES TOOK GREAT CARE OF THE BONES OF THEIR DEAD MEN OF GOD

Genesis 50:26 KJV

* So Joseph [great grandson of Abraham, and the son of Jacob who was named Israel, by God *please see Genesis 35:10 thru 29 KJV*] died, being an hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.

Exodus 13:19 KJV

* And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him: for he had straightly sworn the children of Israel, saying God will surely visit you; and ye shall carry up my bones away hence with you. [this was over 430 years after Joseph had died and was buried in Egypt, Moses took the bones of Joseph with him as they were leaving slavery in Egypt to go to the promised land.]

2nd Kings 23:17 thru 19 NIV

17/ The king asked, “What is that tombstone I see?” The men of the city said, “It marks the tomb of the man of God Who came from Judah and pronounced against the alter of Bethel the very things you have done to it.” 18/ “Leave it alone,” he said, Don’t let anyone disturb his bones.” So they spared his bones and those of the prophet who had come from Samaria. 19/ Just as he had done at Bethel, Josiah removed and defiled all the shrines at the high places that the kings of Israel had built in the towns of Samaria that had provoked the Lord to anger. Josiah slaughtered all the priests of those high places on the alters and burned human bones on them.

And the scripture in Amos 2:1, 2 tells us God’s wrath was kindled and He punished the ancient kingdom of Moab for burning the bones of the king of Edom. Amos 2:1, 2 NIV * 1/ This is what the LORD says: “For three sins of Moab, even for four, I will not turn back my wrath. Because he burned, as if to lime, the bones of Edom’s king. 2/ I will send fire upon Moab that will consume the fortresses of Kerioth.

CREMATION IS OF HEATHEN ORIGIN AND AND NOT HONORABLE FOR JEWS OR CHRISTIANS. BURNING HAS ALWAYS BEEN A DEMONSTRATION OF GOD'S WRATH AND PUNISHMENT:

Matthew 13:49:50 KJV * 49/ So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, 50/ And shall cast them into the furnace of fire:
Zephania 3:8 KJV * Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.
Revelation 20:14, 15 KJV 14/ And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

Revelation 21:1 KJV * And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Revelation 21:8 NKJV * But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murders, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolators, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.

　EZEKIEL 37:5, 6, 13 & 14, IS OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECY OF WHAT THE NEW TESTAMENT REFERS TO HAPPENING AT THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST THAT WE JUST READ ABOUT IN 1st CORINTHIANS 15:52 thru 55 KJV ABOVE. LET'S LOOK AT SOME SCRIPTURES IN EZEKIEL:

Ezekiel 37: 5, 6, 13 & 14 KJV - 5/ Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live: 6/ And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD. 13/ And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves, 14/ And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD.

Keeping the bones of Jesus was important enough to be prophesied about hundreds of years before He was born on earth

Psalm 34:20 KJV

* He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken [this is a prophecy that at the death of Jesus none of His bones would be broken. It was the custom to break the bones in the legs of those who were being crucified on a cross to expedite death.

John 19:31 thru 36 NLT

31/ The Jewish leaders didn't want the victims hanging there the next day, which was the Sabbath (and a very special Sabath at that, because it was the Passover), so they asked Pilate to hasten their deaths by ordering that their legs be broken. Then their bodies could be taken down. 32/ So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the two men crucified with Jesus. 33/ But when they came to Jesus, they saw that he was dead already, so they didn't break his legs. 34/ One of the soldiers, however pierced his side with a spear, and blood and water flowed out. 35/ This report is from an eyewitness giving an accurate account; it is presented so that you also can believe. 36/ These things happened in fulfillment of the Scriptures that say, "Not one of his bones will be broken,"]

IN NEW TESTAMENT TIMES THE ONLY BODIES THAT WERE BURNED WERE THOSE OF CRIMINALS. THE PLACE OF CREMATION WAS THE GARBAGE DUMP IN THE VALLEY OF HINNOM WHICH WAS LOCATED JUST OUTSIDE THE WALLS OF THE HOLY CITY. IN ANCIENT TIMES HUMAN SACRIFICES WERE OFFERED THERE [2nd Chronicles 33:6 NIV * He sacrificed his sons in the fire in the Valley of Ben Hinnom, practiced sorcery, divination, and witchcraft, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the eyes of the LORD, provoking him to anger. * 2 Chronicles 33:6 KJV 6 And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger.

CREMATION DISHONORS THE REDEEMED BODY OF A CHRISTIAN.

1st CORINTHIANS 6:19, 20 NKJV * 19/ OR DO YOU NOT KNOW THAT YOUR BODY IS THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO IS IN YOU, WHOM YOU HAVE FROM GOD, AND YOU ARE NOT YOUR OWN? 20/ FOR YOU WERE BOUGHT AT A PRICE; THEREFORE GLORIFY GOD IN YOUR BODY AND IN YOUR SPIRIT, WHICH ARE GOD'S.

THE BONES OF THE DECEASED BODIES FALLEN ASLEEP IN CHRIST, REST IN PEACE WITH NO PAIN, WHILE THE REDEEMED BORN AGAIN SPIRIT THAT HAD INHABITED THE ONCE LIVING BUT NOW DECEASED BODY, LIVES ON WITH GREAT JOY IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD OUR ALMIGHTY HEAVENLY FATHER!!! AT CHRIST'S RETURN THE BONES WILL BE TRANSFORMED INTO RESURRECTED TANGIBLE SPIRITUAL BODIES UNITED WITH THEIR REDEEMED BY JESUS CHRIST SPIRIT!!!

HALLELUYAH!!! GLORY! GLORY! GLORY! HALLELUYAH!!! 

BURIAL IS THE BIBLICAL METHOD APPROVED BY GOD, AS WE AWAIT THE RESURRECTION AND CHANGE OF OUR MORTAL BODIES TO IMORTAL AT THE SECOND COMING OF OUR SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST THE LORD.

PLEASE BE SURE TO CHECK BACK WITH US

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14th-21st, 2009

FOR THE NEXT WEEKLY BIBLE STUDY

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