THIS COULD BE PUZZLING!

Paul a dedicated and passionate preacher of Christ said he “desire to depart and be with Christ.” (Philippians. 1:23, NKJV). For some, this statement is puzzling. Just what did Paul mean?

This series addresses the concerns we all have: the concern for sin, evil, death, dying, and what happens after we die. Is there hope after death? When God created us, humans, he intended for us to live forever in a loving, peaceful relationship with him. But this relationship has been broken by sin.

Here, we address the origin of sin and look more closely at death and dying.

But, instead of looking at death negatively, we look at it in the context of hope, the promised hope based on what Jesus did for us when he died and came back to life again.

From the Sabbath School Adult Bible Study Guide 2022 Quarter 4: Sabbath.School (See also Hope Sabbath School and 3ABN Sabbath School)

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Let’s invite the Spirit of God

Heavenly Father, in our search for understanding, give us humble sincere hearts that will allow our thoughts and intent to be centered in Christ.

In Jesus’ Name Amen

Paul was driven by so much passion for Christ that we find him desiring in his present state to be with Him according to Philippians 1:23 

23 For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. (Philippians 1:23)

Moreover, looking to Christ’s Second Coming, he also expressed the desire to always be with the Lord upon His Second Coming. Christ’s Second Coming is that spectacular event when the righteous dead will raise from their graves and the righteous living will be caught up together to meet the Lord in the air as expressed in 1 Thessalonians 4:17.

17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus, we shall always be with the Lord. (I Thessalonians 4:17)

You can review why this event is so spectacular and will not be secret in our previous lesson at Sabbathschooldaily.com.

Paul also expresses in Romans 8:38-39 that he was convinced that nothing, not even death could separate Jesus’ followers from the Love of God which is in Christ Jesus.

38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,

39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans. 8:38, 39, NKJV).

He reasoned in Romans 14:8 we belong to God whether we are dead or alive.

8 For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. (Romans 14:8 NKJV). 

With this certainty and from this perspective, Paul in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 spoke of the believers who already had died as “those who sleep in Jesus” and who will be raised at Christ’s second coming to receive eternal life.

13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.

14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.

15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.

16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

18 Therefore comfort one another with these words. (I Thessalonians 4:13-18)

Paul’s rationale for his conviction on what happens to those who have fallen asleep in Jesus is found in I Corinthians 15:16-18

16 For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen.

17 And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! (Split)

18 Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. (I Corinthians 15:16-18)

If the dead sleep in Jesus until Christ returns, Just what did Paul mean when he said in Philippians 1:23 he “desire to depart and be with Christ”. 

Is Paul suggesting that after he dies, his soul would depart to live consciously with Jesus?

Certainly not! after saying that the dead sleep until Christ’s Second Coming. 

In this verse, like many of us, because this life is full of troubles and suffering Paul expresses the desire to leave his present troubled existence and be with Christ, without reference to the lapse in time between his death and his resurrection at Christ’s second coming. The bottom line is Paul wanted to be with Jesus. This verse does not teach that Paul expected to go to heaven as soon as he died. Paul’s statement in 2 Timothy 4:8 lets us knows that he did not expect to obtain eternal life until Jesus’ Second Coming.

8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. (II Timothy 4:8)

In short, Paul “is saying that the next thing, he would know after departing, after his death, would be Christ coming in the clouds of heaven to raise the dead, then he would ‘be with the Lord’ (Thessalonians 4:17). 

Andrews Study Bible, note on Philippians 1:23, page 1,555. Adapted

But why does Paul prefer death over life?

Paul wants to rest from all his troubles and the pain he is experiencing in his physical body. Let’s face it, the struggles of life in this world are not easy and each day it seems to become more difficult. This is why Paul says in I Corinthians 9:27

27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. (I Corinthians 9:27)

Furthermore, Paul is assured that  he will receive as he said “the crown of righteousness” “on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” (2 Timothy 4: 8, NKJV).

It is evident that Paul really didn’t want to die. He wanted to rest. He knew that once he died, he would be at rest. So, he wanted to rest until Jesus woke him up from the dead.

Also Note: that his desire to rest did not motivate him to want to take his life. Regardless of how hard it got, he kept on fighting. For, he expressed in 2 Timothy 4:7

7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. (2 Timothy 4:7) 

Nobody wants to suffer, but as children of God, we keep running the race until we reach the finish line. In this race, we all have a reward that is waiting for us whether we sleep in the grave or whether we are alive to see Him coming in the clouds. What’s most important is that we finish the race! (Split)

If the dead are asleep and unconsciously resting in the grave, what did Peter mean in 1 Peter 3:19 when he said that Christ preached “to the spirits in prison . . . in the days of Noah” Find out, Day 5 Preaching to the Spirits in Prison

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