"If someone dies, will they live again?"

Three Basic Views
1. Oblivion - there's nothing more after this life. But Near Death Experiences (NDE's) are challenging this view.
2. Reincarnation - a view held mainly in the eastern world.
3. Afterlife - there is something beyond the grave, that our lives do not end when our bodies die. This is also at the heart of the biblical message.

Will All People Die? The answer is "No!" The Bible teaches in 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 that there will be one generation that does not, the one alive when Jesus returns. The Bible teaches a resurrection.

What happens when I die? A personal look using the Bible's Testimony:
1. Life - God is the author of life. Genesis 2:7, Ecclesiastes 3:11
2. Death - is a reality because of sin. Genesis 3:19, Romans 5:12
3. Paradise - with Christ when we die. Luke 23:43, Philippians 1:23. But this is not our destiny.
4. Raised - The dead will be raised. Our destiny and future is to be bodily raised with new bodies that are glorified. 1 Corinthians 15:22, 1 Thessalonians 4:16
5. Judgement - For unbelievers it is a time of judgement, for believers their sins were judged at the Christ so that we do not need to suffer the punishment for our sins. For believers the judgement is a time of reward. 2 Corinthians 5:10, Hebrew 9:27 A believer's life is to be lived as a thank you note to God.
6. Forever - believers will live forever in a new heaven and a new earth in new bodies with no pain, death or suffering. 2 Peter 3:13, Revelation 21:4. Our destiny is to live forever! That is why it is so important that we receive what God offers us: salvation, life, forgiveness, and assurance through faith in Jesus who died for us, rose from the grave and will return at the end of time.

For believers, death is not to be feared with dread, it is instead an assurance that there is more and that the best is yet to come. John 11:25 "Jesus said to her, 'I'm the resurrection and the life. The one who believe in me will live, even through they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?'"

Do you believe what Jesus said to Martha? Will you respond to the gift God desires to bring to everyone, life forever with Him? He desires all to be saved through knowledge in the Lord Jesus Christ.

1. Sin - all have sinned and need a Savior and need to repent
2. Sorrow - realize we have sinned against a holy God, our Creator, and desire to repent. God is good and gracious and desires all repent and admit we are sinners responding with sorrow and trusting our Savior
3. Savior - the only One who can deliver us from death and the grave and a horrible future. He is the only who can give meaning to life today and meaning forever. We have a future beyond the grave.

What happens when I die? Jesus' response to that question is, "I am the resurrection and the life, do you believe this?"

Follow up questions to consider:
⁃ How would you answer the question; "What happens when I die?"
⁃ Do you believe the Bible's testimony about life beyond the grave? Why or why not
⁃ Are you trusting the Lord Jesus for your eternal destiny?

Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.

Check out this video series from our website: https://www.awakeusnow.com/whats-the-answer

Join us Sundays
https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service

Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app.

Today's class looks at Opposition both then and now:

Internal + External Opposition

Complaints + Lies

Internal Opposition - Acts 6:1-7

Acts 6:1 tells us "In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food."

The backgrounds and cultures and languages of these two groups of Jews was different. Hellenistic Jews spoke Greek, Hebraic Jews spoke Hebrew and some of the Greek speaking jews' widows were not receiving the daily distribution of food and thus there is dissension.

Acts 6:2-6 The Twelve gathered all the disciples together to come up with a solution. They chose 7 men (all Hellenistic) who were filled with the Spirit and wisdom to be responsible for this issue, that was the 12 could continue to be devoted to prayer and preaching of the word. Stephen, and 6 others were chosen. The Twelve blessed them to carry out the work.

Acts 6:7 we read that the word of God spread and the number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly and that a large numbers of priests also became devote followers of Jesus.

Complaints Then + Now:

• Don't ignore complaints
• Don't get defensive
• Do address the issues
• Do act wisely

External Opposition - Acts 6:8-15

Acts 6:8 tells us that Stephen was a man full of God's grace and power and he performed great wonders and signs among the people. We see it is not just the disciples performing wonders and signs. We do not know what those wonders were, but we know they were "great."

Stephen becomes popular and with the popularity comes persecution. Acts 6:9 we read the opposition arose, and members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen - Jews of Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia and Asia began to argue with Stephen. The "freedmen" had formerly been slaves but were now freed and also Roman citizens. In verse 10 we read that they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave Stephen as he spoke.

Verse 11 tells us what they then did - they persuaded some men to lie about Stephen and to say they heard him speak blasphemously against Moses and God." It was not true, it was a lie. Acts 6:12 tells how they seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin. The tension is growing and anger is ratcheting up.

Acts 6: 13-14 continues with the false witnesses against Stephen and their lies and in verse 15 we read that as they all looked at him in the trial with the Sanhedrin they saw that Stephen's face was like the face of an Angel.

Lies Then + Now:

• Don't be surprised when it happens
• Don't yield to the enemy
• Do trust the Lord Jesus even in the face of lies
• Do rely on the Holy Spirit

Next we will study the rest of Stephen's story.

This week's READING ASSIGNMENT:

Acts chapter 6-7 (read and reflect on these two chapters together) also read John 8:44 to see where lies originate.

Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.

Check out this video series from our website: https://www.awakeusnow.com/god-acts-then-now

Or watch from our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@AwakeUsNow/streams

Join us Sundays live or on demand from our website

https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service

The prophetic words in Daniel 9, written down hundreds of years before the birth of Jesus, were fulfilled in dramatic ways in the First Century A.D. They should strengthen us and remind us that God is in control, and that He always fulfills His word!

Did Jesus exist?
Is Jesus a myth?
Is there any evidence that Jesus actually lived?
Is there any evidence outside the Bible?

The answer is absolutely, there's a great deal of evidence. Many are unaware of some of the very profound and powerful evidences for the existences of Jesus.

Today we will take a look at the evidence for Jesus' existence, coming at it from three different vantage points:

Ancient Hostile Witnesses: (Pastor goes into detail regarding each of the following hostile testifiers to Jesus and His followers)
• Tacitus - Annals XV, 44 (ca 55-120A.D)
• Suetonius - Claudius, 25 and Nero, 18 (ca 117-138 A.D.)
• Pliny the Younger - Letter to Roman Emperor Trajan (ca 112 A.D.)
• Sanhedrin 43a (part of the Talmud)
• Josephus - "Testimonium Flavianum" Antiquities, 18:3 (ca 37-97 A.D.)

Earliest Witnesses
• Doctor Luke and John Mark
• Jesus' best friend, John
• Saul of Tarsus (Apostle Paul)

Accepted historical Facts: Acknowledged by Scholars, Liberals, Conservatives, Christians, Jews and Agnostics:
• Jesus died by Roman Crucifixion
• His tomb was discovered to be empty
• His disciples said they saw the risen Jesus
• His disciples lives were radically changed
• Resurrection proclaimed early in Jerusalem
• James and Paul became believers

Pastor concludes the teaching time telling us that God changed his heart and the direction of his career.

Then Pastor changes the question to "Does Jesus really exist?" and continues with the following: "If Jesus is alive, if He has risen from the grave, that changes everything. It means that God has broken into our world. It means that there is life and forgiveness in Him, and that apart from Him, you have nothing. Today's question is not simply a question about the historical past, this is a question about eternal destiny!"

Jesus is alive! And we pray that He will be, if He's not already, the Lord of your life!

Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.

Check out this video series from our website: https://www.awakeusnow.com/whats-the-answer

Join us Sundays
https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service

Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app.

This series looks for answers to some of the most common, pressing and most difficult questions that are heard today.

The question for this video: "Is Jesus the only way to God?" This question comes from supporters of Jesus, from seekers looking for truth, and from skeptics.

Pastor will approach this question with the desire to be:
⁃ Biblically Accurate: tell what the Bible actually says
⁃ Rationally Defensible: and why what the Bible says makes sense

Many times our question, "Is Jesus the only way to God? Starts with this question, "Didn't Christians invent the claim that Jesus is the only way to God?"

So let's address this first. No, we didn't invent this - Jesus did, He's the one that made the claim.

John 14:6 we read: "Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one come to the Father except through me.'"

Luke 19:10 - He came to save the lost
Matthew 20 - He came to give His life for us
Mark 10 - He is the ransom payment

Biblical Narrative
- Creation - The story of creation - God made all things by His Word and God gave man 1 choice….
- The Fall into sin - man broke the relationship with God, others, nature and self.
- Promise of a deliverer, the Messiah, Jesus.
- Provision through God's Grace - We are saved by the mercy of God not by our actions. God provided His Son as the Sacrifice for the sin, the shedding of blood and death on the cross
- Fulfillment was found in the coming of Jesus into the world, who lived the perfect life, willingly went to the cross for the sins of all. For my sins and your sins, it's personal. See John 3:16.

Our sin has separated us from God and what we need is a sacrificial victim who lays down his life for all and Jesus, the Son of God, gives His life for all. He pays the price for our sin.

Acts 4:12 "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved."

1 Timothy 2:5-6 "For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people."

1 John 5:13 "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may now that you have eternal life."

Eternal life is a gift offered through the shed blood, suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus. That is the clear teaching of the Bible. It is biblical accurate and rationally defensible.

The final question:
"Whom will YOU believe?"

When one looks at other religions outside Christianity, our to other leaders that people follow, they were and are mortal. There is only one who is immortal. Only one has conquered death through His resurrection. There's only one who is alive. And that is Jesus.

This is the fork in the road…
Who will you listen to. The dead ones or The Living One?

Jesus is alive forever more and He will return. Without Him there is no hope. With Him we have everlasting life and that is the Gospel truth!

Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.

Check out this video series from our website: https://www.awakeusnow.com/whats-the-answer

Join us Sundays
https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service

Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app.

Pastor focuses in on Gamaliel's Speech found in Acts 5:34-39.

We know about Gamliel from the Bible, the writings of Josephus and rabbinical writings:

• Grandson of the Jewish teacher Hillel
• Especially influential ca 25-50 A.D.
• President of the Sanhedrin
• A devout and respected Pharisee
• Teacher of Saul of Tarsus (Acts 22:3)

In comparing Josephus' writings with the Bible we find an issue with Acts 5:36-37 "Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered."

The Controversy is the dating of the two men as this is what we know about them from Josephus:

• Theudas - revolt at the time of the Roman procurator, Cuspius Faus (44-46 A.D.)
• Judas the Galilean - rebellion in 6 A.D.

According to the Acts verses written by Luke, he quotes Gamaliel as saying that Judas the Galilean's rebellion came AFTER Theudas' revolt, but what we know about these two men from Josephus, shows us that Judas the Galilean's rebellion came BEFORE Theudas' revolt.

The Alternatives we can consider:

• Josephus was correct, Luke was wrong
• Luke was correct, Josephus was wrong
• Both Luke and Josephus were correct.

Pastor leans toward "Both Luke and Josephus being correct."

In Josephus' writings we read of Judas the Galilean as having led a band of people in revolt in 6 A.D.

In Josephus' writings we also read that after the death of King Herod the Great (about 4 B.C.) many revolted. Josephus does not name them.but clearly these rebellions were BEFORE Judas' revolt. Consider this: Is it possible that one of those individuals was named Theudas? Then the writings of Josephus and the Bible align.

Additionally, Luke gives this insight, he tells us that Gamaliel said the following, "Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered." Note that Gamaliel said ALL Judas' followers were scattered." But history shows us that Gamaliel saw Judas' rebellion as having come to nothing. However, about 25-30 years after Gamaliel spoke these words, those followers of Judas the Galilean not only were around, but had grown in number and ultimately triggered the revolt against Rome in 66 A.D.

What we see is an accurate account by Luke of what took place on the day the Apostles were flogged for speaking the name of Jesus and rejoiced for being worthy to suffer for His name.

Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.

View live or on demand: https://www.awakeusnow.com/tuesday-bible-class

For the full list of videos in this series, Dig Deeper, https://www.awakeusnow.com/dig-deeper

For more check out our Sunday series, God ACTS! https://www.awakeusnow.com/god-acts-then-now

Join us Sundays

https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service

Or watch from our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@AwakeUsNow/streams

Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app.

This is the final week in our study of 400 years of Kings and Prophets from Solomon to Jeremiah.

King Josiah
• Young King seeks God
• Spiritual cleansing of Jerusalem
• Book of the Law discovered
• Reform beyond Judah
• Passover observance - King Josiah gives an order to all people to observe God's Passover. This had not been celebrated according to what was written, not even in the days of the judges, nor in the days of any of the kings of Israel and Judah. Josiah made sure the celebration was carried out according to what was written in the Book of the Covenant. He, like David, was a man after God's own heart. He reads the scriptures and applies them and a time of revival begins. We read in 2 Kings 23:25 "Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the LORD as he did - with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses."
• Death at Megiddo - A prophetic word comes from Huldah telling Josiah of the judgment that is coming from God against the people, but that because Josiah's heart was repentant he would not see the judgment that would come. During this time there was great international upheaval between Egypt, Assyria, and Babylon. 2 Kings 23:29 "While Josiah was king, Pharaoh Necho king of Egypt went up to the Euphrates River to help the king of Assyria. King Josiah marched out to meet him in battle, but Necho faced him and killed him at Megiddo." Jeremiah and the nation were devastated by the loss of king Josiah. Then Josiah's 3 sons reign. None were the king that their father was. They returned to the old ways for faithlessness to God.

Josiah's 3 Sons
• Jehoahaz - 2 Kings 23:31-33; 2 Chronicles 36:1-3 - reigned 3 month doing evil in the eyes of the Lord. He was imprisoned by Pharaoh Necho of Egypt, who was the one who had killed his father. Jehoahaz dies in Egypt.
• Jehoiakim - 2 Kings 23:34 - 24:7; 2 Chronicles 36:4-8 - reigned 11 years and did evil in the eyes of the Lord. He was an evil and inefficient ruler. Constructed a new palace and Jeremiah denounces him for ignoring the people and ignoring God. Jehoiakim rejects Jeremiah and even burns the first copy of the book of Jeremiah. (Jeremiah 36:23) The city of Jerusalem is overtaken in 605 BC by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and many of the people are deported to Babylon. (Daniel was one that was taken - Daniel 1:1-2). When Jehoiakim dies he is given the "burial of a donkey." Jeremiah 22:13-19. Johoiachin, his son reigns for 3 months doing evil like his father and was taken captive by Babylon - 2 Kings 24:8-16; 2 Chronicles 36:9-10
• Zedekiah - 2 Kings 24:17 - 25:21; 2 Chronicles 36:11-21; Jeremiah 39:1-10 - reigns for 11 years and he did evil in the eyes of the Lord. Zedekiah breaks the treaty with Babylon (Ezekiel 17:18). He looks to Egypt for deliverance but didn't receive any. The false prophets encouraged him in his evil ways. Jeremiah warns Zedekiah of coming suffering and prophecies. But Zedekiah does not change his way and Jerusalem falls to the Babylonians and Zedekiah dies in a tragic way. Jeremiah 39:6-7.

And so ends our study with the nation, the city of Jerusalem a the Temple destroyed in 586 B.C.

Interestingly enough the Temple would once again be destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D. in the same month, on the same day. This was a day Jesus predicted because they did not recognize Him and had rejected Him.

Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.

View live or on demand: https://www.awakeusnow.com/tuesday-bible-class

Join us Sundays
https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service

Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app.