Bible Study of The Week

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#FFFBF0" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="aff78783.gif"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>BIBLE STUDY OF THE WEEK</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" ><B>     |    </B></FONT><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="BIBLE STUDY OF THE WEEK"><U><B>Bible Study Of The Week Home Page</B></U></A><A HREF="http://http://www.biblestudyoftheweek.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://http://www.biblestudyoftheweek.co"><U><B> </B></U></A><B>   </B><B>Bible Study of The Week</B><B>   |   </B><A HREF="grace.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Salvation In Christ"><U><B>Salvation In Christ</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="christian_believers.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Christian Church of Christ Links"><U><B>Christian & Church of Christ Links</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id15.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Borrowed Articles"><U><B>Borrowed Articles</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id16.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A Message To The Unforgiving"><U><B>A Message To The Unforgiving</B></U></A><B>     </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://members.tripod.com/rjmcclur55/HolySpirit/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.tripod.com/rjmcclur55/Hol"><U><B><U>Studies On The Holy Spirit</U></B></U></A><B><U>  </U></B></FONT><B> </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://members.tripod.com/rjmcclur55/Worship/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.tripod.com/rjmcclur55/Wor"><U><B><U>Twelve Lesson On Worship</U></B></U></A><B>  </B><A HREF="http://members.tripod.com/rjmcclur55/Leadership/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.tripod.com/rjmcclur55/Lea"><U><B><U>Qualified Church Leadershi</U></B></U></A><B><U>p</U></B></FONT></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B><U>  </U></B></div> <bR> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="aff78783.gif"> <div>  <img src="HTMLobj-2805/aniGif.gif" alt="Gold Cross" border="0" align="bottom" width="55" height="75">  </div> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>If you would like to know when this site is updated, email me at: </B></FONT>rjmcclur55@yahoo.com</div> <div> <B>I will try to keep you notified of future updates!</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Our Policy: </B></div> <div> <B>Any article that appears on this site that is written by someone other than myself, is written either by direct permission, or appears only according to their policy. I do not have the authority to pass that permission on to anyone else. If you wish to reproduce their articles, please contact them and request their permission.</B></div> <div> <B>     Any article written by myself (Randy J. McClure) may be reproduced in the manner that it was written. I merely ask that you include the author's name. If the material includes no one else's name, then it was surely written by yours truly, and is reproducible. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>This site is for the purpose of helping anyone who has a legitimate desire to study God's word. However, in the event that I have given credit to those who have made my study easier, I request that you retain that credit in any and all reproductions.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The dates given for articles or sermons are not (usually) when they were posted to the web, but when they were originally written or preached.</B></div> <div> <B>     Please use this material only to further your spiritual growth and to benefit the kingdom of God!</B></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="efa48483.gif"> <div> <B>Bible Study of The Week</B><B> </B></div> <div> <B>              </B></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I><B>SHALL WE KNOW EACH OTHER IN HEAVEN?</B></I></div> <div> (This is a repeat due to a recent question that has been asked.)</div> <bR> <div> The second night of a “Ten Day Gospel Meeting” was pretty normal. We had some good music. The speaker had a good biblical message and we enjoyed one another's company for several minutes after the service. </div> <div> As I entered the room closest to the exit, I noticed that several of the people were sitting with their Bibles open and discussing something. I really enjoy a good Bible Study, but we were running behind, so I didn't immediately inquire as to the content of the discussion. As it turned out, someone inquired of me, and this is what was asked, “Will we know one another when we get to heaven?”</div> <div> I had heard the question and the discussion before, and because of our hurried state, didn't get too involved in the discussion. What I did realize is that I didn't really have the answer to the question. I remembered having studied some scripture and coming to the conclusion that we will `probably' know each other in heaven, but couldn't remember one scripture at that moment that either supported or denied such teaching. I have always been somewhat uncomfortable discussing a subject for which I am not prepared (ignorant) without some serious study first, and I shared this thought a few moments later as my wife and I traveled home. In other words, if I haven't thoroughly studied the subject myself, I don't want to talk to you about it. So, the only statement that I recall making was, “I believe that there are some passages that imply that we will (in agreement with one of the evangelists present), but would not hold anyone to either view.” What a poor (weak) statement that was!</div> <div> As we were going home the question began to consume my mind further. I wasn't consumed so much as to whether we would know each other as to why I DIDN'T KNOW THE ANSWER! So as soon as we arrived at the house, I sat down in front of the computer (Many times you'll find that others have done a part of your studying for you, if you'll do the rest.) and began working on the challenge.</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >It didn't take very long to find some material on the subject, and some good material I might add (</FONT><A HREF="http://exeout.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://exeout.com"><U>The Executable Outlines Series, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2001</U></A>, http://www.bible.ca/eo/life/life_06.htm<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >). Much of what I am going to share with you is from Copeland's outline, but there is something that he didn't address (I think he saw it, but he never stated it in its simplicity.). As I made my third glance through the content of his outline, I saw something for the VERY FIRST TIME! You'll have to wait until the end of this paper to find out what it was.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Isaiah 14:3-4, “And it will be in the day when the LORD gives you rest from your pain and turmoil and harsh service in which you have been enslaved,<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >4</FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>that you will take up this taunt against the king of Babylon, and say, "How the oppressor has ceased, and how fury has ceased!”<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>Isaiah 14:9-11, "Sheol from beneath is excited over you to meet you when you come; it arouses for you the spirits of the dead, all the leaders of the earth; it raises all the kings of the nations from their thrones.<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >10</FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>"They will all respond and say to you, 'Even you have been made weak as we, you have become like us. <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >11</FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>'Your pomp and the music of your harps have been brought down to Sheol; maggots are spread out as your bed beneath you, and worms are your covering.' “<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>Isaiah 14:16, “"Those who see you will gaze at you, They will ponder over you, saying, 'Is this the man who made the earth tremble, Who shook kingdoms.”</div> <bR> <div> Ezekiel 32:17-32, “And it came about in the twelfth year, on the fifteenth of the month, that the word of the LORD came to me saying,<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >18</FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>"Son of man, wail for the multitude of Egypt, and bring it down, her and the daughters of the powerful nations, to the nether world, with those who go down to the pit;<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >19</FONT> 'Whom do you surpass in beauty? Go down and make your bed with the uncircumcised.' <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >20</FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>"They shall fall in the midst of those who are slain by the sword. She is given over to the sword; they have drawn her and all her multitudes away.<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >21</FONT> "The strong among the mighty ones shall speak of him and his helpers from the midst of Sheol, 'They have gone down, they lie still, the uncircumcised, slain by the sword.' <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >22</FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>"Assyria is there and all her company; her graves are round about her. All of them are slain, fallen by the sword, <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >23 </FONT>whose graves are set in the remotest parts of the pit, and her company is round about her grave. All of them are slain, fallen by the sword, who spread terror in the land of the living.<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >24</FONT> "Elam is there and all her multitude around her grave; all of them slain, fallen by the sword, who went down uncircumcised to the lower parts of the earth, who instilled their terror in the land of the living, and bore their disgrace with those who went down to the pit. <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >25 </FONT>"They have made a bed for her among the slain with all her multitude. Her graves are around it, they are all uncircumcised, slain by the sword (although their terror was instilled in the land of the living), and they bore their disgrace with those who go down to the pit; they were put in the midst of the slain.<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >26 </FONT>"Meshech, Tubal and all their multitude are there; their graves surround them. All of them were slain by the sword uncircumcised, though they instilled their terror in the land of the living. <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >27 </FONT>"Nor do they lie beside the fallen heroes of the uncircumcised, who went down to Sheol with their weapons of war, and whose swords were laid under their heads; but the punishment for their iniquity rested on their bones, though the terror of these heroes was once in the land of the living. <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >28</FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>"But in the midst of the uncircumcised you will be broken and lie with those slain by the sword. <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >29</FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>"There also is Edom, its kings, and all its princes, who for all their might are laid with those slain by the sword; they will lie with the uncircumcised, and with those who go down to the pit. <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >30</FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>"There also are the chiefs of the north, all of them, and all the Sidonians, who in spite of the terror resulting from their might, in shame went down with the slain. So they lay down uncircumcised with those slain by the sword, and bore their disgrace with those who go down to the pit.<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >31</FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>"These Pharaoh will see, and he will be comforted for all his multitude slain by the sword, even Pharaoh and all his army," declares the Lord GOD. <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >32</FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>"Though I instilled a terror of him in the land of the living, yet he will be made to lie down among the uncircumcised along with those slain by the sword, even Pharaoh and all his multitude," declares the Lord GOD.”</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >Both of the above chapters speak of the `woes' (destruction) of evil nations. You will notice in both of these Old Testament passages that those who are in the intermediate abode of Hades recognize the spirits of those mentioned. In Isaiah 14, the spirit of the King of Babylon will be recognized by those in Sheol (Hades), and in Ezekiel 32, the multitude of Egypt is recognized by those of the Sheol, the nether world (Hades). The multitudes from Assyria, Elam, Meshech, Tubal, Edom and the Sidonians are also recognized. 32:31 says that Pharaoh (from Egypt) will recognize</FONT> them <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >as well. In other words, those in the spirit world recognized others in the spirit world from their position upon the earth.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >One often referred to passage for the recognition of others in life after death is the passage in Luke 16. In verses 19-31, we read, “"Now there was a certain rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, gaily living in splendor every day.</FONT> <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >20</FONT> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >"And a certain poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores,</FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > 21 </FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >and longing to be fed with the crumbs which were falling from the rich man's table; besides, even the dogs were coming and licking his sores.</FONT> <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >22</FONT> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >"Now it came about that the poor man died and he was carried away by the angels to Abraham's bosom; and the rich man also died and was buried.</FONT> <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >23 </FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >"And in Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away, and Lazarus in his bosom.</FONT> <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >24</FONT> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >"And he cried out and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue; for I am in agony in this flame.'</FONT> <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >25</FONT> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >"But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony.</FONT> <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >26</FONT> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >'And besides all this, between us and you there is a great chasm fixed, in order that those who wish to come over from here to you may not be able, and that none may cross over from there to us.'</FONT> <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >27</FONT> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >"And he said, 'Then I beg you, Father, that you send him to my father's house-- </FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >28 </FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >for I have five brothers-- that he may warn them, lest they also come to this place of torment.' </FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >29</FONT> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >"But Abraham said, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.' </FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >30</FONT> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >"But he said, 'No, Father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!'</FONT> <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >31</FONT> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >"But he said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.'"</FONT> </div> <div> It is merely pointed out here that the rich man recognizes both Lazarus and Abraham.</div> <bR> <div> In 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20 we read,<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>“For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >20</FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>For you are our glory and joy.”<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>And in 2 Corinthians 4:14,<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>“Knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you.”</div> <div> In both of these scriptures Paul makes reference to being `with the Lord' and `with other saints'. Again, Paul seems to be saying that he is looking forward to being with these saints in the presence of the Lord Jesus. If he wouldn't know them, why would he say this?</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >"And I say to you, that many shall come from east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven;</FONT> <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >12</FONT> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >but the sons of the kingdom shall be cast out into the outer darkness; in that place there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”</FONT> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >(Matthew 8:11-12)</FONT></div> <div> This passage, not unlike the passage in Luke 16, is an often-used context to point out recognition of one another in heaven, and also like the Lazarus account, it is used as a simple application to our subject. Why would Jesus mention reclining with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob if we wouldn't even recognize them in their `new bodies'?</div> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >“And six days later Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John his brother, and brought them up to a high mountain by themselves.</FONT> <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >2</FONT> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light.</FONT> <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >3</FONT> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.</FONT> <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >4</FONT> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >And Peter answered and said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, I will make three tabernacles here, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah."</FONT> <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >5</FONT> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and behold, a voice out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!" (Matthew 17:1-5)</FONT></div> <div> Are not Moses and Elijah recognized during this transfiguration of Christ?</div> <bR> <div> (It can be noted that not all of the above passages are equal in context. In other words, some of the examples mentioned refer to the intermediate state or temporary abode of the dead, while others make reference to heaven itself.<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >)</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >Daniel 10:13, </FONT>"But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was withstanding me for twenty-one days; then behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia.” (Also see verse 21.)<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> Jude 9, <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >“But Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a railing judgment, but said, "The Lord rebuke you."</FONT> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >Rev 12:7,</FONT> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >“And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. And the dragon and his angels waged war.”</FONT> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >Luke 1:26,</FONT> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >“Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee, called Nazareth.”</FONT></div> <div> Here we have the examples of Michael and Gabriel; two angels. They are obviously recognized as individuals. The angels are spirit beings and are recognizable as specific persons.</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >One of the objections almost always given when we discuss `knowing one another in heaven' is this, “If we know one another we'll know that we have loved ones that didn't make it.” I've always had a lot of trouble with that kind of thinking. Not that I wouldn't think that myself, that is, if I think in heaven like I do now. But, as one of the participants of our discussion pointed out the blessing of the absence of the human body in heaven, I am looking forward EVEN MORE to the absence of my human thinking when I get to heaven. I think too worldly and it gets me in trouble, and it keeps me from seeing the spiritual things that I really</FONT> want <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >to see!</FONT></div> <div> Copeland, in his outline, asked this question, “Would one say that Jesus is unhappy?” When we arrive in the presence of the Lord God Almighty and His Blessed Son Jesus Christ, all earthly bonds will be loosed! Those who are of the house of God will become our true family (Perhaps we have tasted a little of that already in the church?). Isn't that what Jesus said to those who would hear Him? "For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother."<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>(Matt 12:50)</div> <bR> <div> “And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He shall dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be among them, <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >4</FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>and He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall no longer be any death; there shall no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away. " (Rev 21:3-4) With the kind of God that we have, and the broken bonds of the world and earthly relationships, and the realization that we will be in the presence of the Divine, I have no trouble believing that I will be full of joy in heaven!</div> <bR> <div> I mentioned very early in that I thought that there was something that I saw for the first time as I began this study. I don't know why it has taken me so long to see it! The question, “Will we know one another in heaven?” can be more easily answered when we answer this question, “Are spirit beings recognized?” If one asks the latter question, EVERY passage of scripture that we have dealt with here is applicable and supportive of the teaching that we will indeed recognize one another. In my mind, that answers the question completely and affirmatively!</div> <bR> <div> In closing, I confess to the reader that I didn't really think that it much mattered what the answer to the question was when I left that Meeting that night, but I now see that it is A GREAT ENCOURAGEMENT knowing that there are saints waiting for me there. I will actually be able to see people that died years ago and recognize them by what I know about them (Those who died in Christ of course.). That, I will now admit, is just a little bit exciting . . . . , but still small in comparison with seeing the Lord!</div> <bR> <div> Randy J. McClure, 8/18/2001</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="b513b3a0.gif" border=0 width="59" height="58" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <B>Bible Study of The Week</B><B>   |   </B><A HREF="grace.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Salvation In Christ"><U><B>Salvation In Christ</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="christian_believers.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Christian Church of Christ Links"><U><B>Christian & Church of Christ Links</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id15.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Borrowed Articles"><U><B>Borrowed Articles</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id16.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A Message To The Unforgiving"><U><B>A Message To The Unforgiving</B></U></A></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="b513b3a0.gif" border=0 width="59" height="58" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B> </B></div> </td> </tr></table></body>