Lesson 4

There are many ways of adding to, or taking away from the Bible. It can be done by adding or subtracting words in the text, a word or phrase can be mistranslated, or a meaning can be missed or expanded beyond what was intended. Also, our societies and cultures can adopt a word, phrase or thought and by using it in an unintended way, change its meaning so that what God was saying is unrecognizable. Another way to change the meaning of the Bible can be through punctuation. The Greek text forming the New Testament used all capitals, no punctuation, or spacing. This forced the translators to use other scripture to uncontradictory decipher what was being said. Luke’s account of the thief on the cross is often used to prove our souls go to heaven when humans die. Does this belief contradict other scripture? If you believe the thief and Jesus were in Paradise as soon as they died, that very day, how do you rectify your belief against other Bible verses that explain the dead and living followers of Jesus will not receive eternal life until after the trumpet blast when Jesus returns? Hebrews 11:39-40 says, God’s followers will not receive their promises independently from one another, but get them at the same time, all together at the same event. “that they without us should not be made perfect.”

Luke 23:42-43 Modern English Version
42 Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” 43 Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 English Standard Version
13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 

1 Corinthians 15:51-52 Easy-to-Read Version
51 But listen, I tell you this secret: We will not all die, but we will all be changed. 52 It will only take the time of a second. We will be changed as quickly as an eye blinks. This will happen when the last trumpet blows. The trumpet will blow and those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we will all be changed.