Expert: Thurman C. Petty, Jr. - 3/1/2009

Question
QUESTION: Could you please resend the last assignment,please?

ANSWER: You’re learning a lot about Jesus. We’ll come back to Jesus and learn more later. Right now we’ll look at another important subject—death.

Next Assignment:

Read the whole chapter—John 11. Then look at verses 11-14: Jesus said that Lazarus was asleep. What did He mean by that statement?

I hope you're learning more about what the Bible can teach us.

Remember, I recommended that you read the book of Mark. It's fascinating.

God bless.

Thurman

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QUESTION: Hiya.I think I have the answer,I have only read up to chapter 14 but I will read the rest if I ave the time which I should.So is the answer that sleep=dead.When He said that Lazurus was dead,he meant that he was sleep?Correct?

ANSWER: Dear Corrina,

Wonderful! You're right! I'll give you high marks for that.

When a person dies, it is as though they were asleep: They aren't aware of anything going on around them; they aren't aware of the passing of time; they just don't have touch at all with the world around them. That's what death is like.

Notice: Eccl 9:5  For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing; they have no further reward, and even the memory of them is forgotten.
Eccl 9:6  Their love, their hate and their jealousy have long since vanished; never again will they have a part in anything that happens under the sun.

So when people die, they don't know anything that is going on around them: they don't know they're dead, even. They are put into the grave, and that's it--until the resurrection when Jesus comes. So when people are having their funeral, they are not looking down (up?) on it, but are asleep. It's like a light bulb. When you turn off the electricity, the light goes out. So when a person stops breathing, and the heart stops beating, the life goes out, and they are dead--until the resurrection at the Second Coming of Jesus.

Now for the next assignment: Read 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17 and tell me all the things that are going on here.

I live in Texas. What state do you live in?

Thurman

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QUESTION: I live in West Virginia.Not the greastest state though.I will have the answer to the next assignment in about a two days.

Answer
Many years ago (43) I was assistant pastor of the church in Hagerstown, MD. We had another church on down in northern WVa. I thought it was a pretty state.

As you say, it may not be the greatest state, but it has the greatest coal reserves in the world!

Don't look at the things that are ugly--look for the things that are beautiful. WVa, I understand, has some of the prettiest mountains in the world.

I had a friend who was a pastor in WVa and, even though he had offers to go elsewhere, he preferred to stay in WVa. He said it was the nicest place on earth. He liked the country, the people . . . . He did go to Washington state, but he only stayed 2 years. He was dying to get back to WVa, and stayed there until he died. He was my friend. What a loss!

Look for beautiful things. Send me a list of 10 beautiful things about your state. I bet you can do it.

Waiting for the answers to my Bible question . . . and the beautiful things about WVa.

Thurman

I wish you would us email. It sure would be easier for me.