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Paul's Desire to 'Depart and Be
With Christ'
The apostle Paul dedicated his life to preaching
the gospel of the Kingdom of God (Acts 14:22; 19:8; 20:25; 28:23,31). In the process
he was subjected to persecution, beatings and several periods of imprisonment. When
he wrote his letter to the Philippians he was enduring a period of house arrest in
Rome. Paul knew that the Roman government had authority to put prisoners to death.
Paul knew what the future might hold for him, whether it be execution on the one
hand or his release on the other.
In Philippians 1:23-24 he wrote of the two possible
outcomes: "For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart
and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more
needful for you."
Many have assumed from Paul's words here that
he believed that at the moment of his death he would join Christ in heaven. However,
this is not the case.
Paul knew that if he were executed he would
go to the grave, and there his remains would lie until the time of his resurrection.
Paul knew that, since the dead have no thought processes whatsoever, in his next
waking moment he would be with the returning Messiah, Jesus, joining Him along with
the other saints at the time of the resurrection.
Paul wrote of this resurrection at Christ's
return to the church in Thessalonica: "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" (1Thessalonians 4:16).
Paul knew that it would be only at a time yet
in the future when he would be resurrected to be with Christ. He knew that at that
time he and God's other faithful servants would receive the gift of eternal life
in the Kingdom.
Later, when he knew he was indeed condemned
to be executed (2Timothy 4:6-7), he wrote of this coming time. "From now on
there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous
judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed
for his appearing" (verse 8, New Revised Standard Version). Paul knew his reward
would come "on that day"-the day of "His appearing"-rather than
at the moment of his death.
The interval from Paul's last thought as a human
being to the time of his seeing Christ in the resurrection will seem instantaneous,
since the Bible shows that the dead know nothing (Ecclesiastes 9:5). This is why
Paul wrote as he did in his letter to the Philippians.
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