Life after death and BEMA

[Rev. Jim Cunningham]

From: markallenmd1 (Original Message) Sent: 4/26/2007 1:16 AM
When a Christian dies where do they go immediately after death? A friend and I were talking at church tonight and I asked her this question. She said we go directly to heaven. I replied that if that's the case when do we get judged? She didn't know so I asked this stranger standing next to us. He said as Christians we've already been judged but we'll have a second judgement at "BEMA" to determine our rewards which we will receive according to our works. I told him it sounded like Mormonism and that I didn't need to work my way to heaven. He then wanted to save me so I politely scurried away. Is this "BEMA" thing some new biblical concept?
Thanks,
Mark

[Rev. Jim Cunningham]

From: Manager Rev. Jim Sent: 5/5/2007 1:36 AM
Hi Mark,

I, too, find it bizarre that there are so many different views concerning life after death when the Bible is very explicit on the matter. A few years ago I wrote a small book on this subject [Body, Soul & Spirit: A Matter of Life and Death] using only the Scriptures and completely leaving out man-made tradition. What the Bible teaches about death is radically different from what most people - including most Christians - believe it to be. I myself was shocked to see all of my pre-conceived notions about the afterlife vanish after each Bible verse that I read. If you would like to read what I have to say about this, you can read it on our main site. Just look for the book's title in the menu. The issue of "Bema" will make sense to you after you've read the book.

www.GayChristianSurvivors.com

-Rev. Jim Cunningham

[Rev. Jim Cunningham]

From: marksbest Sent: 5/5/2007 3:21 PM
Hi Jim,
Your email arrived late last night at the most appropriate time. I had been trying to read this book written by a woman who died and returned to life. My friend Emily had given it to me the night I asked her and a person at church about where we go after death. After trying to read the book on three different occasions and only getting to page 45 I asked Emily if the author was a Christian or a Mormon as something about the book bothered me and I couldn't continue reading it. She didn't know. Well, last night I had this overwhelming feeling that I had to get rid of the book. I wanted to put it outside in the trash but couldn't since it didn't belong to me so I put it out in my laundry room. I then turned on my computer and there was your message. I read the entire book, Body, Soul & Spirit, Life After Death on the site. It gave me every bit of information I wanted to know. It was very well written and cleared up every misconception I had. I would encourage everyone to read it. Is the book still in print and if so where can I purchase it? I'd like to give it to several friends.

Thanks so much for opening my eyes.
Mark

[Rev. Jim Cunningham]

From: moon-halo2662 Sent: 5/6/2007 1:29 PM
What is BEMA?
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Rev. Jim,
What is the book on the Scriptural teaching on death.
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How important it is to know what Scripture saysabout death! We do not know what happens & there has been so much speculation taught as truth & of course, pre-conceived notions. Let us only believe what Scripture says! We simply can't know! Moon

[Rev. Jim Cunningham]

From: Manager Rev. Jim Sent: 5/6/2007 9:41 PM
Moon and the Group,

Bema is a Greek word which is usually joined with "seat" (the Bema Seat). It refers to the day of Judgment when rewards are given, though I've never heard Christians or Jews use this term. The person who used that word may be in a cultish faith, so please be careful.

The book on the Scripture teaching of death that I mentioned is "Body, Soul & Spirit: A Matter of Life and Death" and I have made it available for everyone to read on our site.

What we believe about death is not only important to us, it is vital, because the entire Scriptures hinge on the issue of death. You are correct that there has been a lot of speculation taught about this issue, and much of it has been very warped, but that does not mean that we cannot know or understand it because the Bible is jam packed with information on it, and I present that information in my book. We CAN know! Please do not be like those other people who throw there hands up in the air and said "we'll just never know" just because you haven't received the answer yet. Were is your perseverance, my brother? I guarantee that you will find all the answers that you're looking for in that book - not because I wrote it, but because I did not write my personal opinion about death - I wrote what GOD said about death in the Scriptures, and it is very clear.

And I say this to EVERYONE reading this post:
STOP GIVING UP SO DANG EASILY ALL THE TIME!!! No, all of the answers to every issue are NOT going to suddenly fall in your lap all the time. God requires - God COMMANDS - that we STUDY to find those answers. Study until your dying breath if you have to!

Look, all of you came here to Gay Christian Survivors because you saw something different here. I don't teach the same crap that has been passed off as doctrine by others and I don't preach a left wing liberal doctrine. No I don't know all things, but I do know many things, and I believe that God has given me the gift of understanding and knowledge of His Word. I once was were you are - seeking and doubting and questioning. I was sick to death of all the different points of view I was getting. I finally said to the lord, "Enough! Either I receive it straight from you and your Word or I won't receive it at all! I want to know the TRUTH!! No more philosophies and human reasoning tainted by biases and ignorance." And the Lord heard me. And he heard me because I want His will and understanding, not my own. He heard me because I am willing to accept ANYTHING He says no matter what. So if any of you have come to trust me at all, if you believe that I do speak the Word of God, then give me a chance on this too. Read the book. See what I wrote. I promise you, it will fill in the gaps and it will all make sense.

Rev. Jim