Life and Immortality

LIFE AND IMMORTALITY

There is a difference between eternal life and immortality. Immortality refers to endless life in the body. Eternal life speaks of a quality of life lived in the Presence of God. Life lived in the Presence of God always results in noticeable changes in the kind of person we are, in the manner in which we live.

Eternal Life
Immortality

LIFE AND IMMORTALITY

Who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. (II Timothy 1:9,10—NIV)

“Who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” Life and immortality.

The above means the Lord Jesus Christ has destroyed physical death. He has brought both eternal spiritual life and endless physical life to us through the Gospel. Life and immortality were lost to people in the Garden of Eden. Our Redeemer has come to restore life and immortality to those who will receive Him.

Eternal Life

Eternal life is a kind of life. Immortality refers to endless life in our flesh and bones body, although glorified according to our status in the Kingdom of God. When the Bible speaks of “perishing,” or being “destroyed,” it means our flesh and bones body along with our inward spiritual nature will be confined in the Lake of Fire, no longer to be permitted to live in God’s Kingdom.

Eternal life is Divine Life, incorruptible resurrection life, the Life of God and Christ.

Eternal life has to do with our inward, spiritual nature. Immortality will not be given to our mortal body until eternal life has been developed in our spiritual nature. This is why Paul warned us on several occasions to put to death the deeds of our body, to live according to the Spirit of God.

If we do not choose to live according to the Spirit of God we will not lay hold on eternal life as we should. The result will be corruption and death in our inward nature, and also in our mortal body when the Lord returns from Heaven.

Our destiny depends on our behavior today. If we through the Lord Jesus Christ choose to turn from the adamic life and grow in Divine Life, we will be prepared for the donning of immortality at the coming of the Lord.

If we choose to “accept Christ,” thinking the four steps of salvation are a “ticket to Heaven,” and then continue to live according to the lusts and impulses of our fleshly nature, we will not grow in Divine Life. When the Lord returns we will experience only corruption and death. Paul has warned us of this fate clearly and sternly. “If you live according to your sinful nature you will die.”

The purpose of Divine grace is not to do away with the Kingdom law of sowing and reaping. The purpose of Divine grace is to forgive us and enable us to sow to the Spirit of God.

Eternal life always is the result of righteous, holy behavior. Jesus Christ came so we might live a righteous, holy life, being sternly obedient to God our Father.

But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. (Romans 6:22—NIV)

“And the result is eternal life.”

First we cultivate eternal life by becoming a slave to God. Then we reap immortality in the body. This is the Divine plan of salvation.

Let us see how the Lord Jesus defined eternal life.

Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. (John 17:3—NIV)

Notice that eternal life is not referring to endless existence but to the knowledge of God.

Knowing God in this sense is not referring to knowing about God. Theology and doctrine teach us about God. But knowing God refers to the daily pressing into His Presence and will.

The age of moral horrors, the hour of temptation, is at hand. We will not be able to stand in Christ during the coming days unless we are living in intense, continual, consistent interaction with the living Jesus.

The Judge is standing at the door of your heart. He is asking to come in to you and to dine with you on His own body and blood so you might live by Him as He lives by the Father.

You must receive the hidden manna, His body and blood, each day. You receive the body and blood of the Lord Jesus, which themselves are the new covenant, as you turn away from your adamic desires and choose to do the Lord’s will. As you choose to do the Lord’s will every moment of every day He feeds you with His own Life. Jesus Christ is the Tree of Life, and you are permitted to eat of Him as you overcome the world, your flesh, and your self-will.

It is by living in very close daily relationship with the living Jesus, talking to Him, asking His wisdom for every decision you make, that you come to know God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent. It is this personal relationship with God through Christ that itself is eternal life. This is what eternal life is—life lived in the Substance and Presence of God through Christ. It is to partake constantly of His Divine Virtue and Nature.

If you desire to live in God in Christ, then tell the Lord about it right now and ask Him to direct you. Rest assured that He indeed shall answer your prayer for this is what He desires for you.

How does eternal life reveal itself in our personality and behavior? The following are some of the attributes and attitudes characteristic of Divine Life. They cannot be found in the adamic nature except in a fragile, corrupted form.

An understanding of God’s Person, ways, will, and eternal purpose in Christ. As we learn to live in God’s Presence we come to understand His Person and will.

There have been arguments throughout church history concerning the nature of the Godhead. The Godhead, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, cannot be understood by any logical, systematic analysis. The Godhead must be experienced. It is as we abide in Christ that He reveals the Father to us. Then we know we are in Christ and in the Father, and the Father and Christ are in us.

Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. (John 14:19,20—NIV)

The Bible is a book that is spiritually sealed. It is useless to argue over and debate the Scriptures. The understanding of the Epistles of the Apostles and the allegories of the Book of Revelation comes only as the Holy Spirit reveals the meaning to us. The Bible was written as holy men of God were moved by the Spirit of God. The Bible can be understood only as holy people of God are moved by the Spirit of God.

Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. (II Peter 1:20,21—NIV)

The understanding of God and His eternal purpose in Jesus Christ is one aspect of eternal life.

The willingness and determination to always give glory to Christ for that which is accomplished in our life. Eternal life is revealed in the Lord Jesus as He always glorifies God in all that He does. As we read the Gospel accounts it is impossible to distinguish between what God is doing and what Christ is doing.

All that belongs to Christ belongs to God and all that belongs to God belongs to Jesus Christ. Christ is glorified along with the Father as the Father is glorified. When we pray in Jesus’ name our prayers are answered, giving glory to Jesus who in turn gives glory to God. In this manner God is always glorified and no distracting, destructive idols remain.

What a joy it is to be relieved of the need to receive credit for anything we have done! What an absolute blessing to be released from the need for recognition that we may give all glory to the Lord Jesus Christ! This is eternal life.

And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so the Son may bring glory to the Father. (John 14:13—NIV)

The ability to communicate and create the Life of God in those whom we influence. Solomon told us the fruit of the righteous is a tree of life and he who wins souls is wise.

When Solomon spoke of winning souls he was not thinking in terms of the personal evangelism of today. He meant that the personality, words, and actions of the righteous are a tree of life. The righteous bring life and healing wherever they go. They are wise, understanding that God’s blessing rests heavily on every individual who is a peacemaker, who leads people out of the darkness of sin into the righteous ways of the Lord.

We can attempt to make proselytes to our faith. But we don’t win souls to God only by words. Souls are won to God’s way of living as we radiate His Life in the valley of the shadow of death in which we live.

The ability to communicate and create Divine Life in those around us is an aspect of eternal life. Such ability is never found in the adamic nature, only in those whom the Spirit of God is making life-giving spirits—the spirits of those who are being made righteous as they dwell in the heavenly Jerusalem. In them are found the happy paths to Zion. In their wisdom they win souls to the way of righteousness and life.

Passing through the valley of Baca, they make it a spring, The early rain also covers it with blessings. They go from strength to strength, Every one of them appears before God in Zion. (Psalms 84:6,7—NIV)

The ability to recognize and choose good and reject evil. Adam and Eve partook of the Law of God, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, before they were nurtured with the Tree of Life, Jesus Christ. Therefore that which would have given them life brought death to them. When the law of God comes to us sin revives and we die, unless we have the body and blood of Christ so our sin is forgiven and then overcome by Divine Life.

The knowledge of good and evil is an aspect of eternal life. In fact, to grow in Christ means to grow in the ability to judge between good and evil.

It is not enough just to recognize evil. The Law enables us to recognize evil. But as we press into the Life of Jesus Christ we gain the willingness and strength to choose the good and reject the evil. Embracing the good and renouncing the evil is an important aspect of the Life of God.

Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. (Hebrews 5:13,14—NIV)

A passion for holiness, for moral purity. When God gave to Israel the Tabernacle of the Congregation and the priesthood He emphasized holiness. Through the laws governing clean and unclean food, how to deal with skin disease, with issues of blood, with dead bodies, and numerous other things and situations, God stressed the need for cleanliness.

“Be holy for I am holy!”

Since Jesus came we no longer are dealing with unclean foods and the washing of pots and pans but with unclean spirits. Early in our Christian experience we may find God’s insistence on moral purity somewhat unpleasant. His fire is not always welcome.

But if we persevere there comes a time when we love the fire of God, we love His holy Presence, holiness becomes a passion.

Jesus’ love for us demands that we be with Him where He is, in the center of the Consuming Fire. This is where the saint longs to dwell—in the midst of the fiery Presence of the Holy One of Israel. Such a passion is an aspect of eternal life.

The sinners in Zion are terrified; trembling grips the godless: “Who of us can dwell with the consuming fire? Who of us can dwell with everlasting burning?” He who walks righteously and speaks what is right, who rejects gain from extortion and keeps his hand from accepting bribes, who stops his ears against plots of murder and shuts his eyes against contemplating evil—(Isaiah 33:14,15—NIV)

The ability to see the relative worthlessness of the ways of the world. I suppose it takes a while for most of us to see that the flesh profits nothing, as the Lord Jesus stated. In the present hour there is in America, and no doubt numerous other countries, a number of distractions. These include forms of entertainment, technological advances, and the pursuit of money.

It is so easy to get caught up in some fascinating enterprise to the extent we have little time and strength left to give to the Lord. The most worthwhile effort we make is to keep ourselves in the Presence of Christ and God. The world clamors constantly for attention like a spoiled child. It requires a heroic effort to throw off that which barrages us constantly that we might keep ourselves instantly aware of Christ and the Father, looking for Their will and pleasure in all we are doing.

The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. (John 6:63—NIV)

The utter abhorrence of all the person and ways of Satan. One time I was flying back to California. There was a stopover in Las Vegas, Nevada, a center of gambling and other worldly activities.

There were two ladies sitting in front of me. They were discussing what they intended to do in Las Vegas. The remarks they were making went something like this: “I don’t mind the nasty things they say as long as they don’t get too bad.” They were talking about the comedians in Las Vegas.

Their comments have stuck with me through the years because they sum up the attitude of the American people. They are neither hot nor cold when it comes to the person and ways of Satan. They do not want to be red hot for Jesus or red hot for Satan. They want some uncleanness but not too much.

This is Adam, not eternal life. Jesus loves righteousness and hates wickedness. He loves and He hates. He is emotionally involved. Therefore God His Father has given Him great joy.

When we are walking in close fellowship with Christ and the Father we begin to utterly abhor all that is of Satan. We develop a passion for holiness and a hatred of uncleanness, of all that comes from Satan and his demons. Such love and such hatred are eternal life.

You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.” (Hebrews 1:9—NIV)

The forgiveness and removal of all sin and uncleanness and of the very desire to sin. Christ has died to atone for the sins of the whole world. Now His desire is that we abide in Him. As we dwell in Christ, in the secret place of the most High, our sins are made known to us. Then we confess them and turn away from them with God’s help.

The end result of being forgiven and turning away (repenting) from our sins is the removing of the desire to sin.

There is no greater blessing available to man than the removal of the desire to sin. To those who persevere in seeking righteousness will be given immortality at the return of the Lord, immortality in a body that loves righteousness and hates wickedness. Think of it! What a blessing! This is the answer to Paul’s “who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” Here is eternal life.

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. (I John 1:7—NIV)

Trust in God’s faithfulness. We Christians speak much about faith. We think if we could see God we would have faith, that when we die and can see God (we hope), we will have faith.

But faith does not come by being able to see God. Satan was one of two cherubim that covered God’s throne with his wings. But Satan has no faith in God.

I think “trust in God’s faithfulness” is about as good a definition of faith as one can find. It is our willingness, yes, our determination to believe what God says, to count on the reliability of His Word—this is eternal life. Such determination the demons do not have. They know there is a God but they do not believe in His goodness and trustworthiness. They think they will be better off if they go their own way. This was Satan’s counsel to Eve if you remember.

Our faith is our statement about God’s Character. Either it is wise and desirable to rely totally on God’s Word or else it is not. I think many Christians rely somewhat on God and somewhat on their own understanding of things. Am I correct in this?

How wonderful to cast ourselves with abandonment on God, trusting Him to take care of us. Can He be counted on or not? I am betting my life that He can. How do you feel about this?

This is eternal life, that they might know You and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall. (Psalms 55:22—NIV)

Compassion, kindliness, friendliness, and mercy toward people. Such an attitude is the mark of spiritual maturity, of the possession of eternal life.

We are so harassed in this world that it is difficult to overlook the shortcomings of people. Usually when people harm us they do not realize what they are doing.

Even when they do know they are injuring us they are more to be pitied than anything else. They do not know the joy of dwelling in the heights of Zion with God. They are impoverished.

It takes a lot of pressing into God before we are able to overlook the immaturity of our brothers and sisters in the Lord. We and they do dumb things from time to time, not because we just want to be perverse but because we are persuaded in our mind of the rightness of our cause.

The older we get in the Lord the less patience we have with the younger Christians it seems, forgetting how we ourselves behaved at that age. The chances are they are doing a better job than we did back then.

We must never let people hurt us twice. When they treat us unjustly we are to press into Christ until we are back on our high places with the Lord. To descend to their level and fight fire with fire is to be hurt twice, once by their perversity and once more by our own reaction. This is not an intelligent thing to do and helps no one.

Adam has a tough time keeping a good attitude toward people. This is why we have to keep pressing, pressing, pressing into Christ. To maintain our peace in the midst of perversity is a form of eternal life.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. (Matthew 5:9—NIV)

Wisdom in daily living. The Lord Jesus is always available, waiting for us to look to him for the decisions we make each day. Most of the decisions are minor, such as what to eat for lunch (if we have any food, that is). Occasionally we are faced with a major decision, like moving to another city.

If we are faithful in looking to God for the minor decisions we probably will look to Him in weightier matters.

No matter what kind of work we do, no matter what kind of an environment we are in, how our time is occupied, the Lord Jesus knows the best way in which to think, speak, and act. We waste a great deal of time and effort when we do not bring everything to God in prayer.

Eternal life is knowing God to the point that we are looking to Him constantly for wisdom in our daily routines and challenges. God is the Master of everything from algebra to zebras, of every art form, every trade, every science. The Lord is more than willing to advise and help us in all we are and do. Look to Him right now and see if I am correct. This is eternal life.

In whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Colossians 2:3—NIV)

The ability to behave righteously toward all people. We know the golden rule is to do to others as we would have them do to us. Sometimes we feel justified in treating people harshly, but we usually are wrong in this.

Probably the biggest problem facing people is in the area of relationships. The problem is found today in the home in domestic disputes and among the nations in preparation for war. We just have an awful time getting along with one another.

Each year in Jerusalem the International Christian Embassy celebrates the feast of Tabernacles. One of the highlights of the nightly meetings occurs when the pilgrims from many nations, wearing their national costumes, stand and are recognized.

This always brings tears to my eyes, and I do not cry easily. To see Jews, Egyptian, Arabs, Germans, people from the former Communist countries, standing together to glorify God is a moving sight indeed. Only Jesus, only Jesus is capable of bringing about the brotherhood the world leaders talk about but can never accomplish.

The philosophers and politicians have been attempting to bring peace throughout the history of the world perhaps. But peace always eludes them even when their intentions are pure and honorable. Peace always shall elude them because of the sinful nature of fallen man.

Only Jesus has the power of eternal life. Only eternal life can grow in a Jew, an Arab, a German, a Catholic Irishman, a Protestant Irishman, an African, and an Englishman until they are able to stand together in absolute unity and trust.

The world is always learning but never will come to the knowledge of the truth. We all are waiting for Him to come to whom the crown rightfully belongs.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this. (Isaiah 9:6,7—NIV)

Bright hope for the future. Several million American people suffer from some form of depression. One of the symptoms of depression is pessimism concerning the future. Though we live in one of the wealthiest nations on earth we are fearful concerning the future.

Indeed as we grow older and see the way the world is going we have reason to be pessimistic. Christian people are dreading the increasing power of the United Nations because they know eventually this will result in laws being imposed on them over which they have no control, laws that reflect non-Christian values. It seems every day brings us closer to a world governed by wicked people.

But then we look to God and we see Him laughing. God is laughing at the ridiculous spectacle of the dust of the ground vaunting itself against Him and His righteous ways. God always remains in total control of this world. Never forget that.

Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. (Psalms 37:1,2—NIV)

Refuse to fret yourself about the wicked. God’s way of dealing with people who insist on going their own way is to give them plenty of rope. God knows that eventually they will hang themselves. Has He ever done this with you?

Jesus gave Judas all the rope he asked for. This is the way God deals with Satan, with the wicked.

We are to go on our way, dealing our bread to the hungry, being patient with those who oppose themselves.

All things in the universe are working together to bring forth a spotless bride for the Lamb. No matter what the wicked try to do they end up bringing forth a spotless bride for the Lamb. Neither they nor Satan, their master, can prevent the will of God from perfect completion.

The end of the history of the world will be glory beyond belief for the righteous, torment beyond belief for the wicked.

If your enemy hungers, feed him. God will avenge you in due time.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. (Romans 8:28,29—NIV)

Physical health and eventually immortality. The Apostle John tells us we prosper as our soul prospers. God puts none of the diseases of the world on us when we keep His commandments.

It is true in innumerable instances that the righteous are afflicted physically. How can this be when the Word of God says we were healed by His lashes?

The Book of Romans tells us our physical body is dead because of sin. The Book of Psalms informs us the afflictions of the righteous are many. The earth itself and all of nature are under a curse. Satan is warring against us constantly.

For these and many other reasons we Christians experience various ailments in our flesh. We are to request prayer from the elders of the assembly, confess our sins, read our Bible, pray, and live a godly life. After that we are God’s responsibility. We cannot heal ourselves.

But there is one thing we must never do. We must never, never, never accept the fact that we are destined to be sick. God always is able to heal us. If we live as a disciple He often will heal us, even without being prayed for. Divine healing is the children’s bread.

After you have done all, stand. Pray every day for your healing, always thanking God for your blessings. The odds are pretty strong that you will be healed in this life. Remember, there is no sickness, not even AIDS, that God cannot heal. Always look to Him and never doubt for one moment that He loves you and will heal you at the best time, provided you live for Him and keep His commandments.

Then too we are looking forward toward the redemption of our physical body, the putting on of incorruption. In that day sickness and death can touch us no longer. What a hope! Look up! It’s just around the corner! This too is eternal life.

Immortality

Immortality, endless life in a flesh and bones body (although glorified according to our rank in the Kingdom of God), is the goal of our discipleship. God gave His Son that whoever believes in Him would not perish in his inward spiritual nature and physical body but would be able to gain eternal life and immortality.

In the eighth chapter of the Book of Romans the Apostle Paul describes how the grace of God frees us from the Law of Moses that we might gain true inward eternal life and then the redemption of our physical body.

The redemption of our body will take place at the time the Lord appears and raises us from the dead.

We who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, Paul says, are waiting for our body to be adopted so our entire personality might be filled with the Life of God.

Our change will take place in a moment of time. If we have sown to the Spirit of God, laying hold on eternal life, then, when the last trumpet sounds, our mortal body will be swallowed up by incorruptible life, thus becoming immortal.

The resurrection to immortality is our goal. It must be attained by obeying the Spirit of God throughout our lifetime. It is a reaping of seeds of life that were planted during our Christian walk on the earth.

The fundamental error of Christian thinking is that we will be raised to life and glory on the basis of a profession of belief. It is true rather that we will be raised to life and glory as a result of the cultivation of eternal life in us during our discipleship.

Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—In a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” (I Corinthians 15:51-54—NIV)

Notice that the catching up (rapture) is not mentioned here. This is because our great hope is not that of being caught up but of attaining immortality. The dead are to be raised imperishable. This is referring to John 3:16, “should not perish but have everlasting life.” The catching up to meet the Lord in the air is not an act of redemption, it is merely the first step of our new life after we have attained the resurrection from among the dead.

The mortal shall be clothed with immortality. Once the perishable clothes itself with the imperishable and the mortal has clothed itself with immortality, then we shall have no fear of Antichrist or the great tribulation. This is one of the basic flaws of the teaching that we will be “raptured” to avoid Antichrist and the great tribulation.

Our goal is not to be caught up to Heaven. Our goal is to attain immortality. Immortality has to be attained by keeping God’s commandments.

To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. (Romans 2:7—NIV)

The only people who will attain immortality are those who persist in doing good, that is, in keeping God’s commandments, by pressing into Christ each day, presenting our body a living sacrifice.

Today’s teaching that on the basis of taking the “four steps of salvation” we will be caught up to Heaven at any moment is false doctrine. It is ruining the moral character of the Christian churches. Let God’s faithful leaders abandon this mythology, pointing out to their flocks the damage done by such a notion.

Satan will do anything to keep us from pressing into God, from keeping God’s commandments. Satan and death are our enemies. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is physical death. All other enemies must be destroyed before immortality can be gained by us.

Let us not be among those who are living casually, supposing eternal life is a legal position they have gained by an initial declaration of belief in Jesus Christ.

Eternal life consists of the attributes we have listed above. It is a quality of life, not a legal state of endless existence.

Immortality is that which was lost in the Garden of Eden and which we can recover by pressing into the living Jesus, being changed in personality and behavior until we exhibit the characteristics of eternal life.

Evangelical theology has been built on an eternal foundation, the Lordship and atoning blood of Jesus Christ. On this sure foundation has been constructed a structure that is not nearly as eternal, not nearly as scriptural.

The careful scholar can notice the inroads the philosophy of Humanism has made into Christian thinking. But it appears the major contributor to the doctrinal disaster has been the philosophy of Gnosticism, with its emphasis on the residence of the inward, spiritual nature of man in the spirit world.

In our day the influence of Gnosticism has all but destroyed one of the central goals of our redemption, which is the physical resurrection from the dead of our human body. The fact that Jesus Christ came forth from the cave of Joseph of Arimathea as a firstfruits of what we can expect has not maintained its place as an integral aspect of the blessed hope of the Christian Church.

The Gospel of the Kingdom of God, which is the good news that the material creation shall be brought into the glorious liberty of the children of God and redeemed human beings will stand once again on the earth in bodies of flesh and bones, has been converted to a mystical rise of spirits to mansions of gold, acres of diamonds, golden slippers, and harps in the spirit Paradise.

Of all the truths in need of being restored to Christians, none is more important than the scriptural fact that their daily conduct is determining the kind of resurrection they will attain, and it is their resurrection to life on the earth that is their destiny, not mansions in the spirit world.

It is only as we are filled with the eternal Life of God that we are eligible for immortality, for endless life in the marvelous flesh and bones body which God has given to mankind and, as far as we know, to no other of the kinds of creatures He has brought forth.

(“Life and Immortality”, 3535-1)