“…After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits – to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built…” –1 Peter 3:19-20
A message from past inspirations: “As Filipinos embark on commemorating their dead and flocking by the millions to cemeteries nationwide, here are some thoughts to ponder on, lifted from various verses of the Christian Bible. First, death is the destiny of every living being, humans, animals, and plants alike. As Ecclesiastes 3 says, there is a time for everything under the sun, particularly the time to be born and the time to die. Nobody and nothing is forever in this world (see Ecclesiastes 9:1-3). After a person dies, he no longer knows anything, they have no further reward, and even their name is forgotten. Too, never again will they have a part in anything that happens under the sun (see Ecclesiastes 9:5-6).”
The dead will never be able to appreciate candles, flowers, nor the visit itself. They will likewise be unable to hear the prayers uttered by loved ones. The annual exercise of rushing the tombs of departed ones is useless. What then can the living do for their dead relatives? The Bible explains it clearly: Read and preach the word of God, the Bible, to the dead because the word of God is the only thing the dead can hear.
A study by the Children of God Blood Kin of the Christ Church, or the Simbahang Anak ng Diyos Kadugo Ni Kristo, shows there is a benefit in preaching the word of God, the Bible, to the dead as shown in both by the Old Testament (Ezekiel 37:1-14) and New Testament (1 Peter 3:18-20 and 4:6).
In these verses, the New Testament tells us even Jesus preached the word of God to the dead after His resurrection. The Bible says Jesus went to a place where the spirits of those who drowned during the great flood of Noah’s time were imprisoned and preached to them. In Ezekiel 37, God directed the preaching of His word to the dead, enabling them to be brought back to life and enjoy salvation. This dovetails with 1 Peter 4:6, where it is said the Word of God must be preached even to those who died in sinfulness; though they may have been judged because of their sin, they can still enjoy life in paradise.
Consequently, as we commemorate the day of the dead, we should all remember to bring our Bible to the cemetery and read the word to the dead. This is the only way in which they can be saved. Do it now and make a difference for your departed loved ones.
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