"Unfolding Death for the Kingdom-Minded"

Part Two: Death for the Righteous

Andrea L. Sims PhD.

Introduction

In my journal, I sketched four simple words and then penciled in a spiral around them: before, then, now, and next. At the time, I only vaguely knew what was simmering on the back burner of my mind, but I went on and lived my life for a while without giving the words much thought . . . until one day I went back to check on them. They had melded into one word, fully integrated, that looked very much to me like this journey we call life—the events that spin us around and cause us to take note, or take a new route, or take us off track. There was this life we were living rather unintentionally “before,” which is no longer; “then” something happens; “now” we have to ignore it or face it; if we face it, we then must take action. This now time is the most important step in the cycle—this spiral—for the now determines the next (The Truth about Lies, Sims (2020, pg. 13).

I wrote the above over ten years ago about a now time I had experienced some years prior. I didn’t really even understand it at the time I wrote it. I thought it must be that moment in time being experienced presently. But I came to discover that a now time is an attitude—a position I take about what I am discovering, how I will incorporate it into my being, and what I will do differently as a result of it. A now time could extend over a few moments or over several years, depending on what you decide to do with it, how big the discovery is, and how much cognitive dissonance comes with it.

I faced this discovery willingly and began a journey I had not expected, leading to this now time for me: I responded to the promptings I felt and find myself in previously unexplored territory. Because I responded, I am in my next . . . and I am taking you along with me.

I chose as my guiding Scripture for the whole Kingdom study 4 Ezra 7:16-18:

Why have you not considered in your mind this thing that is to come,

rather than that which is present?

Then answered I and said, O Yahuah Adonai,

you have ordained in your Torah,

that the righteous should inherit these things,

but that the wicked should perish.

Nevertheless, the righteous shall suffer strait things,

and hope for wide:

for they that have done wickedly

have suffered the strait things,

and yet shall not see the wide.

EZRA REVIY`IY (4 EZRA) 7:16-18 את CEPHER

We know that among “ . . . this thing that is to come . . .” is death, both for the Righteous and for the wicked.

TO everything there is a season,

and a time to every purpose under the heavens:

A time to be born, and a time to die;

QOHELETH (ECCLESIASTES) 3:1-2 את CEPHER

And that time is ordained by Yah:

“. . . in Your book all the days [of my life]

were written before ever they took shape,

when as yet there was none of them.”

Psalms 139:16 [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition]

For all men have one entrance into life,

and the like going out.

CHOKMAH SHALOMAH (WISDOM OF SOLOMON) 7:6 את CEPHER

Death is the door that leads to what follows next, and what follows next is what I am unfolding for us. The following Scriptures seem to apply both to the righteous and the wicked. And it may give us some additional understanding about the shared “near death experiences” of so many of late.

Now, concerning death, the teaching is:

When the decisive decree has gone forth from El Elyon

that a man shall die,

as the ruach leaves the body to return again to him who gave it,

first of all it adores the glory of El Elyon.

EZRA REVIY`IY (4 EZRA) 7:78 את CEPHER

I took note of this portion of the reference above:

“… the ruach leaves the body to return again to him who gave it …”

Did we know that the Ancient Path was provided for us so we could return to the One who gave us life?

To those who have believed there shall be the good

which was spoken of aforetime,

and to those who despise

there shall be the contrary of these things.

BARUK SHENIY (2 BARUK) 42:2 את CEPHER

[Angel] For the judgment of El Elohiym

shall thereby be made known

and his ways,

which though past finding out,

are right.

BARUK SHENIY (2 BARUK) 44:6 את CEPHER

Yah’s judgment and his ways are right—even though we may not understand them or even agree with them. In using the word “right” here, I’m reminded that Yah decides what is “right;” as our Creator, he defines the terms; he sets the rules; he, in his sovereignty decides “when.” Yah reigns. It is his dominion that we find ourselves under—by his hand. As this study unfolds, we will see with great certainty that Yah requires his creation, his people, to walk according as he has instructed for our good. To have the right word at the right time with the right heart—this is Righteousness—being “right with Yah”!

We have looked at the Kingdom, who enters and who does not, their characteristics, and then we began looking at what it is to be “Kingdom-Minded.” This, we discovered, is to have a mind that shares the thoughts and intentions of the heart of the King.

The Righteous Defined

For these are they who shall inherit that time

which has been spoken of

and theirs is the inheritance of the promised time.

These are they who have acquired for themselves treasures of wisdom

and with them are found stores of understanding

and from mercy have they not withdrawn

and the Truth of the Torah have they preserved.

For unto them shall be given the world to come,

but the dwelling of the rest who are many shall be in the fire.

BARUK SHENIY (2 BARUK) 44:13-15 את CEPHER

You who reveal to those who fear you

what is prepared for them that thenceforth they may be comforted.

You show great acts to those who know not;

you break up the enclosure of those who are ignorant

and light up what is dark

and reveal what is hidden to the pure

who in faith have submitted themselves to you

and your Torah.

BARUK SHENIY (2 BARUK) 54:4-5 את CEPHER

Let us keep in our hearts what the Apostle Paul wrote to the qodeshiym in Corinth:

For ye are bought with a price:

therefore, glorify Elohiym in your body,

and in your ruach, which are Elohiym's.

QORINTIYM RI'SHON (1 CORINTHIANS) 6:20 את CEPHER

I have mentioned before that we are not perfect—we are purchased. And that price was very great.

Yah did his part—and it is huge! Our part is in receiving from Yah once we come to understand and then choose what he has instructed us, going back to Yah’s Torah, Deuteronomy 28:1-14. I’m providing a list for us to simplify it:

Our part:

to hearken diligently to his voice
to guard and do all his commandments
and then receive what he promises:

a) to set us on high

b) to be blessed in the city

c) to be blessed in the field

d) to be blessed of the fruit of our body

e) to be blessed of our ground

f) to be blessed of the fruit of our livestock

g) to be blessed in our baskets and our storehouse

h) to be blessed in our coming in and our going out (travels)

i) to be blessed by being protected from our enemies

j) to be blessed in the work of our hands (our occupations)

k) to be blessed in the land (where we abide)

So, you see, do you not, that being “Perfect” is not of our doing: it is Yah who causes our spiritual growth into maturity; it is Yah who protects and provides for us, and we have nothing to boast about except that we know and love Yah, and that we love his Messiah unto believing all that is written to us.

Do we understand that death is only the Door to the next, not the end, and that Machiach is that Door?

Then said Yahusha unto them again, Amein, Amein,

I say unto you,

I am the door of the sheep.

All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers:

but the sheep did not hear them.

I am the door:

by me if any man enter in,

he shall be saved,

and shall go in and out,

and find pasture.

YOCHANON (JOHN) 10:7-9 את CEPHER

All that the Father gives me shall come to me;

and him that comes to me I will in no wise cast out.

For I came down from heaven,

not to do my own will,

but the will of him that sent me.

And this is the Father's will which has sent me,

that of all which he has given me

I should lose nothing,

but should raise it up again at the last day.

And this is the will of him that sent me,

that everyone which sees the Son,

and believes on him,

may have everlasting life:

and I will raise him up at the last day.

YOCHANON (JOHN) 6:37-40 את CEPHER

No man can come to me,

except the Father which has sent me draw him:

and I will raise him up at the last day.

It is written in the prophets,

And they shall be all taught of Elohiym.

Every man therefore that has heard,

and has learned of the Father,

comes unto me.

Not that any man has seen the Father,

save he which is of Elohiym,

he has seen the Father.

Amein, Amein,

I say unto you,

He that believes on me has everlasting life.

YOCHANON (JOHN) 6:44-47 את CEPHER

Let us move on to get a glimpse of the Reward of the Righteous from Yah’s word.

The Great Reward of the Righteous

Moreover, by them [Yah’s ways] is your servant warned:

and in guarding of them there is great reward.

TEHILLIYM (PSALMS) 19:11 את CEPHER

[Angel] Now this is the order of those who have guarded the ways of El Elyon,

when they shall be separated from their mortal body.

During the time that they lived in it,

they laboriously served El Elyon,

and withstood danger every hour,

that they might guard the Torah of the Torah giver perfectly.

Therefore, this is the teaching concerning them:

First of all, they shall see with great joy

the glory of him who receives them,

for they shall have rest in seven orders.

The first order,

because they have striven with great effort to overcome the evil thought

which was formed with them,

that it might not lead them astray from life into death.

The second order,

because they see the perplexity in which the souls of the wicked wander,

and the punishment that awaits them.

EZRA REVIY`IY (4 EZRA) 7:88-93 את CEPHER

The third order,

they see the witness which he who formed them

bears concerning them,

that while they were alive they guarded the Torah

was given them in trust.

The fourth order,

they understand the rest which they now enjoy,

being gathered into their chambers and guarded by angels in profound quiet,

and the glory which awaits them in the last days.

[Note for 2 Baruch 76:2: The Righteous “depart from this earth—not to death—but to be preserved to the consummation of the times.”]

The fifth order,

they rejoice that they have now escaped what is corruptible

and shall inherit what is to come;

and besides they see the straits and toil from which they have been delivered,

and the spacious liberty which they are to receive and enjoy in immortality.

The sixth order,

when it is shown to them how their face is to shine like the sun,

and how they are to be made like the light of the stars,

being incorruptible from then on.

The seventh order,

which is greater than all that have been mentioned,

because they shall rejoice with boldness,

and shall be confident without confusion,

and shall be glad without fear,

for they hasten to behold the face of him

whom they served in life

and from whom they are to receive their reward when glorified.

EZRA REVIY`IY (4 EZRA) 7:94-98 את CEPHER

That’s quite a great deal to take it, is it not? And there is more to come! I have listed the following as they came to mind—not in the order that they may occur—for I do not know the order.

Just a reminder: Death is the door to the next, not the end.

The Resurrection of the just and the unjust

The Millennial Reign of Mashiach

The Marriage Supper of the Lamb

Finding our “Place” – the Mansion Prepared for us

The Great White Throne Judgement

Witnessing the Consummation of Time

The Last Day

Entering into Eternity

The Conclusion of the Matter

It seems we have come to this—a very sobering word regarding this world in which we now find ourselves—but, perhaps, not for long:

For the youth of the world is past,

and the strength of the creation already exhausted,

and the advent of the times is very short,

yea, they have passed by;

and the pitcher is near to the cistern,

and the ship to the port,

and the course of the journey to the city,

and life to its consummation.

And again prepare your souls,

so that when ye sail and ascend from the ship

ye may have rest and not be condemned when ye depart.

For lo! when El Elyon will bring to pass all these things,

there shall not there be again a place of repentance,

nor a limit to the times,

nor a duration for the hours,

nor a change of ways,

nor place for prayer,

nor sending of petitions,

nor receiving of knowledge,

nor giving of love,

nor place of repentance for the soul,

nor supplication for offences,

nor intercession of the fathers,

nor prayer of the prophets,

nor help of the righteous.

For there is the sentence of corruption,

the way of fire,

and the path which brings to She'ol.

On this account there is one Torah by one,

one age and an end for all who are in it.

Then he will guard those whom he can forgive,

and at the same time

destroy those who are polluted with sins.

BARUK SHENIY (2 BARUK) 85:10-15 את CEPHER

I want to share with you one last things:

Many of us walked with James and Leigh Caruthers as they stood by James’ grandmother, Meme, at her passing.

On April 25 of this year, at 1:40 a.m., I wrote this. I titled it:

“Our ‘Meme’ Moment.”

“We all will come to that time of passing into the “next”—unless Yahusha returns or Yah just takes us. There is a miracle at birth; and, for the set-apart ones, there is a miracle at death. For all the days ordained for us were written in Yah’s book before ever one of them came to be. May it be said of each of us at that time as was said over Meme: ‘There was a life well lived!’ according to Yah’s plumbline and not the world’s.

O death,

where is your sting?

O She'ol, where is your victory?

QORINTIYM RI'SHON (1 CORINTHIANS) 15:55 את CEPHER

This is Kingdom-Mindedness!

All scripture references are taken from the Cepher.

https://www.cepher.net/shop.aspx?itemid=2406&prodid=97023&pagetitle=%d7%90%d7%aa-Cepher-Scriptures-Millennium-Edition-2022-