The People Who Will Never Die
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. (Holy , 1 Corinthinans 15:51,52)
Did you know that there are some people who will never die? "We will not all sleep..." In the Holy , Allah's Word, it says that there is a group of people who will go directly from this mortal life to immortality without going through death. Perhaps these people are even alive today! From the above verse of Scripture it can be seen that these people will be changed in this way during the same time period in which the resurrection occurs, that is, the day of qiyamah.
The day of qiyamah is not just one 24-hour day in length. Qiyamah will actually be many years in length. Such events as the fearful rule of , Allah's judgments, the glorious return of Prophet , and then Prophet Isa's kingdom of peace, are all part of the day of qiyamah. It is during this amazing time of qiyamah that this remarkable event will occur in which many people will be changed from mortal life to immortal life. They will never die.
Who are these special people? Why is it that they will never die? How can we possibly become worthy to be one of these people who will never die? First, let us note some things about these special people:
Characteristics of the People Who Will Never Die
- they will be part of the generation that sees qiyamah's arrival.
- this group will not include all the people alive at that time.
- this group will include only followers of Prophet Isa .
- they will be changed at the same time that dead followers of Prophet Isa are raised to life.
- they will escape the great judgments that fall during qiyamah.
- they will live forever and enjoy Allah's great blessings.
Note that the people who will never die are people who will be alive when qiyamah arrives. It is possible that qiyamah will come soon, so then it is also possible that these people are now walking on the earth. Not all people who will be alive when qiyamah arrives will be a part of this group however. Only disciples of Prophet who are alive at the approach of qiyamah will be part of this group of people who will never die. Prophet Isa, called "Lord" by his followers, will do many amazing things when he comes again. One of them is that he will give life to his dead followers and give immortality to his living followers:
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of Allah, and the dead in Masih will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. (Holy , 1 Thessalonians 4:16,17)
By now, you have understood that being a follower of Prophet Isa is more than just believing that he is a special prophet of Allah. Those who are his true followers, believe in him not only as prophet but as their intercessor and Saviour from sin. They believe in him and obey him even if it means they must endure trouble. It is because of their genuine faith in him that he will deliver them from having to face death in that day. It is not to the followers of just any prophet, but only those of Prophet the Saviour that this promise has been given. He is a special messenger of Allah and because of that has special arrangements for his disciples.
Protection from Qiyamah's Troubles
This group of people will escape death. They will also escape harm in qiyamah. As the Holy says:
Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth. (Holy , Revelation 3:10)
Some believe that these people will be protected in the midst of the troubles of qiyamah. This belief states that those special followers of Prophet Isa will undergo the great troubles of qiyamah like everyone else, but that they will receive miraculous protection from real harm.
Others, including this author, believe that these special believers will be protected from the troubles of qiyamah by actually being taken to heaven until the great troubles on earth are over. Before the onset of the time of great trouble, these believers will disappear from the face of the earth to meet Prophet Isa their Saviour in the air to be taken to heaven. But no matter which of these two beliefs one holds, it is clear that Allah will protect his people from the judgments of qiyamah.
A Special Place and how to get there
Prophet himself said that when he returns he will take his people to a special place:
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going. (Holy , John 14:3,4)
Prophet Isa here says not only that he "will come back" but that he will also "take" his people. Do you know the way to the place to which Prophet Isa went? If you do not, then don't worry. Even one of his close companions did not know the way. Thomas, one of his twelve disciples felt that it was not clear and so he asked a question:
Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" (Holy , John 14:5)
At that time Thomas did not know where Prophet was going. We know today that Prophet Isa went to heaven, and so the question is "What is the way to heaven?". Prophet Isa Masih answered this question for Thomas and for us:
Isa answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Holy , John 14:6)
Prophet Isa himself claimed to be the way to heaven. He claimed that no one can go to the "Father" except through him. The "Father" spoken of here is of course, Allah, the creator of us all. One of the meanings of this term "Father" is that there exists a spiritual relationship between Allah and his people. He is their spiritual father and they are his children. In the same way, those who follow the path of evil can be called "children of Satan". Satan is the "father" of the wicked. Allah is the "father" of the righteous.
Prophet Isa said that he himself is the "way" to heaven. Not only that, but he said that no one can go to heaven except through him. This is because he is the one whom Allah chose to be the Saviour of mankind. He will come in the day of qiyamat and save his followers from death's grasp and from the troubles of qiyamah. However, you must be one of his true followers in order for him to come for you in that day. It is not enough to say that you believe him to be Allah's prophet. He is more than a prophet. He is the Saviour.
If you say that you believe in him, remember that your faith is proved by your godly behaviour. This is why there is a very stern warning to us about the importance of persevering in Allah's way:
Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth. Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man. (Holy , Luke 21:34-36)
The warning given here is not for true believers who sometimes fail and sin. The warning is for those who are self-deceived. Those who say they are disciples of Prophet Isa, but in actuality are not. There is a promise here though for his true followers. They will "escape all that is about to happen". They will escape the trouble that will "come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth." In the present age, followers of Prophet receive enough trouble. If you are one of followers, take courage. If people even say unkind words about you, or call you names like "nasara" or "Christian", then be happy! Your endurance now will mean comfort in the future, just as Prophet Isa has said:
Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth. (Holy , Revelation 3:10)
