I see that the copy and paste function is now disabled on that site......so....
Taking what is said about Lazarus just from the Bible.....(any modern day translation....though not one that is overly paraphrased and not an archaic English version that is not relevant to the way we speak in the 21st century.)
Read John 11: from verse 5-44....(NWT)
"Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazʹa·rus. 6 However, when he heard that Lazʹa·rus was sick, he actually remained in the place where he was for two more days."
Jesus knew that his dear friend was very ill but he did not go to him immediately. He knew Lazarus would die but had something to show the mourners and his family something more wonderful than just a cure. He said in V4...
"This sickness is not meant to end in death, but is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”
"After he said these things, he added: “Lazʹa·rus our friend has fallen asleep, but I am traveling there to awaken him.” 12 The disciples then said to him: “Lord, if he is sleeping, he will get well.” 13 Jesus, however, had spoken about his death. But they imagined he was speaking about taking rest in sleep. 14 Then Jesus said to them plainly: “Lazʹa·rus has died. . . .When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazʹa·rus had already been in the tomb for four days."
Four days in middle eastern heat would have seen decomposition of the body taking place as his sister said....
"by now he must smell."
"When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him; but Mary kept sitting at home. 21 Martha then said to Jesus: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 Yet even now I know that whatever you ask God for, God will give you.” 23 Jesus said to her: “Your brother will rise.” 24 Martha said to him: “I know he will rise in the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her: “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who exercises faith in me, even though he dies, will come to life; 26 and everyone who is living and exercises faith in me will never die at all. Do you believe this?
27 She said to him: “Yes, Lord, I have believed that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.””
Martha lamented that if Jesus had been there sooner, her brother would not have died.....but Jesus was about to do something amazing. When he said to Martha,
"your brother will rise", she acknowledged what the Jews believed about the resurrection...
"I know he will rise in the resurrection on the last day.” This was "the last day" of God's eternal purpose when his kingdom rules mankind. But what Jesus says next has been twisted by those who want satan's lie to be true. By saying
"I am the resurrection and the life" he was saying that he had been given the power to resurrect the dead....'even though a person died, they will come to life'. And he says that those who are "living" when the kingdom comes, will never die at all because they will survive the end of this wicked system just as Noah survived the flood. (Matthew 24:37-39) A chosen few would be taken to heaven, but the majority of those resurrected will live on earth.
"Jesus had not yet come into the village, but he was still in the place where Martha had met him. 31 When the Jews who were with Mary in the house consoling her saw her get up quickly and go out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there. 32 When Mary arrived where Jesus was and caught sight of him, she fell at his feet and said to him: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33 When Jesus saw her weeping and the Jews who had come with her weeping, he groaned within himself and became troubled. 34 He said: “Where have you laid him?” They said to him: “Lord, come and see.” 35 Jesus gave way to tears. 36 At that the Jews began to say: “See, what affection he had for him!” 37 But some of them said: “Could not this man who opened the eyes of the blind man prevent this one from dying?”
Resurrecting a man dead for four days was much more amazing than just curing a sickness. He would have to repair the body before bringing him back to life. But Jesus was moved by the grief expressed at the loss of his friend and gave way to tears himself.
38 Then Jesus, after groaning again within himself, came to the tomb. It was, in fact, a cave, and a stone was lying against it. 39 Jesus said: “Take the stone away.” Martha, the sister of the deceased, said to him: “Lord, by now he must smell, for it has been four days.” 40 Jesus said to her: “Did I not tell you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” 41 So they took the stone away. Then Jesus raised his eyes heavenward and said: “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 True, I knew that you always hear me; but I spoke on account of the crowd standing around, so that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice: “Lazʹa·rus, come out!” 44 The man who had been dead came out with his feet and hands bound with wrappings, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them: “Free him and let him go.”
Can you imagine the joy at seeing their brother and friend again, alive, safe and well?
Let me ask you this now.....if Lazarus was in a better place, why would Jesus bring him back to this life, only to die again? Would that have done him any favor?
Why could Lazarus benefit from his resurrection in ways that the people on that site have no comprehension of?
Jesus actually changed the destiny of his friend. Since no one went to heaven before Jesus, (John 3:13) where did all those faithful ones in pre-Christian times go when they died? (Acts 2:34; John 11:11) They slept in death, awaiting the promised resurrection. Since Lazarus died before Jesus opened the way to heaven, Lazarus and his sisters would now all part of the chosen ones, who will rule with Christ in heaven.
According to the apostle Paul, who said....
"Moreover, brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who are sleeping in death, so that you may not sorrow as the rest do who have no hope. 14 For if we have faith that Jesus died and rose again, so too God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep in death through Jesus. 15 For this is what we tell you by Jehovah’s word, that we the living who survive to the presence of the Lord will in no way precede those who have fallen asleep in death; 16 because the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a commanding call, with an archangel’s voice and with God’s trumpet, and those who are dead in union with Christ will rise first."
Those who are heaven bound still had to wait until Christ's return to gain their heavenly reward. These are resurrected "first". (Revelation 20:6) These began to be raised when the "last days" started. The sign that Jesus gave to indicate his Kingship had begun became clear in 1914, so we are well into the last moments of this time period. Jesus is about to take charge and bring in his Kingdom.....he said
"Whoever is not on my side is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters." (Matthew 12:30)
Please put this down now Frank. We have given you the scriptural reasons for our beliefs and need you to stick to the Bible and stop playing these sites off us. If you think we teach the truth then go and have a study and get baptized....otherwise find your truth somewhere else. How many times do we need to answer the same questions? Make a decision and stick to it....please.
I hope I get more as time goes on.
