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Please stand and turn to John, chapter 14, verse 1. That’s on page 1135 of the Scofield Study Bible. John, chapter fourteen, verse one. Jesus said,

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:1-3).

You may be seated.

We are here this evening for the joyful funeral of Mrs. Eloise Roop. She was a real Christian for many years. I know. I baptized her in 1989 and was her pastor for 29 years. Eloise was the church pianist and later she was the church organist. She was married to James Roop on New Year’s Eve, December 31, 1994. She was born on June 14, 1946. She died at 3:04 PM on December 13, 2017 at the age of 71.

It is natural for us to think about what happens to a Christian like Eloise after they die. Tonight I will give you a brief outline of the main events that happen to a Christian like Eloise after they die.

I. First, the true Christian’s spirit goes immediately into the presence of Christ when they die.

Jesus said to the converted thief, who was dying on the cross next to Him, “To day shalt thou be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). Christ is there in Paradise, seated at the right hand of God the Father (Romans 8:34). Just as the converted thief went to be with Christ, so the spirit of Eloise Roop entered into Paradise to be with Christ the moment she died. Like Paul, in his vision, Eloise was “caught up to the third heaven...up into paradise” (II Corinthians 12:2, 4).

II. Second, Eloise is fully aware of what is happening to her in Paradise right now. Her body will go into the grave in a few days, awaiting the “rapture.”

The Bible says,

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air” (I Thessalonians 4:16-17).

Thus we are told that Christ will descend from Heaven into the atmosphere above the earth. Eloise’s body, and the bodies of all true Christians, will be “caught up...to meet the Lord in the air” (v. 17). This event is called the “rapture.” It means “to be caught up” and “carried away.” The body and the spirit of Christians like Eloise will be united, and “caught up” to meet Christ in the air.

III. Third, Eloise, and all true Christians, will appear before Christ to receive rewards.

“For we must all [who are true Christians] appear before the judgment seat of Christ” (II Corinthians 5:10).

This will happen after the rapture. Good Christians like Eloise will hear Christ say,

“Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord” (Matthew 25:21).

Rewards will be given to good Christians for their faithfulness to Christ and the church, and especially for winning souls to Christ.

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (I Corinthians 15:58).

The rewards Christ will give at this time will determine the position the Christian will have in Christ’s earthly kingdom (Luke 19:12-26).

“He that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations” (Revelation 2:26).

“And we shall reign on the earth” (Revelation 5:10).

IV. Fourth, Eloise and all good and true Christians will return to this earth to reign with Christ.

“They shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years” (Revelation 20:6).

Christ will descend to the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. Good and faithful Christians like Eloise will descend with Christ to rule and reign over the earth for 1,000 years.

Eloise was sick with cancer before she died. But when Christ returns, she will come down to this earth with Him – in her resurrected body, walking and leaping and praising God in Christ’s 1,000-year earthly kingdom! Dr. John R. Rice said it well in the song Mr. Griffith sang before this sermon.

Sorrow and sighing shall flee away,
   When Jesus comes to reign.
Eyes of the blind will be opened then;
   Tongues of the dumb shall sing.
Sorrow and sighing shall flee away!
   Flee away that glory day!
Garden of Eden restored that day!
   When Jesus comes to reign.

Lame men shall leap as an hart, for then
   All sickness gone, all sore.
Deserts will bloom and the thorns and briars
   Shall curse the earth no more!
Sorrow and sighing shall flee away!
   Flee away that glory day!
Garden of Eden restored that day!
   When Jesus comes to reign.

Kingdoms shall fall, and old Satan’s rule
   Shall end with all its tears.
Righteousness fill all the earth, and peace
   Reign for a thousand years.
Sorrow and sighing shall flee away!
   Flee away that glory day!
Garden of Eden restored that day!
   When Jesus comes to reign.
(“When Jesus Comes to Reign” by Dr. John R. Rice, 1895-1980).

All of these wonderful things will be experienced by Eloise Roop. You too could have this wonderful hope for the future. But you must be converted to have these blessings. Those who are Christians in name only do not have this blessed hope.

If you are not yet converted I'm telling you to repent by turning away from your sins. Turn away from your sins and trust Jesus with all your heart. Jesus died on the Cross to pay the full penalty for your sin. Jesus shed His Blood on the Cross to cleanse you from all sin (I John 1:7). Turn your life over to Jesus and He will save you, as He saved all of the true Christians here tonight. Jesus will save you for all time and all eternity – if you turn from your sin and trust Him. He will save you for all time, and for all eternity. Amen.

I am now turning the service over to the funeral directors. They will ask you to go out through the back door to the street and to the foyer. Please help Mr. Leslie Hymers and Mr. Kunz keep the center of the foyer open for the pallbearers and the deacons to come through with the casket.

As soon as the casket is in the hearse, please come upstairs for a wonderful Chinese meal and time of fellowship as we watch a video of the life of Mrs. Eloise Roop. Amen.

(END OF SERMON)
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Solo Sung Before the Sermon by Mr. Benjamin Kincaid Griffith:
“When Jesus Comes to Reign” (by Dr. John R. Rice, 1895-1980).