Zachary wrote:

Dear Mike,
I am currently working on a paper explaining the unconscious state of death, refuting the first lie of the serpent, with the help of my friend. I plan to give it to my local (ex-) pastor, post it on the Internet, and give it to anyone else that wants it. However, I am extremely afraid of leading the flock astray, or teaching heresy.
I know you’re probably extremely busy, but when the paper is complete, is there any way you could read it for me and give me advice? I wouldn’t ask this of you if I were not afraid of teaching heresy. Don’t get me wrong, I’m confident in myself, and I doubt there’s much I could screw up with a paper which Isa 80% Scripture, but there’s always the chance that I will screw something up.
Also, Paul said, “Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord” (2Co 5:6, KJV). However, he also said, “And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Eph 2:6, KJV). Also, I always thought that when one leaves the Harlot, all things are made new, and one is in the presence of light – Jesus Christ. So, how then, are the elect – who dwell in heavenly places in Jesus Christ, in His presenceabsent from the Lord while at home in the body? What exactly did Paul mean in 2Co 5:6?
Moreover, Paul said, “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord” (2Co 5:8, KJV). Why, in the same verse, does Paul say he is willing to be absent from the body
and be present with the Lord?
If you cannot look my paper over, I understand completely. I will trust that the Lord has not allowed me to become deluded with my writing. Also, I have two friends to proof read it, and I plan to post it on the bible- truths forum for opinions.
I am sure you’re thinking, “Why would he waste his time writing a paper about the milk of the Scriptures?” Well, to some people, such knowledge, that death is an unconscious state, is not milk, but meat – it was meat to me
when I first discovered it. Some people, after all, will not come to the understanding that one’s “thoughts perish” (Psa 146:4) after death unless overwhelmed with Scriptures. Besides, even Paul preached milk, sometimes;
for we all begin with milk and work our way up to meat.
Thanks.
PS. I’m not sure when my paper will be done. Hopefully soon. However, if you do read it, and agree with it, if you want, which I doubt you will, feel free to post it on your website. After all, I do not want all the time I put
into the paper to go to waste, so I plan to make a web page of my own, and put it on it. But, if you post it on your website, there would be no need for that…

Mike wrote:
Hi Zachary,
Thank you for your question. I’m glad to see that you are into God’s Word like you are.
It is only natural to want to share what you have learned with others.
Not knowing you and your situation, I would only caution you not to “cast your pearls before swine” and yet to “be ready always to give an answer to every man who asks you a reason for the hope that lies within you.” Knowing when to speak is revealed to us by the word “ask.”
Zachary, I personally cannot critique all of the papers sent to me, but I’m sure that one of those who help me with my letters would be willing to critique it for you. So by all means send it along. If we can help you to speak Truth, that is what we want to do.
I do not post other’s papers unless I ask them to write. It is just not possible to critique and post all the writings I receive for posting, so I have a policy of not doing that.
It is easy to start a web page, if you feel that is what you should do. It is the Lord who is working all things after the counsel of His will.
Now for your questions. Your first question is:

Paul said, “Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we
are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord” (2Co 5:6, KJV).
However, he also said, “And hath raised us up together, and made us sit
together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Eph 2:6, KJV). Also, I always
thought that when one leaves the Harlot, all things are made new, and one is
in the presence of light – Jesus Christ. So, how then, are the elect – who dwell
in heavenly places in Jesus Christ, in His presence – absent from the Lord
while at home in the body? What exactly did Paul mean in 2Co 5:6?

Your second question was:

Moreover, Paul said, “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be
absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord” (2Co 5:8, KJV). Why, in the same verse, does Paul say he is willing to be absent from the body and be present with the Lord?

Please do not become offended when I quote your own words to you. You say that you are writing about the “milk of the Word” and indeed you are. As you point out, we must all teach the milk along with the meat just as did Paul. But there is only “one gospel,” so the milk is within the meat of the gospel. This is exactly what Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians

1Co 2:2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified [ milk of the word, along with the other five milk doctrines mentioned in Heb. 6:1-2].
1Co 2:6 Howbeit we speak [ with this same gospel] wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
1Co 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

That word ‘among’ is the Greek word ‘en‘ and it should be translated here like it is normally translated elsewhere in the New Testament, with the English word ‘in.’ What Paul is saying is that Christ and Him crucified is received differently “in” those who are “perfect,” that is ‘being perfected.’ There are those who are ‘being perfected’ and there are many more who are never going to get past those basic milk doctrines named in Heb 6:1-2. So milk is fine. We are actually instructed to “desire the sincere milk.” But the “sincere milk” is for one purpose:

1Pe 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

We should also come to the point that we desire the sincere meat of the word in time.
Now Zachary, the reason I have said all of this, is to tell you that your question reveals a lack of understanding of who Jesus Christ really is. You talk about coming out of Babylon as if it were an accomplished fact of the past. When we talk of being perfected, are we talking about a past accomplishment? No, of course not. We will be being perfected till the day we die. And you and I will be fighting the doctrine of Babylon both from within and from without, till the day we die.
Why is that? How can that be? It is because of who Christ is. Christ is His word and His Word Is, Was and Will Be till the day we die. No part of God’s Word will become only ‘Was’ or “Will be” until we relinquish this ‘vessel of clay’. You see, Zachary, the answer to your questions about 2 Cor. 5 :5-8 have to do with the fact that this vessel of clay cannot inherit the kingdom of God:

1Co 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

Being a maturing son of God and being seated with Christ in the heavens is all true even now:

1Jn 3:2 (a) Beloved, now are we the sons of God…

… but it is only true in “earnest,” not in the “fullness of the inheritance.” That “fullness of the inheritance” requires a resurrection. So we must have the rest of 1Jn 3:2:

1Jn 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

We see through a glass now means that we are being matured, every day:

2Co 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are [ being] changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

But it is all in “earnest:”

Rom 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
2Co 1:22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
2Co 5:5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.

Now here is a verse which answers your questions and shows that we are always keeping all of God’s word all the time:

Eph 1:14 Which is the earnest [ Greek- down payment- layaway] of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

“The redemption of the [ already] purchased possession” is accomplished through the resurrection of the dead. Christ has already purchased all mankind. Now all that is left is for mankind to “fill up in each body what is behind of the judgment and suffering of Christ…”

Col 1:24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:

Those suffering which are behind of Christ are being filled up in God’s elect while they are yet in “vessels of clay.” Those suffering of Christ will be filled up in every man who has ever lived in what is called eonian judgment or the lake of fire. But whether we come up in the first resurrection or in the second resurrection we will be totally unaware of the passing of time. Adam will be raised, and it will be like he had never died even though he has been dead for over 5,000 years.
Paul was well aware that “the dead know not anything.” Especially the passing of time. So Paul said ” AND to be with Christ.” He did not say what so many misquote him as saying ‘To be absent from the body IS to be with Christ.’ That is not a scriptural thought or phrase.

2Co 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

John tells us “it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” These words are true as we are being changed into the same image, from glory to glory. This has been occurring in God’s elect since Christ’s resurrection. But it will also be true “when He appears.” This time it will be true for “the redemption of the purchased possession as opposed to simply the earnest or mere down payment of the spirit. It will then be the fullness of a spiritual body. That is “Why, in the same verse… Paul says he is willing to be absent from the body and be present with the Lord?”

Joh 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Joh 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

I hope this has been of help to you, Zachary. God bless your efforts to serve and witness for Him.
Mike