Warm up

List phobias.

“Thanatophobia”

In a nutshell, thanato_phobia is the “fear of dying” or “death anxiety”.

To cope with the fear of death, the truth about death has been turned to lies and misunderstandings.

The state of "being" is a worldwide challange.

The apostle Paul has some very deep an clever discourses in his letters.

Three Options

Read This Week’s Passage:

2 Corinthians 5:1-10

KJV 1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: 3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. 4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. 5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. 6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight: ) 8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

CEV 1 Our bodies are like tents that we live in here on earth. But when these tents are destroyed, we know that God will give each of us a place to live. These homes will not be buildings someone has made, but they are in heaven and will last forever. 2 While we are here on earth, we sigh because we want to live in that heavenly home. 3 We want to put it on like clothes and not be naked. 4 These tents we now live in are like a heavy burden, and we groan. But we don't do this just because we want to leave these bodies that will die. It is because we want to change them for bodies that will never die. 5 God is the one who makes all this possible. He has given us his Spirit to make us certain he will do it. 6 So always be cheerful! As long as we are in these bodies, we are away from the Lord. 7 But we live by faith, not by what we see. 8 We should be cheerful, because we would rather leave these bodies and be at home with the Lord. 9 But whether we are at home with the Lord or away from him, we still try our best to please him. 10 After all, Christ will judge each of us for the good or the bad that we do while living in these bodies.

Most misunderstood passage.

Paul expresses his intense desire to be absent from the body and present with the Lord.

The big question is when Paul expected to be present with the Lord?

Paul contemplated three options of the state of being:

1. Present with the Lord
   
2. Absent from the Lord
   
3. Being found unclothed or naked.

What did the apostle mean by the word unclothed?

Unclothed means to be without either a mortal or an immortal body.  a 

* Read the passage in different versions to gain a better understanding. Compare 2 Cor. 5:4 in different versions [ID:1666313078153], as an example.

A Tent and a Building

• Discuss the differences between a tent and a building.

Paul compares our present bodies to a tent that is easily destroyed at death and compares glorified bodies of the saints at the resurrection to an incorruptible building in heaven.

Peter also compared his fragile earthly body to a tent that would put off at death, see:

2 Peter 1:13-15

KJV 13 Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; 14 Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me. 15 Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.

CEV 13 In fact, I think I should keep on reminding you until I leave this body. 14 And our Lord Jesus Christ has already told me that I will soon leave it behind. 15 This is why I am doing my best to make sure that each of you remembers all of this after I am gone.

compare with John 21:18-19

KJV 18 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. 19 This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.

CEV 18 I tell you for certain that when you were a young man, you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will hold out your hands. Then others will wrap your belt around you and lead you where you don't want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to tell how Peter would die and bring honor to God. Then he said to Peter, “Follow me!”

The word decease is also translated “departure,” meaning a departure from life, that is to say, death – compare Luke 9:28-31

KJV 28 And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. 29 And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering. 30 And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias: 31 Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.

CEV (Matthew 17. 1-8; Mark 9. 2-8) 28 About eight days later Jesus took Peter, John, and James with him and went up on a mountain to pray. 29 While he was praying, his face changed, and his clothes became shining white. 30 Suddenly Moses and Elijah were there speaking with him. 31 They appeared in heavenly glory and talked about all that Jesus' death in Jerusalem would mean.

While in his corruptible and mortal body (tent) the apostle Paul groaned for his glorified body not made with hands (building in heaven).  b 

Note that Paul used the identical word “groan” to refer to the earnest longing for redemption of the body at the second coming of Christ. See Romans 8:23

KJV 23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

CEV 23 The Spirit makes us sure about what we will be in the future. But now we groan silently, while we wait for God to show that we are his children. This means that our bodies will also be set free.

As mentioned earlier, Paul weighed three options of our being in 2 Cor. 5:2-3:

1. Living in the present body (tent)
   
2. Receiving the glorified body (building from heaven)
   
3. Dead (unclothed).

Paul’s most intense desire was to be absent from the body (the present tent) and present with the Lord (in the future building). Paul explicitly stated that it was not his preference to be unclothed or naked (to die) – he desired translation to heaven without seeing death.

How has this passage confused you in the past? (The wording can be a bit tricky).

Beyond the imagery Paul used, what is his point in the entire passage? (Reading this passage in context with chapter 4, Paul is trying to help us not fear death.)

Groaning for Immortality

Read 2 Corinthians 5:4

KJV 4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.

CEV 4 These tents we now live in are like a heavy burden, and we groan. But we don't do this just because we want to leave these bodies that will die. It is because we want to change them for bodies that will never die.

Here we learn that the apostle Paul was not groaning to be unclothed (to die),

but rather to be further clothed with his resurrected body!

This verse contains some key words Paul used elsewhere that help us understand the passage we are reviewing.

For example, read Romans 8:23

KJV 23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

CEV 23 The Spirit makes us sure about what we will be in the future. But now we groan silently, while we wait for God to show that we are his children. This means that our bodies will also be set free.

In this verse we learn that Paul wrote that he groaned,

longing for the redemption of his body at Christ’s coming.

1 Corinthians 15:50-55

KJV 50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

CEV 50 My friends, I want you to know that our bodies of flesh and blood will decay. This means they cannot share in God's kingdom, which lasts forever. 51 I will explain a mystery to you. Not every one of us will die, but we will all be changed. 52 It will happen suddenly, quicker than the blink of an eye. At the sound of the last trumpet the dead will be raised. We will all be changed, so we will never die again. 53 Our dead and decaying bodies will be changed into bodies that won't die or decay. 54 The bodies we now have are weak and can die. But they will be changed into bodies that are eternal. Then the Scriptures will come true, “Death has lost the battle! 55 Where is its victory? Where is its sting?”

contains three key terms that are in the 2 Corinthians 5 passage:

1. “mortal”
   
2. “clothed upon”
   
3. “swallowed up”

Here is the Corinthian passage with explanatory notes (in square brackets):

“Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood [the present tent] cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption [the present tent] inherit incorruption [the heavenly building].

Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep [be unclothed], but we shall all be changed [receive our resurrected body]—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye [instantaneously and miraculously], at the last trumpet [at the second coming].

For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible [receive the heavenly building], and we shall be changed [from the tent to the building].

For this corruptible must put on [be clothed with] incorruption, and this mortal must put on [be clothed with] immortality.

So when this corruptible [the tent] has put on [been clothed with] incorruption, and this mortal [the tent] has put on [been clothed] with immortality [the building] then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’ ‘O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?’ ”

The apostle Paul was clear that we do not receive our heavenly building when we die, but rather at the second coming:

“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body [the tent] that it may be conformed to His glorious body [the building], according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself” – Philippians 3:20-21

KJV 20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

CEV 20 But we are citizens of heaven and are eagerly waiting for our Savior to come from there. Our Lord Jesus Christ 21 has power over everything, and he will make these poor bodies of ours like his own glorious body.

Unfortunately, most Christians dress-up the text in 2 Corinthians 5:8

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

CEV 8 We should be cheerful, because we would rather leave these bodies and be at home with the Lord.

by inserting words that are not there. This is how they interpret it:

“We are confident, yes, well pleased rather that our immortal soul be absent from the body and be present immediately at death with the Lord.”

Note that he words “soul,” “immortal,” and “immediately” are not present in the text.

When did Paul expect to be present with the Lord?

1 Thessalonians 4:17

KJV 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

CEV 17 Next, all of us who are still alive will be taken up into the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the sky. From that time on we will all be with the Lord forever.

tells us that it was at the second coming.

What questions emerge after studying this passage?

What parts are difficult?

What other principles and conclusions do you find?

How do we similarly experience Paul’s groaning for the redemption of the body?

Well Pleasing to God

In 2 Corinthians 5:6-7

KJV 6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight: )

CEV 6 So always be cheerful! As long as we are in these bodies, we are away from the Lord. 7 But we live by faith, not by what we see.

we learn that the apostle knew that while he lived in his corruptible tent, he was absent from the Lord.

He was confident, however, that God had a building in store for him in heaven.

At present we walk by faith because we are physically absent from the Lord and groan for our building (v. 7).

So, what is faith?

Hebrews 11:1

KJV 1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

CEV 1 Faith makes us sure of what we hope for and gives us proof of what we cannot see.

tells us that,

“faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen,”

When we receive our heavenly building, we will no longer need to walk by faith because we will be physically present with the Lord.

Romans 8:24

KJV 24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

CEV 24 And this hope is what saves us. But if we already have what we hope for, there is no need to keep on hoping.

assures us that we now live in hope:

“For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees?”

Ironically, we don't rely on blind hope. Do you agree?

God has given us His Spirit as a guarantee, assuring us that He will give us our building when hope meets fulfillment (2 Corinthians 5:8

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

CEV 8 We should be cheerful, because we would rather leave these bodies and be at home with the Lord.

).

Paul considered it most important, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:9

KJV 9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.

CEV 9 But whether we are at home with the Lord or away from him, we still try our best to please him.

), because believers must appear before the judgment seat of Christ to render an account for what they did while they lived in the tent (2 Corinthians 5:10

KJV 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

CEV 10 After all, Christ will judge each of us for the good or the bad that we do while living in these bodies.

).

What does it mean to be well pleasing to the Lord?

Pleasing God means keeping His commandments and doing what is pleasing in His sight (1 John 3:22

KJV 22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

CEV 22 He will give us whatever we ask, because we obey him and do what pleases him.

).

In Colossians 1:10-12

KJV 10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; 12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

CEV 10 Then you will live a life that honors the Lord, and you will always please him by doing good deeds. You will come to know God even better. 11 His glorious power will make you patient and strong enough to endure anything, and you will be truly happy. 12 I pray that you will be grateful to God for letting you have part in what he has promised his people in the kingdom of light.

the apostle explained what he meant by pleasing the Lord. It means to,

“walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light” (emphasis supplied).

In the judgment, God will take into account what we did and what we should have done and did not do.

Jesus taught this lesson in the parable of the sheep and the goats (Matthew 25:31-46

KJV 31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. 41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

CEV 31 When the Son of Man comes in his glory with all his angels, he will sit on his royal throne. 32 The people of all nations will be brought before him, and he will separate them, as shepherds separate their sheep from their goats. 33 He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 34 Then the king will say to those on his right, “My father has blessed you! Come and receive the kingdom that was prepared for you before the world was created. 35 When I was hungry, you gave me something to eat, and when I was thirsty, you gave me something to drink. When I was a stranger, you welcomed me, 36 and when I was naked, you gave me clothes to wear. When I was sick, you took care of me, and when I was in jail, you visited me.” 37 Then the ones who pleased the Lord will ask, “When did we give you something to eat or drink? 38 When did we welcome you as a stranger or give you clothes to wear 39 or visit you while you were sick or in jail?” 40 The king will answer, “Whenever you did it for any of my people, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you did it for me.” 41 Then the king will say to those on his left, “Get away from me! You are under God's curse. Go into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels! 42 I was hungry, but you did not give me anything to eat, and I was thirsty, but you did not give me anything to drink. 43 I was a stranger, but you did not welcome me, and I was naked, but you did not give me any clothes to wear. I was sick and in jail, but you did not take care of me.” 44 Then the people will ask, “Lord, when did we fail to help you when you were hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in jail?” 45 The king will say to them, “Whenever you failed to help any of my people, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you failed to do it for me.” 46 Then Jesus said, “Those people will be punished forever. But the ones who pleased God will have eternal life.”

).

Ellen White wrote,

“We need not go to Nazareth, to Capernaum, or to Bethany, in order to walk in the steps of Jesus. We shall find His footprints beside the sickbed, in the hovels of poverty, in the crowded alleys of the great city, and in every place where there are human hearts in need of consolation. In doing as Jesus did when on earth, we shall walk in His steps.” – (Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, (Mountain View, CA: Pacific Press, 1898), 640.)

God calls upon His people to live like Enoch, who pleased God and was the first to receive his heavenly building:

“By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, ‘and was not found, because God had taken him’; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God” (Hebrews 11:5

KJV 5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

CEV 5 Enoch had faith and did not die. He pleased God, and God took him up to heaven. This is why his body was never found.

, emphasis supplied; cf. Genesis 5:21-24

KJV 21 And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah: 22 And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: 23 And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: 24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.

CEV 21 When Enoch was 65, he had a son named Methuselah, 22 and during the next 300 years he had more children. Enoch truly loved God, 23-24 and God took him away at the age of 365.

).

How are you walking now with God in your “corruptible tent”?

What is Jesus saying to you through these texts?

How do you see Jesus differently or see Him again?

Prayer: How do you respond to seeing Jesus in this way?

Captivated by Christ

“Now, just now, is our time of probation, wherein we are to prepare for heaven. Christ gave his life that we might have this probation. But so long as time shall last, Satan will strive for the mastery over us. He works with power to lead men to become absorbed in money-getting. He invents many kinds of amusement, so that their minds may be engrossed with worldly pleasure. He would have them forget all about the inward adorning,—the adorning of a meek and quiet spirit, which in the sight of God is of great price. He is determined that every moment shall be filled with efforts to carry out ambitious projects or to amuse and gratify self. He is determined that men shall find no time to study the Word of God, no time to realize that they have been bought with a price, even the blood of the Son of God.

“Satan uses his influence to drown the voice of God speaking to the soul; and the world acts as if under his control. Men have chosen him as their leader. They stand under his banner. They will not come to Christ that they might have life. Infatuated with schemes for pleasure and amusement, they are striving for that which will perish with the using.

“At this time the message of mercy and warning is to go forth to awaken the world from its sleep of death. A work is to be done today that will live through the eternal ages. As watchmen entrusted with a special message, we are to keep before the people the nearness of the end. ‘Wherefore we labor, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. For we must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.’

“The fast-fulfilling signs of the time declare that the great day of the Lord is right upon us. In that day shall it be said of any of us, ‘This man was called by God, but he would not hear, he would not give heed. Again and again the Spirit moved upon his heart, but he said, ‘Go thy way for this time; and when I have a more convenient season, I will call for thee.’ This man saw the Saviour’s sacrifice in a beautiful light; but some matter of minor importance came in, and his heart was captivated. When the Spirit spoke again, the call was not respected. Every gracious, heavenly influence was dismissed’?” (Ellen G. White, “Laborers Together with God,” -- Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, March 10, 1904.)

After this week’s study of the chapter, what can you apply to yourself?

inQuire

Why is our “earthly house” described as a tent and our “heavenly house” as a building?

What is the meaning of the expression “not with hands”?

Elaborate more on the concept of “groaning.”

Why does Paul write that our present tent burdens us? Why is living in our tent burdensome?

What does Paul mean by the words unclothed and naked? When are persons “unclothed” and “further clothed”?

According to Paul, when will mortality be swallowed up in life?

What has God given us as an assurance and comfort that someday soon we will receive our heavenly building? Can you honestly say that you have that assurance and comfort now?

In light of the entire passage, what does Paul mean by the expression “absent from the body”?

Why does Paul include the parenthetical statement, “For we walk by faith, not by sight”?

How does this biblical teaching impact your daily walk with God, your life values, and your social interaction with others around you?

inSpect

How do the following verses relate to the primary passage?

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

KJV 16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

CEV 16 We never give up. Our bodies are gradually dying, but we ourselves are being made stronger each day. 17 These little troubles are getting us ready for an eternal glory that will make all our troubles seem like nothing. 18 Things that are seen don't last forever, but things that are not seen are eternal. This is why we keep our minds on the things that cannot be seen.

Romans 8:19-24

KJV 19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. 24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

CEV 19 In fact, all creation is eagerly waiting for God to show who his children are. 20 Meanwhile, creation is confused, but not because it wants to be confused. God made it this way in the hope 21 that creation would be set free from decay and would share in the glorious freedom of his children. 22 We know that all creation is still groaning and is in pain, like a woman about to give birth. 23 The Spirit makes us sure about what we will be in the future. But now we groan silently, while we wait for God to show that we are his children. This means that our bodies will also be set free. 24 And this hope is what saves us. But if we already have what we hope for, there is no need to keep on hoping.

Philippians 3:20-21

KJV 20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

CEV 20 But we are citizens of heaven and are eagerly waiting for our Savior to come from there. Our Lord Jesus Christ 21 has power over everything, and he will make these poor bodies of ours like his own glorious body.

2 Peter 1:13-15

KJV 13 Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; 14 Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me. 15 Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.

CEV 13 In fact, I think I should keep on reminding you until I leave this body. 14 And our Lord Jesus Christ has already told me that I will soon leave it behind. 15 This is why I am doing my best to make sure that each of you remembers all of this after I am gone.

1 Thessalonians 4:15-17

KJV 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 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: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

CEV 15 Our Lord Jesus told us that when he comes, we won't go up to meet him ahead of his followers who have already died. 16 With a loud command and with the shout of the chief angel and a blast of God's trumpet, the Lord will return from heaven. Then those who had faith in Christ before they died will be raised to life. 17 Next, all of us who are still alive will be taken up into the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the sky. From that time on we will all be with the Lord forever.

2 Timothy 4:6-8

KJV 6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

CEV 6 Now the time has come for me to die. My life is like a drink offering being poured out on the altar. 7 I have fought well. I have finished the race, and I have been faithful. 8 So a crown will be given to me for pleasing the Lord. He judges fairly, and on the day of judgment he will give a crown to me and to everyone else who wants him to appear with power.

What other verses come to mind in connection with 2 Corinthians 5:1-10

KJV 1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: 3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. 4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. 5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. 6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight: ) 8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

CEV 1 Our bodies are like tents that we live in here on earth. But when these tents are destroyed, we know that God will give each of us a place to live. These homes will not be buildings someone has made, but they are in heaven and will last forever. 2 While we are here on earth, we sigh because we want to live in that heavenly home. 3 We want to put it on like clothes and not be naked. 4 These tents we now live in are like a heavy burden, and we groan. But we don't do this just because we want to leave these bodies that will die. It is because we want to change them for bodies that will never die. 5 God is the one who makes all this possible. He has given us his Spirit to make us certain he will do it. 6 So always be cheerful! As long as we are in these bodies, we are away from the Lord. 7 But we live by faith, not by what we see. 8 We should be cheerful, because we would rather leave these bodies and be at home with the Lord. 9 But whether we are at home with the Lord or away from him, we still try our best to please him. 10 After all, Christ will judge each of us for the good or the bad that we do while living in these bodies.

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