John I agree completely that this topic is only important because it relates directly the spiritual nature of our warfare. That's why I initiated it and have invest this amount of time in it. We need to see that character, which is what is at stake, is often used by Ellen White to refer to the essence of the entire person, to his spirit.

Regarding the Review's position on the Apostle's vision, it would be better to quote the scripture. The scripture indicates that Paul believed it was indeed possible to be taken to heaven in or out of the body. The term 'in the spirit' is also used in other places in scripture and if we put the evidence together with the scripture and passages I've cited, we can come to the right conclusion, notwithstanding that some might see this as faulty logic.

Welcome Kabuli. I'm saying Adam, a human, was a spirit- being and that's what you and I are too. The issues of the Christian warfare are spiritual. We are not fighting flesh and blood.

6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places].
6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Eph.

As spiritual creatures we need to fight intelligently in this warfare.

What is the "spirit" of a man? The Bible uses words like flesh, heart, soul, mind, and spirit to describe our mental and emotional and spiritual make up.

Ezekiel
11:19 And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:
11:20 That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.

Matthew
26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed [is] willing, but the flesh [is] weak.

John
3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Romans
2:29 But he [is] a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision [is that] of the heart, in the spirit, [and] not in the letter; whose praise [is] not of men, but of God.

1 Corinthians
5:5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

Ephesians
4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Colossians
2:5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.

Hebrews
4:12 For the word of God [is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

1 Peter
4:6 For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

I smiled Kubuli when I read your post. Have another look at what you wrote and the text right above your statement on Christian warfare to see who the combatants are.

Good work MM. Please reader, look carefully at those texts and draw your own conclusions. Note the statements of Christ Himself on this issue recorded in Matthew and John and posted above. But let me add this one as both the capstone and the cornerstone of all the scripture I've cited so far on the topic:

Quote:

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23:46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. Luke

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Where, according to Christ's very last words, was His spirit while He slept in the tomb until Resurrection Sunday? Wouldn't the spirits of all who die in faith be in the same place awaiting the final resurrection? Do those kinds of thoughts help or hinder the gospel?

I'm saying to you Kubuli, don't take my word for it; look at scripture to see whether the image of a soldier on a *spiritual* battlefield is used to descibe the Christian.

I quoted you all the very last words of Christ that our representative, the second Adam, commended His spirit to God. This spirit of His is similar, if not identical to the broad concept of character the Ellen White constantly referred the church to throughout her life. But the church has not understood how broad her concept of character is. When we've read her statements that the only thing we take with us to heaven is our character, we have incorrectly interpreted character to mean only moral values, and it's possible she had this more restricted view in mind in some parts of her writings. But if we look at other statements, we see that she often is referring to the whole identity of the person, to his spirit. So, her teaching is not out of line with Christ's final words, with the prophets or Apostles, or with Solomon who said:

Quote:

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8:8 [There is] no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither [hath he] power in the day of death: and [there is] no discharge in [that] war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it.

12:7 Then [that is, at death] shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. Eccl.

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Christ said of himself that he had the power to lay down his own life and power to take it up. Adventism has taught that the spirit of man is merely the 'breath of life' from God. That is an element of what the scripture means by the spirit of man, but only a part of it. The more important aspect from our point of view is that our spirits are us, our essence, our characters. Why would Christ, in His dying moment wrap his arms of faith about the Father and merely say to Him, Here is the breath of life that you gave me. Please take it back. If the spirit Christ was committing to the Father was only the life we all borrow from God with no personal identy, then there is nothing unique about our spirits and we (and Christ) would have no burden to see that the Father receives our spirits in safe keeping. But if in fact our spirits are our essence, our personal identity which are animated by the Spirit of God, then when we approach our final hour we would be quite interested in yielding our spirits to God as Christ did.

But here is the nub of the matter: If we yield our spirits to God consistently as we walk the narrow path here, when we reach the pass of the Jordan, we may be tempted to falter, but the Holy Spirit will take us by the hand and lead us through as we have yeilded to Him in our past experiences.