Secrets from Beyond The Grave

expounded on the prophecies of the Messiah's sufferings from Moses and the prophets. Christ entered their home and was still not known to them until He took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to the men. Suddenly their "eyes were opened and they knew Him" (v. 31). He then vanished from their sight. The biblical reason they did not recognize Christ was "their eyes were holden that they should not know him" (v. 16, KJV). The word holden means that their eyes were "restrained" from seeing him. Later their eyes were opened. The biblical expression of a person having physical eyes and not being able to see is often used for individuals who lack understanding: "And their eyes they have closed, lest they should see" (Matt. 13:15). In the Old Testament there is one example that illustrates this point. The prophet Balaam was headed to curse Israel, and an angel stood in front of this compromising prophet's donkey. The donkey could see the angel and refused to go forward, but Balaam saw nothing and began to beat the donkey. Later the Lord opened Balaam's eyes to see into the spirit realm. He had eyes but could not see into the invisible world of angels until his "eyes were opened," or the scales were removed, to see into the realm of the spirit. (See (Numbers 22:22-34.) In the case of the two men on the road who met Christ, their eyes were supernaturally restrained from knowing Him. However, on the occasion when Christ suddenly appeared to His disciples behind locked doors, they knew it was Him. Thomas, who was not present, later thought that when he saw Christ He was only a spirit being and not physical. This belief was later disproven when Thomas touched the nail prints and the side of Christ, which had been pierced (John 20:25-29). The veil over our eyes is compared to seeing through a dim mirror. Paul said it this way: For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. --1 Corinthians 13:12 When Paul said, "Then I shall know," he was alluding to the time when perfection comes and we are with Christ. In heaven I will know Paul, recognize Moses, and know all my family members. Even at the Transfiguration, Peter knew that the two men beside Christ were Moses and Elijah without being told who they were. When the three sleeping disciples awoke and saw three men glowing on the mountain, Peter did not whip out an old poster of Moses crossing the Red Sea and say, "Hey fellows, look; it's Moses!" Neither did he have a copy of a press release with Elijah waving good-bye from his fiery chariot. He knew who they were without being told (Matt. 17:1-4). Part of the departing from the body and being with the Lord includes the unusual ability to gain knowledge that was missing about things while living on Earth. Many people who have had a near-death experience comment on being able to communicate in heaven by simple thoughts without ever opening their mouths. This is logical, considering that God could--but seldom ever does--speak audibly to humans. We hear His voice by the inward leading of His Spirit. At times there is a sudden impulse or thought that comes to our minds, and we are aware of a divine link with the heavenly realm. The speed of sound and light can be measured. However, the speed of thought has never been measurable. You can only think about what you know or have heard, and can only imagine a location after you have been there. If I have never seen heaven, I can only imagine what it's like from what I read in the Bible or hear from others. After the dead are raised and the living are changed from mortal to immortal (1 Cor. 15:53-54), what type of changes will have occurred? What type of bodies will we be given?