1 Thess 4:15-18 confirms that Paul was in the 1st-Century sub-group Christians who were chosen not to die (including John as well), but to live on through the centuries until the 2nd coming, which occurs 2520 years after the fall of Jerusalem by the Babylonians (whatever date you feel comfortable with--607 BCE, 587 BCE or the actual date, 529 BCE).
Also, Paul was a eunuch (i.e. gay), which in that culture was someone who was recognized as having a natural born "gift" of not having the usual attraction for women, sparing them marriage and freeing them for a successful life is singleness (not homosexuality). But being a eunuch does predispose some to overt sexual attraction to some of the same sex. Apparently Paul's "eye" problem was a "roving eye" for inappropriate things which was observed by the congregation. I'm assuming he frequented the youth gymnasiums where the youth sparred and exercised in the nude. Those in the congregation overlooked this. Paul couldn't master it, even requesting God to remove this "thorn in his side" but God allowed it to remain to keep Paul humble since he did, indeed, have an incredible role in the gentile Christian development and he along with John in establishing the corpus of the NT, establishing Christian covenant doctrine.
Holy Spirit pointed Paul out to me once in a public place, which at first puzzled me, since I thought the Bible confirmed that Paul had died. But after rushing home and checking into this further, it is clear that 1 Thessalonian 4:15-18 confirms he was in the group never to die. Just a quick note on that, 144,000 are chosen to fulfill the Abrahamic covenant. This represents a 1/10th remnant (Is 6:13). This requires 12,000 from each tribe. Since in Jesus' time the nation did not exist in tribal groups, but as individuals from the various tribes, individuals from each of the tribes were chosen to live down to our time and at some point marry into indigenous, isolated populations to re-create the 12 tribes of israel. Obviously if the original 12 tribes came from a single individual in the first place, then this can be done again. After all, those with children over time will eventually have a million descendants. Isa. 60:22 is the reference that common class individuals would be chosen to become the 12 tribes again and that God would "speed it up in its own time", meaning even if just one male from each tribe was chosen, especially where polygamy is acceptable, the first generation could be very large. Even today wealthy polygamists end up haivng over 70 children (like Ben Ladin's family, etc.). So in a very short time you have a pool of a couple million descendants to choose 12,000 elect. The 144,000 is just 1/10th of the total number, the gentile constitute the other 90% of 1,296,000. Anyway, point being since some from the 12 tribes needed to survive down t our time for this special purpose, a few others were also chosen which included John, Paul and Jesus' mother Mary. That's why Jesus told John to be his mother's keeper, not because he was the closest relative available to do so, but because John and Mary were never to die.
Under the circumstances, I would venture that Paul followed Jesus' instructions and spirit of intent rather closely.
Those of the elect in high positions, like myself, get to see or meet some of these survivors from the 1st Century, who of course, lead very secretive lives.
Now that is what the Bible teaches and having seen and/or met all three in my position, the scriptures are consistent with my reality. It takes a lot of faith to accept this, but if you don't, then you don't believe the Bible. It is easy to believe in Armageddon, everlasting life or even the resurrection, things less miraculous than curing the aging gene, but most people's faith when faced with reality fails them. So whether my situation is real or delusional, the Bible requires us to believe that Paul never died and is still alive. He might even be logged on as someone and is reading this about himself. But again, at the end of the day, it is clear that John and Paul were central to shepherding the NT and the NT canon and thus would be a chief agent of Christ himself.
Paul was given a huge mission by Christ, which he fulfilled. Interesting that he was "drafted" via a miracle. Amazing but very true history.
LS
