RESURRECTION |
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The aim of this article is to show the meaning of the word resurrection through its contextual usage in the scripture. That fact that there is resurrection is not controversial amongst professing Christians. The what, when, where, and how's, are controversial. There will be five main points in this article to show that the word resurrection is used to describe different things; and that the meaning of those things are shown in the context of that particular scripture. This as opposed to the idea or "hermeneutic" that seeks to make resurrection a one time future event based on a small number of the scriptures on the subject. There is also no need to go into the Greek words for resurrection, arose, rise, raised ect ect. These are used interchangeably so often to describe the same events it renders it unnecessary. The five points in order will be: 1. That depending on the context of the verses the word resurrection is used to convey the idea that there is immediate life after death that includes a physical body. (Not physical as we know physical, but a physical body none the less.) 2. Again, depending on the context of those scriptures the word resurrection is used to convey the idea of a physical body dying and that same physical body miraculously restored to life as in the case of Lazarus. 3. Or, as the context dictates, that resurrection can mean a physical body dying and that same physical body being restored to life; but then also becoming a "glorified" body like Jesus. This would also include the case of one never dying first but getting a "glorified" body like Elijah. 4. Then resurrection depending on the context is used to describe those who are "dead" in sin yet physically alive, becoming "alive" to God or resurrected. In other words a "spiritual" resurrection that occurs while still in our body. 5. Finally, as the context dictates, a word or a vision of resurrection is used to teach the realities of points #1, #2, #3 or #4. Unfortunately though, like all words or visions from God; there is a natural tendency to interpret them as an event; rather than illustrative language or pictures to describe basic truth. 1. That depending on the context of the verses the word resurrection is used to convey the idea that there is immediate life after death that includes a physical body. (Not physical as we know physical, but a physical body none the less.)
Matthew 22: 23-28. The same day the Sadducees came to him (Jesus), which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him………… 29. Jesus answered and said to them, You err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. 30. For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. 31. But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have you not read that which was spoken to you by God, saying, 32. I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living 33. And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine. Jesus directly used the term “the resurrection” to describe the fact that the patriarchs were alive, not dead and the multitude was astonished by this statement. Why would that be? The belief that there was life after death was held by the vast majority of the multitude. They were certainly not astonished that Jesus would say the Patriarchs were alive anymore than Christians today would not be astonished, it is something they already believe. One can only assume they were astonished because they understood Jesus to say the Patriarchs were already resurrected, something that they understood to be a one time future event at the end of the world. As Martha states here: John 11: 23. Jesus said to her, Your brother shall rise again. 24. Martha said to him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. 25. Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: It was not unusual for Christ to disagree with culturally accepted beliefs of his day. What is strange, is that this scripture messes with consensus views of Christians today, as if nothing has ever changed in what believers hold to be true. Maybe an example is in order to bring the gravity of this scripture to light. Say there was a funeral of a child who was a professing Christian, his parents and siblings being professing Christians also. How often would their fellow Christians seek to comfort them with the words, "your child is in a better place , he is with Jesus now alive and happy and will be in heaven waiting for you." It is comforting and true! Yet if someone said the same words like this: "he is with Jesus now resurrected and happy and will be in heaven waiting for you." There would be looks of puzzlement, people may be offended, in fact the person in question may get a call from the pastor. Yet this is exactly how Jesus used the word resurrection, to describe the fact of immediate life after death that has nothing to do with dead bodies made alive, graves opening or future events. There is
something further to notice about Jesus’ answer in Matthew 22:30
concerning the physical nature of the simple life after death
resurrected body: For in
the resurrection they ….. are as the angels of God in heaven. The
Bible calls angels spirits in Hebrews 1:14. Are they not all
ministering spirits..... Yet angels
throughout the scripture have physical bodies. They may not be physical
as we understand physical, but in the scriptures they eat, drink,
appear, disappear, walk through walls, are constantly mistaken for men,
and take on different form, walk in fire, etc. etc. Much like Christ in
his resurrected yet glorified body. Next
are three bible stories that demonstrate point 1
again but also point 3 where a mans earthy physical body was changed into
a heavenly physical body. Deuteronomy
34: 5. So Moses the servant
of the Lord died there in the Still
showing scriptural examples of the 1st point we have a story that includes someone who did not go to heaven but
hell:
Luke 16: 19. There
was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and
fared sumptuously every day. 20. And
there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate,
full of sores, 21. And
desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table:
moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22.
And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the
angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23.
And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and sees
Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24.
And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send
Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my
tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 25.
But Abraham said, Son, remember that you in your lifetime
received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he
is comforted, and you are tormented. 26.
And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf
fixed: so that they which would pass from here to you cannot; neither
can they pass to us, that would come from there. 27.
Then he said, I beg you therefore, father, that you would send
him to my father's house: 28. For
I have five brothers; that he may testify to them, lest they also come
to this place of torment. 29. Abraham answered
him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30.
And he said, No, father Abraham: but if one went to them from the
dead, they will repent. 31. And
he said to him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will
they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. 2. Again, depending on the context of those scriptures the word resurrection is used to convey the idea of a physical body dying and that same physical body miraculously restored to life as in the case of Lazarus
In John chapter 11 the words for resurrection and rise form the dead are used to bring a dead man back to life. It is interesting though that Jesus finds a need to address her theology of the resurrection being a one time future event in verses 23-27. Jesus said to her, Your brother shall rise again. 24. Martha answered him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. 25. Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live: 26. And whosoever lives and believeth in me shall never die. Do you believe this? 27. She answered him, Yes, Lord: I believe that you art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world. Notice her confusion at his sayings because she is wrestling with her theology, she does not answer his question directly. Yet Jesus is not only telling her that it is he who has the power to raise the physically dead but is also addressing point #4 that if a person believes in him he is "spiritually" resurrected, which will be addressed later. Luke 7:12. Now when he came close to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and many people of the city were with her. 13. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said to her, Weep not. 14. And he came and touched the coffin: and they that carried him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say to you, Arise. 15. And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother. 16. And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God has visited his people. Matthew 9:18. While he spoke these things to them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay your hand upon her, and she shall live. 19. And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples. ...... 23. And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise, 24. He said to them, Depart: for the maid is not dead, but sleeps. And they derided him. 25. But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose. Acts 9: 36. Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and charitable deeds which she did. 37. And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber. 38. And for as much as Lydda was close to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent to him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them. 39. Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them. 40. But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up. 41. And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive. 2 Kings 4:32. And when Elisha was come to the house, behold, the child was dead, and laid upon his bed. 33. He went in, and shut the door upon them both, and prayed to the Lord. 34. And he went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and he stretched himself upon the child; and the flesh of the child got warm. 35. Then he returned, and walked in the house back and forth; and went up, and stretched himself upon him: and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. 36. And he called Gehazi, and said, Call this Shunammite. So he called her. And when she was come in to him, he said, Take up your son. 37. Then she went in, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground, and took up her son, and went out. 2 Kings 13:20. And Elisha died, and they buried him. And the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year. 21. And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band of men; and they cast the man into the sepulcher of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet. 3. Or, as the context dictates, that resurrection can mean a physical body dying and that same physical body being restored to life; but then also becoming a "glorified" body like Jesus. This would also include the case of one never dying first but getting a "glorified" body like Elijah.
Matthew 28: 1. In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the
sepulcher. 2. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
3. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: 4. And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.
5. And the angel answered and said to the women, Fear not: for I know that
you seek Jesus, which was crucified. 6. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.10. It was Mary Magdalene and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things
to the apostles. John 20:24. But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 25. The other disciples therefore said to him, We have seen the Lord. But he said to them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. 26. And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be to you. 27. Then he said to Thomas, Reach your finger here, and look at my hands; and reach out your hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. 28. And Thomas answered and said to him, My Lord and my God. These three examples of Christ's resurrected body point out it is the same body he had when he died, yet he can do with it whatever he wants with it. Appear, disappear, walk through walls, change his appearance. There are many examples of this same thing by angels throughout the Bible, only they never had a body of flesh to start with. This is not an attempt to scientifically say how he does this. Nor is it saying that science could never understand it. It is just pointing to the historical fact that God can do with the flesh body anything he chooses. Here is some other scripture that describes the same thing. The story
of Elijah and presumably Enoch is the same in the sense of flesh bodies
somehow being "transformed" or "swallowed up" by the
power of the spiritual body. 2 Kings 2:11. And it
came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there
appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, which separated the two
of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. One more example that is most likely is along the lines of flesh bodies resurrected from the dead and afterwards being "swallowed up and transformed" by the power of the spiritual body, along the lines of Jesus, rather than Elijah or Enoch. Matthew 27: 51. And, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks broke; 52. And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, 53. And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared to many. It does not say all the saints who were buried rose, but many. My assumption is that these were saints that had recently died, but that may not be true. The fact of the matter though is this is a mass resurrection of physical bodies that I am assuming were then glorified like Christ’s. Once more we have a testimony of scripture does not line up with a statement of faith that the resurrection is a one time future event that happens at the end of the world. What is one to do with this scripture and others, ignore them? As a further note the wording "swallowed up and transformed by the power of the spiritual body" is not an attempt to create a doctrine or even explain what happened or how it happened. It is being used in the descriptive or illustrative sense to describe something beyond my understanding. 4. Then resurrection depending on the context is used to describe those who are "dead" in sin yet physically alive, becoming "alive" to God or "resurrected." In other words a " spiritual" resurrection that occurs while still in our body.
Going back to John 11:23-27: Jesus said to her, Your brother shall rise again. 24. Martha answered him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. 25. Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live: 26. And whosoever lives and believeth in me shall never die.... Here resurrection is being used in a much more figurative sense. Describing the eternal life that begins when one puts trust in Christ as opposed to when ones physical body dies. The next few sets of verses are the same, words like resurrection and death are used in an illustrative sense rather than a literal one. Epheisians:513. But all things that are reproved are made known by the light: for what ever make it known is light. 14. Therefore he says, Awake you that sleep, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light. Colossians 2:12. Buried with him in baptism, where in also you are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who has raised him from the dead. 13. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, has he made alive together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Chapter 3:1. If you then are risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God. Ezekiel 37:1. The hand of the Lord was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones, 2. And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry. 3. And he said to me, Son of man, can these bones live? and I answered, O Lord God, you know. 4. Again he said to me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say to them, you dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. 5. Thus says the Lord God to these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live: 6. And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the Lord. 7. So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone. 8. And when I looked the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them. 9. Then said he to me, Prophesy to the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus says the Lord God; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. 10. So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army. 11. Then he said to me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off from our parts. 12. Therefore prophesy and say to them, Thus says the Lord God; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. 13. And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up out of your graves, 14. And shall put my spirit in you, and you shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall you know that I the Lord have spoken it, and performed it, says the Lord. This last paragraph from John warrants a comment or two. Many have taken these verses in conjunction with some others to be talking about a one (or two) time future resurrection of all the flesh bodies that ever died on earth. This idea though should be harder to fit into a more complete view on the matter because of the scriptures the article has gone over thus far. Also, the comments on section 5 should bring allot of caution about using those other scriptures in conjunction with these as a basis for that belief. John 5:20. For the Father loves the Son, and shows him all things that himself does: and he will show him greater miracles than these, that you may marvel. 21. For as the Father raises up the dead, and and makes them alive; even so the Son makes alive whoever he wants. 22. For the Father judges no man, but has committed all judgment to the Son: 23. That all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He does not honors the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. 24. Truly, truly, I say to you, He that hears my word, and believes on him that sent me, has everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death to life. 25. Truly, truly I say to you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. 26. For as the Father hath life in himself; so has he given to the Son to have life in himself; 27. And has given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. 28. Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29. And shall come forth; they that have done good, to the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, to the resurrection of damnation. The first thing to notice about these verses is that it is not damaging at all to sound biblical teaching by viewing these verses strictly in a figurative sense. It is the exact same illustrative language used by Christ in many instances to describe the realities of the Kingdom of God and spiritual things taught throughout scripture. Look at Matthew 8: 21. And another of his disciples said to him, Lord, allow me first to go and bury my father. 22. But Jesus said to him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead. Johns gospel especially was filled with illustrative/figurative language to describe basic truth like: John 6:35. And Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life: he that comes to me shall never hunger; and he that believes on me shall never thirst......49. Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50. This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that a man may eat of, and not die. 51. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. 52. The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? 53. Then Jesus said to them, Truly, Truly, I say to you, Except you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54. Who ever eats my flesh, and drinks my blood, has eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. 55. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 56. He that eats my flesh, and drinks my blood, dwells in me, and I in him. 57. As the living Father has sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eats me, even he shall live by me. 58. This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers ate manna, and are dead: he that eats of this bread shall live for ever. 59. These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum. 60. Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is a hard saying; who can understand it? 61. When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said to them, Does this offend you? 62. What and if you shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? 63. It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh profits nothing: the words that I speak to you, they are spirit, and they are life. Illustrative language to describe the death of Christ in place of the sinner and the result of putting ones faith in God through it. So too with John 5:20-29. The dead are those (sinners) who are under the sentence of death for their sin, even as they live. They hear the words of the Gospel and turn from their sin to God through faith, they become the living. When they die they go to heaven. Likewise those who remain in their sins go to hell when they die. Basic Gospel truth taught with highly illustrative language. Resurrection in verse 29 is used just like Jesus used the word resurrection to describe that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were not dead but alive in Matthew 22:23-28. To put it another way: Resurrection when it is used in this context describes the biblical doctrine, the reality, of life after death. It has nothing to do with flesh bodies being restored to life. 5. Finally, as the context dictates, a word or a vision of resurrection is used to teach the realities of points #1, #2, #3 or #4. Unfortunately though, Like all words or visions from God there is a natural tendency to interpret them as an event; rather than illustrative language or pictures to describe basic truth. This section will get pretty deep, it will require some thought on the part of the reader. Don't get discouraged, God created you to think, and to think deeply. It will be good for you, spiritually and physically. Mankind comes to Christ as unspiritual, real spirituality is unknown to us. The spirituality that may have been claimed before one gets right with God was in reality pseudo. In fact as far as personnel experience is concerned this is what Jesus means when he says we are dead. We are unaware, or barely aware of spiritual reality as it relates with God. Jesus says God is a spirit, therefore they that worship him must therefore worship him (with their) spirits, and the truth, (John 4:23.) It is almost impossible to relate to God the way one related to the world around them before they came to Christ. The scripture describes this as: "everything is new." Obviously there are practical problems with this, mainly, the learning curve. Most though never really find their way through the "toils and snares" into a real maturity of this "new and living way." These, even though many of them are serious about their walk, seek truth through a system of education modeled exactly like the public school. It is not that God does not use a Christian educational system. It's just that it should only account for 25% or so of their learning in this "new and living way." Yet they have made it 95%. This is how the culture in Jesus' day got their "consensus" view of a one time future event of the resurrection of every flesh body that ever lived, and many other subjects. For God to teach someone different means they will have to buck the whole culture, making themselves a prey. Jesus though "overcame the world," he overcame the pressure to conform. You see, once one conforms they must by necessity violate the new and living experiential relationship they had found. God cannot find a place in their spirits or hearts to guide them outside of that conformity and into the truth. 1 John 2:26-27 says as much: 26. These things have I written to you concerning them that seduce you. 27. But the anointing which you have received of him abides in you, and you do not need any man teach you: but as the same anointing teaches you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it has taught you, you shall abide in him. The apostles themselves were not free of these pressures to conform. Long held "truths" of their culture and their system of education did not die easy. They did not all of a sudden jump into the "understand all truth" mode by the time Acts 2:4 rolled around. This is evident throughout the NT, the Word of God does not hide our blemishes and warts. It really showed itself more than anywhere else in their understanding of things future. They heard words that absolutely came from God, and as such were accurate. They also saw visions with their eyes but their interpretation of these things were not perfect. They seemed to mix things that were near and far together. Now, how could it be expected of them to do anything different? It even says in Acts 1:6. When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, will thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 7. And he said to them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. Here they are asking Jesus "are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel now?" This was one of those consensus views that Jesus had been instructing them against, yet they still did not get it. He taught, he prophesied, he rebuked them about it, that the Kingdom of God will never come back to Israel as a political nation. That it was taken from them (as far as their nation was concerned) and given to others who were worthy out of all nations, (including Jews.) Yet it was not until they fulfilled their ministry to the nation of Israel for the next 3 1/2 years, to confirm the covenant. Then well into their ministry to the rest of the nations (after the leaders of Israel raised persecution against them.) That they really began to grasp what Jesus had been teaching them. Paul even wrote about his university education of which he was at the top of the class saying "I count it as valuable as bodily waste." There are two good articles about of this if you follow these hyperlinks. One about The First and Second Covenant as revealed in the book of Genesis, and one on The Israel of God in light of the NT. Now, if the Apostles at that point could not even grasp the subject of the political nation of Israel's relationship to the Government of God in prophecy. How could they understand the "times and the seasons" of prophecy in general? Not only does Bible Prophecy take revelation from on high, it takes hindsight, (in most cases.) John was the only apostle of the twelve to live to see a measure of major prophecy that was future to them fulfilled. That was destruction of Jerusalem in 70AD, and the end of the first covenant age. The others never had that chance. No wonder, it was not given to them to know the "times and the seasons."
Paul's' word from the Lord about the "rapture" is the first prophecy about resurrection I will use. 1 Thessalonians 4:13. But I would not have you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning them which are asleep, that you sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. (So those who are dead are already with the Lord.) 15. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not proceed them which are asleep. (So the Word from God is is teaching that when a believer dies he immediately goes to heaven. Long before a "catching away" occurs of believers that are alive at the end of time.) 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. Here we get into the long held "truths" that die hard part. To look at this part of the word through they eyes of a one time future resurrection, we get a picture of dead bodies rising up out of the ground to join up with their owners coming down from heaven. The same word is used in the scripture below, but this time he spends time talking about resurrection. 1 Corinthians 15 :51. Behold, I show 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. To show the difficulties of comprehending prophecy. Notice the use of the word "we" in these verses and the verses in 1 Thessalonians 4. He is mixing up various prophecies known to him and the churches about the coming of the Lord. He actually thought this was going to happen to that particular generation, a mass catching away and the end of the world. The word "we" is not used lightly by him. It is not that the word or the vision is false. It has been happening that way, it will continue to happen that way and in the end there will be a mass "Elijah evacuation." Those who have died have indeed risen first, those who die in the future will indeed rise before the "rapture." All of these will have the same change occur. Those who died already have already changed, those who die in the future will have that change when they die. Those who are caught away will change at that point. The technicalities of this change matter not to God, an Elijah rapture or stepping out of our dead flesh body and instantly into\or with a spiritual one are done in the twinkling of an eye by him. Regardless of how Paul interpreted this word right or wrong. The rest of his discourse about the subject of resurrection showed that he understood the different ways resurrection occur. In fact it would seem very difficult to paint him is one who believed in a one time future event where all dead bodies come to life based on what he wrote below. 1 Corinthians 15: 12. Now if Christ be preached
that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no
resurrection of the dead? 13. But if there be no resurrection of the
dead, then is Christ not risen: 14. And if Christ be not risen, then is
our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. 15. Yea, and we are
found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he
raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise
not. 16. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: 17. And if
Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; you are yet in your sins. 18.
Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. 19. If in
this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable......30. And why
do we stand in jeopardy every hour? 31. I protest by
your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die every day. 32.
If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, of what
advantage is it for me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to
morrow we die. 33. Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good
manners. 34. Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the
knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame. 35. First it is
important to notice the subject as spelled out in the first sentence,
which is: "Since we are preaching that God raised Jesus from the
dead, how can some of you follow Christ and not believe in
resurrection?" The subject is not: "Since we preach that
at the end of time all flesh bodies that ever died will be brought back
to life. How can you not believe in the resurrection?"
The next scripture in this section will be 2 Timothy 2:18. Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some. The error that Paul speaks of is one of the conclusions that can be made if the resurrection is a one time future event. Since there is resurrection already in the Bible, like Matthew 27:51-53. It is not that difficult to imagine Satan as an "angel of light" "inspiring" someone that holds that belief to think the resurrection has occurred already right here in the Bible. However, there are some today that use this scripture to claim "error" on the part of those who do not believe in a one time future event of all dead bodies being raised. In light of all the scripture on the subject, to use this scripture that way is hardly honest. The last
scripture in section 5 is Revelation 20: 5:
But
the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were
finished. This is the first resurrection. 6.
Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection:
on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God
and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. This scripture is the basis for the teaching of a one (or two) time future resurrection of dead bodies. To justify this many will say: "We take the Bible literally." To that I answer you do not. You pick and choose what is literal and what is illustrative\figurative\symbolic based on your teachings and idea's. This is easily proven by using the book of Revelation. The great red dragon in Chapter 12:3 you look at as illustrative of Satan's work to destroy Gods plans. You would scoff at the idea of a future day when everyone looks up into the sky and sees a literal dragon casting a third of the stars at the earth. In Revelation 14:14-20 Two giant angels with sickles "reap" the fruit of the earth. Yet again you would roll your eye's at the idea of a future event when two big angels with sickles in their hands chop the remainders of men in half, filling the place with blood. No you look at it rightly, it is an illustrative picture of the harvest of souls via the gospel and the judgment of those who disobey it. Then all of a sudden you go to Revelation 13:16-17 and your back to "literal." "The mark of the beast is a future event that will befall mankind, microprocessors implanted in our hands or some other type of device." Dear brothers and sisters. Everything in John's revelation is truth. It is however all illustrative\figurative\symbolic. The prophesies contained in picture form (visions) are illustrations of past, present and future. Then aside from the prophecies these illustrative chapters teach basic Bible truths. Yet they are ALL illustrative\symbolic\figurative. The scriptures about resurrection are just that, illustrations of eternal truth: Teaching just as the rest of the bible does that there is life after death and we will all be judged according to what we have done. The "first" resurrection would represent those of the household of faith, past present and future. The implied "second" resurrection would represent those who refused to answer him who called them, past, present and future. This is a teaching in vision form, taken as a one time future event by those who do not understand the nature of visions and words from God. To demonstrate the "nature" of visions and words from God I would like to draw on what I have seen in my 27 years of service to God. I have met many people who according to them God had taken them to heaven and showed them "whatever." I have found it to be universal that the interpretation of these visions are "This is what is in heaven, this is what you will see there." This is not in anyway to discredit the testimony of Gods saints that the vision was real, and from God. What I have seen and heard though has shown me the nature of visions like these are to teach basic Bible truths. They are not to show anyone what heaven is like physically. The first vision I heard of that alerted me to this dilemma was 25 years ago. An older Gentleman (in his 70's), ordained by a well known ministry school preached for a week at the church I attended . His biggest deal in his presentation was what heaven is physically like, God had taken him there a few times. In one of these he said they were sitting a a huge dinner table (in heaven.) Instead of serving food though they broke out the Word of God. His interpretation of this? That there is no food in heaven, we "eat" the Word of God just like Jesus said. The problem with this? Well it is not that I care if there is food in heaven or not. The problem with this was this man could not read a lick. He could not read his Bible nor preach from it. He could quote and did quote what he heard, but never learned to read. What do you think was the interpretation of his vision? Simply, God was telling him to learn to read his Bible. Yet he just like everyone that I have ever heard since then that had a vision thought the interpretation was; "God took me to heaven, this is what is there." One would think it would be common to interpret real visions from God in the way God meant them understood. Unfortunately it is entirely uncommon, and so it is with the book of Revelation. Instead of understanding it for what it is, it is seen as future "events," rather than as well established teachings, and further illumination on already interpreted Bible prophecy. We are then subjugated to endless prognostications of these "events" by those who in a similar vein tell us "what is in heaven." A further example of this is Daniel's testimony in his book chapter 7:13 in which he saw basically the same thing John saw in Revelation 5:6. Which is the true vision of heaven? Does Jesus look like a lamb with seven horns and seven eyes of does he look like a man? Well he looks like whatever he wants to look like, and "heaven" looks like whatever he wants it to look like to the person he gives the vision too. There will be future articles on Bible prophecy that will go into great detail about these visions on Wordservice.org. This particular article in Bible basics is intended as a companion article for Matthew 24, and The Coming of the Lord. These cover allot of Bible prophecy that will help ones understanding of this subject.
In conclusion. The Biblical doctrine or teaching about resurrection is a doctrine or teaching about life after death as opposed to: The teaching that there is no life after death, materialism, agnosticism, reincarnation, and the many other pagan and non-pagan "isms" that exist in the world. Physical as in "flesh" bodies being raised from the dead is incidental to the great truth of life after death and what becomes of us once we die. The fact that there are scenarios in the scripture that great edifices of "faith" are built around should not hinder one from the simplicity of immediate life after death; in a spiritual body that is far superior to the one we are "clothed" with now. As a word of caution to those who think they could claim that what this article teaches is somehow outside the pale of "historical Christian faith," delivered by the "fathers." The scripture is what has been appealed to and brought forth. It is you that will have to wrestle with the "faith" you claim to be historically authentic. You cannot hold to a teaching that says the resurrection is a one time future event without ignoring the very words of Christ. Hopefully, many who thought differently before they read this can see that what is implied by this article does no damage whatsoever to their faith, nor to any realities of the unseen world. Basic necessary universal truths that accord with fundamental Christian faith are upheld without any change. The only damage that is done is to certain pop eschatology's, that change with every wind that blows over the earth. There is no "hope" lost by tossing out an "article of faith" of a supposed resurrection of our flesh bodies in the future, coming out of the dust to meet up with us in the sky. God, according to the scripture has already given us a body like the angels, we nor he has any need of the molecules that made the flesh one. As a matter of fact, I would say "hope" is clearly on the side of the scriptures as laid out in the article. Because now there are no weird endless questions without answers about "what are we in the interim", or does "our soul sleep" are "we conscience," are we "a conscience without a body." ect. ect. Personally I would rather matter of fact know that when I die I will be with the Lord; interacting with him and others with a body just like theirs. That's what the Bible calls hope. Finally, what is implied in this article takes nothing away form actual cases of physical resurrection as taught in the scripture, that in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye they were changed. It implies nothing about when this change occurred in the Lords own body that was actually raised from the dead, and "glorified" or "changed" afterwards. Nor does it deny the mystery of the great catching away at the end of the world.
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© 2008-2009 Daniel Martinovich |
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