THE RESURRECTIONS ARE A FOUNDATIONAL DOCTRINE
Many –– now and in the days of the Apostle Paul –– misunderstood the Resurrections doctrine. People in the days of Jesus and Paul did not believe in the heaven and hell purgatory mythology.
John 11:24, “Martha said to Him, ‘I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.’” (NKJV)
She did not think in terms of him being in heaven, hell or purgatory. They all knew a resurrection of the dead was coming in the future. Let us go to the wonderful revelations given to the Apostle Paul for details. He was trying to blunt the misinformation given by false teachers undermining the resurrections.
1 Corinthians 15:12-13, “Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen.”
Paul explains that this is outrageous. He explains that the resurrections are crucial. Period!
1 Corinthians 15:17-19, “And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! 18 Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.”
OUR SALVATION AND OUR FUTURES REVOLVE AROUND THE RESURRECTIONS.
1 Corinthians 15:30-34, “And why do we stand in jeopardy every hour? 31 I…die daily. 32 If, in the manner of men, I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me? If the dead do not rise, ‘Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!’ 33 Do not be deceived: …for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.”
HOW MANY RESURRECTIONS AND IN WHAT ORDER?
The Bible reveals there is an order to the rising from the sleep of death.
1 Corinthians 15:20-23, “But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 23 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming.”
We know that Jesus is the wavesheaf offering, the first of the first fruits, and those that belong to Christ at His return are the First fruits. This is the first resurrection.
James 1:18, “Of His own will, He brought us forth…that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.”
Revelation 14:4, “These are the ones who were not defiled…These are the ones who follow the Lamb…These were redeemed… being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.”
When Christ returns, we will be resurrected at the best resurrection –– the wonderful first resurrection.
Revelation 20:5-6, “But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection…they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.”
The second resurrection is called the great white throne resurrection which happens after the millennium.
Revelation 20:11-12, “Then I saw a great white throne…12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.”
People are judged with God opening their minds to the truth of the Bible, the inspired books. God, being fair, will give them time to repent and grow. What about those who at the end of the period, are still too wicked to be saved?
Revelation 20:13-14, “And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.”
This phase of the second resurrection is a third resurrection specifically for those who will face the lake of fire. Peter warns us to take this failure to grow and return to the world of sin seriously.
2 Peter 2:20-22, “For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world…they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. 22 But it has happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.”
This is our time to grow with the help of Jesus. We must persevere now!
A DEEPER LOOK INTO 1 THESS. 4:14-16 AND THE RAPTURE
A minister in Ireland, Mr. Darby, was conducting a healing service when a fifteen year old teenager, named Margret MacDonald had a vision. She stated that Christ's second coming would take place in two parts. The first visit would be a secret rapture of the Godly into heaven and the rest of mankind would be left to suffer the Great Tribulation. Darby conducted evangelistic campaigns very successfully from 1859 to 1877 in America.
A person does not need to be resurrected if they are already in heaven. Some of the resurrection scriptures are turned into proof of a “rapture.” We will look at the one most prominently utilized by our deceived world. What is Paul warning the brethren about in 1 Thess. 4? Is he talking of a secret rapture? No. He is talking about the second coming of Jesus Christ.
1 Thess. 4:14, “For if we really believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so will God through Jesus bring with him those also who have fallen asleep. 15 For this I tell you by the word of the Lord, that we who are living, who survive unto the coming of the Lord, will in no wise precede those who have fallen asleep.”
The word rapture is not in the New Testament. Paul is speaking of the resurrection of the dead and of those instantly changed to spirit beings upon the second coming of Christ. Christ is coming to this earth- not near the earth to rapture some away. Where will the believers go after meeting with Christ upon his second coming? Will they watch temporarily from the clouds as their less religious relatives suffer the tribulation. No, the Bible says they will ever be with Jesus!
1 Thess. 4:16, “For the Lord himself with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, shall descend from heaven. Then the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 And afterwards we who are alive, who 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.”
Christ is not returning quietly but with a loud angelic megaphone type shout. Believers will then be permanently with the Messiah –– not a temporary heavenly visit during the terrifying Great Tribulation. JESUS WILL RETURN AGAIN BOLDLY WITH SHOUTS AND TRUMPETS ! Note that Christ will not return quietly but with A SHOUT of Angels!
ISSUES: HAS THE MOVIE 'LEFT BEHIND' CEMENTED THE RAPTURE BELIEF?
