The Resurrection

1. We believe that when humans die they are inert, mortal, finite. The only hope they have of eternal life (or immortality) is to be raised back to life by the power of God… the power of His Holy Spirit.
2. We believe this return to life happens when Jesus Christ returns to earth and not before. Those who are in Christ will be raised to eternal life… at His return… and will no longer be subject to death.
3. Scripture indicates that Christ will begin His rule on earth with a designated period of 1,000 years.
4. At the end of the 1,000 years those who were not raised with Christ at His return will be resurrected… not to eternal spirit born life… rather a return to temporary physical life.
5. They will live this resurrected physical life now having full knowledge of God and access to His Holy… during which they too will have the option to receive eternal spirit life if they choose to.
6. Those who reject God’s offer of eternal spiritual life… having full knowledge, and full access to His Spirit… will die a second death in the flesh which is permanent and irrevocable.

God’s Message To You: You Can Have Hope

Ephesians 4:4 - this is the only hope there is for humans

Acts 24:15 - Paul understood that there was more than one category of resurrection. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 says only those in Christ will rise at His return, not everyone. But let’s stay focused on the events related to the Feast of Trumpets… which is the resurrection of the just.

The Hope God Offers is For Eternal… Permanent Life  

When you die you do not carry on living somewhere else… in heaven… or hell… or purgatory… or as a ghost… or as a wandering spirit… or reincarnated as a cow. These would all constitute a form of immortality… even though some of them unpleasant. God’s word indicates eternal life is not something you currently have. However, the good news is that eternal life is something you can have… and God is willing to give it to you under the terms of His covenant.

Romans 8:23-25 our hope is for something we do not already have

Romans 6:23 eternal life is something God is willing to give to you

Matthew 19:16-17 before God grants eternal life He wants to see how you behave… What will you do with eternal life? Will you adapt/conform to the pattern of God-like living put forth in the commands?

Titus 3:4-7- not earned by perfect obedience, it is always a gift God grants

You Do Not Possess Life – You Receive Life From God

Genesis 3:19 at the end of your physical life you can expect your body to dissolve back into the chemical compounds from which it was made.  The spirit which is in you returns to God who gave it (Eccl. 12:7).

1 Corinthians 15:50-54 Your natural state is mortal… but you can be made immortal, or eternal. There is also a spirit within you [not the holy spirit, but your own spirit]. However when combined with the holy spirit of God can be reshaped into a new creation ready for eternal life.

You Will Receive a New Body

That spirit in you, which returns to God at death, does not possess life. It has no thoughts or consciousness… it knows nothing… thinks nothing… but it is clearly YOU. Think of it as a record of who and what you are… the essence of you… However, it must have a body to live.

You are currently a life… an integrated unity of body, mind and spirit. That is also the pattern for eternal existence. The complete package you have now is temporary… what God has in store for you is permanent and eternal. A new body no longer subject to decay, aging, deterioration and so forth.

The body God will give you is different from your present physical body - 1 Corinthians 15:35-49.

2 Corinthians 5:1-5 the idea of living apart from having some sort of body is not biblical

This Return To Life is Accomplished By the Power of God

Romans 8:9-11 - You can have that power of life at work in you now… you can enter into a process of being recreated from within. When you commit yourself to the process through baptism you also have hands laid upon you so you can receive God’s holy spirit. His Spirit will work with your spirit forming you into something new and different than before. This is the power of God at work— a power preparing you to be resurrected to a divine, eternal life as a child of God.

The scriptures speak of Christ dwelling in you… the spirit of God dwelling in you… the mind of Christ in you… an inward person who is renewed day by day… that God’s laws are written upon your heart. These are not referring to a series of separate processes taking place. They just different ways of expressing the same central truth.

The work of this great power… the Holy Spirit…  is happening NOW among those who are His… But its work is not complete until the moment you are raised back to life. And there is a day set aside for this to occur. Its that day we are here to proclaim at the feast of Trumpets.

This Resurrection Takes Place at The Return of Christ

1 Corinthians 15:22-23 There is a progressive order to the raising of the dead. 1) Christ’s resurrection which is past event in human history. 2) The resurrection you and I are looking forward to; which is yet in the future. Until that day arrives the spirits of the dead are not alive somewhere. They are inert… not thinking dreaming, planning, observing… nothing. That spirit which left us upon death is not alive… and it has no body. It is kept by God.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 first those who have already died… then a special category: those who are still alive in their physical bodies at the time of Christ’s return. Note: Christ does not swoop down to zip us off to heaven. We are with Him, we stay with Him where He is, and He is returning to earth to take care of some very important business… to establish the rule of God on earth!

1 John 3:1-2 The work of the Holy Spirit (in those who are Christ’s) will be completed. We will come into the fullness of our inheritance as children of God. We will receive our glorious new bodies… not flesh and blood which is temporary… but bodies of glory… spiritual bodies… like He has.

Hebrews 11:35 you have been called to this better resurrection… this is the resurrection for those who are in Christ at His return… but that also implies there is another resurrection to consider. We are gathered here today to celebrate and proclaim the first and better resurrection so let’s talk a bit more about that before we briefly look at the other resurrection.

Jesus Christ Will Rule On Earth for 1000 years

This first and better resurrection is for those who in this present age… opt in to the deal, that convent God is offering right now.  Who believe, repent, are baptized, who receive the Holy Spirit in them. Who work together with the spirit to grow in grace, knowledge and the fullness of Christ.

Daniel 2:44 when the final trumpet blows not only will the resurrection of the just begin. Christ’s rule on earth will begin. Every powers and authority on earth will then be subject to Jesus Christ…

Daniel 7:27 the people who were part of that “first resurrection” will have a part to play in helping Christ govern and rule… on planet earth.  

Revelation 20:4-6 Christ’s rule is never ending… but there is an initial period that is marked off with a beginning and an end. It is a period lasting 1,000 years. Those who are raised in the first resurrection will be seated with Christ to help Him administer the rule of God on earth

Ephesians 2:5-6 God will use you to make a point… redemption is possible!

After That First  1,000 Years Comes Another Resurrection!  

Revelation 20:4b-5 “They came to life and reigned with Christ for 1,000 years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished”.

This “second” resurrection is different from the first one we have just spent so much time discussing. Like the previous resurrection the spirits of humans are given a body again. But it is only a physical body like the one they had before. This is not a resurrection to a eternal life in an eternally living spirit body. This is a resurrection in the flesh only. As such it’s still a form of life that is temporary.

Ezekiel 37: 7-9 all the people who have ever lived will be raised up again to physical life.

What’s The Point of Restoring People to Physical Life Only?

The vast majority of humanity who have ever lived have never had access to the word of God… and even more important they have never had access to the Holy Spirit of God. Now they will have both and can enter into the process of spiritual creation as well.

Revelation 20:12 with God’s truth and access to His spirit they are prepared to enter into a period of judgment and assessment with God. They’ll be equipped to make informed decisions about their eternal future. They now have the option to be written into the book of life.

Why Didn’t God Make All That Available in the First Place?

Humanity had it all but chose to go their own way instead.

God always allows humanity the freedom to choose. Sadly, from the time of the very first people who ever lived, humanity has chosen to live their lives… to build their societies… to raise their children,  apart from… or cut off from God [that is the story of Adam and Eve… humanity’s free will choice]. God will not allow this separation to go on forever… only long enough to prove a point.

For now, a tiny portion of humanity are called out of that confusion to be part of the first wave of spiritual creation. God likes to start small and watch things grow… like a gardener

However, when the time is right God will raise ALL people to life. They will see the earth after 1,000 years of godly rule. They will live in a society built and governed by Christ… with total access to His truth… and unimpeded access to His Holy Spirit.

They will also be able to contrast and compare the way of life they led before, with the way of life God provides… it will be time to make a choice.   

If they choose life and become converted they, too, will receive eternal life. I expect they too will be changed and receive new bodies made of spirit. It seems logical but scripture is not explicit on this. The primary focus of scripture is to persuade people like you and me to opt in for the “better” resurrection.

Those Who Reject God’s Offer of Salvation Will Reap Eternal Death  

Revelation 20:14-15 The second death is for those who reject God’s offer of salvation.  

Revelation 21: 8 some examples of people who reject God’s way of living

Matthew 10:28 The possibility of permanent annihilation is a teaching of Jesus Himself  

Summary:

Resurrection from the dead and the gift of eternal life is the “hope” of all mankind. To no longer fear or anticipate death. The scriptures teach that ALL will be raised (John 5:28) but that there is an order in which the dead will be resurrected.

The Feast of Trumpets celebrates and proclaims the resurrection of those who are in Christ at His return. the resurrection of the just… the better resurrection. God has the power to give you this… He wants to give it to you.

Choose life! Stay on the path… that leads to eternal existence.