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Two Resurrections, The Introduction: How many times have you gone to a funeral or been at a graveside service and heard the preachers talk about "the resurrection?" Perhaps 1 Corinthians 15.50-57 is read. We speak of the resurrection, a time when those who have passed away will be raised from the grave. Various teachings can be heard about the resurrection, some of it true and some of it false. We want to examine some of the various ideas people have and then see what the Bible says. I) False Ideas A) Premillennialist teach 1. Jesus will come and then there will be the "rapture" where the faithful will be taken up into the sky with Jesus. a. The wicked dead will remain in the grave. b. The wicked living will remain here and there will be all kinds of chaos. 2. After 7 years of tribulation, Jesus will return and have the great battle, Satan will be defeated, and cast into the pit. Jesus will rule on the throne of David for 1000 years. 3. Then all left in the grave will be raised and we will have the day of judgment. a. "Astonishing as man's trip to the moon is, there is another trip which many men, women, and children will take some day which will leave the rest of the world gasping. Those who remain on earth at that time will use every invention of the human mind to explain the sudden disappearance of millions of people... The Late Great Planet Earth, Hal Lindsey. Remember the "Left Behind Series"? b. "The resurrection of life, or first resurrection, will include all believers (in stages), and the resurrection of judgment will involve unbelievers at the end of the Millennium (Rev. 20.11-15) -- Ryrie Bible 4. Often been said that Premillennialism has too many comings of Christ, and too many resurrections. B) Jehovah Witnesses and others teach there is only one resurrection 1. Only the righteous will be raised from the grave. They will go to heaven. 2. The wicked will remain in the grave, hell is the grave. a. Jehovah Witnesses teach this because they deny man possesses a soul. They believe man is a soul, his physical being is his soul. They believe the resurrection will be a physical, bodily resurrection. b. Other deny hell as being real. Homer Hailey did not believe in hell as a place of eternal fire or torment. Why? 4. Old Testament example of "eternal punishment", Sodom and Gomorrah. Genesis 19.23-29 a. Jude 7, "as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire." i. What Is Said: The fire, the destruction, wrath are all eternal, because they emanate from God who is eternal. ii. What Is Not Said: It is not said that the burning of the cities, or the individuals represented by the chaff, tares, or branches continue to turn for ever and ever. The fire is eternal but these things are consumed. iii. Nothing about continuous burning, or of being burned again in the future. 5. New Testament examples: a. The chaff being burned up, Matthew 3.11-12 b. Tares being burned up, Matthew 13.24-30, esp. v. 30 c. Vine Branches, John 15.1-10, esp. v. 6 6. God's Judgments and Punishment (Individuals & Nations), page 146. Nothing about continuous burning, or of being burned again in the future. 7. Homer Hailey has one resurrection, the righteous being raised but not the wicked. II) Jesus Says There Will Be Two Resurrections, John 5.24-29 A) Resurrection of life and condemnation 1. They are not separated by 1000 years, 1 Thess. 4.13-17. 2. No one will be left in the grave, 1 Corinthians 15.20-26. 3. It will be a spiritual resurrection, 1 Corinthians 15.35,38,42-44. 4. No one will remain on the earth, heaven is not here, 2 Peter 3.10-12. B) The resurrection of life 1. Those who have been faithful to the Lord, John 5.24, Revelation 20.12. 2. The statement of judgment and salvation will be according to God's word, Johan 5.26+27,30;12.48. Some have concluded that the righteous will not stand before God or Christ in judgment. They neglect other passages that speaks of all mankind being judged. a. Matthew 25.31-33 all nations refers to all peoples. b. 2 Corinthians 5.10 every person will appear before the judgment seat. Obviously those obedient to God will be judged worthy of eternal life. C) The resurrection of condemnation 1. Those who have not obeyed the Gospel of Christ, 2 Thessalonians 1.7-8 2. The word judge and judgment can refer to the sentence of condemnation, Romans 2.1-3. 3. Those who have done evil will be condemned, Revelation 20.13-15. 4. They will experience the second death, eternal separation from God forever. Conclusion: Why this study? We need to be ready to face the Day of Judgment because it will come. We cannot take consolation in the idea that we may just remain in the grave. At least we will not be suffering any punishment. Jesus wants us to know and understand that we will pay for our sins. Only when we understand the penalty of sin can be appreciate the gift of God. Jesus died so we can have the resurrection of life. |