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1 THESSALONIANS 4:14
LESSON #08
THE RESURRECTION OF BELIEVERS
v MEMORY VERSE: 1COR 15:22
v READ 1THE 4:14
Ø IN OUR LAST LESSON, WE DISCUSSED THESIGNIFICANCE OF PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL DEATH. HOWEVER, DEATH IS NOT THE END OF THE STORY,ESPECIALLY FOR THE BELIEVER IN JESUS CHRIST. IT IS ONLY THE BEGINNING.
§ AFTER DEATH IS THERESURRECTION.
§ IN OUR LAST LESSON WELEARNED THAT THE GREEK WORD FOR RESURRECTION OF THE BODY IS anastasis. THISGREEK WORD COMES FROM TWO GREEK WORDS histemi WHICH MEANS = TO STAND, AND ana. WHICH MEANS= UP. THEREFORE, THE WORD RESURRECTION MEANS = TO STAND UP.
· THERE ARE SOME WHO SAY THAT, IFTHERE IS A RESURRECTION, IT IS A SPIRITUAL RESURRECTION AND NOT A PHYSICAL ONE. HOWEVER,THE MEANING OF THE WORD, RESURRECTION, INDICATES A PHYSICAL RESURRECTION WHERE THE BODYSTANDS UP. THE DEATH PROCESS IN THE PHYSICAL BODY IS REVERSED.
v READ ROM 8:11
v READ 1COR 15:3-6, 12-58
Ø THE EIGHT BIBLICAL RESURRECTIONS AND THEIRPROPHETIC SIGNIFICANCE:
§ THE EIGHT RESURRECTIONS INTHE BIBLE, OTHER THAN THAT OF JESUS CHRIST, GIVE US GODS PROPHETIC TIMETABLEREGARDING ISRAEL AND NEW LIFE.
· -1- ELIJAH AND THE GENTILEWIDOWS SON–1KIN 17:22-24
¨ A PROPHETIC ILLUSTRATION OF THE FIRSTRESURRECTION OF THE NATION OF ISRAEL AFTER CAPTIVITY IN THE FOREIGN LAND OF EGYPT.
· -2- ELISHA AND THE RICH JEWISHWOMANS SON–2KIN 4:9-10
¨ A PROPHETIC ILLUSTRATION OF THE SECONDRESURRECTION OF THE NATION OF ISRAEL AFTER THE BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY.
· -3- THE MAN AND ELISHASBONES–2KIN 13:20-21
¨ A PROPHETIC ILLUSTRATION OF THE THIRDRESURRECTION OF THE NATION OF ISRAEL IN 1948, AND PROPHESIED BY EZEKIEL IN HIS VISION OFTHE DRY BONES (EZE 37)
· -4- THE TWELVE YEAR OLD GIRL–MAT9:25
¨ A PROPHETIC ILLUSTRATION OF THE RISE OF THEBABYLONIAN EMPIRE THAT TOOK CARE OF ISRAEL.
· -5- THE WIDOWS SON–LUK7:12-15
¨ A PROPHETIC ILLUSTRATION OF THE RISE OF THEMEDO-PERSIAN EMPIRE ON WHICH ISRAEL DEPENDED DURING THE TIME OF THE BOOK OF ESTHER.
· -6- LAZARUS–JOH 11:43-44
¨ A PROPHETIC ILLUSTRATION OF THE RISE OF THEGREEK EMPIRE WHEN ISRAEL WAS AN INDEPENDENT NATION YET DEAD IN SIN FOR 4,000 YEARS(LAZARUS WAS DEAD 4 DAYS).
· -7- TABITHA (DORCAS)–ACT9:36-37, 40-42
¨ A PROPHETIC ILLUSTRATION OF THE RISE OF THEROMAN EMPIRE DURING WHICH TIME JESUS CAME TO DIE FOR MANS SINS. THE BIBLE SAYS THATBECAUSE OF THIS RESURRECTION MANY BELIEVED IN THE LORD.
· -8- EUTYCHUS–ACT 20:7-12
¨ THE BIBLICAL NUMBER 8 IS THE PROPHETIC NUMBERFOR NEW BEGINNINGS.
Ø THE BOOK OF DANIEL TALKS ABOUT THE RISE OFANOTHER ROMAN EMPIRE IN THE LAST DAYS AFTER THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH WHEN BELIEVERS ARERESURRECTED.
Ø IT IS DURING THE END TIME THAT THE NATION OFISRAEL FINALLY ACCEPTS JESUS CHRIST AS HER MESSIAH.
§ THE RESURRECTION OF JESUSCHRIST, THE FIRSTFRUITS (1COR 15:20-23)
· AS WE HAVE LEARNED, THERE WEREOTHER PEOPLE RAISED FROM THE DEAD BEFORE THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST. THERE WERE SOMEIN THE OLD TESTAMENT, AND SOME RAISED BY JESUS BEFORE HIS CRUCIFIXION. THEREFORE, JESUSWAS NOT THE FIRST TO BE RAISED.
¨ IF JESUS WAS NOT THE FIRST, WHAT DOESFIRSTFRUITS MEAN?
Ø JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD NEVER TO DIE AGAIN.OTHER PEOPLE RAISED FROM THE DEAD, LIKE LAZARUS, HAD TO DIE AGAIN. THEREFORE, JESUS IS THEFIRST NEVER TO DIE AGAIN.
Ø THE TERM FIRSTFRUITS IS ANAGRICULTURAL TERM THAT REFERS TO THE HARVEST.
§ WHEN THE ISRAELITESHARVESTED A CROP, THEY KNEW THAT THE CROP WAS A BLESSING GIVEN BY GOD. THEREFORE, THEWHOLE CROP BELONGED TO GOD. HOWEVER, AS THANKS TO GOD, THEY TOOK THE FIRST SMALL PART OFTHE HARVESTED CROP TO THE TEMPLE AND PRESENTED IT TO GOD AS A SACRIFICE OFFERING. IT WASCALLED THE FIRSTFRUITS BECAUSE THE LANDOWNER HAD FAITH THAT GOD WOULD SUPPLY AFULL HARVEST AFTER THAT.
Ø JESUS CHRIST PRESENTED HIMSELF AS THEFIRSTFRUITS OFFERING. HE TRUSTED HIS HEAVENLY FATHER THAT GOD WOULD LATER PROVIDE AFULL HARVEST OF BELIEVERS. ALL BELIEVERS IN JESUS CHRIST ARE THAT FULL HARVEST THAT GODWILL REAP AT THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH.
§ PAUL TELLS US IN 1COR 15THAT BECAUSE CHRIST RAISED FROM THE DEAD, WE WILL ALSO RAISE FROM THE DEAD BECAUSE WE ARETHE FINAL HARVEST.
v THE FIRST AND SECOND RESURRECTION:
Ø READ REV 7:9 REV 20:5-6
§ WHAT IS THE FIRSTRESURRECTION?
· THE FIRST RESURRECTION IS THERESURRECTION TO ETERNAL LIFE FOR ALL BELIEVERS IN JESUS CHRIST.
¨ THIS RESURRECTION OF BELIEVERS OCCURS INVARIOUS STAGES:
Ø THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH WHEN NEW TESTAMENTCHURCH AGE BELIEVERS RECEIVE A NEW IMMORTAL BODY.
Ø THE RESURRECTION OF TRIBULATION MARTYRS ANDOLD TESTAMENT BELIEVERS WHO HAD FAITH IN A COMING MESSIAH. THEY ARE RESURRECTED WHEN JESUSCHRIST RETURNS AT THE EVENT OF THE SECOND COMING. (DAN 12:1-3)
Ø MORTAL BELIEVERS FROM THE MILLENNIAL AGERECEIVE A NEW IMMPORTAL BODY AT THE END OF THE MILLENNIUM.
§ WHAT IS THE SECONDRESURRECTION?
· THE SECOND RESURRECTION IS THERESURRECTION TO ETERNAL HELL FOR ALL NON-BELIEVERS FROM ALL OF HUMAN HISTORY.
¨ USUALLY WHEN CHRISTIANS TALK ABOUTRESURRECTION, THEY HAVE IN MIND A RESURRECTION TO ETERNAL LIFE. CHRISTIANS OFTEN DO NOTREALIZE THAT ALL HUMAN BEINGS ARE EVENTUALLY RAISED FROM THE DEAD.
Ø WHEN GOD CREATED MAN IN THE BOOK OF GENESIS,HE CREATED MAN TO LIVE FOREVER. IF MAN IS TO LIVE FOREVER IN SOME STATE OR OTHER, THENTHERE MUST BE A RESURRECTION OF NON-BELIEVERS.
§ READ REV 20:11-15
· NOTICE THAT THE SCRIPTURE SAYSTHEY STAND UP BEFORE GOD (RESURRECTED).
¨ THIS SECOND RESURRECTION OCCURS AT THE FINALGREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT.
Ø THE RESTORATION OF ALL CREATURES:
§ READ ROM 8:19-23
· ALL ANIMAL CREATION WAITS FOR OURRESURRECTION SO THAT THEY CAN BE RESTORED AS WELL. ACCORDING TO THESE VERSES, THEY ALSOWAIT FOR LIBERTY FROM THE BONDAGE OF MORTAL CORRUPTION, JUST AS BELIEVERS DO.
v CHANGED IN THE TWINKLING OF AN EYE (1COR 15:52 1THE 4:52)
Ø THESE VERSES TELL US THAT THE DEAD IN CHRISTWILL BE RAISED INCORRUPTIBLE. WHAT IS AN INCORRUPTIBLE BODY?
§ READ 1JOH 3:2
§ READ PHI 3:21
· WE WILL BE LIKE HIM. OURRESURRECTED BODIES WILL BE LIKE HIS RESURRECTED BODY.
¨ WHAT WAS JESUS RESURRECTED BODY LIKEWHEN HE APPEARED TO HIS DISCIPLES AFTER HIS RESURRECTION?
Ø HE HAD AN ABILITY TO SPEAK AND BE HEARD (LUK24:25)
Ø HE HAD AN ABILITY TO EAT (LUK 24:30,43)
Ø HE HAD AN ABILITY TO DISAPPEAR AT WILL (LUK24:31)
Ø HE HAD FLESH AND BONE BUT NO BLOOD (LUK24:39)
Ø HE COULD BE TOUCHED AND FELT (LUK 24:39)
Ø HE HAD AN ABILITY TO PASS THROUGH WALLS NOTBEING LIMITED TO TIME OR SPACE (JOH 20:19)
¨ OTHER SCRIPTURAL CHARACTERISTICS OF OUR NEWBODY:
Ø THE NEW BODY WILL HAVE NO NEED FOR SEX ORMARRIAGE. (MAT 22:30)
Ø THE NEW BODY WILL NOT BE SUBJECT TO SIN ANDDEATH. (1COR 15:47-49)
Ø THE BELIEVER DOES NOT BECOME ANANGEL. (1COR 15:38-40)
· THERE IS A POPULAR BELIEF INSOCIETY TODAY THAT GOOD PEOPLE BECOME ANGELS WHEN THEY DIE. THIS IDEA DOES NOT COME FROMTHE BIBLE. THE BIBLE IS CLEAR TO INDICATE THAT ANGELS ARE SEPARATE CREATED BEINGS.
¨ 1COR 15:38-40 SAYS THAT THE RESURRECTED BODYBECOMES ONE OF THE SAME TYPE. IN OTHER WORDS A HUMAN BECOMES A GLORIFIED HUMAN.
v HOMEWORK
v 1THESSALONIANS4:15
THIS IS A SELF-STUDY. PLEASE DO NOT SEND HOMEWORK ANSWERSTO THE TEACHER FOR CORRECTION.
v APPLICATION FOR 1THE 4:14
Ø WHAT NEW IDEAS HAVE YOU LEARNED ABOUT OURFUTURE RESURRECTION THAT CONTRADICT WHAT YOU ORIGINALLY HAD THOUGHT?
v PREPARATION FOR 1THE 4:15
Ø READ 1THE 4:15
Ø READ MAT 24:3-44
§ MAKE A LIST OF THE SIGNS OFTHE END TIMES.
§ DOES MAT 24:37-42, WHERETHERE ARE TWO IN THE FIELD WITH ONE TAKEN AND ONE LEFT, REFER TO THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCHOR TO THE EVENT OF THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST? HOW DO YOU KNOW?
v MEMORY VERSE: 1CORINTHIANS 1:30
