Revelation 20:4-6, “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 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 is an amazing passage of Scripture rich in doctrine. The apostle is taken in a virtual Time Machine of sorts you could say, and sees a heavenly future glimpse of thrones. Do you know who he sees sitting upon those thrones dear reader? Why, if you are a child of God, it is you and me friend! The hair stands up on back of my neck just thinking about it. I hear so many believers moan and groan about their miserable life here on earth, down in the mouth and depressed. Dear saint of God, don't you know that we are going to be made princes and kings of God, to help Jesus reign throughout the 1,000 year Millennium?
But you say, “I don't know anything about being a leader. In high school I was the guy that always missed catching the ball, the pimple-faced nerd that no girl ever wanted to date, the misfit in the school class.” That was me! Friend, if that is you like I was, you have a bright future in Christ! There are no losers in God's family!!! What does the Bible mean by the “first resurrection” and the “second resurrection”? ...
1st Corinthians 15:19-23, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.”
I love how simple the Word of God is.
How Can Jesus Be The “Firstfruits” If Saints Raised Up Before Him?
Let us examine this passage again please:
1st Corinthians 15:19-23, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.”
Jesus died on the cross for our sins. He was buried in a tomb. Three days later He bodily resurrected miraculously from the dead! CHRIST IS FOREVER RISEN!!! The Bible calls Jesus' resurrection the “firstfruits” of all who will be resurrected, because He was the very first to be resurrected. 1st Corinthians 23 teaches that “AFTERWARD they that are Christ's” will be bodily resurrected AT HIS COMING (i.e., at the Rapture). You can read the details about this terrific future event in 1st Corinthians 15:52-58.
Now the following is my speculation, but I think it is reasonable. We read in the Bible that when Christ died on the cross, the graves were opened and some of the bodies of dead saints ressurected and walked into the city of Jerusalem, freaking out the people...
Matthew 27:50-53, “Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.”
Now this appears to be a contradiction doesn't it? How can Christ be the “firstfruits” of all who will be resurrected if these dead saints raised up BEFORE He did? I will tell you what I think, but keep in mind that I cannot prove this Scripturally. Do you remember when Jesus raised up Lazarus from the dead? How then could Jesus be the “firstfruits” of all who will be resurrected if Lazarus was raised up first? The answer is very simple dear friend, Lazarus was brought back to life but he did not receive his glorified resurrected body fashioned like unto the Lord's resurrected body (Philippians 3:21).
Likewise, I believe these dead saints in Matthew whose bodies were raised up from the dead still had their earthly bodies, which eventually had to die again. I think this is the only plausible answer. Several dead people were resurrected throughout the Bible. Elijah raised up a mother's dead son (2nd Kings 4:16-37). The apostle Paul raised a boy from the dead who fell asleep and fell from a second story window (Acts 20:9-12). These people all had to die again. None of them received their glorified bodies. So Christ in fact is the first and only One in history so far Who has raised up in a glorified immortal body. What a great truth!
How do we know that these martyred saints during the Tribulation are not the only believers who will reign as princes and kings with the Lord? What saith the Scripture? ...
Revelation 1:5-6, “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”
Every born-again child of God will be made a prince and a king in the Lord's Kingdom. We shall help reign with Jesus during the 1,000 year Tribulation. We will ALL have our resurrected glorified body after the Rapture. The humans whom we will reign over will still be in their vulnerable and weakened fleshly state. We will have immortal bodies, but they mortal.
Revelation 5:9-10, “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.”
Every redeemed child of God will reign with Christ as kings, princes and priests. We will have different duties and functions without the Kingdom of God, all working together as servants of the Great King. The Bible teaches that he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. Matthew 23:11, “But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.” to the “flesh” who survived thehorrorifying Tribulation period. Matthew 24:22, “And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.” The redeemed humans “flesh” that endure to the end of the 7-year Tribulation will be saved from death.
All of the lost (unbelievers) will perish into Hell. Only born-again believers who survive the Tribulation will go into the Millennium in their mortal human body. We as the Raptured saints (the Church), and those saints killed during the Tribulation who will be resurrected at Christ's Second Coming, will reign with Christ in our immortal new bodies. We will gladly serve in humility with Christ, making the daily lives of people better and serving their communities. We will be servants of the most high King. Revelation 19:15, “And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.”
Literally friend, Jesus is going to reign supreme over this world and He wants us as His friends to help Him to do it! The reason why is stated in Scripture. 1st Corinthians 2:15-16, “But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.” As God's children and Jesus' sheep, we have the MIND OF CHRIST. Every believer has the blessed indwelling Holy Spirit to teach and guide us into all truth. John 16:13, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” Christ's sheep know His VOICE and follow Him. Who else would Jesus choose to reign with Him?
The angels serve God the Father, but we as believers serve the Lord Jesus Christ. We shall reign with Him for 1,000 years. After that there will no longer be a need to reign, because mortal humans will be gone forever. After the Great White Throne of Judgment there won't be any more unsaved people (Revelation 20:11-15). Revelation 21:4-5 beautifully teaches that of the saved (redeemed) that remain, God will wipe away every tear, the former things shall pass away, death and sorrow will be no more, and God will MAKE ALL THINGS NEW. We will ALL have immortal bodies after the Millennium is over. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. Jesus is precious!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.