How
seldom do you hear people talk about the “hereafter.” How rare is a sermon on the subject of “Eternity”.
The greatest teacher on the subject of ‘after
death’ was the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. He made it very clear that we are
more than body, having soul and spirit.
In this blog, I would like to refer to the
Bible teaching about the resurrection. It is referred to in the Old Testament
on many occasions, but for brevity I shall concentrate on the New Testament
teaching.
It was Jesus, who in the sermon on the mount
insisted that heaven was a real, remote place
beyond death. (Matthew 5:12, 6:19) When confronted by the Sadducees about the
resurrection, He made it clear that resurrection was for real, and then He
spoke of the mode of existence of resurrected people (Matthew 22:23). The Lord
taught that in the resurrection there will be rewards [ Luke 14.14].
In John 5:25-29, the Son of God draws back
the curtain concerning the day of resurrection. He Himself will call people out
of the graves. He Himself will be the final judge. The will be two
resurrections – the first to life, the second to judgement. The involvement of
people in these moments of accountability is qualified by verse 24:
“Truly, truly I say to you, whoever hears My word and
believes Him who sent Me has eternal life. He does not come into judgement, but
has passed from death to life.” For those who thus receive Jesus as God’s sent
Son, the resurrection is unto life. For those who chose evil, the resurrection
is unto judgement and eternal damnation.
Again I listen to the voice of the Lord Jesus
– “I am the resurrection and the life” [John 11.25]
These outstanding claims by Jesus are
significant, but more so when we discover that He Himself has been resurrected
from among the dead ones.
He being the first fruits from the dead,
assures us of the validity of His claims and the implications for our
resurrection.
Perhaps I should interrupt and say – this is
not reincarnation. In the resurrection it is the same conscious person, able to
recall with vivid memory the detail of the life lived. [1Corinthians 4, Revelation 20]
Paul , by the Holy Spirit gives details of how
the resurrection will be [1Corinthians 15]. The present body is natural, the resurrected body will be real, but
spiritual ( spirit dominated as was the risen Lord Jesus ). The laws of nature
will be subject to the power of the spirit. Just as the seed dies in the
ground, and a new plant springs up with new life (yet bearing the character of
the original), so is the resurrection.
“Our heavenly bodies will be just like Christ’s” [ 1Corinthians 15.48 ]
This is the note of victory for all
believers:
“Death is swallowed up in victory” [ 1Corithians 15.54 ]
“The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of
the archangel and with the sound of the trumpet of God. The dead in Christ will
rise first . The we which are alive, who are left, will be caught up together
with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be
with the Lord.” [1 Thessalonians 4:16 ]
What a thrilling hope- we do well to say “
Even so come Lord Jesus”
Peter the apostle, looked beyond this present
day of suffering, to the future day when all believers will share in HIS glory,
when it is displayed to all the world. [1 Peter 4.13]
What of those who do not believe in the Son
of God? - the Lord Jesus called it a
resurrection to damnation. He said that only God could destroy body and soul in
hell [Matthew 10.28]. Would a loving God do that? If God is just and true to His word, then He
must.
“Their judgement is based on this fact, the
light of heaven came into the world, but they loved darkness more than light ,
for their actions were evil” [John 3:19].
“For God has set a day for judging the world
with justice by the man He has appointed , and He has proved it to everyone who
this is , by raising Him from the dead.”
[Acts17.31]
This is serious truth – let us ponder it
often
Let me close on this joyful note
“Blessed and holy are those who share in the
first resurrection”
[Revelation 20.6]
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Until He comes again - John McKee
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