We have previously shown two types of resurrections
The First Resurrection, the resurrection unto life, which will consist of only the faithful over-comers of the Gospel age, and the resurrection of judgment, or of the unjust, which will be for the remainder of mankind during the millennial age.
An exception-and therefore, perhaps, properly to be called another order of resurrection will be the over-comers of the period previous to Pentecost, the faithful ancient worthies, These having been approved of God, "having obtained a good report"--their trial having already taken place, it will be unnecessary that their restitution out of death and into life should be a gradual work. Their shortcomings went before to judgment (1 Tim 5:24). Their resurrection, therefore, will be an instantaneous one, yet of a different type from that of the Christ, Head, and body.
Let us see what the scriptures say on this matter. In Hebrews the 11th chapter, the apostle Paul mentions but a few of the over-comers of the previous ages*, But “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth (the present order of things).” Heb 11:13
*NOTE: the previous ages to which he was referring were, the Patriarchal age, the time during which God’s dealings and favors were with but a few individuals only, and the Jewish age, when he was specially dealing with that nation, or people only.
What promises? There were many, but the number one promise, which God gave to Abraham, was that,
“… Abraham would surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth would be blessed in him.” Gen 18:18
“… in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed…” Gen 22:18
Abraham died in faith of this promise, he knew that in God’s own good time and way the promise was sure, he had faith in God, and the resurrection, and thus a hope of a place in the natural seed to bless all mankind. It is Important to remember that the faithful of the pass had no knowledge of the spiritual seed, and thus no desire for any heavenly reward. God had not promised any heavenly rewards prior to Jesus’ day.
The faithful of the pass suffered much for their faith, and trust in God’s promises, but they had hope of obtaining “a better resurrection” (Heb 11:35), better, in that they hoped for an awakening from death to instantaneous human perfection. The rest of the world will require a thousand years during which to come back gradually to the original perfection which was lost by Adam.
There is however no direct promise of God in the Law or the Prophets of a special reward, but in the clearer light of the Gospel dispensation, and especially of this day of the Lord, we see the blessed reward that awaits those ancient worthies who shall be made princes in all the earth during the Millennial reign of Christ, (Psa 45:16),
These whose probation being ended, they may from the dawn of their new existence--in the resurrection--be perfect men and exalted to power and great honor and glory. Such was God's purpose towards them in permitting them thus to suffer that he might exalt them in due time. Indeed, they shall shine as the stars forever. (Dan 12:3.) These righteous ones shall be held in everlasting remembrance among the restored human race as noble examples worthy of all honor and imitation.(Psa 112:6)
Yet these all, having obtained a good report through faith, have not as yet received this hope of a better resurrection. Why? Because,
“God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect." Heb 11:39, 40
“Some better thing for us" An even still better resurrection, then that which they hoped for, for ours, if we are proven faithful unto death, is the High Calling to “glory, honor and immortality.”
This manifestation of divine grace toward us is not on account of our greater faith, but because we live in the “acceptable time.” (Isa 49:8; 2 Cor 6:2, 3)
Remember our Lords word on this when speaking to the multitudes,
“Verily I say unto you, among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” Matt 11:11
What did our Lord mean when he said that “he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he”? First off, the Lord said that John the Baptist was the most highly honored of all the prophets, in that to him was committed the honorable service of directly announcing the Savior, but as great as John was, those who are accounted worthy to be the Bride of Christ, and thus joint heirs with him in the spiritual phase of the Kingdom will be greater.
John was not of the Bride class, John tells us this himself, "He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.” John 3:29
As John was not of the Bride class neither were any of the faithful of the pass ages, as this opportunity, or “acceptable time", had not yet come. Only those who have been blood-justified could be invited to the High Calling, and John died before the sacrifice was completed.
Remember Christ was to have the pre-eminence in the Kingdom; therefore it was necessary that he should be the first member of it. The prize of joint-heir-ship with the Lord was not previously open to anyone.
So we see that he who is least in the Kingdom of heaven, that is the spiritual phase, will be greater than the greatest of those who will be in the earthly phase of the Kingdom. The fact that there will be some who are least in the Kingdom implies that there will be those who will be greater, “for one star differs from another star in glory” (1 Cor 15:41)
Next post.
The First Resurrection, the resurrection unto life, which will consist of only the faithful over-comers of the Gospel age, and the resurrection of judgment, or of the unjust, which will be for the remainder of mankind during the millennial age.
An exception-and therefore, perhaps, properly to be called another order of resurrection will be the over-comers of the period previous to Pentecost, the faithful ancient worthies, These having been approved of God, "having obtained a good report"--their trial having already taken place, it will be unnecessary that their restitution out of death and into life should be a gradual work. Their shortcomings went before to judgment (1 Tim 5:24). Their resurrection, therefore, will be an instantaneous one, yet of a different type from that of the Christ, Head, and body.
Let us see what the scriptures say on this matter. In Hebrews the 11th chapter, the apostle Paul mentions but a few of the over-comers of the previous ages*, But “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth (the present order of things).” Heb 11:13
*NOTE: the previous ages to which he was referring were, the Patriarchal age, the time during which God’s dealings and favors were with but a few individuals only, and the Jewish age, when he was specially dealing with that nation, or people only.
What promises? There were many, but the number one promise, which God gave to Abraham, was that,
“… Abraham would surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth would be blessed in him.” Gen 18:18
“… in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed…” Gen 22:18
Abraham died in faith of this promise, he knew that in God’s own good time and way the promise was sure, he had faith in God, and the resurrection, and thus a hope of a place in the natural seed to bless all mankind. It is Important to remember that the faithful of the pass had no knowledge of the spiritual seed, and thus no desire for any heavenly reward. God had not promised any heavenly rewards prior to Jesus’ day.
The faithful of the pass suffered much for their faith, and trust in God’s promises, but they had hope of obtaining “a better resurrection” (Heb 11:35), better, in that they hoped for an awakening from death to instantaneous human perfection. The rest of the world will require a thousand years during which to come back gradually to the original perfection which was lost by Adam.
There is however no direct promise of God in the Law or the Prophets of a special reward, but in the clearer light of the Gospel dispensation, and especially of this day of the Lord, we see the blessed reward that awaits those ancient worthies who shall be made princes in all the earth during the Millennial reign of Christ, (Psa 45:16),
These whose probation being ended, they may from the dawn of their new existence--in the resurrection--be perfect men and exalted to power and great honor and glory. Such was God's purpose towards them in permitting them thus to suffer that he might exalt them in due time. Indeed, they shall shine as the stars forever. (Dan 12:3.) These righteous ones shall be held in everlasting remembrance among the restored human race as noble examples worthy of all honor and imitation.(Psa 112:6)
Yet these all, having obtained a good report through faith, have not as yet received this hope of a better resurrection. Why? Because,
“God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect." Heb 11:39, 40
“Some better thing for us" An even still better resurrection, then that which they hoped for, for ours, if we are proven faithful unto death, is the High Calling to “glory, honor and immortality.”
This manifestation of divine grace toward us is not on account of our greater faith, but because we live in the “acceptable time.” (Isa 49:8; 2 Cor 6:2, 3)
Remember our Lords word on this when speaking to the multitudes,
“Verily I say unto you, among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” Matt 11:11
What did our Lord mean when he said that “he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he”? First off, the Lord said that John the Baptist was the most highly honored of all the prophets, in that to him was committed the honorable service of directly announcing the Savior, but as great as John was, those who are accounted worthy to be the Bride of Christ, and thus joint heirs with him in the spiritual phase of the Kingdom will be greater.
John was not of the Bride class, John tells us this himself, "He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.” John 3:29
As John was not of the Bride class neither were any of the faithful of the pass ages, as this opportunity, or “acceptable time", had not yet come. Only those who have been blood-justified could be invited to the High Calling, and John died before the sacrifice was completed.
Remember Christ was to have the pre-eminence in the Kingdom; therefore it was necessary that he should be the first member of it. The prize of joint-heir-ship with the Lord was not previously open to anyone.
So we see that he who is least in the Kingdom of heaven, that is the spiritual phase, will be greater than the greatest of those who will be in the earthly phase of the Kingdom. The fact that there will be some who are least in the Kingdom implies that there will be those who will be greater, “for one star differs from another star in glory” (1 Cor 15:41)
Next post.
