Category: The Gospel

Knowing Jesus as Son of Man – The Coming Glorious Judge

This article focuses on Jesus’ fourth ministry or role as the glorious Son of Man who will return to the earth to judge the living and the dead as prophesied the Lord himself and is found in the prophecy of Daniel. The first three roles – Lamb of God, Son of God, and Baptizer in the Holy Spirit – have already been fulfilled and are available to every person to experience, but his last role still waits for its fulfillment.

Here are John’s words.

But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to watch him baptize, he denounced them. “You brood of snakes!” he exclaimed. “Who warned you to flee God’s coming wrath? 8  Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. 9  Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones. 10  Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire. 11  “I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 12  He is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire.” Matthew 3:7-12 (NLT)

Even though John did not specifically call Jesus the “Son of Man,” the above passage fully describes his role as the Judge of all the earth.

Although Jesus’ death as God’s Lamb was crucial to our salvation, acknowledging his lordship is the criteria Paul gives for obtaining the benefits of that death and resurrection. (Romans 10:9-10) When we confess that Jesus is Lord, we acknowledge and voluntarily choose to come under his rule, which is the fundamental act of repentance. For the last two thousand years or so, we have been in the Great Commission phase of God’s plan, which the Bible calls the “last days.” As this epoch draws to a close, we anticipate the fulfillment of Jesus’ prophesy that he gave the night of his betrayal at the miscarriage of justice that was his trial before the Sanhedrin.

When Jesus stood before that group, whose determined purpose was to condemn him to death, those men asked him if he were indeed the Messiah King of Israel. In their minds, such a confession would justify their accusing him of blasphemy against God and treachery against Rome, earning him the death penalty. Instead of remaining silent, as any defendant usually does, Jesus gave them everything they wanted and more. Instead of merely affirming that he was the Messiah, he also identified himself as the glorious and divine Son of Man prophesied by Daniel.

But Jesus remained silent. Then the high priest said to him, “I demand in the name of the living God—tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.” 64  Jesus replied, “You have said it. And in the future you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Matthew 26:63-64 (NLT)

Daniel’s prophecy described a glorious heavenly being who will judge everyone who ever lived. (Daniel 7:13-14) At this future point in history, which is surely coming, there will no longer be any doubt at all for anyone as to Jesus’ true identity.

When God dissolves the firmament (2 Peter 3:10), revealing God’s glorious presence above us, naysayers will no longer be able to claim that our Lord was merely a prophet or a fine teacher. No longer will anyone be able to say that he was a mythical person. No one will say that his resurrection was a fable concocted by his devious followers. At that point in history, everyone will see him in his terrifying glory.

Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”Revelation 1:7-8 (ESV)

Before his return, God gives people the opportunity to hear the gospel’s call to bow the knee to Jesus, the Lord of Lords. What we do in response to this call is on us and will determine our eternal destiny.

On that glorious day when Jesus returns as the Son of Man, it will be too late. On that day, every knee will be forced to bow and every tongue confess who he is. No longer will there be an option.

Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, 10  that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11  and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9-11 (NLT)

Although God the Father continues to mercifully delay the end, and Jesus continues to show mercy to those who ask him for forgiveness, do not think for a moment that he is too weak or kindly to enforce God’s justice and wrath at the proper time. Though he is patient, God the Father does not wink at sin or coddle rebellion against his Son’s rule. There is coming a day of judgment.

Those who do not tap into the river of God’s mercy by declaring allegiance to the risen Messiah King, the Lamb who was slain, will rue their mistake at the Second Coming when God’s judgment comes down like a hammer.

The Book of Revelation teaches us that we who believe will rejoice in God’s judgment of the wicked.

After this, I heard what sounded like a vast crowd in heaven shouting, “Praise the LORD! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God. 2  His judgments are true and just. He has punished the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality. He has avenged the murder of his servants.” 3  And again their voices rang out: “Praise the LORD! The smoke from that city ascends forever and ever!” 4  Then the twenty-four elders and the four living beings fell down and worshiped God, who was sitting on the throne. They cried out, “Amen! Praise the LORD!” 5  And from the throne came a voice that said, “Praise our God, all his servants, all who fear him, from the least to the greatest.” Revelation 19:1-5 (NLT)

Until Christ returns we preach a gospel of hope to those who are willing to repent and declare allegiance to the risen Lord Jesus, but that gospel contains the warning of impending judgment.

God’s mercy can only be properly understood against the backdrop of looming wrath.

Just as artists use darkness to contrast with light, the gospel uses the beauty of God’s mercy to contrast with the horrors of divine judgment. If God is simply a heavenly smiley face who never judges anyone, our gospel message is farcical. Why on earth would Jesus have to die, in that case? He would be a misguided tragic figure at best. But, in fact, our Lord absorbed the wrath of God on the cross on our behalf so that we will be able to escape God’s wrath at the Last Judgment. (1 Thessalonians 5:9) The gospel holds out to us the promise that all who call upon the Lord will be shown mercy. This is the gospel that Peter preached. (Acts 2:40) It is the gospel Paul preached. (Acts 17:30-31) It is the gospel John the Baptist preached. It is what Jesus preached. How we respond to this good news will make all the difference for eternity.

Prayer

Jesus, I recognize that you are my Savior and Lord. I declare allegiance and submit my life to you. Help me to tell others about who you are and what you did for us so that they, too, may escape your wrath on the day of judgment. Thank you for your continued mercy. Amen.

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Son of God – Knowing Jesus as Lord

Not only did John the Baptist announce that Jesus is God’s Lamb, he also told the world that he is God’s Son, which is another way of saying that he is the Messianic King, the Christ, and the Lord of Lords.

“This is He on behalf of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’ 31 “I did not recognize Him, but so that He might be manifested to Israel, I came baptizing in water.” 32 John testified saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him. 33 “I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’ 34 “I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.” John 1:30-34 (NASB)

This declaration corresponds to what is perhaps the most important revelation each individual person must receive from God in order to be saved.

Unless we understand by the Spirit that Jesus is Lord, we cannot be born again.

If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. Romans 10:9–10 (NLT)

In the previous article, I showed how John the Baptist introduced Jesus to Israel and the world as the Lamb of God who takes away our sins. Jesus was able to forgive sins because he is the God-man, the eternal Word of God who became a human. This enabled him to be a perfect offering, without the blemish of sin, fulfilling the Old Covenant sacrificial requirements. Not only was it a shocking announcement that Jesus would be a human sacrifice to provide forgiveness of sins, but that also this blessing would be extended to the whole world! Jesus was not simply a Jewish savior, he was and is the savior of the world! (1 John 4:14) Likewise, when the God-man rose from the grave, he did so as the Lord of all creation, not just the Jews!

The Pharisees quickly recognized that Jesus had to be equal to God in order to forgive sins.

“Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming; who can forgive sins but God alone?” Mark 2:7 (NASB)

Jesus was put to death for claiming to be God, and thereby Lord, not simply because he forgave. The early disciples were martyred for declaring that Jesus is Lord, not simply that he is Savior.

The world system does not object very much to our believing that Jesus is our “personal savior,” but it will resist any claims that he is lord over all creation.

The Antichrist and those influenced by that spirit of rebellion refuse to bow the knee to Jesus, the King. Our Lord was put to death because the Jewish religious leaders and Roman authorities condemned him for claiming to be the Messiah King of Israel and God’s Son.

The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and by that law He ought to die because He made Himself out to be the Son of God.” John 19:7 (NASB)

Our witness as followers of Christ is that the crucified Savior is now the risen Lord.

Consider the following verses.

He [Jesus] *said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. Matthew 16:15-17 (NASB)

Nathanael answered Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel.” John 1:49 (NASB)

Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him. 1 John 5:1 (NASB)

Here is where the true gospel radically departs from consumerism. The proclamation that Jesus forgives our sins appeals to our consumer instincts. We get something for nothing. Who can beat that? But what it means to be a Christ follower does not stop here.

The announcement that Jesus is Lord flips consumerism on its head.

Jesus died as God’s Lamb, doing for us what we could never do for ourselves – pay for our sins, but he rose as the Lord of Lords, who deserves and expects our worship and obedience.

and he was shown to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 1:4 (NLT)

The primary revelation each person must receive in order to be a born-again follower of Christ pertains to our Jesus’ identity as Lord, who he is now. First and foremost, he is the risen Lord, the King of Kings, and the Son of God.

Seeing (believing) who Jesus is by revelation and faith and acknowledging his identity and greatness is what saves us.

...if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. Romans 10:9-10 (NASB)

Jesus asked his disciples to tell him how they understood his identity in order to discern if the Holy Spirit had yet opened their spiritual eyes. Our Lord did not make it easy for people. He did not say, “Repeat after me: you are the Son of God.” He depended on the Spirit to do the inner work in people’s hearts, just as we must. To try to help people “get saved” by some other method, such as asking them to repeat a prayer as their entry point into the new birth, can give people a false sense of security, if the prayer is not accompanied by revelation, repentance, and faith. Praying for Jesus to reveal himself to us as we surrender ourselves to him is perhaps a better way to go about it. God is looking for honesty and reality, not easy-believism. The Holy Spirit is perfectly able and willing to communicate to people what they need to know about Jesus. If we believe this, we will understand that we must never skip over the crucial step of a person’s receiving revelation about Christ from the Spirit. We will encourage our hearers to seek God until they find him.

The essence of the Christian faith is our acknowledgement of and surrender to Jesus the Lord. Anything less is suspect of being false.

Surrendering to Jesus’ lordship leads to repentance and turning away from our deeply ingrained determination to live independently from God.

Repentance, combined with the declaration that Jesus is Lord, is the antidote to the poison of self-centered living.

Prayer

Jesus, I understand now that you require me to abandon my quest to live independently from your lordship. I repent from my sinful determination to do as a please without regard for your will. I ask you to forgive me and set me free to live as your joyful servant. I acknowledge and confess that you are the risen Lord of Lords. Holy Spirit, help me to boldly tell others about Jesus. Amen.

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The Lamb of God – Knowing Jesus as Savior

Introduction

The first announcement John the Baptist made concerning his cousin, Jesus, was that he was the Lamb of God.

The Lord gave John the privilege and responsibility of introducing Jesus the Messiah to Israel and the world.

Although he did not do any known miracles and only a few of his words are recorded in Scripture, Jesus declared that John was the greatest of the prophets. Greatness in God’s eyes is often very different from how we perceive it.

John announced four important aspects of Jesus’ person and work, which we would never have grasped on our own and which are integral to the gospel.

John announced that Jesus is the Lamb of God, the Son of God, the Baptizer in the Holy Spirit, and the Son of Man. Each of these titles has tremendous significance and defines an important aspect of our Lord’s person and work. I will describe the importance of each of these titles in this and the following three articles.

The Lamb of God – Knowing Jesus as Savior
The next day he [John the Baptist] *saw Jesus coming to him and *said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! John 1:29 (NASB)

I imagine that John shocked his followers by telling them that Jesus was God’s Lamb. Our impression of a lamb is probably a cute, gentle, and cuddly animal. But for the Israelites, this designation brought to mind the blood sacrifice and perhaps the prophet Isaiah’s words.

He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth. Isaiah 53:7 (NKJV)

How many of them at that moment grasped that this meant that Jesus would be a human sacrifice? Not since Abraham’s day had such a thing been heard. Would God the Father actually sacrifice his Son? Looking back from our present day, the answer, of course, is yes, but try to put yourself in that time before the crucifixion and resurrection. How would they have conceived that God would carry through on the act he foreshadowed when he asked Abraham to slay his son Isaac, the son of promise, his only son by Sarah? Whereas God the Father relented and spared Isaac, Abba allowed his own Son to die an excruciating death to expiate the sins of his enemies.

For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. Romans 5:10–11 (NKJV)

Amazing grace! Only by the shedding Jesus’ blood on the cross could God the Father forgive our sins.

The perfect Lamb made the perfect sacrifice that inaugurated the perfect covenant.

Even though John prophesied these words, I doubt that even he fully understood them. Jesus, however, grasped their import and what being God’s Lamb would cost him. At the Last Supper, he made this announcement to his bewildered disciples. Taking the cup of wine, he told them:

“...This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. Luke 22:20 (ESV)

Probably most people who call themselves Christians know Jesus primarily as the Lamb of God, the One who died for our sins. Another way of describing this role is to call him Savior.

Those of us who become followers of Christ must first know Jesus as Savior before we can go forward on our discipleship journey.

We must first of all be forgiven, declared “not guilty,” and reconciled to Abba Father. Otherwise, we are imprisoned in the realm of darkness, sin, and Satan. Putting our faith and allegiance in God’s Lamb opens the door wide for us to become one of God’s born-again children, part of his eternal family.

If there is a “down side” to this, many of those who acknowledge Jesus as Savior may go little further in their understanding of who Jesus is.

Jesus is Savior, but he is so much more, and the Spirit of God wants us to know him in each way John prophesied.

In our consumer culture, it is only natural that Jesus would be presented and received in terms of what he can do for us, but the full gospel is not consumer oriented.

Whenever the complete gospel is presented, the benefit of experiencing forgiveness through the sacrifice of the Lamb is always in the context of radical surrender to his Lordship.

Presenting forgiveness without the call to surrender our total being to God is a distortion that can influence people away from following the Lord in joyful obedience as a way of life. Jesus said that his disciples must enter through a narrow gate and walk a narrow path in order to follow him. Preaching only forgiveness without Lordship, is much too wide a gate and path and can hinder a person’s development as a disciple. The Lordship of Christ will be the subject of the next article.

With that being said, it is absolutely proper and necessary to proclaim the forgiveness of sins. Jesus told us to do so.

Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and He said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. Luke 24:45-47 (NASB)

 

Prayer

Jesus, thank you for dying for my sins as the perfect Lamb of God. I receive from you, my Savior, the forgiveness that I could never earn. Thank you, Father God, that you have declared me to be “not guilty” in your sight because of what your Son did on the cross by taking my sins upon himself. Thank you for raising him from the dead to be my Lord, too. Thank you for making me part of your forever family. Come, Holy Spirit, fill me to overflowing. Reveal more and more about what the Bible says about Jesus to me. Help me to live for Jesus from now on. Amen.

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Silent Belief Reveals a Lot

Gospel in a Minute

Have you ever felt convicted by God’s Spirit because you chose to be silent about your faith in Jesus? If we have the courage to publicly confess Jesus, it reveals that we value God’s praise more than men’s. 

Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. John 12:42–43 (NKJV)

Evil generally is unashamedly vocal and perfectly willing to vilify and shame anyone standing for truth. The Old Testament prophets usually were very unpopular because they spoke unwelcome words of truth. They had to choose between bowing to obedience to God or to the intimidation of men. The same is true for followers of Christ today. If we stand for biblical truth and Jesus, we will suffer persecution, sometimes from other believers, but usually from the world.

If we want the praise of God, we may have to forsake the praise of men by refusing to be silent.

Keep my soul, and deliver me; Let me not be ashamed, for I put my trust in You. 21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, For I wait for You. Psalm 25:20–21 (NKJV)
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Chapter 80: The Last Judgment

Next to receiving a visit from the Grim Reaper, perhaps the most feared future event for many people is the prospect of facing God in judgment after death. Most of us realize that we have failed to live up to God’s holy standards of righteousness and wonder what he will say to us. Many, however, do not believe that God will judge people at all. They hold that God either does not exist or loves people too much to condemn anyone and will benevolently give everyone a “pass.” Such a view has God ignoring all sin and injustice in the name of love. He is ready to admit everyone to eternal bliss, even those who despised God and took pleasure in evil and hurting others. What does the Bible have to say?

Everything as we know it now will come to an end one day. Everything in this world upon which people pin their hopes will eventually cease to exist. According to the Bible, even the earth and heavens will “wear out like a garment” and pass away. (Psalm 102:25-26, Isaiah 51:6, Hebrews 1:10-12) In their place will be something new and amazing. But until that day arrives, the Bible teaches us that when our physical lives are completed, we will die, and, after that comes judgment.

And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, 28 so also Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.  Hebrews 9:27–28 (NLT)

Whether we look toward that day with dread or delight depends on our relationship with the Judge.

Does Justice Matter to God?

I know a man who insists that God will never judge or condemn anyone; yet, I saw this person become very angry over a perceived injustice. Something in him hates it when anyone is treated unfairly. What gives? Can we have it both ways? Can we believe that a loving God does not really care about injustice when we care so much?

The truth is that if God is not just, he is not good.

No amount of love and forbearance allows a judge to overlook crimes against humanity. Very imperfect humans expect more from other humans. Either God is just, or he is not good and loving.

The Bible says that God loves justice. It is part of his nature.

The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he. Deuteronomy 32:4 (ESV)

God’s justice, which is part of his goodness and character, poses a huge problem for us.

Injustice is rooted in the human condition due to the perversion produced by sin. Even though people seem to universally hate injustice, we are all guilty perpetrators of the same to some degree or another.

Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. 2  We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. Romans 2:1-2 (ESV) 

God is good and we are not. God is just and we are not. Therefore, we have a problem. We hate injustice, but we don’t want to have to face up to our own sins and failures. Ultimately, however, we will answer to God for our own participation in injustice and evil.

Jesus, the Judge

Jesus taught his disciples that he has authority to judge all people.

Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 26  For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27  And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. 28  Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice 29  and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment. John 5:25-29 (ESV)

No one I know has died and come back to life. Granted, some tell of having near death or temporary death experiences from which they recovered. I believe that these should be viewed somewhat skeptically, unless they agree with the Bible. Even then, we realize that it is one thing to be dead for three days and rise again compared to being “out” for a few minutes.

Jesus the Lord is the only person who died and rose again without ever dying again.

According to the Bible, he pre-existed before coming to earth (John 1:1), at which time he took upon himself our human condition minus our inherited “sin nature,” in fulfillment of promises made to Abraham (Genesis 22:18) and King David (2 Samuel 7:12-13). Fulfilling the prophecies of Isaiah (Isaiah 53:4-6) and John the Baptist (John 1:29), he gave up his life as a sacrifice for our sins. Three days later, he rose again from the dead, demonstrating that his sacrifice on our behalf was accepted by God. His resurrection also vindicated Jesus in the eyes of his disciples and all who would later believe in him. Forty days later he ascended into heaven, where he now rules as Lord of Lords and from where he poured out the Holy Spirit upon the church. (Acts 2:32-36) The Bible says that, at the appointed time, he will return to judge the living and the dead.

And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. Acts 10:42 (ESV)

Jesus’ voluntary sacrificial death and resurrection can only be understood against the demands of God’s justice.

Mankind in general and each of us individually owed God a just debt in payment for our sins that we were completely unable to pay. Bankrupt people cannot pay off their creditors. Jesus, who lived in complete submission to his heavenly Father, was the only one with enough spiritual “credit” (righteousness) who could pay the debt, which he did at great cost to himself. The “wages” of sin is death, which is what Jesus paid. (Romans 6:23) In recognition for his amazing act of sacrificial love and obedience, God the Father elevated Jesus to the highest rank in the universe – Lord of Lords.

And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  Philippians 2:8–11 (NKJV)

Jesus is now the One God the Father chose to one day judge all people to finally set things right in the universe with respect to divine justice.

God’s Standard of Judgment
As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire.10  A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened. Daniel 7:9-10 (ESV)

Daniel the prophet was given this vision of the coming Day of the Lord, when God will judge all people who ever lived. This heavenly courtroom scene is both majestic and terrible. The Judge is Someone called the Ancient of Days, whose presence creates awe and dread. Is there anything here on earth that can prepare us for what that day will be like?

“And the books were opened.” If you are like me, I would like to know what are those books? Is there something in them about you and me? God gave John the apostle a similar vision when he was exiled on the Isle of Patmos for his bold testimony and faith in Jesus the Messiah. Here is his written record of that experience.

Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. 12  And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. 13  And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. 14  Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15  And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:11-15 (ESV)

According to this and other Bible passages, the books that will be opened before the Ancient of Days contain a written record of how each of us lived here on earth during the time allotted to us.

This will include, according to Jesus, not only what we did, but also what we said. (Matthew 12:36) Our utterances are what we might consider to be verbal deeds. And according to the Bible, even our thoughts and intentions will be made known, which makes this an even more horrifying spectacle. (Hebrews 4:12, Ecclesiastes 12:14) None of us desires our worst thoughts to be made public, but that is what is going to happen. Imagine a book that contains all the thoughts, words, and deeds we ever had or did!

Another question we might ask ourselves is by what standard our thoughts, words, and deeds will be measured? Will we be compared to other people from our socio-economic group who lived about the same time as we, or will we be graded against all people who ever lived? Will we only be scored against others from our own religious grouping, or against all other world religions? Will we be graded “on a curve,” which would allow most of us to pass, despite our poor showing? But what if some, as is often the case, did so well that a normal “curve” no longer applies? What if someone made a perfect score? And what if we did not even believe that there was such a person as the Ancient of Days? Will we get a do over?

The Bible reveals that the Law is God’s standard for judging people. It reveals to us what God’s holiness looks like and what he expects of us.

The Ten Commandments are the bare essence of this standard. When we consider our lives against these commands, some of us might think we will come away fairly well at the Last Judgment. Most of us have never murdered anyone, right? That is, unless abortion is murder, or, as Jesus taught, being angry with someone is tantamount to committing murder. (Matthew 5:22) What if hatred or harboring a grudge and wishing ill on another is in the same category as murder?

Jesus taught that God looks at the thoughts and intentions of the heart, not just what we had the nerve to perform.

What about adultery? It might once have been true that most people have never committed adultery, but perhaps not today. Adultery, like murder, under the Law was punishable by death. It is an extremely serious offense in God’s eyes, which are the only eyes that will matter at the Last Judgment. Jesus raised the bar even higher when he told his followers that, if we lust after another person in our hearts, we are guilty of adultery. (Matthew 5:28) Does this mean that lustful thoughts are worthy of death? Since lust is a sin, its wages demand death. (Romans 6:23)

God created us to live in harmony and dependence upon him. We sin when we choose to go our own way in disobedience to his clear commands and try to live without consideration or reference to God.

Sin is not just when we do “bad things” like murder. It is also includes when we do the most evil thing of all – forsake God.

Sin began in the Garden of Eden and has been passed down genetically and spiritually to all of their descendants. As a result, we were born with an inner propensity to sin and have all contributed our part, spreading sin and rebellion against God to the far corners of the earth. We have all fallen short of God’s glorious standard of right living.

Every single human being who has ever lived a self-directed life apart from God will inherit death because such a life defines what death is – existence apart from God.

…when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, 8 dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, 10 when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—for our testimony to you was believed. 11 To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power, 12 so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.  2 Thessalonians 1:7–12 (NASB95)

We may not like God’s holy standard, but it is the one by which we will be judged.

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23 (ESV)
The Gospel of Justice and Judgment

Paul preached these words to onlookers while he stood in the middle of the Areopagus in Athens, Greece.

“God overlooked people’s ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him. 31  For he has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man he has appointed, and he proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead.” Acts 17:30-31 (NLT)

The announcement that Jesus will come again to judge the living and the dead is integral to the gospel message.

Jesus is not the symbol of a “feel good” religion which affirms everyone’s beliefs and behavior. Rather, he is a very real person, who lived, died, came alive again, and still lives in a glorious spiritual body, waiting in heaven until the appointed time for his return, when he will raise the dead and judge all people according to their works. (John 5:19-29)

The Apostle Peter said that Jesus instructed his followers to focus on this part of the Gospel message.

And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. 43  To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” Acts 10:42-43 (ESV)

Jesus, the only One who really knows what will take place after we die, made it abundantly clear that he will judge every person who ever lived. Jesus has the right to judge mankind because he chose to absorb God’s judgment against humanity on our behalf. All who declare their allegiance to Christ the Lord and believe in his atoning sacrifice are made right with God.

If we spurn this generous offer, we condemn themselves to endure God’s just judgment against such arrogant rebellion. We judge ourselves to be “unworthy of eternal life” when we refuse to believe the gospel. (Acts 13:46)

Now What?

In today’s world, it is not popular or “politically correct” to announce that Jesus will come again to judge people, assigning them either to eternal blessedness or eternal damnation. This generation has largely rejected God and his truth. It demands tolerance for sins and cannot imagine or believe in a God that could be so intolerant! People who reject the gospel ask what right do we have to think that Jesus is the only Way to God? Nevertheless, that is the clear teaching of Jesus in the Bible (John 14:6) and is part of the gospel message.

If Jesus is who the Bible says he is, there is no other way to God and no other way to escape condemnation at the last judgment.

He is the only One who took our just condemnation upon himself; so, we don’t have to endure God’s wrath against sin for eternity.

Gospel means “good news,” and good news gets even better when it’s contrasted with any bad news we might be expecting. Most of us are familiar with the photos taken at the announcement that the second World War had ended. Joyous celebrations erupted. People celebrated exuberantly because that horrible period finally ended. Soldiers who previously faced the prospect of invading Japan now enjoyed the hope of soon returning home.

It is only when we properly fear having to face God’s holy justice as sinners that we can appreciate the good news that Jesus already did it for us.

One of the main deceptions of Satan is to convince people that they have no need of what Jesus came to provide for us. The alluring song of Satan is “I’m okay and you’re okay. Don’t worry. Be happy. Enjoy life. When you die, your existence is over. Don’t fret yourself about it.” Reality, however, is that this life is our opportunity to learn to trust God. If we reject God’s offer of salvation through Christ, there will be hell to pay, literally. After all, it’s what we sinners deserve anyway.

No one goes to damnation without choosing it. To reject the gospel is to choose to face God’s wrath against sin and end up in the lake of fire for eternity.

The Bible says that, because of sin, people come into this world without God and without hope. (Ephesians 2:12-13) It says that we are dead in sin and enemies of God. (Romans 5:6-11) Jesus said that eternal suffering awaits those who reject his message. (John 8:23-24 and Mark 9:43) Paul declared that the future for such people will be an eternity separated from God’s presence. (2 Thessalonians 1:5-10) I don’t know about you, but that all sounds very bad indeed. Is it wise to dismiss such dire warnings? Since we have no empirical proof, is it safe to declare that we do not believe there is a God or an afterlife? I choose to believe the one person who rose from the dead and subsequently ascended into heaven rather than any number of people who have not yet died. One day we will all know firsthand whether or not the Bible is correct regarding the coming judgment! Then it will be too late for those who did not declare allegiance to Jesus.

The Only Way to Escape the Coming Judgment

But, if we do accept that all people will eventually stand before God, what are our prospects at the last judgment? Jesus taught his followers that those who put their faith and allegiance in him will never be condemned.

I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life. John 5:24 (NLT)

Putting our faith and allegiance in Jesus will give us a “pass” from ever being condemned for the bad things we have thought, said, or done! How can that be? It’s really very simple: he already underwent judgment on our behalf. He stood before Pilate as an innocent man but was condemned to die.

The just One died in place of those who deserved to die, thus winning our release from condemnation. Debts cannot be justly paid twice.

The logic is inescapable, but it requires that we lay aside any notion of our own worthiness before God, which should not be too difficult for any honest person. Once we grasp just how bad we are, we will be overjoyed to accept God’s provision of his innocent Lamb, who died to take away the sins of the world.

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Chapter 79: The Resurrection

Jesus Is the Resurrection

The apostle Paul wrote that the resurrection from the dead is the cornerstone of the Christian faith.

But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; 14  and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. 15  Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. 16  For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; 17  and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. 18  Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19  If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied. 20  But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. 1 Corinthians 15:13-20 (NASB)

Jesus offered himself as an offering for our sin by dying on the cross. Without the resurrection from the dead, he would be just another tragic and delusional historical figure who thought he was something special, when he was only a man, just like everyone else. However, Jesus’ glorious resurrection was proof that his sacrifice had been accepted by his Father in heaven, who vindicated him in the eyes of his disciples. His Second Coming at the culmination of time will glorify and vindicate him in the eyes of everyone else.

Jesus foretold his own resurrection on multiple times. He told his disciples that he would be put to death on a cross and rise again.

And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. Mark 8:31 (ESV)

He told them that he would be raised from the dead as a sign prefigured in the book of Jonah.

But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40  For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. Matthew 12:39-40 (ESV)

He told his enemies that if they destroyed the temple of his body, God would raise him up again.

The Jews then said to Him, "What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?" 19  Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." 20  The Jews then said, "It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?" 21  But He was speaking of the temple of His body. 22  So when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken. John 2:18-22 (NASB)

Jesus told Martha that he would raise Lazarus from the dead because he was and is the embodiment of the resurrection.

Martha then said to Jesus, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. 22  "Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You." 23  Jesus *said to her, "Your brother will rise again." 24  Martha *said to Him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day." 25  Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, 26  and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?" John 11:21-26 (NASB)

He promised his disciples that one day he would raise each of us from the dead.

And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40  For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” John 6:39-40 (ESV)

Not only did Jesus rise from the tomb after dying for our sins, but he is also the Resurrection. Those who put their faith and allegiance in him will participate in his resurrection both now, in a spiritual sense, and physically at the Second Coming. Jesus is the resurrection and the life!

Glorification

As I covered previously, our great salvation affects all three parts of our being – spirit, soul, and body. The resurrection is the final installment of that salvation which begins with the new birth, a spiritual resurrection. When we are physically raised from the dead, our bodies, which are presently still under Adam’s curse of death, will be gloriously renewed so that we finally will be completely free from every vestige of the destructive power of sin and death. Our bodies will experience glorification.

Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51  Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52  in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53  For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. 1 Corinthians 15:50-53 (NASB)

This is our hope and expectation in Christ, who promised to raise from the dead each of us who believe.

Two Resurrections

As with most things God does, the resurrection is more “complicated” than it first appears. Creation has fantastic complexity, depth, precision, and variety. After centuries of scientific inquiry, we have yet to fully comprehend the “fearfully and wonderfully made” bodies God created for his people. To deflect honor and glory from God, man accepted Satan’s lie called evolution, which is foolishness. Any right-thinking person knows instinctively that precision and complexity does not randomly appear out of chaos. In a similar fashion, the resurrection from the dead is not as simple as God making our bodies alive again. God is much more creative than that.

Just as God’s great salvation applies uniquely to each part of us, spirit, soul, and body, the resurrection does, as well. In fact, there is a resurrection principle at work in every aspect of God’s salvation.

The First Resurrection

When Jesus died on the cross and three days later rose again, the Bible says those who believe in him were spiritually included in that death and rising.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5  even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6  and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7  so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:4-7 (NASB)

God saves us on the inside before we see the results on the outside.

Spiritually those who believe in Jesus have already received and are learning to experience his complete victory. We died and rose with him and now are seated with him in heavenly places at God’s right hand. Nevertheless, since we still have an earthly existence in the body, we also live here on planet earth in a fallen world inhabiting a body still under sin’s curse and death. The incongruity is staggering. This is why we find ourselves often frustrated. We are divided in our experience. The spirit is “in sync” with God, or as Jesus said, is “willing,” but the “flesh” is not. Every believer knows what this feels like. Paul wrote about it.

I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. 22  For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, 23  but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. 24  Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? 25  Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin. Romans 7:21-25 (NASB)

During our remaining days on earth, trapped in a pre-resurrected body, we must learn to live in the spiritual reality of Christ’s resurrection. This is called “walking in the Spirit.”

If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Galatians 5:25 (NASB)

This daily “walking out” of our inner spiritual life is called transformation or sanctification, which is the daily outworking of grace in our lives to make us more like Jesus. We might call this a daily experience of the first resurrection, which is spiritual. This is the resurrection principle at work in sanctification.

The Second Resurrection

The second resurrection will be that of the body. When Jesus returns, he will raise all the dead, including the wicked.

"Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, 29  and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment. John 5:28-29 (NASB)

In our resurrected state, we will all stand before God at the judgment seat. This is the point at which the Bible says that every knee will bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord. (Romans 14:11) Those who pass the test at that great judgment will experience God’s glory in their new bodies in the context of a new heaven and earth.

Only those who have experienced the first resurrection, or new birth, will be able to enjoy the glories of the second resurrection.

…Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.  Revelation 20:4–6 (NKJV)

Those who believe in Christ before the Second Coming have been spiritually raised from the dead and are seated with him in heavenly places sharing his authority even now. The second death, the lake of fire, will not be their destiny, for they have already passed from death to life and will never be condemned. (John 5:28-29)

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2  Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3  For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4  When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Colossians 3:1-4 (ESV)

Jesus also taught that there are two resurrections, a spiritual one and the bodily one.

Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22  But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” 23  Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24  Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25  Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26  and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 27  She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.” John 11:21-27 (ESV)

Martha knew Jesus personally, believed in him, and had a partial understanding of the end times, but she did not understand then the spiritual side of things. She thought the resurrection only applied to the very end of time, but Jesus, who is the Resurrection, was and is able to raise anyone from the dead at any moment.

Jesus promised Martha that those who put their faith in him “will never die.” This means that the “second death” has no power over them. (Revelation 20:6)

In other words, faith in Christ makes us one with the risen Christ. We are part of Christ’s first resurrection, and we never need fear the second death. We now belong to God.

Beyond Imagination
That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9 (NLT)

Imagination is neutral in the sense that it can be employed for good and evil. On the evil side of the equation, we can imagine ourselves doing evil, as when we engage in sinful fantasies. Imagination in the worst sense can lead us down a path that has no basis in reality or truth. It can be used in a good way to help us conceive of real places or truths beyond what we have yet experienced. Many great advances have been made by those whose imagination fueled innovation. Many great deceptions have originated from those whose imaginations run contrary to God’s Word. When it comes to the resurrection and what lies ahead for those who trust in Christ after our earthly lives comes to an end, our imagination is insufficient. What God has in store for us is far more wonderful than anything we can conceive. Imagine that!

A common conception of heaven pictures angels floating on clouds playing harps. How boring does that sound? The glimpses of heaven provided in Scripture are anything but boring. Those who claim to have died and seen heaven tell of sights, sounds, and experiences that are beyond description. The apostle Paul was among that group.

I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. 3  And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— 4  and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. 2 Corinthians 12:2-4 (ESV)

When our Lord rose from the dead, he was sometimes not immediately recognized. Something happened to him that made him different. At other times, he was clearly recognized by those to whom he appeared. He was able to appear and disappear. Walls were not a barrier to him. He had a real body that could be touched. He ate food. What kind of body did he have in his resurrected state?

Paul said that we really cannot imagine what the resurrected “spiritual” body will be like.

But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?” 36  You foolish person! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 37  And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain. 38  But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body. 39  For not all flesh is the same, but there is one kind for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish. 40  There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is of one kind, and the glory of the earthly is of another. 41  There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory. 42  So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. 43  It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. 44  It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45  Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being [soul]”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46  But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. 47  The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. 48  As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. 49  Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven. 1 Corinthians 15:35-49 (ESV)

When we plant a seed, we get something very different looking after it germinates and sprouts. We get a complete plant that produces more seeds! The seed we plant must “die” before it can “be resurrected” as a plant. The seed goes into the ground where moisture causes it to “decompose” in order to be re-composed as a brand-new plant. This is a picture from nature that gives us some idea of the resurrection process.

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25  Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. John 12:24-25 (ESV)

One thing we learn from what the Bible says about the resurrection is that our bodies are important to God, important enough for him to eternally save them, too.

He created our bodies to house our spirits, making us unique creatures who can interface with both the physical and spiritual worlds. God will eventually re-create heaven and earth (2 Peter 3:13), making a suitable place for resurrected people to inhabit. Imagine that if you can.

The Resurrection Principle in Everyday Life

One of the tendencies with any doctrine is postponing fulfillment until the indefinite future. This is what Martha did regarding the resurrection just before Jesus restored life to her brother Lazarus.

When Jesus returns in glory, he will indeed raise us from the dead, but even now we can experience resurrection life daily.

There is only one problem associated with this process, however: to experience resurrection there must first be a death.

Imagine the horror Jesus may have felt as he hung on the cross and experienced separation from his Father when the sins of the world fell upon him! You and I were born into this world separated from God because of Adam’s sin, but this was the first time for Jesus who had experienced glorious unity with his heavenly Father for all eternity.

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV) 

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Matthew 27:46 (ESV)

Abraham also experienced a version of this when what the Bible calls a “terror of great darkness” (Genesis 15:12) came upon him. It was at this time that God confirmed to Abraham the everlasting covenant. This was a picture of what took place later at Calvary.

God’s eternal unconditional promise to Abraham was based on what Christ accomplished millennia later.

God is not bound by time as we are. The benefits of Christ’s death and resurrection reverberate through time backward and forward for all eternity. Jesus fully experienced the horror of darkness that Abraham felt somewhat. Nevertheless, God required Abraham to go through it. In a sense, Abraham experienced death as a precondition of coming into the promise.

Later in Abraham’s story, the death-resurrection principle played out again. God asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, the long-awaited son of promise! Amazingly Abraham immediately obeyed without questioning God and was ready to complete the act when an angel stopped him. This foreshadowed Father God’s actual sacrifice of his Son upon the cross from which there was no reprieve. In writing about this act of obedience by Abraham, the author of Hebrews states that our faith forefather trusted in God’s ability to raise the dead.

It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him. Abraham, who had received God’s promises, was ready to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, 18  even though God had told him, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.” 19  Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead. Hebrews 11:17-19 (NLT)

Abraham’s obedience revealed his faith that God will fulfill his promises, even if he requires us temporarily to let go of them. Some call this “death of a vision.” 

When we are willing to let something apparently die that is a precious promise to us, in the hope that God will yet restore it in his way and at his time, we experience the resurrection principle.

Paul wrote about this to the church in Corinth.

For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life; 9  indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead; 10  who delivered us from so great a peril of death, and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us, 11  you also joining in helping us through your prayers, so that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the favor bestowed on us through the prayers of many. 2 Corinthians 1:8-11 (NASB)

The resurrection principle asks us to cease trying to keep ourselves and our promises alive through our own strength, but instead abandon ourselves to the faithfulness of God.

This is what Jesus did on the cross. As he descended into the abyss of death and experienced complete weakness, he relinquished all attempts to save himself and abandoned himself to his Father, the great Promise Keeper.

And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, "Father, INTO YOUR HANDS I COMMIT MY SPIRIT." Having said this, He breathed His last. Luke 23:46 (NASB)

This was the culmination of Jesus’ faith walk, but he professed his faith in God’s resurrection power often prior to his crucifixion. He repeatedly told his disciples that he would die on a cross and be raised three days later.

For us to be willing to experience God’s resurrection power, we must have faith in his faithfulness.

To experience the resurrection principle, it is important for us to embrace the process. We must first die to be raised. What has God promised to us that seems hopeless at this point? Have we released it into God’s hands in faith, or have we simply given up? Do trust him to yet bring it to pass, or have we resorted to employing our own devices? If we can give it back to God, trusting in his loving faithfulness, he will yet bring his promises to pass.

…For Abraham is the father of all who believe. 17 That is what the Scriptures mean when God told him, “I have made you the father of many nations.” This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing. 18 Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!”  Romans 4:16–18 (NLT)
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Chapter 77: The Olivet Discourse

Any study of end time prophecy should properly begin with the words of our Lord and specifically the Olivet Discourse when he answered three specific questions posed by his disciples. Near the end of his time on earth, he visited Jerusalem and prophesied that the temple would be destroyed. His disciples were astonished and asked him a three-part question.

As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”  Matthew 24:3 (NASB95)
  1. When will these things (the destruction of the temple) happen?
  2. When will be the sign of “your coming”?
  3. What will be the sign of the end of the age?

Their question indicates that the disciples thought that the destruction of the temple and the end of the age must be close together. Jesus’ answer can be interpreted in various ways, allowing for differences in opinion regarding the way the end time scenario will play out. Most people are probably familiar with the dispensational view; so, I will cover the partial preterist understanding, the one I think is most plausible.

When Will the Temple Be Destroyed?

The temple was central to Jewish religious life. It was incomprehensible that it would be destroyed, and as yet the disciples did not understand why it should be. Jesus was about to die for our sins as God’s Lamb to fulfill everything the Old Covenant sacrifices foreshadowed.

After his death and resurrection, the Old Covenant would be replaced, and its sacrifices would no longer be required or needed since the true Lamb fulfilled their meaning.

When God speaks of a “new” covenant, it means he has made the first one obsolete. It is now out of date and will soon disappear.  Hebrews 8:13 (NLT)

In addition to the temple losing its significance, the Jews were soon to reject and murder their Messiah, something God the Father would punish severely. Jesus warned them about what was coming.

As a result, this generation will be held responsible for the murder of all God’s prophets from the creation of the world—51 from the murder of Abel to the murder of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, it will certainly be charged against this generation.  Luke 11:50–51 (NLT) 

And as for these enemies of mine who didn’t want me to be their king—bring them in and execute them right here in front of me.’ ”  Luke 19:27 (NLT)

Imagine the magnitude of the crime of killing the promised Messiah and the wrath of God that would follow, which came about a generation afterward in 70 AD! Jesus foresaw what was coming and wept.

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me. 38 And now, look, your house is abandoned and desolate. 39 For I tell you this, you will never see me again until you say, ‘Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’”  Matthew 23:37–39 (NLT)

Those children would be the adults that would experience the horrors of the Roman siege and destruction of Jerusalem.

Within a generation, 40 years, from Jesus’ prophecy, the Roman army under General Titus besieged and starved the city of Jerusalem for four months before entering it, killing its inhabitants, and burning the temple. Josephus recorded that 97,000 Jews were led away into captivity. In AD 135, one last rebellion against Rome was attempted. After three years, the Romans quashed it, killing an additional 580.000 Jews, and disassembled every stone of the temple, plowing up the ground, just as Jesus prophesied. [1]

As Jesus was leaving the Temple grounds, his disciples pointed out to him the various Temple buildings. 2 But he responded, “Do you see all these buildings? I tell you the truth, they will be completely demolished. Not one stone will be left on top of another!”  Matthew 24:1–2 (NLT)

Just after this, Jesus adjourned to the Mount of Olives with his disciples, from which they could observe the temple. It was at this time that they asked for more details regarding what Jesus uttered on the temple grounds. Jesus answered all their questions but did so rather seamlessly, leaving it up to us to parse the meaning.

The partial preterist point of view is that most “end time” prophecies have already been fulfilled over the last 2000 years.

In the following verse, Jesus declared that everything he said prior to this would take place in a generation, about 40 years, which was the time between his words and destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD.

I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scene until all these things take place.  Matthew 24:34 (NLT)

Therefore, everything before this pertains to this event. Since I am not able to cover every detail in his lesson, I will refer you to Victorious Eschatology, if you want to pursue further study. To summarize, many false messiahs arose in Israel following our Lord’s death and resurrection. Wars, famines, and earthquakes took place all over the Roman Empire. Persecutions were instigated by the Jews and Romans in the intervening period, too. Apostasy and false prophets in the form of Judaizers and Gnostics swept many away from the truth of the gospel. According to scripture, the gospel was also preached to the whole world. (Romans 16:25-26 and Colossians 1:23)

The abomination of desolation was the Roman army.

Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16 then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains.  Matthew 24:15–16 (NASB95)

The holy place was not the temple but the land of Israel. This is illustrated by a parallel passage.

But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that her desolation is near. 21 “Then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those who are in the midst of the city must leave, and those who are in the country must not enter the city; 22 because these are days of vengeance, so that all things which are written will be fulfilled.  Luke 21:20–22 (NASB95)

The corresponding reference in Daniel that speaks of desolation coming refers to the people of the prince, meaning the Roman army.

Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined.  Daniel 9:26 (NASB95)

The great tribulation refers to the destruction of Jerusalem and everything that accompanied it.

Other times of tribulation were greater in magnitude regarding numbers, but what happened in 70 AD was intense. A greater percentage of the Jews were killed, and greater atrocities were committed. The Jews trapped in the city were starved and resorted to cannibalism. If any escaped the city to look for food, the Roman soldiers cut off their hands and sent them back into the city. When the Romans entered the city, over 500 men per day were tortured and crucified. They were nailed to crosses in front of the city until there was no more space. Once the city was completely conquered, 97,000 survivors were enslaved or sent to be executed in the Roman theaters. [2]

When the temple was destroyed, it ended the old Jewish religious system. If the partial preterist interpretation is correct, the temple will never be rebuilt, and the great tribulation and many other things associated with the very end have already taken place. The Lord can return at any moment.

What Will Be the Sign of Your Coming?

The disciples who listened to Jesus were not convinced that he was going to die, much less come back again on the Last Day.

Their question would have been understood to ask when he would come into his kingdom.

And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, ...  Matthew 24:30a (NASB95)

My understanding is that Jesus came into his kingdom when he ascended into heaven and sat down at the right hand of the Father, where we are seated with him, making us co-rulers of a sort when we exercise our authority in Christ, even though not in the same fullness as we will later enjoy.

But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 13 There he waits until his enemies are humbled and made a footstool under his feet.  Hebrews 10:12–13 (NLT)

For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.  Ephesians 2:6 (NLT)

This is why I believe that the millennial reign of Christ is being realized now.

The Great Awakening theologian Jonathan Edwards wrote the following:

‘Tis evident that when Christ speaks of his coming, his being revealed, his coming in his kingdom, or his kingdom’s coming he has respect to the appearing in those great works of his power, justice, and grace, which should be in the destruction of Jerusalem and other extraordinary providences which should attend it. [3]

This interpretation may seem odd to those who have only been exposed to the futurist interpretation, but it was predominant among earlier saints.

Just as the outpouring of the Spirit was a sign of Jesus’ enthronement in heaven after his ascension, the destruction of Jerusalem was another sign of his having come into his kingdom in which the church would include both Jew and Gentile in “one new man”.

This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses. 33 “Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear.  Acts 2:32–33 (NASB95)

God’s judgment of Jerusalem and destruction of the temple was a sign or proof that Jesus ruled over all things and God the Father brought justice upon those who murdered his Son, just as Jesus said would happen.

Now let us return to the previous verse.

But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.  Matthew 24:29 (NASB95)

The partial preterist position interprets this as apocalyptic language. This would understand Jesus to have said that after the destruction of Jerusalem, governing authorities and political powers would be shaken and authority transferred to Christ. The heavens were shaken because Jesus came into his kingdom. [4]

Now Christ has gone to heaven. He is seated in the place of honor next to God, and all the angels and authorities and powers accept his authority (had been subjected to him).  1 Peter 3:22 (NLT)

What Daniel saw in Chapter Seven of his book of prophecies was Jesus coming into his kingdom after his ascension into heaven. This passage is quoted in part by Jesus in his Olivet Discourse.

And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory.  Matthew 24:30 (NASB95)

Great mourning took place among all the Jewish tribes when Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed, which was a declaration of Jesus’ lordship, for all who had eyes to see by faith and revelation. This is not when Jesus returns to earth at the Second Coming. It is apocalyptic language for Jesus’ installation as King.

I kept looking in the night visions, And behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of Days And was presented before Him. 14 “And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, That all the peoples, nations and men of every language Might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed.  Daniel 7:13–14 (NASB95)

Jesus’ coming was not to earth, but he came before the Ancient of Days to receive his kingdom.

Afterward, the angels began gathering the elect from every corner of the earth through the preaching of the gospel.

And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.  Matthew 24:31 (NASB95)

The church began a time of vigorous growth after Jerusalem fell. [5]

Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near; 33 so, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door. 34 “Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.  Matthew 24:32–34 (NASB95)

The fig tree is not used to signify Israel. The olive tree is used for that. Jesus said the when the signs he mentioned take place, the judgment of Jerusalem is imminent and will take place before the passing of a generation.

What Will Be the Sign of the End of the Age?

The answer to this question moves us to the “end times.”

Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away. 36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.  Matthew 24:35–36 (NASB95)

Terms like “that day,” “that day and hour,” “the last day,” “the Great Day,” and sometimes “the day,” refer to the second coming of Christ and the last judgment. This is the focus of our Lord’s third answer, which is contained in the remainder of the chapter.

Unlike the looming judgment over Jerusalem, which had clear warning signs, the second coming of Christ will come after a long time without warning at an unpredictable time.

This surprise element is found in Jesus’ following parables about the very end.

But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. 44 “For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.  Matthew 24:43–44 (NASB95)

Not only will his coming be unpredictable, but it will also be at a time when we think it will not be. Therefore, we must always be ready.

Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them.  Matthew 25:19 (NASB95)

In the parable of the talents, as in others, the concept of there being a “long time” before our Lord returns is emphasized. Nevertheless, when he does come it will be a surprise and readiness will be rewarded.

But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. 32 “All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats;  Matthew 25:31–32 (NASB95)

In the parable of the sheep and goats, we see that his second coming will include a judgment of all people, not merely Jerusalem and the temple.

[1] Victorious Eschatology, Eberle and Trench, p. 14.

[2] Ibid., pp.44-45.

[3] Ibid., p.53.

[4] Ibid., p.59.

[5] Ibid.,p.62.

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Chapter 76: Introduction to Knowing Jesus as Coming King and Judge

Eschatology is the doctrine or study of the end times, which includes Christ’s Second Coming. The Bible tells us that it is God’s glory to conceal a matter and our privilege to search things out. (Proverbs 25:2) However, some things are not for us to know but belong only to God himself.

The Lord our God has secrets known to no one. We are not accountable for them, but we and our children are accountable forever for all that he has revealed to us, so that we may obey all the terms of these instructions.  Deuteronomy 29:29 (NLT)

Our Lord has hidden much concerning the future in the Bible, some of which is meant to remain a mystery until it unfolds before our eyes. Then it will make sense to us. If we knew details and times ahead of their happening, we would no doubt somehow get in the way by trying to “help” God work things out. When Abraham tried to assist God in bringing his promised heir into the world, things did not turn out well. Personal prophecy often works this way, too. Trying to figure out what is meant is often frustrating and fruitless, but when the fulfillment comes it is obvious and shows us that we are right where we are supposed to be.

Regarding the Second Coming, one thing God has made abundantly clear is that no one knows when it will take place, not even Jesus, and it will be a big surprise when it happens.

However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. 33 And since you don’t know when that time will come, be on guard! Stay alert!  Mark 13:32–33 (NLT)

There are two major ways of looking at the end times that I will mention in this lesson, the partial preterist and the futurist viewpoints. The first position holds that many, if not most, “end time” prophecies have already been fulfilled; whereas, the futurist way of looking at things takes the position that most such prophecies are yet to come to pass. My personal thinking is that, because we must take into account over two thousand years of church history, the partial preterist position is correct. Each of us will have to come to his or her own conclusion. I hope this section helps each of us in that regard.

Regardless of which position we take, it is wise for us to hold onto our interpretation lightly, realizing that our understanding is limited.

Prepare to be surprised.

The Millennium

The Millennium refers to a one-thousand-year reign of Christ which is referenced in Revelation 20:1-10.

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; 3 and he threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time. 4 Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years. 7 When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison, 8 and will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the sand of the seashore. 9 And they came up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, and fire came down from heaven and devoured them. 10 And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.  Revelation 20:1–10 (NASB95)

There are three viewpoints regarding the Millennium.

The Pre-Millennial position holds that there be a time of intense persecution on the earth prior to Christ’s Second Coming, after which there will be a literal fulfillment of the 1000-year reign of Christ on the earth. At the end of this millennial reign, the last judgment will take place followed by the introduction to the final state of things, which will include the renewal of heaven and earth. The Premillennial view can be divided into two camps – historic premillennialism and dispensational premillennialism.

Historic premillennialism was held by some early church fathers and is called chiliasm.

Many of the church fathers such as Ireneaus, Papias, Justin Martyr, Tertullian, Hippolytus, and others taught that there would be a visible kingdom of God upon the earth after the return of Christ. Historic premillennialism taught that the Antichrist would appear on earth and the seven-year tribulation would begin. Next would be the rapture, and then Jesus and His church would return to earth to rule for a thousand years. The faithful spend eternity in the New Jerusalem. (Taken from Got Questions – https://www.gotquestions.org/historic-premillennialism.html)

Dispensationalism was popularized by John Nelson Darby (1800-82), an Anglo-Irish theologian who was part of the Plymouth Brethren. It holds that God deals with people based on dispensations of grace and that he will work with Israel very differently than with the church. These dispensations involved a test for mankind, a failure, and then a judgment, followed by a new dispensation. He promoted the pre-tribulation rapture theory. This position holds that the church and Israel are be viewed as distinct and that Old Testament prophecies regarding Israel must be taken literally. Dispensationalism believes that the New Testament builds on Old Testament prophecies but does not transcend or reinterpret them as being fulfilled in Christ or transferred to the church. Ethnic/national Israel will be restored and have a significant role during Christ’s millennial reign to bring blessings to the nations. The church is being used by God to fulfill the Great Commission, but it is through ethnic Israel that the world will be blessed in the end. 

The Amillennial (or realized millennium) view interprets the above passage in Revelation figuratively and believes that Christ’s millennial reign is the time between his first and second comings, during which time Christ rules from heaven along with his saints, and Satan is bound. In addition, his rule is being extended through the preaching of the gospel and discipleship by the church. Just prior to our Lord’s Second Coming, Satan will be released for a short period to deceive the nations, during which time persecution will ramp up significantly. The Second Coming will happen concurrently with the general resurrection, the “rapture” or catching up to heaven of the saints who are still physically alive, and the last judgment, followed by the inauguration of the eternal state – the new heaven and earth. This position holds that the church is composed of both Jews and Gentiles who are one in Christ and receive God’s blessings together based on being part of a new creation. There may be a fulfillment of God’s promises to restore the land of Israel to the Jewish people when Jesus returns, but that is a separate consideration.

The Postmillennial view holds that things will get gradually better as Christ’s rule expands and extends over the earth, ushering in a golden age during which the kingdom of God will be experienced to a wonderful degree prior to Christ’s Second Coming. This view is similar to Amillennialism, and I have lumped it together with it.

The Great Tribulation and the Rapture

The premillennial view holds that the great tribulation will take place during the reign of the antichrist and will last seven years. The rapture or catching up to heaven of living believers will either take place prior to the tribulation (pre-trib rapture), in the middle of the tribulation (mid-trib rapture), or at the conclusion of the tribulation (post-trib rapture). The general resurrection and last judgment will take place later.

The amillennial view believes that the rapture will take place as part of the Second Coming, as taught by the apostle Paul.

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.  1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 (NASB95)

One of the reasons why I do not believe in a pre-tribulation or any other kind of rapture ahead of the Second Coming is because Jesus never taught anything like that. Instead, he clearly taught that the wicked will be gathered first, then the righteous.

“And he said to them, ‘An enemy has done this!’ The slaves said to him, ‘Do you want us, then, to go and gather them up?’ 29 “But he said, ‘No; for while you are gathering up the tares, you may uproot the wheat with them. 30 ‘Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather up the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them up; but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’ ”  Matthew 13:28–30 (NASB95) 

So just as the tares are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall it be at the end of the age. 41 “The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, 42 and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 “Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.  Matthew 13:40–43 (NASB95) 

In addition, Jesus taught that he will return for both the living and the dead at the same time.

“This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. 40 “For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”  John 6:39–40 (NASB95)

Jesus will raise the dead on the “last day,” and Paul said that the resurrected dead will precede the living saints who will be caught up to heaven. Therefore, there cannot be a rapture ahead of the general resurrection which will take place at the Second Coming.

Common sense also informs us that many beloved believers have endured horrible persecutions over the centuries. We in the West have been largely spared since the Reformation. It betrays a grossly self-centered viewpoint to use our persecution-free history as the norm as we look forward to a time of great tribulation.

Finally, a rapture of all believers prior to a time of testing does not seem to fit God’s way of doing things. The Good Shepherd never leaves the weak sheep to fend for themselves. Those who will come to Christ during a time of testing will need seasoned believers to encourage them to be strong.

The Last Judgment

The Last Judgment is the final event of this age. There is debate about how this will take place. Jesus made it clear that the Father has turned over all judgment to him.

For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes. 22 “For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son,  John 5:21–22 (NASB95)

Jesus will fulfill this responsibility as the glorious Son of Man prophesied in Daniel.

But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. 32 “All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats;  Matthew 25:31–32 (NASB95)

Jesus understood that he will fulfill this prophecy. He told his persecutors as much when he was on trial before the Sanhedrin.

And Jesus said, “I am; and you shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”  Mark 14:62 (NASB95)

Jesus also informed us that all those who trust in him will be safe from condemnation at that judgment.

Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. 25 “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 26 “For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself; 27 and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man. 28 “Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, 29 and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.  John 5:24–29 (NASB95)

Jesus tied the resurrection to the last judgment.

He taught that his followers will be personally raised from the dead by him and escape condemnation at the judgment.

“This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. 40 “For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”  John 6:39–40 (NASB95)

Only those who are born again are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.  Revelation 20:12–15 (NASB95)

The new birth is a type of resurrection in which we are raised through our identification with Christ in his resurrection.

…even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,  Ephesians 2:5–6 (NASB95)

In the book of Revelation, this is referred to as the first resurrection. Those who are born again are seated with Christ right now in heavenly places, ruling alongside him. This is part of what it means to have Christ’s authority.

The current reign of the saints with Christ is what Amillennnialists consider to be the millennial rule of Christ.

Those who are raised spiritually with Christ rule with him and will be raised bodily at the Second Coming.

Jesus referred to the two resurrections in John Chapter 11.

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”  John 11:25–26 (NASB95)

If we are born twice (naturally and the new birth), we will only die once (bodily). However, if we are not born of the Spirit, we will die twice, physically and in the lake of fire.

And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.  Revelation 20:12–15 (NASB95)

Our works (deeds) do not save us, except the good work of putting our faith in Christ.

Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”  John 6:28–29 (NASB95)

Those who are born again have the Holy Spirit indwelling them and will do good works from the heart, which will testify to their saving faith. In that sense only will we be judged according to our works.

We will be rewarded according to how well we lived by faith and love through the power of the indwelling Spirit of God.

For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, there is no benefit in being circumcised or being uncircumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love.  Galatians 5:6 (NLT)
 The Final Resurrected State

Paul taught that we will one day receive spiritual bodies that will reflect the glory of the Lord.

There are also heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is one, and the glory of the earthly is another. 41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory. 42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45 So also it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living soul.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46 However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. 47 The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven. 48 As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly. 49 Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly.  1 Corinthians 15:40–49 (NASB95)

These new bodies will have properties not currently available to us. Jesus could appear and disappear and pass through walls. Interestingly, he also ate with his disciples; so, some if not all bodily functions will continue, yet without being subject to death. It is quite a mystery.

Another mystery involves the recreation or renewal of the earth.

But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment. 11 Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live, 12 looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. On that day, he will set the heavens on fire, and the elements will melt away in the flames. 13 But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness.  2 Peter 3:10–13 (NLT) 

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. 2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” 5 And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.”  Revelation 21:1–5 (NLT)

It is impossible for us to know what this will be like, but I assume it will be as God originally intended for his creation before the Fall of humanity. Paul wrote the following about this.

For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. 20 Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, 21 the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay.  Romans 8:19–21 (NLT)

Adam’s sin brought down the entire creation, which waits for the Second Coming for it to be renewed.

Beyond that, we really don’t know what to expect except that it will be wonderful because it will fully reflect the goodness and glory of the Creator at last. Even now we see glimpses of his character and power by observing fallen creation. How much more will his glory shine when creation is restored!

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Chapter 75: How to Share Our Personal Testimony

When an opportunity presents itself for us to talk about the Lord with people, often it is easier to begin by sharing our own testimony. This is our personal story describing how God intersected our lives and what has been the result. Sharing our testimony is often less confrontational than relating the gospel, unless we conclude our testimony by giving an invitation to receive Jesus as Lord and Savior.

We may wish to have short, medium, and long versions of our testimony. Which one we share may depend on how much time we have and the interest level of the listener. The basic ingredients of our testimony might be as follows.

  • Our lives before conversion, including what may have influenced us to seek the Lord,
  • How Christ intersected our lives,
  • And how our lives changed afterward.

Even should the listener discount our words, it is difficult to deny personal experiences. Even existentialists can agree that we experienced something. If they claim it was merely “our truth,” it gives us an opportunity to reply that even though it was my experience, the Lord and salvation are real and have been experienced by countless millions of people.

Paul gave us an example of a way to share a testimony in Acts Chapter 26.

“So then, I thought to myself that I had to do many things hostile to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 “And this is just what I did in Jerusalem; not only did I lock up many of the saints in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests, but also when they were being put to death I cast my vote against them. 11 “And as I punished them often in all the synagogues, I tried to force them to blaspheme; and being furiously enraged at them, I kept pursuing them even to foreign cities. 12 “While so engaged as I was journeying to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests, 13 at midday, O King, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining all around me and those who were journeying with me. 14 “And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew dialect, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ 15 “And I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 16 ‘But get up and stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint you a minister and a witness not only to the things which you have seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you; 17 rescuing you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you, 18 to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.’ 19 “So, King Agrippa, I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but kept declaring both to those of Damascus first, and also at Jerusalem and then throughout all the region of Judea, and even to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance. 21 “For this reason some Jews seized me in the temple and tried to put me to death. 22 “So, having obtained help from God, I stand to this day testifying both to small and great, stating nothing but what the Prophets and Moses said was going to take place; 23 that the Christ was to suffer, and that by reason of His resurrection from the dead He would be the first to proclaim light both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.”  Acts 26:9–23 (NASB95)

This two-and-a-half-minute testimony starts with Paul’s persecution of Christians, thinking he was serving God by doing so. This demonstrated that he was an enemy of the gospel prior to conversion, which probably heightened interest in what was to follow. Before his conversion, he was not filled with angst, a feeling of being lost, or in trouble, as is often the case with us. He was convinced he was doing the right thing by persecuting the church. This was Paul’s story.

Whatever route we took on our personal journey to the Lord is our testimony.

Jesus intersected Paul’s life while he was on the way to persecute believers. Few of us have conversions as dramatic as Paul, but however God reached us is an important part of our story and should be shared with as much detail as appropriate. Paul’s conversion included a call to be a witness for Christ, which Paul used to transition to the last part of his testimony – how his life changed afterward. He concluded his testimony by giving the key ingredient of the gospel – the resurrection of Christ.

It is often possible to conclude our testimony with an invitation to receive Christ as Lord and Savior.

This requires us to be sensitive to how our words are being received. We may not wish to press the matter. On the other hand, if we think the listener may be open to the gospel, we might ask, “Is there any reason you would not choose to receive Christ as your Lord and Savior right now?” If the answer is affirmative, we can try to address the issues. If negative, we can gently lead them in a prayer to surrender their lives to our Savior and Lord.

It is important for us to keep in mind that we may be merely sowing good seed into their lives. Many people require several exposures to the gospel before they are ready to receive Christ. On the other hand, we may have the privilege of reaping what others have sown by leading them to Christ. Either way, it is a win for the kingdom of God.

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Chapter 73: The Gospel Satisfies Our Thirst for Truth

One of the things that clearly distinguishes God’s people from those on their way to eternal destruction is their relationship with truth. When Adam and Eve believed the serpent in the garden, it created in them an adverse relationship with truth that they passed down to us. Immediately those two were deeply ashamed and tried to hide the truth about what they had done from their Creator. The fear of our shame and guilt being uncovered pushes us away from the truth, too. As Jesus put it… 

All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed.  John 3:20 (NLT)

By nature, those whose hearts are hardened against God are also enemies of the truth. Those who love God love truth as well.

Light and truth are related. The light of God’s truth both reveals the glory of God and exposes sin. Without God’s intervention, people hide from God’s truth about themselves. We find it easier to do this than risk being exposed, shamed, and condemned for our sins. We fear that God is a judge who will mercilessly expose and condemn us to death as our sins deserve.

When we find ourselves in a seemingly untenable situation such as this, we tend to resort to denial and perhaps attempt to create an alternate reality.

We may find it necessary to suppress the truth to uphold the lie we create to try to insulate ourselves from God’s judgment.

But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. 19 They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. 20 For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.  Romans 1:18–20 (NLT)

 Even though creation makes God’s existence obvious, we develop and teach as dogma an alternate theory of how we got here called the Big Bang theory and evolution. These lies insist that all matter, energy, and life created or generated themselves through natural processes related to a mysterious force some call gravity. If we got here without help from God, we are masters of the universe who are accountable to no one, Satan’s, Adam’s, and Eve’s goal.

Those who hold power to suppress truth usually strongly defend their lies and attack anyone who dares resist the official narrative.

Nothing is more dangerous to a lie than the truth.

All sorts of truth suppressing alternate realities are being forced upon us, including transgenderism. Anyone who dares to resist is often fiercely attacked. Our news media, in cooperation with the government, Big Medicine, Big Tech, Big Pharma, Big Agriculture, etc., promotes all sorts of falsehoods under the name of truth which is propaganda. Power seeks to intimidate the populace into bowing to the lie, rather than stand up for what is true, thus breaking our will. It is only when the Spirit of truth (John 14:17) begins to work inside us that are drawn away from the lie toward truth.

Jesus, who is Truth in human form, came into this world to testify to the truth and draw to himself those whom God has chosen.

Some who heard Jesus’ words responded by believing in him. Others resisted because they had no love for truth.

Why can’t you understand what I am saying? It’s because you can’t even hear me! 44 For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 So when I tell the truth, you just naturally don’t believe me! 46 Which of you can truthfully accuse me of sin? And since I am telling you the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47 Anyone who belongs to God listens gladly to the words of God. But you don’t listen because you don’t belong to God.”  John 8:43–47 (NLT)

Imagine: the Jewish leaders’ hatred of truth propelled them to execute the One sent into the world to testify to the truth. They brought our Lord to Pilate, who heard these remarkable words from Jesus.

Pilate said, “So you are a king?” Jesus responded, “You say I am a king. Actually, I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true.”  John 18:37 (NLT)

All Pilate could weakly reply was, “What is truth?” The Truth stood right in front of him, but he did not recognize him.

We cannot understand the truth about who Jesus is unless the Holy Spirit opens our hearts and develops within us a love for truth.

The movie entitled The Matrix is a parable about man’s quest to know the truth. The hero is a young man called Neo who is given a choice between having his eyes opened to the terrifying truth about a very high level of deception or continuing to live in the apparent comfort and security of the lie. Neo was offered two pills, a red one that would open his eyes to the truth and a blue one that would allow him to continue in the blissful ignorance that enslaved him.

Most people choose to live in some level of deception, keeping the truth about God at a distance, pretending that they will never die or face him in judgment at the end of their lives.

God does not want people to remain captives of the lie, which is why he sent his Son, who is the Truth, to rescue us.

May God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. 4 Jesus gave his life for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live. 5 All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.  Galatians 1:3–5 (NLT)

The eternal Logos, the Word of God, became a human being, the embodiment of truth, who came with a message of truth combined with mercy. God made a way for us to face the truth without its destroying us. That way cost the one who is truth his life.

Jesus took all the guilt and shame associated with serving the Lie upon himself so that God’s truth and light could penetrate our defenses and capture our hearts in a life-giving way.

In our Lord Jesus, mercy and truth came together to create a pathway to God.

 Unfailing love and truth have met together. Righteousness and peace have kissed! 11 Truth springs up from the earth, and righteousness smiles down from heaven.  Psalm 85:10–11 (NLT)

The Law, which is God’s truth without mercy, exposes our sin, but Jesus came to fulfill the Law on our behalf so that we might receive mercy from God.

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John testified about Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’ ” 16 For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. 17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.  John 1:14–17 (NASB95)

 This is the gospel message.

Truth has come to us in the person of Jesus who offered himself as a sacrifice to provide forgiveness for our sins and open the way for us to be reconciled to the God of truth. He is the only way back to God.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.  John 14:6 (NASB95)

Those whose hearts are open to truth receive this good news and act upon it and become people of truth and mercy. Those whose hearts remain closed refuse to come to Jesus.

This man [of lawlessness] will come to do the work of Satan with counterfeit power and signs and miracles. 10 He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them. 11 So God will cause them to be greatly deceived, and they will believe these lies. 12 Then they will be condemned for enjoying evil rather than believing the truth.  2 Thessalonians 2:9–12 (NLT)

When people choose deception over God’s truth, they condemn themselves to eternal destruction.

This is because the lie kills. Life is only found in God. When we reject truth, we reject God, thereby rejecting life.

Then Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and declared, “It was necessary that we first preach the word of God to you Jews. But since you have rejected it and judged yourselves unworthy of eternal life, we will offer it to the Gentiles. 47 For the Lord gave us this command when he said, ‘I have made you a light to the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the farthest corners of the earth.’” 48 When the Gentiles heard this, they were very glad and thanked the Lord for his message; and all who were chosen for eternal life became believers. 49 So the Lord’s message spread throughout that region.  Acts 13:46–49 (NLT)

The ability to love and choose truth is a gift from God himself called repentance.

Without God’s help, we will remain truth haters. With God’s help, we can become lovers of truth, which is an earmark of Christ’s disciples.

So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”  John 8:31–32 (NASB95)

Those who receive a love for truth come to Jesus and love his Word.

Born again followers of Christ have a Holy Spirit derived love for the Bible.

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. 14 He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine; this is why I said, ‘The Spirit will tell you whatever he receives from me.’  John 16:13–15 (NLT)

It is incongruent for someone to claim to be a follower of Christ and not love his Word. There seems to be no middle ground. We will either love his word or hate it. When we see churches veer away from their adherence to biblical truth, it appears that the Spirit does not live inside them.

The Spirit of truth always upholds the Word of truth.

Once God opens our eyes to the One who is the embodiment of truth, and we put our faith and allegiance in him, our quest for truth is satisfied. It is not that we now know the whole truth. Quite the opposite. I suspect that we will be discovering more about God for all eternity, but when we put our faith and allegiance in Jesus, we know deep inside that we need not look for anything or anyone else.

When we come to know the one called Truth, our souls find rest from our restless quest.

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”  Matthew 11:28–30 (NLT)

Those who reject the truth of the gospel will never find satisfaction anywhere else. There is no peace or rest for the wicked who hate God and his truth. (Isaiah 48:22) There is no one else who can possibly satisfy us. (2 Timothy 3:7)

As disciples, we have a responsibility to invite others to become lovers of the Truth. It is wrong to keep something so great as our secret.

God commissioned us to share the gospel in the hope that the Holy Spirit may open the eyes, ears, and hearts of our listeners.

A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. 25 Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth. 26 Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants.  2 Timothy 2:24–26 (NLT)

With God’s help, we and others can come to our their senses and awaken to the Truth of God and escape the snares of deception. In the end, nothing can stop the advance of truth.

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