Previous Sabbath Thoughts
2021 2022 2023 2024Promises of God, A Resurrection, Part 4 – January 18, 2025
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, “But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.” This is one of the clearest scriptures in the Bible about the coming resurrection from the dead. Christians will come back to life again after death. The resurrection of the dead is one of the seven core doctrines of the Christian faith mentioned by the Apostle Paul. Hebrews 6:2, “of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.” Peter reiterates what we saw last Sabbath, that because Jesus was raised from the dead, so will we. 1 Peter 1:3, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” The Apostle John tells us there will be more than one resurrection, a first resurrection for Christians and latter, another one to give everyone an opportunity to know and accept Jesus as their Savior. Revelation 20:4-6, “And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. 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. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 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.” There is a day of judgment coming for the dead. Revelation 20:11-15, “Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.” There is no eternal burning hell fire. There is a Lake of Fire where the incorrigible wicked will be burnt to ashes. Those who love the Father and Jesus as their Savior will live forever. Those who do not will cease to exist, God will not make them suffer forever. This is how a loving God offers salvation to His people.
Promises of God, A Resurrection, Part 3 – January 11, 2025
There are several scriptures that tell us that because Jesus was resurrected from the dead, we also have the hope of a future resurrection. 1 Corinthians 15:20-23, “But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming.” This chapter is called “the Resurrection Chapter” because the Apostle Paul tells us a great deal about the resurrection. Let us read just a few more verses. 1 Corinthians 15:50-53, “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.” Paul also wrote to the church at Rome that Jesus’ resurrection related to a future resurrection for Christians. Romans 6:5, 8, “For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, … Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him.” Romans 8:11, “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” The resurrection of the dead is a central theme in the New Testament. Jesus was crucified and resurrected so that we might receive the gift of eternal life through a resurrection into the Family of God the Father. 1 Corinthians 6:14, “And God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power.” 2 Corinthians 4:14, “knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you.” Paul’s goal was to be in the First Resurrection. Philippians 3:10-11, “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.” By the resurrection from the dead to eternal life, we will live in glory with Jesus Christ. Colossians 3:4, “When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” We will conclude this important topic of a resurrection next Sabbath.
Promises of God, A Resurrection, Part 2 – January 4, 2025
We continue this Sabbath with New Testament scriptures about a resurrection of the dead. Mainstream Christians do not emphasize a resurrection because they mistakenly believe they go to heaven or hell immediately upon death. However, the Bible only states there is a resurrection and that no one has yet gone to heaven. The Apostle John was inspired to write his gospel late in his life around 90 AD, 60 years after Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. John 3:13, "No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven." John goes on to say the dead are in their graves waiting for their resurrection. John 5:28-29, “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.” Jesus said several times that the resurrection of the just will occur at the last days, that is, at the His Second Coming. John 6:40, 44, “And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day. … No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.” Martha talked with Jesus about the resurrection after her brother had died. John 11:24-25, “Martha said to Him, ‘I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.’ Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.’” Jesus also said those who help the poor would be rewarded in the resurrection. Luke 14:14, “And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” A major part of the apostles’ ministry was preaching about the resurrection. When Paul preached about the “unknown god” in Athens, the Gentiles had a mixed reaction. Acts 17:32, “And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, while others said, ‘We will hear you again on this matter.’” When Paul was brought before Jewish and Roman leaders, he proclaimed the resurrection. Acts 23:6, “But when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, ‘Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!’” Acts 24:15, “I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust.” Acts 26:7-8, “To this promise our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God night and day, hope to attain. For this hope’s sake, King Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews. Why should it be thought incredible by you that God raises the dead?” We will continue this important discussion of the resurrections next Sabbath.