No I believe I will put on incorruption as they did immediately upon my death.
I think I am failing to explain a key component to my understanding here...
I believe that there are not 2 resurrections for each person as do many - one for their soul and then a later one for their physical bodies.
I do believe that are 2 resurrections - both have to do with the soul.
1. We are "resurrected" "quicken" upon spiritual birth here while we are in our bodies - this is the first resurrection
Rev 20:6 Happy and holy, is he that hath part in the first resurrection:
upon these, the second death, hath no authority; but they
shall be priests of God and of the Christ, and shall reign with him for the thousand years.( Thousand years is 40 year period from cross to judgement in 70 A.D. )
This is witnessed in Paul's words here :
Romans 8:37 Nay, in all these things,(persecutions and sufferings) we are more than
conquering through him that hath loved us. (Conquering = Reigning)
Second resurrection to those to whom the scriptures were written - could not go to heaven upon physical death.
John 3:13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven,
but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
Those were the words of Christ to Nicodemus prior to the cross.
NO ONE WENT TO HEAVEN BEFORE 70 A.D. EXCEPT CHRIST
although it is argued Enoch and perhaps Elijah (a lot of doubt about Elijah however)
This was written after the cross and the blood of the Lamb:
Acts 2:34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
Enoch however was not "resurrected" from a grave as he did not die physically - that is not what Christ was addressing.
Christ plainly teaches that NO ONE had yet entered heaven except those who had come down from there - likely only speaking of Himself.
This was written after the cross and the blood of the Lamb:
Acts 2:34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself,
The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool. (important)
So we have concrete evidence from scripture that no one went to heaven before the cross. (only the went to paradise or hades - both under the earth - place of rest or sleep)
1 Samuel 28:15 ¶ And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? (Up now down from heaven)
Christ sat at the right hand of the Father "until" the Father had made His enemies - those who crucified and rejected Him - His footstool.
Christ returned the second time (second coming) at 70 A.D. and vengeance was put upon Israel and the temple.
It was then that those who "remained alive" were changed in a twinkling of an eye and caught up into the cloud to be with the Lord forever.
Those of us who die after that time do not go through such a process.
The promise was not to "future Christians" but those who were suffering at that time.
Christ made the sacrifice - entered the true holy of holies not made with hands - returned again to the people to pronounce their forgiveness and the acceptance of the sacrifice and took His bride from the earth and from beneath the earth and turned the kingdom over to the Father.
However I do still believe Christ remains a King forever.
I think it comes down to how one views the trinity.
However - I can not argue the how the verse is stated that you quoted me :-)
Brian |
