Resurrection and Eternal Life

Purpose of this session: The hope is that following this teaching you will gain clarity to join in the Messianic hope of a coming Kingdom (i.e. the restoration of all creation, the resurrection of the Body, the eschatological Kingdom of justice).

1. What is a Heavenly Destiny? Heavenly destiny is Platonism repackaged with the language of the Resurrection of the body. This was systematically accomplished at the Catechetical School of Alexandria, Egypt founded around 190 AD. One of the main ideals of Platonism is that the soul is chained in bondage to the body and longs to escape to the intelligible (immaterial) realm or a state of ecstasy. Thus, the resurrection of the body after death became antithetical to this Platonic ideal. Because all matter is viewed as existentially evil, the restoration of Creation was replaced with annihilationism. Thus, to the majority of churches that hold to a heavenly destiny, the Blessed Hope of Jesus’ return is synonymous to the annihilation of His Creation (not very hopeful, or blessed)
2. What is the Resurrection of the Body? The Resurrection is the Hebraic hope of a physical, bodily resurrection of the righteous to inherit the covenantal promises of God (a promised land, Messianic Kingdom, glory of the LORD etc.). Heaven is not the eternal dwelling place of man, but a holding pattern for the righteous dead. The righteous dead (i.e. asleep) continue their sojourn in heaven, waiting for the Blessed Hope of His appearing. Just to clarify, resurrection of the body should not be confused with the miracle of the dead being raised. Those who were miraculously raised from the dead eventually died again. In contrast, Jesus is the firstborn from the dead because He was the first to receive a glorious, indestructible, resurrected body. The miracle of the dead being raised is a token or sign pointing to the resurrection of the righteous at the Day of the LORD.
3. Hope of a Heavenly Destiny
   1. Timeframe – Presently saints who die will inherit their Heavenly Destiny
   2. Orientation – Heavenward (heaven is viewed as a celestial, ethereal realm, not the abode of God)
   3. Metaphysical Form – Immaterial, Incorporeal
   4. Means of Entry – Recite sinner’s prayer -> Death
   5. Eschatology – Annihilation of Creation (material realm) at second coming of Jesus.
   6. Impact on Faith – If Creation will be annihilated it lacks inherent value, which is minimized the depth of mercy to revealed at the sin, producing a weak response of love. In terms of discipleship, believers cannot interact with an immaterial destiny, and disengage either from practically walking out their faith (too heavenly minded for any earthly good, how do you prepare for immaterial life on a cloud?) or from the faith altogether (indulge the flesh now and say the sinner’s prayer before I die).
4. Hope of the Resurrection of the Body
   1. Timeframe – Future, all the righteous will be raised at the Day of the LORD
   2. Orientation – Earthward (you will not inherit the Kingdom of the Messiah unless you are born again)
   3. Metaphysical Form – material, physical, bodily, corporeal
   4. Means of Entry – Messiah’s atonement -> Holy Spirit resurrects your body
   5. Eschatology – Restoration of Creation at the second coming of Jesus
   6. Impact on Faith – Believers see the continuity of life and seek to attain to the hope of the resurrection, walking in a manner worthy of the coming Kingdom.

¹⁹ “Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing (Gk. an-aps’-ook-sis, breathe again, cf. Gen. 2:7, Eze. 37:5 ) may come from the presence of the Lord; ²⁰ and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, ²¹ whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration (ap-ok-at-as’-tas-is, reconsitution, reconstruction, restitution) of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time. (i.e. Enoch, cf. Jude 1:14-15) (^NASB Acts 3:19-21)

…²⁹ You take away their spirit they expire and return to their dust. (cf. Gen 2:7, 3:19) ³⁰ You send forth Your Spirit, they are created; and You renew (Hb. kha-dash, repair, restore) the face of the ground. (cf. Gen. 3:17, Rom. 8:20-22) ³¹ Let the glory of the LORD endure forever; (cf. Hab. 2:14) let the LORD be glad in His works; (cf. Gen. 2:2) ³² He looks at the earth, and it trembles; He touches the mountains, and they smoke. (cf. eschatological smoke, Isa. 6:4, 30:27, Rev. 15:8) (^NASB Psalm 104:29-32)

²⁸ And Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you, that you have followed Me, in the regeneration (Gk. pal-ing-ghen-es-ee’-ah, again doing Genesis) when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (^NASB Matthew 19:28)

¹⁷ For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things (i.e. evil, present age, death, mourning) will not be remembered or come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create (context of blessing and joy is usually the resurrection); for behold, I create Jerusalem for rejoicing and her people for gladness. (^NASB Isaiah 65:17-18)

Other references: 2 Peter 3:13, Ephesians 1:9-10, Revelation 21:3-6

²⁷ So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. ²⁸ God blessed (Hb. ba-rak)them and said to them… (^NIV Genesis 1:27-28)

¹⁷ Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life…¹⁹ By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.” (^NIV Genesis 3:17-19) (the reversal of the blessing of life, is the curse of death)

² I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. ³ I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, (blessings and curses in their ultimate sense has to do with inheriting the Resurrection or a Lake of Fire) and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. (Hb. ba-rak)” (ESV Genesis 12:1-3)

⁸ The scriptures foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed (Hb. ba-rak) through you.” ⁹ So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith… ¹⁴ He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit. (^NIV Galatians 3:8-14)

³ Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. ⁵ Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. ⁶ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. ⁷ Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. ⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. ⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. ¹⁰ Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (^NIV Matthew 5:3-10)

¹¹ For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, ¹² instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, ¹³ looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, ¹⁴ who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. (^NASB Titus 2-11-14)

Other references: Romans 4:5-8, Revelation 22:12-14

1. Job’s Hope through Affliction

²⁵ “As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last (i.e. end of the age) He will take His stand on the earth. ²⁶ Even after my skin is destroyed, yet from my flesh I shall see God; (in the resurrection) ²⁷ whom I myself shall behold, and whom my eyes will see and not another. My heart faints within me! (^NASB Job 19:25-27)

For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been known fully. (^NASB 1 Corinthians 13:12)

1. The Hope of the Prophets

⁸ And on this mountain He will swallow up the covering which is over all peoples, even the veil which is stretched over all nations. ⁹ He will swallow up death for all time, and the Lord God will wipe tears away from all faces, and He will remove the reproach of His people form the earth; For the LORD has spoken. And it will be said in that day, “Behold, this is our God for whom we have waited that He might save us. This is the LORD for whom we have waited; let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation.” (Hb. yesh-u’-a) (^NASB Isaiah 25:8-9)

²⁸ Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, (in direct contrast to the message that all flesh is like grass in verse 6 and 7) the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. ²⁹ He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power. ³⁰ Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, ³¹ Yet those who wait for the LORD (i.e. the Day of the LORD) will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary. (^NASB Isaiah 40:28-31)

1. As the anchor for a birthing woman through labor is the hope of a child, our anchor as believers through the strife of the end-time events is the hope of a resurrection.

¹⁷As the pregnant woman approaches the time to give birth, she writhes and cries out in her labor pains, thus were we before You, O LORD. ¹⁸ We were pregnant, we writhed in labor, we gave birth, as it seems, only to wind. We could not accomplish deliverance for the earth, nor were inhabitants of the world born. ¹⁹ Your dead will live; their corpses will rise. You will lie in the dust, awake and shout for joy, for your dew is as the dew of the dawn, (dew as an analogy of the resurrection, night being a picture of this evil, present age and the new dawn a picture of the age to come) and the earth will give birth to the departed spirits.(^NASB Isaiah 26:17-19)

³ Your people will volunteer freely in the day of Your power (i.e. Day of the LORD); in holy array, from the womb of the dawn, Your youth are to You as the dew. (^NASB Psalm 110:3)

²¹ Whenever a woman is in labor she has pain, because her hour has come; but when she gives birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy that a child has been born into the world. ²² Therefore you too have grief now; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you. (^NASB John 16:21-22)

1. Abraham’s Hope in the Resurrection

¹⁷ By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; ¹⁸ it was he to whom it was said, “IN ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS SHALL BE CALLED.” ¹⁹ He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type. (as pre-type of the Cross and resurrection) (^NASB Hebrews 11:17-19)

1. King David’s Hope in the Resurrection – this is an interesting dual-prophesy, Jesus’ resurrection acted as firstfruits, securing David’s own resurrection cf. Rom. 8:29, 1 Cor 15:13-14]

⁹ Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices; my flesh also will dwell securely. ¹⁰ For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay. (before the Cross, the righteous dead went to Sheol, cf. Eph.4:8, Luke 16:22) ¹¹ You will make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; (joy and rejoicing is directly related to the resurrection) in Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore. (^NASB Psalm 16:9-11)

1. Jesus teaching on the Resurrection

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 (Jesus will weigh good deeds according to truth of heart, which can only come through the Cross) to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment. (^NASB John 5:25-29)

²⁴ Martha said to Him, “I know that [Lazarus] 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? (^NASB John 11:24-26)

1. The Apostles’ Hope in the Resurrection

² Because [the apostles] were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. (^NASB Acts 4:2)

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope (only one faith has produced a resurrected human being, thus our faith can rest on an actual, living human being) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ to obtain an inheritance (in the resurrection) which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, (our rewards, etc. is physically located in the Heaven right now) ⁵ who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation (i.e. resurrection of the body) ready to be revealed in the last time (i.e. the Day of the LORD). (^NASB 1 Peter 1:3-5)

³ For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. (^NASB Colossians 3:3-4)

³ First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. ⁴ They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” ⁵ But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. ⁶ By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. ⁷ By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men… ¹⁰ But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear (Gk. parerchomai, “pass away” KJV/NKJV/NASB/ESV/NRSV/NLT) with a roar; the elements (Gk. stoicheion) will be destroyed (Gk. luo) by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare (Gk. heurisko; “exposed” ESV, “disclosed”, NRSV— MT Gk. katakaio; “burned up” KJV/NKJV/NASB). ¹¹ Since everything will be destroyed (Gk. luo) in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? … (^NIV 2 Peter 3:3-11)

1. The Firstfruits of the Resurrection

²⁹ For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son (i.e. conform to His resurrected body), so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren…(^NASB Romans 8:29)

¹⁸ He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. (^NASB Colossians 1:18)

²⁰ But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. ²¹ For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. ²² For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. ²³ But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those are Christ’s at His coming… (^NASB 1 Corinthians 15:20-23)

² Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. ³ And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. (^NASB 1 John 3:2-3)

1. Implications of Jesus’ Resurrection

⁴⁰ God raised Him up on the third day and granted that He become visible, ⁴¹ not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. ⁴² And He ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead. ⁴³ Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins. (^NASB Acts 10:40-43)

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. (if God did not accredit Jesus’ atonement by raising Him from the dead, then the atonement was not enough to forgive sins) ¹⁸ Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. ¹⁹ If we hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied. (i.e. if we have only hope in this age and not in the age to come) (^NASB 1 Corinthians 15:16-19)

1. Attaining to the Hope of the Resurrection

¹⁴ …I do serve the God of our fathers, believing everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets; ¹⁵ having a hope in God, which these men cherish themselves, that there certainly will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. ¹⁶ In view of this, I also do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men. (^NASB Acts 24:14-16)

¹⁰ That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; ¹¹ in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. ¹² Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, (i.e. already received a resurrected body) but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. (^NASB Philippians 3:10-12)

⁵ For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection. (^NASB Romans 6:5)

³⁵ Women received back their dead by the resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection (cf. 1 Cor. 15-39-42)… (^NASB Hebrews 11:35)

³ Blessed (language of the resurrection cf. Gen. 1:27-28, 12:1-3) be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, ⁵ who are protected by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (i.e the Day of the LORD) ⁶ In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, ⁷ so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; (i.e. the Day of the LORD) ⁸ and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,(language of the resurrection) ⁹ obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls. (i.e. the resurrection of your body) (^NASB 1 Peter 3-9)

1. The Glory of the Resurrection

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 (i.e. of the Holy Spirit not incorporeal). (^NASB 1 Corinthians 15:42-44)

⁵¹ …Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, ⁵² 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. …then will come about the saying that is written, “DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. ⁵⁵ O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?” (^NASB 1 Corinthians 15:51-55)

²⁰ For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; ²¹ who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself. (^NASB Philippians 3:20-21)

² Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We known that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. (cf. 1 Cor. 13:12) (^NASB 1 John 3:2)

1. The Agent and Deposit of the Resurrection

If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you… 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs- heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ… 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God (glorified man, as Adam in his original glory)… 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. (^ESV Romans 8:11-24)

In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance (i.e. resurrected body) until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. (^ESV Ephesians 1:11-14)

For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. 21 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22 set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. (i.e. the resurrection and restoration of all things) (^NIV 2 Corinthians 1:20-22)

² For In this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, (heaven in the singular speaks of the physical, heavenly dwelling or abode of God) ³ if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. ⁴ For we who are in this tent (i.e. body of death, cf. Rom. 7:24) groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed (i.e. disembodied spirits), but further clothed, that mortality (i.e. death) may be swallowed up by life. ⁵ Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has also given us the Spirit as a guarantee. (Gk. Ar-ra-bohn, downpayment of a full amount that will be subsequently paid). (^NKJV2 Corinthians 5:4-5)

1. The blessed hope of Jesus’ appearing is not the heavenly destiny of saints and the annihilation of Creation. Instead it is the resurrection of the body and the restoration of Creation.
2. Heavenly destiny is not a biblical idea, it is Christo-Platonic. An inferior hope will produce an inferior faith.
3. The theme of the Resurrection of the Body can be traced from Adam on to Job, to Abraham, David, and the prophets, to Jesus, the apostles and the early church.
4. From the 3rd century on a gnostic, heavenly destiny has been introduced into the Church and canonized through the writings of post-Nicene church fathers.
5. The biblical hope of the resurrection is guaranteed and made certain through the pouring out of the Holy Spirit.

And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; ⁴and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; ⁵and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (^NASB Romans 5:3-5)

[one_half]Opening Session – Why The Urgency? – Tim Miller[/one_half][one_half_last][/one_half_last]

[one_half]ONE HOPE – DAY 1[/one_half][one_half_last]ONE BOAST – DAY 2[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Session 1 – Moses versus Plato – John Harrigan[/one_half][one_half_last]Session 1 – Foundation of the Cross – Tim Miller[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Session 2 – Time and Eternity – John Harrigan[/one_half][one_half_last]Session 2 – Mercy and the Cross – Stephen Holmes[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Session 3 – Day of the Lord – Jeremy Johnson[/one_half][one_half_last]Session 3 – Self-denial and the Cross – Jeremy Johnson[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Session 4 – Resurrection and Eternal Life – Hans Kim[/one_half][one_half_last]Session 4 – Thoughts On Martyrdom – Joel Richardson[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Session 5 – Gospel of the Kingdom – Tim Miller[/one_half][one_half_last]Session 5 – Israel, the Church and the Cross – Jacob Stone[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Q & A[/one_half][one_half_last]Q & A[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Solemn Assembly[/one_half][one_half_last]Solemn Assembly[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Conference Ending[/one_half]