Principles of the Doctrine of Christ of Christ!
From the Desk Of Stan Almendro
Resurrection of the Dead (Lecture 9)
I will say this that without The Baptism in the Holy Spirit we ARE like a boxer beating the AIR. We walk in darkness. We would be the poorer for it if LIFE stopped at death and all the experiences, the lessons learned and the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross was for this life on earth only.
No eternity and LIFE in eternity would be an anti climax if the WHOLE plan (glorious) of God and the Purpose of Jesus who said “I go to PREPARE a PLACE for you (Speaking of Heaven).
So NOW there is The Resurrection of the Dead (It is for this reason that Christ came that we might have LIFE ETERNAL).
There would be NO sense in the Host of Humanity as DEAD bodies occupying the Glorious Heaven HE has prepared for His children. The vivid description of Heaven would end up being a FABLE and point out God as a FAKE and a Liar.
No friend HEAVEN is real and OUR resurrected bodies are God’s design for us to inhabit the Splendor of His Kingdom. For this reason one of the BASIC teachings of Christ and the Word of God is ‘The resurrection of the dead” so let us take a look at what the Word of God has for us on the topic?
The principle doctrines of resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment are not just important, but related. Everyone, including you, will be resurrected from the dead and judged according to your works. And the outcome of this judgment will last for eternity!
What is decided about you at this judgment will be your fate forever!!! “For we must ALL appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad” (2 Cor 5:10).
But if you are following Jesus Christ (YES BORN AGAIN !!!!), you have no need to fear. If you have rejected Christ, you should be very afraid indeed. There will be two separate resurrections and two separate judgments. The first resurrection will be of the believers in Christ.
We will be judged according to our works for eternal rewards. The second resurrection, followed by what is known as the “Great White Throne Judgment” is only for all the unsaved, where they will be judged according to their works for punishment.
They are separate, yet similar. In each case, the resurrection comes first, then the judgment soon after. The Christians will get a new spiritual body. Paul describes receiving this new body: 51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; we shall not all sleep [die], but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on in-corruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on in-corruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, and then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 1Cor 15:51-55 These new bodies will be perfect.
They will never be sick or hungry or in pain. Oh it will be glorious!!! Hallelujah! Praise to the Lamb!!! The first resurrection takes place after the Great Tribulation (The view of some and there are basically three views on this that can be part of our future studies) and before (or shortly into) the thousand-year reign of Christ on earth (Millennial Reign). Here judgment is given to the believers: 4 And I saw thrones, and they [Christians] sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.
THIS IS THE FIRST RESURRECTION. 6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. Rev 20:4, 5 Every Christian’s work shall be judged to see what sort or quality it is. It will be tried by fire, and the poor quality ones will be burned up.
For the works that remain, the believer will receive a reward. Please note that salvation is not at stake here. If you are in the first resurrection, you are saved. But your eternal rewards ARE at stake. Poor quality works include not trusting God in every area of your life, using your spiritual gifts for material gain, keeping your gifts to yourself (see Parable of the Talents, Matt 25:14-30), and refusing to give up a certain (minor) sin.
The results of this judgment are eternal; what rewards you get (or don’t get) you will have for ETERNITY. Such is the case also in the resurrection of the unsaved. They will be resurrected from the dead after the Millennial Reign, and judged for their evil works.
These are all on their way to the lake of fire, but this judgment determines the degree of punishment. A serial killer will have it worse off than a fornicator or thief. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire.
This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. Rev 20:13-15 These people will be resurrected out of hell, judged, and sent to the lake of fire. Since this second resurrection is unto damnation (John 5:28, 29), NO ONE here will be found in the book of life, and thus all will end up in the lake of fire.
Will the unsaved people get new bodies like the saved ones? I once was told that they might also get new bodies, ones that can withstand the torments of the lake of fire. This seems to make since, but since I have no scriptural backing for it, I cannot say that it is true. The resurrection from the dead is important, because it will affect you some day.
You will be resurrected from the dead and judged, regardless to whether you are a Christian or not. If you are a Christian, you should be living for Christ in every area of your life, and not resisting Him in any. You need to be sold out totally for Christ.
If you are not saved, you need to get saved so that you can take part in the first resurrection instead of the second. Well at the EXPENSE of repeating myself we move on to some of the DOCTRINES that are left to complete the studies for this year.
The Body of Christ teachings together with The Principles of the Doctrines of Christ once digested and allowed to ROOT itself in our HEARTS and our LIFESTYLE in Christ will not ONLY give Glory to God or a MUCH needed knowledge BUT also protect us from The Wiles of Satan.
It will also enable us to teach others and NOT as BABES need the Milk of the Word. Paul was not too HAPPY when he found that the believers had not GROWN UP in God and in his Word. The Doctrine of The Laying on of Hands should be A NATURAL occurrence in the Gathering of the people of god and in our personal lives: God is alive and actively dealing with mankind today through a physical group of human beings, a Church doing His Work.
And He has provided in this day, as the Bible records He always has, spiritual guides, ministers, to represent Him, to oversee His Church. And He has given them a certain amount of jurisdiction to carry out their jobs. Folk’s need I say more and if YOU feel the CALL of God on your life to the MINISTRY and plan to ignore or leave out the Holiness of God then think again, The Baptism in The Holy Spirit and IN fact the BASICS of these Doctrines you will FALL short in what you want to do for God As mentioned in the Introduction the series of studies comprise the following.
The process of APPLYING this Doctrine and in Fact the Word of God in full is a LIFE long and ongoing experience. We are encouraged in the Word of God “That we henceforth are no longer children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the sleight of men and their cunning and craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive” (Ephesians 4 verse 14). Can I encourage you to take these studies seriously and God will break to each one of us “The Bread of Heaven”. He will multiply this bread as he did the Loaves and the Fishes and we will be a PART of feeding the multitudes.
So dear friend the choice and decision is ours.The FIRST or SECOND Resurrection but one of the two it will be!!!!
TRUST YOU WILL RIGHTLY CHOOSE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
June and Stan Almendro