The dead do rise, but...

1Co 15:11 Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.
1Co 15:12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?


1Co 15:13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:


1Co 15:14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.


1Co 15:15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.


1Co 15:16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:


1Co 15:17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.


1Co 15:18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.


1Co 15:19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.


1Co 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.


1Co 15:21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.


1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.


1Co 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.

*******

The dead do rise, when?
Every man in his own order- Christ, the first fruits, then they that are Christ's at His coming.


Yes, the dead to rise, but they don't rise immediately upon dying as some believe. You hear all the time about friends and loved one going to heaven and seeing you from heaven as if they live on right after death. The mainstream belief is that loved ones KNOW you love them, see you, and understand everything going on in your life. This isn't true.


Ecc 9:5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.


The dead know not any thing. This is a far cry from the belief the dead know everything, the complete opposite in fact. We try to placate our own grief, or guilt, by believing the dead know we love them and miss them and are sorry for anything we did to hurt them in any way. The belief is a selfish belief because truthfully if the dead have risen and know everything going on in our lives can they be happy? Think about it truthfully. Can a loved one alive and well in heaven look down upon our grief, upon our sicknesses, our tragedies and be happy? Yet we believe they are up there in heaven where there is only happiness. Do you see the great contradiction. We make up this fantasy to appease ourselves and who cares about the contradictions. The truth is this...


1Co 15:17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
1Co 15:18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.


Fallen asleep.


1Co 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.


Of them that slept.


Joh 11:11 These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.
Joh 11:12 Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.
Joh 11:13 Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.
Joh 11:14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.


Lazarus sleeps and Jesus will go to wake him, yet his disciples questioned by he would wake a sick man when sleep is good for the sick. Jesus then made it clear that the sleep Lazarus was experience was death's sleep.


Death's sleep. People will believe what they want to irregardless of Scripture. People will believe in traditions of men and fables of men and not care about Scripture facts and there is nothing anyone can do about this. But truthfully if a person stopped and thought about death as a temporary sleep- temporary meaning that when Christ returns the dead in Him will rise up to new life in Him- it's so much more comforting to believe rather then a loved one witnessing the suffering of life and loved ones and believing they are somehow happy no matter what they see and know.


My father sleeps in Christ and has slept for 25 years now. It's comforting to me to know that he is not witnessing any of the suffering our family has experienced. It's comforting knowing his trials are over and he has been resting in true peace of nothingness, the same peace we have with a dreamless, wonderful, very restful night's sleep. The next thing my father will know is Jesus at His coming when He shall rise in Christ to live with Him forevermore.


The dead do rise, but not until Jesus returns.


May we all find comfort in the knowledge the Bible provides to us, the truth in Christ now and forever. By the love, by the grace, by the mercy and forgiveness of our Lord and Savior, always.


Amen.