Resurrection.

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? 

Is there a RESURRECTION of the dead? What does resurrection mean? What do you think of when you think of being resurrected?

Resurrection

RESURREC'TION, n. s as z. [L. resurrectus, resurgo; re and surgo, to rise.]

A rising again; chiefly, the revival of the dead of the human race, or their return from the grave, particularly at the general judgment. By the resurrection of Christ we have assurance of the future resurrection of men. 1 Pet 1.

In the resurrection, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage. Mat 22.

(WEBSTER)

Abraham looked forward to being resurrected, as did David, and many others.

Heb 11:13  These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 

Heb 11:14  For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 

Heb 11:15  And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 

Heb 11:16  But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. 

Act 2:29  Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. 

Act 2:30  Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; 

Act 2:31  He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. 

Act 2:32  This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. 

Act 2:33  Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. 

Act 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, 

Act 2:35  Until I make thy foes thy footstool. 

Act 2:36  Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. 

Act 13:35  Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 

Act 13:36  For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption: 

Act 13:37  But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption. 

Paul tells us in the book of Acts about David- 'NOT ascending into the heavens.' That David 'saw corruption'. Jesus did NOT see corruption. Jesus WAS resurrected.  David did NOT go on to live any sort of life outside of his body or don't you think we'd be told all about that? There would be a lot on the subject about us dying and then living a new life in a new way in heaven. David did not ascend to heaven- if all this is supposedly telling us is that David doesn't have his body but is like an angel in spirit form now, why would it make a point of mentioning David NOT ascending to heaven, if in fact part of David with awareness did make it to heaven? What would it matter whether or not he had a body if everything that made him who he was- his thoughts, his feelings, his individuality was all there in heaven? Is the body NOT being in heaven more important than a spirit-thinking form? Big deal no cumbersome, ailing, aging body, no flesh at all to worry about with all its ins and outs, just spirit form us living on- yet, the Bible does not talk about that. Instead it talks about someone being in the grave as though they are really there, dead, unliving, unknowing, just dead and staying dead until they are called to be resurrected or not. Waiting for that heavenly country wasn’t their waiting for death to inherit it, or else we'd be told that’s what is was in no uncertain terms. A body in a grave would mean NOTHING, if the person that body belonged to was living in a new way.

None of these people talked of looking forward to their death and subsequent awakening in spirit form. None of these people talked about their dying and immediately going to be with God and their previously dead loved ones. There WAS NO TALK about life immediately after death. They did not speak of instantly receiving the kingdom of heaven upon their demise. We talk about it in our world all the time, endlessly. You hear it on television, in movies, read it in books, see it all over social media- all loved ones, it seems to be the consensus, go immediately to heaven upon death. People are grieving the loss of their loved ones but being consoled by others and consoling themselves that the dead person is in a better place now- with Jesus, with God, with loved ones that have gone on before them.

IF THIS WERE TRUE WHY DOESN’T THE BIBLE TALK ENDLESSLY ABOUT IT AS WELL? 

What is the big fuss about death if we truly are automatically going to a better place instantaneously?

Some religions teach of purgatory- a place to do penance before entering heaven. Again where are the myriad of Biblical texts supporting this? Where?

Our Lord spoke of the kingdom, the gospel is all about the good news of the kingdom of God, but no where do we read about that kingdom being inherited by our intelligent spirit forms upon death.

Why does there even need to be a resurrection if people are already resurrected in spirit form and living eternally, it doesn’t make too much sense, does it? What is the big deal about belonging to Jesus if everyone goes to heaven?

Of course people are quick to say that there is hell to worry about and those who don’t accept Christ as their Savior are going to eternal suffering in spirit form with Satan and his minions in hell. Yet, very few people will talk about anyone going to hell even if they believe it, why? Because they live under the delusion that God will save everyone when all is said and done. Satan has done his job well. Satan's goal was and is deception and that will not end until He is ended eternally.

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.

1Co 15:24  Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 

1Co 15:25  For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 

1Co 15:26  The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 

1Co 15:27  For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. 

1Co 15:28  And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. 

1Co 15:29  Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead? 

1Co 15:30  And why stand we in jeopardy every hour? 

1Co 15:31  I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 

1Co 15:32  If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die. 

1Co 15:33  Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. 

1Co 15:34  Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame. 

1Co 15:35  But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? 

1Co 15:36  Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: 

1Co 15:37  And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: 

1Co 15:38  But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. 

1Co 15:39  All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. 

1Co 15:40  There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 

1Co 15:41  There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. 

1Co 15:42  So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: 

1Co 15:43  It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: 

1Co 15:44  It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 

1Co 15:45  And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. 

1Co 15:46  Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 

1Co 15:47  The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. 

1Co 15:48  As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. 

1Co 15:49  And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. 

Mystery and Victory

1Co 15:50  Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 

1Co 15:51  Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 

1Co 15:52  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. 

1Co 15:53  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 

1Co 15:54  So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 

1Co 15:55  O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 

1Co 15:56  The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 

1Co 15:57  But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 

1Co 15:58  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. 

1Th 4:13  But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 

1Th 4:14  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 

1Th 4:15  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 

1Th 4:16  FOR THE LORD HIMSELF SHALL DESCEND FROM HEAVEN WITH A SHOUT, WITH THE VOICE OF THE ARCHANGEL, AND WITH THE TRUMP OF GOD: AND THE DEAD IN CHRIST SHALL RISE FIRST. 

1Th 4:17  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 

1Th 4:18  Wherefore comfort one another with these words. 

When Christ returns - then and ONLY then will the DEAD in Him be raised up.  It does NOT read, when Christ returns the dead in Him will be there already. These dead have to RISE. How can they rise if they are already risen with Him? HOW!? Ask yourselves these questions! They are important.

Believing that you go right to heaven upon death is a DECEPTION and no deception is harmless! Deception hides the truth and lulls us into a very false sense of security. So many believe there is NO harm at all in believing their loved ones are living a better life now, they are done suffering, they are happy all the time. They believe that for their loved ones and in turn for themselves and their own ultimate death. They don't want to believe that they are ever really dead in the sense that they are in a state of knowing absolutely nothing, in a state of not being except in a form of suspended animation-sleep. They don’t want to believe they are sleeping, that all brain functions have ceased. Why? Why is there more comfort in believing loved ones supposedly are able to watch over us and all our suffering while they are endlessly happy? Why? Where is the real, logical, Biblical comprehension of all this?

We do not know the fate of any one, yet we pretend we do when we put our loved ones in heaven and take away the very idea that they may not be called to meet the Lord in the air upon His return. We don’t want to think such a horrific thought, the possibility that those was love and mourn are not with God now, and will never be. It stuns our senses, it numbs us, it makes us horrendous monsters to imagine anyone not making it to heaven. Tell someone who believes their loved one is in heaven that they can't know that, then prepare yourself for a fight. You're just awful if you can entertain the idea that someone a person loves isn't in heaven after death. Yet we KNOW, our BIBLE tells us that narrow is the way, and few are going to find it.

We can't let ourselves be deceived.

Satan told Eve she would not die, and that lie has continued from that day onwards, that death isn't real, but transitioning to a better way of living is… being MORE LIKE GOD… is that better way. Satan told Eve if she ate that fruit she'd be more like God and boy has that lie just gone on and on and on.

Please, Father in heaven, please, holy Father, as Jesus prayed for us, we pray as well… KEEP US FROM EVIL, all evil in every form!