Part 3: The death and resurrection of Christ, and the resurrection at his return
I would like to go deep into the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. This is the center piece of the gospel. It is what baptism shows at its heart. It was an example to us.
(Matthew 16:21 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto His disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes and be killed, and be raised again the third day.)
From the start, Christ didn’t preach an immediate transition to another life at death. He knew that he would be killed. He also knew that after his death, he wouldn’t raise anywhere for three days.
All the books of the gospel match this story. After Christ’s death, he was taken by Joseph and wrapped in a clean linen cloth. He was laid down in a new tomb with a great stone rolled to cover the door. After this there is no mention of him going anywhere or doing anything for three days. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John all go next to after the Sabbath and early in the morning to when Christ was resurrected.
Mary Magdalene and Simon Peter went to Christ’s sepulcher. The stone that covered the door had been rolled away so they could go inside. However, Christ wasn’t there to be found (Luke 24:3). Peter found the linen clothes and napkin that was about Christ’s head. They were no longer on him as he wasn’t there (John 20:6, 7).
(Matthew 28:5-7And the angel answered and said unto the women, “Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, Which was crucified. He is not here: for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead; and, behold, He goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see Him: lo, I have told you.”)
(Luke 24:5-7 ---Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how He spake unto you when He was yet in Galilee, Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.)
Christ was laying there for three days. He was not laying there once they looked in. Matthew says “He is not here: for He is risen,” and “see the place where the Lord lay.” The reason he wasn’t there is because he rose but it was where the lord lay. He was there and not in heaven. Once he rose from the dead he got out and not before. Once he rose; his body was no longer there.
There is never a separation between Christ and his body even hinted at. Don’t you see how this contradicts the common belief system? This systematic fraud starts with:
The dead are in a better place
They invisibly sneak away out of sight
To explain this people use the good old two places at once card. Even though the person (them #1) they love (and have always acknowledged as them) lies there as plain as day: “they” (them #2) are in a different place somewhere experiencing something great; but you just can’t see them anymore. Just redefine who they are the minute you don’t like their condition or situation I guess. It kind of reminds me of the brand of denial when someone trusted does something terrible. The trustee says it wasn’t them or it couldn’t be. Not because it really isn’t but because they can’t live with it if it is. This denial never changes reality however. It only skews the perception of the person in denial into their own fantasyland.
We aren’t supposed to like death. However, this wishing it away through invisible and unseen fiction isn’t the real way out. Let’s stick to Christ’s story for a way out. It doesn’t need altering, mending, or a clever rewrite by an unauthorized director.
If the body was an irrelevant thing to be discarded at death: why wasn’t Christ’s body still laying there like everyone else’s does? Did you ever even consider this? The body which was laying in the tomb was the Lord. He was no longer there!
There was no invisible fable or myth that they had to rely on for him to escape this. He wasn’t there anymore because he wasn’t dead anymore. When he was moving around and experiencing things he wasn’t in the grave. When he was in the grave he wasn’t up and experiencing anything. He was lying there. He was never in two places at once.
The Bible never ever refers to him cheating death. It never at all ever mentions him doing anything during the three days of his death. At no time or at any place does it say anything of him going to heaven during this span. To write this in is to try and become an illegitimate author of scripture. Let’s stick with the facts and not try and help the story along with fiction.
Are you saying Christ’s life, so closely chronicled, missed something so miraculous? He went to heaven and got out of death prior to the three days and no one was told? Why would rising on the third day be so important then? Beyond simple omission: this would be a contradiction and even a lie by Christ. As in:
(Matthew 12:40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.)
Where was Christ for three days and three nights? Was there another Christ who wasn’t there? Was there another Jonah not in the whale’s belly? Was Christ buried alive?
(Mark 8:31 And He began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.)
It says “after three days” and not ‘before.’
(John 20:17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch Me not; for I am not yet ascended unto My Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, ‘I ascend unto My Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.’”)
What does “I am not yet ascended unto My Father” mean? To answer my own question; it shows that Christ didn’t go to heaven to be with God during the three days he was dead. There was no secret and untold story of Christ going to heaven immediately at death. It wasn’t told in any of the gospels because it didn’t happen. Imagine that.
Christ wanted to announce this future and wonderful act to his brethren first. This was a huge deal. It wasn’t to be trivialized. His ascension would be something both seen and known of. It wasn’t some untold story we have to write in for ourselves at his death.
(Acts 1:9-11 And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, “Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, Which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven.”)
Compare and contrast this with the good old invisible entity going to heaven story. Those gathered saw Christ rise. It was his body which rose for all there to see. It wasn’t some piece of him leaving behind his body in the grave. As I pointed out before; his body was no longer there as all the gospels concur.
At some point he disappeared behind a cloud; but clouds generally ride pretty high in the air. They must have seen him go pretty high up prior to this point. The angel even specifically says “as ye have seen Him go into heaven.”
You don’t need to make up a story for Christ elevating to heaven. It was told in Acts. It was witnessed. Shall we add to the word of God and speak of him going during the three days he was dead? Maybe he went there when he was on the cross or in the garden. Why stop with just the grave.
Also, is all this any worse than making up this story for everyone else? Crafting a story where invisible people rise such that no one can see. Fashioning a tale of a bodiless entity flying right through the ceiling to be with God at death. The story is concocted as to fit into the fact that you never see someone go to heaven. People just work around this and weave a good story.
Beyond Christ telling people: his appearance in heaven was foreshadowed in the Old Testament. Many of the things Israel did were physical pictures of what would later happen to Christ and the church. Within the tabernacle or tent there was a sure picture of Christ raising to be in God’s presence to intervene for those who are his. Read for yourself the ninth chapter of Hebrews as not to take my word for this.
(Hebrews 9:6-9 Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the errors of the people: The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the Holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: which was a figure for the time then present----)
This was a performance of sorts (“a shadow of good things to come” as in Hebrews 10:1). You might look on it as a play or futuristic reenactment. The high priest mimicked what Christ would later do in reality. He needed to offer blood first for himself (he wasn’t perfect while Christ was). Then he made offering which lead to reconciliation for Israel.
(Hebrews 9:11 But Christ being come an High Priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building)
(Hebrews 9:23, 24 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us)
If you come to a different conclusion after reading Hebrews 9 then so be it. However, I hope after reading this you can agree this act by the high priest represented what Christ would later do.
The second part of the tabernacle was a part separated by a vale. This veil was colored like the heavens. It represented the physical separation between God and men.
(Exodus 26:31-34 And thou shalt make a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made: And thou shalt hang it upon four pillars of shittim wood overlaid with gold: their hooks shall be of gold, upon the four sockets of silver. And thou shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the vail the ark of the testimony: and the vail shall divide you between the holy place and the most holy. And thou shalt put the mercy seat upon the ark of the testimony in the most holy place.)
Only the high priest could go behind the veil to breach the separation and appear before God. Going through the veil to the mercy seat was a picture of going to where God is. He dwells between cherubims in reality (Psalms 80:1, 99:1; Is. 37:16; Eze. 10th chapter). This was a very special and unique picture. It would later become real in Christ.
I don’t see how all the righteous going to God in heaven falls in line with this. No matter how righteous they were, the normal Israelite wasn’t to approach unto God. Only one appointed and anointed high priest could do this and this with a specific purpose. Why only allow one behind the veil? What was the significance there? What would be special about Christ if everyone who was righteous went behind the veil at death?
Christ is the one who went behind just like the high priest was the one who got to act it out. It isn’t for everyone. Also, Christ is there to fulfill a specific purpose.
(Hebrews 7:25, 26 Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an High Priest became us, Who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;)
(Romans 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ That died, yea rather, That is risen again, Who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.)
(1st Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus)
(1st John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous)
Just like the high priest: Christ is the one who goes behind the veil to the presence of God.
Just as the high priest: he intercedes for those who are his.
Christ being raised when he was made him special. No one else literally raised to God prior to this. It was also done so he can complete a unique task (intercession). He doesn’t need others up there with him to help him talk to God. This isn’t anyone else’s job or privilege. The whole idea of following his footsteps all the way to heaven is to miss the idea of the lone priest behind the veil: and to miss the unique and exalted position of Christ.
More verses on the physical and witnessed resurrection of Christ.
(Luke 24:39-43 Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself: handle Me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see Me have. And when He had thus spoken, He shewed them His hands and His feet. And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, He said unto them, “Have ye here any meat?” And they gave Him a piece of broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And He took it, and did eat before them.)
Christ was making it clear he was not a spirit. Remember when they looked in the grave and saw not his body? They were seeing it now. He said “a spirit hath not flesh and bones.” This was the real Christ. His body, bones, whatever were not stolen away as the lie that was told at the end of the story by the Romans.
Christ was not only visible but quite material. He told them to handle him and he ate before them. How did he eat if he was some ghastly immaterial presence? The end of the chapter again speaks of his open ascension.
(John 20:27 Then saith He to Thomas, “Reach hither thy finger, and behold My hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless but believing.”)
Of course this is Christ speaking to “doubting Thomas.” He didn’t believe that Christ rose from the dead. Christ was again seen and was physical and material. Thomas didn’t need some séance to talk to Christ.
(Acts 10:40, 41 him God raised up the third day, and shewed Him openly; Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with Him after He rose from the dead.)
Also in Acts read Acts 1:22, 2:32, 3:15, 4:33, 5:32, and 13:31. These all make it clear that being resurrected from death is something to be seen and not a hidden miracle. These also speak to the intense importance of seeing Christ dying and being resurrected in the gospel message. This is the single most important message that was spread by the apostles.
See it:
When Peter preached on the day of Pentecost (2:23, 24, 31, 32)
By Solomon’s porch (3:15, 26)
Read (4:2, 33)
When Peter preaches basics just before baptism (10:39, 40)
When Paul preaches to Israel (13:26-37)
When Paul preaches to wanna be philosophers at Mars hill (17:31, 32)
Read also (Matthew 17:23; Luke 9:22; Romans 4:24, 25; 6:4, 9; 7:4; 8:11; 2nd Corinthians 4:14; Galatians 1:1; Ephesians 1:20; 1st Thessalonians 1:10; 2nd Timothy 2:8; 1st Peter 1:21)
I just don’t know of a more important fact in the Bible than Christ dying for our sins and being resurrected by God. I don’t for the life of me see how Christ existing in another form for three days could be called death. To say he was alive just after his crucifixion is to say he didn’t die for our sins.
This would still put us in jeopardy of the ultimate punishment for sin: which is death. This would also leave his resurrection of no real importance. IT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN THE WHOLE BOOK! Oh but he was actually alive the whole time and didn’t really need it. OK.
I just can’t see the need or importance of resurrection if death is a transition to something better. It makes perfect sense and importance if you accept that death really is death. You then need to be resurrected to be alive and do anything. With this understanding resurrection is everything and not nothing.
This is also the central picture of baptism:
Being dragged down=death
Immersed in water=buried
Pulled back up above the surface=being resurrected into something better
If you are saying men in general or Christ specifically fly away at death: this whole representation falls apart between the first and second step. You have made the whole thing meaningless. You should go out and have someone start to lean you back: then just jump in the air toward heaven. Death isn’t real so don’t worry about it if immortality of the soul is correct. Baptism and resurrection are the way in. To look for something else is to ignore these. It is also to ignore the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ which just can’t be overlooked.
(Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.)
Answer for yourself the importance of understanding the resurrection of Christ. People are so intent and obsessed with going to heaven at death that they overlook the biggest and most important part of the story of Christ. He had to be raised from his death. This doesn’t automatically happen. It is a great miracle of faith not to be overlooked or ignored.
(Acts 4:2 Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.)
Can’t you see how the resurrection of Christ is a springboard for resurrection of the faithful? It was a great example for those who follow. It is a key topic which must be understood. There is no eternal life without resurrection. You can’t assume your car will take you somewhere unless you start it first. This step can’t be stripped of its function.
(Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.)
The fact that God raised Christ from the dead is a key part of faith. It is not a trivial side note in the grand scheme of something greater. People are so intent on his flight to heaven that they overlook the biggest and most important part of the story.
Living after death has become such an assumed thing these days. In order for Christ to be rewarded, and experience anything at all, he had to be raised from the dead: as he was first dead and then raised to eternal life. This was a grand miracle that only the power of God could perform. It is not to be pushed aside by the immortality of the soul. Note too that this is directly linked to salvation here as to importance.
(1st Corinthians 6:14 And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by His own power.)
God demonstrated what he could do in raising Christ from death. This serves as an example for what he can do for those who are his. This power is such a vital understanding in conjunction with the knowledge that you can’t cheat death. In the context of the immortality of the soul, where no one really dies, it is rather irrelevant. Everyone rises from death automatically there so what would it matter if God could raise the dead or not?
Christ was beaten, crucified, and then stabbed. He then rested in his grave to leave no doubt of his literal death. When God raised him, this should leave no doubt that he has the ability to raise the dead. This provides comfort, assurance, and an example to all believers of God.
1st Corinthians 15 couldn’t speak louder about the importance of resurrection. Verses 1 and 2 speak of standing in the gospel for salvation. Verse 3 says Christ died for our sins. Verse 4 states he was buried and rose from the dead on the third day (not before).
(Verses 12 and 13 Now if Christ be preached that He rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen)
Paul doesn’t know of some other way that the dead aren’t dead! If Christ wasn’t resurrected then he is still dead in his grave to Paul. There isn’t some sneaky backdoor way for Christ to be alive. It is either resurrection from the dead or nothing. It was either the third day or it didn’t happen. What other option is there here?
(Verses 17 and 18 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.)
Your faith is vain if you don’t understand that Christ really died and was really resurrected. There is no such thing to Paul as a pseudo death and a pseudo resurrection. Christ really died. Without going from death back to life (resurrection): he would still be only dead. This is the example to us all of how to overcome death.
Verse 18 returns us to the iron clad analogy of sleep and death. Without life through resurrection, those who died under Christ would be perished and stay asleep. They don’t have some continuous life. The only hope for them is to rise from their sleep as Christ did. Understanding death and resurrection is the key to all of this.
(Verse 20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.)
See again that death is as sleep and not as action. CHRIST WAS THE FIRST ONE TO RAISE FROM DEATH! He wasn’t the firstfruits if everyone else rises from death when they die. No one sleeps in death according to this theory either. This verse is stripped of its function given the immortality of the soul.
Christ was the first to raise from the dead unto immortality. Lazarus rose back to mortality. There was no contradiction there. Immortality was the fruit of a righteous resurrection and judgment.
(21-23 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s, at His coming.)
You have the two opposites here of sin unto death and sanctification unto life. Adam/ punishment and Christ/ salvation. Those who are Christ’s are looking to be made alive as he was. Those who don’t have Christ will face death.
The when of resurrection becomes quite obvious here as well. Christ was again the first one raised to eternal life. The rest must wait until his coming. There is no individual time or agenda to any of the rest.
Note that it didn’t say ‘and those that are his at their time of death.’ This is an orderly thing given by God. It says “every man in his own order” and then gives the order. It revolves around the return of Christ and not the individuals of the church and their time of death. I know there is no manner of patience left in our microwave and fast food society. However, even if you have no patience, you can’t change the plan of God.
The sequence and the wording of the last line shows many waiting on the individual return of Christ. Note the plural “they” and the singular “coming.” It is not Christ’s many comings to each individual’s time of death. This is speaking of a specific time when resurrection and salvation will come for all. Don’t attempt to jump the gun on this.
If people rose to heavenly bliss in the Old Testament due to their relationship with God: would Christ be the firstfruits? If they rise before his return: what is the significance of “at his coming?” The timing is completely thrown off by the common pagan mythology. This timing is explored further in other verses in the New Testament.
(Matthew 16:27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and then He shall reward every man according to his works.)
See again how salvation is at Christ’s return as in 1st Corinthians 15. What does “and then He shall reward every man according to his works” mean? Are people being judged and rewarded for their works prior to this? How do these words stand if they are? If I say I will come over and then we will talk about something: do I mean we will talk about it before? Wouldn’t that be putting your own spin on what I said?
(John 6:40 And this is the will of Him That sent Me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.)
Answer 4 yourself: when is Christ pointing to as the time to get the fruit of righteousness? When will he reward those who are his according to him and not popular belief?
(John 6:44 No man can come to Me, except the Father Which hath sent Me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.)
(John 6:54 ---hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.)
To me “the last day” can only refer to the day of the Lord. Notice that it doesn’t say ‘the individual believer’s last day or your last day.’ It just says “the last day.” This phrase can only imply a singular day. These passages reveal a great multitude being pointed to and appointed one great day to be raised to salvation.
(1st Corinthians 1:7, 8 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.)
What is Paul pointing them toward in terms of a finish line? Is it not the day Christ returns? This is when where you stand with Christ becomes most important. This also starts to establish that the day of the Lord is the day Christ returns.
(1st Corinthians 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, Who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.)
(2nd Corinthians 1:13, 14 For we write none other things unto you, than what ye read or acknowledge; and I trust ye shall acknowledge even to the end; As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus.)
(Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.)
These verses show a holding out up until a specific day. Judgment should be held out until Christ returns because it will be a day of judgment. The great fruit of salvation isn’t until a specific day. This day is what the church’s faith points toward.
(Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ)
(Philippians 2:16 holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.)
In 2:16 Paul identifies the day of Christ as the day when he can rejoice in knowing that his works toward God were not in vain. Wouldn’t this have already been obvious if Paul went to heaven at his death about two thousand years ago? Is Paul in heaven right now wondering if his works got him anywhere? Is he waiting to be justified further somehow? Is he thinking “can’t rejoice yet—have to see if I make it on the day of Christ?”
(Colossians 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory.)
What does “then” imply. Do you have eternal life in the presence of Christ and glory prior to “then?” Only figuratively as 3:1-3.
(1st Thessalonians 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.)
Paul is addressing those who have died in the faith of Christ. He is providing grounded words of hope and comfort for their future. Read these next verses closely and compare Paul’s words to the funeral fairy tales so often spun by preachers.
(1st Thessalonians 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.)
Yet again the death and resurrection of Christ is an essential understanding. Your faith and hope for those who died in him hinges on it according to this. Those who “sleep in Jesus” didn’t cheat death. Their hope is to be raised as Christ was.
(1st Thessalonians 4:15-18 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. 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: 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. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.)
What we have here is a shared promise to the living and the dead from that time to when Christ returns. The dead do rise first but there is nothing on them receiving anything before this day. Why not comfort people with the idea that their loved ones in Christ are in heaven with him? This is what most everyone does these days. This was not Paul’s message here. His was a future promise involving faith in the story of Christ and patience.
If the believer had already gone up to God at death: what would be the great purpose in raising them from the grave again? Is God forcing them to go back into their body on earth only to raise them back up for some sort of vain show? This would be like shoving someone down only so you could reach your hand down to help them back up. Would you be doing them some great favor or should you have left them standing to begin with?
Shouldn’t it have spoken of the dead descending with Christ instead of “the dead in Christ shall rise first?” How do you meet with someone if you were already with them? Weren’t they “ever with the Lord before this?”
Hope is directed toward a particular time of God’s choosing here. It has nothing to do with when each person dies. I know this isn’t as personally gratifying as having a self centered time of salvation. Maybe you feel more important having God’s plan revolve around you and your death.
However, God’s plan is set up for his glory. It hinges on the return of Christ: which still hasn’t happened yet. When Christ returns there will be believers both alive and dead. This was also the case when Paul wrote this. All believers must fall into this plan and wait for Christ versus Christ coming for each believer.
This is a group salvation. It is an organized and common experience for all believers. It is not a bunch of stragglers going to heaven one by one. To say that individuals somehow snuck off and rose prior to the day Paul speaks of is to go outside the message. You can’t just invent your own hope and gospel.
(1st Timothy 4:14 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ)
(2nd Timothy 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto them also that love his appearing.)
Can’t you see that all hope is funneled into one specific time? This day is when the Lord appears. You must stay in the right place up until this time in order to be saved. Whether alive or dead, this will be the day for you if you are Christ’s. It is not a formality or a token; but when God’s elect are raised to meet Christ and find their destiny.
I again see these verses so at odds with modern Christianity. People see their death as the day to go to a better place. How do you wait on the day of the Lord for salvation if you are already in heaven?
This is so basic that modern Christianity baffles me. When the teacher tells kids in the first grade that they will all go to lunch at noon: they get it. Why would any get to go down early after this announcement? Only the disobedient child would try and walk down to the lunch room with his brown paper bag before noon. If Paul points everyone to the day of the lord to receive the reward of faith: why would anyone think they would get it before?
Think about this. Think of the believer from Paul’s time according to the pagan afterlife of modern Christians. You are obviously judged, experience some magical alternate universe in heaven, get to be with Christ and God, and get to be in the kingdom. After about two thousand years of this: what does the day of the Lord mean to you? Why point anyone in this state towards this as the great day to look forward to? Everything should just be steered to the day of death shouldn’t it? The day Christ returns will be THE DAY if you keep it in proper perspective given that the dead are sleeping and waiting for THE DAY.
(1st Peter 1:5-7 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations, That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ)
There is no salvation before Christ appears. Leading up to his return there is only a season of trial and temptation. Getting through this leaves you in line for salvation at the return of Christ. This is when the hope of the believer is manifested.
This logically leads us to another topic. I have heard many false theories about the return of Christ. Things like he has already returned/ he returns each time a believer dies/ or the good old secret coming. These are used to make jigsaw pieces try to fit where they shouldn’t. No salvation comes before the return of Christ so people spin a story where he already has.
In regards to the return of Christ, let’s start with what Christ has to say. He talks at length about his return in the 24th chapter of Matthew. I don’t feel like typing the whole thing out at this time so I ask you to follow along with your own Bible.
The question in verse 3 clearly lumps his coming and the end of the world together. Jesus doesn’t correct the man, or answer the two things as two different questions, so I take Christ’s coming as the end of the world here. He even refers to it as “the end” in verse 6. His coming is also always referred to in a singular fashion. The end of the world isn’t one of his comings here.
I don’t take the end as a time when the earth and all the inhabitants are blown up or destroyed. However, it must be an earth shattering event. How can “the end of the world” describe a secret that most of the world doesn’t know? Things keep going on just the same afterward but it was the “end of the world.”
This day will be a clear time when the faithless ways of the world are confronted by God through Christ. It will mark a monumental change. The end of the world just doesn’t jive with some invisible or unknown coming to me. God it would be hard to miss something called the end of the world wouldn’t it?
Verses 21 and 22 speak of great tribulation. Read 23-28 carefully as to finding Christ. Verse 26 reads “Wherefore if they shall say unto you, ‘Behold, He is in the desert;’ go not forth: ‘behold, He is in the secret chambers;’ believe it not.”
This sounds exactly like the pre-tribulation rapture to me. People preach that Christ has secretly already come and taken the chosen to some hidden chambers or something. The whole idea here is that you won’t have to go looking for him in some secret place. If others say you do: don’t listen. Christ isn’t Waldo in those stupid “Where’s Waldo” pictures.
Verses 27 and 28 read “For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.”
First, does lightning shining from the east to the west sound secretive to you? When you look up in the sky is it very easy to miss lightning? Another sure sign given here is eagles marking carcasses. From a great distance from any direction they reveal a truth on the ground below which is quite visual and hard to miss.
So don’t believe anyone saying Christ is here in secret but look for sure signs in the heavens to reveal his singular return. What else does any logical analysis of these verses lead to? Was the point of this that there won’t be obvious signs in the heavens and Christ is hidden in some secret dimension???
I guess the eagles in the sky are some illusion then. They are some symbolic nonsense not marking something for people to see. Then you have invisible black lightning which is really a state secret. They should have thrown in a silent fire alarm or tornado siren while at it! Or don’t listen to most people when they say Christ is in the desert or secret chambers: but believe the ones who have him here in some other mystical unseen and unknown place. At least the ones he named here (which said to look for a secret coming) could point somewhere specific.
Just after making the point of not looking for a secret Christ or secret coming: verse 29 says “Immediately after the tribulation of those days.” Christ isn’t coming before! Verses 29 and 30 are clear references to Old Testament scriptures about the day of the Lord. Go back and read Isaiah 13 and Zechariah 12-14.
Verse 30 says “And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven.” Is this an invisible sign or something? Verse 31 speaks of “a great sound of a trumpet.” Is this an inaudible secret trumpet? Refer again to 1st Thessalonians 4: 16 above where it says “the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God.” How exactly are you supposed to miss all of this???
Verse 31 also links and corresponds directly with 1st Thessalonians 4:15-18 in regards to the elect. When Christ comes: those who are his will meet him in the clouds. You will have people raising from graves and areas conceivably all around the world.
Please read 37-39 quite carefully. They draw a clear comparison between when Christ comes and the flood of Noah’s day. This will be a great day of judgment and death upon the wicked. This is totally consistent with how the day of the Lord is described.
Verse 38 speaks of people being unawares only “before the flood.” They had no fear of God or the repercussions of their actions. They just lived their carnal lives in a self serving fashion. This is not referring to after the flood. I am quite sure that once the flood came: no one was marrying, eating, or drinking (although they did take in water while drowning).
I am also more than certain that they knew it was happening once it started. It would be impossible to miss treading water for you life and then choking to death. It would also be something to remember for those in the ark. If this story was supposed to be indicative of, or in any way represent a secret event: it was the worst kept secret maybe ever! Verse 39 specifically says “they knew not until the flood came.”
I have no idea how this comparison jives with Christ secretly coming and no one knowing the better. How do you compare, in any way, a secret event to an earth shattering judgment on the wicked? The day of the Lord and the flood sure sound quite similar. This is a comparison which makes sense. You will have sudden destruction on large group of previously unsuspecting people.
I have heard verses 40 and 41 twisted beyond belief. They speak of one being taken and another left in a couple situations. Where does it say this is secret? Where does it say the one left will be unaware and not see it? I must have missed it if it is there. I think this is just saying some will rise to meet Christ while others won’t.
Christ coming as a ‘thief in the night’ is a very misunderstood concept as well. The entire point of verses 42-51 to me is to make yourself ready for Christ’s return prior to the event. The idea of a thief is that they certainly don’t announce their coming and try to catch you when you least expect it. But you sure notice a thief has been to your house afterward don’t you?
Verse 43 states “if the Goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.” Notice the past tense wording of “had known” and “would have” and “would not have.” The Goodman sure knows afterward but the problem was that he didn’t know beforehand.
You kind of notice when your valuables are missing, locks are jimmied; things are out of place etc. It even says “suffered his house to be broken up.” How do you miss this afterward? Everything is gone and broken up: but maybe a thief was here and maybe he wasn’t. It is just impossible to say.
I just don’t see how people try to cover that Christ already came secretly with this ‘thief in the night analogy.’ You know once the thief has been there. You can’t very well miss it!
The entire point is that you don’t know before: such that he will catch you in your natural state. This principle applies in many facets in our lives. In school you might get a pop quiz. This is an unannounced test designed to reward those who were keeping up on their studies day to day. It punishes the ones who try to get right just before the test. You definitely know once the quiz starts but it is too late because it is really testing where you were just before.
Any drug testing in sports or at the workplace is best done randomly. If it is announced: people can stay off to clear their system. If a district manager in retail wants to know how things really go day to day at a given store: he will do an unannounced visit. The managers at the store can’t get everything ready before. These are similar examples to the thief coming when you don’t expect it. This is the point. The point isn’t of a secret getting by you afterward.
Verse 44 says “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” This falls right with what I am talking about. The last verses kind of expand the point.
I don’t see being a good watchman as looking in the sky all day for Christ or even watching current events in Israel. Being a good watchman is more about what you are doing with your life. Are you watching for this day with your mind? Are your actions reflecting this?
The last verses describe the good servant and the bad one. The good one is rewarded when the master returns. The bad one gives up on the return and starts reveling and brawling and will be cut asunder at the return. Yet again we are not talking about a secret event here once the master returns. Just a secret as to when it will happen before it does.
(Luke 17:28, 29 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.)
This is the companion piece to Matthew 24 in Luke. Just as Lot was delivered from the wrath: those who meet Christ in the sky at his return have nothing to worry about. The destruction will be on the wicked and not the righteous. Just as in Sodom: fire and brimstone will reign down as a judgment from God at Christ’s return. I don’t know about you; but I think fire and brimstone raining from the sky to destroy massive numbers of the wicked will be tough to miss, and hard to keep secret.
(1st Thessalonians 5:1, 2 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.)
This flows right with the end of chapter 4 which I went into earlier. It discussed Christ returning and meeting those who are his in the air. Verse 2 references Matthew 24 and the comparison to a thief in the night in regards to the timing of the day of the Lord. The whole context here indicates that Christ’s return is on the day of the Lord.
These aren’t two different events on two different days. Christ’s return is a big part of the day of the Lord. Paul also makes this clear by his setup. He said “ye have no need that I write unto you.” This thief in the night comparison was already made clear by Christ. He wasn’t speaking of some new or different thing here. He is referring to when Christ returns as the day of the Lord. I don’t see how anyone could come to another conclusion after reading this. You would have to undo Paul’s words and take them out of context.
(2nd Thessalonians 1:7-10 –when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, In flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of our Lord, and from the glory of His power; When He shall come to be glorified in His Saints, and to be admired in all them that believe <because our testimony among you was believed> in that day.)
This again describes destruction of wicked and exaltation of righteous at Christ’s return. This is consistent with the day of the Lord and those who are his meeting him in the clouds. Again, to say this day is somehow hidden is to miss the dynamic nature of it on the wicked, righteous, and anyone else with eyes and ears.
If you still don’t think that Christ’s return is on the day of the Lord; or if you still think you could miss it; read the 3rd chapter of 2nd Peter. Verse 4 speaks of those giving up on the coming and a major change on earth by the hands of God. Verses 5-7 yet again compare this day to the flood in Genesis. There will be great “perdition of ungodly men.”
Verse 10 says “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” This should start to be sounding awfully familiar to you. Now it is Peter echoing what Jesus and Paul said. But I guess you can throw these three out and look for a secret coming which has nothing to do with the day of the Lord.
(Revelation 1:7 Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen.)
Exactly how does “He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him” correspond with a secret coming???? This again sounds like:
1st Thessalonians 4:17 where Christ returns and meets those who are his in the clouds.
Zechariah 12:10-14 when all of Israel sees who they have pierced and mourns on the day of the Lord.
If you still think the day of the return will be something unseen just read more Old Testament verses on the day of the Lord. Read:
Isaiah 2 and 13/ Joel 1:15, 2:1, 3:14-21/ Zeph. 1/ Zechariah 12-14.
For example:
(Isaiah 2:17-19 And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day. And the idols He shall utterly abolish. And they shall go into the caves of the earth, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of His majesty, when He ariseth to shake terribly the earth.)
How does all this happen if no one knows about it? The day of the Lord and a secret are polar opposites. One just can’t describe the other.