Today is Pentecost Sunday, and from the point of view of this series, it is a good day on which to conclude the study. We have seen that the Feast of Pentecost is very much connected with resurrection, and so it might be a good day to pray that the Lord’s purposes will soon be filled up in connection with the calling out of His elect, and so bring in “the times of restitution of all things”, and the resurrections connected with the Kingdom age. [Read more…]

“Then comes the End.” (1 Cor.15:24)

“Every man in his own company, Christ the Firstfruit, afterwards those who are of Christ at His coming. Then the End, when He delivers the Kingdom to God the Father, when He abolishes all rule, authority and power. For He must reign until He puts all enemies under His feet.” (1 Cor.15:23-25) [Read more…]

In the last number I showed what I believed to be fairly convincing evidence for the existence of two resurrections. If this be so, then can we find substantiating evidence within Old Testament Law to uphold that assertion?  I believe a positive answer may be found in the laws relating to Passover and Pentecost, each of which is said to be a “firstfruit” occasion. [Read more…]

“Accounted worthy.” (Luke 20:35)

In Part 12 we saw something that is not commonly appreciated, in other words, that there are two distinct resurrections of the saints, one which is guaranteed to all believers, and which Paul speaks about in I Cor.15 and 1 Thess.4, and the other something to strive after, which is referred to as a prize, and which Paul wrote about in Philippians 3. It is this latter resurrection which interests us particularly in this number. [Read more…]

The Prize of the High Calling. (Phil.3:14)

“That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable to His death, if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.”  (Phil.3:10-11)

There is something about Paul’s emotive earnestness in this chapter that captures our attention.  There is something here that doesn’t seem to fit into a neatly formed theory about the time of resurrection. [Read more…]

“Life from the Dead.” (Rom.11:15)

Paul’s teaching in Romans 11 concerning the Olive Tree has often caused difficulties for students of the Scriptures. In particular the position of Israel, both throughout the Christian era, and afterwards, seems to present problems that are difficult to solve. I must confess that through the years I have myself been puzzled sometimes. Let me put it this way. There are currently two schools of thought about Israel. One is called Replacement Theology, (i.e. the Church replaces Israel) whilst the other, though nameless, strives to maintain that Israel was, is, and ever shall be God’s chosen people. I have read articles that seek to defend these positions, and both of them seem to have points in their favour. I wonder whether, as we dip into Romans 11 in this number, we may find some clarification to this problem? [Read more…]

“Meeting the Lord in the Air”

“We who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air.” (1 Thess.4:17)

There are three items in this verse which need some clarification. Let’s start with the last item first – the “Air.”  Are we really expecting to be hoisted aloft into the aerial regions?  I know that many take these words in a very literal way, saying, “Well, it happened like that when the Lord ascended, so why not us?”  This has led to the “Left Behind” series of 16 fictional books by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins, which have become so popular that sales have topped the millions, making the authors extremely rich. [Read more…]

“Afterwards” (1 Thess.4:17)

The believers in Thessalonica were troubled about some of their number who had died. Paul wrote about them in his first letter, referring to the way in which they were grieved and sorrowing, and tried to cheer them up by saying that the world may very well sorrow for their dead, but not so those who had pinned their faith in the Lord Jesus, who have hope for the future. More than hope, a sure expectation. “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so those who sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.” (1 Thess.4:14) [Read more…]

“The Trumpet shall sound!” (1 Cor.15:52)

Forty years ago today, which on the Hebrew Calendar was Iyar 28th, 1967, the Israeli DefenceForces entered and captured the City of Jerusalem, and for the first time since AD 70, it became a Jewish City. On the Gentile Calendar it was June 7th 1967. My wife and I remember the day with its excitement and prophetic import. We listened to all the newscasts about the “Six Day War”, and rejoiced when the Jews regained much of their ancient inheritance. [Read more…]

“And we shall be changed.” (1 Cor.15:52)

The concept of “change” is very ancient. In fact it is found in the oldest of this world’s literature, the Book of Job.  Even though it is sometimes rather difficult to get an exact translation of parts of Job, due to its extreme age, and the manner in which people spoke in those days, there is clear evidence of resurrection. Job was certain about that, and were it not so, it is doubtful he could have endured his hardships so resolutely. [Read more…]