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61. When was the resurrection of the DEAD to occur?

The resurrection of the dead is something we assume happens at the end of the world....but what does the scripture say? Please note that this event also occurs scripturally at the same time as "our gathering together to the Lord" and the "day of the Lord" or the 'time of Jacob's trouble" according to the prophet Daniel. 'At that time' refers also to the appointed time (kiaros) or the time of the end spoken of elsewhere (Dan 9:24-27, 12:4, etc).

Dan 12:1-3

"At that time Michael shall stand up,
The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people;
And there shall be a time of trouble,
Such as never was since there was a nation,
Even to that time.
And at that time your people shall be delivered,
Every one who is found written in the book. 
2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake,
Some to everlasting life,
Some to shame and everlasting contempt. 
3 Those who are wise shall shine 
Like the brightness of the firmament,
And those who turn many to righteousness 
Like the stars forever and ever.   NKJV
 
 
It should be noted that Jesus quoted from this and other passages in Daniel in regard to both the tribulation and the resurrection. Jesus also specifically refers us to Daniels prophecies to understand the end times AND these and other verses from Daniel are also referred to in the epistles and the book of Revelations.
 
Firstly, Jesus links the resurrection to events that were to happen at the end of the AGE/this AGE when the 'harvest' occurs along with the judgment in Mat 13:39&40. The age addressed was the age of the Law which YOUR PEOPLE (i.e.Old covenant Israel) were under until AD70.
Secondly, Jesus links the resurrection and judgment to the time of the coming of the Son of Man in Mat 16:27-28 which some standing there in AD33 would see in their lifetime.
Thirdly, Jesus gives the timing of the resurrection (or gathering / harvest) to happen 'immediately AFTER the tribulation and as part of other end time events including the destruction of the temple, the coming of the Son of Man, the harvest and the judgment (Mat 24: 1-3, 29-31 and Mat 25:31-32) which were all to occur before THAT generation passed away.  
Fourthly Daniel 12:7 (and 9:26) tells us that the resurrection was to occur before Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed. This was part of the 70 weeks determined for apostate ISRAEL.
 
 
The resurrection is a topic many of the prophets spoke of and Jesus quoted them and taught about it too. This same teaching was then preached to the early church by the apostles as an event soon to happen (Acts 24:15 & 25, Heb 10:26-28, James 5:8-9, 1 Pet 4:17, 1 John 2:18). The resurrection is spoken of is also described as "THE hope of Israel" (Acts 28:20, Acts 2:26, Acts 23:6, Acts 24:15, Acts 26:6-8). This same 'HOPE was the one the great Hebrew men and women of FAITH (referred to in Hebrews 11) looked forward to experiencing when Messiah came. (Heb 11 vs 10, 11, 13, 16, 26, 27, 35 and 39)...The hope of obtaining a BETTER RESURRECTION (vs 35)
 
Heb 11:13-16   These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.  NKJV
 
The hope was NOT for a new physical world...but a HEAVENLY country.
 
Heb 11:39-40  And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, 40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.  NKJV
 
The writer of Hebrews here lets us know that in the New Covenant...God has provided a better way! Jesus tells us what this is in John 11:23-26 (We do not have to wait to receive eternal life as a reward after we die...we receive it UPON believing AND we will NEVER loose it)
 
According to Daniel the resurrection was to occur immediately after the time of the tribulation....and before the total destruction of Jerusalem and the temple which were to herald the end of the Old Covenant age (Dan 9:26-27, Dan  12:7)
 
Dan 12:6     "How long shall the fulfillment of these wonders be?"  (these wonders included the tribulation and the resurrection vs 1-3) 
7 Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished.  NKJV
 
 
Please note that the Old Testament saints were waiting in Sheol or the grave UNTIL Jesus blood was shed to redeem them.  At that very moment that Jesus shouted 'IT IS FINISHED'... and gave up his spirit...the scripture records for us a statement of HISTORICAL FACT...
 
Matt 27:50  And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. 
51 Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, 52 and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; 53 and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many. NKJV
 
(Please note that these saints had visible INDIVIDUAL spiritual bodies at the resurrection here and specifically that they were identifiable and able to 'appear' to selected people. It is not stated how long they appeared for but we can assume that when Jesus ascended they also went up into the clouds as part of the 'firstfruits' of the resurrection .. 1 Cor 15:20, Eph 4:8)
 
Brethren, allow me the indulgence to refer to this as "The First Resurrection".... that of many of the OLD Testament saints ... probably being those who as prophets had been martyred (i.e. saints ... as promised by Jesus in Mat 23:31-36) and who were waiting in Sheol for the sacrifice to be made and the redemption price to be paid. There was certainly no general ressurection before this ... and many scriptures refer to a resurrection still expected to come in which 'all who are in the grave' would soon to be raised to face the judgment. It appears that learned commentators largely REFUSE to acknowledge this event for what the BIBLE says it was .. i.e a RESURRECTION of the dead)
 
The other scriptural basis for these saints being only part of the 'first resurrection' is in Rev 6:12 where the saints who had been martyred were waiting under the throne and are told to rest for 'a little while longer' till the number of their brethren was completed (Mat 23:32). This we are told in Rev 20:4 included those who were killed in the tribulation for not taking the mark of the beast (ie AD 67-70 and post AD 33) (tie this to Luke 11:49-51 where apostles are also mentioned as those who would be martyred before AD70... with vengeance being taken on 'this generation' being those Jews living between AD 33 and AD73)
 
There certainly was no other general resurrection before this in the scriptures so calling it the first resurrection is quite appropriate and in accordance with Revelations 20. The resurrection was prophesied about by numerous prophets and then spoken of by Jesus and then RECORDED AS HISTORY in our sacred text for us. The saints were raised with recognizable BODIES...though it is likely that 'mortality had put on immortality' as Paul speaks of in 1 Cor 15:53 ... but they were not just 'spirits'.
 
 
 
This was to be followed by 'the second resurrection' which Jesus spoke of in the following verse .. where ALL in the grave including the balance of the good and the evil Israelites being raised in "The second Resurrection'')
 
 
John 5:28-29
28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice  29 and come forth — those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. NKJV
 
Jesus here quotes Daniel 12:1-2 which was applicable to ISRAEL only (see also Dan 9:24)... the criteria for judgement under the Law of Moses is 'what they had done'.. i.e. their works! Daniel refers to the timing of this event as being 'the end of days' ... the end of the time 'determined for your people'.
 
Jesus was not speaking to people of an event which was to happen in 2000 years time ...but "at the end of THIS age" (Mat 13:36-43). Jesus tells them in many ways that this was to come on THEIR OWN generation (Mat 16:28 and Mat 24:34). Jesus words of warning were directed at a specific Jewish generation and specifically those in and around Jerusalem who would be personally impacted by the impending doom (Mat 23:37). He gives them alone specific advice in Luke 21:20 ..."when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies"  ... " then let those in Judea flee to the mountains." This has no relevance to anyone located in other countries some 2000 years later.
 
Jesus was not speaking of a resurrection as an event that was 2000 years in the future... 'the hour is coming' speaks of a fairly imminent event and something relevant to those hearers of the teaching. Jesus here is speaking of 'the Hope of Israel' ...the resurrection of THEIR Patriarchs and the Israelites who had died in FAITH from Abel to Abraham to Samuel and the prophets as well as those in the category of 'still others'. This is the same resurrection Martha spoke of as coming 'on the last day' (John 11:24)...and the same 'last day' that Jesus refers to elsewhere. (John 6:39-54) 
 
 
 
Please note that the distinction between a first and second resurrection is only ever referred to specifically in Revelations chapter 20 (and doctrine should generally not be framed around one apocalyptic and prophetic passage). But as there had been a resurrection in AD 33 according to the scriptures ...there was also still to be a resurrection for the rest of those who had been "Left Behind" ...or the 'second resurrection'....because according to the Law of Moses ALL Israel were to be judged. (Rom 14:10, 1 Pet 4:5 and 17)
 
Gal 4: 4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.   NKJV
 
(Israelites saints ...those UNDER THE LAW... who had been waiting in the grave for redemption received this when Jesus was crucified as the Lamb of God and then raised from the dead. (Luke 2:38, Luke 21:28, Luke 21:28, Gal 4:4-5). To interpret this as an event which would then only take place about 2000 years later is sheer lunacy.
 
 
Please note that while the graves were opened and the saints were raised, that they only came out of the graves AFTER Jesus resurrection. Jesus was the FIRSTFRUITS of those who had fallen asleep....ie this phrase clearly indicates that the resurrection was to apply to OLD Covenant Israel. It is highly unlikely that Mat 27 refers to New Testament saints (as speculated by some comentators) as there were NONE recorded in the scriptures as having died before Jesus ascention and Jesus had claimed 'of those whom thou has given me I have lost none' ...except perhaps Judas who it is highly questionable to regard as a 'saint'. 
 
Paul in approx AD 55 wrote this ...
 
1 Cor 15:20  But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. (This happened in AD 33 and is recorded in Mat 27:52-53 i.e. the first resurrection)  21 For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 23 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, (AD 33) afterward those who are Christ's at His coming. NKJV     (The 'second resurrection' of Rev 20 occurred in AD 70 when Christ came in judgment on Israel)  
 
Paul hints at a second resurrection 
 
After this 'comes THE END" (1 Cor 15:24)...yes, the same 'end' that Jesus referred to on Mat 24:14...and then same 'time of the end' which Daniel 8:17 refers to...which would be consummated at 'the end of the age' when He returned on the clouds (Mat 24:3&30 and Dan 7:13-14) bringing in the New and Everlasting Kingdom...which He delivered to the Father ...or the Ancient of Days (Dan 7:13-14) ...and Jesus Himself as 'the End' (Revelations 1:8). AND all of this would happen or be fulfilled when Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed (Mat 24:2&14-15, Dan 9:26b and 12:7 and Revelations 18 and 19:11-14). For historical verification, tie this to the heavenly visions shown to Israel on the clouds as recorded by Josephus in AD 70 (Mat 24:30)
 
Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.    NKJV
 
Brethren this passage shows that the first resurrection ALSO applied to ALL the saints who were martyred after Jesus death and up to the destruction of Jerusalem in AD70. This is indicated in the above passage as it includes the souls of those who did not worship the beast...ie Jewish and Christian believers who were killed by their fellow Jews and Romans prior to AD70 for preaching Christ and refusing to worship Caesar. The Jewish believers amongst these were raised immediately at death to join the balance of the first saints to be in heaven awaiting the 'judgment and vengence' of God to be poured out on apostate Israel. (Rev 6:9-11 and Rev 9:14).... at the hands of the Roman army i.e. the abomination that makes desolate. (Dan 9:26-27)
 
ALL believers in the New Covenant post AD 70 live as 'priests and kings' with Christ. (1 Pet 2:9, Eph 2:6 and Rev 1:6) We are called to serve and minister to others as Christ did...i.e. to rule on our knees by washing feet. All believers (post AD 70) live and reign with Christ on earth for the duration of our physical lives... and then with Him in eternity and not just a thousand years. (The thousand year period refers to the time between the resurrection of Jesus and His second coming in AD70) 
 
For us as New Testament believers today (all Gentiles who have been saved after AD 33) the scriptures say that we were RAISED from the dead when we are BORN AGAIN...(refer to the scriptures under a separate heading below). We today who die as believers do not have to WAIT in the grave until Jesus pays the price for our sins because he already did this on the cross in AD 33.
 
 
(Please note that the phrase...'the dead' ... generally refers to those who died under the Law and were in sheol awaiting resurrection and judgment....Rev 20:5 and 14, 1 Cor 15:12-17, Mat 22:31)
 
(Please also note that the phase ...'those who have fallen asleep in Christ'...in context usually applies to those who died or were martyred as New Covenant believers prior to AD 70 and they were aleady united with Christ. They were already with Him (Jude 14 & 15) and were awaiting His triumphal return in AD70 in judgement of Israel)
 
 
So when does the second resurrection of Revelations 20 occur? Well according to Daniel (Dan 12:1-2 and 7) and Isaiah (Is 64:10-11, this MUST occur be before the destruction of Jerusalem...
 
Dan 12:6-7
"How long shall the fulfillment of these wonders be?"     7 Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished.    NKJV
 
Jesus also confirms in Mat 24:29 below that IMMEDIATELY after the tribulation of those days...the elect would be gathered. Before this happened they would need to have been resurrected!.
 
The angel tells Daniel that the Tribulation (aka the time of Jacob's trouble) in Dan 12:1 will last for three and a half years...just as Revelations 11:2 and 13:5. Co-incidentally Josephus and other historic records confirm that both the persecution of believers by Nero Caesar and the seige of Jerusalem both lasted approx. three and a half years. And Dan 12:2-3 tells us clearly that the resurrection was to be AT THAT TIME...ie an event which followed immediately after the great tribulation.
 
So what other scriptural support is there that the "second resurrection" applied only to Israelites under the Law? (other than Dan 12:1-3, Dan 8:24 and Dan 9:24 which refers to Israel as 'your people'..or 'the holy people' being raised before the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple)
 
Rev 20:11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.   15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. NKJV
 
Under the Law Israelites were judged according to their works... i.e. of OBEDIENCE to the Law of Moses....and ALL who rely on the Law will BECOME GUILTY (Rom 3:19-20). The Law was a choice between LIFE (for obedience) and DEATH (for sin) according to Deut 30:15. The Law eventually brought DEATH to all (Rom 5:12 and Rom 8:2) ...other than to those who THROUGH FAITH found life by putting their trust in God to provide the perfect Lamb for their redemption.
 
Moses warned Israel of the judgment they would face for rejecting Messiah...
 
Acts 3:22   For Moses truly said to the fathers, 'The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you.  23 And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.'   24 Yes, and all the prophets, from Samuel and those who follow, as many as have spoken, have also foretold these days.  NKJV
 
 
Those who listened to Jesus and believed in God were made righteous. They had their names written in the Lamb's Book of Life and rewarded with eternal life (Rom 10:3-4, Mat 27:50-53) .. ie they are described as 'the saints' ... just as believers today are described. Those who rejected Jesus were condemned. (Jn  3:18-20, Jn 16:9, Jn 6:28-29).... Jesus alone offered salvation APART FROM WORKS (Rom 10:1-4).
 
John 8:24  Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins ; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins .  NKJV
 
 
The SECOND Resurrection is a transitional arrangement required only for Israel who HAD a covenant relationship with God under the Mosaic covenant which required that they would be JUDGED according to their WORKS...i.e. their obedience to the Law (Deut 27 and Deut 28:1-68). Prior to the Law of Moses being given there was NO imputation of SIN. The Law was only ever given to ISRAEL. The Gentiles prior to Christ were NEVER under the Law.... BUT were still DEAD according to the scriptures. (Eph 2:1-5, Col 2:11-14)
 
Rom 5:12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned — 13 (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. NKJV
 
 
Jesus gives a confirming time frame in the passage below for the resurrection i.e. at the end of THIS age (Mosaic Age)....and links the resurrection by quoting from Dan 12:3. This shows that the 'end of the age' is the 'time of the end' referred to by Daniel (Dan 12:4)...and that this was to happen when the temple was destroyed...(Dan 12:7 and Dan 9:26) and all before the determined time of 70 weeks determined for ISRAEL (Dan 9:24) had expired.
 
 
Matt 13:37-43
37 He answered and said to them: "He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man.  38 The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one.  39 The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels.  40 Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age.  41 The Son of Man will send out His angels,  and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness,  42 and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.  43 Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear! NKJV
 
The above verse tells us that the kingdom of Israel was synonomous with the kingdom of God under the Old Covenant ...and that evil had come in to the kingdom via wicked men....and was about to be removed by Christ at His imminent return in AD 70. 
 
Brethren, the kingdom of God prior to the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple revolved around PHYSICAL Israel. Between AD 33 and AD 70 the Old Covenant and the New Covenant overlapped (Acts 15, Acts 20 and Gal 1). After AD 70 the kingdom is ONLY in the spiritual realm (John 4:21-24, John 18:36). The kingdom now centers on Christ who dwells in HIS church ...the hearts of the children of God (both Jew and Gentile) who are born again of the Spirit of God. (Eph 2:11-22)
 
Eph 2:22 ... in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. NKJV
 
 
Before the judgment where the wheat and the tares are gathered and SEPARATED, they would need to be RAISED from sheol....this is also the process in Revelations ...
 
Rev 14:13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, (Daniel 7) having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud,"Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe." 16 So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped. 17 Then another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.  18 And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over fire, and he cried with a loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle, saying,"Thrust in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe." 19 So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.    NKJV
 
The vine of the earth is unregenerate and sinful Israel. There is also a distinction to which Jesus refers in Matthew.
 
Matt 24:29-31
"Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.  30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.  31 And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. NKJV
 
The elect in this passage are the remnant of Israel (including the 'lost sheep of the house of Israel'... Mat 10:6, 15:24) who believed in and received Jesus as Messiah. These became the foundation members of the new testament church (Acts 2:5-41)...and many of these were scattered and preached the gospel all around the world and were martyred (explaining why they had to be gathered from the four winds).
 
Isaiah also speaks of the resurrection happening at the time of tribulation (Is 26:21 'the indignation'... and Is 27:1 'the day of the Lord with His severe sword')
 
Is 26:19   Your dead shall live;
Together with my dead body they shall arise .
Awake and sing, you who dwell in dust;
For your dew is like the dew of herbs,
And the earth shall cast out the dead.    NKJV
 
Tie this together with Revelations description of the same event...
 
Rev 20:13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.    NKJV
 
Brethren, this IS the 'second resurrection' as described in Revelations 20:5 and 11-15. The 'first resurrection ' was of many of the saints' ...and included persecuted martyrs of the tribulation. The second resurrection includes the balance of the saints AND those who had done evil. Examine the events and compare the related prophetic scriptures and details this event incorporates.
 
 
Jesus also makes three statements in regard to resurrection that are relevant but that few fully comprehend as regards to the timing.
 
John 5:24  "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.  
 
This applies to ALL believers under the NEW Covenant ... the Old Covenant required that the dead wait in Sheol to be raised and judged before they received eternal life.
 
John 5:25 Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. 
 
This second verse shows the transition from the Old covenant (for those saints who died in faith).... to the future status of all New Covenant believers (ie those who were 'dead in their sins' but would be raised by faith after Christ's death)
 
This refers to the fact that ALL Gentiles who believed in Jesus would receive eternal life from the time the gospel was first preached. Brethren, WE in the New Covenant do not have to wait for a 'future' resurrection as we are RAISED from the dead when we are saved...and we already have eternal life. (See the scriptures in section below)
 
But the third statement refers to the great event coming soon and promised to those in the OLD Covenant after the time that Jesus spoke of as 'the time that now is' which related only to those Jews who were already 'in the grave'...(i.e. sheol)
 
John 5:28  Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice  29 and come forth - those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. NKJV
 
It is not possible that these three verses of scriptures are addressing events under the same covenant. Jesus is DISTINGUISHING how resurrection differs between the two convenants.
 
Jesus indicates that the resurrection He was talking about in verse 28 was an event which would happen soon....something the people He was addressing should not  marvel at as it was in accordance with what the prophets like Daniel and Isaiah had promised would happen TO ISRAEL within the 70 Weeks prophetic time period ...(and not a separate event happening up to 2000 years later to the world generally). He also shows that it is in the context of a resurrection and judgment of people according to their works as per Revelations 20. Jesus and the apostles KNEW the timing of Daniel's prophecies, that they were to be fulfilled BEFORE THE TEMPLE WAS DESTROYED in AD 70.....and He confirmed more than 3 times that this would happen before AD 73. (i.e. before the end of THIS generation ...ie before those He was adressing right there and then had passed away) (Mat 23:36, Mat 24:34, Luke 11:47-51).
 
Brethren, read these passages in the light of the TRANSITION which was hapening...and 'the end of their age' which was about to come the earth at THAT TIME! (Heb 9:26) ...and the soon coming age of the New Covenant in its fullness (Heb 8:13, Heb 9:8 ... which would only come fully into force AFTER the temple was destroyed).
 
Please note that Jewish believers in Jerusalem continued to practice and live under the Law of Moses until the temple was destroyed in AD70... and from then onward this was no longer possible (John 4:21-24, Acts 15:1-29, Acts 21:17-26, Acts 23:6 Gal 2:1-16).
 
 
So what about 'the HOPE of Israel'? .. some will ask
 
 
Brethren, the hope of ISRAEL is not the hope of the CHURCH. The promise of resurrection was given to Israel in anticipation of the Messiah coming. This was that, because they served God and put their trust in HIM, their sins would be forgiven and that they would THEN receive ETERNAL LIFE. Many of the prophets spoke of this and Jesus told Israel it would happen at the end of the age they were in...what to them was THIS age.
 
Acts 23:6  But when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, "Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!"   NKJV
 
Acts 28:20  For this reason therefore I have called for you, to see you and speak with you, because for the hope of Israel  I am bound with this chain." NKJV
 
This hope is best defined in Ezekiel
 
Ezek 37:11 Then He said to me, "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, 'Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!' 12 Therefore prophesy and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. 13 Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves. 14 I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken it and performed it," says the LORD.'"  NKJV
 
Job also refers to this hope
 
Job 19:25-27 For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, That in my flesh I shall see God, Whom I shall see myself and my eyes shall behold... NKJV
 
(This is best understood when read in conjunction with Jesus words in John 8:56-59. Job as a believing Hebrew (just like Abraham), was looking forward to his redemption which was to occur at the time of Messiah's coming to earth. This was fulfilled for some in AD30 and the remaining Israelites in the AD70 at the time of the judgment of Jerusalem as per Luke 21:20 and 28.) 
 
 
Paul also confirms emphatically that this hope is based on THE LAW AND PROPHETS which were given to ISRAEL alone..
 
Acts 24:14   But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets. 15 I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will (mello= soon) be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. NKJV
 
Today we do NOT receive eternal life as a REWARD for believing 'all things written in the Law and the Prophets'  and living a 'holy life'. We receive eternal life BY FAITH in Christ's sacrifice for us ... at our rebirth (John 3:16). Unlike those who lived before AD 33, we today do NOT have to wait for the sacrifice to be made ... as that was done almost 2000 years ago!
 
Unlike the Jews we as the new covenant church now no longer have to wait in the grave to be resurrected ...
 
 
John 11:23 Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."  
 
24 Martha said to Him,"I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day." 
 
25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.  26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?"  
 
27 She said to Him, "Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world."  NKJV
 
Brethren things changed when Jesus arrived. Jesus HIMSELF is the Resurrection and the Life ...if we have Jesus we have Resurrection and Life. (Rom 8:9-11)
 
 
We as believers today (now that Christ has come) will never DIE... ie we are NEVER again separated from God ... and we therefor also do not require a second resurrection.
 
Rom 8:38  For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. NKJV
 
NB.  If you are present and you are a created being (ie every man and woman) you CANNOT even take yourself out of God's hand and separate yourself from HIS love. (also John 10:27-30)
 
 
So do we get new physical bodies when we are raised...at rebirth?... Nope..all are still the same outwardly. BUT when our mortal bodies fail us we too will be transformed into beings with new immortal bodies at death...
 
1 Cor 15:35-49  But someone will say,"How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?" 36 Foolish one, what you sow is not made alive unless it dies. 37 And what you sow, you do not sow that body that shall be, but mere grain — perhaps wheat or some other grain.  38 But God gives it a body as He pleases, and to each seed its own body. 
39 All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of animals, another of fish, and another of birds. 
40 There are also celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 41 There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory. 
42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. 43 It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 45 And so it is written, "The first man Adam became a living being." The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 
46 However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. 47 The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven. 48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. 49 And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.   NKJV
 
Brethren we will not have a fleshly or 'natural body'....but a spiritual body! 
 
Brethren, if we are to have spiritual bodies which are in the image of the heavenly man ... we will NOT have physical bodies simply BECAUSE JESUS NOW HAS A SPIRITUAL OR HEAVENLY BODY! (John 17:5)
 
 
So what about the 'millenium'? .. some will counter
 
Firstly, neither the Law of Moses nor the prophets nor Jesus nor the apostles taught anything about a literal 1000 year period which was to occur between a first and a second resurrection just prior to the final judgment. So we should not build our theology or eschatology around a single chapter on this issue...especially one which occurs only in a one chapter of a book of 'revelations'.
 
Secondly, the book of Revelations contains the most references to the Old testament of any book in the New testament ... there are said to be 550 such referrals.
 
Thirdly, the whole of the Book of Revelations from chapter 4 to 21 is steeped in strong apocalyptic prophetic language and imagery...why then should the 1000 year period be assumed to be literal in this context? Satan being a dragon bound by a chain is surely figurative ... as is 'death and hades being cast into the lake of fire'. A thousand almost everywhere else is used for what appears to be a large number or long time span. (Deut 1:11, Deut 7:9, Psalm 50:10, Ps 84:10, Ps 90:4). It is interesting to note that those who suggest that the time span of 1000 years must be literal almost all reject the emphatic and didactic time constraints of Revelations chapters 1 and 22 as literal where they state that these things would all happen shortly, quickly and soon?
 
The key scripture which supports that this is not referring to a literal 1000 year period... and the only scripture in the new testament which also addresses the SAME TOPIC of a 1000 year period in the context of the timing of the return of Christ is ... 
 
2 Peter 3:3   ... knowing this first;  that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4 and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming?** For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation." 5 For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, 6 by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. 7 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. 
8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise**, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. NKJV
 
(**Peter here is refering to Jesus promise to return BEFORE that generation would pass away ... Mat 24:34 which is based on the timing of Dan 9:24.)
 
Is Peter not saying that to them that as apostles and the church who were enduring persecution while waiting for the return of Christ, it seemed like a 1000 years BUT to those who reject Jesus the time passed like any other day? ...or just that time from God's perspective and ours are not the same? 
 
Ps 90: 4 For a thousand years in Your sight 
Are like yesterday when it is past,
And like a watch in the night. NKJV
 
 
Peter however gives the one reason we ALL would accept for the delay in the time....the fact the God in His mercy and grace kept the door open for the Jews to repent as long as possible. Jesus had powerfully and prophetically assured the apostles that His coming would be BEFORE their generation passed away ...and at that time they were somewhere around year 37 (out of the 40 year generation period) when Revelation was written. Jesus on earth also spoke in parables of this issue...Mat 24:48...'My master has delayed His coming' suggests that this was possible... as does Mat 25:5... 'The bridegroom was delayed' ... indicating that the second coming would be near to the END of the time range. This is also referred to in Rev 10:5-7  'that there should be delay no longer' in the same context.
 
 
AND this then matches the 70 week timeline given by Daniel 9:24 being completed and the resurrection having occurred (as per Dan 12:2-3) BEFORE Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed. (Dan 12:7)
 
NB There is an interesting 'typology' in the the giving and the removal of the Old covenant.The Israelites who rejected Caleb and Joshua's advice that they could easily conquer the enemy were made to wander for 40 years in the wilderness because of unbelief until the whole generation died  ... none of these survived and entered the promised land. In the same way in AD 30 when Jesus came and the New Covenant was introduced in AD 33 almost a whole generation of those who refused to believe that Jesus was the Messiah and then had Him killed also had a period of about 40 years to wait while their generation either passed away or were judged. They too did not experience the life under a 'new' covenant in the promised land being the kingdom of Heaven (rather than the earthly kingdom of Israel). 
 
(Brethren, for those who claim the world is still waiting for the completion of the remaining three Jewish festivals before Christ's work is completed (being Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur and Sukkot), please consider the fulfillment of all three of these in AD70. The time between the Feast of Pentacost and the Feast of Trumpets (which was about judgment) was know as 'the time of waiting' which ended when the trumpet sounded. The next feast was Yom Kippur or the day of atonement when 'they shall look upon me whom they have pieced and mourn'. Harvest which happened on the seventh day after Rosh Hashanah took place 7 YEARS after the trumpet was sounded. The second resurrection and the rewarding of the righteous harvest with eternal life then happened just as Jesus prophecied)
 
 
Is there additional indication that the 'gathering together to Christ' at His coming was to be 'spiritual'... rather than physical?
 
 
....let us look at Paul's statements in 2 Thessalonians
 
 
2 Thess 2:1-2
Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. NKJV
 
Note firstly that Paul had clearly taught them to expect the return of Christ in THEIR lifetime. (ie OUR gathering together to Him) (and as per Jesus in Mat 24:31&35). This was not an event which was to take 2000 or so years to occur. Please also note that they were certainly not speaking of a physical Jesus having come and them somehow missing out on seeing Him.
 
Now secondly how could the Thessalonians believers possibly conclude that the coming of our Lord, and our gathering together to Him and that the day of Christ HAD come already and that they were 'left behind' IF (as most believe today) these events were supposed to be at the 'end of the world' and part of a series of world-wide visible events? (as per a literal understanding of 2 Pet 3:10).
 
Paul did not say 'look out of your windows ...the heavens and the earth are still here'. Paul had clearly taught the Thessalonians that these events were NOT GOING TO BE the end of the physical world NOR visible to all...and that is why they could be and were shaken by the claims that THIS had happened. BUT there is another missing key....
 
 
2 Tim 2:17   And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, 18 who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some.   NKJV
 
Please note that 'our gathering together to Him' of 2 Thes is described as 'the resurrection' here. 
 
Firstly, it should be noted that THE SCRIPTURE tells us in a literal didactic portion of the text that 'A resurrection of the saints' was already past (Mat 27:52-53) which had as eye-witnesses many believers and unbelievers in Jerusalem. Paul is referring to the 'second resurrection' which he taught (Acts 24:14-15) was still to occur when Jesus RETURNED (Rev 20:12-15). Please note that this resurrection was something specifically applicable to Israel under the Law as it was 'written (about) in the Law and the Prophets'. The church today is not under 'the Law and the Prophets'... and ALL things written in the Law and the Phophets HAVE BEEN fulfilled (Mat 5:17-18). (Refer to the separate section titled 'When will all things written be fulfilled')
 
Paul also in these two verses tied the coming of the Lord, the gathering together, the day of Christ ... and the resurrection ...  as events all occurring in the same period of time.
 
The fact that some could have believed that they had been "left behind" or had missed out on the resurrection again demonstrates that the early church had not been taught to expect a visible world-wide and earth ending cataclysmic event that many today assert is still coming 'soon' (but now almost 2000 years later?)
 
The reason this false (at that time) claim impacted the Thessalonians was because Paul had taught that the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple would happen as part of Christ's return in judgment of Israel (because this was what Jesus had promised in Mat 23&24 ... i.e. THE end of the Jewish age) ....and because THESE EVENTS had not yet happened the believers were still under the Jewish inspired Roman persecution (Acts 17). They had expected JUDAISM to be ended...along with their persecution.  This was the challenge to their faith, 'If the day of the Lord has come, why are we still being persecuted by the Jews?' (2 Thes 1:5-11). "Surely God would have judged Israel if the Day of the Lord had come already". The Thessalonians as believers were not expecting to be 'raptured physically into heaven' as many people today teach... but they were certainly expecting a powerful change in the heavenly realm to occur as a consequence to God's judgment on Israel and Jerusalem. And history records that this certainly happened in AD70.
 
So when we look at 2 Thessalonians chapter 2:1-2 in the context of what Paul had taught earlier in 1 Thess 4 and 5 things are clarified. (Note also how the earlier passage is the fulfillment of Mat 24:30-31...and it is also the fulfillment of John 5:28 which applies to the OLD Covenant saints...AND simultaneously with this is the resurrection of the NEW Covenant saints as per John 5:24-25 which applies to 1 Thes 4:17)
 
Please note that in this passage Paul again addresses his fellow believers of that time... 'WE who are alive and remain'. This event was promised to be in their very own lifetime....not something 2000 years later for other people.
 
1 Thess 4:15   For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.    NKJV
 
Being caught up together to be with the Lord who IS SPIRIT and who descends from heaven is NOT referring to a physical event..... 
 
Being caught up into the clouds in the air refers to the spiritual REALM in which we fellowship with God (Rev 21:3) ....not material clouds and air (Eph 2:2)
 
Being caught up (for those who were alive and remained) referred to them receiving and experiencing the fullness of salvation now available under the New Covenant ... the veil was now removed they were no longer blinded by the Law...and they experienced ON EARTH the eternal LIFE Jesus died for them (and us all today) to have.
 
Being with the Lord always was not a physical event but a spiritual reality which all New Covenant believers now experience in part...and will experience fully when we go to be with the Lord at death when our mortality is swallowed up by His immortality.
 
Brethren Paul here is describing THE SECOND resurrection of Revelations 20...for those Jews who lived in the transition period from 'their present age" to 'the age (that was for them then still) to come'. The Jews and Gentiles who had believed SAW Jesus coming as GOD and FULFILLING His detailed prophetic words...including the judgment on Jerusalem and its temple. They were awesomely transformed by this experience ...put yourself in their shoes (this is the key God put in my heart at night as I was wrestling to understand this matter). They would have been walking around for days saying simply .... "OH MY GOD...YOU ARE AWESOME"  The rest of their lives would never have been the same. This reminds me a bit of my own salvation experience and subsequent encounters with God. (even today over 40 years later the memory still sweeps me away in the spirit)
 
Imagine now the Jews scattered throughout the Roman empire who had been behind the new christian believers being persecuted....they would KNOW that God's wrath had been poured out on THEM and their nation (by Jerusalem and the temple's destruction as had been foretold by their prophets and Jesus) ... and also specificaly on behalf of the church. Many would have done some serious repentance (Acts 2:37-38).... and turned to the Lord for forgiveness.
 
Rev 3:9 Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie — indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.  NKJV
 
This is what 'the manifestation of the sons of God' in Romans 8 is all about. The Jews believed that they were the sons of God and persecuted the Christians. But Jesus return in judgment of apostate Israel proven by the destruction of the temple and Jeusalem refuted this once for all time for the whole world to see. (Refer to vs 11, 14, 16-17, 19 ... and then cross reference this to 2 Thes 1:4-12.)
 
 
Imagine the early church now witnessing to their fellow Gentiles... 'The God who did THAT to His (and our) enemies, is the the GOD I SERVE' ....'You need to get to know HIM'
 
This event explains why the early church EXPLODED in growth at that time...everybody in the Roman Empire KNEW who the real God was... and who His sons were! And every Jew of that day knew that Mosaic Judaism was finished. God who had previouly divorced the ten northern tribes of Israel, had now also permanently terminated the Old Covenant with Judah!
 
For those who cannot accept this, what is required is a rational alternative explanation of Jesus's words about the AD 65 real time IMMINENCE of the resurrection and His coming... one which is cohesive with all the old testament prophets and Jesus words along with the apostles teaching in the Epistles and Revelations and along with recorded HISTORY and the physical reality we today LIVE IN.
 
It is also important that any alternative explanation addresses ALL the closely associated events such as 'the day of the Lord', the tribulation, the falling away, the destruction of the temple, the coming of the Lord, the resurrection and the judgment.   
 
IF such an explanation exists I certainly have never heard it, seen it or read it in over 40 years of walking with Jesus.
 
 
(The other great challenge for those who still teach the 'imminence of the return of Christ' today is the FACT that there HAS BEEN (AND STILL IS) NO TEMPLE in Jerusalem for almost 2000 years. Almost all of the furturist prophecy 'experts' agree the temple HAS to exist before Christ can return.....and that Torah Law with it's temple sacrificial system also has to be restored. At the best this means that the approx 5 years it would take to re-build the temple would need to pass BEFORE Christ could return!
 
Surely this fact alone eliminates the possibility of any real imminence having existed at any time ever SINCE the temple was destroyed in AD 70?) (Ezek 37-40, Zech 12-14)
 
 
 
Further scriptures showing that the resurrection for believers today in the New Covenant IS SPIRITUAL
 
 
Resurrection scripturally in the New Testament refers to the raising of the dead or making the dead alive. 
 
 
1 Cor 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive   NKJV
 
Brethren being 'made alive in Christ' is NOT a referring to our physical state. Being made alive by coming to faith in Jesus IS resurrection.
 
Eph 2:1  And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins  NKJV
 
Eph 2:4  But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus NKJV
 
Brethren we were spiritually dead...not physically...and we now sit spiritually with Christ.  This is what I Thess 4:17 is describing.
 
Col 2:11  ... In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.   NKJV
 
Rom 8:11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.  NKJV
 
These scriptures are directly speaking about our RESURRECTION as New Testament believers.
 
 
Brethren our 'rebirth' did NOT change us physically.
 
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." NKJV
 
We do not 'see' the kingdom with our physical eyes.
 
 
 
John 3:5 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. NKJV
 
Brethren, the kingdom of God and the kingdom of Heaven are synonomous ... we enter when we are 'born of the Spirit'
 
 
John 3:8  The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.    NKJV
 
John 5:24-25    "Most assuredly I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me HAS everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.  Most assuredly I say to you, the hour is coming and now is when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live". NKJV
 
This is the description of New Covenant resurrection.
 
 
Brethren we are NOT speaking of a "visible kingdom".... but it is the realm of the spirit where Christ rules and reigns in the HEARTS OF HIS SUBJECTS.
 
1 Tim 1:17  Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.  NKJV
 
 
Brethren, if the King is INVISIBLE (to the natural man) and eternal... then so is HIS eternal Kingdom INVISIBLE.
 
2 Cor 4:18    we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.   NKJV
 
 
Now for the clincher...the verse that PROVES that the Old Testament resurrection IS different to the New Testament future for believers.
 
(The Old Testament is a type which is fulfilled by Jesus... 1 Cor 15:20-22)
 
 
John 11:23-26
 
23 Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."  
 
24 Martha said to Him,"I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day."  
 
25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.  26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.
 
Do you believe this?"      NKJV
 
 
Martha knew only of the resurrection which was to come for Israel at the last day. She believed as most Jews did that under the Old Covenant that those who DIED and had to wait till the last day to be resurrected to be with God. This could only happen AFTER Jesus as 'THE Lamb of God' had died to pay the price for their SIN. This time was known as the 'last days' (Acts 2:16-17).
 
Jesus however tells her that HE is the resurrection....the resurrection is NOT an event...it is JESUS. Jesus said simply...'If you have ME you HAVE RESURRECTION AND YOU HAVE LIFE'
 
From God's perspective we as believers in the New Covenant after AD 70 NEVER DIE... Why then would we need to be resurrected again at some future date? 
 
Brethren, today for us as believers after AD 70, there is NO waiting and NO separation and NO second resurrection and NO judgment... Jesus HAS already paid the price and we get EVERYTHING Jesus has for us when we receive Him. (Jn 1:11-13, Rom 8:17, Gal 3:26-29, Eph 2:6-7, 1 Jn 3:1-2)
 
 
1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren.   NKJV (cross reference John 5:24&25)
 
1 John 5:12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.  NKJV
 
Everlasting life describes 'life sourced in God'...ie as God's children HE is the source of our life and security. 
 
 
WE in the New Covenant ARE united with Christ AND NEVER DIE ... and we are NEVER separated from Him
 
 
1 Cor 6:17 But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.     NKJV
 
2 Cor 5:8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. NKJV
 
Rom 8:38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. NKJV
 
Our reconciliation is a DONE deal...
 
Rom 5:11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. NKJV
 
2 Cor 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ    NKJV
 
Brethren, the new creation is NOT talking about a physical change to our material world .. but US. Consider that we are NOW spiritual beings on earth fulfilling our God ordained roles as our physical lives pass.
 
John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.    NKJV
 
1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.    KJV 
 
2 Tim 1: .....God, 9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, 10 but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11 to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. NKJV
 
Death which is abolished is our spiritual death (the sin death in Adam) which resulted in our separation from God..... AND life and immortality which is given to us when we are born again of the Spirit as this is when we receive the life of God... i.e. ETERNAL LIFE.
 
 
 
So do we get a physical body in the New Testament after death?
 
 
In the 'first resurrection' spoken of in Mat 27:52-53 we see that the Old Covenant saints were indeed given new recognisable bodies which were capable of appearing to many ....so it is reasonable to conclude that when we die we too will be given new recognisable immortal spiritual 'bodies'.
 
1 Cor 15:42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. 43 It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 45 And so it is written, "The first man Adam became a living being." The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 
46 However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. 47 The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven. 48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. 49 And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.     NKJV
 
 
The other passage of scripture which supports the assumption of us having a spiritual body after death, is the alternate scenario which God had offered to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. What would have happened if they had not sinned by eating fruit from the wrong tree? They would have lived on earth in mortal bodies and enjoyed fellowship with God and got to know Him. They would, after years of experiencing the love and provision of God for them, it seems likely have found faith/trust in God to eat of THE Tree of Life. The outcome would then have been that their 'mortal' bodies would have become eternal or 'immortal' bodies.....and they would have LIVED FOREVER with God as His children. ...like Enoch? (Gen 5:24  And Enoch  walked with God; and he was not, for God took him. NKJV)
 
 
Gen 3:22 Then the LORD God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever" —  23 therefore the LORD God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. NKJV
 
This is the eternal life we today can now also share in. God has restored the access for mankind into the Garden of Eden and the access to the Tree of Life ....where we receive and believe in Christ and put our trust in HIS demonstrated sacrifice for us.... rather than relying on our own abilities and works...or self righteousness. (Rev 2:7, 22:2 and 22:14)
 
 
The clearest teaching however of what we shall be like in the resurrection, is from Jesus words on the matter ...
 
Luke 20:35  But those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage;  36 nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.    NKJV
 
Brethren, angels and sons of God are SPIRIT...not flesh. We as Gentile believers today after our lives on earth will not have continued 'marital relationships'...contrary to what Mormons and Muslims believe. All of the angels were individually recognisable...but they are SPIRITUAL beings ...not mortal or physical beings!
 
Please also note that the context of the question/answer is specified in vs 27-28 to be concerning what 'Moses wrote' to Israelites who were UNDER THE LAW. 'That age' addressed was for those among them who had been 'counted worthy' (i.e. those under the Law who had come to faith ... Gen 15:6, Heb 11) and would therefore be raised in the resurrection from the dead which was for those who lived and died before Christ's return. This verse does not refer to the resurrection of us as New Covenant believers in the age of GRACE (ie it applied to 'your people' ... Dan 12:1-3, Acts 24:14-15). After our death however we too will be 'like the angels' and as 'sons of God' we will also 'neither marry or be given in marriage'. 
 
 
 
So what about Acts 1:11 some will ask?
 
Acts 1:9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11 who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven" NKJV
 
To those who have preached sermons on 'This SAME Jesus' (from Acts 1:11) claiming this referred to a PHYSICAL BODY... it would be appropriate to check the Greek before taking people on a false rabbit trail. The word 'same' is NOT in the Greek text in the first part of this verse. (Good translations today do not include the word same ...or at least have the respect to show it in italics to indicate that it is NOT in any of the Greek manuscripts)
 
The intent of the passage clearly refers to the ESSENCE of Jesus being the same and NOT HIS physical FORM.
 
So all that we know from this text is that JESUS himself was to return....and that the manner would be ON or with CLOUDS. (Just as was prophecied in the Old Testament... Dan 7-13-14 and as Jesus promised ...Mat 24:30). Daniel describes 'The Ancient of Days' in Dan 7:9-10... but now for a comparison go and look at JESUS in Revelations 1:13-18. Brethren, Jesus is now glorified... He is clearly no longer in 'human form' .. or .. 'in the days of his flesh'.
 
Some base their opinions of what body Jesus has now on the fact that after the resurrection from the grave, Jesus was able to appear and re-appear at will. This is not something however without scriptural precedent by mere mortals...such as demonstrated by Elijah (1 Kings 18:11-12). Jesus also did this in his earthly ministry (Luke 4:30) ...and Phillip did also (Acts 8:39-40)....all done as 'mere' spirit filled mortals.
 
Luke 24:36   Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, "Peace to you."  37 But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. 38 And He said to them, "Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts?  39 Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have."  NKJV
 
Brethren, this was still Jesus IN HIS HUMANITY. Yes, he was raised from the dead BUT He had not yet ASCENDED or been GLORIFIED ... 
 
John 7:39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.   NKJV (refer also John17:5)
 
John 14:1-3   "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.  2 In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.  NKJV
 
John 14:16-18   And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper , that He may abide with you forever —   17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.  18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.   NKJV
 
The apostles were not expecting Jesus to return to them as a 'man' ... in a body of flesh or blood BUT in all the fullness of His glory which they had a glimpse of at the Transfiguration! (see also John 17:5)
 
Those who say Jesus will return as a man will often also quote Colossians 2:9. Yes, 'dwells' in Greek is in the present active indicative...indicating it is ongoing. But we need to see that Jesus was at that time yet to be revealed in Revelations in all His glory ... as God coming in judgment on Israel which occurred in AD70. We must also understand what 'bodily' or 'bodily form' refers to and this is done by comparing this verse to other verses where the same word is used. We soon see that it does not mean 'in the form of a physical man'. (i.e. somatikos here is an ADVERB and not an ADJECTIVE or NOUN)
 
Col 2:9  For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily (or in bodily form) NKJV
 
The context of this verse in Colossians is about the Father's plan for us IN CHRIST (vs 2), about our faith IN Christ (vs 5) and about walking IN what He has done (vs 6) for us ... and how we are built up IN Him (vs 7) ... and how it is IN Christ  rather than in religion that we have our salvation (vs 8). The context is NOT about whether Jesus now has as a physical body... but what has been achieved IN CHRIST in the SPIRITUAL realm for us as believers. The BODY referred to in this context is THE CHURCH (1 vs 18) not a human physical body. The mystery revealed among Gentiles was that Christ was IN US (vs 27) ... and we were IN CHRIST (vs 28). The context contines in chapter 2 as we are to be 'steadfast in our faith IN Christ' (vs 5) ... and to be 'rooted and built up IN Him' (vs 7). The context is certainly not about the physical form Jesus then had or would have in the future ... but about how IN Christ we have ALL the fullness of what God has provided for us in the New Covenant. 
 
 
Then when we compare this to other uses of this word or phrase... we find it describes typical anthropomorphic language. 
 
Luke 3:22 And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him  NKJV
 
Clearly the word 'bodily' as used in  Col 2:9 (or 'in bodily form' as per KJV) does not mean in HUMAN form as many assume. It refers to 'a manner of appearing in visible form'. (Brethren for those who claim to know Greek, please explain why 'somatikos' as used in Colossians is an ADVERB...not an adjective or a noun? Jesus being in the 'physical form of a man' would be an ADJECTIVE)
 
The fullness of the Godhead dwells (permanently and forever) in Christ.... Both before He became flesh (as 'the Angel of the LORD')... and while He was on earth (as the Word who was God and became flesh and dwelt among us) ...and since the cross as 'the head of the body which is the church" (Col 1:18-19)...and as the glorified Son of God who now sits on the right hand of the Father on the thone in heaven (ie the Lamb of God as per 25 references in the book of Revelations). 
 
Jesus the man, who appeared to Israel will forever be the MANIFESTATION of God in a visible form to mankind. Colossians 2:9 however is NOT telling us that He will forever be limited to the form of a MAN as some claim! (Please note that it is wrong to base a doctrine on the Nature of God and Christology on one adverb in a single verse without substantial corroboration and at the same time ignoring the other passages on the same topic.)
 
Acts 9:3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?"  5 And he said, "Who are You, Lord?" Then the Lord said, "I am Jesus , whom you are persecuting.  NKJV
 
Brethren, JESUS says He was there in the light which shone from heaven when He appeared to Paul. Paul 'heard a voice' and did not see a physical body. Peter heard a voice which he recognised as Jesus (Acts 10:13-15). John heard a loud voice which he knew and saw One like the Son of Man ... and fell at His feet as though dead. How on earth can we believe that Jesus now exists ONLY and FOREVER in the physical form of a man when this  is contradicted by so many other scriptures? 
 
Another scripture which refutes the belief that Jesus as a physical man is now sitting upon the throne of God ... in heaven in the physical body of a man....is in the book of Hebrews
 
Heb 5:6 As He also says in another place:
"You are a priest forever 
According to the order of Melchizedek";   
7 who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, 8 though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. 9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, 10 called by God as High Priest "according to the order of Melchizedek,"  11 of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.  NKJV
 
The best comparison is John 1:14...And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. NKJV 
 
Brethren today we cannot go to Jerusalem to SEE Jesus in the flesh as the apostles did. We all only find Him in Spirit where He is able to reach many lost people at the same time and in diverse places all around the world.
 
Refer also to Rom 8:3 ... God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh NKJV
 
But look at what Paul tells us about Christ's 'appearance in the flesh'
 
2 Cor 5:16  Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.   NKJV
 
Please note that this verse proves that the apostles and early church had NO thought of the ascended Jesus still being 'in the flesh' ... or in human body.
 
Acts 13:34   And that He raised Him from the dead, no more to return to corruption ... NKJV
 
Confirming that the risen and ascended Christ is no longer in a physical body Paul writes...
 
1 Cor 15:45   And so it is written"The first man became a living being" The last Adam became a life giving spirit.   NKJV
 
 
 
The apostles KNEW Jesus was no longer limited to a mortal body. They did not go to a secret place to see Him physically after the ascension. This is confirmed by one of the earliest creeds recorded in the scriptures on which we can place our reliance.
 
1 Tim 3:16  
God was manifested in the flesh,
Justified in the Spirit,
Seen by angels,
Preached among the Gentiles,
Believed on in the world,
Received up in glory. 
NKJV
 
Brethren please note that the Greek word for 'manifested' and the whole context of this passage refers to a TEMPORARY appearance which is described as being in the PAST TENSE after Christ's assention to the Father. (Refer also Heb 2:14-15, 1 Peter 3:18-22... ALL in the Past Tense). Those who would try to use 1 John 4:2-3 where 'Has come in the flesh' please note that this is not a present active indictive...or 2 John 7  where 'Has come in the flesh' is a passive participle (i.e. simply stated these verses do NOT SAY ... 'and remains in the flesh forever'). John in context was silencing the Judaisers who were denying that Jesus had come (as Messiah)... and the Gnostics who were denying that God in the form of the man Jesus had come 'in the flesh'. The old testament had foretold that God would appear in human form (Mat 1:23 and Isaiah 7:14).
 
Remember that the apostle John himself had encountered the glorified Jesus in Rev 1:8-17 and even though he previously knew him as a man, he still fell at his feet as though dead when he saw Him in all His glory!
 
This process is also described in Phil 2:5-11...Jesus was in the form of God...but humbled Himself to take on the form of a servant and the appearance of a man. BUT the story does not stop there....Jesus was killed and God then raised Him from the dead and He is NOW exhalted and seated at the right hand of the Father!  ... just where He was before He became flesh.
 
The day of Pentecost PROVED to the apostles that Jesus was NOW glorified because the Holy Spirit was then poured out! Jesus was NOW again in the form that was revealed to the apostles in the TRANSFIGURATION... as His glorified self. (This would be like the form of 'THE Angel of the Lord' when He appeared in the Old Testament)
 
John 17:5 O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.   NKJV
 
Luke 9:26  For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father's, and of the holy angels.  NKJV
 
 
Today Brethren WE as the CHURCH, ARE His Body ... the visible manifestation of Jesus in the world.
 
Eph 5:30    For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. NKJV
 
 
Brethren, Jesus was NOT coming back in 'bodily form' as a 1.65 m tall man of middle eastern appearance to live in Jerusalem...but in His full Glory as God!
 
This is the glory which was revealed to three apostles in the 'tranfiguration' (Daniel 7:9 ... 'the Ancient of Days' ...Dan 7: 13 ...'one like the Son of Man coming on the clouds' ... Mat 17:2...'face shone like the sun' ... 1 Pet 1:16-17 ... 'eye witnesses of His majesty'... Rev 1:16 ... 'His countenance was like the sun shining')
 
Have you encountered the Jesus who Paul encountered?...He certainly was NOT in the form of a man (clue.... 'who are you Lord') 
 
This glorification was manifested to the world and His enemies among the Jews in AD 70 as Paul shows...
 
2 Thess 1: 9  These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, 10 when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed. NKJV
 
In THAT Day the world KNEW Jesus was God... both Jews and Gentiles. 
 
 
Now there is a fair consensus among scholars that returning on CLOUDS refers to coming in JUDGMENT in prophetic language just as Daniel prophesied...and Jesus promised
 
Dan 7:13 "I was watching in the night visions,
And behold, One like the Son of Man,
Coming with the clouds of heaven!
He came to the Ancient of Days,
And they brought Him near before Him. 
14 Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom,
That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion,
Which shall not pass away,
And His kingdom the one
Which shall not be destroyed.   NKJV
 
Matt 24:30
30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. NKJV
 
Jesus first came in the disguise or appearance of a man (Phil 2:5-8)...He was later revealed in the clouds as God himself. (Phil 2:9-11). The book of REVELATIONS is the Revelation of JESUS himself...as the ALMIGHTY... Rev 1:7-8...and Rev 22:12-13.
 
Brethren, this was prophesied to happen prior to AD 70...by Daniel and Jesus and most of the apostles...and HISTORY records that it did. (Flavius Josephus - Wars of the Jews)
 
 
Now as to the question of what 'bodily form' Jesus has now in heaven?
 
The Jesus I know is Spirit (John 4:24) ...I have only ever encountered Him as Spirit...and when He speaks my world changes. Brethren the spiritual world IS the REALITY... this visible world is only temporal (2 Cor 4:18). Those who claim to have seen Jesus physically as a man AFTER the ascension in my humble opinion are deluded....or cannot tell the difference between imaginations, dreams and reality. Scriptures are all that we should believe...not the stories of men.
 
1 Tim 6:14  ... that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ's appearing, 15 which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.  NKJV
 
NOW place  Colossians 2:9 against this passage for clarity....
 
Col 2:9  For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily (or in bodily form) NKJV
 
Brethren, IF Jesus was still in bodily form today then surely all men could see Him? (John 20:29, Heb 11:1, 1 Pet 1:8, 1 John 4:20).  Can you see the contradiction between the scriptures and this interpretation in some of the creeds that Jesus since the assention and forever onwards will continue to exist in a physical body?
 
 
Some quote the following passage as though it is a 'clincher' for the teaching that Jesus exists in the same physical form today...
 
Heb 13:8  Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.
 
But this verse is explained in the opening verses of the book of Hebrews (chapter 1:1-12) as referring to the fact that Jesus as the Son of God is in essence the same (vs 10-12) today as He was when the world was made through Him (vs 2) (i.e. before He was in the form of a man) ... and as He was when He took on the form of a man (vs 5) ... and as He was when He died on the cross purging our sin (vs 3a) ... and as He is now, being seated at the right hand of the Father on the throne as our High Priest (vs 3b and 8)
 
This cannot be seen as a teaching on the 'form in which Jesus in the past, present and future now exists' ... but rather refers to the unchanging (vs 12) essence of His being. This is irrefutable as Jesus previously appeared in the Old Testament in various and different FORMS ('yesterday') ... such as 'The Angel of the Lord', the Burning Bush, a Pillar of Fire, The Rock (from which living water flowed), etc. 
 
 
When in future we as believers see Him face to face, we will know Him...just as we are known. This is something I still cannot conceive...and I am sure that it will take me all eternity to gaze on in AWE as I try to absorb it.
 
1 Cor 13:12    For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. NKJV
 
Brethren there are some things we need to accept that even the apostles did not know... these are promised to us as God's children in the New covenant.
 
1 John 3:2  Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. NKJV
 
John, who SAW Jesus raised from the dead states... 'WHEN He is revealed..' John saw this in Revelations chapter 1...and his response was a bit like Paul's. We all need a REVELATION to see Jesus!
 
Rev 1:17  And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead.   NKJV
 
John was in the Spirit when he saw Jesus in ALL His Glory. Today Jesus is NOT walking around as a normal human being in a body of flesh and blood for all to see (Mat 24:23-27).
 
 
Revelations chapters 4 and 5 give us a hint of what eternity in God's presence will be like. Brethren (for those who believe that Revelations must be 'literally' interpreted) please note that the scripture tells us what 'bodily form' Jesus has in heaven. It is NOT that of a man but as a 'LAMB (looking) as though it had been slain' (Rev 5:6 and twenty five other verses in this book refer to Jesus as a Lamb)
 
BUT I am sure I will forever know Him as the only true God who loved me so much that He was prepared to become a man and suffer and die for me... and all who would put their trust in Him....so that all who want to could come to know HIM.
 
(PS I personally can find no scriptural grounds to expect a 1.65m man of middle eastern appearance to return physically on a cloud sometime in the future at Jerusalem to world-wide human accolades on global TV... but if you find your hope and solace in this belief then feel free to hold to your opinion... and if you can please let me know what scriptures I may have missed). 
 
TRUTH is not found in the teachings of men UNLESS they comply with teaching of the scriptures in their correct context.
 
 
 
 
General Articles
1a. Who is this Jesus?
1b. The Triune God
2. What is Jesus' church?
3. What is the gospel?
4. What is christian leadership?
5. Anointed ministers
6. Ministers being paid to preach?
7. Saved, 'Born Again' & Righteous
8. First fruits, tithes and offerings
9. FREE Sons and daughters of God
10. Living under Grace
11. Being led by the Spirit
12a. Manifestations of the Spirit
12b. Other manifestations
13. The Word as Spirit not letter
14. What is the 'local church'?
15. Hermeneutics - simplified
16. How to avoid 'proof texting'
17. The Spirit revealing truth
18. What is the Glory of God?
19. Can ALL be healed?
20. Hearing the voice of God
21. Now faith is....?
22. What is TRUTH?
30. CHURCH PROBLEMS
31. Judging FALSE apostles, prophets
32. Impediments to revival
33. Cultish control vs Christian liberty
34. The corrupt world system
35. The 'gravy train'
36. Spiritual abuse in the 'church'
37. The Lord's Supper vs breaking bread
38. Doctrines of demons
39. The wicked art of deception, manipulation and extortion in churches
40. The Cult of Discipleship
41. Do NOT lie to each other
42. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together
50. TRUTH ON THE LAST DAYS AND END TIMES.
51. Were we created as eternal beings?
52. Where do we go when we die?
53. Is Hell a place of eternal torment?
54. Is there a biblical End of the World?
55. What are the ages of the scriptures?
56. Was 'the end' IMMINENT after Jesus came to Jerusalem in AD30?
57. Who was to be judged according to Jesus?
58. What is The Day of the Lord?
59. What the destruction of the Temple demonstrates
60. When was the Second Coming of Jesus?
61. When was the resurrection of the DEAD to occur?
62. When does the judgment happen?
63. When will ALL THINGS be fulfilled?
64. How then should we LIVE?
65. So where do evolution and science fit into Christianity?
66. Universalism... and where the scriptures disagree
67a. Scriptures showing that Messiah's death in AD33 signalled the imminent end of the Old Covenant and His coming in the Judgment of Israel before AD73
67b. Scriptures showing that Messiah's death in AD33 signalled the imminent end of the Old Covenant and His coming in the Judgment of Israel before AD73 (cont.)
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