Making the Jump to Spirit Speed

They are so incredible that neither science nor science fiction can truly imagine them. They are so fantastic, so full of freedom and justice for all that it's hard to believe most churches don't embrace them. They are the resurrections.

You won't learn about the resurrections in school or university. You won't read about them in scientific or medical journals. You won't hear about them on the news or from your Internet service provider. And, surprisingly, they are preached by few of the world's religions, including mainstream Christianity.

And there's a reason. Christianity claims to get its teachings from the BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ., but centuries ago it adopted the doctrine of the immortal soul from pagan philosophers like Plato and others. The prophets of the Old TestamentThose books that make up the Hebrew Bible generally accepted by Christians, Jews and to some extent Muslims. It contains a threefold division: the Law (the five books of Moses), the Prophets and the Writings., the apostles of the New TestamentThe 27 authoritative books of the apostolic writings: the four Gospels of Christ, Acts (a history), 21 apostolic letters and the book of Revelation. and Jesus Himself taught that we are mortal souls—that we can die, that we do not have an immortal soul hiding in us somewhere. In fact, to receive eternal life we must first "put on immortality" when God resurrects us from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:53For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
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Resurrection means "to stand up"—to come back to life—and the BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. shows that it's a key to the mystery of life, the future and everything.

But the immortal soul doctrine creates a nonbiblical theology that does not need a resurrection to impart eternal life because the supposedly immortal souls of the dead have already gone to heaven.

We believe God reveals His plans in the BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ., and the BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. does not teach the immortal soul. Instead it reveals the resurrections.

Through the resurrections of the dead God provides equal opportunity for salvation to all peoples of all eras and delivers eternal life to all who choose His way.

Resurrection overview

Read what Jesus taught about the resurrections that sounded incredible to some in His audience: "Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation" (John 5:28-29 [28] Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
[29] And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

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So those who've done good—meaning repented of their sins, believed, been baptized, received the Holy Spirit and so been converted to Jesus Christ—inherit eternity by a spiritual resurrection to eternal life. But the evil—those who fully and knowingly refused to repent and accept God's forgiveness for their sins—will be brought back to human life (not eternal) to receive the just penalty of their sins, and that is death forever (Romans 6:23For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
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These are the two types of resurrections—one to eternal life and another back to human life for God's particular purpose. Let's take them in order as they unfold in God's plan for all mankind.

Jumping to spirit speed

Like making the science fiction jump to light speed, the spiritual resurrection makes the jump to spirit speed. This event is called the "first resurrection." By it those who are Christ's at His coming will then rule the world with Christ for a thousand years and beyond to eternity (RevelationThe disclosure of God's Word and plan to mankind. In the Bible this refers to making obscure things clear; bringing hidden matters to light; causing especially called individuals to see, hear, perceive, know and understand the things of God; the unveiling of biblical mysteries (Romans 16:25). 20:6Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
See All...). Those either waiting in the grave or alive at the second coming of Christ will be changed from physical, flesh and blood to spirit "in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye" (1 Corinthians 15:51-52 [51] Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
[52] In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

See All...). May we be among them!

Being in the first resurrection means entering eternal life in the Kingdom of God. These will find the meaning of and fulfill the purpose for life—to be made a divine son or daughter of God. They will be immortal with perfect character and love, unable to sin (1 Corinthians 15:35-49 [35] But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?
[36] Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:
[37] And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain:
[38] But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.
[39] All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.
[40] There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
[41] There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.
[42] So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
[43] It is sown in dishonour; 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 was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
[46] Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
[47] The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the LORD from heaven.
[48] As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
[49] And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

See All...). And so the adventure of eternity begins.

All who will live forever in God's divine family must experience the spiritual resurrection, "but each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming. Then comes the end . . ." (1 Corinthians 15:23-24 [23] But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
[24] Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.

See All...). During His coming millennial (thousand-year) rule, Jesus and His resurrected saints will lead to repentance and salvation the surviving people on earth and their subsequent, burgeoning generations. But what about all those humans who have lived and died knowing little or nothing of God's truth, way and Kingdom?

The rest of the dead go vertical

If there is a first resurrection, there must at least be a second. Via this second resurrection the rest of the dead will receive their judgment—their opportunity for salvation.

RevelationThe disclosure of God's Word and plan to mankind. In the Bible this refers to making obscure things clear; bringing hidden matters to light; causing especially called individuals to see, hear, perceive, know and understand the things of God; the unveiling of biblical mysteries (Romans 16:25). 20 explains: "But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished" (verse 5). John, the apostle, saw the vision of the Great White Throne Judgment (another name for the second resurrection): "And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God . . ." (verse 12).

This judgment means these billions of people will live a second human lifetime. This will not be a second chance but their first and only time to truly know God the Father and Jesus Christ. They will come to understand God's expectations of humans. This will be these people's day of salvation. God will leave no person behind. Everyone will in due time receive a full spiritual opportunity.

Mainstream Christianity does not understand this BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. teaching. Instead of teaching this inspiring truth, it consigns all who don't respond to God at this time to an ever-burning hell (yet another story) for existing at the wrong place in the wrong time. However, God is "not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
See All...). Yet in spite of all God's mercy, it seems some still reject Him. What about them?

The third resurrection—eternal death

Jesus compared the true hell to the fire lit in ancient Jerusalem's landfill, located in an adjacent valley called Gehenna. He called it Gehenna fire. Just like the city's refuse was burned to ashes, so will be the wicked who have received their spiritual opportunity for divine judgment and completely, tragically rejected it (Malachi 4:3And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts.
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Remember, like the good, the evil have no immortal souls. They will be resurrected to see what they have chosen to miss for eternity. Then they die swiftly in a lake of fire that consumes the earth. They will not suffer endless torture as taught by mainstream Christianity and countless other religions.

Mercifully the wicked become non-resurrectable ashes, with no pain, no consciousness and no existence beyond the final, fiery death. So this third resurrection is only for the particular purpose of final condemnation and administration of the wages of sin.

"This is the second death" from which there is no return (RevelationThe disclosure of God's Word and plan to mankind. In the Bible this refers to making obscure things clear; bringing hidden matters to light; causing especially called individuals to see, hear, perceive, know and understand the things of God; the unveiling of biblical mysteries (Romans 16:25). 20:14-15 [14] And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
[15] And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

See All...). Yes, we are all appointed to die once (Hebrews 9:27And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
See All...), and from that death we will all be resurrected. The good newsThe good news of God's everlasting kingdom to be established on earth after Christ's return and how we may be a part of that kingdom. This message was central to the teaching of Jesus Christ and the apostles. The term is used about 100 times in the New Testament . is that we don't have to die twice. We want to seek God and follow Him faithfully so we may experience the first resurrection at Christ's return because, "Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power" (RevelationThe disclosure of God's Word and plan to mankind. In the Bible this refers to making obscure things clear; bringing hidden matters to light; causing especially called individuals to see, hear, perceive, know and understand the things of God; the unveiling of biblical mysteries (Romans 16:25). 20:6Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
See All...).

The vertical challenge

What you've just read from the BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. constitutes the most amazing truth about God's plan for you and me and all of mankind. This written snapshot of loving generosity and ultimate equity brought by God's resurrection of the dead simply befuddles the religious leaders of this world. But now you know about it—it's a part of you. The question remains, what are you going to do about it? What you should do is prove it, believe it and stand up for it so you can make the jump to spirit speed to live forever via the resurrection! VT