Inside the Resurrection

INTRO: The Fall Holy Day Season is ushered in today with symbols of the salvation ultimately of All mankind. Today shows the beginning of transition away from mankind’s misrule of God’s Creation.

The use of trumpets and bugles to send signals has a long history. In Old Testament times, it’s fascinating to see how ancient Israel used trumpet calls for numerous orders and announcements.

So what does the Feast of Trumpets picture? It portrays everything that happens from the angel blowing the first trumpet to Christ conquering His enemies at the time of His return. It warns of global catastrophes and war and yet, at the same time, celebrates the coming of Jesus Christ as King and the raising to life of His followers. This paves the way for peace on earth at last as Jesus sets up His Kingdom and begins to rule the world! AND We in God’s Church are on the INSIDE of it all while it happens starting NOW.

This Holy Day stirs excited anticipation for the time when, as Zechariah 14:9 puts it, “the Lord shall be King over all the earth”!

BENEFIT STATEMENT: In God’s Church we may focus on the horror of the trials to come on mankind, or we may focus on developing the Character of God so the trials become (what they are) temporary concerns, OR we focus on the Joy of the Resurrection. In every case, we see and live what others throughout history have not been given to have lived.

SPS: We live INSIDE the Resurrection – from HERE to ETERNITY

BODY: The FIRST resurrection is coming at the Return of Jesus Christ. HOW is it happening?

1. The Father resurrects and Jesus Christ judges WHO is resurrected -

Notice God’s command:

“And in the seventh month [corresponding to our September/October], on the first day of the month, you shall have a holy convocation [a commanded worship assembly]. You shall do no customary work. For you it is a day of blowing the trumpets ” (Numbers 29:1; see also Leviticus 23:24; emphasis added throughout).

In the original Hebrew here, no trumpets are actually mentioned. Rather, the phrase “blowing of trumpets” has been translated from the single word teruah, which signifies the making of a loud noise or clamor. It is sometimes translated “shout,” as made by human voices (e.g., Joshua 6:10). It’s also rendered “alarm” in association with the sound of the shofar or ram’s horn (Jeremiah 4:19).

A form of the word also refers to sounding an alarm with metal trumpets orhatsotserot (Numbers 10:9—silver trumpets in this case). In Psalm 98, the word is rendered “shout joyfully,” and applies to loud singing as well as blowing metal trumpets and the ram’s horn in celebration (Psalms 98:4-6).

Numbers 10:1-10 relates the uses of the two silver trumpets of the tabernacle, including calls to assemblies, announcing special occasions and events such as holy days and sacrifices, and for alarms of war, as mentioned.

Interestingly, the shofar was used for some of the same purposes. One distinction, however, was that only the priests were authorized to blow the silver trumpets.

Thus, making a loud noise, particularly through the ram’s horn and other trumpets, can be celebratory as well as a dire warning—like a tornado siren. Both aspects are part of the important meaning of this Holy Day.

Note how Jesus described His future return:

Matthew 24:30-31 “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. 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”.

Another great event: the resurrection of the saints

Both the Old Testament and the New Testament frequently use the word “saints” to refer to the faithful followers of God. In the New Testament, they are also called the “elect,” those selected or chosen (as in Matthew 24:31).

The resurrection of the saints to glorified spirit life to “reign with” Christ is called in Scripture “the first resurrection.” A second resurrection will follow 1,000 years later for “the rest of the dead” (Revelation 20:5-6).

                The blowing of the seven trumpets

After each of the first three trumpets, devastating destruction befalls the earth (Revelation 8:1-11). The fourth trumpet announces a time of great darkness (Revelation 8:12).

When the fifth angel sounds, a mighty army suddenly comes on the scene with great power, including power that will be used against its enemies “to torment them for five months” (Revelation 9:1-12).

When the sixth angel sounds, a giant army of 200 million comes from the east, resulting in the deaths of a third of mankind (Revelation 9:13-21). One would think that all the survivors would then have enough sense and fear of God to repent of their sins, but not so—”they did not repent” (Revelation 9:20-21).

When the seventh angel sounds, he is announcing events both wonderful and terrifying. The wonderful events are the coronation of Jesus Christ as King of Kings, His return to rule all nations and the resurrection of the saints—”at the last trumpet” (1 Corinthians 15:52). And the terrifying events are a series of seven last plagues, as we’ll see.

Revelation 11:15-18 proclaims: “The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: ‘The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah [or Christ], and he will reign for ever and ever.’

“And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying: ‘We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign.

“‘The nations were angry, and your wrath has come. The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your people who revere your name, both small and great—and for destroying those who destroy the earth” (NIV).

The warning in the seventh trumpet

Note what follows in Revelation 15:1: “Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete.”

Revelation 16 goes on to describe the seven last plagues. The first is a terrible affliction on people, the second is on the sea and its creatures, and the third is on all the rivers and springs of water. The fourth plague is on the sun, which creates scorching heat. The fifth plague is darkness and extremely painful sores.

Again, in spite of the terrible pain and suffering, the prophecy recounts in advance that these people “did not repent of their deeds” (Revelation 16:9-11). Yet even these stubborn people will have an opportunity for salvation. After dying and being resurrected a thousand years later, they will at last be receptive to Christ’s teachings.

The sixth angel announces a vast army coming from the east led by Satan and his demons. They “go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty” (Revelation 16:12-14).

“And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon” (Revelation 16:16). Armageddon means Mount or Hill of Megiddo. This place northwest of Jerusalem has been a gathering place for armies numerous times in the past. Other scriptures show that the actual “battle of that great day of God Almighty” will be in and around Jerusalem.

The seventh angel announces incredible cataclysms!

Revelation 16:18-21 “And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth … And great hail from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent. Men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great” .

Then comes the Commander and His heavenly cavalry for the final battle!

The triumphant return of Jesus Christ

Revelation 17 describes a powerful and evil worldwide system called “Babylon the great.” Its armies and the armies of its enemies are about to fight each other when they instead turn to fight against the returning Jesus Christ.

Revelation 17:14 says, “These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.”

Revelation 18 goes on to describe the fall of this system called Babylon.

Revelation 19 begins with scenes in heaven. Then Revelation 19:7-9 refer to “the marriage of the Lamb” to “His wife,” the Church, and “the marriage supper.”

Then we read of the awesome arrival and conquest by Jesus Christ and His armies!

Revelation 19:11 “Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war”.

Revelation 19:14 “And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses”

Revelation 19:16 “And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORDS OF LORDS”

The remainder of the chapter tells how all who will have tried to make war against Him will be killed.

God reveals more about the great final battle in Zechariah 14. Here are portions of that chapter: “Behold, the day of the Lord is coming” (Zechariah 14:1). “For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem (Zechariah 14:2). “Then the Lord will go forth and fight against those nations” (Zechariah 14:3). “And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east” (Zechariah 14:4). “Thus the Lord my God will come, and all the saints with You [some translations say “Him”]” (Zechariah 14:5).

Those who are a part of the first resurrection will rule with Jesus Christ here on earth. Eternal life in the Kingdom of God will then be offered to all those who inhabit the earth.

Last Trump – (The mixed emotion Day of awareness of God’s intervention) The Father Resurrects

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 (NKJV). 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. 18  Therefore comfort one another with these words.

1 Corinthians 15:50-52 (NKJV) 50  Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 51  Behold, I tell 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 trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

Acts 13:29-30 (New King James Version) 29  Now when they had fulfilled all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb. 30  But God raised Him from the dead.

Romans 8:8-11 (NKJV) 8  So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9  But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10  And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 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. 2 Corinthians 4:14 (NKJV), 14  knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you.

1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 (NKJV) 9  For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10  and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

               

It is Christ WHO is the Judge in the Resurrection –

John 11:25 (NKJV)  Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.

John 5:20-22 (NKJV) 20  For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel. 21  For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. 22  For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son,

John 12:48-49 (NKJV) 48  He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him--the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. 49  For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak.

1. Inside the Resurrection process we see ongoing life with Christ AS He lived including suffering. God meant all this for good. (We are to experience GOD’S Priorities rather than primary human physical priorities)

Romans 8:12-17 (NKJV) 12  Therefore, brethren, we are debtors--not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13  For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15  For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." 16  The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17  and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

2 Timothy 2:8-13 (NKJV) 8  Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, 9  for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained. 10  Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11  This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him, We shall also live with Him. 12  If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. 13  If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.

Stephen explains that GOD was there with Joseph. He uses this account to show that the religious teachers were not aware of the reality of God controlling man’s affairs overall and that GOD means all trial of His Servants for GOOD.

Acts 7:9-14  "And the patriarchs, becoming envious, sold Joseph into Egypt. But God was with him 10  and delivered him out of all his troubles, and gave him favor and wisdom in the presence of Pharaoh, king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house. 11  Now a famine and great trouble came over all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and our fathers found no sustenance. 12  But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first. 13  And the second time Joseph was made known to his brothers, and Joseph's family became known to the Pharaoh. 14  Then Joseph sent and called his father Jacob and all his relatives to him, seventy-five people.

BUT …GOD was with them. Joseph took the long view of life, not the details to disturb God’s Plan. In Gen 50.20 Joseph shows that he is of God and they meant it for evil, but God meant it for good. How did Joseph get there? His eyes were on God the entire time.

Acts 7:17-19  "But when the time of the promise drew near which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt 18  till another king arose who did not know Joseph. 19  This man dealt treacherously with our people, and oppressed our forefathers, making them expose their babies, so that they might not live.

Genesis 50:15-21 (NKJV) 15  When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, "Perhaps Joseph will hate us, and may actually repay us for all the evil which we did to him." 16  So they sent messengers to Joseph, saying, "Before your father died he commanded, saying, 17  'Thus you shall say to Joseph: "I beg you, please forgive the trespass of your brothers and their sin; for they did evil to you." ' Now, please, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of your father." And Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18  Then his brothers also went and fell down before his face, and they said, "Behold, we are your servants." 19  Joseph said to them, "Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? 20  But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. 21  Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones." And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

1. Within the Resurrection process - The Resurrection into God’s Family is from WITHIN the Church Christ built.

Romans 1:4 (New King James Version) 4  and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.

First born by the resurrection

Revelation 1:5 (New King James Version) 5  and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood,

“Birth” is equated with resurrection Biblically -Being born of the Spirit is equated with the resurrection.

Philippians 3:8-11 (NKJV) 8  Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9  and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10  that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11  if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Acts 13:31-33 (New King James Version) 31  He was seen for many days by those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses to the people. 32  And we declare to you glad tidings--that promise which was made to the fathers. 33  God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm: 'You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.'

Psalm 2:7 (New King James Version) 7  "I will declare the decree: The LORD has said to Me, 'You are My Son, Today [at a certain point in time]I have begotten [yalad – begotten – gennao – when used of the Father it means to beget, when used of the mother it means to give birth] You.

Galatians 4:26 (NKJV) 26  but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.

It is the Father who brings us (the Body of Christ begotten as the Mother Church) to birth into His Spirit Family.

Isaiah 66:12-17 (New King James Version) 12  For thus says the LORD: "Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, And the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream. Then you shall feed; On her sides shall you be carried, And be dandled on her knees. 13  As one whom his mother comforts, So I will comfort you; And you shall be comforted in Jerusalem." 14  When you see this, your heart shall rejoice, And your bones shall flourish like grass; The hand of the LORD shall be known to His servants, And His indignation to His enemies. 15  For behold, the LORD will come with fire And with His chariots, like a whirlwind, To render His anger with fury, And His rebuke with flames of fire. 16  For by fire and by His sword The LORD will judge all flesh; And the slain of the LORD shall be many. 17  "Those who sanctify themselves and purify themselves, To go to the gardens After an idol in the midst, Eating swine's flesh and the abomination and the mouse, Shall be consumed together," says the LORD.

The book of Hebrews is explaining the superiority of the New Covenant.

Hebrews 12:22-24 (New King James Version) 22  But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, 23  to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24  to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.

Haggai 2:6-9 (NKJV) 6  "For thus says the LORD of hosts: 'Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land; 7  and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory,' says the LORD of hosts. 8  'The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,' says the LORD of hosts. 9  The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,' says the LORD of hosts. 'And in this place I will give peace,' says the LORD of hosts."

Hebrews 8:1-2 (NKJV) 1  Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, 2  a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man.

1 Corinthians 6:19 (NKJV)  Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?  

(((((( **** Psalm 87:1-7 (New King James Version) 1  A Psalm of the sons of Korah. A song. His foundation is in the holy mountains. 2  The LORD loves the gates of Zion [the Church] More than all the dwellings of Jacob. 3  Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God! Selah 4  "I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to those who know Me; Behold, O Philistia and Tyre, with Ethiopia: 'This one was born there.' " 5  And of Zion it will be said, "This one and that one were born in her; And the Most High Himself shall establish her." 6  The LORD will record, When He registers the peoples: "This one was born there." Selah 7  Both the singers and the players on instruments say, "All my springs [Life] are in you." )))))

Isaiah 31:4-5 (NKJV) 4  For thus the LORD has spoken to me: "As a lion roars, And a young lion over his prey (When a multitude of shepherds is summoned against him, He will not be afraid of their voice Nor be disturbed by their noise), So the LORD of hosts will come down To fight for Mount Zion and for its hill. 5  Like birds flying about, So will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem. Defending, He will also deliver it; Passing over, He will preserve it."

 So resurrection is IN the Church, because Christ’s Body is being BORN into the Family of God !!!                         

CONCLUSION:

When you sing this, you are singing of yourself.

Psalm 87:4-5 (NKJV) 4  "I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to those who know Me; Behold, O Philistia and Tyre, with Ethiopia: 'This one was born there.' " 5  And of Zion it will be said, "This one and that one were born in her; And the Most High Himself shall establish her."     

CLOSE:

The resurrection will make that happen. Being born into Eternal Life in God’s Kingdom Family pictured by ZION and the Temple of the Holy Spirit - means that we are born from being in the Church.     

Psalm 87:1-3 (NKJV) 1  His foundation is in the holy mountains. 2  The LORD loves the gates of Zion More than all the dwellings of Jacob. 3  Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God! Selah

Psalm 87:6-7 (NKJV) 6  The LORD will record, When He registers the peoples: "This one was born there." Selah 7  Both the singers and the players on instruments say, "All my springs [living waters] are in you."

This praise lasts forever and ever, and that is where the praise comes from …the Church, from YOUR Sacrificing Life.

2 Corinthians 13:14 (NKJV) The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.