Eternal Judgment (part 2) - The Resurrection of Life
Introduction. When all who are in the tombs hear Jesus’ voice and those who have done good come forth into the resurrection of life (Jn. 5:29), the judgment day for the righteous will be vastly different than that of the wicked. God has been very clear in many different ways that with the power of Jesus’ blood and obedience to the gospel, all sins, repented of and confessed, are removed.
What is left to judge when: He “casts our sins behind His back” (Isa. 38:17), and “casts them into the depths of the sea” (Mic. 7:19)? As God will “forgive their iniquity and their sin I will remember no more” (Jer. 31:34), “there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Rom. 8:1). He has “removed our sins as far as the east from the west” (Ps. 103:8-13), and promised: “Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they will be as wool” (Isa. 1:18). Those who “repent and are baptized” receive “remission of sins,” and “their sins are blotted out.” Even the “chief of sinners” (1Tim. 1:15-16) received mercy after being told “arise and be baptized and wash away your sins.” “Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing” (Acts 2:38; 3:19; 22:16; 2Tim. 4:8).
So what will the judgment day mean for devout and faithful Christians? Since “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” (2Cor. 5:10), we will be present. But for those whose sins are forgiven, Jesus will say: “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world,” and “then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father (Mt. 13:41-42), for “when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe.” (2Th. 1:10).
Yet, “the resurrection of life” is still shrouded in mystery. God has given details, but since there is nothing in this age to compare to it, even simple descriptions appear symbolic, mysterious and nearly impossible to visualize. Jesus’ description of the resurrection gives many details: “Those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.” (Lk. 20:35-37). Although there is nothing difficult about never dying and not being married, and being equal to the angels and sons of God, we are no closer to understanding it. Having never seen an angel, even trying to imagine them is impossible.
In the symbolism of Revelation, we are told, “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” (Rev. 21:4-5). Once again, we know what won’t exist, but when He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new,” it was made clear that all explanations can only fall short of our understanding because nothing existing in this creation will continue into eternity. Even the resurrection described with things now existing will be vastly different.
Although God has gave many precious and exceeding great promises, we can’t fully grasp their meaning. For example, if we are “children, then heirs — heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, yet although “we are children of God,” “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.” (1Jn. 3:2-3). This is one of the greatest promises in Scripture, but we can’t imagine it because the heavenly realm is so vastly different, that until we see Him, it can’t be revealed. It is only at the moment of “our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing,” that we will see God and His Christ “who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see.” (1Tim. 6:14-16).
How can God give details of what no man has seen or can see? Only after we see Him as He is will we understand. We can add detail after detail, yet still not comprehend: “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.” (Phil. 3:20-21). Thus when Jesus is revealed on the last day and “we see Him as He is,” and “He transforms our lowly body to be conformed to His glorious body,” it will all be easy to understand. Even without full understanding, it is amazing. That it exceeds all our expectations makes it exciting. At the resurrection we will be “joint heirs with Christ” because our bodies will be conformed and remade to His. Whatever Jesus looks like when He returns in His glorified body, our own bodies will conform to it. His own eternal spiritual body will be used as the template. This is why we are equal to angels and sons of God.
The most detailed description of this new body is given in 1 Corinthians 15. Their questions mirror our own: “How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?” All answers are given in parables: “Foolish one, what you sow is not made alive unless it dies. And what you sow, you do not sow that body that shall be, … But God gives it a body as He pleases.” (1Cor. 15:35-38). Every plant, shrub, and tree with a seed follows this pattern. An acorn becomes the oak and a grain becomes the green stalk producing wheat or corn. In simple terms, our material body is a seed and the spiritual body rising in the last day is like the plant’s body. We see it every day and can easily acknowledge the truth. Yet the details still elude us. God has clearly established His ability to make a seed decompose, go back into the soil, yet still bring a vastly different body into existence.
The Holy Spirit returns to the material creation in Genesis to give more parables. After the plants on Day Three, He made the bodies of the sun, moon, and stars on Day Four, the bodies of fish and birds on Day Five, and bodies of animals and man on Day Six. All parables of the resurrection lie in these days of creation. The parables of Day Five and Six: “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.” Each body was designed for their environment: fish under the water, birds in the air, animals in the arctic, jungles and grasslands, and man able to live in the material and be aware of the spiritual.
The parables of Day Four are the bodies dwelling in the vastness of space. “There are also celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies … one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars.” The body God made for the sun is vastly different than the body of the moon that reflects its light. With the creation of telescopes, we are only beginning to understand the vast difference in the bodies of each star. Even if we can’t make the connection, there is no doubt these are parables: “So also is the resurrection of the dead.” (1Cor. 15:39-42). Although this abundantly proves God’s abilities and method, it doesn’t bring us closer to what the new body will resemble.
The last words on the resurrected body are set forth in contrasts that illustrate and give further details of the resurrected body. First comparing our present body with our future one:
Second, comparing this body, based on Adam’s body, to the future body, based on Christ’s:
Conclusion. Since “it has not yet been revealed what we shall be,” (1Jn. 3:2), this is the closest we can come to understanding. We live in a world of material dust. Our bodies and the bodies of everything else in this creation are all made of the same “dust.” This “dust” is our food and water and all that we see, hear, touch, taste and smell. But in the spiritual realm, there will be a “spiritual dust” that will become the basis for all that exists there. Since “flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, all that is of material dust must be removed (2Pet. 3:10-13). As we are changed so also will our environment. Our new body and home will be made of eternal and spiritual “dust.” Although this is all God can tell us now, it is enough! What an amazing future for those who are counted worthy to attain to the resurrection of life.
What is left to judge when: He “casts our sins behind His back” (Isa. 38:17), and “casts them into the depths of the sea” (Mic. 7:19)? As God will “forgive their iniquity and their sin I will remember no more” (Jer. 31:34), “there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Rom. 8:1). He has “removed our sins as far as the east from the west” (Ps. 103:8-13), and promised: “Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they will be as wool” (Isa. 1:18). Those who “repent and are baptized” receive “remission of sins,” and “their sins are blotted out.” Even the “chief of sinners” (1Tim. 1:15-16) received mercy after being told “arise and be baptized and wash away your sins.” “Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing” (Acts 2:38; 3:19; 22:16; 2Tim. 4:8).
So what will the judgment day mean for devout and faithful Christians? Since “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” (2Cor. 5:10), we will be present. But for those whose sins are forgiven, Jesus will say: “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world,” and “then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father (Mt. 13:41-42), for “when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe.” (2Th. 1:10).
Yet, “the resurrection of life” is still shrouded in mystery. God has given details, but since there is nothing in this age to compare to it, even simple descriptions appear symbolic, mysterious and nearly impossible to visualize. Jesus’ description of the resurrection gives many details: “Those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.” (Lk. 20:35-37). Although there is nothing difficult about never dying and not being married, and being equal to the angels and sons of God, we are no closer to understanding it. Having never seen an angel, even trying to imagine them is impossible.
In the symbolism of Revelation, we are told, “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” (Rev. 21:4-5). Once again, we know what won’t exist, but when He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new,” it was made clear that all explanations can only fall short of our understanding because nothing existing in this creation will continue into eternity. Even the resurrection described with things now existing will be vastly different.
Although God has gave many precious and exceeding great promises, we can’t fully grasp their meaning. For example, if we are “children, then heirs — heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, yet although “we are children of God,” “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.” (1Jn. 3:2-3). This is one of the greatest promises in Scripture, but we can’t imagine it because the heavenly realm is so vastly different, that until we see Him, it can’t be revealed. It is only at the moment of “our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing,” that we will see God and His Christ “who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see.” (1Tim. 6:14-16).
How can God give details of what no man has seen or can see? Only after we see Him as He is will we understand. We can add detail after detail, yet still not comprehend: “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.” (Phil. 3:20-21). Thus when Jesus is revealed on the last day and “we see Him as He is,” and “He transforms our lowly body to be conformed to His glorious body,” it will all be easy to understand. Even without full understanding, it is amazing. That it exceeds all our expectations makes it exciting. At the resurrection we will be “joint heirs with Christ” because our bodies will be conformed and remade to His. Whatever Jesus looks like when He returns in His glorified body, our own bodies will conform to it. His own eternal spiritual body will be used as the template. This is why we are equal to angels and sons of God.
The most detailed description of this new body is given in 1 Corinthians 15. Their questions mirror our own: “How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?” All answers are given in parables: “Foolish one, what you sow is not made alive unless it dies. And what you sow, you do not sow that body that shall be, … But God gives it a body as He pleases.” (1Cor. 15:35-38). Every plant, shrub, and tree with a seed follows this pattern. An acorn becomes the oak and a grain becomes the green stalk producing wheat or corn. In simple terms, our material body is a seed and the spiritual body rising in the last day is like the plant’s body. We see it every day and can easily acknowledge the truth. Yet the details still elude us. God has clearly established His ability to make a seed decompose, go back into the soil, yet still bring a vastly different body into existence.
The Holy Spirit returns to the material creation in Genesis to give more parables. After the plants on Day Three, He made the bodies of the sun, moon, and stars on Day Four, the bodies of fish and birds on Day Five, and bodies of animals and man on Day Six. All parables of the resurrection lie in these days of creation. The parables of Day Five and Six: “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.” Each body was designed for their environment: fish under the water, birds in the air, animals in the arctic, jungles and grasslands, and man able to live in the material and be aware of the spiritual.
The parables of Day Four are the bodies dwelling in the vastness of space. “There are also celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies … one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars.” The body God made for the sun is vastly different than the body of the moon that reflects its light. With the creation of telescopes, we are only beginning to understand the vast difference in the bodies of each star. Even if we can’t make the connection, there is no doubt these are parables: “So also is the resurrection of the dead.” (1Cor. 15:39-42). Although this abundantly proves God’s abilities and method, it doesn’t bring us closer to what the new body will resemble.
The last words on the resurrected body are set forth in contrasts that illustrate and give further details of the resurrected body. First comparing our present body with our future one:
- sown in corruption raised in incorruption sown in dishonor raised in glory
- sown in weakness raised in power sown a natural body raised a spiritual
- corruptible must put on incorruption mortal must put on immortality
Second, comparing this body, based on Adam’s body, to the future body, based on Christ’s:
- The spiritual is not first, but the natural afterward the spiritual.
- The first man was of the earth, made of dust second Man is the Lord from heaven.
- As the man of dust, so those made of dust as the heavenly Man, those who are heavenly
- we have borne the image of the man of dust, also bear the image of the heavenly Man.
Conclusion. Since “it has not yet been revealed what we shall be,” (1Jn. 3:2), this is the closest we can come to understanding. We live in a world of material dust. Our bodies and the bodies of everything else in this creation are all made of the same “dust.” This “dust” is our food and water and all that we see, hear, touch, taste and smell. But in the spiritual realm, there will be a “spiritual dust” that will become the basis for all that exists there. Since “flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, all that is of material dust must be removed (2Pet. 3:10-13). As we are changed so also will our environment. Our new body and home will be made of eternal and spiritual “dust.” Although this is all God can tell us now, it is enough! What an amazing future for those who are counted worthy to attain to the resurrection of life.
- “eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. 24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.” (Rom. 8:23-25)
- “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while 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.” (2Cor. 4:16-18).