A Study of Eschatology

Revelation 21 - 22

If you are not a naturalized citizen of the United States of America, but have become one then you know what it is to leave a homeland country and go through to process of becoming a citizen. Heaven will not be just a place to hang your hat. You won't have to consider a process of becoming a new citizen. Just as God took Abram and Sari out of Ur of the Chaldeans and made from him a new nation. God has already done the very same for you and me who have expressed a faith like that of Abraham. Romans 4:9-12 and Philippians 3:20-21. We are a new nationality as the KJV puts it we are a peculiar people, Titus 2:14 the Greek here calls us God's own special people, those that are zealous to do good works.

This is why Paul talks to us about directional mindedness, a spiritual position.(Colossians 3:1-4) At the present time we need to understand spiritually that we are no longer natural beings, we are supernatural and aliens in enemy land. Let's just take a moment and think about what this means. If you have ever placed your foot on the land of another nationality you know that there is this awareness in your heart that goes something like this; “Yes, this nation knows I'm here, and I see their flag hanging over there. You can almost hear them say: “This land is our national heritage, don't tread on us and you'll be safe”. As believers in Jesus we already know that all the unbelieving people of the world carry this flag proudly, we in fact; we carried it when our natural life was in full allegiance to the world around us.

Now our Kinsman Redeemer is in Heaven, all of our relationships are in Heaven, our Resources are there, as is our Residence and our Reward. This is why the LORD Jesus clearly challenges us to be full of joy and overflowing with gladness of heart. Matthew 5:12

Our natural being is alive in this present world, yet clearly we are told that we have been crucified with Christ; Galatians 2:20 and that we have been remade alive through Christ who lives in us. This is a complete make-over. We have been freed from the bondage of sin and from positionally being in the first Adam. Now we are alive in the Second Adam. We should be sanctifying ourselves daily in pursuit of this make-over. Romans 12:1-2, and if we are not living in the Spirit continually then we are not being sanctified daily. 1 Thessalonians 2:13. So the question, if there is one to ask is: Are we daily preparing for the instantaneous transformation of the “ultimate makeover” that is in our future?” 1 Corinthians 15:50-58.

The bad news: Today we live in a temporary body, it gains another wrinkle every day and through illness and age we all march toward our corruptible, dishonorable, weak and mortal end.

The good news: We have by faith in Christ been crucified, now in the power of the Resurrection we supernaturally live. Galatians 2:20. It is so real that when Jesus rose from the dead, He rose; incorruptible and immortal. Christ Jesus gave up His earthly body as a sacrifice to redeem us to Him and He clothes us in His Righteous glory. 1 John 2:28-29 and 1 John 3:1-3.

So we are to be sanctified daily in this grace and truth; John 17:17 and Ephesians 5:27 through the Word of God. How here is more good news! We will be identifiable in heaven. You still will be you, but so much better. Philippians 3:20-21. Now, there is that health nut on TV who is always in his gym shorts and shirt with the frilly hair. His body is corruptible too, so we won't have a body by his standards, we will have a body by Jesus. A glorified body, like the glorified body of Jesus that Mary Magdalene saw when Jesus met her at the tomb and whom the apostles met for breakfast at the sea shore. John 20 and 21. So in real terms: “Body by Jesus” means having a real “Body” not this temporal body we try to please all day long. John 20:16; 20:27 and 21:12.

In the passages of Luke 24:42-43 and John 21:12-13 we witness that Jesus in His glorified body eats food. While it may not be necessary in our glorified body to eat, eating is a pleasant experience, or it should be. Today we experience acid-reflux and feel guilty for eating to much fat. In eternity, eating will be a perfect fellowship experience with those around our Savior, drinking from the River of Life and eating from the Tree of Life. Revelation 22:1-5.

The Devotional

Papa “J” says

Satan is: “brilliantly stupid” and “hideously beautiful” in contrast: Jesus is: Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

As time passes I have watched the elderly people of church. They go from a position of service to a seat somewhere near the isle of a row of seating. Seems that ministry is moving to fast and time is to short. Bones hurt and react to moving in awkward positions while trying to get around people and stairways are like climbing Mount Washington. So, being one of these people myself now, I am thinking; “Is this the way it is, should I move over and let someone else take the controls of whatever it is that I seek to do as good biblical service to the LORD? Then the LORD reminds me of people like Simeon and Anna. Simeon spent all of his time in prayer and the study of the Old Testament. Anna in her eighties, worshiped, fasted and prayed day and night. They were so involved with God that they were expecting to see the Messiah come before their physical death. And God used their faithful ministries to pronounce the blessing of His arrival to the world. Their message still speaks to us today. Are you seeking and speaking today? Psalm 71:18

1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 15:42-49 All physical types of life experience death, as we have seen all death will experience a resurrection from this dead condition. As we review our human natural body we can see that when it dies. It dies with the blemishes of corruption, dishonor and weakness from living in this fallen, cursed world. This is the natural condition of all human flesh at the point of physical death. It is a description of the first Adam. (We need to stop and thank God that our existence does not end at physical death. The scripture reveals in these and other passages that when the natural man dies, he can expect to be raised again).

The second Adam who is the LORD Jesus Christ, the LORD from heaven, the One who is not made from dust and breathed on, but who was heavenly made when the Spirit of God breathed into the womb of the virgin Mary and God became the image and likeness of the heavenly Man. The second Adam will raise the first Adam He will raised in His glory, in His power and in His spirit. So all; the wicked and the righteous will be raised.

However! This God/Man also has the power and authority to separate the raised wicked from the raised righteous. Sin is put to death at the Cross. The choice to believe the gospel or to not believe the gospel is made by people who are alive in the natural condition of the first Adam. Either way, their sins are forgiven. John 1:29 is very clear about that. The White Throne judgment is another story. Men and women are judged for the deeds, not sin. Here is the scene of this judgment recorded by Matthew and spoken by the LORD. Read it: Matthew 25:31-46. Jesus is very clear about this.

The Devotional

Papa “J” says

The general store in America is nearly a thing of the past. Progress is necessary and will bring change. Change if not checked and balanced will destroy core values. Matthew 23:23

During the early years of the race to space in the 1960's, a Russian cosmonaut proclaimed to the world that he had proved that God did not exist. His reasoning was that he had traveled around in space and while he was there, he looked for God but at no time did he see Him or find Him. One humorist made this comment. “If the cosmonaut had opened the hatch to His space craft, he would have met God, promptly!” A few years later, on December 24, 1968 another message came boldly from space. This time it was from American astronauts; Jim Lovell, Frank Borman, and Bill Anders as they circled the moon: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” Had the American astronauts seen or met with God to verify their expression of awe? No; but they had enough evidence in Creation to claim Him by faith. Hebrews 11:1 and by faith these men obtained a good report. Hebrews 12:2

1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 15:29 Someone posted this comment to the blog. Normally I do not respond to comments except to thank those who do by email. However this caught my attention and I thought to reply. It is not my intent to offend and truly I thank you for your input since the resurrection of the dead is clearly one of the most critical issues mankind faces in life and death.

Scripture reveals that there has only been one vicarious baptism for the dead and that would be Jesus who was baptized into death (The LAMB John 1:29-34) and resurrected to life on the third day (The CHRIST John 10:22-30). Biblical baptism then is an ordinance of God for mankind to identify with Lamb of God who is Christ the Lord in His death and resurrection. This can only be done while one is alive. I agree then that Christ in His vicarious work of redemption will make all of those people who are dead in sin, become alive in the Spirit. Not by the many, but by the ONE. People who are dead in the sight of God are very much alive in the flesh. Ephesians 2:1-9.

The gospel of God does not mandate baptism as a prerequisite for “eternal life”. But the gospel does mandate that a person must repent first and then be baptized to live in this life in the resurrection power of Salvation and Sanctification. One cannot live in this power if there is no assurance that sin has been removed and baptism is that assurance. Acts 2:38; Acts 8:12 and Acts 22:16.

The Devotional

Papa “J” says

History is made by people who God places in time; Poor, Promising, Peaceful and Persevering. Their influence on the world is Providentially Predestined. Romans 8:29

Have you ever turned down a five dollar bill for a nickel? I would guess that all of have more times than we would like to think. Ever heard the expression; “If I had a nickel for every time I said that, I'd be a millionaire!” Shucks! It only takes 20,000,000 nickels to make a million dollars. In reality, that is a lot of hard work, just to obtain the status of being a millionaire. Many of us ask God to provide for us somewhat like a hymn that I love to sing. “I'm satisfied with just a cottage below, a little silver and a little gold...” Well it is wonderful to be waiting for our eternal home and the blessings that follow. What is not so wonderful is that many of us are hard at work, scraping together those 20,000,000 nickels of hard labor, when it is always God's intended purpose to give us 200,000 five dollar bills to reach the same goal. Ephesians 2:10. If we walk in the LORD, we will not produce the feeble deeds of the flesh. Ephesians 4:1-6 and Matthew 11:28-29.

1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 15:35-40 I thought that when I got to these passages in 1 Corinthians 15 that it would be a simple walk through some passages that I love to read. However, there is more to this resurrection of the dead than just a casual reading will reveal. So, does the apostle give us the information asked by this; “someone” who is lovingly called, foolish one? God has given us many examples of resurrection life through the natural reproduction of plant life. Each time a seed is planted in the soil, with a little water and sunlight the seed will explode with new life. Same plant, but different day and it is God who provides.

Also there are a variety of living animals in the world, all of which have differing types of flesh, yet these always reproduce in the same species. In other words, frogs reproduce more frogs. We have never seen a frog reproduce a billy goat. So the things of earth are common to earth and the heavenly things are common to heaven. Those freaky things that people read about in rags like the Enquirer are generally lies, but there are those who seek to alter the genetic code of creation and this is a lie as well since it is a denial and perversion of the order of creation.

The celestial will always be heavenly and the terrestrial will always be earthly. For any human to try and combine the two is demonic, James 3:13-18. Many cult leaders have destroyed the lives of many. By confusing and misguiding people because they purpose in their heart to destroy the truth of God's power to raise the dead. We will see that while one may talk of the resurrection and life after death, that in reality they are denying it rather than affirming it.

The Devotional

Papa “J” says

History is made by people who God places in time; Powerful, Political, Professional and Practical! Their influence on the world is Providentially Divine. Proverbs 16:4

This happens a lot and if you've been alive for very long you have seen it happen. Maybe you have even been involved. There is a family, a community or township, a church gathering or maybe even a small group of like minded people. Routinely, life in these little areas of influence will go on normally with little or no visibility, and all seems well. But let something happen out of the norm! The family receives word that aunt Tiddly is coming to visit. She has been away in Europe for the past twenty years. Or the township is hosting a big event and the church or small group is going to entertain a visitor from the mission field. Ever notice – what aunt Tiddly sees or what visitors to the township see, and even what the missionary sees is somewhat out of the norm. Our human nature likes to “put on the show”. To the outsider we what to look perfect, but on the inside we are full of all sorts of deception. Then when the party is over, we wipe our mouth and go on our way and think... “I've done nothing wrong”! This in the eyes of the LORD is adultery. Proverbs 30:20

1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 15:30-34 These verses further challenge our thoughts of the apostle and his comment on baptism. Believers are not guaranteed tomorrow. We walk, moment by moment, by faith and our faith rests in a city who's builder and maker is God, not on baptism. Hebrew 11:10 and Revelation 21:1-27.

There is another avenue of thought about this baptism that Paul is referring to in that he may not be talking about, “water baptism” at all. He may be speaking about the baptism of the Holy Spirit, John 1:33; mentioned by John the Baptizer, and by Luke in Acts 1:5. If so, what would this baptism look like? It would look like... Galatians 2:20. I am dead (crucified) with Christ. Nevertheless I live, but it is no longer I who live. But Christ now lives through me. Now I live by faith, the faith of the Son of God who loves me, who died a baptismal death while I was dead in sin. He is raised from that death and now lives and I live in Him.

I like this baptism for the dead, don't you? Just as there is only One, who can walk on water. There truly is only One, who could be baptized for the dead, who allows the many to follow by faith in Spirit baptism Ephesians 2:1-10, to bring them to life everlasting by faith. What a blessing to know, that salvation belongs to God, He is the only One who can bring us to the New Jerusalem. Why? Well it is simple really, He is the only One who knows the way. Notice that even the physically dead do not know the way. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. Now that is comforting. Amen!