WHAT’S YOUR VIEW OF THE RESURRECTION?
Chuck Crisco December 2, 2015
Did you ever really think about the resurrection? I mean the concept that one day your spirit will leave the perfect bliss of being in the eternal, incomprehensible joy of God’s presence in heaven, and suddenly come back to earth where the molecules of billions of people from all of history are reassembled into physical, albeit new, form? Suddenly graves will break open to the terrifying stares of unsuspecting people. It is called the resurrection, or at least a version of how the story goes.

Are you willing to re-think the resurrection? Did you ever wonder what the purpose of that event would be? Supposedly it is so that we can reign and rule with Christ over the planet and a handful of unbelievers left over from the tribulation. It is taught that Christ will reign in natural Jerusalem, which of course means that every resurrected saint would then only have access to him by appointment. Maybe once or twice over that period of history. Wouldn’t that be a step backwards in so many ways?
We want to leave heaven for a return to earth and all its limitations? How often would you get to see Jesus here? Would you schedule an appointment?
We want to leave heaven for a return to earth and all its limitations? How often would you get to see Jesus here? Would you schedule an appointment?
Of course, there might be a different view, an alternative perspective that takes all the scriptures into account, looks boldly and honestly at the text, and says, “wait a minute!”

Before you throw rocks at me and break your computer screen, let’s dispel a myth for a moment. Some will quote 2 Timothy 2:17-18 saying, “Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have departed from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some.”

I imagine we all agree in the resurrection of Christ, agreed? But Paul was writing about a group of people who were saying the resurrection of the dead had already taken place after the resurrection of Christ. How is that possible if the resurrection of the dead was to be a world-wide event in which graves were opened and spirits came into reassembled bodies? Wouldn’t that have been obvious? Not if the resurrection of the dead was supposed to be a spiritual event instead of a physical one.

Secondly, no one here is denying the resurrection, I am simply presenting you with a perspective in which the TIMING and NATURE of the resurrection is different. So this view affirms the resurrection of Christ and the resurrection of the dead, but it differs with the so-called traditional view.

What I DO find fascinating is that some will read this article and then dismiss it because it doesn’t fit their existing paradigm. It can’t be true because they believe something different. But take the time to look at each passage on its own accord rather from the images that are already painted in your heart. You will discover that there are no scriptures that teach a physical resurrection in our future. Instead, the scriptures teach that when we die we will be raised into a spiritual body, into heaven, to be with the Lord forever. Let’s look…

The Hope of Israel:
Let’s not forget that the resurrection is an old covenant promise to Israel, through which Christ would bless the world. This is important because it was THEIR promise fulfilled at the end of the old covenant age, and we were incorporated into its outworking. In other words the resurrection was to occur (spiritually) in a corporate sense out of Hades in AD 70, as a promise to Israel, through which we were incorporated in an ongoing individual experience at the moment of our death. Therefore, we must look at what the Hebrew scriptures promised in conjunction with Paul’s text to determine the nature and the timing of the resurrection. Charles Meek says,

“At the Second Coming to occur during the lifetime of Paul’s contemporaries, there would be a culmination of the eschatological hope of the world. God’s Suffering Servant would bring salvation to Israel and to the world (Isaiah 42: 1-9; 49: 1-7; 52: 13-53: 12; 56: 1-8; Luke 21:28; Romans 13:11; Ephesians 1:13-14; Hebrews 1:14; 9:28; 1 Peter 1:3-9). The promised new heavens and earth would include the gathering of the elect and of all nations into the covenant as promised in Isaiah 40:5; 49:5-6; 56:8, by Jesus in the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24:31; 25:32), and reiterated by Paul in 2 Thessalonians 2:1. Israel would be reborn and restored, and this would include immortal-body resurrection of the righteous — and ultimately eternal life in heaven as promised to believers in Christ’s own resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:1-4, 19). Meek, Charles S. (2014-11-24). Christian Hope through Fulfilled Prophecy: An Exposition of Evangelical Preterism (Kindle Locations 4141-4147). BookBaby. Kindle Edition.
The Timing of the Resurrection:
Contrary to popular opinion, the references to the resurrection are not in some far off future from the NT writers. Stop for a moment and carefully consider this. Daniel affirmed that the resurrection would be at the time when the “power of the holy people is shattered” referring to the temple and the system of Law, after saying it would be at the end of the “times, time and half a time.” This was in AD 70 when the Jerusalem was trampled by the Roman-Gentiles for 3 ½ years and the temple was destroyed. Does an angelic being SWEARING this to be true help? (See Daniel 12:7).

Secondly, did you know that Paul preached that the resurrection was near in his lifetime? In Acts 24:15 he said, “And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.” Translators, for theological reasons instead of translation reasons, avoid translating this accurately. The words “shall be” come from the Greek Strongs #3195 méllō – properly, at the very point of acting; ready, “about to happen.” (Helps Word Studies; Analytical Greek Lexicon, p. 262; Arndt, p. 500; Thayer, p. 396).

Paul uses this same word tense méllō, in 2 Timothy 4:1, “I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who (is about to) judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom.”

Again in a similar context in Mt. 16:27-28, “For the Son of Man is [about] to come in the glory of His Father with His angels…”

To throw the corporate resurrection into the future is to miss the power of their message!

Paul’s Doctrine of the Resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15.
If there was any text considered THE proof text for a future resurrection it is this passage. But, in fact, it seems to teach us a view completely contrary to our confusing modern picture. So let’s mine out these passages a section at a time.

15 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. 7 After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. 8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.

9 For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.11 Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

We see that Jesus after his resurrection revealed himself to only a few people. It is a fact that Jesus told his disciples, “Yet a little while, and the world will see me no more; but ye will see me; because I live, you shall live also” (John 14: 19).

So he made a promise to them that the “world”, the kosmos, (Greek-inhabited world) would never see him again. How can this be if he is coming back to raise people from the dead and every eye will “see” him?

When John in Revelation 1:7 quotes Christ’s words, 1) he was speaking of their generation (even those who pierced him, the time is near), and 2), the word for “see” there is not with physical eyes, but with spiritual perception [Strongs 3708 horáō – properly, see, often with metaphorical meaning: “to see with the mind” (i.e. spiritually see), i.e. perceive (with inward spiritual perception).]

12 Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. 14 And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. 15 Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. 16 For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. 17 And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! 18 Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.

Pay close attention to verse 19 because it is very telling. He speaks of this life (earthly) vs the next life (heaven-spiritual). He doesn’t speak of this life, and then a life in heaven, and then another life on the earth in a resurrected body, and then at the end of a 1000 years another kind of existence. He only points to the earthly and the heavenly. He is very clear and it is that contrast and comparison that continues throughout his discussion. Do you see it?

The Last Enemy Destroyed
20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. 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, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. 24 Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. 27 For “He has put all things under His feet.”

Let’s briefly address these one at a time.

The resurrection was to take place AT HIS COMING. I am writing primarily to those who already have a basic understanding of the parousia. Unfortunately, a lot of confusion happens because bible translators in many instances do a poor job of accurately communicating the text. I tend to believe it is because many translating organizations have a pre-existing theology which will not allow for anything else. In this case the text says τῇ παρουσίᾳ αὐτοῦ (THE coming-presence of him). Paul doesn’t suppose this is “a” coming of the Lord, but “THE” coming, as if there is only one and it is the singular one that all the other NT writers affirm was to happen in their generation.

AFTER HIS COMING IS THE END.

The “end”. It cannot mean the end of the world. Why? Because there is no scripture in the Bible that speaks of the world coming to an end. The new covenant age, the age of the gospel and the everlasting kingdom is one that never ends. Therefore that means that if one places the resurrection at some time at the end of history instead of at the end of the old covenant age, then there would NEVER be a resurrection because there are no scriptures that speak of the end of the entire cosmos. For example:

Ephesians 3:21, “Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”

Isaiah 9:7, “Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end…”

Psalm 148:4-6, “Praise Him, you heavens of heavens, And you waters above the heavens! Let them praise the name of the Lord, For He commanded and they were created. He also established them forever and ever; He made a decree which shall not pass away.”

Ecclesiastes 1:4, “One generation passes away, and another generation comes; But the earth abides forever.”

Mary heard the angel say, “He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end” (Luke 1: 32-35).

Daniel 2:44, “And in the days of these kings [Roman Empire] shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.” (also see Daniel 7:13f)

How then can there be a resurrection at the end of the world if the world doesn’t end?

THEN HE DELIVERS THE KINGDOM TO THE FATHER.

So we were taught this verse as if there will be a period of history in our future, after Jesus has supposedly defeated physical death, and after the world has completely crumbled because of the devil and the tribulation, that THEN (apparently after a failed effort on the part of Jesus through his church to affect any real lasting change in the world) and ONLY then… Jesus gives the Father the kingdom and he abdicates it himself.

Is that really what this text says? Did we not just read that his kingdom is an everlasting one? Did we not see that of the increase of his kingdom there would be no end? How could Jesus kingdom end then?

This same word is used in verse 3 when Paul said he delivered the gospel to them. It doesn’t mean he abdicated the gospel. It doesn’t mean he abandoned it. It doesn’t mean that he had no connection to it. In some cases the word does mean that, but not here.

This word “delivers” is [3860 paradídōmi (from 3844 /pará, “from close-beside” and 1325 /dídōmi, “give”) – properly, to give (turn) over; “hand over from,” i.e. to deliver over with a sense of close (personal) involvement.] Remember Jesus was given the task of judging (Jn. 5:22) and at the end of that task, it simply means that he no longer has that task/job/responsibility anymore. In Isaiah 54, we discover that after “a little wrath” he swore an oath, with the same one-sided commitment that he did regarding Noah and the flood, that he would never be angry again, nor rebuke (speak harshly) nor remove his covenant of peace. So the meaning of the word itself here indicates not an abdication of the throne, but the completion of a task and an affirmation of partnership. Otherwise the eternally advancing kingdom isn’t!

Which brings us to Paul’s comment that he must reign in that capacity until he puts his enemies, particularly death, under his feet. I know, I know… people still die right? There are a couple of insights here that I think you ought to know. First of all we assume that he is speaking of physical death because we have been told that the death that Adam brought was physical death. But why then did they have food to eat in the Garden of Eden? Just for the sake of using their mouths for something other than talking? And if physical death was the result of Adam’s sin, then why do we still die when we believe in Christ? Why did those Jesus raised from the dead still die again? No, God said that on the VERY DAY that you eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you will SURELY die (Genesis 2:17).

But he didn’t. In fact, he didn’t die for hundreds of years. So what is the death of Adam that happened the very day he ate of the tree? It was a sin-death, a blindness, a spiritual thing! This is confirmed by the fact that (again) the translators left out the definite article “the” before “death.” This is not physical death, but THE death that Adam brought!

Acts 2:31; 13:35 reveals that Jesus’ physical body was the only one promised not to see decay.

It is interesting to me that he says that the last enemy destroyed is death, but the Greek is katargeó: (a) to render inoperative, abolish, idle down, make idle (inactive), make of no effect, annul, abolish, bring to naught, (b) I discharge, sever, separate from. The tense of this word means that it was ALREADY BEING destroyed AS he wrote this. Has he been working on this for 2000 years, or was it near in his generation… at the cusp?

In some way it was “death” that was keeping those in Hades-Sheol from entering the glory of heaven.

Persecution and the Hope of the Resurrection
29 Otherwise, what will they do who are baptized for the dead, if the dead do not rise at all? Why then are they baptized for the dead? 30 And why do we stand in jeopardy every hour? 31 I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 32 If, in the manner of men, I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me? If the dead do not rise, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”

While I am not going to try to tackle those who were “baptized for the dead” here, (I never want to make a doctrine out of one single verse in the Bible) I DO want you to notice the context and reference Paul uses. Paul was experiencing such persecution from the Jews in every place (1 Thes. 2:14-16) that the only thing that gave him hope was that even if they destroyed his physical body… he had confidence that God would raise him up.

Notice his quote from Isaiah 22:13 (invoking particularly the context of 12-14). It is a prophetic word against Jerusalem itself and their stubborn disregard for the coming destruction of the city. It is no coincidence that he quotes it here:

12 And in that day the Lord God of hosts
Called for weeping and for mourning,
For baldness and for girding with sackcloth.
13 But instead, joy and gladness,
Slaying oxen and killing sheep,
Eating meat and drinking wine:
“Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”14 Then it was revealed in my hearing by the Lord of hosts, “Surely for this iniquity there will be no atonement for you, Even to your death,” says the Lord God of hosts. (12-14)
(Cont.)
~ Chuck Crisco