Why did God create Man to bring glory to Himself if He was already being glorified by the Angels?
The Apostle Paul says a very
interesting thing in verse ten. Paul says: "That I may know" {not
only Him, (Christ)} but, Paul adds: "and
the power
of his
resurrection"!
Why would Paul be interested in the power of Christ's resurrection?
The next verse answers this question for us.
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Contrary to what many preach, this resurrection cannot be referring
to the rapture of the Church. You see, Paul, being a born again
Christian, is not hoping to attain unto the resurrection of the dead
at the rapture of the Church! Why should he hope for that? According
to Paul's own words, all Christians will be snatched away into the
air {the Kingdom of the Heavens} at the time of the rapture. [1
Thessalonians 4:13-18]
The rapture is not something that Christians
have to hope for! It is a promise! It is assured!
No! This is the resurrection of
the bride of Christ from the body of Christ {the general assembly of
the Church}!!! This resurrection happens after the
rapture of the Church. {This body of believers are
also referred to in scripture as the Church of
the Firstborn.}
Now we can see why Paul was concerned
and considered himself as one of many Christians that had to
{and still hope to} be found worthy to attain unto the power of
Christ's resurrection. Christ's resurrection is the example {the
first-fruits} for us all. Notice what Paul said in [1
Corinthians 15:23] -
But
every man
in
his own
order:
Christ
the first fruits;
afterward
they that are
Christ's
at
his
coming.
At His coming! The
next coming of Christ will be unseen when all Christians are removed
from this plain of existence and delivered to another plain of existence {the
spiritual kingdom in the air}. Christ does not come
back to rule for 1000 years beginning with the
rapture of the Church, rather Christ comes back to rule over
the Earth and it's heavenly kingdom, at the end of the seven years of tribulation
and will literally rule over this kingdom for 1000 years with a rod of iron.
The "order" has to do with when
Christians will stand before Christ in judgment.
The overcomer Christians are first and
will stand before Christ {at the Judgment Seat} just after the
rapture of all Christians and the subsequent out-resurrection
of all overcomer Christians out from among the non-overcomer
Christians who will be held by {or hurt of} the second death.
The non-overcomer Christian will stand
before Christ in judgment 1000 years later at the Great White Throne
judgment.
What did Christ have to do to attain
unto His resurrection after Calvary? "Though
he were
a Son,
yet learned he
obedience
by
the things which
he suffered;"
[Hebrews
5:8]
Brethren, have ye, by
obedience, suffered?
Here is what Paul's
attitude was: Yea
doubtless,
and
I count
all things
but loss
for
the excellency
of the knowledge
of Christ
Jesus
my
Lord:
for
whom
I have suffered the loss
of all things,
and
do count
them
but dung,
that
I may win
Christ,
[Philippians
3:8]
Why did Paul, a Christian and
therefore saved, say "that
I may win
Christ"?
Do Christians not win Christ when they are born again of the Spirit
of God?
Apparently not!!!
Christ suffered. The Apostle
Paul suffered. Many Christians have suffered. Why?
Peter says:
But
the God
of all
grace,
who
hath called
us
unto
his
eternal
glory
by
Christ
Jesus,
after that ye have suffered
a while,
make
you
perfect,
stablish,
strengthen,
settle
you. [1
Peter 5:10]
Upon being resurrected, what happened to Jesus, the Christ? Luke writes: Him {Jesus} hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. [Acts 5:31]
This is what Paul was hoping
for! Christ will exalt any Christian to His right
hand as His bride, or as one of the Church of the Firstborn if they overcome,
if they suffer for His sake. This exaltation is rewarded to the
overcomer at the Judgment Seat of Christ. [James
Chapter One]
This inheritance had been offered to the
Jews first by John the Baptist, then by Christ Himself, then by the
Apostles; however, the Jews had rejected it. Therefore,
Paul {upon Christ's personal revelation to Paul} took the message to
the gentiles so that whomsoever will {of the saved gentiles} might
hear the truth and believe and attain unto the out-resurrection
of the dead. [Philippians
3:11]
Here is the key to understanding this
resurrection.
In the Greek, the word EK {out}
was placed before the word resurrection. For whatever reasons, it
was not included in the text of the King James Bible. All
Christians will die the second death. This
means that there will be a resurrection of some Christians {who have
died the second death} from out of a body of believers who will
remain dead {hurt of the second death} for 1000 years.
Note: This verse is
only one of many that proves that the King James Bible is not infallible.
The only infallible Word of God was the original texts from which
the King James and other texts were translated. That is not to say
that the King James is not the Authorized text for the English
speaking World. It was duly authorized by a human King and
human Kings are placed on their thrones by God. But that is not to
say that human Kings are infallible. Indeed the Word of God is full
of examples of human Kings that were absolutely as likely to
make mistakes as any other man.
Now let us get back to our subject
matter.
This is what Christ was referring to
when He warned: "He that hath
an ear,
let him hear
what
the Spirit
saith
unto the churches;
He that overcometh
shall
not
be hurt
of
the second
death."
[Revelation 2:11]
Christ did not say that
Christians would not 'die' the second death! Notice again what He
specifically said: "shall
not
be hurt
of
the second
death".
All Christians will most certainly die
the second death for as Christ died His second death {He was the first fruit
of this resurrection} and arose from out of that state; and so
will 'all' Christians die the second death, but that is not to
say that they all will arise from the second death at the same
time.
For some Christians it will happen just before
the Judgment Seat of Christ is convened. For other Christians, it
will be much later, after the Millennial reign of Christ. They
will be the first to be resurrected at the Great White Throne
of Judgment to be judged according to their works. [Revelation
20:12]
Only faithful Christians will be
found to be worthy to stand before Christ unashamed at the
resurrection from the dead. [Luke
20:35-36] [ Luke
21:34-36]
Do you see the difference? The English
word "hurt" is the Greek word {Adikeo}
meaning to damage or harm.
Death for these Christians can
be described in
these terms. How so? Scripturally, the word 'death' is considered to be a
state of being separated from God. Therefore, Christians who are
hurt of the second death are separated from Christ for 1000 years.
The hurt of the second death,
for the Christian, refers to being held under blackness
of darkness, or to use the phrase that Jude uses, "reserved
unto judgment under blackness of darkness" for 1000 years
until the Millennial reign of Christ has run it's course. The
consequences for missing out on the reward of the inheritance,
the exaltation, the prize of the High Calling of God is
everlasting}. If a Christian loses their reward of the
inheritance they lose it for the everlasting ages. Is
it not written: "if the tree
fall
toward the south,
or toward the north,
in the place
where the tree
falleth,
there it shall be."?
Jude had this to say about those who
would be hurt of the second death. "Raging
waves
of the sea,
foaming out
their own
shame;
wandering
stars,
to whom
is reserved
the blackness
of darkness
for
ever."
[Jude
1:13]
The English word "ever"
{KJV} ,in the Greek, is the word 'Aion', meaning an age or
one age. It is singular, not plural.
Do you know what the next age to come
is? Why yes, it is the 1000 year age of Christ's ruling over the
Earth with a rod of Iron!
John the Revelator had this to say:
"And
I saw
thrones,
and
they sat
upon
them,
and
judgment
was given
unto them:
and
I saw the souls
of them that were beheaded
for
the witness
of Jesus,
and
for
the word
of God,
and
which
had
not
worshipped
the beast,
neither
his
image,
neither
had received
his mark
upon
their
foreheads,
or
in
their
hands;
and
they lived
and
reigned
with
Christ
a thousand
years. But
the rest
of the dead
lived
not
again
until
the thousand
years
were finished.
This
is the first
resurrection.
Blessed
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."
[Revelation
20:4-6]
Did you notice that the context here is a resurrection and not a judgment? Did you also notice that John calls the out-resurrection from among the second dead "the first resurrection"? Who shall reign with Christ? Those on whom the second death has no power. Read carefully what Paul says in the next few verses. |
Paul is not talking about being born
again of the Spirit of God right here! Paul is already saved! He is
already born again!
At this time in his life Paul could not
say:
"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." [2 Timothy 4:7-8] The context is plainly concerning a future resurrection. Not a future judgment at this point! Paul, speaking to the Philippians, continues: |
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3:13 Brethren,
I
count
not
myself
to have apprehended:
but
this one thing
I do, forgetting
those things
which are behind,
and
reaching forth unto
those things which are before,
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Paul was striving toward a mark, a goal. He was striving for a prize!
The entire chapter of [John 17] addresses this purpose for which Christ was made manifest.
Will it not be a special and glorious thing
when Christ gives His bride His new name and brings her into His new heavenly house
with the promise that they will never be separated again? What kind of
intimacy will that be? What kind of reward will that be? Should we still feel
selfish knowing this truth? This is one particular instance in the Word
of God that Christ encourages us to be selfish. Halleluiah!
And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of
heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. [Revelation
21:2]
To say that those individuals that Christ is addressing are unsaved is to blatantly state that they can be born again of the Spirit of God through their own efforts or their own works. That is absolutely impossible. Why?
Because God's Word strictly forbids it. [Ephesians 2:8-9] And if the unsaved could do works of the flesh in order to be born again of the Spirit then why is it that Christ had to lay Himself down on the Cross of Calvary to die for the sins of the World and cursed men? No, it is only the saved that might have a thirst for the Water of life and that can partake of that water which is the Word of God!!!
Looking to the next age to come.
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Why would Jude, if he were
referring to the unsaved in these verses, talk like an
unsaved man would care, much less hate, the garment
spotted by the flesh? The garment of the unsaved is filthy and
black from the stains of selfish flesh and the cares of this
accursed world! It is their natural condition!
The unsaved and those that
have been born again of the Spirit of God are still alike in
this one thing. The following verse is not exclusively
speaking about the condition of the unsaved but rather
includes the heart of every Christian as well.
The heart
{soul} is deceitful
above all things, and desperately wicked:
who can know
it?
[Jeremiah
17:9]
Christian, would you
deny it? Is the "old man" not even now struggling
to have it's way with your flesh? [Ephesians
4:22] [Colossians
3:9]
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Praise God!!! It is my hope that this study has been of some help to you and, if nothing else, it is my hope that this study has driven you to seek out the Word of God to see if the things contained herein be so. Your brother in Christ Jesus, Sam Ennis |
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