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THE SAVING WORK OF JESUS – PART 7

I. CHRIST ‐ THE FIRSTFRUITS OF THE RESURRECTION

A. Jesus' death and resurrection purchased our complete ‐ spirit, soul, and body [1 Thes. 5:23]. does not stop at saving our spirit and soul. God wants to save and transform our body which is why He still loves to heal sickness and disease [Heb. 13:8].

B. The full redemption of our bodies however does not occur until the second coming of Christ. At that time we will be entirely set free from the effects of the fall and brought to that state of perfection that God created us for.

Romans 8:23‐24 "We also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, …groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the , the redemption of our body. 24 For we were saved in this hope…

C. This future experience of the saving work of Jesus is called Glorification. Glorification is when we receive resurrected ‘eternal bodies’ similar to what Jesus possessed when He arose from the grave. At that time the Apostle Paul says that we will be "glorified together with him." [Rom. 8:17].

1 Corinthians 15:22,23 "In Christ all shall be made alive [resurrected, glorified]. 23 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming.

D. Glorification is the final step in the application of redemption. It will happen in context to the second coming of Christ and His return to the earth in the Millennial Kingdom. All believers ‐ both living and dead ‐ will be forever redeemed from sin, sickness, disease, death, and the curse.

II. JESUS’S SECOND COMING & THE MILLENNIUM

A. Jesus is coming back to rule and reign on the earth for 1,000 years in the Millennial Kingdom. The Millennial Kingdom is a literal 1,000 year period that happens immediately after He returns at His Second Coming [Rev. 20:2,3,4,5,6,7]. John repeats it six times to clarify that it is not symbolic.

Revelation 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they [the ] sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them… and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

B. Jesus’ Second Coming by nature is a coming to the earth forever and ever. Jesus came the first time for thirty three years, and will come back to the earth a second time to stay [Rev. 1:7; Mic. 1:3; Is. 31:4].

Zechariah 14:5,9 “Thus my God will come, And all the saints with You… 9 And the LORD shall be King over all the earth…”

Revelation 21:3 “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.

C. During this time of Millennial blessing will be bound up and cast into the bottomless pit, and Jesus Christ will sit on His throne in Jerusalem and rule the earth as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. All nations will be under His government of righteousness, peace, and justice [Is. 9:6,7; Rev. 19:15‐16].

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Matthew 25:31,32 “When the Son of Man comes in His , and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 "All the nations will be gathered before Him…

D. One of the major themes of Jesus’ Coming in the Millennial Kingdom is that He will bring to the earth. God will forever join heaven and earth into one reality and establish His kingdom on earth as it is in heaven [Matt. 6:10].

Revelation 3:12 “…the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God”

E. Most Christians believe and have been taught that we will spend eternity with Jesus in Heaven, but Scripture teaches that after Jesus returns we will spend eternity with Him on the Earth. Heaven is the ‘temporary destination’ of the saints until the Lord establishes His kingdom on the Earth [Rev. 21:2,3].

Ephesians 1:9,10 “Having made known to us the mystery (hidden plan) of His will… 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth‐‐in Him.

F. Gentile believers have been taught that we live with God in Heaven forever and ever [Worshiping Jesus as the Divine Son of God.] However, the Jewish paradigm thinks of reigning with the Messiah forever and ever in the natural conditions of the earth [Worshiping the Messiah as the Human Son of David.]

* The full truth is only seen when these two paradigms are brought together.

G. The simple reason we receive Resurrected Bodies to live in for eternity is because we will need bodies that relate to both the Heavenly (spiritual) and Earthly (natural) realms.

• The saints in Heaven do not have a resurrected body right now because they do not need one to relate to the spiritual environment of Heaven. However, when they come to earth, all will need a resurrected body to be able to relate to the physical environment of the earth.

III. GLORIFICATION: RECEIVING OUR RESURRECTED BODIES

A. Jesus’ second coming begins with a heavenly procession in the sky. At that time He will gather together the saints who are alive on the earth, and those who have already died in Christ. Everyone will receive supernatural bodies which are glorified in a moment [1 Cor. 15:51‐58].

1 Thessalonians 4:13‐17 “But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep [have died], lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus [dead Christians]. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede [or go before] those who are asleep [dead]. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God [3 global sounds]. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain [still living on earth] shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air…”

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GLORIFICATION THE SAVING WORK OF JESUS – PART 7

B. “Glorification” is when God resurrects and transforms the body of every believer (both dead and living) on the last day, and supernaturally gives them new ‘glorified bodies’ to live in for all of eternity.

John 5:25‐29 “Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live… 28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29 "and come forth‐‐those who have done good [the righteous], to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.”

John 6:40,44 "This is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him [the believer] up at the last day." 44 "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.

C. Resurrection and Glorification were common revelations within the Jewish mindset. All throughout Biblical history Jewish believers have anticipated the resurrection and glorification of the saints at the time of the coming of their Messiah [Dan.12:1‐3].

Isaiah 26:19 “Your dead shall live; Together with my dead body they shall arise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in dust; for your dew is like the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.

John 11:22‐26 “But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You." 23 Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." 24 Martha said to Him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day." 25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 "And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?"

IV. THE THREE PRIMARY RESURRECTIONS IN SCRIPTURE

1. The first was the resurrection of Jesus with many Old Testament saints.

Matthew 27:51‐53 “Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, 52 and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep [died] were raised; 53 and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.

2. The second is at the Second Coming of Jesus when He will raise up born‐again Believers.

1 Thessalonians 4:16,17 “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…”

3. The third is at the end of the Millennium when the unsaved dead are raised up to stand before God at the great white throne judgment.

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Revelation 20:5, 11‐13 “But the rest of the dead [unsaved] did not live again [resurrected] until the thousand years were finished… 11 Then [at the end of the Millennium] I saw a great white throne and Him [Jesus] who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God… And were judged according to their works… 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.

V. THE GLORY IN GLORIFICATION

A. Jesus’ physical resurrection was the down payment for what would take place in all who believe in Him. This is what it means that Jesus was the ‘firstborn from the dead.’ His resurrection was the first of many to come.

Revelation 1:5 “Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth…

B. In the same way that Jesus was raised from the dead it a real body so we will have tangible glorified bodies to dwell in for all of eternity. Jesus settled the issue that the resurrection is both spiritual and material. Just as He interacted with His disciples so we will be interacting with each other and doing normal things, though supernaturally enhanced.

1 Corinthians 15:20‐23 “But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep [died]. 21 For since by man came death, by Man [Jesus] 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 [Christians] at His coming.”

C. The Apostle Paul gave us much revelation into our eternal glorification in 1st Corinthians 15. This passage of Scripture, along with Jesus’ appearances after His death, unfolds the mystery of Glorification.

1 Corinthians 15:35‐44 “But someone will say, "How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?" 38 …God gives it a body as He pleases, and to each seed its own body. 41 There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory. 42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown [placed in the ground] in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. 43 It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.

D. In 1st Corinthians the Apostle Paul taught us that as one star differs from another star in glory so will everyone have different levels of glory in the resurrection [Rom. 8:18]. Everyone will radiate different levels of splendor and glory just as Jesus did in His resurrection depending on their reward.

Romans 8:18 ‘For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

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E. The largest star known is the VY Canis Majoris, which has a radius of over 2,100x that of the Sun. If it replaced the sun in our solar system it would extend beyond Saturn (1.7 billion miles in diameter). The greatest saints will literally shine with a radiance of the stars in the Millennium.

Daniel 12:3 ‘Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever.

Matthew 13:43 "Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.

F. All of the saints will be rewarded and be transformed into the likeness of Christ Jesus in His radiant splendor. Jesus is the light of the world in the full sense of its meaning in the New Jerusalem.

John 8:12 “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall…have the light of life.

Revelation 21:24 “The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. The nations...shall walk in its light...

Revelation 22:3‐5 “The Throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it [New Jerusalem] …5 They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light.

G. Jesus is the highest and most exalted Man on the whole earth, and therefore will have the most ‘resurrection glory’ of everyone born of a woman. The sun and moon will be disgraced at His splendor that is brighter than the noonday sun [Is. 30:26].

Isaiah 30:26 “Moreover [in the Millennium] the light of the moon will be as the light of the sun, And the light of the sun will be sevenfold…

Acts 26:13‐14 “At midday…along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me. 14 When we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking saying…, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”

Habakkuk 3:4 “His brightness was like the light; He had rays flashing from His hand…

H. Jesus’ resurrection appearances give us a glimpse of what our eternal bodies will be like.

1 Corinthians 15:49 “And as we have borne the image of the man of dust [Adam], we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man [Jesus].

Philippians 3:20‐21 “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 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.

VI. HOW WILL WE LIVE IN THE RESURRECTION?

1. We will have real flesh and bones for all of eternity. We will not be a floating Spirit being, we will have a literal, tangible body that we will be able to touch, taste, and give hugs with.

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Luke 24:49 “Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have."

2. Though transformed and made new, our resurrected bodies will have some resemblance of how they were in this age. Jesus still had His scars. [Some scholars believe that those who have died at an older age will receive bodies that are in their early 30’s, just as it was with Jesus.]

John 20:20,27 “When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord… 27 Then He said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing."

3. We will be able to defy natural laws, such as appearing, disappearing, and walking through walls at will. We will move with the swiftness of an eagle because our soul and spirit will no longer be weighed down by our bodies.

Luke 24:30,31 “Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight.

John 20:19, 26 “Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, "Peace be with you…" 26 And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, "Peace to you!"

4. Though we will never get hungry or thirsty [Rev. 7:16], we will be able to eat and drink, and enjoy food without gaining weight, forever and ever [Jn 21:5,9‐13]. We will eat because it is fun not because it is necessary to survive.

Matthew 26:29 “But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom."

Revelation 19:9 “Then he said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!'" And he said to me, "These are the true sayings of God."

5. We will never grow old, be weak, or get ill. And never again will we experience death, pain, suffering, or crying. All blind eyes will be opened, all deaf ears will hear, all paralytics will walk, and all diseased bodies will be healed by the resurrection power of Jesus!

Revelation 7:16,17 “They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; 17 for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

Revelation 21:4 “And 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."

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