Alive Again Alive Again
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Alive Again Alive Again John Class Introduction to Alive In the last battle at Megiddo, Lev Aronʼs final memory was of an explosion that severed his left hand and shrapnel that punctured his body. But now he felt more alive and vibrant than ever before. © copyright June 2005, John Class He could not find any sign of his wounds. First Edition He found himself in a strange and different world, a world that seemed to embody the desire of the collective dreams of humanity, Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part and yet a world that was surprising. of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a Scriptures began to fit together before his eyes in unexpected retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, reality. mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the prior He would be given a mission. He would face the adventure and written permission of both the copyright owner and the publisher of this book. drama of human history as his life touched the lives of many others from previous generations. Published by Aventine Press 1023 4th Ave #204 He would experience love and passion in a dimension he never San Diego CA, 92101 imagined possible. www.aventinepress.com He would meet with pockets of resistance and intrigue. Was his new life real? Would the power of the Anointed withstand ISBN: 1-59330-281-9 the power of evil? Just how far back in time would the love of Christ reach? Library of Congress Control Number: 2005927497 And what depths of depravity could the love of Christ heal? Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Alive again Printed in the United States of America ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Prologue I was always the one who knew all the answers. Even when I didnʼt know, I would try something—anything. Act first…think later. If I did what I thought was right, everything would work out. It usually did. Sitting and praying was usually my last resort. What was it that my brother Jake used to say? That we should depend on the arm of the LORD? That was not for me! We should fight! There was courage in fighting whether we win or lose! Only this time, I didnʼt know what to do and I couldnʼt even think. We were trapped. There was no place to go. No counter move to make. We would all die and I knew it. What glory was there in dying? We had met the enemy on the plains of Megiddo, hoping to slow their advance toward Jerusalem. The invading army would overwhelm our small companies that had been ordered to many different villages in Judea. We had lost contact with the other Israeli forces. As far as I knew, we were the last hope for Jerusalem and for Israel. But, we were surrounded and getting shelled continually. Almost all of the men around me were either dead or wounded. A rocket exploded near me. I had my left hand up to protect my head. My lungs burned and I was having trouble breathing. I looked at what remained of my left hand only to see a grotesque bloody stub. A brave medic reached me only to find I was mortally wounded and tried to stop the bleeding arm and chest wound. I asked him to tell my wife Rebekah, “I love ….” The noise from the gunfire became quiet to my ears as this world faded away. Preface The Christian religion teaches that there will be a resurrection of the dead. The resurrection was central to early Christianity. Jesus taught, • “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth” (John 5:28, 29). Jesus told Martha, • “I am the resurrection, and the life” (John 11:25). Even though Jesus uttered these words, death has continued unabated. Billions have died and are waiting for Jesus to call them back from the tomb. Does anyone doubt that Jesus will keep his promise? The apostles spoke of the resurrection with equal vigor. When Paul was in chains before King Agrippa, he said, • “Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?” (Acts 26:8) When the church at Corinth began to fail in their fidelity, one of the difficulties confusing them was the resurrection. Paul addressed them saying, • “Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: and if Christ be not raised, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is Christ not raised: and if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then x John Class Alive Again xi they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in Some have thought that the time of reconciliation between God this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most and man was taking place today. However, the period of time from miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become Jesusʼ day to the present has been specifically designated for the call the first-fruits of them that slept” (1 Cor. 15:12-20). and development of the “bride of Christ.” Paulʼs message corrected any misunderstanding the church at After the Bride has been selected, the stage will be set for the “times Corinth may have had about the resurrection. If Christ was raised as of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all the “first-fruit,” there must logically follow “after-fruits.” The time his holy prophets since the world began” (Acts 3:21). This will be would be “when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory” the time of the resurrection, when mankind will be reconciled to each (Matthew 19:28). other and to God. The resurrection is a foundation doctrine of Christianity—there will The resurrection will not take place in a literal twenty-four hour “be a resurrection of the dead.” This great Christian teaching awakens day, but in the “times [years] of restitution.” us to an exciting drama to be played on earth. The resurrection of “all Restoring mankind to perfection will be an educational process. that are in the graves” presents gripping scenes of love, tenderness, This restoration process will be the most exciting and rewarding and happiness to our mindʼs eye. experience in human history. It is this resurrection and “times of But the guilt, shame, fear and humiliation that have slept with restitution” of earthʼs millions that we endeavor to give meaning to in the dead will also be addressed in the “regeneration.” Shakespeare ALIVE AGAIN. said, “The evil that men do lives after them; the good is oft interred Of course, any work of this nature requires projection of thought. with their bones.” However, because of the resurrection, the good that We know enough of the real past to understand what living again men do will return with those who live again—and so will the evil! might entail. Each individualʼs past will be the platform for a new The resurrection will give “evil” an even longer life. When men are starting place. called forth from the grave their entire past will be a vivid reality. God Most Christian writers have climaxed their stories with the saints has said, “Is not my way equal?” (Ezekiel 18:25) Shakespeare also being taken to heaven or a fictitious “seven yearsʼ tribulation” taken said that, “All the worldʼs a stage, and all the men and women merely out of Biblical context. No one has yet successfully described heaven. players.” That being true all the “players” will return for the second Books pour forth on the “rapture” and “Armageddon”—and that is act to be played out in the regeneration. where their vision has stopped, consigning the majority of mankind to During the resurrection, truth will be everywhere all the time. an eternity of flames. Authors of lies, deceptions, half-truths, insincerity and dishonesty ALIVE AGAIN will light up the screen to cover the most thrilling and will have an unwanted copyright to their deeds. The full account of meaningful period of human experience. It is one thing to live and die. their activities will be revealed. Truth will be the only information It is quite another to come alive again with the full knowledge of the permitted. There will be no “hiding place” during the whole period of past, with complete recall of every thought and word—to meet the “regeneration” (Isaiah 28:17). challenges of a new world which will demand “righteousness.” Christ “shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove We often hear the expression, “if I had this life to live over again.” after the hearing of his ears: but with righteousness shall he judge the The resurrection will not give anyone “this life to live over again”— poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth” (Isaiah 11:3- but it will provide something even better. None of the growth and 4).