Most professing Israelite Christians have a rather foggy idea of what future life in the Kingdom of YEHOVAH God will be like. They know very little about biblical teaching concerning the "resurrection of the dead" -- yet this is one of the basic doctrines of the Bible (Hebrews 6:2).

But do you realize you can know what it will be like in the next life?

The Prophet Isaiah wrote: "Since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him" (Isaiah 64:4).

But the Apostle Paul explained that a true Israelite Christian can comprehend what YEHOVAH God has prepared for those that love Him. "But God hath revealed them unto us [true Israelites] by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God" (I Corinthians 2:9, 10). Many scriptures speak of this "mystery" (Romans 16:25; Ephesians 3:3, 5,9; Revelation 10:7).

Satan has deceived all of Israel on this all-important subject of the resurrection of the dead (Revelation 12:9). Many scriptures reveal that all of Israel is in darkness, ignorance and superstition.

The plain Bible teaching on the subject of the resurrection(s) has been submerged in darkness for many centuries. There are no Bible commentaries or dictionaries to which you can go to get the truth on this subject. Invariably, you are given a noxious mixture of truth and error -- light and darkness -- and wind up confused if you believe what the so-called authorities tell you.

But it is high time for professing Israelite Christians to go directly to the Word of YEHOVAH God to learn the real, unadulterated truth.

A Deceived World

How deceived has most of Israel become on this vital subject of the resurrections?

A common misbelief is expressed in the 1972 edition of The World Book Encyclopedia: "Most Christians believe that on the last day of the world all the dead will come to life. They call the day, Judgment Day, because God will judge everyone" ("Resurrection," XVI, p. 245).

Some believe that at death their "souls" go immediately to heaven, purgatory, limbo or hell.

"The Westminster Shorter Catechism (question xxxvii.) states the doctrine that the bodies of the dead rest in their graves till the resurrection, but that their souls do immediately pass into glory [heaven]. This was the view of the Reformers" ("Death," The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, 1911, p. 382).

According to this teaching the "body" must rest in the grave till the "soul" can be reunited with it at the resurrection.

If the righteous are already in heavenly bliss, is it logical to think that they would be made to return to this earth to be reunited with their earthy "bodies"?

Scales of Paganism

It is time to strip off the scales of paganism from our eyes and look at the plain truth revealed in the Bible.

There are numerous references in the Old Testament to the resurrection, but only the Prophet Daniel begins to hint that there might be more than one resurrection.

Daniel wrote: "And many of them [of Israel] that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt [or abhorrence]" (Daniel 12:2).

This verse does not say that those Israelites resurrected to "everlasting life" and those resurrected to "shame" will both come up at the same time -- in the same resurrection. That is what many have mistakenly assumed.

Yeshua the Messiah said: "...The hour is coming, in which all [of Israel] that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life [eternal]; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation [judgment)" (John 5:28, 29).

But note that the Messiah did not say that those Israelites who had done "good" would be resurrected at the same time with those who had done "evil. "

The Apostle Paul, when he was speaking before Felix, the governor of Judea, said that he had "hope toward God" of a resurrection, in which, affirmed Paul, the Jews also believed. He plainly told Felix "that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust" (Acts 24:15). As Paul "reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come," the unjust Felix trembled (verse 25).

Paul did not say the just and the unjust of Israel would rise up at the same time.

More Than One Resurrection?

This same apostle wrote at length regarding the resurrection(s) in I Corinthians 15.

"For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. Then cometh the end..." (verses 22-24).

Now if one turns to the twentieth chapter of Revelation, he can see what is meant by "the end." Paul was referring to the end of the one-thousand-year reign of YEHOVAH God, the Messiah and the saints of Israel on this earth. It will not be until sometime after the thousand years are over that the second resurrection occurs (see Revelation 20:7-12).

YEHOVAH God is depicted in Revelation 19:11-21 as coming on "a white horse" and then "he shall [in the future] rule them [the nations] with a rod of iron" (verse 15).

The resurrected saints of Israel (joined by the living saints) will be caught up to meet YEHOVAH God in the air at His return, and they as kings and priests will "reign on the earth" (Revelation 5:10).

To these saints the Messiah promises: "He that overcometh...to him will I give power over the nations: and he shall rule them [under YEHOVAH God] with a rod of iron..." (Revelation 2:26, 27).

How -- And for How Long?

But when and how will these glorified, then-made-immortal saints of Israel rule with YEHOVAH God and the Messiah? And for how long?

The Apostle John was inspired to give the answer: "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...and they lived and reigned [ruled] with Christ a thousand years" (Revelation 20:4).

John, in vision, saw those Israelites who had been beheaded now resurrected (at YEHOVAH's triumphal return) and given governing positions or "judgment."

Paul gives more details of this glorious resurrection of the Israelite saints: "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will [YEHOVAH] God bring with him....For the LORD himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we [of Israel] which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the LORD in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord" (I Thessalonians 4:14-17).

Note that it does not say the saints will go to "heaven" to meet YEHOVAH God, but that He will come (probably billions of miles) from "heaven" to the atmosphere of this earth, and the saints will rise to meet Him "in the air."

Now notice a prophecy back in Zechariah which shows where YEHOVAH God and the saints of Israel will go -- after this rendezvous in the air:

"And his feet [YEHOVAH God's -- verse 1] shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives..." (Zechariah 14:4).

At this time will YEHOVAH God be alone? "...And the LORD my God [wrote Zechariah] shall come, and all the saints with thee" (verse 5). But where will YEHOVAH God go? Back to heaven with the saints? "And the LORD [YEHOVAH] shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one" (verse 9).

It should not amaze us to find that YEHOVAH God will return to stand on the Mount of Olives. The Apostle Paul also spoke of YEHOVAH's coming at the "last trump" -- the time when He will gather His saints unto Himself. "Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality" (I Corinthians 15:50-53).

The First Resurrection

These and other scriptures show that it is ONLY the just, the righteous (dead) of Israel, who are resurrected at YEHOVAH's return.

John shows that those Israelites who had been martyred will be raised to life and to a position of rulership during the thousand-year rule of YEHOVAH God and the Messiah. But the unjust dead will not be resurrected until the end of this period: "But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This [referring to those martyred -- verse 4] 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 [Israelites] shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him [YEHOVAH] a thousand years" (Revelation 20:5, 6).

Then, after the thousand years are expired, Satan goes out to stir up more trouble on this earth. And it is still some time later before the Great White Throne Judgment takes place -- at which time the others of Israel who are still dead (years after the millennium has ended) are made to "stand before God" in the second resurrection -- when they will have their first chance.

Will You Be in the First Resurrection?

What is your guarantee that you will be resurrected when YEHOVAH God returns to this earth? How can you make sure you will be in the first resurrection to immortality?

It is "they [of Israel] that are Christ's at his coming" who will be in the first resurrection (I Corinthians 15:23).

But who are "Christ's"? Paul said: "Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his" (Romans 8:9).

It is only those of Israel who are filled and led by the spirit of YEHOVAH God who will be in the first resurrection. "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the [begotten] sons of God" (verse 14).

YEHOVAH's spirit in us is like a seed that is developing into godly character.

Paul continues: "But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken [make alive] your mortal bodies by [the power of] his Spirit that dwelleth in you" (verse 11).

There it is! If we of Israel have the indwelling presence of the holy spirit in us when we die, then we will be resurrected through the power of that same spirit -- at the return of YEHOVAH God.

Paul then explains that we are earnestly waiting for that time when we shall be born as spiritual beings into the family of YEHOVAH God. Remember, the Messiah said: "Ye must be born again" (John 3:7).

Paul explained this soon-coming new birth: "For the earnest expectation of the creature [man] waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God" (Romans 8:19). That is what the true Israelite Christian waits for -- earnestly longing for the time when he will be born into the family of YEHOVAH God -- as a divine, glorified son of YEHOVAH God.

He continues: "...Even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption [sonship], to wit [in other words], the redemption of our body" (verse 23).

What did he mean by "the redemption of our body"? Paul begins to explain in the book of Philippians.

By way of background he mentions that he gave up everything in order to serve the Messiah and became willing to suffer "the loss of all things" (Philippians 3:7, 8). Why?

"That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection...If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead" (verses 10, 11).

He then went on to explain that "our conversation [citizenship] is in heaven..." (verse 20).

And it is from there -- from heaven -- that we "look for the Savior." "Who [meaning the Messiah] shall change our vile body [through YEHOVAH's power], that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself' (verses 20, 21).

This redemption of the body -- this change from mortal flesh to a spiritual body -- is the ONLY hope held out to the Israelite Christian.

How Many Israelites Are in the First Resurrection?

Revelation 14:4 states unequivocally that there are 144,000 "firstfruits to YEHOVAH God and to the Lamb." If these 144,000 are YEHOVAH's firstfruits, then no one else is included. The firstfruits are exactly 144,000, not one person less or one more! These numbers are consistent with the "thousands" and "tens of thousands" added together from the Old and New Testaments. As the Messiah says, "Many are called, but few chosen" (Matthew 20:16).

The bride of the Messiah is also exactly 144,000. Revelation 21:2 describes the bride as "the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God." At this point, she has risen to meet the Messiah, married him and is coming back to rule on the earth with him (Revelation 5:10). She will always be with him from this time on (I Thessalonians 4:17). This occurs at the last trumpet (I Corinthians 15:50-52), the time of the resurrection of the "dead in Christ" along with those who are "alive and remain" (I Thessalonians 4:16-17).

Revelation 21 goes on to describe the bride further, beginning in verse 9: "Then one of the seven angels...talked with me, saying, ‘Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife.'" The angel refers to her as "the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God" (verse 10).

He then describes her dimensions: Her wall is pierced by twelve gates -- each a great pearl -- having the names of the twelve tribes of Israel inscribed on them and twelve angels at them (verses 12, 21). Her twelve foundations, adorned with precious stones, are each named after the twelve apostles (verses 14, 19-20). New Jerusalem is 12,000 furlongs in length, breadth and height (verse 16). Her wall measures 144 cubits (verse 17).

Twelve tribes times 12,000 each is 144,000, just as John describes the sealed servants of YEHOVAH God in Revelation 7! Twelve and the square of twelve is New Jerusalem's description! The bride is exactly 144,000, and the firstfruits are exactly 144,000.

Revelation 14:4: "These are the ones who were not defiled with women [false churches], for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb [the Messiah] wherever he goes. These were redeemed from among men [of Israel], being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb" (NKJV).

Are the 144,000 all males, as some have postulated? Paul refers to the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11 as being part of the firstfruits (Hebrews 12:22-23; 11:40). Paul lists Sarah and Rahab as firstfruits awaiting resurrection when the Messiah appears! "Not defiled with women" cannot mean they are all men. The Bible often refers to churches as "women." Thus, the figure of speech means the 144,000 are not spiritually defiled with false doctrine.

Revelation 14:5 shows that the judgment of the 144,000 is complete; they have already "passed under the rod." Judgment is now on the saints of the house of Israel (I Peter 4:17). YEHOVAH God and the Messiah come back to reward the prophets and the saints; their judgment will have been decided by the time they return, and YEHOVAH God changes them "in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye" (I Corinthians 15:52). He will sit in judgment only of those remaining alive:

Revelation 11:18: The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, and the time of the nations, that they should be judged, and that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, and those who fear Your Name, small and great, and should destroy those who destroy the earth" (ibid.)

What Kind of Spiritual Body Shall Those of Israel Have?

What kind of bodies will we of Israel have in the resurrection? We will be divested of our "natural" bodies and will put on "spiritual" bodies. "It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body" (I Corinthians 15:44).

But what will "a spiritual body" be like?

If we can know what kind of body the Messiah had after his resurrection, then we can also know what kind of a spiritual body we will have in the resurrection.

The Apostle John tells us: "Beloved, now are we the [begotten] sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is" (I John 3:2).

What kind of body did the Messiah have after his resurrection?

He appeared repeatedly after he was risen. "...He shewed himself alive after his passion [suffering] by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days..." (Acts 1:3). He was seen by Peter, by the twelve, and by "above five hundred brethren at once....After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles." He was seen by numerous women, and lastly by the Apostle Paul (I Corinthians 15:5-8).

After his resurrection, the Messiah was, generally speaking, easily recognized.

The Messiah met with the two Marys, "And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him" (Matthew 28:9).

Doubting Thomas, after viewing the wound in the Messiah's side and the nail prints in his wrists, proved to himself that Yeshua was real -- and not an apparition (John 20:24-29).

On another occasion he appeared suddenly in the midst of the disciples: "But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. And he said unto them....Behold my hands [the Greek word includes the wrists] and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have" (Luke 24:37-39). The Messiah had a glorified, spiritual body, but he was not "a spirit."

Then the disciples gave the Messiah "a piece of broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And he took it, and did eat before them" (verses 42, 43).

Notice also that the Messiah spoke of drinking in the soon-coming Kingdom of YEHOVAH God: "I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come" (Luke 22:18).

"As the Angels of God in Heaven"

Let us notice further what we will be like in the resurrection. The Sadducees "which deny that there is any resurrection" asked the Messiah a trick question: "Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them is she? for seven [brothers] had her to wife" (Luke 20:33).

Yeshua answered: "...They which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage" (verse 35).

He didn't say that there would not be sex differences in the appearance of "men" and "women." But there will be no sexual function of reproduction in the resurrection.

Can those who are resurrected be killed? "Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection" (verse 36).

Where did the Sadducees go wrong in their reasoning? The Messiah told them: "Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God" (Matthew 22:29).

If people really understood the Word of YEHOVAH God better, and if they understood how powerful YEHOVAH is, then they would realize that it is very easy for Him to resurrect "all that are in the graves."

In the resurrection true Israelites shall be "as the angels of God in heaven" (verse 30).

The Messiah did not say we would be angels, but we will be like angels in that we will be immortal and will possess powers and glory now only shared by YEHOVAH God, the Messiah and the holy angels.

No, we will not be angels, but we will be the literal "children of God." Angels are servants of YEHOVAH God and men (see Hebrews 1:14). YEHOVAH has never called them His "begotten" sons (Hebrews 1:5).

The Bible shows that angels are sons of YEHOVAH God by creative fiat but they are not and can never become the actual begotten and finally born sons of YEHOVAH God. But we Israelites are to be born of YEHOVAH God -- born into His family. In this God family we will be given power and glory, wisdom and understanding far surpassing anything we could ever dream of now.

Finally, YEHOVAH God the Father will dwell with His people Israel in the Holy Land, and they with Him: "...Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men [in Jerusalem], and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God" (Revelation 21:3).

Eternal Happiness

Then the resurrected, glorified, immortalized saints of Israel will live in eternal happiness for ever and ever: "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain..." (verse 4).

These sons of YEHOVAH God, then born into the very God family, will "inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be My son" (verse 7).

Will they ever have to suffer any more evil trials? "And there shall be no more curse...and his servants shall serve him" (Revelation 22:3).

What will they do throughout eternity? Just sit back and bask in idleness, ease and luxury, and lapping up never-ending rivers of pleasures?

No, they will be busy. "...And they shall reign [rule or govern] for ever and ever" (verse 5). And remember, "his servants shall serve him" -- throughout all eternity (verse 3). Then will come to pass the inspired words of Hebrews 2:8: "Thou hast put all things under his [Israelite man's] feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him."

We of Israel should strive to be in the "first resurrection" (Revelation 20:6). It is spoken of as "a better resurrection" (Hebrews 11:35). Those who rise in that resurrection will be wonderfully blessed of YEHOVAH God!

Hope of Israel Ministries -- Preparing the Way for the Return of YEHOVAH God and His Messiah!

Hope of Israel Ministries P.O. Box 853 Azusa, CA 91702, U.S.A. www.hope-of-israel.org

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