Hebrews 6:1-3
The Christian Curriculum (3)

The messages that I have been preaching on Sunday morning are much
more like the messages that I normally preach on Sunday night.  I do
more teaching/preaching in the evening service.  However, one reason
why I continue these messages on Sunday morning is because of what
the writer of the book of Hebrews said concerning these six topics.

The writer pointed out that these doctrines are what he called the
"principles of the doctrine of Christ," that is, the basics, the
first doctrines, the beginner doctrines. He further stated that we
need to learn these doctrines and then move on to perfection, to
maturity, to the deeper truths of the Christian faith.

From that I gather that these doctrines should not be too deep or too
teachy for the Sunday morning crowd and if they are, then I need to
learn how to speak more plainly and you need to learn how to listen
more intently. This passage is one of the few that sets a standard
between the new-born Christian and the mature Christian, at least
in terms of specific doctrines that they need to comprehend.

We have seen the first four. This morning, let’s consider the last
two topics, the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment.

I. Jesus’ Resurrection
    A. We cannot have a discussion on the resurrections until we
        first discuss the resurrection - Jesus’ resurrection.
    B. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is a basic Bible doctrine.
        1. Paul listed faith in Jesus’ resurrection as a requirement
            for salvation \\#2\\.

1Cor 15:3  For I delivered unto you first of all
that which I also received, how 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:

        2. Paul stated that there are three essential truths that he
            preached and by which the Corinthians were saved.
    C. Paul went on to teach us that Jesus’ resurrection was just the
        first phase of a series of resurrections.

1Co 15:20  But now is Christ risen from the dead,
and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

        1. Firstfruits means the fruit or harvest that comes first.
        2. It implies there is to be a second fruit or a second
            harvest and more beyond that.

1Co 15:23  But every man in his own order: Christ
the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s
at his coming.
24  Then cometh the end….

        3. So Christ’s resurrection was the first part of God’s
            resurrection plan.
        4. There are actually 3 other parts of the resurrection, each
            one associated with one the remaining ages that were left
            and each one associated with a judgment for that age.

II. The Church Age Resurrection
    A. After the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, the church
        age began.
        1. The Church Age will run until a two-fold event happens,
            i.e. the rapture and resurrection of the church.

1Thess 4:14  For if we believe that Jesus died
and rose again, even so them also which sleep in
Jesus will God bring with him.
15  For this we say unto you by the word of the
Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the
coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which
are asleep.
16  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:
17  Then we 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.

        2. I am going to call this the Church Age Resurrection.
            Why that name?
            a. Because it happens at the end of the church age.
            b. The only ones going to be raised in this resurrection
                are those "who are asleep in Jesus Christ" \\#14\\.
                (1) Unsaved people are not going to be raptured or
                     resurrected.
                (2) Old Testament saints are not going to be raptured
                     or resurrected.
    B. This is the next major event on God’s calendar of events.
        1. If you are not part of the Church Resurrection, you will
            go through the Tribulation.
        2. If you go into the Tribulation, changes are very good that
            you will die without Jesus and be forever lost.
        3. Another of my expression - I do not see a person accepting
            Jesus in God’s wrath if they would not accept Him in His
            love and grace.
    C. There is also a judgment that goes along with this
        resurrection.
        1. It is often called the Bema Seat Judgment.

1Cor 3:11  For other foundation can no man lay
than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12  Now if any man build upon this foundation
gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay,
stubble;
13  Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for
the day shall declare it, because it shall be
revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every
man’s work of what sort it is.
14  If any man’s work abide which he hath built
thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
15  If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall
suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet
so as by fire.

        2. The Bible makes it clear that EVERY believer will stand
            before God at this judgment.

Romans 14:10  But why dost thou judge thy
brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy
brother? for we shall all stand before the
judgment seat of Christ.

2Cor 5:10  For we must all appear before the
judgment seat of Christ; that every one may
receive the things done in his body, according
to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

III. The Tribulation Age Resurrection
    A. As the Church Age Resurrection occurs at the end the church
        age so the Tribulation Age Resurrection occurs at the end the
        tribulation.
    B. We need a clear concept on conditions at that time.
        1. The church and its worship will be gone.
        2. There will be a Jewish temple with priests and sacrifices.
            a. During the tribulation, Old Testament Judaism will be
                 reinstituted as Daniel’s 70th week resumes the
                 Jewish calendar. \\#Dan 9:26-27\\
            b. The anti-Christ be revealed at the Jewish temple:

2Thess 2:3 … the son of perdition;
4  Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all
that is called God, or that is worshipped; so
that he as God sitteth in the temple of God,
shewing himself that he is God.

            c. In the book of Revelation, a book that details the
                tribulation, John was commanded to measure the
                temple:

Rev 11:1  And there was given me a reed like
unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise,
and measure the temple of God, and the altar,
and them that worship therein.

            d. Daniel spoke of the anti-Christ stopping the
                sacrifices:

Dan 12:11  And from the time that the daily
sacrifice shall be taken away….

    C. There is also a resurrection that occurs at that time.

Rev 20:4  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.
5  But the rest of the dead lived not again until
the thousand years were finished. This is the
first resurrection.

        1. Notice that all of those who died for "the witness of
            Jesus " and "the word of God" while not worshipping the
            beast are the ones being resurrected.
            the tribulation are resurrected at that time.
        2. I believe this is when Old Testament saints will also be
            resurrected.  Why?
            a. Mainly because of Daniel.

Dan 12:1  And at that time shall Michael stand
up, the great prince which standeth for the
children of thy people: and there shall be a
time of trouble, such as never was since there
was a nation even to that same time….
 
2  And many of them that sleep in the dust of
the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life,
and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

                (1) Daniel said it was a time of trouble for Israel
                     such as had never come before.  That sound like
                     the tribulation.
                (2) And it is at that time that "many of them" (the
                     Jews" "that sleep in the dust of the earth shall
                     awake" (be resurrected).
            b. But also because after the tribulation begins the
                millennial when Christ rules and reigns over Israel
                and the world for 1,000 years.
                (1) That is the promise made to the Old Testament
                     Jews.
                (2) The millennium is THEIR kingdom.
                (3) It would not make sense for them to be asleep and
                     in the ground during it.
    D. This group will be rewarded with thrones.

Rev 20:4 …and they lived and reigned with
Christ a thousand years.

        1. Many Christians believe that this is a reference to
            Christians ruling with Christ for 1,000, but the text
            says those that were just raised will rule and reign with
            Jesus on the earth.
            a. Christians were raised and rewarded 7 years before.
            b. This is the Jewish/Tribulation resurrection and they
                probably will not need our help.
        2. The kingdom is the reward for being faithful to God.

IV. The Millennial Resurrection
    A. Just like there was a resurrection and judgment associated
        with the church age and the tribulation, so there is a
        resurrection and judgment associated with the millennium.

Rev 20:11  And I saw a great white throne, and
him that 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, stand
before God; and the books were opened: and another
book was opened, which is the book of life: and
the dead were judged out of those things which
were written in the books, according to their
works.
13  And the sea gave up the dead which were in
it; and death and hell delivered up the dead
which were in them: and they were judged every
man according to their works.
14  And death and hell were cast into the lake of
fire. This is the second death.
15  And whosoever was not found written in the
book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

    B. This is the resurrection for the lost of all ages.
        1. If you are lost from Adam to the end, this is your
            resurrection.
        2. There will be only one resurrection for those who rejected
            God.
        3. However, IF there is death for the saved during the
            millennial, those would also be raised at this time.
            a. I am moving into the camp that believes there will be
                no death for the saved during the millennium.
            b. I am also moving into the camp that believes those
                saints alive at the end of the tribulation could live
                forever.

V. What does this mean?
    A. It means that all will be raised to stand before God.  ALL.
    B. It means you get to choose your resurrection.
    C. I believe your choices are primarily between two
        resurrections.
        1. You can be saved now and be a part of the church rapture/
            resurrection.
        2. You can reject Jesus and be a part of the Millennial
            resurrection.
        3. Some believe you can reject Jesus now and be saved in the
            Tribulation.
            a. Whether you can or not, I don’t think you will.
            b. If you reject God in His grace, I don’t see you
                accepting Him in His wrath.

Get this.  It does not matter whether you believe in these
resurrections or not.  They are going to happen.

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