Friday: Further Thought ~ Resurrections Before the Cross

Further Thought: Read Ellen G. White, “The Death of Moses,” Pages 469-480, in Patriarchs and Prophets; “The Voice of Stern Rebuke,” Pages 129-142; “A Prophet of Peace,” Pages 237-243, in Prophets and Kings; “The Centurion,” Pages 318, 319; “The Touch of Faith,” Pages 342, 343; “Lazarus, Come Forth,” Pages 524-536, in The Desire of Ages.

Image © Stan Myers from GoodSalt.com

“In Christ is life, original, unborrowed, underived. ‘He that hath the Son hath life.’ 1 John 5:12. The divinity of Christ is the believer‘s assurance of eternal life. ‘He that believeth in Me,’ said Jesus, ‘though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die. Believest thou this?’ Christ here [in John 11:25-26, ] looks forward to the time of His second coming. Then the righteous dead shall be raised incorruptible, and the living righteous shall be translated to heaven without seeing death. The miracle which Christ was about to perform, in raising Lazarus from the dead, would represent the resurrection of all the righteous dead. By His word and His works He declared Himself the Author of the resurrection. He who Himself was soon to die upon the cross stood with the keys of death, a conqueror of the grave, and asserted His right and power to give eternal life.” — Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 530.

Discussion Questions:

Many people died during the prophetic ministries of Elijah and Elisha, as well as during Christ’s own earthly ministry. Only just a few were resurrected. (See Luke 4:24-27.) Think, too, about the experience of all of the dead, in that whether resurrected in the past or at the Second Coming, what difference does it make, at least in regard to what it was like to be dead?
Many writers over the centuries have written about the futility of a life that ends always in death. Along with other living creatures — chickens, beavers, oysters, etc. — we all die. However, for humans, in a sense our predicament is worse than for the animals, because we know that we are going to die. (See Eccles. 9:5.) Chickens, beavers, and oysters don’t. Why, then, is the promise of the resurrection so crucial to us?
If you think that the soul is immortal and that the dead, especially the righteous dead, live on in heaven after they die, what need is there for the resurrection at the end of time?
If someone called and asked, “Is Sally there” you might answer, “Yes, but she’s sleeping.” If, however, someone called and asked, “Is Sally there” you are not going to answer, “Yes, but she’s dead.” Why not? What does this teach us about the nature of death?

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I am pretty sure that for those of us in this conversation who are Seventh-day Adventists, the lesson this week has been pretty much SOS (Same Old Stuff). Now, don't get me wrong - sometimes we need a bit of SOS, and the assurance that we are believing something that is important and life-giving. But, for me, there are two problems.

Problem One: Most of what we talk about is sheer nonsense in our secular world. I cannot even talk to most people in Australia about resurrection, the state of the dead, eternal life and so on. It is not even in their vocabulary. I know that in some countries it is different and that people have some sense of perpetuity - even if they cannot really define it. But among my secular academic friends, most of them believe that this life is all we have and when the human machine stops that's it! Period!

We may have the most logical, Bible-based argument imaginable but if we cannot communicate it to others, what is it worth?

It comes down to how we communicate what we know. I know it is a bit cliche, but if we live a resurrected life, then we have the power to communicate the resurrection. We can say that in different ways. Some of us talk about the work of the Holy Spirit in convincing others. But, we need to recognize that the Holy Spirit is not a magic wand. It works in and through us as part of the communication process. The Holy Spirit does not work with the "Ultimatum - we are right" strategy, but the invitational "Taste and See" approach. If people see you eating ice cream and thoroughly enjoying it, then it is likely they will want some too.

Problem Two: This is a related problem but it deserves a special mention. It is the problem or relevance. For example, we are currently discussing death and suffering and we have to remember that this is not just academic theology. People are dying, or being kept alive now. I raised this issue earlier in the week because that is a present application where we can compassionately engage with others now. I recently had to interact with a friend whose son had chosen to be euthanized. That was a tough one. I have also had to interact with people who have had to turn off the machine keeping a loved one alive. That was another tough one.

I mention these circumstances because they are instances where we can demonstrate love, compassion, and understanding and not just doctrinal correctness.

I do pray for a miracle in my own life. I pray for the sort of resurrection that gives me Christ-centred compassion for those in the deepest need who come over my horizon. That is a sufficient miracle for me.

Blessings and have a peaceful shareable Sabbath.

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Comments

Friday: Further Thought ~ Resurrections Before the Cross — 10 Comments

JC Zielak on October 27, 2022 at 5:57 pm said:

Death is like a sleep! Thank God for that... But this body of ours is dying every day! And we fight death every moment... Who does hold every part of the body together and functioning?

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Larry Flynn on October 27, 2022 at 6:52 pm said:

Eternal *conscious* suffering is demonic. I can't understand that some Christians believe this is part of the nature of God.
Psalm 8:1-6
1 Corinthians 6:3
Hebrews 2:5-18
What a God, we have !
Shalom 🙏

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Maurice Ashton on October 27, 2022 at 10:50 pm said:

I am pretty sure that for those of us in this conversation who are Seventh-day Adventists, the lesson this week has been pretty much SOS (Same Old Stuff). Now, don't get me wrong - sometimes we need a bit of SOS, and the assurance that we are believing something that is important and life-giving. But, for me, there are two problems.

Problem One: Most of what we talk about is sheer nonsense in our secular world. I cannot even talk to most people in Australia about resurrection, the state of the dead, eternal life and so on. It is not even in their vocabulary. I know that in some countries it is different and that people have some sense of perpetuity - even if they cannot really define it. But among my secular academic friends, most of them believe that this life is all we have and when the human machine stops that's it! Period!

We may have the most logical, Bible-based argument imaginable but if we cannot communicate it to others, what is it worth?

It comes down to how we communicate what we know. I know it is a bit cliche, but if we live a resurrected life, then we have the power to communicate the resurrection. We can say that in different ways. Some of us talk about the work of the Holy Spirit in convincing others. But, we need to recognize that the Holy Spirit is not a magic wand. It works in and through us as part of the communication process. The Holy Spirit does not work with the "Ultimatum - we are right" strategy, but the invitational "Taste and See" approach. If people see you eating ice cream and thoroughly enjoying it, then it is likely they will want some too.

Problem Two: This is a related problem but it deserves a special mention. It is the problem or relevance. For example, we are currently discussing death and suffering and we have to remember that this is not just academic theology. People are dying, or being kept alive now. I raised this issue earlier in the week because that is a present application where we can compassionately engage with others now. I recently had to interact with a friend whose son had chosen to be euthanized. That was a tough one. I have also had to interact with people who have had to turn off the machine keeping a loved one alive. That was another tough one.

I mention these circumstances because they are instances where we can demonstrate love, compassion, and understanding and not just doctrinal correctness.

I do pray for a miracle in my own life. I pray for the sort of resurrection that gives me Christ-centred compassion for those in the deepest need who come over my horizon. That is a sufficient miracle for me.

Blessings and have a peaceful shareable Sabbath.

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- Brigitte Humphery on October 28, 2022 at 3:53 pm said:
  
  Maurice - when reading your contemplations about life and death and how to rightly address grief and comfort, it appears that God has already answerd your prayer. Your heart already reaches out to those who seek comfort.
  May God's spirit of loving care always provide you with that which is best suited to comfort those you meet in times of need.
  
  As you mentioned in one of your earlier comments, you and your 'secular' friends could both be surprised about how God applies His saving Grace in the resurrection. 🙂
  
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- Elsworth Palmer on October 29, 2022 at 3:46 pm said:
  
  Wow. Awesome. Thanks Bro Maurice. Always love your outside the box spiritual and practical application in bringing the love and life of Jesus to the unchurched. Blessings.
  I have used so many of your approach to reach others. Thank you so much
  
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Dennis Ross, jr on October 28, 2022 at 3:27 am said:

Thanks Maurice .

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JohnHerscher on October 28, 2022 at 4:34 am said:

Faith, hope, love for God is built on nothing less then Jesus Blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus name. When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope
and stay.

If, however, someone called and asked, “Is Sally there” you are not going to answer, “Yes, but she’s dead.”

No, she has passed away. Oh, I am sorry to hear that. Now how are you, we have now spoken for sometime?

"Why not? What does this teach us about the nature of death?"
The dead know nothing. The body, the soul, the spirit is dead until Christ calls forth from the grave. And if you are resurrected before Christ return to glorify God by a miracle, it is sill Christ calling forth from the grave.

I will be patient for the coming of the Lord is at hand. James 5:7-8. Dead or alive when He comes in the air, I will wait and be ready for His call, to be raised to meet him in the air. 1Thessalonians 4:17. He has conqured the grave for me, and yes you, if you are ready.
Romans 5:8.

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Richard Ferguson on October 28, 2022 at 8:46 pm said:

Death seems so strange, so foreign, that it is hard to process in the mind. When the pain of death is fresh, the silent comfort of a friend close by can be golden. Perhaps later, it is remembering kind and loving moments with friends and family over a meal that strengthen the living because a life lived well is worth talking about. A life lived with love is a comfort to those who remain after death.

Life is about loving again after staring death in the face.

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Rafael Gutierrez on October 29, 2022 at 4:57 am said:

My Mother passed away recently, 94 years old. It reminded me of Jacob; she spent about a week giving instructions to four generations of family. Then, she died. It was her belief in the Lord; it is a great comfort to have seen it and to have it.

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Brigitte Humphery on October 29, 2022 at 1:21 pm said:

Some thoughts to Maurice's comment regarding 'communicating about resurrection'. Maurice wrote - quoting: “It comes down to how we communicate what we know. I know it is a bit cliché, but if we live a resurrected life, then we have the power to communicate the resurrection.”

I agree with this. We find the ‘how’ in Scripture; we are now able to communicate our ‘resurrected life’ through the “rivers of living water” flowing through/from us – Isaiah 12;3; Matt.3:11; John7:37-39; John4:14; Rev.22:17.

This week’s lesson focused on “Resurrections before the Cross”, and I suggest to include anyone who is 'born again' in this 'resurrection-experience'. John3:3 states that ”… Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again (‘born from above’), he cannot see the kingdom of God.” This was true in the Old Testament times as it is true now. Our 'born-again' Life here and now, in essence, is already lived by Christ's Spirit residing in us; the final resurrection will add the new body – Rom.8:11.

Jesus said: ‘see the kingdom of God’. I hold that this ‘seeing’ also means understanding, knowing, experiencing it in our heart and mind here and now. So, being born-again can be used as a metaphor for being ‘resurrected’. Without being ‘born-again/resurrected’ first, we cannot enter the spiritual 'Kingdom of Heaven' here on earth nor be transported to the celestial kingdom of God above.

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