The Resurrection of Saints
Topic: Resurrection
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 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. 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 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. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. (I Thessalonians 4:13-18 KJV)
Will you be when Jesus would come today to take His Church to Heaven? In this passage of the Scripture, Paul described the Rapture of the Church. Of course, we may hear on this subject from dozens of Christian authors, such as Hal Lindsay, David Breeze, Peter LeLeon, and Jack van Imp. But what God says about the Rapture of the Church?
The word “rapture” doesn’t appear in the Bible. But there are some Scriptural references that the rapture is existed in the Bible. The first rapture appears in the New Testament was when Jesus died on cross (Matthew 27:51-53), which it referred to the dead will rise first. These verses also mean that Jesus was working at underneath of the earth after He died on the cross. This was when the people were in paradise. Also, this place was when the people were at the mid-point between the Hell and earth crust.
I believe there will be couple raptures of saints during the seven-year of tribulation time. But where you would be when the event will take place? If you are not sure where you’d spend eternality, I’d like to encourage you to give your life to Jesus Christ as your personal Savior.
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
at 12:01 AM EDT
Suffering Servant of Christ
Topic: Resurrection
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5 KJV)
In February 2004, the movie Passion of Christ, directed by Mel Gibson, came to the millions of public movie theaters across the American. Several people went and watched the movie and came out with either positive or negative results of their life experiences. Unfortunately, some churches decided to change their mindset into the worldly way to have worship services. Even though this movie was supposed to be basis on Gospel of Jesus Christ, children cannot see it due to violence and bloody scenes and some extra scenes that were not written on the Holy Bible. If we study on the Passion of Christ movie, we would probably find some of other religious documents than the four books of Gospel.
In Isaiah 53, we will read about the suffering servant of our Lord. God gave Isaiah a vision that His Holy Servant will come to the earth to suffer for our sins. This prophecy happened exactly after several hundred years later. Jesus came to the world to pay our sins for us. God wanted to save us from going on our ways to Hell. That’s why John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” If Jesus didn’t come to the world through virgin woman, there would not be second chance for us to unite with God. Instead, we would live sinfully and go to Hell as our Eternal Home.
So does this mean that we already have full credit to go and live with God forever? No! We do not have full credit until our mission would be finished. Some church leaders may teach us that once we would accept Jesus Christ, we have receive fully guarantee to be with Him and we don’t have work to do while we are here. That’s 50 percent of false perception of the gift of salvation. Even though we accept Jesus Christ into our lives, we still need to work to do for God. Receiving the gift of salvation doesn’t mean that we’d need to keep it onto ourselves, but share it to others.
We need to be servants for God just as Jesus did for others. John 15:13 says, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
at 12:01 AM EDT
Eyewitnesses of Risen Lord
Topic: Resurrection
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. (I Corinthians 15:3-8 KJV)
Do you know which of disciples saw the risen Lord Jesus in His tomb first? Many of us may think it was John. In John 20:6-7, it says that Peter saw that Jesus fold His linen clothes. And Paul says that Jesus was seen by Peter (or Cephas) before other twelve disciples (last disciple maybe Paul in Acts 8). According to I Corinthians 15, Jesus saw more than 500 of His followers after He resurrected, for 50 days. That is not included Paul. After that Jesus finally met with Paul on the way to Demascus (Acts 9).
Nowadays, some historian researchers are trying to prove that Jesus’ bones were in the tomb and hadn’t risen from the dead. It is sad news when the people may decide to fix that biblical history is considered as wrong. In fact, the movie, DaVinci Code, is trying to teach us that Jesus had been married to Mary Magdalene and had a child. If this is true, then our Christianity faith would mean nothing.
However, we have eyewitnesses that what the world may tell us is considered as wrong. Even though many of us didn’t see risen Jesus as His disciples saw, we can experience with our faiths. We can believe that we have risen Lord Jesus in us because we can see how He works with the other people around us.
We can be sure that we are children of God because we can love others just as He loves us. Paul says, “Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.” (I Corinthians 13:4-8 KJV.)
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
at 12:01 AM EDT
