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Resurrection and Judgment
This morning
(1 April 2024) I received a text from a concerned parent who said her son
was having a conversation with his new pastor who believes that after we
die “we will remain a ball of energy or more widely known as a spirit without
a form.” Since I know this parent very well, I texted back a rather
snide remark that I thought “that new pastor needs to go back and find a
school that teaches the Bible!”
Then I added, “If we don’t receive a new body, what’s the point of the resurrection? When Yeshua resurrected He had a body. Thomas couldn’t believe so Yeshua had him touch Him. He cooked and ate fish with His disciples at the beach several days later. The Scripture says that in the Resurrection we will be like Him. If we don’t have bodies, what’s the point of the new earth after this one is burnt up?”
After a bit of reflection I recalled all the error that I was taught in my seminary years and that I passed on to my own students when I became a theology professor. That made me decide to develop this page a lot further than its current state.
To begin with, let me add some meat to the brief statements I sent to that parent about Yeshua’s own resurrection and our being like Him after our own resurrection.
When Yeshua resurrected He had a flesh-and-blood-body. Thomas couldn’t believe so Yeshua had him touch Him. Here is John 20:24-28 in a few different translations:
24 Now T’oma (the name means “twin”), one of the Twelve, was not with them when Yeshua came. 25 When the other talmidim told him, “We have seen the Lord,” he replied, “Unless I see the nail marks in His hands, put my finger into the place where the nails were and put my hand into His side, I refuse to believe it.” 26 A week later His talmidim were once more in the room, and this time T’oma was with them. Although the doors were locked, Yeshua came, stood among them and said, “Shalom aleikhem!” 27 Then He said to T’oma, “Put your finger here, look at My hands, take your hand and put it into My side. Don’t be lacking in trust, but have trust!” 28 T’oma answered Him, “My Lord and my God!” (Complete Jewish Bible)
24 One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), was not with the others when Jesus came. 25 They told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his Hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in His side.” 26 Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” He said. 27 Then He said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at My hands. Put your hand into the wound in My side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!” 28 “My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed. (New Living Translation)
24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, who was called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples were saying to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” 26 Eight days later His disciples were again inside, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be to you.” 27 Then He said to Thomas, “Place your finger here, and see My hands; and take your hand and put it into My side; and do not continue in disbelief, but be a believer.” 28 Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” (New American Standard Bible)
24 But one of the Twelve, Thomas (called “Twin”), was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples kept telling him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “If I don’t see the mark of the nails in His hands, put my finger into the mark of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will never believe!” 26 After eight days His disciples were indoors again, and Thomas was with them. Even though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them. He said, “Peace to you!” 27 Then He said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and observe My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Don’t be an unbeliever, but a believer.” 28 Thomas responded to Him, “My Lord and my God!” (Holman Christian Standard Bible)
Yeshua cooked and ate fish with His disciples at the beach several days later (John 21:1-11). The passage does not specifically say that they physically touched Him; however, a “ball of enerty” or a disembodied spirit can’t build a fire, roast fish, or hand roasted fish to someone else.
After this, Yeshua appeared again to the talmidim at Lake Tiberias. Here is how it happened: 2 Shim‘on Kefa and T’oma (his name means “twin”) were together with Natan’el from Kanah in the Galil, the sons of Zavdai, and two other talmidim.
3 Shim‘on Kefa said, “I’m going fishing.” They said to him, “We’re coming with you.” They went and got into the boat, but that night they didn’t catch anything. 4 However, just as day was breaking, Yeshua stood on shore, but the talmidim didn’t know it was He. 5 He said to them, “You don’t have any fish, do you?” “No,” they answered him. 6 He said to them, “Throw in your net to starboard and you will catch some.” So they threw in their net, and there were so many fish in it that they couldn’t haul it aboard. 7 The talmid Yeshua loved said to Kefa, “It’s the Lord!” On hearing it was the Lord, Shim‘on Kefa threw on his coat, because he was stripped for work, and plunged into the lake; 8 but the other talmidim followed in the boat, dragging the net full of fish; for they weren’t far from shore, only about a hundred yards. 9 When they stepped ashore, they saw a fire of burning coals with a fish on it, and some bread. 10 Yeshua said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” 11 Shim‘on Kefa went up and dragged the net ashore. It was full of fish, 153 of them; but even with so many, the net wasn’t torn. 12 Yeshua said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the talmidim dared to ask Him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord.13 Yeshua came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.14 This was now the third time Yeshua had appeared to the talmidim after being raised from the dead. (CJB)After these things Jesus revealed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and He revealed Himself in this way: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas who was called Didymus, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We are also coming with you.” They went out and got into the boat; and that night they caught nothing. 4 But when the day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 So Jesus said to them, “Children, you do not have any fish to eat, do you?” They answered Him, “No.” 6 And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you will find the fish.” So they cast it, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great quantity of fish. 7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he was stripped for work), and threw himself into the sea. 8 But the other disciples came in the little boat, for they were not far from the land, but about two hundred cubits away, dragging the net full of fish. 9 So when they got out on the land, they saw a charcoal fire already made and fish placed on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have now caught.” 11 So Simon Peter went up and hauled the net to land, full of large fish, 153; and although there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples ventured to inquire of Him, “Who are You?” knowing that it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and the fish likewise. 14 This was now the third time that Jesus revealed Himself to the disciples, after He was raised from the dead. (NASB)
The Scripture says that in the Resurrection we will be like Him (Romans 6:5; 1John 3:2). [emphasis added]
For if we have been joined with Him in the likeness of His death, we will certainly also be in the likeness of His resurrection. (Rom. 6:5, HCSB)
For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will also be united with Him in a resurrection like His.( Rom. 6:5, CJB)
Dear friends, we are God’s children now; and it has not yet been made clear what we will become. We do know that when he appears, we will be like Him; because we will see him as he really is. (1Jn. 3:2, CJB)
Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. (1Jn. 3:2, NASB)
For the sake of brevity, I am only going to include the text from the New American Standard Bible in the following section, because it is almost unanimously considered to be the nearest we can come to a word-for-word translation and still have the sentence make sense in English. However, hovering your mouse pointer over the Scripture address will display the text from the New Living Translation. I encourage you to look up each Scripture passage in several translations.
On the last day, [Jhn 6:39-40,44; 6:54] all the dead will be resurrected. [Jhn 5:21; 5:28-29; 2Cor 5:10); Act 24:15]
And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that of everything that He has given Me I will lose nothing, but will raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day… No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. … The one who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. (Jhn 6:39-40,44, 54)
For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes. … Do not be amazed at this; for a time is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come out: those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the bad deeds to a resurrection of judgment. (Jhn 5:21, 28-29)
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive compensation for his deeds done through the body, in accordance with what he has done, whether good or bad. (2Cor 5:10)
… having a hope in God, which these men cherish themselves, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. (Act 24:15)
Their souls will then be reunited with the same bodies they had before dying. [Rom 8:11; Phl 3:21; 2Cor 5:10; Job 19:26; 1Cor 15:44; 15:53; Jhn 5:28-29; Rev 20:12]
But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. (Rom 8:11)
… who will transform the body of our lowly condition into conformity with His glorious body, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself. (Phil 3:21)
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive compensation for his deeds done through the body, in accordance with what he has done, whether good or bad. (2Cor 5:10)
Even after my skin is destroyed, yet from my flesh I will see God, (Job 19:26)
… it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. … For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. (1Cor 15:44, 53)
Do not be amazed at this; for a time is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come out: those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the bad deeds to a resurrection of judgment. (John 5:28-29)
And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. (Rev 20:12)
The bodies will then be changed, those of the wicked to a state of everlasting shame and torment, [Dan 12:2; Mat 25:41-46; Jhn 5:29] …
And many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt. (Dan 12:2)
“Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, you accursed people, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’ Then they themselves also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or as a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?’ Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it for one of the least of these, you did not do it for Me, either.’ These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Mat 25:41-46)
Do not be amazed at this; for a time is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come out: those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the bad deeds to a resurrection of judgment. (John 5:28-29)
… those of the righteous to an everlasting state of glory. [Dan 12:1-3; Jhn 5:29; 1Cor 15:42–44; 15:49-53, Phil 3:20-21; Mat 13:43; Rev 7:13-17]
Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt. And those who have insight will shine like the glow of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. (Dan 12:1-3)
Do not be amazed at this; for a time is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come out: those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the bad deeds to a resurrection of judgment. (John 5:28-29)
So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. … Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly. Now I say this, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold, I am telling you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. (1Cor 15:42–44, 49-53)
For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our lowly condition into conformity with His glorious body, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself. (Phil 3:21)
The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, and they will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. The one who has ears, let him hear. (Mat 13:41-43)
Then one of the elders responded, saying to me, “These who are clothed in the white robes, who are they, and where have they come from?” I said to him, “My lord, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. For this reason they are before the throne of God, and they serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne will spread His tabernacle over them. They will no longer hunger nor thirst, nor will the sun beat down on them, nor any scorching heat; for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.” (Rev 7:13-17)
After the resurrection of all the dead, [John 6:40; 6:44, 11:24] …
“For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day. … No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.” … Martha said to Him, “I know that he [Lazarus] will rise in the resurrection on the last day.” (John 6:40,44; 11:24)
… and the change of those still living, [1Co 15:51-52; 1Th 4:15–17] …
Behold, I am telling you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. (1Cor 15:51-52)
For we say this to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who remain, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. (1Thes 4:15–17)
… all nations shall be gathered before Messiah, [Mat 25:32; Rom 14:10; Jhn 5:22, Act 17:31, Rev 1:7] …
And all the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, just as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; (Mat 25:32)
… For we will all appear before the judgment seat of God. (Rom 14:10)
For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, … (John 5:22)
“… because He has set a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all people by raising Him from the dead.” (Acts 17:31)
Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen. (Rev 1:7)
… and He will separate the righteous from the wicked. [Mat 25:32: Mar 16:16]
And all the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, just as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; (Mat 25:32)
The one who has believed and has been baptized will be saved; but the one who has not believed will be condemned.(Mar 16:16)
Messiah will publicly judge [1Co 4:5; 2Co 5:10; Rom 2:5; 2:16] …
Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of human hearts; and then praise will come to each person from God. (1Co 4:5)
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive compensation for his deeds done through the body, in accordance with what he has done, whether good or bad. (2Co 5:10)
But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, … on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of mankind through Christ Jesus. (Rom 2:5; 2:16)
… all people by the testimony of their faith [Eph 2:8-10; 2Co 5:10; Mat 25:35-36; 25:42-43] –
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. (Eph 2:8-10)
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive compensation for his deeds done through the body, in accordance with what he has done, whether good or bad. (2Co 5:10)
For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ … for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’ (Mat 25:35-36, 42-43)
… the good works of the righteous [Isa 43:25; Eze 18:22; 1Jhn 2:28] …
“I, I alone, am the one who wipes out your wrongdoings for My own sake, and I will not remember your sins. …” (Isa 43:25)
All his offenses which he has committed will not be remembered against him; because of his righteousness which he has practiced, he will live. (Eze 18:22)
Now, little children, remain in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not draw back from Him in shame at His coming. (1Jhn 2:28)
… in evidence of their faith, [Mat 25:34-35; Jhn 3:16-18; 3:36; 13:35; Rev 14:13; Gal 5:6] …
Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; (Mat 25:34-35)
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but so that the world might be saved through Him. The one who believes in Him is not judged; the one who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. … “The one who believes in the Son has eternal life; but the one who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” … “By this all people will know that you are My disciples: if you have love for one another.” (John 3:16-18; 3:36; 13:35)
And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!’” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them.” (Rev 14:13)
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love. (Gal 5:6)
… and the evil works of the wicked in evidence of their unbelief. [Mat 25:42; Mat 7:17-18, Jhn 3:18; 3:36]
… for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; (Mat 25:42)
So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. (Mat 7:17-18)
The one who believes in Him is not judged; the one who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. … The one who believes in the Son has eternal life; but the one who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” (John 3:18; 3:36)
He will judge in righteousness [Rom 2:5; 2:16; Act 17:31] …
But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, … on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of mankind through Christ Jesus.(Rom 2:5, 16)
“… because He has set a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all people by raising Him from the dead.” (Acts 17:31)
… in the presence of all and men and angels, [Luke 9:26; Mat 25:31-32] …
For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory and the glory of the Father and the holy angels. (Luke 9:26)
““But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. And all the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, just as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; …” (Mat 25:31-32)
… and His final judgement will be just damnation to everlasting punishment for the wicked and a gracious gift of life everlasting to the righteous. [Mat 25:41; 25:34; 25:46]
“Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. … Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, you accursed people, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; … These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Mat 25:34, 41, 46)
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ANXIOUSLY WATCHING FOR MASHIACH’S RETURN,
SPEEDILY AND IN OUR DAY. MARANA, TA!
