Forgetting Heaven: The Doctrine of the Resurrection

Forgetting Heaven: The Doctrine of the Resurrection

by

Jimmy Humphrey

"Life is not preparation for death, but preparation for resurrection." ~ Karl Barth

I am a born-again Christian. I believe the Bible is the inspired and infallible word of God. I believe that Jesus Christ is the only-begotten Son of God, born of a virgin, without sin, and that He died for my sins upon a cross. I believe after being dead for three days, Jesus Christ came back to life, ascended into heaven, and will come again one day, to judge the quick and the dead. But there is one thing I do not believe. As a Christian, I do not believe that I will be spending eternity in heaven. In fact, I don't believe you will either.

No, I don't have any plans on spending eternity in hell. And I hope you don't either. Instead, I have a different hope altogether. And by the time you finish reading this brief essay, I pray you will embrace this hope with me. If I am not looking forward to spending eternity in heaven, what am I looking forward to then?

I am looking forward to the resurrection of the dead.

The doctrine of the resurrection of the dead is a doctrine that is almost entirely forgotten by Christianity today. Yet, it is a doctrine that is widely taught and widely celebrated in the Scriptures. As a result, the early Church embraced the doctrine for centuries. Yet, when you read most modern day statements of faith, or if you survey the evangelistic literature distributed by most Churches, this doctrine is almost entirely missing, and has been forgotten for quite some time.

I believe with all of my heart, that in these last days, that the Church of Jesus Christ needs to experience a revival of resurrection theology in our preaching. It should become central to our message, for the theology of the resurrection is at the heart of our faith, and is the sword point of our gospel. For we as Christians believe first and foremost that Jesus Christ was raised bodily from the dead, and this unique claim is what separates our faith from all other religions. Buddhists don't believe Jesus Christ was raised from the dead. Muslims don't believe that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead. And Jews above all people are especially adamant that Jesus Christ was not raised from the dead.

People will often attempt to water down the claims and teachings of Christ, in order to make Jesus on par with their own philosophers and prophets. But our belief in a supernaturally risen Lord ultimately destroys all such attempts. For we as Christians believe a tangible act of God happened in history two-thousand years ago, in which God raised a dead man back to life, and that this man named Jesus continues to live forever and ever, even to this very day. We believe in a risen Lord, to whom all must ultimately give an account to. Thus, any attempt to put Jesus Christ even on the same playing field with any other philosopher or so-called prophet is futile, for every single one of them have died. But behold, Jesus lives!

And this single event, the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the grave, has become the most important event in all of history. For in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, the old and fallen creation was given over to destruction, and room was made for the start of a new creation. In the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, a new history came into being. For under the old order, and during the old history, when men died, they stayed dead. But under the new order, and in the new history, dead men live. And the first dead man to live is Jesus Christ.

This story does not stop here though. For in His resurrection, Jesus Christ was simply the "first fruits" (1 Corinthians 15:23) of those who are also to be raised from the dead. As Jesus Christ was raised physically from the dead, even so we who have believed shall also be raised from the dead. And not only shall we be raised from the dead one day, but even those who have not believed the gospel message will also be raised as well. For the Lord said:

...for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment. (John 5:28-29; NASB)

The promise of the resurrection from the grave is ultimately what gives our gospel message its power. In the preaching of the gospel message, not only do we announce that Jesus Christ was raised from the grave, but that one day, all men shall be raised from the grave. In this, we announce that God will bring everything as we know it ultimately to an end, and that what began with Christ shall eventually come full circle. In preaching the resurrection from the dead, we announce a tremendous message of hope for all who will believe it. But for those who will not believe it, a powerful "threat" (Jonathan Martin) is issued.

For when the dead are raised, those who have believed the gospel message will enter into the joys of the kingdom of heaven here on the earth. On the earth, not in heaven, shall believers in their new physical bodies enjoy for all eternity all the blessings that come with being saved. For in the ages to come, the earth shall be created anew, (2 Peter 3:13) even as we have been created anew. And we should long for this to happen, and hope greatly for it, even as all of creation at the present moment is "anxiously longing" (Romans 8:19) for the resurrection of the saints to take place. For in our bodily renewal, it shall find renewal, and the creation shall escape the vicious cycle of corruption and death that entered this world through the fall that took place in the Garden of Eden. In this, the plan of redemption will be made complete.

But, as already stated, we as believers are not the only ones who will be raised from the dead. Yes, even the wicked shall be raised. And for them, the message of the resurrection is a message of horror. For their fate is to be sent away from the presence of the Lord and the glories of the kingdom of heaven. Instead, they will be cast "both soul and body," (Matthew 10:28) into the literal flames of hell for all eternity. As followers of Jesus Christ, we will be given an immortal body that will be capable of enjoying eternity forever and ever, and never wearing out. But for those who don't know the Lord, they will literally be given an immortal body (not simply a soul, but a physical body), that is capable of burning in torment forever and ever, and never being consumed.

Do you see what a difference this doctrine of the resurrection makes in our preaching of the gospel message? So long as we deal with ethereal, ghostly, metaphysical and abstracting spiritual concepts, like "souls" and "heaven," then the gospel message lacks any real punch to it. But when you tell an old saint of God whose body has greatly failed them, and causes them much pain, that they have something to look forward to, that God has promised to one day give them a body that will no longer hurt, or cause them pain—that is a true message of hope. And likewise, when you warn the unregenerate sinner that unless they believe the gospel message and surrender their lives unto God, that the Lord will one day raise them up in a body that will eternally burn—that is a message that will get your attention.

For men need to realize that life is not preparation for death, but preparation for resurrection. What men experience in their death will be but a temporary soulish experience, sinner and saint alike. The torment of the soul in hell will be dull in comparison to what he will experience in his resurrection. And likewise, the blessings the saint enjoys in heaven will be dull in comparison to what he will experience in his resurrection. The full intensity of what both are to experience forever and ever, will only be realized in the age to come, when the dead are raised imperishable, and men are fitted with new bodies for all eternity. That is why we need to realize and cause others to realize that what we do in the here and now will have an everlasting impact on our lives.

Believing these things now, our outlook on life should be radically altered. As Christians, we should find great reason for hope and comfort, and even greater motivation to labor on behalf of the kingdom of God. For when we experience the trials, tribulations, and the temptations that come our way, we should realize that no matter how great they might be, they are but for a season. And that season is about to pass away. For one day the Lord shall descend from heaven with a great shout, and everything as we know it shall be forever changed, and we shall come to life again.

And being raised from the dead, no longer will we know sickness and pain. No longer will the troubles and struggles of life bother us. When we give of our time, strength, and resources for the sake of furthering the gospel message in the present, we don't have to be afraid we will somehow "miss out" in our giving of these things away. For though we may sacrifice and give everything that we have and are for the furtherance of the gospel, we can be comforted knowing that in the resurrection, we shall receive many times more than what we gave away. And in light of living forever and ever, throughout all of eternity, what is it to waste your life now, in comparison to what you shall gain then?

In knowing then the doctrine of the resurrection, we should therefore be all the more diligent in our reaching out to the lost, and look to share the gospel message with them all the more. For in the resurrection, we realize that it is not some abstract soul that will spend eternity burning in some sort of abstract fire. But in it we realize the absolute horror of hell, knowing that men will literally come to life again, and have physical bodies that will literally burn in a literal fire, forever and ever, never knowing one moment of relief. Such a doctrine should be enough to keep you up at night. And if you are going to be up at night, you might as well pray for the salvation of souls.

So much more could be said on this topic. Lord willing, I hope to expand on this issue in further detail one day. But suffice to say, for now, I hope have awakened you to a long lost truth of Scripture, and the practical implications associated with it. It is my hope that the doctrine of the resurrection will not only transform your life and ministry, but that being all the more aware of it, that you will go on to transform the life of someone else. Will you labor with me in the proclamation of this truth? Will you help me in reviving the lost doctrine of the resurrection of the dead? Will you consider how you might make it central to how you live your life? Will you consider how you might make it the central thrust of your ministry?

Forget heaven. Don't let the doctrine of the resurrection die. Allow it to consume you. For I know just thinking about it consumes me.

http://www.iamadisciple.com/articles/forgetting_heaven_the_doctrine_of_the_resurrection.php

Thoughts?

Thoughts?

Repent.

Don't let the doctrine of the resurrection die. Allow it to consume you. For I know just thinking about it consumes me.

1 Corinthians 8:10-12

10For if someone sees you, who have knowledge, dining in an idol's temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be strengthened to eat things sacrificed to idols?

11For through your knowledge he who is weak is ruined, the brother for whose sake Christ died.

12And so, by sinning against the brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.

Many have made doctrines, or traditions, or their religious institution their idol. Many have repented of placing their hope in these things. By exhorting the brethren to let a doctrine consume them instead of God you place a stumbling block before them and you sin against Christ. Repent. This article is food sacrificed to the idol. And even if Idolatry is not in your heart the exhortation still shows that you have no thought of your brother’s weak conscience and thus you transgress the command to love your brother. Repent.

26For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,

27but a terrifying expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES. Hebrews 10:26-27

I was listening to a podcast a while back and they were talking about how that the early church weren't really looking 'to go to heaven' but rather that they may obtain to the resurrection.

The post reminded me of that.

It is interesting to see how "pop-theology" dominates our thinking. Indeed, if you read some of the creeds of the early Church, they say that "we believe in the resurrection of the dead."

I think many are offended at such a "carnal" and "sensual" idea as the bodily resurrection, where we enjoy physical pleasures forever more, in the presence of Christ. A redeemed creation doesn't sound very "spiritual" to some people. Yet, that is exactly what we had in Eden. The goal of redemption is to bring all of creation back to God's original intent for creation, that it be a literal paradise for us to dwell in forever, enjoying it while enjoying God.

Many have repented of placing their hope in these things. By exhorting the brethren to let a doctrine consume them instead of God you place a stumbling block before them and you sin against Christ. Repent. This article is food sacrificed to the idol.

I'm sorry brother, but such is just silly. The Scriptures exhort us to look forward to the heavenly city that is to come to this world. We are looking forward to a new creation, and the resurrection of the dead. Anybody who hopes in God hopes for these things. If you do not hope for these things, you have not God.

"It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea, than that he would cause one of these little ones to stumble." Luke 17:2

There are little ones that could stumble on the blocks you keep throwing out of your heart.

For some it is conservative politics and you throw out Glenn Beck.

For some it is the benefits that come with Jesus, or rewards.

For some it is Doctrine.

everyone of these a stumbling block, a foreign women with strange Gods. You have been told to repent by others but you are refusing to listen.

Like Balaam you counsel the children to go after foreign women and their strange gods and cause them to sin and because of your knowledge they are persuaded.

"Behold, these (the women) caused the sons of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, so the plague was among the congregation of the LORD. Numbers 31:16

You sin against Christ. It would be better if a millstone were around your neck and you were tossed in the sea. Repent, lest the weight of your sin grows heavier as you sink further into the depths. Repent, lest the light grow ever dimmer as you sink ever further into the deep.

"It is inevitable that stumbling blocks come, but woe to him through whom they come!" Luke 17:1

No offense MyVeryHeart, but you don't really make any sense. I've encouraged nobody in idolatry. I do agree with the Psalmist who said: "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not His benefits..."

You seem to be of the opinion that God offers us no benefits or blessings, and that we should not be encouraged or comforted by such blessings, nor should we seek any such blessings. Such simply is not the God of the Bible.

If you do not hope for these things, you have not God.

"these things" are an idol to some and when you exhort people to be consumed by them you place a stumbling block before them. Repent

Jesus said seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. That's all I'm exhorting others to do. "Being consumed" in these things is not an exhortation to idolatry. If you are reading it as such, you should probably get glasses.

Twice the apostle Paul exhorted us to "covet" the gifts of the Spirit. Do you object to this? If you are going to look at things through the strange lens that you are looking at them through, then the same accusations you are making towards me you would be making against the apostle Paul. For coveting (greed) is tantamount to idolatry in the Scriptures.

No offense MyVeryHeart, but you don't really make any sense. I've encouraged nobody in idolatry.

Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no sin; but since you say, 'We see,' your sin remains. John 9:41

"Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their hearts and have put right before their faces the stumbling block of their iniquity. Should I be consulted by them at all?" Ezekiel 14:3

Well brother, I'm sorry you feel I'm sinning in this. But let me save you any future trouble: I'm not going to repent of these things. So, for the sake of an actual discussion on this thread, I would ask that you please stop participating in what I hope will be a fruitful discussion. The exhortation was heard. But I will not repent of anything I've said as of yet.

But I will not repent of anything I've said as of yet.

Do not put off repentance for it is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

MyVeryHeart,

I just wanted to apologize to you. I feel like I was a bit harsh in my replies to you. Sorry.

Jimmy

I just wanted to apologize to you. I feel like I was a bit harsh in my replies to you. Sorry.

Jimmy,

I just want you to repent and to and say your sorry to God, not to me.

I am going to love you by the grace of God no matter what you say or do.

It also seems that Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Tertullian, and Hyppolytus also defended the resurrection against the idea of going straight to heaven. Are you aware of that? If so, do you have any material you could share along those lines?

I've never done an in depth study on the topic in regard to what these men have specifically said, but, I have read much of the writings of the early Church fathers. And from what I remember in their writings, along with other things I have read or been instructed in over the years, this would be correct. Unfortunately, I don't have their material at my fingertips. But their writings are easily available online, and I'm sure you could also find many summaries of their writings online as well.

Do you also believe that the Paradise and Prison of Hades are inside of the earth?

I would say that when we die, we are brought into the presence of the Lord. For those who are not saved, they go to a place away from His presence. What these places are named exactly, and where they are located, I'm not 100% confident in saying, especially since there is perhaps some evidence to suggest the exact location of these places at least changed between the New and Old Testaments.

But if I were going to say anything in particular, though I would not be absolutely dogmatic in the details, when the righteous die they seem to be taken to heaven. It would seem this is also synonymous with the idea of being in "Abraham's bosom" and "paradise." Though some have suggested "Abraham's bosom" and "paradise" were simply the place where the righteous Old Testament saints went until Christ led the captive hosts out. But when the resurrection happens, they will come to life again, living here on earth, experiencing the fullness of Christ's heavenly kingdom.

When the unrighteous die, they are sent to hell (hades), where they are held in torment until the day of the resurrection. Upon the resurrection, they will be judged and tossed into a literal lake of fire (gehenna), located on earth, in which the righteous will see the smoke of their torment rising forever and ever.

That's at least, how I understand these things.

Twice the apostle Paul exhorted us to "covet" the gifts of the Spirit. Do you object to this? If you are going to look at things through the strange lens that you are looking at them through, then the same accusations you are making towards me you would be making against the apostle Paul. For coveting (greed) is tantamount to idolatry in the Scriptures.

The question is why do you desire to attain to the resurrection of the dead? That is a heart issue. Why should we desire the spiritual gifts? For humanistic reasons? Or for God glorifying reasons?

Paul says he seeks to obtain the resurrection of the dead. Philippians 3:11

But why?

Phl 3:12 Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.

Why did Christ lay a hold Paul? For that is the same thing that Paul is seeking to lay Hold of.

Jimmy this is crucial.

Act 9:15-16 But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name's sake.

The suffering we bear is not for rewards it is for his Names sake. Paul was laid hold of to bear the name of Jesus Christ.God saves people for his names sake not man's sake. Ezekiel 36:22-27

Paul was seeking to lay hold of the name of Jesus. To perfectly Glorify his holy name. This should be what we are seeking to obtain. Because he is worthy of all glory, honor, and praise.

And in light of living forever and ever, throughout all of eternity, what is it to waste your life now, in comparison to what you shall gain then?

Jimmy this statement is Humanistic because of what you speak of as gain below.

new physical bodies enjoy for all eternity all the blessings that come with being saved

But when you tell an old saint of God whose body has greatly failed them, and causes them much pain, that they have something to look forward to, that God has promised to one day give them a body that will no longer hurt, or cause them pain—that is a true message of hope.

And being raised from the dead, no longer will we know sickness and pain.

No longer will the troubles and struggles of life bother us.

in the resurrection, we shall receive many times more than what we gave away

This is all humanism because the primary emphasis here is that man is happy. And that is the Gospel you are presenting in your article. Jesus Christ rose from the dead to make man happy when he dies and to keep him from getting singed by the fire of hell. That kind of Gospel is man centered. Its still "all about me". Just like the rest of the world. It is not all about Him. This humanistic Gospel presents a Christ who is fire insurance. Or a Christ who died like a rich uncle who dies and leaves his nephew some stuff? What about his inheritance?

Paris Reidhead's sermon Ten Shekels and a Shirt explains that this Gospel of Humanism is the "Betrayal of the Ages" and is "Unchristian". And I agree with Brother Reidhead that we serve Christ in this life, even if we go to Hell at the end, because he is Worthy. Our motivation is not rewards, such as a new body that doesn't get sick. That is a humanistic tradition of man. Our Cry should be like those two young Moravians who sold themselves as slaves and left their family behind as they went into the harvest field. "May the Lamb that was slain receive the reward of His suffering!"

I remember Art Katz saying that the Mark of an apostle is that he is Jealous for the Glory of God. Art teaches that the church as a whole should be apostolic, and jealous for the Glory of God. But humanism glorifies man not God.

Jesus wants a Bride that Glorifies Him by her righteous acts. A Bride like that is pure because her heart is purely devoted to his glory. It consumes Her. He consumes her.Listen to the Bridegroom Beloved! Hear his voice! “How beautiful you are, my darling, How beautiful you are! Your eyes are like doves behind your veil”, ablaze with Holy Spirit fire, burning with passion for the beloved Son of God. Oh Father in heaven, let us live in that blessed moment, when Jesus lifts our veil, and the glorious love of his holy kiss shines for eternity.