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5. Through Jesus Christ, however, came a mighty revelation, and also a great change in these matters.

( a) He revealed that against those who believed in Him the gates of Hades would not prevail at the death of their body. Since they retained their spirit at death they would not be cut off from the presence of God, but, on the contrary, would enjoy the happiness of Paradise in the spirit, instead of entering the darkness of Hades. He brought life and immortality to light. (John 11:21-26, 8:35-36, 39-40, 50-52, Mt. 16:18, Lk. 23:43, Phil. 1:21, Acts 7:55-60, II Tim. 1:10, II Cor. 12:1-4.)

See Diagram 8c

(b) He also revealed that unlike the Old Testament saints, who looked for an earthly resurrection in an earthly body in which they would enjoy earthly happiness, the Sons of God were called to mount up into Heaven and rule with Christ over the universe, and so would need Heavenly bodies like His. (John 14:2-3, Mt. 24:31, 47, Heb. 3:1, Eph. 1:18, 4:1, I Cor. 15:35-54, I John 3:1-3.)

See Diagram 9—The Resurrection of a Son of God

(c) The Millennium, therefore, or 1,000 years of Christ's reign over this earth with a rod of iron, was to begin with a double resurrection:

1. That of Israel in earthly bodies to live in Palestine.

2. That of the Royal Family in Heavenly bodies to reign over this earth from the Heavenly Places. (Rev. 20:4-6, Job 19:25-27, Is. 26:19, Ez. 37:1-14, 44:9-16, Dan. 12:2, Phil. 3:10-21, Lk. 20:35, John 6:40, I Cor. 15:23-24, I John 3:2.)

(d) After the Millennium was over and the last revolt had failed, and after Heaven and earth had passed away, would come the final resurrection of all the dead of all the ages, and after that the Last Judgment, in order that those whose names were written in the Book of Life might enter

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into the eternity of Peace in the new earth, and those whose names were not found therein might enter into the torment of hell for the same everlasting period of the Ages of the Ages. (Rev. 20:11-21, John 5:28-29.)

(e) This final resurrection of the dead and Last Judgment upon the Sea of Glass would be followed by, as it were, a glorious resurrection of the old Heaven and earth into the glory of the New Heaven, the New Jerusalem and the New Earth, in which would be fulfilled the promise of Rev. 21:4-5.

Note on Resurrection

A study of I Cor. 15:35-50 brings out the following points:—

1. That, whereas our present earthly bodies may entirely mislead our neighbours about the state of our souls, our resurrection bodies will correspond to our souls, and so will differ in glory.

2. That recognition, therefore, will be not solely of the body but more essentially of the personality, e.g., the distorted body of a hunchback will give way to the glorious form of a Son of God. Peter knew that he had been with Moses and Elijah, but he had not recognised their bodies! (Lk. 9:33.)

N.B. Our Lord's resurrection body was for the purposes of recognition different from His ascended and glorified body, as shown in Revelation 1:13-17.

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The Disastrous Effects Of The Doctrine Of Original Sin | By His Stripes We Are Healed | The Book Of Revelation | The Second Coming Of Christ | The Baptism And Gifts Of The Holy Spirit | The Comforter Is Come