Tag: last trumpet
Raised from the dead!
Scripture reading for November 25: 1st Corinthians 15-16
One of the stumbling blocks for intellectuals is the resurrection. This was so in the Corinthian culture of the early church. The resurrection is foreign to anything our mind can truly understand. Death seems to the natural eye to be irreversible. Doctors can treat a person, but they can’t keep them from dying, and raising someone from the dead so that he will never die has not yet happened. The Apostle Paul addressed the subject of resurrection: “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: That Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, He appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.” (1st Corinthians 15:3-6)
At the heart of the Gospel message is Christ’s resurrection. First Jesus appeared to Mary at the tomb. (John 20:13-18) Peter saw the Lord and then the Twelve, minus Judas, saw Him. (Mark 16:14) The two disciples saw Him on the road to Emmaus. (Luke 24:31-32) Thomas got to put his fingers in the holes of Jesus resurrected body and became a believer. (John 20:26-28) Finally, Jesus appeared to over 500 brothers at the same time! (1st Corinthians 15:16) Christ’s resurrection was well documented. These men were either lying or telling the truth. If they were lying, many of them went to their death rather than change their story!
Not only has Christ been raised from the dead, but Scripture states that all who believe in Him will also be raised from the dead! Christ’s resurrection guarantees our resurrection, if we are trusting in Him. “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.” (1st Corinthians 15:20-22)
Our resurrection is like the planting of a seed. A seed goes into the ground and dies. At the proper time, the seed germinates and a new plant comes up. So is the resurrection body. Our body is sown in weakness and decay; it will be raised in glory. It is sown as perishable. It will be raised eternal! It was sown a natural body, going back to dust. It will be raised a spiritual body that lives forever! (1st Corinthians 15:42-44)
This change will happen at the “last trumpet”! In a split second, the perishable body will be changed into an imperishable eternal body. Death will be swallowed up by victory! What a glorious day that will be! It is the Blessed hope of every true believer!
The time has come!
Scripture reading for December 14th: Revelation 11, Psalm 99, Ecclesiastes 1
Revelation 11:15-18 “Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever.” And the twenty-four elders, who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying, “We give thanks to You, Lord God Almighty, Who is and Who was, for You have taken Your great power and begun to reign. The nations raged, but Your wrath came, and the time for the dead to be judged, and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear Your Name, both small and great, and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.””
As events in heaven are revealed to John to write down, John watches as the seventh angel blows his trumpet and announce the eternal reign of the King Jesus Christ. There is immediate worship around the throne as the elders fall on their faces proclaiming this new beginning. They decree that the nations of earth were full of rage against God’s King but God’s wrath against this rebellion would bring judgment and eternal loss. God’s great love would also bring reward to His servants, prophets and saints. They would see the destruction and punishment of the wicked and those who destroyed the earth and God’s people. All vanity would be judged and Jesus Christ exalted over all nations forever and ever.
Psalm 99:1-2 “The Lord reigns; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake! The Lord is great in Zion; He is exalted over all the peoples!”
Prayer: Father God, I exalt You and worship You in holy fear and awe at Your plan for justice and Jesus’ rule on the earth! I am thankful that You, alone, know the hearts of all and judge with equity through Your Son Jesus Christ. I look forward to this seventh and last trumpet and the eternal reign of my King! Use me today to share His love and mercy with those bent on destroying the earth and his people.
Ecclesiastes 1:14-15 “I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind. What is crooked cannot be made straight and what is lacking cannot be counted.”