Resurrection: Truth vs. Myths
The prophesied resurrection of the dead was fulfilled when the Messiah was executed in a.d.30. At that point, the Messiah’s spirit left his body, and the departed saints came out of their graves. This is recorded in the New Covenant books of Mathew and Luke:
Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the spirit.
51 And, behold, the veil of the Temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom; and an earthquake shook the earth and the rocks rent in two;
52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
53 And came out of their graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
54 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God. Mat. 27:50-54.
And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.
45 And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.
46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
47 Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man. Luke 23:44-47.
In these verses, we see that upon crucifixion, Messiah’s Spirit immediately left his body and he returned to heaven. His now lifeless corpse was placed in a tomb. Over the next three days, his spirit appeared to the disciples to reassure them of his resurrection. On the third day, Messiah’s spirit returned to his lifeless body, and it came out of the tomb. This was to affirm the physical resurrection. Jesus showed himself in physical form to his disciples, allowed Thomas to put his finger into the wounds on his resurrected body,[1] promised to send them the Holy Spirit, and ascended into heaven. John 20:24-31.
Messiah’s spirit was never in the tomb; notwithstanding, he was in death on the earth for thirty years. His rebirth coincided with his baptism. When the man Jesus was baptized by John, he received the Holy Spirit. He was the first man to be Born Again. At that very moment, his communication with God was restored, and he passed from the Adamic death into life. When he was executed, he released his spirit, and immediately returned to his Father in heaven. Messiah was the first to be resurrected from death. That is affirmed in Mat. 27:53; it states that the saints “came out of their graves after his resurrection.” That happened at the very same instant Messiah released his spirit. Luke 23:46.
When Messiah was Baptized by John, he was indwelled by the Holy Spirit and was the first to be Born Again; consequently, he could not die or be killed. That is why he had to release his spirit at execution; and, after three days, indwelled his corpse in the tomb. Jesus had to leave the earth in his regenerated physical body. The same was true for his Born Again Apostles and Disciples. When they received the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, they passed from the Adamic Death into life. They could not die or be killed, except by a direct act of God. (See the execution of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:1-16.) [2]
At the second coming of Messiah, in a.d.63-70, the corruptible bodies of the Apostles and Disciples had to be changed into incorruptible bodies, and be removed from the earth, yet alive, in the Rapture. See 1 Cor. 15:35-58 & 1Thes. 4:13-18.
The same can be said for the Born Again Apostle Stephen. Like Jesus, he could not be killed. When the leaders in Jerusalem tried to stone him, his call to God was almost identical the words of Jesus on the cross:
But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God
56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,
58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.
59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. Acts 7:55-60.
If you think that the timing of the Messiah’s resurrection is a distinction without a difference, you are mistaken. The immediate resurrection of Jesus; is a revelation of what will happen to you when you expire. Please notice that there is no mention of the Messiah going to Hell, or to Christianity’s “Purgatory.” He immediately returned to Paradise.
For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell (the tomb); neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Ps. 16:10. See also Acts 13:34-37 & Phil. 1: 21-26.
The same can be said for the thief executed with Messiah, and the Old Testament saints who came out of their graves when he released his spirit. They immediately returned to Paradise as spiritual beings.
When Messiah left his body at the end of his execution, he liberated the departed saints imprisoned in Hades. From that point, all of the descendants of Adam return to Paradise after exile / death on the earth. This is evident in Messiah’s promise to a criminal executed at the time of his crucifixion:
And he said to Jesus, Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom.
43 And Jesus said to him, in truth, I say to you, today you shall be with me in paradise. Luke 23:42-43.
Jesus told the thief that he would return to Paradise that very day. The Greek word translated “today” in verse forty-three is specific to the current twenty-four-hour period of the current day.[3] The same-day resurrection of the thief and the Old Testament saints is a revelation of what would occur in the general resurrection. The general resurrection coincided with the second coming of Messiah in a.d.63-70. Modern humans, like the thief on the cross, leave their corruptible bodies behind when they expire and return to Paradise.
Fifty days after the resurrection of Messiah, on the festival of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit indwelled the Apostles; and, like the Messiah, they were literally Born Again. At that moment they passed from the Adamic Death into life and formed the Kingdom (Government) of God in ancient Israel. See the links “Born Again: Truth vs. Myths,” and “The Kingdom of God: Truth vs. Myths,” to be posted soon @ www.realists.com.
After the death, resurrection, and second coming of Messiah, like the thief on the cross, when we expire, all of the descendants of Adam are immediately restored to life in Paradise.
For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 1 Cor 15:21-22.
Through his death and resurrection in a.d.30, Messiah took the power of death from Satan, and restored the righteous descendants of Adam and Eve to life. These Old Testament saints immediately came out of their graves and showed themselves to the leaders in Jerusalem. At his second coming in a.d.63-70, Messiah conquered Satan, took dominion over Hades, and opened the gates of Hell. This was the second or general resurrection. In conjunction with the return of Messiah, his Born Again Apostles and Disciples were removed from the earth, yet alive, in the Rapture.[4] That is why there is no record of their deaths in biblical or secular history. It also explains why not one word was added to the Bible post a.d.63.
After the events of a.d.70, the souls of the departed humans no longer go to Hades. As we pass through death / exile here on earth; each, in our own order, will be restored to life under the Kingdom (government) of God, chosen from the ancient Israelites.[5] Those who pass that test will receive eternal life.[6] That is the “Good News” of the Bible. Be at peace; God Loves You, there is a life after the Adamic exile / death on earth.
There is only One Man, One God, and One Truth
Did the Second Coming of Messiah coincide with the fall of Jerusalem? You Decide: Discovery.
We ask you to use our social media links below to discuss this wonderful discovery with your family and friends, and send us your questions and comments: Contact the Realists.
[1] John 20:24-31.
[2] See Ananias and Sapphira Acts 5.
[3] Strong’s Greek Concordance # 4594 “today” indicates a twenty-four hour day.
[4] 1 Thes. 4:13-18.
[5] See also Acts 24:15, Rom. 5:18, John 5:28-29.
[6] Those who fail that test will receive the second death. The second death is eternal. There is no resurrection from the second death.