Hi Cepha---------------
at the crucifixion of Christ, there were people who literally came up from the graves.
(Matthew 27:51-53) And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
But these people were no different than the Lazarus that Christ resurrected while on the earth. Read John 11.
(John 11:44) And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
(John 12:9) Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.
Yes, Lazarus and all of the saints which slept that arose were raised physical bodies, not spiritual bodies, and all of them eventually died again. Look how Hebrews confirms this for us.
(Hebrews 11:35) Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
(Hebrews 11:39) And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
Ever wonder why Christ Himself says that of men born of women 'there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist,' but that the very same John is less than 'he that is least in the kingdom of heaven?'
(Matthew 11:11) Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
How can that be? It had to be this way because being in Christ and having Christ in him, was not an option for John. Christ is the only way to our salvation.
(Acts 4:12) Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
And as it was with John the Baptist, so is it with all of 'these saints which slept that arose'. If you go and read Hebrews 11, you'll see that the greatest people of the Old Testament all died without inheriting the promises.
(Hebrews 11:13) These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them , and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
Just like the rich man in the parable of Lazarus and the Rich man saw Abraham afar off, so is it with all of these. 'These all died in faith, not having received the promises'. They are all now sleeping the 'sleep of death' until they are raised a spiritual body, which for them will be at the second resurrection or Great White Throne Judgment.
(Psalms 13:3) Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death;
(Revelation 20:11-13) And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
And why is it this way? Because...
(Hebrews 11:40) God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
That 'some better thing' began with Christ's resurrection. Christ is the firstfruits of them that slept, not all of those who were raised from their graves at the time of His crucifixion.
(1 Corinthians 15:20) But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
Christ is the only way, only truth and only life and no man...not even the greatest born of women...can come unto the Father any other way.
(John 14:6) Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
When?This is what Jesus said--Joh 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
Joh 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
We will not be with Him until He returns for us Then and only then will the dead arise ad we all be changed.
much love-------------knuckle
