Christ Resurrected Because He Was Sinless

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23 BSB, CSB, NIV)

In the Biblical context of sin as the wages of sin, the resurrection of Christ proved that He is sinless. He died for the sin of the world and was raised because death has no grip on Him, who was sinless.

He was delivered up by God's set plan and foreknowledge, and you, by the hands of the lawless, put Him to death by nailing Him to the cross. But God raised Him from the dead, releasing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep Him in its grip. (Acts: 2:23-24 BSB)

"God overlooked people's ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him. For he has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man he has appointed, and he proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead." (Act 17:30-31 NLT)

When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and asked Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"
Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise belongs to you and your children and to all who are far off - to all whom the Lord our God will call to Himself."
With many other words he testified, and he urged them, "Be saved from this corrupt generation." Those who embraced his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to the believers that day. (Acts 2:37-41 BSB)

To The Jews First

Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: "It was necessary to speak the word of God to you first. But since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. (Acts 13:46 BSB)

Before resurrection
Jesus sent out these twelve after giving them instructions: "Don't take the road that leads to the Gentiles, and don't enter any Samaritan town. Instead, go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, proclaim, 'The kingdom of heaven has come near.' (Matthew 10:5-7 CSB)

After resurrection
And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20 ESV)

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. (Romans 1:16 NIV)

In Death All Are Equal

One man dies full of vigor, completely secure and at ease. His body is well nourished, and his bones are rich with marrow. Yet another man dies in the bitterness of his soul, having never tasted prosperity. But together they lie down in the dust, and worms cover them both. (Job 21:23-26 BSB)

All men are equal at death. He might have been a rich man, a powerful dictator, a beggar, a murderer or claim to be a god, a buddha, a prophet or whatever, at death, they are all equal. They do not come back again. Almost nobody came back to prove that he is more equal than others. But there is one exception, only one who came back from death.

Today is Resurrection Sunday. We commemorate a unique event in history - the resurrection of Christ. All men are born of two parents and died. Jesus was uniquely born of a virgin, crucified to death, and then resurrected on the third day. This event serves as evidence of Jesus' divine nature, setting Him apart from others who simply made claims that they are gods or buddhas or some other supermen, without any proof to support them.

Why do we listen to men, born of one man and one woman, fusion of sperm and egg, who after speaking great things, claiming to be somebody great, die and return to dust, like all men before and after him? He who cannot conquer death is like me, and no better than me. Why should I listen to him?

Why not believe in the only one in the world, who was born of a virgin, died and was resurrected, and will be returning again? Believe in Him who had conquered death, proving Himself to be different from all men.

He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. (1 Corinthians 15:4 NLT)

Nothing Before the Rapture?

Jesus came and told his disciples, "I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20 NLT)

And the gospel must first be preached to all nations. (Mark 13:10 NIV)

This good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed in all the world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew 24:14 CSB)

No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. (Mark 13:32 BSB)

For you are fully aware that the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. (1 Thessalonians 5:2 BSB)

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 NIV)

Listen, I am telling you a mystery: We will not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. (1 Corinthians 15:51-52 CSB)

This website Is there anything that must happen before the Rapture? - AskBible.org says rapture can happen anytime without warning.
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The answer is - nothing. There is nothing that must happen before the rapture - the rapture is imminent. We at AskBible.org believe this is what the Bible teaches. Let us see why.
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The rapture is imminent. But something will precede the rapture. The gospel must first be preached to all nations. If Christians are raptured before that happened, who is going to preach? So, the rapture will only occur near the end.

Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him: We ask you, brothers and sisters, not to be easily upset or troubled, either by a prophecy or by a message or by a letter supposedly from us, alleging that the day of the Lord has come. Don't let anyone deceive you in any way. For that day will not come unless the apostasy comes first and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he sits in God's temple, proclaiming that he himself is God. (2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 CSB)

Don't let anyone deceive you in any way. For that day will not come unless the apostasy comes first and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. (2 Thessalonians 2:3 CSB)

Rapture - Resurrection or Second Coming

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 NLT)

Jesus will descend from heaven and the dead in Christ will rise first. So should the rapture be classified as resurrection or second coming of Christ?

We know that there are two coming of Christ, two resurrections and two deaths. So how many second coming are there? How many first resurrection are there?

We know that the first resurrection will occur at the second coming of Christ. So is the rapture part of the first resurrection? When will it occur? Is it at the last trumpet?

Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (Matthew 24:30-31 ESV)

Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years. (Revelation 20:6 ESV)

Judgement Day - Bible vs Koran

Then I saw thrones, and the people sitting on them had been given the authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony about Jesus and for proclaiming the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his statue, nor accepted his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They all came to life again, and they reigned with Christ for a thousand years. This is the first resurrection. (The rest of the dead did not come back to life until the thousand years had ended.) Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. For them the second death holds no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him a thousand years. (Revelation 20:4-6 NLT)

I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God's throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books. The sea gave up its dead, and death and the grave gave up their dead. And all were judged according to their deeds. Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death. And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:12-15 NLT)

And We place the scales of justice for the Day of Resurrection, so no soul will be treated unjustly at all. And if there is [even] the weight of a mustard seed, We will bring it forth. And sufficient are We as accountant. (Quran 21:47 Sahih International)

Jesus The Judge of The World

For he has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man he has appointed, and he proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead." (Acts 17:31 NLT)

Unlike the false gods and false prophets of this world who made claims without proof, God authenticated the future judge of the world by resurrecting Him from the dead. Resurrection proved that Jesus is the Judge.

For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. (John 5:22-23 ESV)

First Fruits Coincides with Easter Sunday in 2023

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: When you have come into the land that I am giving to you and reap its harvest, then you shall bring a sheaf bundle of the first fruits of your harvest to the priest. And he shall wave the sheaf before the Lord so that you may be accepted. On the day after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it. (Leviticus 23:9-11 MEV)

Today is easter Sunday. We commemorate a unique event in history - the resurrection of Christ. All men are born of two parents. Some grew up to become founders of new religions and eventually died. Jesus was uniquely born of a virgin, crucified, and then resurrected on the third day. This event serves as evidence of Jesus' divine nature, setting Him apart from others who simply made claims that they are gods or buddhas or some other supermen, without any proof to support them.

This year's easter Sunday coincides with the festival of first fruits. Easter Sunday does not always coincide with the festival of first fruits, as you can see from Calendar of Hebraic Feast and Holy Days 2013-2027. The last coincidence was in 2020.

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. (1 Corinthians 15:20 BSB)

The First Resurrection - 3

"And I assure you that the time is coming, indeed it's here now, when the dead will hear my voice - the voice of the Son of God. And those who listen will live. The Father has life in himself, and he has granted that same life-giving power to his Son. And he has given him authority to judge everyone because he is the Son of Man. Don't be so surprised! Indeed, the time is coming when all the dead in their graves will hear the voice of God's Son, and they will rise again. Those who have done good will rise to experience eternal life, and those who have continued in evil will rise to experience judgment. (John 5:25-29 NLT)

People dies daily but resurrection occurs in batches. Jesus was the first man to be resurrected to life (1 Corinthians 15:20). The last group of saints to be resurrected will certainly be the millennium saints for the Great White Throne judgement (Revelation 20:12). What about those in between? Are there resurrections between the firstfruits and the Great White Throne judgement? According to the Bible, there will be a first resurrection (Revelation 20:6) before the millennium and those resurrected will reign with Christ for a thousand years.The trumpet will sound, believers will be raised imperishable in the twinkling of an eye and meet Christ in the air (1 Corinthians 15:51-52, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).

The First Resurrection - 2

Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years. (Revelation 20:6 NIV)

There will be two resurrections. The first resurrection is the resurrection of life and the second resurrection is the resurrection of condemnation. But is the first resurrection a single event? I believe there are at least three first resurrections.

1. Firstfruits (Leviticus 23:9-11)
   But as it is, Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. (1 Corinthians 15:20 CSB)
   Jesus was the first man to be resurrected to life. All the other who was raised from the dead, like Lazarus, died again. But what about Enoch and Elijah?
   
   
2. Yom Teruah (Leviticus 23:24)
   Listen, I am telling you a mystery: We will not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. (1 Corinthians 15:51-52 CSB)
   After Jesus was resurrected and at the sound of the last trumpet, all the saints since creation, those who have fallen asleep and those who are still alive will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17). These will include Old Testament saints, Christian saints and tribulation saints. They will reign with Christ for a thousand years (Revelation 20:6).
   
   
3. The Great White Throne Judgement (Revelation 20:11)
   I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God's throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books. (Revelation 20:12 NLT)
   The last group of saints to be resurrected in the first resurrection will be the millennium saints. These are people who will be saved during the millennium rule of Christ. I could not find any Leviticus 23 Feast link to this resurrection. This judgement will have both the first and second resurrection.

The Last Trumpet and God's Wrath

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 will reign forever and ever. The twenty-four elders, who were seated before God on their thrones, fell facedown and worshiped God, saying, We give you thanks, Lord God, the Almighty, who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign. (Revelation 11:15-17 CSB)

At the seventh and last trumpet, the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of God and His wrath has come in the form of seven bowls.

The nations were angry, but your wrath has come. The time has come for the dead to be judged and to give the reward to your servants the prophets, to the saints, and to those who fear your name, both small and great, and the time has come to destroy those who destroy the earth. (Revelation 11:18 CSB)

Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, "Go and pour out the seven bowls of God's wrath on the earth." (Revelation 16:1 CSB)

Is the rapture of the church a separate event from the second coming of Christ to Jerusalem to rescue the Jews? I believe so. When will the rapture of the Church happen? I think the rapture will occur at the last trumpet. The church will not suffer from the wrath of God, but the Church has to go through the Great Tribulation with Israel. After all, the Church is grafted into Israel through the tribe of Ephraim.

Listen, I am telling you a mystery: We will not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. (1 Corinthians 15:51-52 CSB)

He will send out his angels with a loud trumpet, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other. (Matthew 24:31 CSB)

For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. (1 Thessalonians 5:9-10 CSB)

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33 KJV)

But Israel will not believe until the nations surround Jerusalem.

Truly I tell you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God." (Mark 14:25 BSB)

For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord'!" (Matthew 23:39 CSB)

I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early. (Hosea 5:15 KJV)

Then I will pour out on the house of David and on the people of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and prayer, and they will look on Me, the One they have pierced. They will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for Him as one grieves for a firstborn son. (Zechariah 12:10 BSB)

When Israel repents, the Lord will come with the saints from heaven and land on mount Olives. He will defend Jerusalem against the nations that surround it.

Then the Lord will go out to fight against those nations as he fights on a day of battle. On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east. The Mount of Olives will be split in half from east to west, forming a huge valley, so that half the mountain will move to the north and half to the south. You will flee by my mountain valley, for the valley of the mountains will extend to Azal. You will flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of King Uzziah of Judah. Then the Lord my God will come and all the holy ones with him. (Zechariah 14:3-5 CSB)

It was about these that Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied: "Look! The Lord comes with tens of thousands of his holy ones to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly concerning all the ungodly acts that they have done in an ungodly way, and concerning all the harsh things ungodly sinners have said against him." (Jude 1:14-15 CSB)

The First Resurrection And The Second Coming

And many who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life, but others to shame and everlasting contempt. (Daniel 12:2 BSB)

Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment. (John 5:28-29 ESV)

We know that there are two coming of Christ and two resurrections. The first coming of Christ is to save the world and the second coming of Christ is to judge the world. The first resurrection is the resurrection of life and the second resurrection is the resurrection of condemnation.

But my question is how many first resurrections are there? I know of at least two. Christ's resurrection as the first fruits and then those at His second coming.

For since death came by man, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the first fruits; afterward, those who are Christ's at His coming. (1 Corinthians 15:21-23 MEV)

Then I know that all who were asleep will be resurrected before those who are still alive, but we can consider this as the same time, with the sound of the trumpet.

For we say this to you by a word from the Lord: We who are still alive at the Lord's coming will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangel's voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are still alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 CSB)

And there will be the tribulation saints who will be martyred during the great tribulation. Their resurrection is clearly part of the first resurrection.

When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony they had held. They cried out with a loud voice, "How long, O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" Then a white robe was given to each of them, and they were told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and brothers should be completed, who would be killed as they were. (Revelation 6:9-11 MEV)

Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years. (Revelation 20:4-6 ESV)

Finally, we will have those who are saved and died during the millennial reign of Christ. These should be resurrected after the millennium, together with those unsaved people, but still considered as first resurrection because theirs is a resurrection of life.

For those who believe that the seconding coming of Christ is divided into two phases, one in the air (the rapture) and another landing at Mount Olives, then there will be four first resurrections:

1. First fruits - Jesus;
2. Resurrection of all the saints both asleep and alive during the rapture;
3. The tribulation saints;
4. The millennium saints.

But for those who think that rapture and landing on Mount Olive happen at the same time sequentially (last trumpet), then there will be three first resurrection.

Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. (1 Corinthians 15:51-52 MEV)

But if all the saints are resurrected during the seconding coming of Christ with spiritual bodies, then who will be left to populate the millennium?

Second Coming - Is There Two Parts?

The second coming of Christ is the most certain event of the future. But are there two phases, once in the air (rapture) and once landing on Mount Olives?

Rapture (resurrection) of the Church at the sound of trumpet
For we say this to you by a word from the Lord: We who are still alive at the Lord's coming will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangel's voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are still alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 CSB)

Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. (1 Corinthians 15:51-52 MEV)

Coming with the clouds, landing at Mount Olives, to save Israel
Then the Lord will go out to fight against those nations as he fights on a day of battle. On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east. The Mount of Olives will be split in half from east to west, forming a huge valley, so that half the mountain will move to the north and half to the south. You will flee by my mountain valley, for the valley of the mountains will extend to Azal. You will flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of King Uzziah of Judah. Then the Lord my God will come and all the holy ones with him. (Zechariah 14:3-5 CSB)

They said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up into heaven? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you have seen him going into heaven." (Acts 1:11 CSB)

I continued watching in the night visions, and suddenly one like a son of man was coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was escorted before him. (Daniel 7:13 CSB)

Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (Matthew 24:30 ESV)

And Jesus said, "I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven." (Mark 14:62 ESV)

For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. (Matthew 16:27 ESV)

And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. (Mark 13:26 ESV)

And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. (Luke 21:27 ESV)

Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn over him. So it is to be. Amen. (Revelation 1:7 CSB)

Believe In The Only One Who Was Resurrected

As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside privately and told them what was going to happen to him. "Listen," he said, "we're going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die. Then they will hand him over to the Romans to be mocked, flogged with a whip, and crucified. But on the third day he will be raised from the dead." (Matthew 20:17-19 NLT)

Jesus predicted His death and resurrection (Matthew 20:17-19, Mark 10:32-34, Luke 18:31–33). The prophet Isaiah also predicted the death and resurrection (Isaiah 53:7-10) of the Anointed One.

Unlike many religious leaders and founders of religions who popped into history without warning, the coming of Jesus was predicted in advance in the Old Testament. He came to fulfil the prophecies in the Old Testament (Psalm 40:7-8, Hebrews 10:7).

Unlike other religious leaders who were born of a father and a mother, Jesus was born of a woman, fulfilling the first prophecy (Genesis 3:15) given in the Bible, a prophecy that was given personally by God.

Unlike other religious leaders who preached their religion and then die, Jesus died and arose on the third day.

But how can we know if the resurrection is a true event in history? The existence of Christianity is the proof that resurrection is a true event. Unlike other religions, Christianity is not started by one man's ideas. Christianity is started by a group of people who witnessed an event - the resurrection of Jesus Christ. They were convinced by His resurrection that He is the Lamb of God, offered as the Saviour of the world.

The resurrection of Jesus still has an impact today. Whether you are a Christian or not a Christian, when you rest from work on Sunday, you are actually commemorating the resurrection of Christ. The pioneer generation of Christians shifted the Sabbath from the seventh day of the week to the first day of the week because Jesus was resurrected on the first day of the week.

Then the men asked, "Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? He isn't here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day." (Luke 24:5b-7 NLT)

I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am he. (John 13:19 CSB)

I have told you these things before they happen so that when they do happen, you will believe. (John 14:29 NLT)

I declare the end from the beginning, and from long ago what is not yet done, saying: my plan will take place, and I will do all my will. (Isaiah 46:10 CSB)

If the resurrection is true, what does it mean to you? Because Jesus was resurrected and has eternal life, those who believe in Him will be like Him. We will also be resurrected to eternal life after we die.

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me, even if he dies, will live. (John 11:25 CSB)

Ruling With Christ

Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years. (Revelation 20:6 CSB)

Today's Christians, those who passed on or raptured, and all believers who have passed on since the creation will be resurrected to rule with the Anointed One for a thousand years.

But as it is written, What no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human heart has conceived - God has prepared these things for those who love him. (1 Corinthians 2:9 CSB)

The Saving Truth

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV)

We are saved by the grace of God.
We are saved by the grace of God through faith.
We are saved by the grace of God through faith in the truth.
And this is the truth that saves - Christ died for our sins (1 Corinthians 15:3).

After he had suffered, he also presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. (Acts 1:3 CSB)

Many people have faith in things that are not true or in things that are not provable. Religions are actually the biggest scam in the world because the solutions provided by religions do not have grounding in truth. Many religious leaders popped suddenly into history claiming to be somebody and having a solution that saves without proving that the solution is true. But Jesus proved that He is truly the Son of God and that He is able to save by His resurrection.

And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. 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 as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. (1 Corinthians 15:17-22 NIV)

The Bible never teaches that doing good will save you. The Bible teaches that you are saved by believing in the truth, the saving truth, the historical event that Christ had died for our sin.

Adam did not go to hell for being a murderer, or a robber or a rapist. He was never any of those. He was a much much better person than many of us. He went to hell for not believing in the truth. Where he is, you will be, if you also do not believe in the saving truth.

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (John 8:32 KJV)

Why Was Jesus Resurrected

Jesus was the only religious leader to be resurrected. All the other religious leaders died, even those who claimed to be more than human, a god or a buddha. Jesus also claim divinity and He proved it by His birth and resurrection.

The Good News is about his Son. In his earthly life he was born into King David's family line, and he was shown to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 1:3-4 NLT)

The resurrection proved that Christ was divine.

Yet it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand. (Isaiah 53:10 NIV)

The resurrection fulfilled Old Testament prophecies and proved that the Bible is the true word of God.

From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. (Matthew 16:21 ESV)

And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. (Mark 8:31 ESV)

And he said, "The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life." (Luke 9:22 NIV)

I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am he. (John 13:19 CSB)

And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. (John 14:29 ESV)

They told him, "Sir, we remember what that deceiver once said while he was still alive: 'After three days I will rise from the dead.' So we request that you seal the tomb until the third day. This will prevent his disciples from coming and stealing his body and then telling everyone he was raised from the dead! If that happens, we'll be worse off than we were at first." (Matthew 27:63-64 NLT)

The resurrection fulfilled Jesus own claims about His resurrection and proved that He was a true prophet.

We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. (Romans 6:9 ESV)

The resurrection proved that Jesus had triumphed over death.

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. (1 Corinthians 15:20 NIV)

The resurrection was the firstfruits of resurrection.

And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 NLT)

For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. (Romans 6:5 ESV)

The resurrection give hope to believers who died in Christ.

"Therefore, having overlooked the times of ignorance, God now commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has set a day when he is going to judge the world in righteousness by the man he has appointed. He has provided proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead." (Acts 17:30-31 CSB)

The resurrection proved that Jesus is appointed as judge.

Why is Jesus Worthy to be the Savior of the World

What made Jesus worthy to be the Savior of the world?

1. He is God
   He was the creator of the world (Colossians 1:16, John 1:3).
   He is the image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15).
2. He is Man
   He came in the likeness of sinful flesh (Romans 8:3), thus fully human and was born as a servant (Philippians 2:7).
   He came to fulfill the Law (Matthew 5:17) and was tempted in every way just as we are, yet He remained sinless (Hebrews 4:15).
3. He is qualified to conquer death
   He took the penalty of sin (Romans 6:23) on our behalf (Isaiah 53:5, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Galatians 4:4-5, Hebrews 7:27, Hebrews 10:12, Hebrews 10:14) and died for the sins of the whole world (Romans 6:10, 1 John 2:2).
   He conquered death (Revelation 1:18) because He was sinless. After He rose from the dead, He never die again because death cannot hold Him (Acts 2:24).

Jesus, by His obedience and death, redeemed for God by His blood, a people from every tribe and language and people and nation (Revelation 5:9).

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. (Colossians 1:15-20 ESV)

But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For "God has put all things in subjection under his feet." But when it says, "all things are put in subjection," it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all. (1 Corinthians 15:20-28 ESV)

And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying,
"Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth."
Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice,
"Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!" (Revelation 5:6-12 ESV)

How Did We Know That The Resurrection Was A True Event

How did we know that the resurrection was a true event?

He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. (1 Corinthians 15:4 NLT)
The Bible said so, in prophecies before the event, and also when the event happened in fulfilment of the prophecies.

And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. (1 Corinthians 15:17-19 ESV)
The next most important evidence that resurrection is a true event is the existence of Christianity. Unlike many religions, Christianity is not started by one man's ideas. Christianity is started by a group of people who witnessed an event - the resurrection of Jesus Christ. They were convinced by His resurrection that He is the Lamb of God, offered as the Saviour of the world.

If the resurrection is true, what does it mean to you?

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me, even if he dies, will live. (John 11:25 CSB)
It means that if you believe in Him, you shall have eternal life.

Passover 2021

Then I said, "Look, I have come. As is written about me in the Scriptures: I take joy in doing your will, my God, for your instructions are written on my heart." (Psalm 40:7-8 NLT)

Passover is here again. It reminds us once again that Jesus is truly the Son of God.

Unlike founders of other religions who popped into history unannounced, declared themselves to be somebody, then died like anybody, the life of Jesus was pre-recorded in the Law and Prophets.

The seven feasts of Leviticus marked the key milestones of Jesus, the Church and Israel. Jesus died on Passover, buried during Unleavened Bread, resurrected on First Fruits. The Holy Spirit descended on Pentecost and inaugurated the Church age. Jesus will come again during the Feast of Trumpets, Israel will repent on the Day of Atonement and Jesus will stay on earth for the Feast of Tabernacles.

"Look, I am coming soon, and my reward is with me to repay each person according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. (Revelation 22:12-13 CSB)