Resurrection and Judgment

This, like other Bible basic teachings, is sometimes difficult to be understood, not only by our friends (those who are learning Bible truth with Christadelphians) but also by some of us (brethren and sisters), especially the newly converted by immersion into Christ, when we come close to some Bible quotations, this is one of the vital reasons why we need to meditate by studying them especially after being baptized. We can’t claim that we know everything and stay away from our Bible which is God’s personal letter to each one of us.

"And many if them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt" (Daniel 12:2).

Several first principles: There will be a resurrection of the dead. Until then the dead are unconscious – asleep. The resurrection will take place at the time when "Michael" stands up for his people. There is not to be a universal resurrection (many, not all, of them that sleep will be raised). The judgment will take place after the resurrection, at which time some will receive everlasting life and others will be rejected.

"And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained" (Acts 17:30-31).

When a man or woman has sufficient scriptural knowledge and knows what God has commanded, then they will be held responsible in the day of Christ’s return whether they obey or refuse to obey.

The gospel is a wonderful invitation to love and mercy, but it is also a command to submit and obey. Only God knows the hearts and minds and understandings of His creation; He alone has given them the power to understand what He requires. When men and women know that they have received a command from God, this makes them accountable and responsible to judgment. We note that nowhere does the Bible say that resurrection and judgment only involves those who have been baptised. There is no statement exempting the disobedient from judgment - only those who are ignorant of the Gospel. There is no statement saying that man can decide for himself whether or not he will appear at the judgment seat.

Please read Romans 2:3-16

When God commands all who hear and understand the gospel to believe and obey, are they under law or without law? This is the important thing.

Is a person under law when God has given a command directly to him to repent and be baptised, and he is fully aware of it? or is he under law only when he himself decides to start obeying the command?

Who puts man under the law – God or man himself? Light, knowledge, understanding, an opportunity to know God and His will, this is how the Bible explains what makes a person responsible for judgment.

Romans 2 tells us of Divine principles. The evil in ignorance to perish like beasts or do evil in the face of divine law and be judged and punished accordingly (John 12:48 and Mark 8:38).

1 Corinthians 15:35

"How are the dead ones rebuilded, and for what body do they come forth?" So the question is not about the state of the physical existence in which the resurrected dead appear from the grave, but it is about the nature of the body they will receive when the full process of rebuilding has been completed.

Paul tells us to consider a seed which is sown and then germinates. There are different kinds of seed and they grow into different kinds of plants. Each set of seed is identified by its type, so we need not worry about the body we shall receive at the judgment because God will give us a body which preserves our own identity. Just as stars differ, so in the Kingdom incorruptible saints will differ from one another.

John 12:24-25

Here the dying of the seed is putting to death the old man: the germination of the seed is the creation of the new man and is completed when life eternal is given.

Galatians 6:7-9

These words from the apostle lead us to the idea that he is describing a process of being raised from a natural state in which we receive the gospel, to the state we will attain to, by God’s grace, when we share the divine nature. Paul in his writings here shows to us the plan of God for which bodily resurrection is a part.

Lazarus King'oo ( Yatta, Kenya)