Tag Archives: Apostle Paul

The Resurrection of Believers

Posted on 25/07/2025 | Leave a comment

In the New Testament, there are passages that say the resurrection of believers will occur. This event will take place at the time of Christ’s second coming. These include 1 Corinthians 15 and 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17.

When He returns Jesus said He will gather those who have placed their faith in Him:.
And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.” Matthew 24:31.

Some passages mention our being with Jesus when we die. These assure us there will be a conscious state in fellowship with Jesus after death.

Thus in Luke 23:43 Jesus assured the repentant thief on the cross that they would be together in ‘Paradise’ that day. ‘Paradise’ translates the Greek word paradeisos Strongs G3847. That word was used for the Garden of Eden in the Greek Old Testament, the Septuagint.

In Luke 14:13-14 Jesus taught: when you give a reception, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, since they do not have the means to repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

In Luke 16:22, we see what is referred to as ‘the bosom of Abraham’. This is deemed to the abode of the righteous dead awaiting the judgment day. It is a place of conscious awareness. Strongs G285—kolpos for bosom. It means to obtain the seat close to Abraham, i.e. to be partaker of the same blessedness as Abraham in paradise.

In Luke 20:35-36, Jesus said to the Sadducees:  those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; for they cannot even die anymore, because they are like angels, and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.

In John 5:24-25. Jesus said Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears my word, and believes Him who sent me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.

In all the above spoken by Jesus, we note the certainty of resurrection of believers.

We also find that the Apostle Paul lived with the same certainty.

Paul wrote to the Corinthians: Now God has not only raised the Lord, but will also raise us up through His power. 1 Corinthians 6:14.

Certainty! No doubt.

And asking his readers that if from human motives he fought then what does it profit me? If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die. 1 Corinthians 15:31-32. Certainty.

Paul wrote to the Philippians about his certainty of his own resurrection. He expressed his preference to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. Also see Philippians 1:20.

And in Philippians 3:10-11 this extraordinary hope: That . . . . . becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. That is, he had the expectation of his resurrection before his death. Thus he had the expectation of Jesus’ return before his death!

Matthew 12:32. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

2 Peter 3:10-13. But the day of the Lord will come . . . . . . the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

Peter believed he and his contemporaries would experience new heavens and a new earth.

Isaiah 65:17-19. “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy, and her people to be a gladness. I will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in my people; no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping and the cry of distress.

Isaiah 26:19. Your dead will live; their corpses will rise. You who lie in the dust, awake and shout for joy, for your dew is as the dew of the dawn, and the earth will give birth to the departed spirits.

Interestingly, our resurrection has nothing to do with how “good” we are or our status with Jesus. Both those who are going to be with God and those who are going to be separated from God will be resurrected:

Daniel 12:2. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt.

Revelation 21:4  He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

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The Resurrection From The Dead

Posted on 21/06/2025 | Leave a comment

The following passage from Paul’s letter to the Philippians makes it absolutely clear that he understood the resurrection of the dead was imminent. It was not thousands of years in the future!

I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, 11 so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead! Philippians:3:9-11.

He saw that knowing Christ and suffering with Him meant His resurrection was possible before He passed from the scene. This was the ‘blessed hope’ of 1st century believers.

He had already said this to them, chapter 1:10:  For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return.

Obviously Paul anticipated Christ’s imminent return within the lifetime of his readers!

And also, in this letter, 1:21-23: For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. 22 But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. 23 I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. 24 But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live.

Here Paul reveals his certainty of being in close fellowship with Jesus after his death! This would be far better for him! Again, he believed that resurrection was also imminent!

Compare this with Jesus’ statements in Matthew 10:23, 16:27-28 and 24:34, that many in this (his) generation would be alive at his coming and therefore experience their resurrection of believers.

Also it makes sense of Paul’s writings to the Corinthians about the resurrection.

But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! 52 It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. 53 For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies. 54 Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: “Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your stingl” 56 For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. 57 But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.  1 Corinthians 15:51-57.

So, not everyone will die before the return of Jesus. Paul wrote there would be people living in their flesh bodies when Jesus comes. However when Jesus returns all that are here in the flesh shall each be changed into an incorruptible body, a spiritual body.

Revelation 10:6-7.  He (the angel) . . . . . . said, here will be no more delay. When the seventh angel blows his trumpet, God’s mysterious plan will be fulfilled. It will happen just as he announced it to his servants the prophets. (Amos 3:7, Habakkuk 2:3)

Hebrews 10:37: For, “In just a little while, He who is coming will come and will not delay.

So why are so many people looking for a future return of Jesus, after 2000 years?

Please explain.

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The Man of Lawlessness

Posted on 08/03/2025 | Leave a comment

Introduction

Shortly after writing 1 Thessalonians, the apostle Paul received a report (2 Thess. 3:11) that the Thessalonian church had accepted the strange claim that “the day of the Lord has come” (2:1–2). Paul sent them a second letter in A.D. 49–51. He was probably in Corinth at the time. This letter was addressed to the Thessalonians.2000 years ago when these people and Paul were expecting Jesus’ imminent return in their lifetime. It was seriously relevant to the Thessalonians. It is not relevant for us as 2000 years have passed but it useful for our studies and the truth is always relevant.

2 Thessalonians 2:1-9

  1. Now, dear brothers and sisters, let us clarify some things about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and how we will be gathered to meet him.
  2. Don’t be so easily shaken or alarmed by those who say that the day of the Lord has already begun. Don’t believe them, even if they claim to have had a spiritual vision, a revelation, or a letter supposedly from us. 3 Don’t be fooled by what they say. For that day will not come until there is a great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness is revealed—the son of destruction.

Paul here assured the Thessalonians that a great rebellion against God and therevealing of a man who opposes God and exalts himself above everything that is called God must occur before Jesus’ return. Jesus told the disciples in the Olivet discourse (Mat 24:10-12) about this falling away.

4 He will exalt himself and defy everything that people call god and every object of worship. He will even sit in the temple of God, claiming that he himself is God.

Paul described this “man of lawlessness” as being empowered by Satan, performing signs and wonders, and deceiving many (verse 9).

Who was this son of destruction? Was it the Roman general Titus who entered the Jerusalem temple?

Josephus wrote that Titus entered the Holy of Holies with his generals in A.D. 70. (Wars, 6.4.7.) Shortly thereafter, Titus was worshipped in the Temple as was customary of someone declared imperator. As Josephus wrote, “And now the Romans . . . brought their ensigns to the temple and set them over against its eastern gate; and there did they offer sacrifices to them, and there did they make Titus imperator.”(Wars 6.6.1)  A metallic image of Vespasian and Titus was also worshipped at that time. Images of the emperor and his favourites were regularly attached to the Roman ensigns at that time. 


5. Don’t you remember that I told you about all this when I was with you? And you know what is holding him back, for he can be revealed only when his time comes.

Jesus had spoken about these things to the disciples in the Olivet discourse, Matthew 24:15-16: “So when you see the Abomination of Desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place, then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains”. Daniel, during the Babylonian captivity, had written about this happening just before His return. Jerusalem and the temple were to be destroyed and countless numbers of Jews would perish at the hands of the Romans.

Paul had told the Thessalonians about all this when he visited them previously. They already knew so he didn’t have to repeat what he had said. But Paul didn’t repeat it in this letter so it is difficult for us to know what was ‘holding him back’ from his appearing. We are left to assume that Paul never bothered to record this information in writing.


7 For this lawlessness is already at work secretly, and it will remain secret until the one who is holding it back steps out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendour of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie

Paul wrote to them about this lawlessness being already at work—the hidden, evil Satanic forces at work in the world opposed to God and His people.

So who or what is the one holding the man of lawlessness back? Many attempts have been made to identify this person or entity.

I believe the only possible explanation is that God is the restrainer, as He is the only one who can restrain Satan. God restrains evil and eventually turns unrepentant sinners over to indulge in evil (Romans 1:20-24, 26, 28). And Job reveals that God prevents Satan from certain activities (Job 1:10-12). Only God can restrain evil and the man of lawlessness.  

Paul said the one who is holding it back would step out of the way. When that would occur then the man of lawlessness would be revealed and the Lord Jesus would overthrow him and destroy him by the splendour of his coming. 

But does it really matter that we today know the identity of the one who Paul believed restrains him? That wasn’t Paul’s issue in this letter. His concern was that the Thessalonians were worried they had missed the Lord’s coming and to reassure them that they would not miss out.

We may be curious of course. And for those today, even after 2000 years, who believe the Satanic lie that Jesus is yet to return, it arouses a lot of comment. The man of lawlessness has indeed been revealed and the Lord Jesus long ago overthrew him.

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Who are the people of God?

Posted on 16/01/2025 | Leave a comment

God’s promise to Abraham came true for us down to this very day. For we who follow Jesus are the true people of God. We are Abraham’s descendants.

We are the Israel of God (Galatians 6:16). The ὅσοι [‘as many as’] refers to the individual Christians, Jewish and Gentile; and ‘Israel of God’ to the same Christians, seen collectively and forming the true messianic community.” (Word Studies in the New Testament vol. 4, p. 180). It seems clear that in this verse Paul cannot be pronouncing a benediction upon persons who are not included in the phrase “as many as shall walk by this rule” (i.e., the rule of boasting only in the cross). The entire argument of the epistle prevents any idea that here he would give a blessing to those who are not included in this group. And Paul wrote: “if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise”. (Galatians 3:29).

Jesus said to unbelieving Jews (Mat 8:11-12).  “I tell you this that many Gentiles will come from all over the world –from east and west–and sit down with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven. But many Israelites–those for whom the Kingdom was prepared–will be thrown into outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

See also 1 Peter 2: 4-10: . . . . . .  for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.” These terms chosen people, royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession, reflect Deuteronomy 7:6, 10:15, 14:2. Under the New Covenant the same applies to all believers in Christ.

And see 1 Thessalonians 1:3-4. We know, dear brothers and sisters, that God loves you and has chosen you to be his own people.

Replacement theology

We who insist on the above are often accused of ‘replacement theology’. I do not believe that any group has replaced “Israel”. I believe in a transformed people of God–Israel transformed at Pentecost, the remnant, all Jews from all nations of the Dispersion.

Paul wrote It doesn’t matter whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation. (Galatians 3:15).

And Galatians 3:6-9: “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” The real children of Abraham, then, are those who put their faith in God. What’s more, the Scriptures looked forward to this time when God would make the Gentiles right in his sight because of their faith. God proclaimed this good news to Abraham long ago when he said, “All nations will be blessed through you.” So all who put their faith in Christ share the same blessing Abraham received because of his faith.

And again (Galatians 3:26-29: For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you (Gentiles). 

Looking at Romans 11 in the light of the above

Yes, ‘the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable’ (11:29), and “all Israel will be saved’ (11:26). Yes certainly that is true as long as it is understood that REAL Jews as Paul defined in Romans 2:26-29 (see more below). As I noted above, Paul wrote that all believers in Christ crucified are the Israel of God! (Galatians 6:16). We, both believing Jews and Gentiles, are the transformed Israel together! Thus all Israel will be saved.

Paul quotes Isaiah and God’s covenant prophesied by Isaiah (59:20-21) with Israel. So it was not ethic Israel but spiritual Israel (11:25–28). “The Redeemer will come to Jerusalem to buy back those in Israel who have turned from their sins” says the Lord. This is a wonderful covenantal promise about our redeemer coming buying back repentant Israelites—this is the gospel story. And His Spirit will not leave them, and nor will His (Jesus’) words (Matthew 24:35).

Does this Covenant promise the idea of inheriting the land? No. It does not suggest that the promises of the Old Testament are intended for ‘ethnic’ Jews, but are available to all Jews who believe in Christ. Because of their disobedience and idolatry (Deuteronomy 30) ‘ethnic’ Israel has lost its place as the chosen people of God.

The New Testament does not anticipate the return of ethnic Jews to the land of Israel as part of the fulfilment of God’s promises. Instead, it focuses on the gathering of God’s people from all nations, as seen in Revelation 7:9 (from every nation and tribe and people and language) and Matthew 24:31, where the gathered people are a Jewish-gentile community redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.

So who are REAL Jews? Paul tells us in Romans 2:26-29: if the Gentiles obey God’s law, won’t God declare them to be his own people?  . . . . . . For you are not a true Jew just because you were born of Jewish parents or because you have gone through the ceremony of circumcision. No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by the Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people.

Will the Jews literally inherit the Promised Land? Moses prophesied that if Israel as a nation repented they could be regathered to the land. Then they weregiven a choice between life and death, between prosperity and disaster (Deuteronomy 30:15).

Unfortunately they made the wrong choice. And many continue that in wrong choice to this very day, whether they live in the nation we know as “Israel” or elsewhere. The letter to the Hebrews addressing Christians talks about entering the ‘rest’ by faith, spiritually—not a literal land. See my article here . . . . . .

See also Matthew 23:34-38. “Therefore, I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers of religious law. But you will kill some by crucifixion, and you will flog others with whips in your synagogues, chasing them from city to city.  As a result, you will be held responsible for the murder of all godly people of all time—from the murder of righteous Abel to the murder of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you killed in the Temple between the sanctuary and the altar. I tell you the truth, this judgment will fall on this very generation. “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me.  And now, look, your house is abandoned and desolate. For I tell you this, you will never see me again until you say, ‘Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!

Notice carefully verse 29. There is a way back for any Jew but he must welcome Jesus as sent by the Lord!

They may be grafted back again if they turn from their unbelief (Romans 11:23): But if you stop trusting, you also will be cut off. And if the people of Israel turn from their unbelief, they will be grafted in again, for God has the power to graft them back into the tree. 

Romans 11:30–36 does not teach about a kingdom with both Jews and Gentiles as distinct populations within the people of God. That would be a totally abhorrent idea for Paul (Galatians 3-6, Ephesians 2-3).

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