Jesus Revealed in Doctrine THE WAKING-UP TIME
Bot now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first-fruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 1 Cor. 15:20-22.
The glorious truth of the gospel was spoken by Jesus at the tomb of Lazarus. "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth on me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die" (John 11:25, 26). Perhaps at times Seventh-day Adventists have worked too hard to make sure that people were dead and in their graves. In spite of the fact that we do not believe that people are unconscious in their graves now, awaiting the resurrection, we still can believe that Christians never die. The only real death is the second death. The sleeping, the waiting in our graves for the voice of Jesus to call us forth, is not death. What we see in the funeral chapel of today is only sleep--and for the believer, it is not the end of the line. We as Christians have been given a fantastic hope.
When Jesus told His disciples, after waiting for two days, that it was time to go and awaken Lazarus, the disciples misunderstood. But Jesus was speaking of what we refer to as death. In His eyes it was only sleep.
For those who go to sleep, the story isn't over yet. The same One who awakened Lazarus, and proclaimed Himself the resurrection and the life, will awaken the sleeping saints. Jesus changed death to sleep.
This does not mean that we will not sorrow when our loved ones fall asleep. We may miss them sorely. We may shed tears. (We sometimes shed tears and miss our loved ones when they are gone on a long journey.) But it is not a matter of saying goodbye forever. Jesus is what makes the difference between sleep and death.
If Christ be not raised, then is our faith in vain, and they also which are fallen asleep are perished. But Christ has risen, and we too shall rise to everlasting life. In Christ shall all be made alive. Death's sting has been taken away. The golden morning is fast approaching. Jesus soon will come. We have the promise today of the resurrection, of the waking-up time, of the reuniting with our loved ones, nevermore to part.
Bot now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first-fruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 1 Cor. 15:20-22.
The glorious truth of the gospel was spoken by Jesus at the tomb of Lazarus. "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth on me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die" (John 11:25, 26). Perhaps at times Seventh-day Adventists have worked too hard to make sure that people were dead and in their graves. In spite of the fact that we do not believe that people are unconscious in their graves now, awaiting the resurrection, we still can believe that Christians never die. The only real death is the second death. The sleeping, the waiting in our graves for the voice of Jesus to call us forth, is not death. What we see in the funeral chapel of today is only sleep--and for the believer, it is not the end of the line. We as Christians have been given a fantastic hope.
When Jesus told His disciples, after waiting for two days, that it was time to go and awaken Lazarus, the disciples misunderstood. But Jesus was speaking of what we refer to as death. In His eyes it was only sleep.
For those who go to sleep, the story isn't over yet. The same One who awakened Lazarus, and proclaimed Himself the resurrection and the life, will awaken the sleeping saints. Jesus changed death to sleep.
This does not mean that we will not sorrow when our loved ones fall asleep. We may miss them sorely. We may shed tears. (We sometimes shed tears and miss our loved ones when they are gone on a long journey.) But it is not a matter of saying goodbye forever. Jesus is what makes the difference between sleep and death.
If Christ be not raised, then is our faith in vain, and they also which are fallen asleep are perished. But Christ has risen, and we too shall rise to everlasting life. In Christ shall all be made alive. Death's sting has been taken away. The golden morning is fast approaching. Jesus soon will come. We have the promise today of the resurrection, of the waking-up time, of the reuniting with our loved ones, nevermore to part.
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