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The big question of living again Sooner or later every human being has to face, was asked long ago by a man named Job. If a man dies, will he live again? (Job 14:14). Job from his knowledge of God proclaimed “ For I know my redeemer lives And He shall stand at last on the earth; And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, That in my flesh I shall see God, Whom I shall see for myself, And my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me ! (Job 19:25-27) Without the resurrection, Christianity carries no meaning for humanity—its founder would have been a fraud and a failure for he said he would rise from the dead on the third day (numerous times). Furthermore, his followers would have no hope of the same resurrection. Jesus said he would raise himself. This is quite an accomplishment if you go out of existence like the world, Buddhism or Jehovah Witnesses believe. Thus the importance of the resurrection to Christian faith cannot be underestimated. There are those who say that even without the resurrection, Christianity has significance. They hold that Christ’s teachings provide ethical guidelines for mankind. This is true, but then there is no power to accompany someone who employs these teachings if there was no resurrection after they die. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit for us to have the power to live the life and said he would be with us always. There are those today inside the church who deny the rapture (no matter what the timing) but if one denies this event (which accompanies the resurrection), they may just as well deny a resurrection. If there is no rapture than there is no resurrection, for the living must be transformed along with the dead according to the Bible. After Jesus ascended he began to prepare a place for his church. Few believe this anymore especially with dominionism being promoted by hundreds of false apostles and prophets throughout the world. As Peter Wagner who was the original head of the NEW apostolic prophet movement said, he no longer believes in a rapture The focal point of the New Testament was stated in this simple truth by the Apostle Paul: Jesus Christ, risen from the dead (2 Timothy 2:8). The New Testament is unanimous in the fact that Jesus’ disciples saw Him after His death (11 or 12 different times). This was the message they brought to the world—Jesus Christ has risen from the dead! He is the first in all of history to be raised to eternal life in a body. He is what is called the forerunner. The death and resurrection of Christ is part of the eternal plan of God. Fifty days after Jesus’ death, the Apostle Peter declared on the day of Pentecost: “Him, being delivered by the determined counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it (Acts 2:22-24). In the Book of Revelation, the Apostle John tells us that Jesus was the lamb slain before the foundation of the world. That God knew man would fall short and planned end executed His plan through history to bring us the solution (Revelation 13:8f). The death and resurrection of Christ was in the predetermined program of God—planned before the foundation of the world. It is a crucial element in God’s eternal plan to save mankind from their sins. It was not an isolated event. Not a mistake, or plan B. God knew what WOULD TAKE PLACE before He began to create the world. This is how awesome the creator of all is. God did not make Adam and Eve fall, a foreign intruder (whom God allowed) came to Eve in the garden lied to her and she being deceived took the bait and gave her violation to her husband, who took it willingly. This is why there needs to be a gospel, for a resurrection of the body. Today more people believe in the lie of reincarnation than the truth of a resurrection. “Why should it be thought incredible by you that God raises the dead? (Acts 26:8). God who did miracles spoke in the Old Testament “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh; is anything too difficult for Me? (Jeremiah 32:27). " Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, ‘Peace to you.’ But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. And He said to them, ‘Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts ? (Luke 24:36-43). The disciples were frightened they were thinking he was a spirit. "Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.’ When He had said this, He showed them His hands and feet Jesus Ate Food with His Resurrected Body " But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, ‘Have you any food here?’ So they gave Him a piece of broiled fish and some honeycomb. And He took it and ate it in their presence (Luke 24:30-33,41-43). It was the same Jesus who had been crucified on the cross that stood before them bodily to commission them to tell the world what he had done for us all. Death would be defeated for all those who receive the spiritual birth through the gospel, that are born twice. Jesus was recognizable after His resurrection. " And when He had said this, He showed them both His hands and His side. The disciples therefore rejoiced when they saw the Lord (John 20:20). Thomas who had not seen him until now said “my Lord and My God.” This was no small thing to the first believers who were Jews. The day of worship, the Sabbath, was something that no Jew would dare break or change. Yet Jesus’ disciples began to worship on the first day of the week—commemorating this day they saw him come back from the dead (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:1,2; Revelation 1:10). Something monumental had to happen to make them change the day of worship—something unlike anything else in history, like a resurrection. Today scientists work on lengthening life, some are cryonically frozen, hoping for a cure in the future. Others are working on fixing our DNA. But we are already have the answer. God has not left mankind alone, he has offered us the solution, not by science but by what He himself accomplished nearly 2,000 years ago
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