The Wayside Pulpit No.94
"With what body do they come?"
Concerning resurrection,
those who ask the above question receive a curt rejoinder from Paul, "Thou
fool!" (1 Cor.15:36) However, it is instructive to follow through the
Pauline sequence at this juncture. Significant truth is revealed, and seldom
appreciated in its fullness. These are his words.
"That which you sow is
not made alive unless it die, and that which you sow, you sow not the body that
shall be but naked grain, it may chance of wheat or some other variety; but God
gives it a body as He has purposed, and to each of the seeds its own body.
[Now he changes the symbolism.] Not all flesh is the same flesh, there
is one kind of the flesh of men, another of beasts, another of fish, and
another of birds. [And yet again he changes the symbolism.]
Also, there are heavenly bodies, and earthly bodies, and the glory of the
heavenly is one, and the glory of the earthly is another. There is one glory of
the Sun, another glory of the Moon, and another glory of the Stars, and Star
differs from Star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead."
One can read these words
again and again and yet fail to appreciate the essence of what Paul is driving
at. He has "mixed his metaphors", yes, but the truth is still
apparent. To put it in a nutshell - there are two distinct orders of
resurrection, earthly, and heavenly. Both are
"glorious".
The second fact that calls
for our attention is the subdivision of these two orders. EARTHLY RESURRECTION
- a fourfold division, "man, beast, fish, and bird." HEAVENLY
RESURRECTION - a threefold division, "Sun, Moon and Stars." Hence
there are in total SEVEN DISTINCT SUB-ORDERS OF RESURRECTION. This is seldom
taught, and little understood. Most people, when asked about this passage,
would respond in terms of just ONE resurrection, where God's children are
transported from earth to heaven, there to be with Christ for ever more. This
simplistic concept could not be further from the truth, and it is necessary to
be "brought down to earth with a jolt" to rethink the whole issue of
resurrection.
The Pauline symbols, (man,
beast, fish, bird, Sun, Moon, Stars) should not be analysed definitively,
but appreciated apart from the symbolism. Paul was not saying that
some people would become birds or fishes in resurrection, nor yet actual stars!
Each sub-order is glorious in itself, but differing in glory from the rest.
Furthermore, there is a wide difference between earthly orders and heavenly
orders. Paul's choice of symbols is sufficient to reinforce this distinction.
Once the whole concept is
stated and given deeper consideration, it brings enlightenment to other parts
of Scripture that have hitherto been puzzling. Take for example the Master's
words to the Sadducees in Luke 20. He said, "Those who are accounted
worthy of resurrection will be equal to the angels." This unlocks the
symbolism of "Sun, Moon, and Stars", the realm of the angels, the
"heavenly" order of resurrection. Some therefore will be "caught
up to God and His throne" like the manchild of Rev.12.
Paul himself (in Phil 3)
speaks about the necessity of striving for "the high calling of God",
rather than tacitly assuming that everyone will suddenly be whisked away to
heaven. "If we suffer with Him, we shall also reign with Him" comes
also from the pen of Paul. But he warns, "if we deny Him [the suffering],
He will also deny us [the reign.]"
In respect of the parables of
talents and pounds, we are told that the "overcomers" will be placed
in charge of varying numbers of cities. This also relates to heavenly
rulership. The 12 disciples, who said, "We have left everything and
followed You. What shall we get?" were told, "In the regeneration . .
. you shall sit upon 12 thrones judging [i.e. ruling] the 12 tribes of
The symbols of the Sun,
Moon, and Stars are found again in Revelation 12. The woman is clothed with the
Sun, has the Moon beneath her feet, and is crowned by a tiara of 12 stars. The
chapter goes on to explain that the Manchild (who shall rule all nations with a
rod of iron) is the Sun, the woman is the Moon, and the "rest of her
seed" are the Stars.
Paul uses this symbol in 1
Cor.3 where he speaks of Gold, Silver, and Precious Stones. The Gold is the
figure of the Sun, the 1st phase, Silver is the symbol of the Moon, the 2nd
phase, and the Precious Stones are the Stars, the 3rd phase, and "star
differs from star in glory." Those who only achieve wood, hay and stubble
in their building are disallowed in the heavenly orders, and partake of
the earthly resurrection.
Jesus referred to the three
phases when He spoke in parable of the woman who put the yeast into "three
measures of meal" until all was leavened. God's work within His people is
here likened to the yeast, which is allowed to continue until the process of
preparation is complete.
Daniel was given a vision
of a beast with "three ribs in its mouth", the word "rib"
being the Chaldee equivalent of the Hebrew word for rib, the one taken
from Adam to form Eve. Hence the three phases of the elect church, the
"Second Eve," the "Bride of Christ", endure much
suffering under the Satanic beasts. No doubt there are other hidden allusions
in the Bible to all these things for those who enjoy searching.
However, not all aspire to
these higher realms save those who are "called, chosen, and
faithful." Not all reach the position of the "overcomers"
mentioned by our Lord in the seven letters of Revelation. However, they are
saved by the blood of the Lamb, and will receive a glorious resurrection into
an earthly body like that of Adam and Eve before the fall.
The four earthly orders of
resurrection are found hidden in Isaiah 60, once the Pauline clue is understood
from 1st Corinthians. The chapter opens with the "manifestation of the
sons of God", whose light shines in the surrounding darkness. The result
is a voluminous conversion of peoples, set out in figurative language, as
follows -
1. Sons and daughters. (Man)
2. The abundance of the sea. (Fish)
3. Camels, flocks and rams. (Beasts)
4. Doves. (Birds)
Once God has obtained His chosen company of faithful, from all nations, and
from all time, He begins to reach out to "the residue of men". The
Gospel is not just for the benefit of the remnant of faithful souls, but
ultimately for all mankind, even those who have been "passed by" over
the centuries, never having had the opportunity of knowing about Jesus and His
love. This is the greater, more expansive aspect of God's work, in
which Jesus will be glorified. The Man of Agony at
As that tower of human
energy, the singer Al Jolson, used to say, "You ain't seen nothin’
yet!" The Millennial glories are still beyond the wildest imagination of
God's saints. And the time is near!
But here is a word of
warning before we finish - let no one pre-judge this issue in respect of
their own position in the future government of this world. Although it is
right and proper to "strive for masteries", the final outcome must
remain with the Lord. Humility demands that we take the lowest seats at the
"Marriage Supper", and allow the Bridegroom to say "Come up
higher" if in His estimation He considers our "worthiness"
justifies it.