2. Eating At the Table of the Lord

“The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?” (1 Corinthians 10:16)

What does the Apostle Paul mean by the “communion of the blood and body of Christ”?

“You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons” (1 Corinthians 10:21).

In Chapter 10 of the first epistle to the Corinthian church, the Apostle Paul illuminates and puts in context his reference to our communion in partaking of the memorial emblems of the cup and bread.

What Pastor Charles Russell Taught

Pastor Charles Russell quoted 1 Corinthians 10:2 in The Reprints of the Original Watchtower and Herald of Christ’s Presence and taught that there was a secondary meaning to the bread and wine emblems: that the (1) “broken loaf” represents the “breaking of all his mystical members” and “communion of the blood of Christ” means a “participation in the sufferings and death of Jesus.” R3364.

He based this teaching of a secondary meaning on the word “communion” in Corinthians 10:2 and that since the word “communion” comes from the ancient Greek word koinonia; which in its basic sense means a common union with someone in a shared experience, he thought that the shared experience is “the sufferings and death” and that the common union was with Jesus.

Let us now consider the 1 Corinthian Chapter 10 context, in order to understand the Apostle Paul’s teachings in this section, and thereby specifically examine whether this proposed secondary meaning is actually what the Apostle Paul was teaching or not.

The Context:

i) The Immediate Context: 1 Corinthians 10:1-22

The verses that define the immediate context for understanding the communion verse [16] are found in 1 Corinthians 10:1-22.

Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea” (1 Corinthians 10:1, NKJV).

δέ de; a primitive word; but, and, now

We notice that verse 1 uses the conjunction δέ, meaning but, and, now – here, the NKJV translates δέ as “moreover.” This tells us that this section is also linked to what came before and therefore that there is a wider context to consider also.

ii) The Wider Context: It is Possible to Lose the Imperishable Crown

“… I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some” (1 Corinthians 9:22).

In the previous few Chapters in 1 Corinthians, the Apostle Paul outlines his determination to put nothing in the way of the Gospel and to be “all things to all men” in order to “save some.”

“And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. ²⁶ Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. ²⁷ But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:25–27).

The paragraph immediately prior to Chapter 10, the Apostle Paul outlines the possibility that it is possible to be disqualified from gaining the imperishable crown if we do not run in the race with temperance and discipline, and therefore we can expect that what follows will be practical advice and warnings, as well as bringing to mind relevant aspects of our faith to give us strength and determination in order to gain the prize of that imperishable crown.

iii) The Immediate Context: Warnings Against the Conscious Pursuit of Evil Things

“Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted” (1 Corinthians 10:6).

The immediate context to the communion verse is that of the Apostle Paul’s warnings against the conscious pursuit of evil things because the end result of doing so is the loss of God’s favour and disqualification from the race for the prize of the high calling in Christ Jesus.

“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

The Apostle Paul outlines that even though God will give us the means to escape these temptations, we have an important role in the matter; actively and consciously exercising temperance and discipline.

iii) The Apostle Uses Two Devices in His Warnings:

The Apostle Paul uses two didactic devices to highlight the danger and seriousness of consciously pursuing temptations: firstly, he uses the example of natural Israel during their wanderings in the desert; and secondly, he reminds us of the underlying meaning and significance of partaking of the cup and the bread at the memorial.

The Apostle Paul’s points and logic here have the purpose of ensuring that his fellow Christians are not disqualified from gaining the prize by pursuing evil things.

The Example of “Israel after the Flesh”

“Observe Israel after the flesh: Are not those who eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?” (1 Corinthians 10:18).

“Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come” (1 Corinthians 10:11).

Here the Apostle Paul uses the experiences in the wilderness of natural Israel as a type to illustrate important lessons for spiritual Israel.

1) Idolatry,

2) Sexual immorality,

3) Testing of the Lord, and

4) Murmuring or complaining

The Apostle Paul specifically mentions four evil things “Israel after the flesh” engaged in: idolatry, sexual immorality, testing of the Lord, and murmuring or complaining

“But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness” (1 Corinthians 10:5).

Because of this, God was not pleased with them and their bodies He scattered in the wilderness. By outlining these experiences as examples for our instruction, Paul is warning that we face the same dangers – particularly if we become complacent; as he points out in 1 Corinthians 10:12 “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”

In the Apostle Paul’s references to “Israel after the flesh” here, he introduces the concept of natural Israel partaking of spiritual nourishment in the wilderness from God by way of our Lord Jesus Christ- for they all “drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ” (1 Corinthians 10:3-4).

“Our fathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat’” (John 6:31).

“Then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their animals drank” (Numbers 20:11).

God miraculously provided Israel with literal food and drink during their desert wanderings, but this is not what Paul is focusing on here. He is referring to spiritual food and drink.

The miraculous manna given to natural Israel was, of course, a great blessing but as Deuteronomy 8:3 tells us, it was intended to teach them the lesson that man lives – in the greater sense, by feeding on “every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord” – this is the real spiritual food. The word of God was imparted to them through Moses, so that they were guided and protected by God in their wanderings. God spoke to them through their covenant relationship, and through the many wonderful promises given to them, as well as their miraculous liberation from Egypt.

“They all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink…”(1 Corinthians 10: 3–4).

In this way, Israel after the flesh ate at the Lord’s table, for they all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink.

The Apostle Paul makes clear that it was all of natural Israel that ate at the Lord’s table and he mentions the all twice, probably to make this abundantly clear.

Crucially, we see that the benefits of the spiritual drink and the spiritual food flows from our Lord Jesus to all of the Israelites. It is clear that Jesus did not eat or drink this spiritual food or drink.

In summary: a commonality was established amongst the individual Israelites through all partaking of the same spiritual food and drink – the source of which was our Lord Jesus.

Paul is laying the ground work in his lead up to the important lesson that like Israel after the flesh, Israel after the spirit also eats and drinks at the table of the Lord – gaining far greater blessings but at the same time conferring important responsibilities.

All of Fleshly Israel Partakes, All of Spiritual Israel Partakes

“The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?” (1 Corinthians 10:16)

In 1 Corinthians 10:16 the Apostle Paul reminds his fellow Christians that the literal partaking of the cup and bread is not a meaningless ritual. Rather, by partaking of the cup emblem we show that we are spiritually feeding on the blood of Jesus by gaining justification through faith. Also, by partaking of the bread emblem, we show that we are being spiritually nourished by appropriating the benefits of Jesus’ sacrificed body.

What Does Partaking of the Emblems (the cup and the bread) Show?

It shows that we are eating/drinking at the Table of the Lord with fellow believers; the communion, leading to eternal life.

“Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day” (John 6:54).

i) Partaking of the Cup [drinking of the blood of Jesus] shows:

1) The New Covenant is Ratified and Operative for the Church by the Blood of Jesus, enabling:

– Learning of God

– Having God’s law written on our hearts

2) Believers have True Forgiveness of sins by faith through application of the blood of Jesus as the antitypical sin-offering under the administration of the better sacrifices

3) Believers are Reconciled to God [achieving atonement with God – from1)+2)]

4) Have Received The Promise of the holy spirit

5) Believers are Cleansed from ongoing inadvertent sin [purification through the antitypical ashes of the red heifer – depicted in Jesus washing of the disciples’ feet]

ii) Partaking of the Bread [eating of the flesh of Jesus] shows:

1) Believers Receive and Understand Jesus’ words of truth [through the holy spirit]

2) Have ongoing spiritual nutrition for spiritual growth of the new creature through the indwelling of the holy spirit given at baptism into Christ

– Growing in grace and knowledge

– Learning of God

– Having God’s law written on our hearts

“Then Jesus said to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you’” (John 6:53).

All of Jesus’ followers must eat his flesh and drink his blood.

The spiritual drink and spiritual food that we partake of leads to eternal life which is provided for us by the sacrifice of Jesus, by the grace of God.

** We notice in John 6:53 that Jesus is addressing his followers – unless you eat and drink, you have no life in you – plainly Jesus is not including himself here.

1 Corinthians 10:3–4 (NKJV) — “all ate the same spiritual food, ⁴ and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.”

We notice again that the same relationship exists in spiritual Israel as it did in fleshly Israel. All the natural Israelites ate the spiritual food and drank the spiritual drink. There is no suggestion that Jesus somehow also ate and drank of the same spiritual food and drink as fleshly Israel.

“Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you” (Matthew 26:27).

Jesus did not say “let us all drink of it”, rather he said “drink from it, all of you.“

Also, Jesus’ instructions were to do this “in remembrance of me” not in remembrance of us.

“He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. ⁵⁷ As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. ⁵⁸ This is the bread which came down from heaven—not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever” (John 6:56–58).

Israel after the flesh ate the manna, died

Spiritual Israel eat/drink of Jesus flesh/blood, live forever

Note how this parallels the type which emphasises its importance in understanding the communion relationship. The Apostle John, in John 6:58, beautifully links the type and the antitype for us: “This is the bread which came down from heaven—not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.”

“This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:28).

“In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you’” (Luke 22:20).

Jesus’ blood, through which we have forgiveness of sins, was poured out for us — that is for spiritual Israel. It is clear that Jesus could not eat of his flesh or drink his own blood as he was sinless and undefiled and hence did not require forgiveness. Moreover, if he had any sin, he would not have been able to provide life through his sacrifice. This shows the flow of the blessings of forgiveness of sins, from Jesus by virtue of his sacrificed flesh and poured out blood, is to us.

There is no indication that those feeding and drinking are contributing to the food and drink.

Sacrificial Nourishment for the Levites/Firstborn

“The priests, the Levites—all the tribe of Levi—shall have no part nor inheritance with Israel; they shall eat the offerings of the Lord made by fire, and His portion” (Deuteronomy 18:1).

“Observe Israel after the flesh: Are not those who eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?” (1 Corinthians 10:18).

The Apostle Paul then goes even further, and makes the illustration from the type even more specific in order to further illuminate the communion relationship and the significance of our partaking of the cup and bread memorial emblems. He does this by referring to the priests and Levites that did partake of the sacrifices from the altar in the tabernacle. The tribe of Levi had no inheritance in the Land of Israel and so they lived off the offerings made to the Lord. The offerings from the altar in the tabernacle were therefore their source of food.

This illustration is more specific to Christians and is introduced immediately after the communion verses to make clear the significance and nature of the communion relationship and he links the two situations by the word “observe.”

In the tabernacle picture, as with the firstborn of the Passover, the tribe of Levi represented the household of faith — which only has a heavenly inheritance. The tribe of Levi had no land of their own, picturing this heavenly inheritance of the Church of firstborns.

The priests and Levites ate of the sacrifices, indicating that they internalised the nutritional benefits to themselves. Again, there is no suggestion here that by eating of these sacrifices they were sharing in or contributing to the actual sacrifice. Rather, the benefit of the nutritional elements flowed in one direction and one direction only — from the altar to the priest or Levite. In the antitype this translates directly to the flow of spiritual benefits from the altar of God by way of Jesus’ sacrifice to the household of faith, which the Priests and Levites represented.

In this more specific typical picture, the Apostle Paul introduces the important principle that the altar from which the sacrificed food comes, identifies the source of the food. The priests and Levites ate of the sacrifices from the altar in the court of the tabernacle, thus identifying the source of the food as God.

“Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. ¹⁵ I speak as to wise men; judge for yourselves what I say. ¹⁶ The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? ¹⁷ For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread” (1 Corinthians 10:14–17).

The communion verses come immediately after the Apostle Paul’s admonition to flee from idolatry; which was a particular problem in the Corinthian church. The Corinthian church consisted of many Christians of Gentile background and these brethren were accustomed to eating food from the markets and in houses of unbelievers that had been sacrificed on pagan altars to pagan gods. The Apostle Paul’s aim here is to illustrate the dangers of continuing to eat these pagan sacrifices by pointing out the crucial significance of the altar from which the sacrifices come. Here he is teaching that those that partake of these sacrifices in the type, are commonly joined to one another by participating of the altar and what it represents, from which the sacrifice comes. In the same way, those that eat of pagan sacrifices are commonly joined by participating in eating from them.

Partaking of pagan sacrifices means partaking of the table of demons.

“What am I saying then? That an idol is anything, or what is offered to idols is anything? ²⁰ Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons” (1 Corinthians 10:19–20).

Even though, as the Apostle Paul points out, idols are nothing in themselves, in reality the altar is demonic, so that by partaking of the pagan sacrifice, one is not only joining oneself in fellowship with those pagans that eat the sacrificed food, but is also partaking of the table of demons.

“You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons” (1 Corinthians 10:21).

And for a Christian to partake of the table of the Lord is incompatible with partaking of the table of demons.

“Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?” (1 Corinthians 10:22).

By partaking of these pagan sacrifices, Christians risk provoking the Lord to jealousy.

“You shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, …” (Exodus 20:5).

For our God is a jealous God and He will not tolerate other gods, for all other gods are no gods. So that the worship of anything but God is not only false but is also of Satan — for he is the great usurper, for he wanted to be as the Most High. Worship of anything else but God usurps the authority of God and displaces the true worship reserved only for God.

And this principle is embodied in the first and greatest commandment – “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37).

So, to summarize, it is evident that the food provided at these altars is not shared in the sense of being contributed to by the partaker. The flow of nutrition, whether typical or spiritual or idolatrous, flows from the altar to the recipient, for the benefit (or detriment) of the partaker.

The modern-day gods that we are in danger of worshipping tend to be more subtle and insidious.

“For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: ¹⁹ whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame— who set their mind on earthly things. ²⁰ For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ…” (Philippians 3:18–20).

In our modern society we find people pursuing such things as knowledge, health, physical beauty, money, material things, status and respect. Even though most of these have benefits in moderation, when one is consumed by their pursuit it becomes a false god. Therefore, anything that takes our minds and desires from the heavenly things, anything that supplants the true and appropriate worship of our heavenly Father is a false god and amounts to idolatry when pursued to an excessive extent.

A particular danger for the household of faith is the supplanting, consciously or subconsciously, of the authority of the word of God with the words of any imperfect human being. Our faith must be based on the word of God, not on the words of a man. All teachings must be tested thoroughly against scripture.

KOINONIA

“The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion (koinonia) of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion (koinonia) of the body of Christ?” (1 Corinthians 10:16).

Koinonia is part of the koin- root word group which has the fundamental meaning of sharing in something (indicated by the genitive case) with someone (indicated by the dative case); or the simple cases may be replaced by a prepositional phrase.

“By which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers (koin-) of the divine nature (genitive case), having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (2 Peter 1:4).

“Therefore, if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship (koin-) of the Spirit (genitive case), if any affection and mercy…” (Philippians 2:1).

Another example of the koin- root word group occurs in Philippians 2 verse 1. Paul is talking about the fellowship of the holy spirit – it is evident that each individual of the household of faith has a share in the holy spirit with all other believers. Spirit is in the genitive case indicating what they commonly share in. Importantly the sharing is in the holy spirit not with the holy spirit.

“And so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners (koin-) with Simon (dative case). And Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.’” (Luke 5:10).

So, the word “koinonia” in 1 Corinthians 10:16 means that the household of faith share-the shared experience, in the drinking of the blood of Jesus and eating of his flesh with one another.

In our 1 Corinthians 10:14–22 context, we have the koin- root word used four times.

If drinking of the cup of the Lord meant sharing in the sufferings of the Lord, then those drinking of the cup of demons would have to mean sharing in the sufferings of demons — which evidently is not the case.

Here the Apostle Paul also uses the koin- root word with respect to the Levites being common sharers of the brazen altar and what it represents. Altar here is in the genitive case making clear what the Levites are participating in. It is clear from the actual type and the underlying grammar that the meaning of the koin- root word here does not mean a sharing with the altar and the sacrifices that come from it. The Levites did not contribute to the sacrifices or their suffering in any way — they ate of them and thereby benefitted from them.

By eating of the bread, and drinking of the cup introduced by Jesus at the memorial, we show that we are commonly – with one another, sharing in the eating of the flesh of Jesus and drinking of his blood. Thereby we receive the spiritual nutrition essential and indispensable for our salvation.

Although sharing in the sufferings and death of Jesus is clearly taught in the scriptures, Paul is not teaching this here in the communion verse.

“Is it Not”: Indicates a Reminder of Something Already Taught Not Something New

“The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? ¹⁷ For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread” (1 Corinthians 10:16–17).

That the Apostle Paul is bringing to mind something familiar rather than a new teaching [like a secondary meaning] is indicated by his use of the phrase “is it not”, twice in the communion verses.

Technically, “is it not” is a figure of speech referred to as “interrogation”; this occurs when a question is asked without waiting for the answer. There are different forms of interrogation and here it is called “interrogation in negative affirmation“; this occurs when the question is put in the negative, and the answer must be in the affirmative, and very emphatically so – indicating that the point made is or should be known already by those to whom the question is addressed.

Let us look at other instances of use of this figure of speech.

“Therefore, I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?” (Matthew 6:25).

We find it is used in Matthew 6:25 by Jesus to show that indeed life is more than food and the body more than clothing. The important point to glean here is that the “is not” did not introduce something they did not already know.

“So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, ‘Is this not Joseph’s son?’” (Luke 4:22)

We find another example of this interrogative figure of speech in Luke 4 verse 22. Because of the gracious words that proceeded out of Jesus’ mouth, the people assumed that he was a sage from a far-off land with new found wisdom, and yet the interrogation in negative affirmation “is not” emphasises the fact that Jesus and his family were well known to them.

Therefore, the use of this “is not” figure of speech suggests that the communion verses are a reminder or an emphasis of something that was clear and known, rather than introducing a new truth.

Partaking of the Memorial Emblems Shows That We are Eating and Drinking at the Table of the Lord.

The memorial truth that the Apostle Paul is reminding us of is that eating of the bread and the drinking of the cup emblems indicates that we are together figuratively partaking of the sacrificed body and shed blood of Jesus – and thereby we are eating and drinking at the table of the Lord.

Sharing in the Sufferings of Jesus an Important Teaching – But Not Shown in Partaking of the Memorial Emblems

Let us be clear that we are not saying that faithful followers of Jesus do not share in his sufferings and death – for this is taught clearly in the word of God. Philippians 3:10 is a case in point:

“that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death…” (Philippians 3:10).

But this is not Paul’s teaching in his reference to our partaking of the memorial emblems in 1 Corinthians 10:16.

Fixing KJV 1 Corinthians 10:17

The Rendering of 1 Corinthians 10:17 in the KJV, NKJV and even the RVIC²⁰¹⁶ is faulty.

“For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread” (1 Corinthians 10:17, NKJV).

“¹⁰⁴ seeing that we the many are one bread, one body: for we all partake.” (1 Corinthians 10:17, (RVIC²⁰¹⁶).

When we read 1 Corinthians 10:17 in the KJV, NKJV and even the RVIC²⁰¹⁶, we are left with the thought that by partaking of the bread emblem the followers of Jesus become that bread. Ostensibly this does not seem to make sense, but does seem to give credence to the thought that the Church becomes part of the sacrifice from which it benefits.

1 Corinthians 10:17 should read – “seeing that there is one bread, we, who are many, are one body”

The Church is referred to as “one body” but never as “the/one bread.” Only Jesus is referred to as “the bread.”

The more modern translations, including the Diaglott, show that the greater number of modern translators overwhelmingly favour the alternate rendering – seeing that there is one bread, we, who are many, are one body. The“we” belongs with the many and one body, not the bread – for as the verse makes clear we are one body because we partake of that bread.

We Need to Keep Eating at the Table of the Lord in Order to Gain the Imperishable Crown

As followers of Jesus, we need to keep spiritually feeding on his flesh and drink his blood to continue to receive these incredibly gracious benefits during this age of darkness. We remind ourselves of these spiritual benefits flowing from God to us based on Jesus’ shed blood and sacrificed body, particularly at memorial time.

What a privilege it is to eat and drink at the table of the Lord; for it leads to eternal life. But doing so also carries all important responsibilities. We have to avoid all forms of idolatry, particularly the subtle forms, for truly we are on trial for life, now.

“Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” ³⁹ But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul” (Hebrews 10:38–39).

But if we are careful and listen to God’s word, for Jesus speaks to us through it, we will not be of those that draw back to destruction, but rather we will be of those that are faithful, temperate and disciplined, leading to eternal life – to the glory of our Heavenly Father.

“Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over” (Psalm 23:5).

Amen.

ACTS 23:6 —HOPE & RESURRECTION. PART B. Will Mankind Resurrect With the Same Mind?

1 SAMUEL 2, 6-8.jpg

Why is a Resurrection Necessary?

The Apostle Paul explains why a resurrection is necessary through stating a precious promise in 1 Corinthians 15:21-22, (21) For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. (22) For as in Adam ALL die, even so in Christ shall ALL be made alive.”

The resurrection is necessitated by the fall, if God is to recover the fallen human race.

The Greek word in the Bible used for “resurrection” is “anastasis”—(noun).
The “ana” means again, the “stasis” means a standing.
It has the connotation to be lifted up back to full and perfect manhood…. Back to perfection.

The Old Testament does not state this word “resurrection”; it is only found in the New Testament.

So can we find this term expressed anywhere in the Old Testament? Let’s take a look at some Old Testament scriptures.

“You turn people back to dust, saying, “Return to dust, you mortals” (Psalm 90:3, NIV).

“And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away” (Isaiah 35:10)

“Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away” (Isaiah 51:11, NIV).

God doesn’t just want a blinded obedient creation
but one that will actually REJOICE after returning from death!

Men Sleeping in the Dust

Mankind isn’t just poor, but impoverished!

We read in Daniel 12:2, “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.”

Job confirmed this expectation of a resurrection in Job 14:13-15, “(13) O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me! (14) If a man die, shall he live again?… (15) Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands.”

Job expected to be remembered and restored. Job believed he would be awoke so much, that he asked God to put him in the grave until all his trouble would pass!

So in the Old Testament there was the understanding of the concept of being re-awakened from the sleep of death.

Release from the Prison of Death

In Psalm 146:7 we read,“The Lord looseth the prisoners …”

When you are in prison you cannot get out. The whole purpose of the prison is to keep you in. Until the door of death is unlocked, there is no coming out.

“Looseth”—freed from death as until then, there is no coming out of this condition.

In Job 3:18 we read, “There the prisoners rest together; they hear not the voice of the oppressor.”

Death is oblivion—there is no consciousness there… resting not in the same place of course but meaning in the same condition.

In Isaiah 49:8-9 we read, “ (8) I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages; (9) That thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Shew yourselves.”

We see a glimpse of how this will be accomplished—Christ and his ‘body’ (the Elect)—through them the New Covenant will begin once they are complete.

GOD will unlock the prison house of the grave then!

“I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes” (Hosea 13:14).

“(54) …Death is swallowed up in victory. (55) O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? (56) The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. (57) But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15: 54-57).

Will Mankind Resurrect With the Same Mind?

Yes. The mind you die with the mind you will come up with. If they were constantly thinking of evil or immoral… they will have to correct that!

Here are some verses to prove this:

“… if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be” (Ecclesiastes 11:3).

If they are earnestly seeking God they will have no problems in changing their characters.

^“As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, … even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all” (Ecclesiastes 11:5).

^“Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it” (Ecclesiastes 12:7).

In all the trials of life in the kingdom in perfect conditions wherein righteousness rules, mankind will have to make righteous choices to live forever.

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The principle in scripture is, described as the sowing and reaping one; that what we sow we will reap…

It seems today in the world that the wicked prosper, right?
But there is no fooling God!

As the way they go down, so they will come up… it will catch up with them as they will have to unlearn the unrighteousness and to sanctify themselves.

“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (Galatians 6:7).

You can fool the government …
You can fool the courts …
You can fool the majority of people …
But! You cannot fool God!

“The eyes of the LORD are in every place, observing both the evil and the good” (Proverbs 15:3).

^“For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:14).

So, the character you go down with, will be the character that follows in the resurrection.

Wickedness and deceit will be their own punishment in the kingdom, so they will have much further to have to go, to change their characters.

But can God Restore a Mind? Yes!

“(29) Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes with man, (30) to bring back his soul from the pit [“sheoul” = hell, pit, grave,] to be enlightened with the light of the living” (Job 33:29-30).

The light of the living concerns the mind, the intellect. Resurrected humanity on earth will “be enlightened” again with the light of life. Their resurrection from the dead will be clear and convincing evidence to them of God’s wonderful blessing on their behalf. This itself will provide an opportunity for them to begin anew on a better footing than before, with faith in God and appreciation for His kindness.

This favorable new beginning for mankind, each one individually, being raised again on earth during the Millennium, will come through the reign of Christ with his “Bride” (comprising 144,000 members, Revelation 7 and 14). Then evil will be restrained, rather than allowed to proceed, as at present. The Spirit of understanding from God will be poured out upon the hearts of humanity, starting with the nation of Israel (Zechariah 12:10).

The spirit of understanding will bring joy to mankind in doing what is pleasing to the Heavenly Father. They will seek after righteousness when they recognize the blessings that shall be gained in doing so. As Proverbs 21:21 says, “whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor.”

In Jeremiah 31 we read about the Spirit of understanding coming to Israel when they finally recognize Jesus as the Messiah.

“(31) Behold, the days come, saith Jehovah, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah … (33) This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. (34) And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more (Jeremiah 31:31-34).

After Israel has been inducted into this “new covenant,” at the beginning of Christ’s Millennial Reign, they will be used by God to extend the same blessings outward to the remainder of the world. Then all will be able to receive the spirit of understanding from God. “And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest” (Hebrews 8:11).

At the outset of the Millennial Age, the ransom will be applied for the world in order to remove the curse. The removal of the curse is the first necessary step in order to proceed with the resurrection. However, that does not mean the resurrected individuals are justified. They will be sinful people still (because they will return back with the same thoughts, as mentioned earlier in this post). Many of those raised will be without faith, and far short of good works. Teaching people about God and the standards of righteousness will take time. Individually, the blessed influences of the Kingdom will bring people to repentance, faith, and obedience. Ultimately they will be righteous and holy. As this process continues, they will be blessed also by physical blessings of health and vitality, returning to the perfection of being that Adam enjoyed in the garden before his sin.

The Basis of Our Hope

The basis of our hope IS the resurrection of the dead, and that ALL who die, shall come back alive.

“(20) But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. (21) For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. (22) For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. (23) But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. (24) Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power” (1 Corinthians 15:20-24).

All will be made alive. There is a hope to the resurrection.

SOME EVEN TODAY SAY— THERE IS NO RESURRECTION!

But the Bible clearly teaches us that our HOPE is based on the resurrection—the key to our faith!

Here is a beautiful explanation that there IS a resurrection:

^“(12) Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? (13) But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: (14) And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. (15) Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. (16) For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: (17) And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. (18) Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. (19) If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable” (1 Corinthians 15: 12-19).

The Apostle Paul is saying if your assumption is there is NO RESURRECTION, then you have NO HOPE!

The Apostle Paul is teaching us that the ONLY HOPE IS the resurrection!

The Church class (those running in the race of the High Calling) understand this and they understand that since Jesus did resurrect—this is our seal of approval that there IS a resurrection. The resurrection is really key to our faith.

Is the resurrection illustrated in the Scriptures?

Yes. Some temporary re-standings from the dead are illustrated in the Bible and as listed below, which demonstrated the capability of there being a permanent resurrection of all those in the grave:-

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Remembering Those in the Grave

The hope of man is that they will be remembered by others. Yet are they?

In Psalm 6:5 we read, “in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?”

As generations pass, people are largely forgotten as explained in Psalm 102:11-12,^“11My days are like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass. ¹²But thou, O Lord, shall endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations.”

Although mankind cannot remember people even 100 years ago, God can remember all generations and that too, means, that God CAN restore!

Can God Put a New Mind in an Old Body?

Of course God can!

In Acts 26:8 (NIV), the Apostle Paul explains to King Agrippa that it is because of this hope in the resurrection from the dead that the Jews are accusing him and states, “why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?”

If God has the ability to allow for the creation of 100 billion galaxies, then there is no doubt that God can restore all mankind in the soon to begin Kingdom!

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In Isaiah 40:28 (KJV) we read, “Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.”

Why Restore the Old Mind?

In Mark 12:27 we are told that our Heavenly Father “is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living…”

The Bible explains that God has appointed a day, in which “He will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead” (Acts 17:31).

This necessitates the remembrance of the consequences of sin.

All mankind who resurrect on earth will have the chance to gain eternal life so that there is PERFECT JOY FOREVERMORE as it is disobedience to God’s commands that led to PAIN, SORROW, TEARS, SUFFERING and UNHAPPINESS… while OBEDIENCE to RIGHTEOUSNESS is what pleases the Creator of our Universe and adhering to this, will lead to ETERNAL JOY!

The Bible assures us that God will “swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces… for the Lord hath spoken it” (Isaiah 25:8).

Acknowledgement

Br. Bob Goodman — for source material from his power-point presentation (a “BibleTruth411” – YouTube Video) “The Hope and Resurrection of the Dead”.

Br. David Rice — assistance with content and editing.

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Who is the World’s RANSOM and Why?

“Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith” (Galatians 3:24).

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suffering and shame.
And on that old cross the dearest and best,
For a world of lost sinners was slain.

It is a tragic picture to contemplate. A perfect man, so unjustly convicted, dying in the prime of life. But his greatest defeat was his greatest triumph. That was why he came. That was why he left the heavenly courts to become a man in the first place.

Note how obediently and willingly and humbly Jesus, the firstborn of all creation, the Bright Morning Star answered, when our Heavenly Father asked who should He send down to earth as the Redeemer, “Here am I, send me” (Isaiah 6:8). This is why the Son was the Almighty Heavenly Father’s delight.

Father Adam caused the death penalty to be imposed upon the whole human family, Christ’s willing sacrifice provided the value to redeem all mankind. Only a perfect being who was separate from God could accomplish the task of removing the death penalty upon Adam and his race, thus providing a way for mankind to be redeemed from the power of the grave.

Christ’s sacrifice provided a release from the curse, first for the Church class during the Gospel Age, and later for the World during the Millennial Age.

God loves mankind deeply (John 3:16). We cannot imagine the sorrow and pain that God experienced when Adam fell. We can only get some idea of this feeling when we observe the grief of parents when their children go astray.

God not only provided a mechanism to rescue His precious creation, but authorized His son to execute God’s plan for their redemption.

“By his knowledge the righteous one, my servant, will justify the many, as he will bear their iniquities” (Isaiah 53:11, NAS).

Not only did God provide the mechanism for mankind’s redemption, God also empowered this Righteous One, Jesus, to justify His chosen ones. “Wherefore Jesus, … that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate” (Hebrews 13:12). Jesus was “delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification” (Romans 4:25). God has empowered His son to redeem us and justify us.

The death of our Savior, Jesus Christ, provided the price of our release from the curse. The scriptures speak of the life of Jesus, given for us, as a “ransom” for us. Today we think of a ransom as a price for the release of a hostage. The scriptural word “ransom” is from the Greek word “lutron,” which literally means a price of release (Matthew 20:28, Mark 10:45).

The word “ransom” also appears in 1 Timothy 2:4–6, from the Greek word “antilutron,” which means a corresponding price of release. This refers to the fact that the value of the life of Jesus, given for us corresponds to the price required. From the use of the word “ransom” we see that:

God wants to save the whole human race, and

Jesus provided the price necessary to release us from the death penalty imposed upon Adam and his race.

The PURPOSE of the Ransom

The object of the ransom was not to afford each individual a release from the original condemnation, in order to give them an opportunity to attain everlasting life. It allows mankind an opportunity to return to harmony and communion with God.

“I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes” (Hosea 13:14).

RANSOM STEPS

(1) Determine the Price — The price of release (the lutron or ransom) was the value of a human life. God established that the punishment for sin was death, and this was imposed upon Adam when he sinned. Adam passed his condemned life to all of the human race. In order to release mankind from this penalty, would require an obedient man to accept that punishment upon himself, so that it could be released from Adam and all those who received Adam’s life through procreation. Thus every person who descended from Adam — all humanity — will receive a release from death.

(2) Provide the Price — Jesus, as a perfect human being not subject to death, yielded his life in order to take upon himself, the penalty due us — so that we might be released. “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 Corinthians 15:21, 22). Jesus’ life yielded, is the price for Adam’s life to be restored: Jesus for Adam, a perfect life for a perfect life. How beautifully they balance the scales of justice!

(3) Pay the Price — When Jesus died, he said “Father into thy hands I commend [deposit] my spirit” (Luke 23:46). The word “commend” is from the Greek word paratithemi, which means to deposit as a trust. In other words, Jesus committed to God the value of his life for later use, and all of Jesus’ interests for his future work in the Plan of God.

(4) Loosen the Captives — The world has been under the penalty of death, but they will be loosed (“luo”) from this captivity in God’s due time, when Christ and his “bride” of 144,000 members rules with him to raise and bless mankind.

RELEASE FROM THE LAW

After Jesus was baptized, he meditated in the wilderness for 40 days. Part of this time he would have meditated on the Law of God, given to Israel through Moses at Mount Sinai. That law was perfect. Therefore, imperfect man could not keep it. As the Apostle Paul says in Romans 7:10, “The commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.” For none of Adam’s imperfect race could perfectly keep the Law.

But Jesus did. By keeping a perfect law perfectly he demonstrated that he was a perfect man, and therefore that he could be a corresponding price for the only other perfect man in history, Adam. Like an index finger, the law pointed out the one person who could pay the ransom price.

Adam and Eve had no children until they left the garden of Eden. Therefore, all of their offspring inherited a condemned and imperfect life. Jesus, like Adam before he sinned, had the potential for a perfect human race in his loins. In this sense he was an appropriate value to redeem Adam and his race.

No wonder then we sing with rejoicing:

In the cross of Christ I glory,
Towering oer the wrecks of time.
So l’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to that old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.

As 1 Timothy 2:4-6 reads, God has willed or determined (rather than “desired”) that all mankind will:

Be saved from Adamic death, from the destruction of the grave, to be accomplished through the GREATEST MIRACLE the world will EVER experience: THE RESURRECTION!
Be saved from ignorance, blindness and deafness.
Come under a “new covenant” established by God, during the 1000 year Messianic Kingdom.
Be restored to perfection and an opportunity for eternal life.
Come to a knowledge of God, and thus secure a relationship with God forever.

The Ransom provides a salvation from the curse of death. It will be UNCONDITIONAL. It depends alone upon the will of God, and the price of release is the value of Jesus’ life, given for us all.

This Scriptural passage, 1 Timothy 2:4-6, speaks of a universal redemption. During the Millennium the curse will be remitted. Then each individual may begin walking up the “highway of holiness” toward everlasting life. Most of mankind will accept this free gift, and progress accordingly. Only a few will use their power of choice differently, and fail to attain everlasting life at the close of the Millennium (Revelation 20:7-9).

God will provide for the enlightenment of every individual when they awaken from the dead, so that everyone will have an accurate knowledge of God, His love, and His standards. The knowledge of Jehovah shall fill the earth (Isaiah 11:9). Mankind will have learned through experience the consequences of sin. During the Millennium, they will learn through experience the blessings of righteousness. All can then choose between the law of God which leads to life, and the law of sin which leads to death. Knowledge of truth is light, and Christ is “the true light, to lighten every man that cometh into the world” (John 1:9).

Jesus is an Advocate and helper presently to those who have consecrated their lives to follow in Jesus’ footsteps. They express this commitment by baptism, and rejoice in hope of resurrection glory with Christ in heaven. We suffer with Jesus in the present, by pursuing righteousness in world surrounded by sin. We will reign with Christ in glory, to assist him during the Millennium in drawing mankind back to God (Revelation 20:6).

During the Millennium, when God effects a new covenant for blessing Israel and the world (Jeremiah 31:31), Jesus will serve as Mediator, standing between God and men, in order to reconcile them by bringing mankind back to godliness. The saints who reign with Christ will be with Jesus in this mediatorial work of reclaiming mankind. Thus this work awaits the completion of the “Bride” class to be complete. Mediating for the world will then proceed. The saints will be associated with every feature of this work for the world, assisting them during the Millennium.

The word Mediator from the Greek is mesite and means middle-man, reconciler, go-between. The Scriptures use the word respecting mediating a covenant between parties who are alienated. A mediator is one who interposes between persons who are at variance, with a view to reconciling them. Moses, as the Mediator of the Law Covenant, was a type of Jesus, the Mediator of the New Covenant.

At the close of the thousand years the Mediator will have completed its role. Thereafter God will stand before God, and demonstrate, during the “Little Season,” their condition of heart. Those who are obedient and godly, will receive everlasting life. Those who are disobedient and rebellious, will lose this privilege.

In 1 Timothy 2:5 we read about “The man Christ Jesus.” The Greek word for “man” is anthropos — human being. It refers to when Jesus when he was made flesh. Jesus “gave himself” as “the anointed” one (the word Christ signifies “the anointed”), who finished the giving of himself at Calvary. The name Jesus is but another form for Joshua, which signifies Deliverer. The name Christ is the Greek equivalent for the Hebrew word Messiah — The Anointed.

Jesus surrendered his perfect human life, that is, all of himself, his human rights and privileges — the full equivalent of Adam’s perfect life. By his willing sacrifice for men he secured the right to purchase Adam and the entire race. He has not applied this human life to Adam and his race. It remains a deposit, for use at the appropriate time to release mankind from the curse.

Christ was both Priest and Sacrifice. As a priest, he offered his sacrifice to God. As a Sacrifice, his human life was yielded up, given, for the benefit of mankind.

THOSE WHO ARE IN CHRIST PRESENTLY

As mentioned earlier, the ransom Jesus gave constitutes a price of release. Those who have come into Christ in the present time, accepting the value of his sacrifice by faith in him, are granted redemption presently. That is, God counts them as uncondemned, justified, by virtue of the value of Christ’s redeeming sacrifice (Romans 5:9). We then lay down this justified life in service and sacrifice with Jesus, as long as our days remain.

We thus give up our share in the earthly blessings awaiting mankind, in order to secure the higher, heavenly blessings offered during the present time.

The resurrection of Jesus was a testimony from God that Jesus performed his sacrifice correctly, and that all the blessings God has for us now — and the world later — are sure and established (Acts 17:31).

Another evidence of God’s acceptance of Jesus’ sacrifice was seen by sending the holy Spirit upon the saints on the day of Pentecost. There God’s anointing, the holy Spirit (symbolized in the Old Testament by the holy anointing oil), came upon the Church. It continues ever since on all the living members of the Church.

Jesus laid down his life as a sin-offering during the 3½ years, and Jesus applied the value of this for the Church class when he appeared in the presence of God for us. Jesus has not yet applied it for the whole world. That awaits the Millennium.

The ransom price that Jesus gave provides a release from condemnation, for us now, and for the world later. That was given on Calvary’s cross.

The sin offering that Jesus gave began at Jordan (when Jesus was 30 years of age), and continued through the 3½ years of Jesus’ ministry (until Jesus was 33 1/2 years old). Jesus was “made perfect,” or complete, in character, “by the things which he suffered” (Hebrews 5:8,9). Jesus was not imperfect at any time in the sense of being sinful (2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 John 3:5, 1 Peter 2:22). He was perfect, undefiled, in His glorious condition as the Logos, before He left the glory which He had with the Father and was made flesh. When born of Mary, the assurance given us is that He was still “holy, harmless, undefiled and separate from sinners” (Hebrews 7:26). His sufferings, therefore, did not make Him perfect in the sense of making Him sinless, but rather, to prove his loyalty to the Father’s will, unto death, even the death of the cross. The promise of perfection on the highest plane — the promise of the Divine nature — was Christ’s reward for fulfilling his Covenant of Sacrifice faithfully and loyally. The beginning of that new nature was granted to Jesus at the time of his baptism, when he was begotten of the holy Spirit. But the new nature begotten there needed development, or perfecting; and it was for this purpose that the trials, difficulties and buffetings were permitted to come to Him (R5472). As our High Priest in glory, Christ — our Advocate (our personal “lawyer”), works with us through our experiences, to purge from us the propensity for sin.

The Church is not a part of the ransom price. However, we do have the privilege of suffering with Christ presently, and being raised in glory to be priests for the world during the Kingdom (Revelation 20:6). From that elevated standing, we will be able to assist Jesus in purging from mankind their propensity for sin. In this way we share with Christ in being an offering for sin.

The Church is not a part of the ransom price but does share in the sin-offering through grace. These two doctrines are inseparable. We could call them the TWIN DOCTRINES as they always work together in the process of salvation.

The ransom expresses God’s justice. For it shows that a payment for sin is necessary, in order to release mankind from the curse justly imposed upon our father Adam in Eden. But as steadfast as the penalty has been — so God’s commitment to release mankind from the curse, now that a payment has been made, is equally sure.

Christ has already redeemed mankind in the sense that he has laid down the ransom price. But he has not yet rescued mankind and applied to them the value of the ransom price provided. That awaits the Millennial Kingdom. In the meantime, God is selecting from among mankind people of faith, to be developed in the pattern established by Jesus, in order to assist Jesus in the world of lifting the world from their plight during the Millennium.

Then God will apply the price of release for Israel and the world. Then a New Covenant will be established for blessing of all who come under its blessings. When the Millennial age shall have been finished its work, and all are restored to harmony with God, then our heavenly Father will be ALL in ALL (1 Corinthians 15:28).