Death is a result of man’s disobedience to God.

Romans 3:

²³ For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 6:23

²³ For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Death Type 1-physical, the body and spirit are separated

Ecclesiastes 12:

⁷ Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

We see the body and the spirit are separated at the point of physical death. Everyone is under the sentence of physical death because everyone has sinned.

Death Type 2-body and spirit are reunited, judged and cast into the lake of fire- Revelation 20:

¹² And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

¹³ And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

¹⁴ And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

¹⁵ And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

We see that those who are judged on their works, and do not have their name written in the Book of Life, are found guilty and cast unto the lake of fire. It is so important to realize the lake of fire was designed for satan and the rebellious angels never for people.

Matthew 25:

⁴¹ Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

God wants every person to be excluded from this second death according to 2 Peter 3:

⁹ The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

How can you have your name written in the Book of Life? John records the answer in chapter 3:

¹⁶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

¹⁷ For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

¹⁸ He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Paul records more of the answer in his letter to the Romans chapter 10:

⁹ That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

¹⁰ For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

¹¹ For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed.

Types of Resurrection of the body (reuniting of body and spirit):

The words of Jesus recorded by John in chapter 5:

²⁵ Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.

²⁶ For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;

²⁷ And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.

²⁸ Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,

²⁹ And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

There are two resurrections of the body. During each resurrection the body and spirit are reunited. The first resurrection is the resurrection of life and the second the resurrection of damnation.

You will be part of the resurrection to life if your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

Those who are in the Resurrection to Life will never experience the second death.

The Resurrection to Life has 3 phases

Phase 1-First Fruits- Jesus rose from the grave giving evidence that there will be a harvest- 1 Corinthians 15:

²⁰But 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.

Phase 2-Harvest occurs when Jesus returns for His church and is explained in 1 Thessalonians 4:

¹³ But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

¹⁴ For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

¹⁵ For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

¹⁶ For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

¹⁷ Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Phase 3-Gleaning occurs during and at the end of the 7-year tribulation and at the end of Jesus’ 1,000 year reign as King on the earth.

Revelation 20:

⁴ And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

⁵ But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

⁶ Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Questions for reflection

1) What does it mean to you that Jesus made a way for you in the Resurrection to Life?

2) What word best describes your thoughts about death and resurrection?

3) Do you know for sure that your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life?

4) How can you use this information about death and resurrection?

Christ the Lord is Risen Today – Charles Wesley, 1739

Christ, the Lord, is risen today, Alleluia! Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia! Sing, ye heavens, and earth, reply, Alleluia!

Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia! Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!
Lo! the Sun’s eclipse is over, Alleluia! Lo! He sets in blood no more, Alleluia!

Vain the stone, the watch, the seal, Alleluia! Christ hath burst the gates of hell, Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids His rise, Alleluia! Christ hath opened paradise, Alleluia!

Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia! Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Once He died our souls to save, Alleluia!Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!

Soar we now where Christ hath led, Alleluia! Following our exalted Head, Alleluia!
Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia! Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!

Hail, the Lord of earth and Heaven, Alleluia! Praise to Thee by both be given, Alleluia!
Thee we greet triumphant now, Alleluia! Hail, the resurrection, thou, Alleluia!

King of glory, Soul of bliss, Alleluia! Everlasting life is this, Alleluia!
Thee to know, Thy power to prove, Alleluia! Thus to sing and thus to love, Alleluia!

Hymns of praise then let us sing, Alleluia! Unto Christ, our heavenly King, Alleluia!
Who endured the cross and grave, Alleluia! Sinners to redeem and save. Alleluia!

But the pains that He endured, Alleluia! Our salvation have procured, Alleluia!
Now above the sky He’s King, Alleluia! Where the angels ever sing. Alleluia!

Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia! Our triumphant holy day, Alleluia!
Who did once upon the cross, Alleluia! Suffer to redeem our loss. Alleluia!

Hebrews 12:

¹Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Dearly Beloved,

Run with your eyes on Jesus alone!

Run in faith that Jesus loves you, has uniquely designed and created only one you, has a good

plan for your life, runs with you and will accomplish His purposes for you and through you!

Run in His strength alone!

Run with your eyes on the prize!

Run with the desire to finish strong!

Run with the desire to finish with your lamp burning!

Run with the expectation of being in His physical presence when you cross your finish line!

Run to His glory alone!

Run and keep on running!

Coach Patti