Resurrection

Heb. 11-35 Can a believer in Jesus have this better resurrection? Are we able to gain all 5 crowns?

Enoch Son,

This list in the letter to the Messianic Jews, the writer is encouraging those who suffer for their faith, illustrating that the trials of life come to ALL believers and that our reward is sure and will come at the Lords return. Here is a good reference to those the writer is using as examples:


33–36 Through trusting, Moses conquered the kingdoms of Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan (Numbers 21:21–35). Daniel shut the mouths of lions (Daniel 6:1–29). Chananyah, Misha’el and ‘Azaryah (Shadrakh, Meishakh and ‘Aved-n’go) quenched the power of fire (Daniel 1:6, 3:1–30). Elijah and Elisha were among those who escaped the edge of the sword (1 Kings 19:2ff., 2 Kings 6:31ff.). The widow of Tzarfat and the woman of Shunem received back their dead resurrected through Elijah and Elisha’s ministries (1 Kings 17:8–24, 2 Kings 4:8–37). From the Apocrypha we learn how in the days of the Maccabees, the 90-year-old Torah-teacher El‘azar willingly chose to die >al kiddush haShem (“to sanctify God’s name”; see Ac 7:59–60N), rather than eat pork and appear publicly to have forsaken Judaism—he was among those stretched on the rack and beaten to death, refusing to be ransomed, so that they would gain a better resurrection (2 Maccabees 6:18–31). Yeshua himself was mocked, whipped, chained and imprisoned (Yn 19:1–3, Mk 15:1–9); compare also the prophets Mikhayahu (Micaiah, 1 Kings 22:24) and Yirmiyahu (Jeremiah 20:2, 7; 37:15).

37–38 Z’kharyah the son of Y’hoyadah the priest was stoned to death (2 Chronicles 24:21; compare Mt 23:35–37).
Being sawed in two was certainly a known form of torturing people to death (2 Samuel 12:31), and according to the first-century partly Jewish, partly Christian book, The Ascension of Isaiah, the prophet Yesha‘yahu was killed in this way. The Talmud gives this description:

“Rabbi Shim‘on ben-’Azzai said, ‘I found a genealogy scroll in Jerusalem, and it is written there … [that King] M’nasheh killed Yesha‘yahu.’ Raba said, ‘Before killing him, M’nasheh staged a trial and said, “Your teacher Moshe said, ‘For men shall not see me and live’ [Exodus 33:20]; but you say, ‘I saw Adonai sitting on a throne, high and lifted up’ [Isaiah 6:1].” [Two similar contradictions are cited.] Yesha‘yahu replied, “It is well known that you do not receive what people tell you; so if I answer your accusations, I will only turn you into a wilful murderer.” So Yesha‘yahu said a Name [of God, thought of as having supernatural power] and was swallowed up by a cedar. However, the cedar was brought and sawed in two; and when the saw reached his mouth he died; [this was his punishment] for having said, “I live among a people of unclean lips” [Isaiah 6:5].’ ” (Yevamot 49b)

Jeremiah 26:20–23 mentions the prophet Uriah as having been murdered by the sword, and Elijah speaks of others who suffered the same fate (1 Kings 19:10, Ro 11:3).
Went about clothed in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted, mistreated, wandering about in deserts and mountains, living in caves and holes in the ground. The description fits Elijah and Elisha (1 Kings 19:13, 2 Kings 2:14), as well as the pious Jews who fled from the persecution of Antiochus IV in the time of the Maccabees (1 Maccabees 2:38). Yochanan the Immerser wore camel skins (Mt 3:4) and led a similar life, while Yeshua himself had “no home of his own” (Lk 9:58).
In other words, the people who trusted God were utterly unrewarded and unappreciated in their time by the rest of humanity; the reverse side of this coin is seen when our author writes that the world was not worthy of them! Worldly people, since they themselves do not truly trust God, cannot fully appreciate those whose lives are based utterly on trust, because their values are so different. But as soon as worldly people, by God’s grace (Ep 2:8–9), take the tiniest step of faith themselves, then the great faith reported in this chapter takes on an altogether different significance for them and becomes a source of inspiration.
The Jewish New Testament Commentary, (Clarksville, MD: Jewish New Testament Publications) 1996.

Charles in Florida

Charles, Apparently your source of information is fraudulent or at best, misleading. The reason I say this, is because Elisha did in fact have his own house. Proof is 2 Kings 6:32 "But Elisha sat in his house, and the elders sat with him;...". Also, I have heard it said that the Jewish tradition teaches that all of the Old Covenant Prophets were rich or at least prosperious.

If you are correct, then what is the true meaning of this scripture in Joshua 1:7 "Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.
8. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success."?

If the servants of God were as destitute as you say, then I would have to say that it looks as if they didn't take God's command to Joshua seriously or somebody really screwed up big time.

I know that this is off the thread, but in your discourse, you very briefly mentioned the resurrection and made a big deal out of "the trials of life come to ALL believers" when in fact the truth is the trials of life comes to all, believer or not.

Ok, back to the thread...I believe that ALL believers do have the promise of this "better resurrection", which is the resurrection unto Life. The worser resurrection would be the resurrection of the Lost...So my advice to all would be to pursue Jesus, for He is the "BETTER RESURRECTION".

As for the five crowns, it is possible for one to receive all five crowns. All that is required is to work in the actual ministry, or to be a partner with the ministry God has connected you to.

Look; I believe we have all five crowns at salvation because they are given by Jesus He won them.

I beg to differ, is it possible to get the soulwinner's crown if you haven't brought anyone to the Master?

But you have. Because you don't lead them in a pray does not mean you had nothing to do with someone salvation. A friend from high school walk up to me at the 25th reunion and said that I qoute one bible vers. to him 25 yrs. ago. It ate on him for 17 yrs. till he hear a preacher speak on it on t.v.. The seed was planted. He got saved and filled. The glory is the Lords!

Praise the Lord!!!