First Resurrection?

[Tawhano]

Considering the follow passage:

Matthew 27:45-52 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" that is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, "This man is calling Elijah." And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink. But the others said, "Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him." And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised,

Matthew 27:53 and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many.

Matthew 27:54When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, "Truly this was the Son of God!"

In verse 53 we see the words ‘after his resurrection’. The questions I have on this is this:

1) Taking in consideration the use of the word ‘and’ to tie all these events it would appear they took place while Jesus was still nailed to the cross. How was Jesus resurrected while still on the cross?
2) If all these events took place in succession then those bodies of the saints were then resurrected immediately after Jesus was. That would make them the people referred to in Revelations:

Revelation 20:4-5 Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection.

If that event records the first resurrection then the second happened a thousand years later. In other words we all missed the boat and the second and last resurrection has passed us by because it is now over two thousand years since that event.

3) Since Jesus did not return to the Father at that time then does this mean the resurrection is only to return us to earth?

Anybody got any thoughts on this passage?

 

[OldWiseGuy]

Considering the follow passage:

Matthew 27:45-52 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" that is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, "This man is calling Elijah." And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink. But the others said, "Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him." And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised,

Matthew 27:53 and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many.

Matthew 27:54When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, "Truly this was the Son of God!"

In verse 53 we see the words ‘after his resurrection’. The questions I have on this is this:

1) Taking in consideration the use of the word ‘and’ to tie all these events it would appear they took place while Jesus was still nailed to the cross. How was Jesus resurrected while still on the cross?
2) If all these events took place in succession then those bodies of the saints were then resurrected immediately after Jesus was. That would make them the people referred to in Revelations:

Revelation 20:4-5 Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection.

If that event records the first resurrection then the second happened a thousand years later. In other words we all missed the boat and the second and last resurrection has passed us by because it is now over two thousand years since that event.

3) Since Jesus did not return to the Father at that time then does this mean the resurrection is only to return us to earth?

Anybody got any thoughts on this passage?

These were 'resurrected' in the same manner that Lazarus was, simply brought back to human life, a miraculous sign. Just place parenthesis (.....) around verse 53 and read it as an 'aside' comment. It is more clear that way.

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

Matthew 27:53 and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many.

Matthew 27:54When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, "Truly this was the Son of God!"

In verse 53 we see the words ‘after his resurrection’. The questions I have on this is this:

1) Taking in consideration the use of the word ‘and’ to tie all these events it would appear they took place while Jesus was still nailed to the cross. How was Jesus resurrected while still on the cross?
2) If all these events took place in succession then those bodies of the saints were then resurrected immediately after Jesus was. That would make them the people referred to in Revelations:

Revelation 20:4-5 Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection [#386] .

Interesting observeation and I will have to look at that more closely, as the first resurrection in revelation is a little mysterious to me. The firstfruits 144,000 of chapt 14 are also Israelites.

I noticed a passage in Luke showing the Resurrection of Many in Israel. Could this be related?

Luke 2:34 and Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, `Lo, this [one] is set for the falling and rising again [RESURRECTION #386] of many in Israel, and for a sign spoken against-- 35 (and also thine own soul shall a sword pass through) --that the reasonings of many hearts may be revealed.'

These were 'resurrected' in the same manner that Lazarus was, simply brought back to human life, a miraculous sign. Just place parenthesis (.....) around verse 53 and read it as an 'aside' comment. It is more clear that way.

Daniel 11 and revelation are that way also it seems and why those 2 books are difficult to not only translate but interpret. Thanks for you thoughts on this bro.
[SIZE=+2] [/SIZE]

 

[Tawhano]

It is more clear that way.

But is it correct? Also that would not explain why it implies Christ was resurrected on the cross.

 

[Tawhano]

This is why I don’t bother to come to the Christian Only section to find answers.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

This is why I don’t bother to come to the Christian Only section to find answers.

I have the same problem. Very few agree with my unorthodox views (even when obviously true).

 

[skylark1]

1) Taking in consideration the use of the word ‘and’ to tie all these events it would appear they took place while Jesus was still nailed to the cross. How was Jesus resurrected while still on the cross?

I don't think that the passage is stating that Jesus was resurrected while still on the cross. Matthew Henry commented that it is possible that the tombs were opened at the same time that the earthquake occured when Jesus gave up his spirit, but that they were not resurrected until after Jesus was resurrected.

It is uncertain whether (as some think) they arose to life, now at the death of Christ, and disposed of themselves elsewhere, but did not go into the city till after his resurrection; or whether (as others think), though their sepulchres (which the Pharisees had built and varnished, ch. 23:29), and so made remarkable, were shattered now by the earthquake (so little did God regard that hypocritical respect), yet they did not revive and rise till after the resurrection; only, for brevity-sake, it is mentioned here, upon the mention of the opening of the graves, which seems more probable. [3.] Some think that they arose only to bear witness of Christ’s resurrection to those to whom they appeared, and, having finished their testimony, retired to their graves again. But it is more agreeable, both to Christ’s honour and theirs, to suppose, though we cannot prove, that they arose as Christ did, to die no more, and therefore ascended with him to glory. Surely on them who did partake of his first resurrection, a second death had no power. [4.] To whom they appeared (not to all the people it is certain, but to many), whether enemies or friends, in what manner they appeared, how often, what they said and did, and how they disappeared, are secret things which belong not to us; we must not covet to be wise above what is written. The relating of this matter so briefly, is a plain intimation to us, that we must not look that way for a confirmation of our faith; we have a more sure word of prophecy. See Lu. 16:31.

http://www.blueletterbible.org/tmp_dir/c/1142543276-1459.html​

Dwight Pentecost explained in The Words and Works of Jesus Christ, that if these saints were raised in the same way that Lazarus was that they would die again and take part in the first resurrection when Christ returns.

The earth had come under the curse of Adam's sin (Gen. 3:17). Creation is to be delivered from bondage (Rom. 8:21). It was the death of Christ that provided for creation's redemption. The earthquake seems to be evidence that the death of Christ was a judgement on the world to provide for its redemption. This earthquake not only split rocks but also opened many tombs (Matt. 27:52).

Other tokens accompanied the earthquake. The rocks were rent and the rockhewn tombs were shaken open at the hour of His death. Saints of Jesus who had believed on Him and fallen asleep in death before His crucifixtion were raised from the dead and appeared unto many of the disciples after the resurrection three days later. Such a miracle of God's grace would be useful, to show the disciples that the resurrection of Jesus was not an isolated phenomenon, but that He was only the first-fruits of the victory over death. (J.W. Shepard, The Christ of the Gospels)​

Although raised at the time of Jesus' death, these saints cid not appear in Jerusalem until after the resurrection of Christ. Then they appeared to many. They would have constituted a part of the "sign of . . . Jonah" which Christ had said would be proof of His person (Matt. 12:39). We do not know to what state these were raised. The probability is that they, like Lazarus, were restored to die again to become a part of the first resurrection at the second coming.

page 488-489​

I hope that helps.

 

[Tawhano]

Thanks Skylark1

 

[Tawhano]

I have the same problem. Very few agree with my unorthodox views (even when obviously true).

I’m not trying to get anyone to agree with my views, I am seeking answers.