What is the `better resurrection?`

[Marilyn C]

What is the `Better Resurrection.`



Hebrews 11 is about the Old Testament saints who all had faith in what God promised them – a better resurrection. And that is better than life on this earth.

`These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, they were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have an opportunity to return.

But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.` (Heb. 11: 13 – 16)



Further on it says -

`Women received their dead raised to life again. And others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.` (Heb. 11: 35)



So, we see that God has promised these Old Testament Saints a `better resurrection` to the city he is preparing for them. So, what is that all about?



God is restoring His righteous rulership in every realm, (not just the earth). Job said - `The heavens are not pure in His sight.` (Job 15: 15) And that `heavens` is the Universal realm where God has established a rulership position – Principalities and Powers.

`For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones and dominions or principalities or powers…` (Col. 1: 16)



This rulership realm, Principalities and powers was usurped by Lucifer when he was cast out from his throne in the third heaven. That is why he is called `the Prince of the power of the air..` (Eph. 2: 2) In the middle of the tribulation he and his fallen angels will get cast out of there and be limited to on the earth. (Rev. 12: 7 – 12)



However, that rulership realm will not always be vacant for God will set up His righteous rulership there through the Old Testament Saints. At this time these just/righteous ones (OT saints) are waiting in the General Assembly in the third heaven.

`…the General Assembly …. To God….to the spirits of just (righteous) men (& women) made perfect.` (Heb. 12: 23)



In the New Heavens and Earth God will send the city, the New Jerusalem with the Old Testament saints down to the Universal realm where they will take up the rulership position of Principalities and Powers.

Then I, John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God..` (Rev. 21: 2)



This rulership is what the Old Testament saints were promised in the city, not on the earth but in the universal heavens. This is the better resurrection they looked for.

 

[Marilyn C]

 

[d taylor]

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The better resurrection is the better reward they will receive for suffering for their faith, your illustration is incorrect.

God's creation is the earth (land/ground), the sky above also known as heaven (1st heaven) the Hebrew is raqia. Then the water above the raqia/sky/1st heaven. Then not mentioned in The Bible would be the 2nd heaven and above this, the third heaven where God the Father is and where Paul was taken to.

 

[Marilyn C]

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The better resurrection is the better reward they will receive for suffering for their faith, your illustration is incorrect.

God's creation is the earth (land/ground), the sky above also known as heaven (1st heaven) the Hebrew is raqia. Then the water above the raqia/sky/1st heaven. Then not mentioned in The Bible would be the 2nd heaven and above this, the third heaven where God the Father is and where Paul was taken to.

`In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.` (Gen. 1: 1)

Here we note that God made `heavens,` plural.

1.Atmospheric heaven.

`And he (Elijah) prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.` (James 5: 18)

This heaven has the weather, and where the birds fly etc.



2.Celestial heaven.

`Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also.

God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth.` (Gen. 1: 16 & 17)

The sun, moon and stars are in this heaven.



3.The Third heaven.

`I (Paul) know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago – whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows – such a one was caught up to the third heaven.` (2 Cor. 12: 2)

This is the third heaven beyond the other two.

 

[d taylor]

`In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.` (Gen. 1: 1)

Here we note that God made `heavens,` plural.

1.Atmospheric heaven.

`And he (Elijah) prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.` (James 5: 18)

This heaven has the weather, and where the birds fly etc.



2.Celestial heaven.

`Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also.

God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth.` (Gen. 1: 16 & 17)

The sun, moon and stars are in this heaven.



3.The Third heaven.

`I (Paul) know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago – whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows – such a one was caught up to the third heaven.` (2 Cor. 12: 2)

This is the third heaven beyond the other two.

See where you are making you mistake is you separate 1 and 2 as two different places. But in Genesis 1 the creation account 1 and 2 are the same place and not only is this where the sun, moon and stars are located and where the birds fly across the face of but the raqia (1st heaven, sky) is also separating waters. The seas and the water above the raqia.

Then God said, “Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.” Thus God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament; and it was so. And God called the firmament Heaven. So the evening and the morning were the second day.

See in Genesis 1 where God calls this area (the raqia) heaven which is the visible sky

 

[Marilyn C]

See where you are making you mistake is you separate 1 and 2 as two different places. But in Genesis 1 the creation account 1 and 2 are the same place and not only is this where the sun, moon and stars are located and where the birds fly across the face of but the raqia (1st heaven, sky) is also separating waters. The seas and the water above the raqia.

Then God said, “Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.” Thus God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament; and it was so. And God called the firmament Heaven. So the evening and the morning were the second day.

See in Genesis 1 where God calls this area (the raqia) heaven which is the visible sky

Heaven in Hebrew is plural.

 

[d taylor]

Heaven in Hebrew is plural.

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That is because there are three heavens. 1st heaven (sky) where the sun, moon and stars are located. The second heaven that is not mentioned, but i would guess is above the waters, that are above the first heaven and the 3rd heaven where the God the Father is and where Paul was taken to.

 

[Marilyn C]

 

[ralliann]

View attachment 340793

Maybe this?
Da 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.

 

[Marilyn C]

Maybe this?
Da 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.

Hi ralliann,

Thank you for your comment. So, where do you think those people will go to?