Young Adult Class

What’s Going to Happen When Jesus Returns

I’m a Firm Believer that…

Your Hope Determines Your Behavior

Without the Proper Hope, You Won’t Live the Proper Life

Unfortunately, Christians Throughout the Past Several Centuries…

Have Done a Pitiful Job at Understanding/Teaching the True Hope of the Church

Essentially, the Typical Teaching Concerning Our Hope is:

When Jesus Returns, We’re Going to Go to Heaven

We’ll Be Non-Material Spirits in the Non-Material Spirit-World of Heaven

But Did You Know, That’s Not Taught in the Bible Anywhere

Nowhere in the Bible Does it Talk About Us Being Non-Material, Disembodied Spirits for Eternity

Nowhere Does it Say that We will Go to Heaven When Jesus Returns

Not a Single Verse

We’ve Got Song Books Full of Songs that Say it:

I’ll Fly Away

When We All Get to Heaven

No Tears in Heaven

O They Tell Me of a Home

When the Roll is Called Up Yonder

This World is Not My Home

We could Go on and on

But the Fact is, the Bible Never Even Once Says it

So, We have to Ask Ourselves this Question:

Should We Get Our Theology and Our Hope…

From Song Books or From Scripture?

Let’s See What the Scriptures Say About Our Hope

Resurrection

Whenever Jesus Returns, the Scriptures Teach that We’ll Be Resurrected

1 Corinthians 15:20–23 (NET)

20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also came through a man.22 For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ, the firstfruits; then when Christ comes, those who belong to him.

Jesus is the First Fruits of the Resurrection

First Fruits are the First of Many More to Come

We will Be Resurrected Like Jesus When He Returns

Paul Even Tells the Corinthians What Our Resurrected Bodies will Be Like

1 Corinthians 15:42–50 (NET)

42 It is the same with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable, what is raised is imperishable.43 It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45 So also it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living person”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46 However, the spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and then the spiritual. 47 The first man is from the earth, made of dust; the second man is from heaven. 48 Like the one made of dust, so too are those made of dust, and like the one from heaven, so too those who are heavenly. 49 And just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, let us also bear the image of the man of heaven. 50 Now this is what I am saying, brothers and sisters: Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.

Some of this Language has Been Misinterpreted…

And Unfortunately has Caused Many People a Lot of Confusion

First, Paul Contrasts Our Present Bodies with Our Resurrection Bodies

Presently, Our Bodies are:

Perishable

Dishonorable

Weak

“Natural”

Our Resurrection Bodies will Be:

Imperishable

Glorious

Powerful

“Spiritual”

This Language of “Natural” and “Spiritual” Sounds Like:

Physical/Material and Non-Physical/Non-Material

But that’s Not at All What the Original Language Means

“Natural” = Soul Body

“Spiritual” = Spirit Body

Paul Explains it:

When God Made Adam…

He Breathed Life into Him and He Became a Living Soul

When God Resurrected Jesus From the Dead…

The Holy Spirit was What Gave Him New Life

Adam had (And We Have) a “Natural” Body

Jesus, After His Resurrection, has a “Spiritual” Body

Paul Uses the Word “Spiritual” Many Times in this Letter to the Corinthians

Absolutely Never Does He Use it to Mean “Non-Physical”

“Spiritual” Means 1 of 2 Things Depending on the Context:

1.) It Refers to Something Received From the Spirit

Ex. Spiritual Gifts, Spiritual Wisdom

2.) It Refers to Someone Living By the Spirit

Ex. A Spiritual Person is Someone Who Lives Righteously

So What Does Paul Mean By “Spiritual” Body?

Take Either or Both of Those Meanings and Apply Them Here:

A “Spiritual” Body is a Body Given/Transformed By the Spirit

A “Spiritual” Body is a Body Capable of Living Righteously…

Without the Weakness of Temptation

But, What About When He Says “Flesh & Blood Cannot Inherit the Kingdom”?

Doesn’t that Mean that a Physical Body Can’t “Go to Heaven”?

No, Read What Paul Said Again

1 Corinthians 15:50 (NET)

50 Now this is what I am saying, brothers and sisters: Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.

He is Saying Our Present, Perishable Bodies Can’t Inherit the Imperishable Kingdom

“Flesh and Blood” is Found 5 Times in the NT

Never is it Used to Refer to Something that is Physical Rather Than Non-Physical

It’s Always Referring to Humanity as it Presently is

Hebrews 2:14 (NET)

14 Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, he likewise shared in their humanity, so that through death he could destroy the one who holds the power of death (that is, the devil),

Jesus Became Human Just Like We are Human Right Now

He Became Perishable and Able to Die

Here’s What Paul Told Us About Our Resurrection:

The Spirit will Raise/Transform Our Weak, Perishable, Mortal Bodies…

Into Strong, Imperishable, Immortal Bodies

They will Still Be Material/Physical…

But They will Be Better

But, None of that Needed to Be Said Because…

We Know that Jesus had a Physical/Material Resurrection Body

And the Scriptures Tell Us that We have Resurrected Bodies Like His

Luke 24:36–43 (NASB95)

36 While they were telling these things, He Himself stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be to you.” 37 But they were startled and frightened and thought that they were seeing a spirit. 38 And He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 “See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40 And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. 41 While they still could not believe it because of their joy and amazement, He said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave Him a piece of a broiled fish; 43 and He took it and ate it before them.

Jesus’ Resurrected Body was Flesh and Bone

He could Be Touched

He could Eat Food

We should Expect No Less From Our Resurrection Bodies

Jesus is Now in Heaven with a Physical Resurrected Body

And When He Returns, We will have a Physical Resurrection Body

But Where will We Live for Eternity?

New Heaven & New Earth

The Bible Says a Lot About Where Our Eternal Home will Be

But it Says Absolutely Nothing About Us Living in Heaven for Eternity

So What Does it Say?

Well, Let’s Think About the Story of the Scriptures

Had Adam and Eve Never Eaten the Forbidden Fruit…

Which Ushered in Sin and Death…

They would Still Be Alive and Well Today…

And All the World would Be Peace and Harmony Forever

God’s Original Plan was for Humanity to Rule Over the Earth

As Far as the Scriptures are Concerned…

God hasn’t Changed His Plans

He Intends for All of His Creation to Be Redeemed and Restored as it was Before

Romans 8:18 (NASB95)

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

Something Truly Glorious and Wonderful is Going to Be Revealed to Us

What is it, Paul?

Romans 8:19 (NASB95)

19 For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God.

Sons of God is Referring to Those who are Adopted into the Family of God (v. 14-17)

Sons of God = Christians

So, the Creation is Waiting for the Revealing of the Sons of God

What is the Revealing of the Sons of God?

It’s When We are Resurrected and Fully Adopted into the Family at Jesus’ Return

The Creation is Eagerly Waiting for that Day

Why?

Romans 8:20 (NASB95)

20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope

The Creation is Eagerly Waiting for the Resurrection Day…

Because it was Subjected to Futility

When was Creation Subjected to Futility?

When All Creation was Cursed After the Eating of the Forbidden Fruit

Futility = Uselessness, Meaninglessness, Emptiness

Ecclesiastes Talks a Lot About Futility

You can Work All Your Life to Get as Rich as Possible, But it’s All Futility, Why?

Because You’re Going to Die and You Don’t Get to Keep it

Creation was Subject to Futility

It was Subjected to the Curse of Becoming Corruptible, Perishable, Mortal

All of Creation Grows Old and Dies Because of the Curse it was Subjected to

But Paul Says the Creation is Subjected to Futility “In Hope”

In Hope of What, Paul?

Romans 8:21 (NASB95)

21 that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

The Creation is Eagerly Waiting for the Resurrection Day

Why?

Because the Creation was Subjected to Futility, But it’s Still Hopeful

Why?

Because Creation is Going to Also Be Set Free From its Slavery to Corruption

Creation is Also Going to Experience the Glory that Christians will Experience

Just Like Christians are Going to Be Resurrected…

And Transformed into Imperishable, Immortal, Curse Free Beings…

Creation will Be too

Creation is Going to Be Redeemed and Restored, Just Like Us

No More Corruption

No More Perishing

No More Dying

No More Futility

Romans 8:22–23 (NASB95)

22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. 23 And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.

Just as We Can’t Wait for the Redemption of Our Bodies Bodies…

The Creation Can’t Wait to Be Restored as Well

This is Exactly What Peter Explains in 2 Peter 3

Just as the Earth was Destroyed By Water in Noah’s Day…

The Earth will Be Destroyed By Fire on Resurrection Day

Noah’s Flood was Sent to Destroy the Wickedness Off the Earth…

Not to Completely Obliterate the Earth Itself

The Fire that Jesus is Bringing is for the Destruction of the Wicked…

Not to Completely Obliterate the Earth Itself

2 Peter 3:10–13 (CSB)

10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief; on that day the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved, and the earth and the works on it will be disclosed. 11 Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, it is clear what sort of people you should be in holy conduct and godliness 12 as you wait for the day of God and hasten its coming. Because of that day, the heavens will be dissolved with fire and the elements will melt with heat. 13 But based on his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.

We are Waiting for New Heavens (Outer Space and Skies)…

And a New Earth Where There’s Nothing But Righteousness

Like in the First Destruction of the World…

All the Wicked and Evil were Washed Off of it

The Second Destruction of the World will Be the Same

All the Wicked and Evil will Be Burned Off of it

Logical Ways to Think About This

If God is Forced to Destroy His Creation that He Once Called Very Good…

Then the Devil Won

He Ruined God’s Creation…

And Instead of Redeeming and Restoring His Creation…

God is Left with No Other Option than to Destroy it Completely

Problem Passages

1 Thessalonians 4:13–17 (NASB95)

13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.

(Matthew 25:1-13)

The Grooms Friends were Waiting to Meet Him Outside the Wedding Feast

Once He Arrived, They Ushered Him Inside

(Acts 28:12)

While Paul was Making His Way to Rome…

Christians From Nearby Cities Came Out to Welcome Paul and Escort Him to Rome

John 14:1–3 (NASB95)

1 “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3 “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.