The End of Death

Introduction:

We live in an evil world. The time is growing closer to the time of the end. We discussed this spiritual battle that we are all in, we touched on the enemies we face:

We all do battle with the devil, or Satan. The Bible calls him the accuser. He was the one that introduced sin into the world through temptation of the flesh, as we saw in the garden with Adam and Eve.

We also fight the Flesh, or our sinful nature. We can be our own worst enemies. We are not sinners because we sin, we sin because we are, by nature, sinners. The devil and the world appeals to our sinful nature.

Our enemy is the world, the culture in which we live, which is ruled by the devil. The world by its very makeup is full of sinners, and thereby in opposition to God. We, as Christians, are in the world, but we are not of the world.

But there is one last enemy: Death

In our text this morning, Paul describes the defeat of death.

First Fruits of the Harvest

1 Corinthians 15:20 ESV

But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

First fruits is an Old Testament term use in making an offering.

First fruits meant more of the same to come.

Death of our physical bodies will happen one day short of Christ coming again for his own.

Death of a believer is referred to as “sleep” in the NT. Why, because the believer will awake to life with Jesus. Those who sleep in the Lord will rise again.

Jesus’ resurrection is the “earnest money” that guarantees He will raise all who are in Him..

Because He is a risen Savior,

John 14:1–3 ESV

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

When all is right, He will come again!

A Tale of Two Men

1 Corinthians 15:21–22 ESV

For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.

Paul shows the contrast between Adam and Christ

Key word in this verse is the word “in,” as in “in Adam” and “in Christ.”

The fact of the matter is, we all are “in Adam,” but not everyone is “in Christ”

All who are in Christ will be made alive.

Here is the reality of the physical death to our physical bodies:

Genesis 3:19 ESV

By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

One day all our physical bodies will become worm food. From dust we came and to dust we will return. By Adam and because of Adam we all sin. And because all sin, all will die.

1 Corinthians 15:45–49 ESV

Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.

One, through sin brought death

One, through his death and resurrection brought life!

Resurrection order

1 Corinthians 15:23–28 ESV

But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.

Christ, the firstfruits

Revelation 20:6 ESV

Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.

Those saved from Pentecost until the Rapture will unite with those alive at the time.

1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 ESV

For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.

The rapture is that moment we are caught up.

In face, that is where the word originates.The Greek word: harpbozo means to be snatch up… in Latin it is rapturo = rapture in English

We are looking for this moment and event

There are some who debate the timing in relation to the Tribulation, but one common thread is a belief that the dead in Christ and those alive at the resurrection are next.

This is part of what makes resurrection so central to our faith.

Jesus promised eternal life.

He will fulfill that!

Those who come to faith during the Tribulation along with OT saints

Most BMA Baptist believe the rapture happens just before or shortly into the Great Tribulation

Then comes 7 of the worst years in the history of the world

The Restrainer will be removed and Satan will have free reign on Earth

The Antichrist will uinte the world in 1 totalitarian regime and the False Prophet will cause people to worship him

In the midst of that, God’s wrath will be poured out on Earth in a scale not seen since Noah’s flood..

Many will be saved:

144,000 Jewish believers who will turn missionary like Paul (12k from each tribe)

A multitude of all people worldwide.

Sadly, many will loose their life or the faith, BUT they have their turn!

Revelation 20:4 ESV

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 those 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.

Daniel 12:2 ESV

And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

OT saints join them to enter the millennial Kingdom.

Those who are in the flesh during millennial Kingdom

Some survive the Tribulation and enter the Kingdom in flesh.

There are those who will enter the Kingdom in the flesh.

There will be children born who will live in a world without Satan since he is bound.

They will have their turn as well!

Last Great white Throne

John 5:28–29 ESV

Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.

The final judgement Day and resurrection is one that is universal

All others will stand before the Judgment of God

The lost will be judged and forever be cast into hell

The saved will receive their glorified bodies and eternal lie

Which place is yours?

Where do you fit?

If you repented and believed, you are ready to go at the Rapture.

If not, right now, the final resurrection to judgment is your lot.

Repent now, while there is time.