Thats a good explanation i suppose, so they where resurrected to recieve the first fruits, just like any one alive today in Jesus recieve the first fruits and die with them.
No, that is not what I said. The reference to "first fruits" is referring to those who are resurrected in the 'immortal and glorified bodies.' Of these Jesus was the first fruits of those who rise from the dead in their immortal and glorified bodies. Neither Lazarus nor those who came out of the tombs, were resurrected into their immortal and glorified bodies. They died again. So none of them belong to the first fruits. To be clear, so far Jesus is the only one who has died and has been resurrected immortal and glorified. The next group to be resurrected and receive their immortal and glorified bodies will be the church, which is our blessed hope and is what Paul told us to comfort each other about. The resurrection believers within the church and the living being changed and caught up, is the next prophetic event to take place.
When the lord returns for the thousand years of his reign on current earth, many people will be born in to a world of tribulation, which really is not much different today. a thousand years is a long time and many will be born repopulate at that time. its seems like a never ending cycle of today.
The thousand years will not be a time of tribulation, but of world-wide peace. The following scripture pertains to some of the characteristics of the millennial kingdom:
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The wolf will live with the lamb,
the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling
a together;
and a little child will lead them.
The cow will feed with the bear,
their young will lie down together,
and the lion will eat straw like the ox.
The infant will play near the cobra’s den,
and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest.
They will neither harm nor destroy
on all my holy mountain,
for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea. - Isaiah 11:6-9
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In the above scripture, during the millennial kingdom, Prey and predator animals and their young, will lie down together.
The Lion will eat straw like the Ox
A young child will be able to put his hand in a Viper's nest and not be hurt. These all speak of world-wide peace because the knowledge of the Lord will cover the earth.
The world of tribulation, i herd an explanation once that went something like this, i wonder if we have been here before all ready and we keep getting reincarnated untill we get it right. this could be the reason why we're not to suppose to know, when the rapture is to happen, you know like if everyone thought oh its ok if i get this life wrong, god will reincarnate me again and again, untill i do get it right, as the truth is the holy spirit is pure, and doesnt want anyone to perish for the whole of eternity. it sounds like something the enemy would say to encouarge people to do wrong (temptation) and i wonder how many have fell for that temptation, like if you want to experince getting high on drugs or the pleasures of adultery, its ok you will get reincarnated, the holy spirit is only putting fear into that youll go to hell if you do, the holy spiirt doesnt really mean youll go to hell for wrong doing you can even go and rob aload of money and rock and roll on drugs you will still be reincarnated.
personally i think never ending tribulation is a reality, at present but maybe not as bad as the great tribulation to come. and the enemy is trying to steal souls. if we obey the lord we will be fine. if we fall for temptation we may not.
Here's what God's word has to say regarding the idea of reincarnation:
So will it be with the resurrection of the dead: What is sown is perishable; it is raised imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being;” the last Adam a life-giving spirit.
The spiritual, however, was not first, but the natural, and then the spiritual.
So, what the scripture above is saying is that the natural, i.e. this physical life in the flesh is first, then afterwards the spiritual, i.e. our immortal and glorified bodies. Therefore, there is no cycle of being born and dying over and over. Regarding this idea scripture also states that "today is the day of salvation" meaning that it is while a person is alive that they have opportunity to be saved. Jesus also said the following "Man is
once to die, then comes the judgment." It is during this life-time that we have the opportunity for salvation. If we die in our sins our record is sealed and the opportunity for salvation is off the table. Read the information in Luke 16:19-31 regarding the rich man and Lazarus who died with their spirits going into Hades. The rich man died and his record was sealed. He could not obtain salvation after his death nor could he warn anyone.
By the way, a person doesn't have to do any of those things such as rob a load of money or do drugs, etc. in order to be condemned. Everyone who comes into the world is already condemned because of sin. So a person doesn't have to do anything to go to Hell because they are already headed there. It is only through faith in Christ that one can get off that road and be reconciled to God
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