Choose resurrection of life or resurrection of condemnation

The Bible speaks clearly that the words everlasting life and/or eternal life are recorded in the Old and New Testaments.

Interestingly, the words “everlasting life” or “eternal life” are found in Daniel 12:2 in the Old Testament. I will continue to search additional appearances of eternal life and/or everlasting life mentioned in Daniel 12:2 while these words are found in several passages in the New Testament.

In the Old Testament, Daniel 12:2 NKJV tells us, “And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt.”

In another translation, “And a number of those who are sleeping in the dust of the earth will come out of their sleep, some to eternal life and some to eternal shame (Daniel 12:2 — Bible in Basic English translation).

The prophet Daniel predicted future events and he was referring to the words of Jesus although he did not know at that time when he wrote the book of Daniel what would be the teachings of Jesus. Not only in teaching that is important but also in applying the words of Jesus in our hearts as Peter told him in another passage in the New Testament, “Lord you have the words of eternal life.” In Matthew 25:46 NKJV, Jesus said, “All these will go away into everlasting punishment but the righteous into eternal life.”

The well-known verse in the Bible (New Testament) that Christians should memorize and take it to heart is — “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16 NKJV) Some translation used “eternal life” instead of “everlasting life.”

Then in the gospel of John, Jesus said: “Do not marvel at this for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear his voice and come forth — those who have done good, to the resurrection of life; and those who have done evil to the resurrection of condemnation. (John 5:28, 29 NKJV)”

Who are those

in the graves?

Jesus was referring to those who died who were “repentant sinners” — born of God and lived righteously and to those who were “unrepentant sinners” who did evil in the sight of God and lived unrighteously.

How about the

Resurrection of Life?

In John 11:25, 26 NKJV, Jesus said to Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me though he may die he will live. And whoever believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

John 11 tells us the story of the death of Lazarus, Jesus explained the meaning of resurrection at the last day to Martha as Jesus told her in the previous verses, and later on, the finale of John 11 story — “Lazarus Raised from the Dead.” It begins in John 11:41, after Jesus lifted up his voice and said, “Father, I thank you that you heard me. And I know that you always hear me, but because of the people who are standing by, I said this, that they may believe that you sent me.” Now when he said these things, He cried out with a loud voice; “Lazarus come forth!”

And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with grave clothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth, Jesus said to them, “Loose him and let him go.”

Jesus called Lazarus by name and he came out through the divine power from God-himself that no one could explain how it did happen but God alone can know because he created us — as he told us in Genesis 1:26. God is the originator and source of life and he can take our life anytime he pleases.

In the community, they could not explain why Lazarus rose from the dead after four days in the tomb. I conjecture that as of today there is no scientific law and theory that are being documented rising from the dead after four days. They could ignore that it did not happen as well as telling to people that the Scripture is not a reliable source at all.

When Jesus told them to open the tomb, Martha (sister of Lazarus) told to Jesus “Lord by this time there is a stench, for he was dead for four days. Jesus answered to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?

Let us think for another scenario. What if Jesus cried with a loud voice without mentioning the name of Lazarus? “Come forth!” What would be the next scene that the movie industry would love to see and does the movie as well as the popular “YouTube” in the Internet. Those who died will come out from their graves but as Jesus was telling them in John 5:28, 29 “that the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice — and come forth”

1. Resurrection of life fr those who have done good.

2. Resurrection of condemnation for those who have done evil

It reminds us back in the Garden of Eden when Adam ate from the tree of knowledge of good and evil (GAE) that God told him not to eat. Then in Genesis 3, Adam ate fruit from the tree, which was the start of “human default system” given to the human race because of the disobedience of Adam. Sin was infected the human race since Adam’s fall and God sent seers and prophets in the Old Testament to proclaim His word to the people. Some believed God and some ignored the warnings of God. God gave warnings in the Old Testament as well as in the New Testament. God’s message is the same as in the old and the new. “If they do not repent of their wicked and evil ways their destination is hell.”

Jesus came to die once and for all that he shed his precious blood on that cross for the forgiveness of sins to those who believe in him. Today it is the same message of repentance as previously mentioned in the Old Testament as Jesus said: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand (Matthew 4:17).”

If you decide to consider God’s way and turn to God through his son Jesus Christ — you may do so by humbling and surrendering yourself to God and said, “Lord God, please forgive me of my unbelief. Help me to follow you for all the rest of my life, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

To God be the glory for all the things He has done.

Nauru Weah lives in Palmer.

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