19. 4. "It is sown a 'Natural' body, it is raised a 'SPIRITUAL' body."

By "Spiritual" body we are not to understand some sort of—"Etherealized Ghostlike Structure" that has no substance. As we have already seen, the "Spirit Body" is a material body with "Spirit" qualities and faculties, subject to the higher natural laws of the "Spirit World." Every "Force" in the Universe must have a "Motor" adapted to its use. We cannot utilize the power of "Steam" without the Steam Engine, nor the power of "Electricity" without the Dynamo. The motive force of the human body is the "Soul," and of the "Resurrection Body" the "SPIRIT." "The 'First Adam' was made a 'Living Soul'; the 'Last Adam' a 'QUICKENING SPIRIT.'" 1 Cor. 15:45. That is, we got from the "First Adam" our natural body, adapted to the use of its "motor force" the "Soul," and from the "Second Adam" we get our "Resurrection Body" adapted to its "motor force" the "SPIRIT." This is what the Apostle means when he says of our body—"It is sown a 'Natural' body, it is raised a 'SPIRITUAL' body." If we are to have such gloriously endowed bodies in the next world, why should we so regret to part with these poor weak bodies of flesh? Why pamper and cherish, and adorn a body that is soon to feed the worms? While there should be no regret at parting from these physical bodies of ours, we must not forget that by losing them we become incomplete. That is, we are no longer "Body," "Soul" and "Spirit," but only "Soul" and "Spirit." We have seen how the "Spirit" in its "Soulish Body" in the "Intermediate State" is conscious, but it is subject to limitations. The Righteous are confined to "Paradise" and the Wicked to "Hell." It is not until the Righteous get their "Resurrection Body," and again become a Trinity of "Body," "Soul" and "Spirit," that they have the freedom and powers of angelic beings to roam the Universe. This explains the prayer of the Apostle—"I pray God your WHOLE SPIRIT AND SOUL AND BODY be preserved blameless unto the COMING OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST." 1 Thess. 5:23. That is, the Apostle hoped that the Saints at Thessalonica would not die before the Lord's return, so that without losing their body by death, their physical body would be changed to their "Glorified Body" and they be caught up like Enoch and Elijah to meet the Lord in the Air. See the context. 1 Thess. 4:17. THE RESURRECTION OF DAMNATION

There is a dark side to the picture we have painted. If the Resurrection of the Righteous is unto "LIFE," the Resurrection of the Wicked is unto "DAMNATION." John 5:28-29. There are two verses in 1 Cor. 15, the 37th and 38th, that throw light on the above. "That which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of SOME OTHER GRAIN, . . . to every seed his OWN BODY."

There is a law in the natural world, that—"Whatsoever a man soweth that shall be also reap." Gal. 6:7-8. A man cannot sow tares and reap wheat. To every seed its own body. If a man die without the Christ Life, he cannot rise to a Christ-like resurrection. The difference between the "Resurrection of LIFE" and the "Resurrection of DAMNATION" as to character no human language can portray. They are as far apart as Heaven and Hell. Dear reader, to which of these Resurrections will you arise? As our resurrection bodies will have visible "form" and "shape" it stands to reason that they will have a framework of "flesh" and "bones," but it will be "flesh" and "bones" adapted to its new environment. We must not forget that Enoch and Elijah went up in their "bodies." Presumably their bodies were "glorified" in the transit, but they were not "disembodied," and if they have use for a "body" in Heaven why not we? Is it reasonable to suppose that only those two saints shall be in Heaven THE RESURRECTION BODY in their bodies? Why did Michael the Archangel contend with the Devil over the "body" of Moses, if Moses had no further need of it? Did not he and Elijah have use for their bodies when they appeared on the Mt. of Transfiguration with Jesus? And if they were "the" two men that stood by in "white apparel" when Jesus ascended (Acts 1:9-11), and are to be the "Two Witnesses" of Rev. 11:3-6, we see that as they are the "type" of the Resurrected and Translated Saints, that the Saints at the Rapture will have "bodies" like Moses and Elijah now have. The Resurrection of Christ with those who arose with Him was the "First Fruits," the Resurrection of the "Righteous" is the "Harvest," of the "Tribulation" Saints the "Gleanings," and the "Wicked" are the "Tares."

It has been objected that if all the dead that have ever lived on this earth were to be raised at one time there would not be standing room. But as we have seen they are not to be all raised at the same time, for the Righteous shall rise and be taken off the earth a 1000 years before the Wicked. But suppose they were. The present population of the world is 1,700,000,000. A generation is generally counted as 33 years. Suppose for argument there had been 1,700,000,000 on the earth in Adam's day, and that that many had died every 33 years since, that would make the dead up to 1900 A. D., 4000 B. C. years + 1900 A. D. years = 5900 years ÷ 33 = 178 generations of 1,700,000,000 people each = 302,600,000,000 dead, who if they were raised and were each given a square yard to stand on, could stand on less than one-half of the state of Texas. XIX

The Judgments

The common opinion that the Millennium is to be ushered in by the preaching of the Gospel, and that after the Millennium there is to be a "General Resurrection" followed by a "General Judgment," and then the earth is to be destroyed by fire is not Scriptural

There can be no "General" Judgment because the Scriptures speak of one Judgment as being in the "Air" (1 Thess. 4:16, 17; 2 Cor. 5:6-10); another on the "Earth" (Matt. 25:31-46); and a third in "Heaven," the earth and its atmosphere having fled away. Rev. 20:11-15. And to make sure that these three separate Judgments should not be combined in one General Judgment scene, three different Thrones are mentioned.

1 The "Judgment Seat of Christ." 2 Cor. 5:10. "In the Air." For "Believers" only.

2. The "Throne of Glory." Matt. 25:31, 32. "On the Earth." For "The Nations."

3. The "Great White Throne." Rev. 20:11, 12. "In Heaven." For the "Wicked Dead."

The Scriptures speak of

Five Separate Judgments.

They differ in five general aspects. As to "Subjects," "Time," "Place," "Basis of Judgment" and "Result."

JUDGMENT NO. 1

1. Subjects—Believers as to "SIN."

2. Time—A. D. 30.

3. Place—Calvary.

4. Basis of Judgment. Christ's "FINISHED WORK."

5. Result

1. Death as to Christ.

2. Justification as to the Believer.

This Judgment is PAST. The Bible proofs of the results of this Judgment are Rom. 10:4.

"For Christ is the END OF THE LAW for righteousness to every one that Believeth."

"There is therefore NOW no condemnation (Judgment) to them which are in CHRIST JESUS, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the Law of the 'SPIRIT OF LIFE' in Christ Jesus hath made me FREE From the Law of 'Sin and Death.'" Rom. 8: 1, 2.

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on Him that sent me, HATH EVERLASTING LIFE and shall not come into condemnation (Judgment) but IS PASSED From Death Unto Life." John 5:24.

The "Believer's" Judgment for Sin then is PAST, and was settled at the Cross. But we must not forget that the Judgment of the Believer is threefold.

1. As a "Sinner." 2. As a "Son." 3. As a "Servant."

As we have already seen his Judgment as a "Sinner" is Past. Let us look at his judgment

2. As a "Son."

As soon as the sinner accepts Christ as his personal Saviour that settles the "Sin" question for him. For if our iniquities are laid on Him (Jesus), then they are not on Us. Isa. 53:5, 6. But the "Sin" question, and the "Sins" question are two different things. Christ died on the Cross to atone for "sin," to pay the penalty of Adam's disobedience in the Garden of Eden. "Sin" is that tendency in mankind to do wrong which we call "Natural Depravity." We do not get rid of this "tendency" by the "New Birth," but we get a "counteracting force" called the "New Nature." We become a "dual personality," composed of the "Old" and "New Natures," and which shall predominate depends on which we feed and which we starve. This explains the "warfare" that Paul describes as his experience, after his conversion, in Rom. 7:1-25. This warfare will continue until the "Old" nature is eradicated at death. "Sins" are the outward acts of wrongdoing that we commit as the result of our tendency to sin. These sins must be put away daily by "confession."

'My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an 'Advocate' with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.' 1 John 2:1.

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9.

Our Judgment as "Sons" is for "unconfessed sins." The punishment is chastisement. This explains much of the chastisement of Christians, and should show them that they are "Sons" and not "Bastards." Heb. 12:5-11. Paul says—

"If we would 'judge ourselves' we should not be judged. But when we are judged we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned (Judged) with the world." 1 Cor. 11:31, 32.

Our duty then as "Sons" is to "self-judge" ourselves daily, "confess our sins," and so avert the chastisement of our Heavenly Father

3. As a Servant. This leads us to—

JUDGMENT NO. 2

1. Subjects—Believers as to "WORKS."

2. Time—After The Church is caught out.

3. Place—"Judgment Seat of Christ" (in the Air).

4. Basis of Judgment—Their "WORKS."

5. Result—Reward or Loss.

This Judgment is FUTURE.

"We must all appear before the 'Judgment Seat of Christ,' that every one may receive the

THE TWO JUDGMENTS OF THE BELIEVER

JUDGMENT No.1


JUDGMENT No.2


COPYRIGHT things 'done in the body' according to that he hath done, whether it be 'good' or 'bad' (worthless)." 2 Cor. 5:10.

The pronoun "We" occurs 26 times in the chapter, and in every instance it means the Believer, and the Epistle is addressed to the "Church" and "Saints" at Corinth, so the Judgment here spoken of is for Believers "only." The "Time" of the Judgment is when the Lord comes (1 Cor. 4:5), and the "Place" is "in the air" (1 Thess. 4:17) and before the Judgment Seat of Christ.

It will not be a Judgment in the sense of a "trial" to see whether the judged are innocent (saved) or guilty (lost), for it is a Judgment of the "saved only." It will be like the Judges' stand at a Fair, or Race Track, where rewards are distributed to the successful contestants. Paul describes such a scene in 1 Cor. 9:24-27.

It is not a Judgment for sin, but for "works." This Judgment is described in 1 Cor. 3:11-15.

"Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones (valuable building stones, as marble, etc.), wood, hay, stubble; every man's 'Work' shall be made manifest; for the 'Day' (Judgment Day) shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by 'fire,' and the fire shall try every man's 'work' of what sort it is. If any man's work 'abide' which he hath built there upon he shall receive a 'reward.' If any man's work shall be 'burned' he shall suffer 'loss;' but 'he himself shall be saved;' yet so as by fire." The result of this Judgment is "reward" or "loss." All our "bad" and "dead works," represented by the wood, hay and stubble, will be consumed, and only our "good works" shall remain. There is much which passes for Christian service which is merely human and secular, and does not count in our eternal reward. For those who deserve a "reward" it will be

The Crowning Day.

After the Grecian games were all over the runners, wrestlers, and successful contestants assembled before the "Bema," or Judges' stand, which was an elevated seat on which the Umpire sat, and the winners received a "corruptible crown" of "laurel leaves." Some had no reward, they had lost the "Victor's Crown." But while there was no reward there was no punishment, they were not cast out.

The New Testament speaks of Five Crowns. See Chart, the "Judgment of Reward," next page.

1. The Crown of "LIFE."

This is the "Martyr's" crown, and is mentioned twice.

"Blessed is the man that endureth temptation (testing), for when he is 'tried' (at the Judgment Seat of Christ), he shall receive the 'Crown of Life' which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him." James 1:12.

"Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer; behold, the Devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried (tested) and ye shall have tribulation ten days; be thou faithful 'unto death,' and I will give thee a 'Crown of Life.'" Rev. 2:10.

Notice it does not say "until" death, but "unto" death. They were not to recant but to remain faithful unto a martyr's death. To recant was to lose the crown. This refers to the martyrs of the Tribulation Period.

2. The Crown of "GLORY."

This is the "Elder's" or "Pastor's" crown, given by the Chief Shepherd when He shall appear. But it is not for those who serve for "filthy lucre" or "lord it over God's heritage." 1 Pet. 5:2-4.

3. The Crown of "REJOICING."

This is the "Soul Winner's" crown. Those brought to Jesus by us will be our "crown of rejoicing" at His Coming. 1 Thess. 2:19, 20. Phil. 4:1.


Source: https://www.industrydocuments.ucsf.edu/docs/ksfd0228

4. The Crown of "RIGHTEOUSNESS."

This is the crown of those who "love His appearing" and will be given in "that day"—the Day of His Appearing. 2 Tim. 4:8.

5. The Crown "INCORRUPTIBLE."

This is the "Victor's" crown, and is for those who "keep under their body" (1 Cor. 9:25-27); who do not yield to their fleshly lusts. Who do not permit themselves to be diverted from the Master's work by worldly amusements and pleasure, nor saturate their body with drugs.

If we do not want to be "ashamed at His Coming," (1 John 2:28), let us see to it that we keep our body "under" and so live that we shall secure a crown.

JUDGMENT NO. 3

1. Subjects—The JEWS.

2. Time—"The Great Tribulation."

3. Place—Jerusalem and Vicinity.

4. Basis of Judgment—Rejection of the Godhead.

5. Result—Their Conversion and Reception of Christ as Their Messiah.

This Judgment is FUTURE.

While the Church is being judged at the Judgment Seat of Christ in the air, the Jews will be judged under Antichrist on the earth. The Jews are an "earthly" people; and as all the promises to them are "earthly," it follows that their Judgment must be of an "earthly" character. The basis of their Judgment is their "rejection of the Godhead." In the days of Samuel they rejected God the Father. 1 Sam. 8:7. In the days of Christ they rejected God the Son. Luke 23:18. In the days of Stephen they rejected God the Holy Spirit. Acts 7:51, 54-60. For their sin they have been scattered among the nations until the "Times of the Gentiles" are fulfilled. When the "Times of the Gentiles" are about to end the Jews will be gathered back to the Holy Land "unconverted," and caused to "pass under the rod." Ez, 20:34-38. They will be cast into God's "Melting Pot" (Ez. 22:19-22), and pass through an experience spoken of by Jeremiah and Daniel as the "TIME OF JACOB'S TROUBLE." Jer. 30:4-7. Dan. 12:1. Christ calls it "The Great Tribulation," and He and Zechariah the Prophet associate it with the "Return of the Lord." Matt. 24:21-31. Zech. 14:1-11. The human agent the Lord will use will be Antichrist, the awfulness of whose rule will be supplemented by the pouring out of the "Vials of God's wrath" upon the earth. Rev. 15:1, 5-8—16: 1-21. The result of these terrible Judgments will be that the Jews will call in their misery upon the Lord. Zech. 12: 10. Then Christ will come back to the Mt. of Olives (Zech. 14:4) and the Jews will look upon Him whom they "pierced" (Zech. 12:10), and a nation, the Jewish Nation, shall be "born (converted) in a day." Isa. 66:8. This will complete the Judgment of the Jews.

JUDGMENT NO. 4

1. Subjects—The NATIONS (Gentiles).

2. Time—The "Revelation of Christ."

3. Place—The "Throne of His Glory." On the Earth—"Valley of Jehoshaphat."

4. Basis of Judgment—Their Treatment of Christ's Brethren—The Jews.

5. Result—Some Nations "SAVED," Others "DE-STROYED."

This Judgment is FUTURE.

The account of this Judgment is given in Matt. 25: 31-46. The description of this Judgment, and of the one given in Rev. 20:11-15 are combined by many, and taken to teach the doctrine of a general Judgment. But when we compare them they differ so widely that it is evident that they do not describe the same event. What God has put asunder let no man join together. The following comparison will show the difference in the two accounts: 

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