The Resurrection
Resurrection happens at different times. Christ was the first to be resurrected but many beings have already been resurrected at the time of Christ.
Ezek. 37: 12-13 Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves,
Matt. 27: 52-53 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
The righteous will be resurrected at the beginning of the Millennium so they can enjoy the full 1000 years with Christ and finish the work of sanctification. This is termed the "first resurrection" or the "resurrection of the just.." The unjust will also be eventually resurrected in the "second resurrection" more towards the end of the Millennium and therefore will be delivered from the spirit prison, outer darkness, and hell that they are experiencing.
John 5: 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
Acts 24: 15, 21 And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.
Heb. 11: 35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
Rev. 20: 5-6 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
But those who are resurrected at the end of the Millennium, Satan will begin to have power again and there will be a final conflict. But those who confess that it was by the power of Christ who resurrected them, will be saved from hell but will not receive the reward of eternal life. This is why LDS says that Salvation without Exaltation = Damnation (no eternal progression, like a damn stops the progression of a river)
Rom. 10: 9-10 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation .
Those that confess Christ at the resurrection will be saved from hell, but not exalted. This is the resurrection of damnation. They will be resurrected to a glory, but a lesser glory or reward.
1 Cor 15:40-42 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead.
The first resurrection has already started. Jesus Christ was first being the first-fruits of them that slept. Some have already been resurrected. Some like Elijah and Enoch were not resurrected but translated where they could not die, but the change in them was not the the same degree as a fully resurrected being. When Christ comes for His Second Coming those caught up with Christ in the air will be fully changed in a twinkling of an eye and receive a fully resurrected state.
1 Cor. 15: 51-52 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
Philip. 3: 21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
4 comments:
The term- "salvation without exaltation= damnation" has no merit! It is an incorrect statement that has no support in the scriptures.
There are two resurrections- the just and the unjust you are correct there. The just though include all of those whose sins are washed away through the atonement. They are thus justified through the blood of the lamb. The unjust are those who fail to repent and become cleansed from their sins. They are thus not justified in washing away their sins. they will be found filthy still.
The resurrection of the damned are the unjust. These go away into everlasting torment (so it is written) with the devil and his angels. Damnation means that one is condemned to hell either temporarily or for a greater time. Damnation cannot be applied with the word "dam" and its definition. To "dam" a stream is a different word and term than the word "damn". Many in the church often cofuse the two words and definitions because of deep rooted tradition. The Book of Mormon is replete with the word damnation. As used in the scriptures, especially in the Book of Mormon, the word is used to define the spirits or resurrected beings in hell.
Joseph Smith had deep traditional protestant upbringings. He used language he was familiar with and what others were familiar with when he translated the Book of Mormon. Joseph used the word "damnation" in the correct protestant sense of "condemnation to hell" always in his writings, both personal and public. His translation of the book of Mormon properly defines the word "damnation" in the traditional Christian sense.
It wasn't until almost a hundred years later that people started using a broader definition of the word to fit their views. But we have no right to change the meaning of the scriptures. If we can't interpret the Book of Mormon how it is supposed to be interpreted then we have no right to claim authority and truth in doctrine!
The merciful God will not leave souls in hell forever. The prisoners will be visited and go free. Even the wicked will be delivered from Hell and receive a degree of salvation. They will not be exalted or receive the highest reward in heaven, but they will be saved from Hell.
Remember that only those who deny and blaspheme against the Holy Ghost will not be forgiven in this life and in the next.
Broz. I guess the BIBLICAL idea of eternal damnation means nothing to you.
God is a merciful God, but he also gives justice. The same merciful God whom you speak of killed Uzzah when he tried to save the ark of the covenant.
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