The Miracle Of Resurrection

There are many miracles in the pages of the Word, some very well-known. The New Testament gives a concentrated record of miracles performed by the Lord Jesus Christ —healing, raising to life, water changed to wine, multitudes fed, etc. Peter testified that Christ was approved by God in won­ders, miracles and signs, testifying to the power of Almighty God.

Consider, he said, the realisation of present-day miracles like the preservation and re-establishment of the Jewish community as a nation in their own right, which despite their claim that it is by their own power is a sure sign of the imminent return of Christ, not as the lowly Nazarene, but King of kings and Lord of Lords.

Ezekiel takes us in vision to Israel to a great valley of many very dry bones. As a resurrection transpires, the bones come together, the sinews and the flesh come upon them, skin covering them above; the Spirit of God breathes from the four winds, forming a great multitude. These things have been accomplished already; witnessed in fact by this generation as a gradual pro­cess during the last 60 years.

How strange that each day in book and Press we should read of the increasingly important place this tiny people play in world affairs by the direction of God!

We are living in the very epoch when these words will be uttered by Jewry: “What are these wounds in thine hands?” (Zech. 13. 6); “and they shall mourn for him as one that mourneth for his only son” (Zech. 12. 10); and they shall humbly recognise Christ after their humiliation and tribulation by the Northern Confederacy—”tried in the fire”; the time of Jacob’s great trouble. The prophets speak of their stony heart giving place to an heart of flesh by the hand of Almighty God. After they are cleansed, purified and purged; their re­building, resurgence and glorification will take place. We cannot state the time, but the signs are clear and it could be at any moment.

Although we are not speaking specifically of the national resurrection of Israel, we see this as a miracle which will usher in the even greater miracle of individual resurrection, which will take place very shortly after the return of Jesus Christ from God’s right hand.

It is most unfortunate that the real significance of the Resurrection has been lost to the “Christian Church”, which has invented its own doctrine of inherent immortal nature. We are told that it is only our body that dies, and the “real us” goes to realms of bliss. This is not taught in the Scripture of Truth, and through this doctrine the true gospel message has been lost.

It replaces the positive hope with something nebulous and intangible. If we ask a “Christian” what his Hope is, he finds it most difficult to define.

Speaking on the Doctrine of the Immor­tality of the Soul the Church of England states through the Commission appointed by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York (report on doctrine, 1945) (“Towards the Conversion of England”—book) which was published by the Press and Publications Board of the Church Assembly, No. C.A. 773,

“The idea of inherent indestructibility of the human soul (or consciousness) owes its origin to Greek, and not scriptural sources, which teach that eternal life is not for anybody and everybody, but is granted only to believers in Christ as risen from the dead”.

This is endorsed at the conclusion by numerous eminent prelates—the Bishop of Oxford, Dean of St. Paul’s, etc.

Although the Report is endorsed, the doctrine is not denounced, for though the clerics say that there is a resurrection of the dead they still teach this monstrous deception which has “crept in by the back door of the Church”.

David spoke of Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2. 30-32), “For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corrup­tion”. Jesus was raised the third day, see­ing no corruption. After this resurrection He was apprehended by Mary in the gar­den, to whom He said, “Touch me not!” Jesus did not have an immortal soul; why should we think we have? He received a resurrected body, not spirit, as he revealed to his disciples.

Bro. Hurn then dealt with 1 Cor. 15 in some detail and went on to say that after Christ’s ascension to heaven the 12 apostles were to witness to the resurrection.

How wonderful if we all had the confidence of Job: “I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, vet in my flesh shall I see God: whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold and not another!”