One of the things we are rewarded with for believing in Jesus as our Lord is a new, immortal, and incorruptible body. The bible tells us all about our new bodies and that those who believe on Jesus before he calls from the clouds and snatches us up (the harpazo), will have new bodies for the millennial kingdom. But those who are his at his coming (the parousia), will have corruptible bodies. This is a great point of confusion as to the difference between the redeemed, and those who accept Jesus as Lord after the harpazo. The benefit of being sealed with the Holy Spirit now, as compared to going through the tribulation, is that the redeemed will have new immortal bodies. The religious stories of everyone who dies goes to heaven, and gets angel wings and a harp, are simply untrue. We should look at the Mazzaroth’s depiction of Jesus.
The Mazzaroth tells us of our coming King of kings. John wrote of Jesus coming on a horse in Revelation 19. The Mazzaroth tells the same story and has been telling it since the time of Adam. The picture we have, drawn by 15-17th century artists and astronomers, is of a centaur, a half man, half horse. The pictures were drawn in reference to Greek mythology. In actuality, the picture of Sagittarius is a man riding a horse, as there are no such creatures as centaurs. The Greeks added the fictitious being. The story of our coming King on a horse with an arrow is a story that will take place on the day of the Lord when the Lord comes with the heavenly armies to wage war on the wicked. If we remember, the evil nations will try to wage war against the Lamb but they cannot overtake the Lamb and His army. From E W Bullinger’s Witness of the Stars:
THE SIGN SAGITTARIUS. The Redeemers Triumph.
THIS is the concluding chapter of the first great book of this Heavenly Revelation ; and it is occupied wholly with the triumph of the Coming One, who is re presented as going forth " conquering and to conquer."
The subject is beautifully set forth in the written Word (Ps. xlv. 3-5) : " Gird Thy sword upon Thy thigh, O most mighty, Gird Thy self with Thy glory and Thy majesty, And in Thy majesty ride prosperously, Because of truth, and meekness, and righteousness; And Thy right hand shall teach Thee terrible things. Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the King s enemies; Whereby the people fall under Thee."
John, in his apocalyptic vision, sees the same mighty Conqueror going forth. " I saw (he says) a white horse, and He that sat on him had a bow, . . . and He went forth conquering and to conquer " (Rev. vi. 2).
Hebrew, Nehushta, the going or sending forth.
We see the same in the Arabic names which have come down to us : Al Nairn, the gracious one; Al Shaula, the dart; Al Wanda, who comes forth ; Ruchba cr rami, the riding of the bowman.
An ancient Akkadian name in the sign is Nun-ki, which means Prince of the Earth.
Again we have the picture of a Centaur as to his outward form, i.e. a being with two natures. Not now far down in the south, or connected with His sufferings and sacrifice as man ; but high up, as a sign of the Zodiac itself, on the ecliptic, i.e. in the very path in which the sun " rejoiceth in his going forth as a strong man."
Such will be the coming Seed of the woman in His power and glory : " The sceptre of Thy king-dom is a right sceptre. Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness; Therefore God, Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows." (Ps. xlv. 6, 7.)
In the ancient Zodiac of Denderah he is called (as in Coptic) Pi-maere, i.e. graciousness, beauty of the appearing or coming forth. The characters under the . hind foot read Knem, which means He conquers.
This is He who shall come forth like as an arrow from the bow, " full of grace," but " conquering and to conquer."
In all the pictures he is similarly represented, and the arrow in his bow is aimed directly at the heart of the Scorpion.
In this Archer we see a faint reflection of Him who shall presently come forth, all gracious, all wise, all powerful ; whose arrows shall be " sharp in the heart of the King s enemies."
" God shall shoot at them with an arrow ; Suddenly shall they be wounded. So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon them selves ; All that see them shall flee away. And all men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God; For they shall wisely consider of His doing. The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall trust in Him ; And all the upright in heart shall glory." (Ps. Ixiv. 7-10.)
http://archive.org/stream/witnessofthestar00bulluoft/witnessofthestar00bulluoft_djvu.txt
Clearly, we see that Jesus was depicted in a triumphal state, coming on a white horse with a bow and arrow. 2 Ezra tells us at the time of his wrath, it will be like arrows shot around the earth.
2 Esd 16:12-20 The earth quaketh, and the foundations thereof; the sea ariseth up with waves from the deep, and the waves of it are troubled, and the fishes thereof also, before the Lord, and before the glory of his power:13 For strong is his right hand that bendeth the bow, his arrows that he shooteth are sharp, and shall not miss, when they begin to be shot into the ends of the world.14 Behold, the plagues are sent, and shall not return again, until they come upon the earth.15 The fire is kindled, and shall not be put out, till it consume the foundation of the earth.16 Like as an arrow which is shot of a mighty archer returneth not backward: even so the plagues that shall be sent upon earth shall not return again.17 Woe is me! woe is me! who will deliver me in those days?18 The beginning of sorrows and great mournings; the beginning of famine and great death; the beginning of wars, and the powers shall stand in fear; the beginning of evils! what shall I do when these evils shall come?19 Behold, famine and plague, tribulation and anguish, are sent as scourges for amendment.20 But for all these things they shall not turn from their wickedness, nor be always mindful of the scourges.KJV
Here, we see the idea of the wrath of the Lamb, as each seal is opened and each trumpet is sounded, it is like an archer shooting arrows into the entire world. From the book Gospel in the Stars, Joseph Seiss, says:
THE TRIUMPHANT WARRIOR.
Ps. 45 : 4, 5 : " And in Thy majesty ride prosperously, because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and Thy right hand shall teach Thee terrible things. Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the King's enemies."
THESE words are from one of the most glowing of the Psalms, in the writing of which David's heart boiled with goodly words. It is marked : " To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, for the sons of Korah —Maschil. A song of loves." The lily-instrument, the master-performer, and the whole body of singers were called into requisition for its rendering. As a sublime ode it was to be given with the sublimest skill, for it relates to the loveliest of heroes in the loveliest of His aspects, offices, and relations to His people. This hero is none other than the promised Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, in His royal majesty and glory subsequent to His resurrection, and as to be hereafter revealed. When on earth He was despised and rejected of men, but here He is celebrated as " beautiful, beautiful, above the sons of man," endowed with every grace and invested with all authority and power. When on earth He was meek and non-resistant, not breaking so much as a bruised reed , but here He is contemplated and addressed as a mounted warrior, riding as a king, armed with bow and arrows, shooting down His enemies. His character here is that of the Mighty One, girding himself with honor and majesty, and going forth to victory. John, in his visions of the future, beheld "a white horse ; and He that sat on him had a bow ; and He went forth conquering and to conquer." It is the same divine Hero, in the same character, offices, and work, in both instances. He has a crown, a throne, and a cause — the cause of righteousness over against injustice, usurpation, and tyranny; which cause He enforces with invincible majesty. His former sufferings are now turned to aromatic perfumes upon Him. Out of the ivory palaces He is gladdened with the sound of the harp. And in glory and triumph He rides forth unto victory, hailed by the daughters of kings and worshipped by the queen at his right hand arrayed in the gold of Ophir.
Thus everything in and illustrative of this sign serves to identify it as a pictorial prophecy of our blessed Lord, answering in all respects to the representations given in the Scriptures. Grotesque and unevangelic as it may seem, it is a showing upon the stars of the same things, under the same images, that we find written concerning the glorified Redeemer in whom all our hopes are centred. He is the sublime Lord and King of salvation, with the two natures in one person, once humbled to death on the cross, but now exalted to glory in heaven. He is the wise, the true, the good, the righteous, who standeth for the defence and administration of righteousness against the Devil and all the powers of the Adversary. He is the mighty Warrior who rideth prosperously, with the bow and arrows of truth and judgment, ever aiming and speeding them at the heart of the foe, and never more giving over until He has carried everything through to everlasting victory, when Death and Hades, and all the powers and children of evil, shall have sunk for ever to their deserved perdition. And the Decans in this sign confirm and further illustrate what we thus read from it.
http://archive.org/stream/gospelinstarsorp00seis/gospelinstarsorp00seis_djvu.txt
There is a reason Jesus comes as a warrior rather than meek and mild. This time it is to execute justice and judgment on the wicked. But when he came to earth as a humble healer, he gave gifts to men. One of our gifts is eternal life. We can also earn rewards as we have previously seen.
Eph 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.KJV
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.KJV
Jesus made it available, for anyone who makes him Lord, to be made incorruptible and immortal. We can have eternal life.
1 Cor 15:22-26 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming (parousia).24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.KJV
When is His coming? Remember, the redeemed watch the seals opened by the Lamb, but he does not come to earth until the day of the Lord when he comes with his army, the parousia. Therefore we have to understand that Paul is saying he arises from the dead first, he is the first fruit of Israel. Later, halfway through the tribulation, he will gather the 144,000, also known as the first fruits of Israel. Then those people who are his at his coming, the parousia. This does not include the redeemed, because the redeemed come with him. So those people spoken of here, who are made alive, are those who rejected him before the tribulation, and then received him as Lord during the tribulation. Once Jesus has reigned for one thousand years, the seventh day, he will deliver the kingdom to God, the eighth day or the eight thousand year mark.
Paul goes on to make an interesting point. He points out what good would it have done him to fight wild animals at Ephesus, especially if he died doing it, if the dead don’t rise. It wasn’t Paul’s choice to fight at Ephesus; it was what the city rulers did to criminals. It was entertainment. Paul had to fight or let the wild animals kill him. Either way, what good was spreading the gospel, with the chance of ending up in situations like this, if there was nothing after we die? As we looked at last week, to spirit beings, one thousand years is like a day.
1 Cor 15:30-32 And why stand we in jeopardy every hour?31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.32 If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we die.KJV
And that is where the world is today, eating and drinking and living for what we can “get” today, because there is nothing after death. Paul then likens our bodies to wheat, which when it is done maturing it drops seed to be renewed.
1 Cor 15:39-42 All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.40 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.41 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.42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:KJV
Paul points out that there are different types of flesh, and different types of bodies. Each is different. This is Paul’s point, our physical body is corruptible, but our new bodies will be incorruptible and immortal. Let’s look at a few of these words to understand what it is we will be getting.
NT:861 aphthrsia (af-thar-see'-ah); from NT:862; incorruptibility; genitive case unending existence; (figuratively) genuineness:KJV - immortality, incorruption, sincerity.
NT:862 aphthartos (af'-thar-tos); from NT:1 (as a negative particle) and a derivative of NT:5351; undecaying (in essence or continuance):KJV - not (in-, un-) corruptible, immortal.
NT:110 athanasia (ath-an-as-ee'-ah); from a compound of NT:1 (as a negative particle) and NT:2288; deathlessness:KJV - immortality.
(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
Rom 2:6-76 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality [861], eternal life: KJV
The key is being patient to continue in this life, doing good, and then receiving according to what we have done, eternal life.
1 Cor 15:42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption [861]:KJV
Those who rise from the dead at the harpazo don’t have physical bodies, they corrupted; but they will gain an incorruptible body when they rise.
1 Cor 15:50-58 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption [861].51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,52 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[861], and we shall be changed.53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption [861] , and this mortal must put on immortality[110].54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption [861], and this mortal shall have put on immortality [110], then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.KJV
Heaven is not a place where corruption can exist. Therefore all who enter have to put on incorruption. This is why people don’t immediately enter heaven when they die. People either go to the grave, or since the time of Jesus’ death, paradise. This is why there are different places for the dead, because they have to put on incorruption and immortality before they can enter the kingdom of heaven in Heaven. When do the dead put on incorruption? When Jesus calls from the clouds. The kingdom of God has come to earth, but earth is still in a corruptible state. We change our citizenship to the Kingdom of God, but we still live here. However, if the Lord calls from the clouds while we are on earth, we will put on immortality. Let’s look at this in the Amplified Bible.
1 Cor 15:50-54 But I tell you this, brethren, flesh and blood cannot [become partakers of eternal salvation and] inherit or share in the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable (that which is decaying) inherit or share in the imperishable (the immortal). 51 Take notice! I tell you a mystery (a secret truth, an event decreed by the hidden purpose or counsel of God). We shall not all fall asleep [in death], but we shall all be changed (transformed) 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the [sound of the] last trumpet call. For a trumpet will sound, and the dead [in Christ] will be raised imperishable (free and immune from decay), and we shall be changed (transformed). 53 For this perishable [part of us] must put on the imperishable [nature], and this mortal [part of us, this nature that is capable of dying] must put on immortality (freedom from death). 54 And when this perishable puts on the imperishable and this that was capable of dying puts on freedom from death, then shall be fulfilled the Scripture that says, Death is swallowed up (utterly vanquished forever) in and unto victory. [Isa 25:8.] AMP
Jesus brought the understanding of immortality to earth, which, by his resurrection he is called the first born from the dead. Paul is the one who was commissioned to teach this to the Gentiles.
2 Tim 1:9-11 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality[861]to light through the gospel:11 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.KJV
Paul makes an interesting point here when he says our calling is not according to our works, our calling is according to His purpose. We don’t get a “calling” because we work for it; we get a “calling” because He has a purpose for us.
Rom 1:23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible [862]God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.KJV
People make the incorruptible God into images, idols, and earthly beings. This humanizes God, but God is not human, he is immortal. Jesus changes us to be like Him. We are not to change God to be like us. This is why the order of things and the details that go along with scripture are important because some religions would have us to be incorruptible and immortal as soon as we die; but there is a timing and order that has to take place first.
Phil 3:20-21 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: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.KJV
ChangeNT:3345 metaschematizo (met-askh-ay-mat-id'-zo); from NT:3326 and a derivative of NT:4976; to transfigure or disguise; figuratively, to apply (by accommodation): KJV - transfer, transform (self).(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
Fashioned NT:4832 summorphos (soom-mor-fos'); from NT:4862 and NT:3444; jointly formed, i.e. (figuratively) similar:KJV - conformed to, fashioned like unto.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
Working NT:1753 energeia (en-erg'-i-ah); from NT:1756; efficiency ("energy"):KJV - operation, strong, (effectual) working.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
Again let’s look at this in the Amplified Bible and in the Message to see it a few different ways.
Phil 3:20-21 But we are citizens of the state (commonwealth, homeland) which is in heaven, and from it also we earnestly and patiently await [the coming of] the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) [as] Savior, 21 Who will transform and fashion anew the body of our humiliation to conform to and be like the body of His glory and majesty, by exerting that power which enables Him even to subject everything to Himself. AMP
Phil 3:20-21 But there's far more to life for us. We're citizens of high heaven! We're waiting the arrival of the Savior, the Master, Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our earthy bodies into glorious bodies like his own. He'll make us beautiful and whole with the same powerful skill by which he is putting everything as it should be, under and around him. (from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)
This is what we are waiting for, when the dead and the living in Christ become incorruptible and immortal. It has not happened yet, but when it does we will be allowed access into heaven. We will be redeemed and will then watch the seals being opened. Until then we are living with sick and decaying bodies.
2 Cor 4:16 Therefore we do not become discouraged (utterly spiritless, exhausted, and wearied out through fear). Though our outer man is [progressively] decaying and wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day after day. 17 For our light, momentary affliction (this slight distress of the passing hour) is ever more and more abundantly preparing and producing and achieving for us an everlasting weight of glory [beyond all measure, excessively surpassing all comparisons and all calculations, a vast and transcendent glory and blessedness never to cease!], 18 Since we consider and look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are visible are temporal (brief and fleeting), but the things that are invisible are deathless and everlasting.
Chapter 5:1 FOR WE know that if the tent which is our earthly home is destroyed (dissolved), we have from God a building, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 Here indeed, in this [present abode, body], we sigh and groan inwardly, because we yearn to be clothed over [we yearn to put on our celestial body like a garment, to be fitted out] with our heavenly dwelling, 3 So that by putting it on we may not be found naked (without a body). 4 For while we are still in this tent, we groan under the burden and sigh deeply (weighed down, depressed, oppressed) — not that we want to put off the body (the clothing of the spirit), but rather that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal (our dying body) may be swallowed up by life [after the resurrection]. 5 Now He Who has fashioned us [preparing and making us fit] for this very thing is God, Who also has given us the [Holy] Spirit as a guarantee [of the fulfillment of His promise]. AMP
The Holy Spirit is a down payment to the new body we will one day have. On this earth everything around us decays, that is what the devil brought when he took kingship from Adam. We got death and decay as a result of Adam’s sin.
1 John 3:2 Beloved, we are [even here and] now God's children; it is not yet disclosed (made clear) what we shall be [hereafter], but we know that when He comes and is manifested, we shall [as God's children] resemble and be like Him, for we shall see Him just as He [really] is. AMP
We will be like Him; therefore we can gain some clues to what our new bodies will be like by looking at things Jesus did in His resurrected body. Physical properties did not hinder him as he walked through walls and locked doors. He could come and go instantly. He ate and drank food, but still had marks on his body from the cross. This is not just a “New Testament” idea.
Ps 17:12 As for me, I will continue beholding Your face in righteousness (rightness, justice, and right standing with You); I shall be fully satisfied, when I awake [to find myself] beholding Your form [and having sweet communion with You]. AMP
New bodies are given to the redeemed, either those dead who are in Christ, or those people alive at his coming in the clouds, the harpazo. The people who live during the tribulation, who confess Jesus as Lord and do not receive the mark of the beast, actually live for one thousand years. Life spans will be restored in the millennial reign, but they do not have immortal bodies. However long man was supposed to live before the fall, we do not know. But if Adam only lived one day, 930 years, then that could be how long man will live during the millennial reign. The people, who are the tribulation saints, transfer from the tribulation to the millennial kingdom and they are not affected by the second death because they dedicate themselves to Him. But there will be people born during the millennium.
Isa 65:20-22 There shall no more be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who dies prematurely; for the child shall die a hundred years old, and the sinner who dies when only a hundred years old shall be [thought only a child, cut off because he is] accursed. 21 They shall build houses and inhabit them, and they shall plant vineyards and eat the fruit of them. 22 They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat [the fruit]. For as the days of a tree, so shall be the days of My people, and My chosen and elect shall long make use of and enjoy the work of their hands. AMP
Here we see that people will be considered children at 100 years old. And someone who curses Jesus or rejects his Kingship will live a short life, only 100 yrs. However long trees live will be the human lifespan. Here is a picture of what our new bodies will be able to do when the Lord comes with his armies on the day of the Lord.
Joel 2:7-9 They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks:8 Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded.9 They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief.KJV
The church at Smyrna was told that if they (we) overcome, they (we) will not be hurt of the second death which has its finality in Revelation 21:8. This implies that some people will not confess Jesus as Lord and will not become one of the redeemed before the tribulation. Some may know of Jesus but not make him Lord, therefore not being redeemed by His blood. If that is the case, can we think of any religious groups that do not teach that confession of Jesus as Lord is important?
The rest of the people stay dead through the millennial kingdom. At the time of the one thousand year reign of Christ on earth, people will be born and die. How long people will live is vague, perhaps as long as trees live, which is longer than people live now. After that, at the end of the millennial kingdom, those who were dead will be judged by their works. All the unredeemed dead, and those who rejected Jesus, will be judged. If anyone is written in the book of life, they will live in the new earth. Those who are judged and not found in the book of life are thrown into the lake of fire.
Those redeemed, who are either dead or alive at the time Christ calls from the clouds, will come back to earth and reign with Christ with new incorruptible bodies, for one thousand years. Those who were killed during the tribulation for not taking the mark of the beast will reign with Christ during the millennial kingdom, but with resurrected bodies. This is the difference between those reigning with Christ during the millennium. Some have incorruptible bodies and some have resurrected bodies. During the time Christ reigns on earth, a new heaven will tell of a new story. The constellations will be rearranged to give us the story of Christ’s triumph and the coming New Heaven and New Earth.
