Revelations from the Word

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Unless the seed die...

by Jean-Louis Coraboeuf

"Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honour" (John 12:24-26).

Like the seed of corn, Jesus was to die in order to bear fruit. But He was raised as the first fruits of those who have died. And because death came through a man (Adam), it was also through a man that resurrection of the dead was to come. As all men die because they descend from Adam, in the same way all also will live again through Christ (1 Corinthians 15:20-22). But, although all men will be raised one day, that will happen according to a precise order (rank) fixed by God the Father (1 Corinthians 15:23-24):

  • first of all, Jesus was raised from the dead, then He ascended into heaven near to His heavenly Father,

  • then those who belong to Jesus Christ will be raised at the time of His Coming, when He will come to establish the Kingdom of God on the earth for a thousand years,

  • then, at the end of the thousand years, the rest of mankind will be raised, when Jesus Christ hands back His Kingdom to His heavenly Father. Then the dead will be raised to be judged according to the Book of Life and Jesus Christ will destroy every evil rule, authority and power by throwing them into the lake of fire.

The body that we have 'sown' into our death with Christ, is not the one that will take on life again at the time of the resurrection, for it is a corruptible, earthly body. But God will give us a heavenly, incorruptible body, our body 'sown' without honour will be raised glorified; 'sown' in weakness, resurrected in power; 'sown' being ruled by our soul, resurrected made alive by the Spirit (1 Corinthians 15:35-44).

When all the corruptible bodies have been reclothed in incorruptibility, then the prophetic word of Isaiah, "Death will be swallowed up for ever" (Isaiah 25:8), will be fulfilled, that is to say that it will be thrown with Hades (the place of the departed spirits) into the lake of fire. God will punish Satan along with the fallen angels, and all the wicked who will then be taken off the earth (Isaiah 24:21 and Revelation 20:10). Then the Lord of hosts will prepare for those who remain amongst all the peoples of the earth, a feast of succulent dishes and matured wines on Mount Zion. And the Lord will wipe away the tears from every face after having rid the earth of the disgrace of His people (Isaiah 25:6-8). The heavens and the earth will be made new, and the heavenly Jerusalem, the Bride will come down from heaven onto the earth, into the earthly Jerusalem, to be with her Bridegroom, the Tabernacle of God (Revelation 21:1-4). That is why Jesus said, "Where I am, there also will be My servant".