The Daily Word of Righteousness

Aspects of the Resurrection of the Saints, #7

And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven [into the heaven] in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them. (Revelation 11:12)

Our resurrection from the dead will be patterned after the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Our resurrection from the dead is a continuation of the one resurrection of Christ.

Christ's resurrection and ours will be demonstrated simultaneously in stupendous power and glory at His (and our) glorious appearing from Heaven. This is also expressed in Romans 8:17. He and we will shine as one Light to the world, one open manifestation of the Son of God by the power of the resurrection from the dead.

Whereas Revelation 4:1 points toward a spiritual resurrection and ascension of Christ-filled saints that they may know the future, the resurrection and ascension of Revelation 11:11,12, have to do with the Divine testimony to the world of the Sonship and Lordship of Christ and the extension of God's love and favor to the saints.

Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, . . . . (Revelation 1:7)

So far we have mentioned:

The necessary elements in arriving at the first resurrection, which are the rewards to the overcomer mentioned in Chapters Two and Three of Revelation.

The initial resurrection and ascension of the born-again inner nature of the believer.

The testimony to the nations of the earth produced by the resurrection and ascension of the saints.

The Third Aspect of the First Resurrection. Another aspect of the first resurrection is found in the twelfth chapter of Revelation. It is the forming of Christ in the saints. Christ Himself Is the Resurrection from the dead. As He is formed in us the resurrection is formed in us.

And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. (Revelation 12:5)

The Greek word for "caught up" in the above verse is the same term employed in I Thessalonians 4:17: "Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, . . . ."

Revelation 12:2-5, which uses the figure of the woman (the Church) and the male Son (Christ formed in the believers), is closely aligned with the sixth chapter of the Gospel of John. John, Chapter Six declares several times that our resurrection from the dead is associated with eating the flesh and drinking the blood of Christ.

Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. (John 6:54)

The above verse is speaking of Christ who Himself Is the Resurrection and the eternal Life. Christ is being formed in us as we learn to live by eating His flesh and drinking His holy blood.

Christ is the Ruler of the ages to come. As soon as He is formed in us He is caught up to the right hand of the Father in Heaven because that is where He must remain for now. He is waiting for the Father to make His enemies His footstool.

To be continued.