Ressurections

The Resurrections

The Bible reveals the truth about the resurrection of Yahshua and the resurrections to come. The word of Yahweh shows the purpose of Yahweh for mankind and His plan for man to become His sons.
Yahshua said, "Unless a man is born again he cannot see the Kingdom of Yahweh." The Holy Scriptures describe the resurrection of Yahshua to immortality and at least two more resurrections. Here is the truth about the resurrections.
By George and Henry Anderson

PART 1: YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN
What is the kingdom of Yahweh? Why would anyone want to see it? What does the Kingdom of Yahweh have to do with the resurrection?
Let=s look at what Yahshua the Messiah told Nicodemus in John 3:
1There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2This man came to Yahshua by night and said to Him, ARabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from Yahweh; for no one can do these signs that You do unless Yahweh is with him. 3Yahshua answered and said to him, AMost assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of Yahweh.@ 4Nicodemus said to Him, AHow can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother=s womb and be born?@ 5Yahshua answered, AMost assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of Yahweh. 6AThat which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7ADo not marvel that I said to you, >You must be born again.= 8AThe wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.@
Some people argue that the Greek here can mean Aborn from above.@ The chances are very slim indeed that Yahshua and Nicodemus were speaking in Greek. Because Nicodemus was a teacher in Israel, it is very likely that he and Yahshua were speaking in Hebrew. The other language that they could have been using was Aramaic, which was the language of the common Jew. Because they were not speaking in Greek it is very important that we consider the context of the scriptures. One of the cardinal rules of Bible study is to always consider the context of the passage in question. So many people wanting to put their own interpretation on the Scriptures pull sentences out of context, which is a dangerous thing and leads to much error.
In context here Nicodemus understood Yahshua to say Aborn again@ as in parturition. He asked if a man when he is old and fully grown could enter a second time into the womb of his mother and be born again. He knew that Yahshua was speaking of a birth, like a physical birth. Yahshua went on to tell him that there is a spiritual birth like a physical birth. Unless a person is born with that spiritual birth, he cannot see the kingdom of Yahweh. The context plainly shows that Yahshua was speaking of an actual birth, not some kind of spiritual experience.
Yahshua told Nicodemus not to marvel at what He said about being born again. He could see that Nicodemus was amazed at the concept. It was not an idea that Nicodemus was familiar with.
Continuing in verse 9:
9Nicodemus answered and said to Him, AHow can these things be?@ Yahshua answered and said to him, AAre you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? 11AMost assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. 12AIf I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13ANo one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. 14AAnd as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15Athat whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
Nicodemus said that they knew that Yahshua was a teacher come from Yahweh because Yahshua did marvelous things. Yahshua was addressing the idea that He was from Yahweh when He told Nicodemus that a man must be born again in order to be able to see the kingdom of Yahweh. The kingdom of Yahweh are all those members of the Yahweh kind. A kingdom of men is made up of men. The kingdom of Yahweh is made up of Yahweh, plural..
Apparently Nicodemus was shocked by what Yahshua said. How can a man be born again? Does he have to go back into his mother=s womb? Nicodemus understood what Yahshua was talking about. He did not take what Yahshua said to mean some kind of spiritual experience, but a birth.
We can see the kingdom of man, because we are mankind. We cannot see the kingdom of Yahweh, because we are not of the Yahweh kind. Yahshua explained to Nicodemus: what is born of the flesh is flesh; what is born of the spirit is spirit. We are flesh so we can see and understand the things of the flesh. Yahweh is spirit. What is born of the spirit can see and understand the things of the spirit. Mankind being flesh cannot see and understand the things of the spirit.
Yahshua explained this by comparing spirit to wind. A poem by Stevenson explains this very well:
Who has seen the wind? Neither you nor I,
But the trees all bow their heads When the wind is passing by.
We, being flesh, cannot see spirit. We can only see the effects of it.
Then, what did Yahshua mean, AYou must be born again.@ He was talking about Yahweh and spirit as compared to humans and flesh. When He was talking to the Samaritan woman at the well in Samaria, He said that Yahweh is spirit and seeks those to worship Him in spirit and truth. To Nicodemus He was saying that unless one is born as Yahweh into the spirit world, that he cannot see or comprehend the spirit world. Those born of the flesh can only see the effects of the spirit world as one sees the effects of the wind.
He that is born of the spirit is spirit
At the present time only one is born of the spirit, and that is Yahshua the Messiah. He was born of the spirit at His resurrection three days and nights after His crucifixion. Until that time He was born of the flesh. He was born of Mary who had conceived Him by means of the spirit of Yahweh impregnating her ovum. Although He was of the spirit of Yahweh, He was born of a woman, of flesh. He was limited as we are by His flesh. After His resurrection, He was able to appear in a closed room. Those of the flesh could not see Him unless He manifested Himself to them. He was spirit because He was born of the spirit by a resurrection from the dead.
In John 18:19-21 it illustrates how spirit can work for Yahshua appeared in the midst of a crowd in a room when all the doors were shut.
19Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Yahshua came and stood in the midst, and said to them, APeace be with you.@ 20When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Messiah. 21SoYahshua said to them again, APeace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.@
Continuing in verses 26-29: again he appeared in a room when all the doors were shut.
26And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Yahshua came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, APeace to you!@ 27Then He said to Thomas, AReach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.@ 28And Thomas answered and said to Him, AMy Master and my Elohim!@ 29Yahshua said to him, AThomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.@
So the disciples were able to see the result of what the Spiritual did, but could not perceive how it operated. Yahshua after His new birth to spirit through the resurrection was able to appear wherever and whenever He wanted. He did no miracle like that when He was flesh and blood. But in His resurrection He was born of the spirit as He had told Nicodemus.
Born in a resurrection to life
Yahshua is the first human to be born of the spirit. In Colossians 1:15-18 Yahshua is called the firstborn from the dead:
15He is the image of the invisible Yahweh, the firstborn over all creation. 16For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.
Here it states plainly that Yahshua is the firstborn from the dead. So the resurrection from the dead to life is to be born again as a spirit being. Those that are born from the dead are born into the kingdom of Yahweh. It is repeated again in Revelation 1:4-5 that Yahshua is the first to be born from the dead:
4John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, 5and from Yahshua the Messiah, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth.
In Romans 8:29 it shows that there will be others born into the kingdom of Yahweh that Yahshua was born into:
29For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Many will eventually be born into the brotherhood in the family of Yahweh.
Yahshua has inherited all things
Yahshua in being obedient to Yahweh=s laws, and in doing the will of Yahweh the Father has become the heir of the universe. He has been exalted above the angels to be the firstborn into the Yahweh family as the Son of Yahweh. In the first two chapters of the book of Hebrews Paul discusses the position of Yahshua in the family of Yahweh. Hebrews 1:1-14:
Yahweh who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 3who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
5For to which of the angels did He ever say:
AYou are My Son, Today I have begotten You@?
And again:
AI will be to Him a Father, And He shall be to Me a Son@?
6But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says:
ALet all the angels of Yahweh worship Him.@
7And of the angels He says:
AWho makes His angels spirits
And His ministers a flame of fire.@
8But to the Son He says:
AYour throne, O Yahweh, is forever and ever;
A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your Kingdom.
9You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness;
Therefore Yahweh, Your Yahweh, has anointed You
With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.@
10And:
AYou, YAHWEH, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth,
And the heavens are the work of Your hands.
11They will perish, but You remain;
And they will all grow old like a garment;
12Like a cloak You will fold them up,
And they will be changed.
But You are the same,
And Your years will not fail.@
13But to which of the angels has He ever said:
ASit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool@?
14Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?
Yahshua through a resurrection from the dead, a spiritual birth into the family of Yahweh, has become the firstborn of many and has inherited all things.
The sons of Yahweh will have all things in the universe under their authorityCYahshua being the firstborn and the preeminent one of all those who will be born as sons of Yahweh. Those who accept the sacrifice of the Messiah and seek to obey the laws of Yahweh and follow in the example of Yahshua will with Him inherit all things. Hebrews 2:5-13:
5For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels. 6But one testified in a certain place, saying:
AWhat is man that You are mindful of him,
Or the son of man that You take care of him?
7You have made him a little lower than the angels;
You have crowned him with glory and honor,
And set him over the works of Your hands.
8You have put all things in subjection under his feet.@
For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him. 9But we see Yahshua, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of Yahweh, might taste death for everyone.
10For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 11For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12saying:
AI will declare Your name to My brethren;
In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You.@
13And again:
AI will put My trust in Him.@
And again:
AHere am I and the children whom Yahweh has given Me.@
So there will be many more sons and daughters born into the family of Yahweh as the brothers of Yahshua the Messiah.

PART 2: THE FIRST RESURRECTION
Two resurrections are coming
The Bible describes two resurrections in the future. One to a resurrection to life, and one to a resurrection to judgment. The resurrection to life will come at the return of Yahshua to the earth. The resurrection to judgment will be one thousand years later. These two resurrections are described in Revelation 20:4-6:
4And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Yahshua and for the word of Yahweh, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Messiah for a thousand years. 5But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of Yahweh and of the Messiah, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
Here two resurrections are described. One is called the first resurrection. Those who attain to it are called blessed and holy. They are immortal (death having no more effect on them), and they will reign with Yahshua the Messiah. So this is a resurrection to life B to eternal life.
The second resurrection C the one to judgment C is described in Revelation 20:11-15:
11Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before Yahweh, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
This section of scripture describes a resurrection to judgment. Those who are not in the first resurrection will be resurrected to a judgment.
The first and second resurrections are described in many other scriptures.
The first resurrection - The resurrection to life
Again we go to Revelation 20:
6Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power.
As there are two resurrections, there are two deaths. The first death is as a sleep. From that sleep everyone will wake in a resurrection. Some will wake in a resurrection to life; some will wake in a resurrection to judgment. The second death is a death forever. It is annihilation, or eternal oblivion. The first resurrection is a resurrection to eternal life, as a birth into the family of Yahweh. Those who have understood the truth of Yahweh=s plan of salvation in this age, have accepted that plan, and overcome the pulls of the flesh and the pulls of this world will have a part in the first resurrection. Those who have not understood the purpose for their temporary lives in this age and have not turned to Yahweh with their whole heart will awake in the second resurrection to judgment.
One place the first resurrection is described is in I Thessalonians 4:13-18:
13But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep (have died), lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14For if we believe that Yahshua died and rose again, even so Yahweh will bring with Him those who sleep (are dead) in Yahshua. 15For this we say to you by the word of the Messiah, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Messiah will by no means precede those who are asleep (dead). 16For the Messiah Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of Yahweh. And the dead in the Messiah will rise first. 17Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Messiah in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Messiah. 18Therefore comfort one another with these words.
Here the Apostle Paul speaks of death as a sleep. Those who are dead in faithfulness to Yahshua the Messiah will be resurrected to life at His second coming. Those who are alive and are faithful to the Messiah will be immediately born of the spirit in a change from mortal flesh to immortal spirit beings. Yahshua the Messiah will return from heaven with a great shout and blast of the trumpet of Yahweh. At that time will be the first resurrection which will be a resurrection to life. It will be the birth into the spirit kingdom of Yahweh.
In Isaiah 66 Yahweh speaks of a nation being born at once. How a nation can be born in one day.
5Hear the word of Yahweh, You who tremble at His word:
AYour brethren who hated you, Who cast you out for My name=s sake, said,
>Let Yahweh be glorified, That we may see your joy.= But they shall be ashamed.@
6The sound of noise from the city! A voice from the temple!
The voice of Yahweh, Who fully repays His enemies!
7ABefore she was in labor, she gave birth; Before her pain came, She delivered a male child.
8Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things?
Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion was in labor, She gave birth to her children.
9Shall I bring to the time of birth, and not cause delivery?@ says Yahweh AShall I who cause delivery shut up the womb?@ says Yahweh.
How will the birth to spirit come about?
In I Corinthians 15 Paul goes into detail about the resurrection. First he discusses the resurrection of Yahshua:
1Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to youCunless you believed in vain. 3For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that the Messiah died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 5and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 6After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep (are dead). 7After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. 8Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time. 9For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of Yahweh. 10But by the grace of Yahweh I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of Yahweh which was with me. 11Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
Paul declares that Yahshua died. He states the purpose of His death. He mentions all those who saw Him after His resurrection (birth into the spirit world), and that were witnesses that Yahshua really was resurrected from the dead.
In I Corinthians 15:12-19 Paul talks about the futility of religion if there is no resurrection from the dead and if the Messiah were not resurrected:
12Now if the Messiah is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then the Messiah is not risen. 14And if Messiah is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. 15Yes, and we are found false witnesses of Yahweh, because we have testified of Yahweh that He raised up Messiah, whom He did not raise upCif in fact the dead do not rise. 16For if the dead do not rise, then the Messiah is not risen. 17And if the Messiah is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! 18Then also those who have fallen asleep in the Messiah have perished. 19If in this life only we have hope in the Messiah, we are of all men the most pitiable. 20But now the Messiah is risen from the dead, and has become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. Paul points out in these Scriptures that our hope is in the resurrectionCfirst of the Messiah, and then in our own.
Sometimes this argument is given against the resurrection: A man lives and dies. He is buried and his body returns to the dust of the earth. Plants grow from that dirt formed from the decayed body. Other beings eat the plants including men. So the elements of the first human become the elements of another. This process may be repeated many times. Then how can all these men be resurrected for they all have had the same elements.
In I Corinthians 15:35-44 Paul discusses this same question:
35But someone will say, AHow are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?@ 36Foolish one, what you sow is not made alive unless it dies. 37And what you sow, you do not sow that body that shall be, but mere grainCperhaps wheat or some other grain. 38ButYahweh gives it a body as He pleases, and to each seed its own body. 39All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of animals, another of fish, and another of birds. 40There are also celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 41There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory. 42So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. 43It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. 44It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
Paul points out that what is buried is not important. It decays and perishes. It is the seed that produces the new body that is important. The new body produced by the seed does not necessarily look like the seed, but it looks like what the seed produces. In the case of our physical body, in the first resurrection it produces a spiritual body just like the resurrection of Yahshua produced a spiritual body. The resurrection produces a birth into the spiritual realm. That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the spirit is spirit. Paul emphatically states, AThere is a natural (physical) body, and there is a spiritual body.
In the physical every seed is produced by an ovum (an egg, or receptacle to produce a new being) and a sperm. The sperm joins the ovum, and after a gestation period a new beingCbe it plant or animal or humanCis produced. In the case of a seed the gestation period is the maturing of the seed in the plant and the germination when the seed is planted. In the case of an animal or human the new creature is produced by a birth or parturition.
Analogous to the physical is the spiritual. The spirit of man corresponds to the ovum. At repentance, accepting the sacrifice of Yahshua, baptism, and the laying on of hands, the spirit of Yahweh corresponds to the sperm that begets us as children of Yahweh. The remainder of this physical life corresponds to the period of gestation. We must be growing in the spiritual realm to be ready to be born into the family of Yahweh at the resurrection of the dead. What is planted (buried) is the physical. What is produced in the resurrection, the spiritual birth, is a spiritual son of Yahweh.
In I Corinthians 2:11-16 Paul discusses the spirit of man and the spirit of Yahweh:
11For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of Yahweh except the Spirit of Yahweh. 12Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is from Yahweh, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by Yahweh. 13These things we also speak, not in words which man=s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of Yahweh, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. 16For Awho has known the mind of Yahweh that he may instruct Him?@ But we have the mind of Messiah.
It is the spirit of Yahweh that gives life. What we have now is a temporary physical life with a human spirit, or as the Bible calls it the spirit of man. When Yahweh gives us His spirit (Yah is spirit and is eternal) then we have eternal life in us. The life of Yahweh is not fixed in us until we are born in the resurrection. II Corinthians 3:4-6 shows that it is the spirit of Yahweh that gives life:
4And we have such trust through Messiah toward Yahweh. 5Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from Yahweh, 6who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
Paul talks about the change of bodies in II Corinthians 5:1-5:
1For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from Yahweh, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, 3if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. 4For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. 5Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is Yahweh, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
Paul continues the discussion of the first resurrection in I Corinthians 15:45-49:
45And so it is written, AThe first man Adam became a living being.@ The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. 47The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Messiah from heaven. 48As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. 49And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.
He points out that as we are now in the image of the physical man (the man of dust). We will be in the image of the heavenlyCthe resurrected, born again, Yahshua the Messiah. As we bear the image of Adam that was our first physical ancestor we will bear the image of Yahshua the Messiah our first spiritual brother who is the Son of Yahweh. In verses 50-54 Paul shows that we must put on immortality in the resurrection, just as Yahshua is immortal:
50Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of Yahweh; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 51Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changedC 52in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: ADeath is swallowed up in victory.@
I Corinthians 15 is the most complete discussion in the entire Scriptures about the resurrection to life and the birth to spirit existence and immortality. Many other Scriptures mention it, but most only in passing. However, these scriptures make it quite plain that there is a spiritual birth through a resurrection. Paul said, AFlesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of Yahweh.@ Only when we are born into the spiritual realm can we inherit the kingdom of Yahweh, for then we will be Yahweh's sons.
What will it be like?
I John 3:2 gives us the answer:
2Beloved, now we are children of Yahweh; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
When we are born of the spirit and we can see spirit, as we are born of the physical now and can see the physical, then we will be able to see Yahshua the Messiah as He is.
When we are able to see Him we will be like Him; that is, we will be spirit as He is spirit. We will have the same form and demeanor as He.
We can get a hint of what He is like because He revealed Himself to John. In Revelation 1:10-16 John was in a vision and saw a vision of the spiritual Messiah:
10I was in the Spirit on Yahweh's Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, 11saying, AI am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,@ and, AWhat you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.@ 12Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lamp stands, 13and in the midst of the seven lamp stands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. 14His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; 15His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; 16He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.
This was the way Yahshua the Messiah looked to John when He saw Him "in the spirit."
In Ezekiel 1 a description of the Word of Yahweh was given by Ezekiel after he had seen a vision of the Redeemer on His portable throne.
1Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the River Chebar, that the heavens were opened and I saw visions of Yahweh. 2On the fifth day of the month, which was in the fifth year of King Jehoiachin's captivity, 3the word of Yahweh came expressly to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the River Chebar; and the hand of Yahweh was upon him there.
4Then I looked, and behold, a whirlwind was coming out of the north, a great cloud with raging fire engulfing itself; and brightness was all around it and radiating out of its midst like the color of amber, out of the midst of the fire. 5Also from within it came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: they had the likeness of a man. 6Each one had four faces, and each one had four wings. 7Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the soles of calves' feet. They sparkled like the color of burnished bronze. 8The hands of a man were under their wings on their four sides; and each of the four had faces and wings. 9Their wings touched one another. The creatures did not turn when they went, but each one went straight forward. 10As for the likeness of their faces, each had the face of a man; each of the four had the face of a lion on the right side, each of the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and each of the four had the face of an eagle. 11Thus were their faces. Their wings stretched upward; two wings of each one touched one another, and two covered their bodies. 12And each one went straight forward; they went wherever the spirit wanted to go, and they did not turn when they went. 13As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches going back and forth among the living creatures. The fire was bright, and out of the fire went lightning. 14And the living creatures ran back and forth, in appearance like a flash of lightning. 15Now as I looked at the living creatures, behold, a wheel was on the earth beside each living creature with its four faces. 16The appearance of the wheels and their workings was like the color of beryl, and all four had the same likeness. The appearance of their workings was, as it were, a wheel in the middle of a wheel.
When they moved, they went toward any one of four directions; they did not turn aside when they went. 18As for their rims, they were so high they were awesome; and their rims were full of eyes, all around the four of them. 19When the living creatures went, the wheels went beside them; and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up. 20Wherever the spirit wanted to go, they went, because there the spirit went; and the wheels were lifted together with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. 21When those went, these went; when those stood, these stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up together with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.
22The likeness of the firmament above the heads of the living creatures was like the color of an awesome crystal, stretched out over their heads. 23And under the firmament their wings spread out straight, one toward another. Each one had two which covered one side, and each one had two which covered the other side of the body. 24When they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of many waters, like the voice of the Almighty, a tumult like the noise of an army; and when they stood still, they let down their wings. 25A voice came from above the firmament that was over their heads; whenever they stood, they let down their wings.
This must have been an awesome sight for Ezekiel to see. This description shows the vehicle that carries the Redeemer wherever He goes. The next few verses describe Yahweh Himself.
26And above the firmament over their heads was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like a sapphire stone; on the likeness of the throne was a likeness with the appearance of a man high above it. 27Also from the appearance of His waist and upward I saw, as it were, the color of amber with the appearance of fire all around within it; and from the appearance of His waist and downward I saw, as it were, the appearance of fire with brightness all around. 28Like the appearance of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the brightness all around it. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of Yahweh. So when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of One speaking.
Ezekiel was given the vision. It shows the majesty and the glory of the Creator. This description gives us an idea of what it will be like to be born into the spirit realm.
Another description is given in Revelation 19:11-16: 11Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of Yahweh. 14And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. 15Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty Yahweh. 16And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND SOVEREIGN OF SOVEREIGNS.
Other similar descriptions are given in the Scriptures. But in His spiritual form Yahshua still apparently looks like a human being. He is capable of riding spiritual horses and has an army of spirit beings who can follow Him into battle. He will return to the earth to establish the kingdom of Yahweh as the ruler of the world. When He comes, He will resurrect the dead in Messiah, change those who are alive and ready for the spiritual birth, and welcome into His kingdom those who have been faithful to Him in this life.
"Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection."

PART 3: THE RESURRECTION TO JUDGMENT
Everyone will be judged
Yahshua speaks of the resurrection to judgment in several places in the Gospels. In several other places in Scriptures the resurrection to judgment is talked about.
But some will say, AWhat about those in the first resurrection? Apparently they do not have a judgment. Shouldn=t they have a resurrection to judgment also?@ The truth is that they will have had their judgment. Because they know the calling and purpose of Yahweh in this life, they are judged by how they live their lives according to what is written in the booksCthe Books of the Scriptures. I Peter 4:12-19 discusses this judgment:

12Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13but rejoice to the extent that you partake of the Messiah=s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 14If you are reproached for the name of the Messiah, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of Yahweh rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. 15But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people=s matters. 16Yet if anyone suffers as a follower of the Messiah let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify Yahweh in this matter. 17For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of Yahweh; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of Yahweh?
18Now AIf the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?@
19Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of Yahweh commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.
Judgment is already on those who are called in this age. They are being tested now to see if they will be faithful to the calling and purpose of Yahweh for human beings. Everyone has a judgmentCsome now, some later. Paul verifies this in II Corinthians 5:9-10:
9Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. 10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of the Messiah, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
In Romans 14:9-13 Paul makes this point clear that Yahshua the Messiah is the judge of all His people and we don=t need to help Him now in that judgment. He judges all:
9For to this end the Messiah died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. 10But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Messiah. 11For it is written:
AAs I live, says Yahweh,
Every knee shall bow to Me,
And every tongue shall confess to Yahweh.@
12So then each of us shall give account of himself toYahweh. 13Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother=s way.
A resurrection to judgment
Would Yahweh, a being of love condemn those who have no knowledge or understanding of the purpose of their being on the earth?
In Acts 4:11-12 it makes plain that it is only through Yahshua the Messiah that anyone can attain to eternal life.
11AThis is the >stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.= 12ANor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.@
Salvation comes only through Yahshua the Messiah. Would Yahweh condemn those who have never heard the name of Yahshua without ever giving them an opportunity for life? No! Yahweh is an equal opportunity Yahweh! He will give everyone who has ever lived an opportunity to attain to His kingdom. Those in this life who know His purpose and His plan have an opportunity now for eternal life. Their judgment is now. Those who do not learn Yahweh=s plan in this present age will be resurrected and given an opportunity for judgment in another age.

Revelation 20:11-12 gives an account of the resurrection to judgment which is the second resurrection:
11Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before Yahweh, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.
This scene describes a general resurrection of all who have ever lived on the earth who have not had an opportunity to know Yahweh=s purpose for creating mankind and have not known His plan of salvation. They have not known the laws of Yahweh and the reason for Yahshua the Messiah=s sacrifice of Himself for the lawlessness of man.
In Ezekiel 37 a resurrection is described that fits the pattern of the one described in Revelation 20:11-12. Ezekiel describes this resurrection:
1The hand of Yahweh came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the Messiah, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones. 2Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry. 3And He said to me, ASon of man, can these bones live?@ So I answered, AO Master YAHWEH, You know.@ 4Again He said to me, AProphesy to these bones, and say to them, >O dry bones, hear the word of Yahweh! 5>Thus says the Master YAHWEH to these bones: ASurely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. 6AI will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am Yahweh@
7So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone. 8Indeed, as I looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over; but there was no breath in them. 9Also He said to me, AProphesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, >Thus says YAHWEH: ACome from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.@ = @ 10So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army.
11Then He said to me, ASon of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, >Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!= 12ATherefore prophesy and say to them, >Thus says the YAHWEH: ABehold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. 13AThen you shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves. 14AI will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, Yahweh, have spoken it and performed It, saith @Yahweh.= @
Sinew, flesh and skin came on the bones, so this was a resurrection to physical life. Breath was also given to them so that they were breathing creatures. This resurrection was to a physical life unlike the resurrection of I Corinthians 15 where the resurrection was to a spiritual life. So the second resurrection at the end of the thousand years is a resurrection to a physical life and to a judgment. The people who were resurrected in the Valley of Dry Bones were called the whole House of Israel. That would be all the Israelites from the beginning of Israel until the return of Yahshua the Messiah. These were given physical life and placed in their own land. They are representative of all the people of the world who will be resurrected in the Great White Throne Judgment.

The judgment will be 100 years?
There is a prophecy in Isaiah 65:17-25 that indicates that the judgment for the part of mankind that does not attain to the first resurrection will be for 100 years. A century would give sufficient time for those resurrected to physical life to learn the way of Yahweh and to reach a decision whether or not they want to obey the laws of Yahweh and live forever, or whether they want extinction. The hundred years would give time for babies to grow up, mature, and decide what they wished to do. Lawlessness leads to destruction. Yahweh must be law abiding or the universe could not exist. Those who want permanence must learn to abide by law. Isaiah 65:17-25:
17AFor behold, I create new heavens and a new earth;
And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind.
18But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create;
For behold, I create Jerusalem as a rejoicing, And her people a joy.
19I will rejoice in Jerusalem, And joy in My people;
The voice of weeping shall no longer be heard in her, Nor the voice of crying.
20ANo more shall an infant from there live but a few days, Nor an old man who has not fulfilled his days;
For the child shall die one hundred years old, But the sinner being one hundred years old shall be accursed.
21They shall build houses and inhabit them; They shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
22They shall not build and another inhabit; They shall not plant and another eat;
For as the days of a tree, so shall be the days of My people,
And My elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
23They shall not labor in vain, Nor bring forth children for trouble;
For they shall be the descendants of the blessed of Yahweh,
And their offspring with them. 24AIt shall come to pass That before they call, I will answer;
And while they are still speaking, I will hear.
25The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, The lion shall eat straw like the ox,
And dust shall be the serpent=s food.
They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain,@ Says Yahweh
This is indeed a Utopian setting. The child shall live a hundred years. If someone lives out the hundred years and is still a sinner; that is, he is not law abiding (for sin is the transgression of the law I John 3:4) then he shall be accursed. He shall go into annihilation. The resurrection to judgment will give everyone who has ever lived an opportunity for eternal life, if the person chooses it.

Yahshua spoke of the resurrection to judgment
Yahshua was giving instructions to His disciples as He sent them out to preach the kingdom of Yahweh. He told them to go to those who would receive them. He talked about the judgment for those who would not receive them in Matthew 10:11-15:
11ANow whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out. 12AAnd when you go into a household, greet it. 13AIf the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14AAnd whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. 15AAssuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!
Sodom and Gomorrah will be in the resurrection to judgment. They certainly do not exist now to be judged, but they will have their opportunity for judgment in the future.
Yahshua did many mighty works or miracles in some of the cities of Galilee. Because of the hardness of their hearts, the people in those cities refused to repent and turn to the Messiah. He pronounced woe on them in the judgment. Matthew 11:20-24:
20Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent: 21AWoe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22ABut I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. 23AAnd you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24ABut I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.@
Everyone from Adam to the return of the Messiah to the earth who has not had an opportunity to know the truth and turn to Yahweh will be in the resurrection to judgment. At that time they will have the opportunity to turn from their own way and follow the way of Yahweh. If they choose the way of Yahweh, they will be given eternal life.
Job looked forward to his resurrection

Job was tested almost beyond his endurance. He knew that there would be a resurrection from the dead. Job 14:12-15:
12So man lies down and does not rise. Till the heavens are no more,
They will not awake Nor be roused from their sleep.
AOh, that You would hide me in the grave,
That You would conceal me until Your wrath is past,
That You would appoint me a set time, and remember me!
14If a man dies, shall he live again?
All the days of my hard service I will wait, Till my change comes.
15You shall call, and I will answer You; You shall desire the work of Your hands.
In Job 19:23-27 he speaks of his resurrection:
23AOh, that my words were written! Oh, that they were inscribed in a book!
24That they were engraved on a rock With an iron pen and lead, forever!
25For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth;
26And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, That in my flesh I shall see Yahweh,
27Whom I shall see for myself, And my eyes shall behold, and not another.
How my heart yearns within me!
The resurrections are described throughout the Scriptures.

PART 4: INTO ETERNITY
The purpose of the earth fulfilled
When the purpose for the earth which was created for man so that Yahweh could bring many sons into His kingdom has been fulfilled, then the earth shall be consumed with fire. All that remains of physical life will be burned up, and only the spiritual and what serves the purpose of the spiritual will remain. This consummation of the physical elements of the earth is called in Scripture the ALake of Fire.@ One purpose for this fire is mentioned in Revelation 20:14-15:
14Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
The Beast and his false prophet have already been cast there at the return of Yahshua the Messiah. Revelation 19:19-20:
19And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. 20Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.
The consuming fire that will envelop the earth and at least part of the heavens is described in II Peter 3:7-13:
7But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. 8But, beloved,do not forget this one thing, that with Yahweh one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. Yahweh is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
10But the day of Yahweh will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
11Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and Yahweh-like, 12looking for and hastening the coming of the day of Yahweh, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 13Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
Yahshua said that I come to bring fire on the earth, but what does it matter if it is already kindled. He told in Matthew 14:40-43 about the fire that would burn up the wicked :
40ATherefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. 41AThe Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, 42Aand will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43AThen the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!
The fire that burns up the elements of the earth will burn up all the remains of the wickedCthose who have refused the way of Yahweh and the opportunity for eternal life. It will completely destroy all those who choose oblivion instead of choosing to become law abiding which is necessary for existence. In Matthew 10:27-30Yahshua told His disciples not to fear those who can end this temporary existence, but to fear Him who judges all and can end individual existence permanently:
27AWhatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. 28AAnd do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29AAre not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father=s will. 30ABut the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31ADo not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
Those who understand the truth of the plan of Yahweh for human beings have their opportunity now to learn the laws of Yahweh and choose life. Those who do not understand now, but have an opportunity to learn that way have a wonderful reward if they choose life. Those who know and choose not to go the way of Yahweh and law and order will have their part in the lake of fire.
The righteous will have an eternal reward
The ones who attain to life, either in the first or the second resurrection, will have eternal life and will inherit the universe. They will have the ability of Yahweh to create and do any of those things that Yahweh is able to do. They will have perfect libertyCfreedom to do whatever is legal within the laws of Yahweh. And David said in the Psalms, AElohim's commandments are exceedingly broad.@ Yahweh=s laws are restrictive only where harm will come to other beings. It is only possible for all to have freedom if no one harms any other. Freedom for everyone means that everyone must respect the rights of others to enjoy the same freedom that he has.
When the suffering and misery of this age is over, and Yahweh's plan for mankind has been completed, then Yahweh will make all things new to start a new dispensation. This new creation is revealed in Revelation 21:1-7:
1Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 2Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from Yahweh, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ABehold, the tabernacle of Yahweh is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people .Yahweh Himself will be with them and be their Yahweh. 4AAnd Yahweh will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. 5Then He who sat on the throne said,
ABehold, I make all things new. And He said to me, AWrite, for these words are true and faithful.@ 6And He said to me, AIt is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. 7AHe who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his Father and he shall be My son.
The Capitol City of Yahweh=s kingdom will be called New Jerusalem and it is described in Revelation 21:22-27; 22:1-5:
22But I saw no temple in it, for Yahweh Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of Yahweh illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. 24And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. 25Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). 26And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it.
7But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb=s Book of Life. 1And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of Yahweh and of the Lamb. 2In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
3And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of Yahweh and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. 4They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. 5There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for Yahweh gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.
Yahweh has a wonderful plan for those who will choose His way of life. In Deuteronomy 30:19-20 Yahweh told ancient Israel and He tells us today the same thing. But today it has a more basic and permanent meaning.
19AI call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; 20Athat you may love YAHWEH, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which Yahweh swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.
We can look forward, not to a temporary and physical existence as the Israelites did, but to a permanent spiritual existence as sons of Yahweh forever.

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