A Better Resurrection
W.S. Hottel
PREFACE
I am fully aware of the fact that in order to have a clear and full comprehension of
spiritual truth, one needs a certain degree of spirituality, which is not found with a newly
converted person, nor with a mere babe in Christ. (1 Cor. 2 and 3).
But the one thing pre-eminently needful—to the understanding of the truth as it is in
Christ, is, honesty of heart and pureness of purpose. Truth demands investigation to its
proper conception. We therefore need an unbiased mind, a teachable spirit and a fair
conclusion or else we shall “wrest the scriptures to our own destruction.”
We have not sought in the treatise of this important subject to enter the speculative,
nor have we endeavored to define plainly everything touched upon herein. This would
have demanded a much larger book. We have simply been led to give the reader
thoughts to ponder upon. The truth herein set forth has a number of years ago become
the personal conviction of the writer, upon hard study on the subject. We herein send it
forth in His name, asking Him to bless it to every reader.
Yours sincerely
W. S. HOTTEL, Pastor.
A Better Resurrection.
“‘If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.” (Phil. 3:11).
“Women received their dead raised to life again, and others were tortured, not
accepting deliverance that they might obtain a better resurrection.” (Heb. 11:35)
THE TEXT SETTING
The Epistle to the Philippians was occasioned by these Christians sending Paul a
donation while in prison (Phil 4:10-18); whereupon he writes epistle as an
acknowledgment of having received their gift, and as a token of appreciation and
thankfulness for their care of him. This is no doubt the sweetest Epistle in the entire
catalogue of Epistles. There were no disorders in this church to be set right; there was
no false doctrine here to refute. Much of this Epistle has to do with Paul’s own
experience. The true character and nature of Christian living and experience are
beautifully worked out in this Epistle. (l:6, 21; 2:5-13; 4:13) All Christian experience is
in direct relation with Christ; He is its source, its spring, and it all emanates from Him;
and flows back to Him by a life of devotion and fruitfulness.
In strong language and glowing terms Paul sets before these Philippians the Lord
Jesus Christ. He is here set before us as the believer’s life; (Chapt. 1) as the believer’s
pattern; (Chapt. 2) as the believer’s righteousness; (Chapt. 3) and as the believer’s
strength and sufficiency. (Chapt. 4)
In Chapter three in which our text is found; we have first, a warning against Judaizing
teachers, (3:3-1) second, a description of Saul the legalist; (3:4-6) third, the source of
all true divine righteousness; (3:7-9) fourth, Paul’s desire and personal ambition; (3:10-
14) fifth, an exhortation to likemindedness; (3:15-17) sixth, an example of such who
have lost this desire and ambition ; the consequence of which is a cold faith, a carnal
security and a worldly life; (3:8-19) and seventh, the believer’s expectation. (3:20-21).
Our text then is Paul’s own personal aspiration and ambition; and manifests clearly the
fact that there was something beyond and above that which Paul had hitherto attained
too. (3:10-14) This was not a mere human, neither a vain ambition, but it was a divinely
inwrought ambition. “If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.”
- What does Paul Mean by the Resurrection of the Dead.
When He says, “If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead;” he
gives us to understand that he does not refer to an ordinary resurrection. It was not that
resurrection in which folks generally believed in at this time. No one need to be
concerned about nor put forth any effort, nor live any special kind of a life to be
resurrected some day. There is no cause for alarm about that; but there is cause for
alarm about the resurrection whereof Paul speaks.
I. Does Paul here doubt the resurrection of the dead? Is he afraid that when he dies he
might never be resurrected? I say no; for we have no reason to believe that Paul ever
was doubtful concerning the resurrection. We have illustrations of the resurrection
everywhere.
(a) In nature. — The beautiful dawn and daylight always follow the still dark night. The
seed that is planted into the earth and rots, springs forth into a new plant. The beautiful
spring time, with its balmy air, singing birds, green fields and blossoming flowers; follow
the cold, bleak and bare winter. Thus nature itself speaks to us repeatedly of
resurrection.
(b) In the Scriptures.—One dispensation, wanes away and dies out; and another one
follows closely on its heels. Noah’s ark stands as a strong type of the resurrection, (1.
Pet. 3:20-21) Noah and his family went into the ark, and in type or figure were dead;
they went through the flood just as much as all the others did. The ark did not keep back
the judgment of God, but it bore it and Noah and his family passed through the flood
and came forth upon a new and purged earth and began a new dispensation. The
sheaf of the first fruits gathered out of the field, and brought to the Priest; who waved it
before, the Lord, was a type of resurrection— first, of Christ, then of “them that are
Christ’s at His coining.”
(Lev. 23:10-14; 1 Cor. 15:23; 1 Thess. 4:13-18). Aaron’s rod, a lifeless dead stick; laid
before the Lord in the tabernacle, budded, bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds; all
in one night, is a type of the resurrection of Christ. (Num. 17). Elisha’s ministry was one
of healing and life, and not of stern judgment and condemnation; like that of Elijah.
Elijah was the stern, rough prophet of judgment; a type of John the Baptist, the
forerunner of Christ; while Elisha stands for the healing, helpful and benevolent ministry
of Christ. Elisha’s ministry throughout typifies resurrection; for here it is we have
recorded the restoring to life of the Shunammite’s son. (2. Kin. 4:18-37.)
Ezekiel’s valley of dry bones—which lay scattered and were very dry ; brought
together, covered with flesh and skin, with breath put therein so that they lived is a
beautiful type of resurrection. (Ezk. 37:1-10.)
Jonah in the whale’s belly and spit out upon the land is another type of the
resurrection. When the Jew’s came to Christ seeking a sign ; Christ declared to them,
“An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given
to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonah : For as Jonah was three days and three nights in
the whale’s belly; so shall the. Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart
of the earth.” (Mat. 12:39-40.)
Thus the history of Jonah’s life is a standing type of the resurrection. As a Jew we
must believe that Paul knew all these Scriptures; and that he was not afraid that there
was no resurrection. Not only do we have illustrations of the resurrection in nature and
in the Scriptures; but,
(c) Facts sustain the fact of a resurrection.—Christ declares, (Jno. 5:28-29; “marvel
not at this: for the hour is coming, in which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice,
and shall come forth ;they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they
that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” Jesus Christ all through His
earthly life raised the dead, as an evidence that He has power over death. He says,
Jno. 5:26; “For as the Father has life in Himself; so hath He given to the Son to have life
in Himself.” Therefore He could truthfully say, “I am the resurrection and the life.” (Jno.
11:25.)
All those that Christ raised from the dead during His earthly life; were, only samples of
what should happen in that future day, in which He should exercise His power. To this
Paul adds his testimony in vindicating himself and his preaching before Felix; when
accused by his own kinsman after the flesh; saying, “And have hope toward God, which
they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the
just and unjust.” (Acts 24:15)
(d) Christ’s own resurrection proves the fact that there is a resurrection of the dead.
The resurrection of the dead is certain because Christ arose from the dead, as a full
proof and evidence of the veracity of what He Himself declared concerning Himself;
when He said, “I am the resurrection and the life.” (Jno. 11:25.)
In 1 Cor. 15:13-19, we have seven ‘ifs’ in reference to the resurrection of Christ.
“Now if Christ be preached that He rose from the dead, how say some among you that
there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then is
Christ not risen: and if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is
also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of
God that He raised up Christ: whom He raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
For if the dead rise not, then is Christ not raised: and if Christ be not raised, your faith is
vain, ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are
perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.”
Here then we are plainly taught that the resurrection of Christ, and the resurrection of
the dead stand or fall together. We are here taught the importance of the resurrection of
Christ, and what all is vain, and what we are if Christ was not raised. For says Paul in
verse 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 to-morrow we die.” If
there is no resurrection of the dead we are the most foolish people this world ever knew,
for giving up t the world, denying its worldly and sinful enjoyments, and suffering
persecution and ridicule for Christ’s sake. If it is true that when you are dead, that ends
all; we might as well follow the old maxim, “a short life and a gay one.” If there is no
resurrection of the dead; we might as well enjoy this life, because it will be the only one
we can ever enjoy. But Paul concludes his argument and boldly affirms; “But now is
Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept.” (verse 20)
There is no doubt in his mind as to the resurrection of Christ. The fact of Christ’s
resurrection is proven,—
First: By the empty tomb and the clothes lying therein. On the resurrection morning
Peter and John took a run to the tomb where Christ was buried. John out run Peter and
came to the tomb first; where upon he looked into the tomb and saw the clothes lying.
Then Peter came also, but he was not satisfied with merely looking into the tomb; but he
went into the sepulchre and found the clothes lying there, but Christ was gone. (Jno.
20:1-8) If, as the Jews reported, “the disciples came at night, while the soldiers slept
and stole His body;” were true, we must believe they would have also taken His clothes
along, but the fact that the clothes lay in the tomb unmolested proves the fact of a
supernatural happening. He just crept out of His grave clothes like a locust creeps out of
his shell.
Second; By His appearings after the resurrection. In (1 Cor. 15:3-8), we have a
number of these enumerated. All told, Christ appeared to His disciples eleven times
before His ascension. He appeared to three persons after his ascension, i.e., Stephen;
(Acts 7) Saul; (Acts 9; 1 Cor. 15:8) and John on the Isle of Patmos (Rev. 1:13-18)
Third: By the change in the lives of His disciples after His resurrection.
Those timid, fearful disciples, who had all forsook Him and fled at His trial; now go
forth everywhere preaching boldly in His name.
What made them so bold? They were disheartened enough when their leader, the one
whom they hoped had come to deliver Israel, and to set up His Kingdom; was being
tried and crucified. Surely all their hopes had been blasted; but He came forth, met
them, talked with them and ate with them. He showed “Himself alive after His passion
by many infallible proofs;” and sent upon them the promised comforter: this is what so
changed their lives and gave them such courage and boldness. (Acts. 1:3-8; 4-13).
Fourth: By the Ford’s Supper. If Jesus Christ would have been an impostor, and would
not have been raised from the dead; all that He ever did, said and instituted would have
passed away with Him. The fact that it is yet existing and being practiced is a convincing
proof of the fact of His resurrection. For, every time we partake of the Lord’s supper “
we show forth His death until He come.” (1 Cor. 11:26) The existence of the Christian
Church, and the practices of the Christian ordinances, declare to us the fact of Christ’s
resurrection. Having therefore beyond a doubt established the fact of the resurrection of
the dead; the fact of His resurrection; establishes also for if Christ was not raised,
neither will the dead be raised. “For since by man came death, by man came also the
resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam, all die, even so in Christ shall all be made
alive.” (1 Cor. 15:2,-22.)
Paul was certain of the resurrection of Christ, and therefore also certain of the
resurrection of the dead. This is not what he is not certain of; this is not what he is
aspiring after. He did not need more proofs and evidences concerning the fact of the
resurrection of Christ and of the dead, for of these he was thoroughly convinced. - When he says, “If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead,” he
means a special resurrection.
There are those all around who believe that there is a day coming when all the dead
will be raised at once, and at the same time. We hear much said about a general
resurrection. It is a frequent occurrence that some preacher will read out of some burial
manual; at a funeral— “They shall come forth at the general resurrection.” But the truth
of the matter is, the Scriptures know nothing, and say nothing about a general
resurrection. There is a day, but not of twenty-four hours; but a day of one thousand
years in which no doubt all the dead will be raised; but not at the same time. Some will
be raised at the beginning and some will be raised at the end of this day. (Rev. 20:4-6.)
The Scriptures at least nowhere contradict this. Already the prophet Daniel speaks of a
resurrection with at least two results; which shall take place in the “time of the end,”
saying, “and many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to
everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” (Dan. 12:2-4) But
Daniel does not state that these two classes are raised at the same time. In John 5:24-
25, Christ speaks of a spiritual resurrection; for says He, “Verily, verily, I say unto you,
He that heareth my word, and believeth on Him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and
shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Verily, verily, I say
unto you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son
of God; and they that hear shall live.” So then those that hear His Word are at present
raised from their state of death in sin, and brought over into life through Christ. “For you
hath He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins.” (Eph. 2:1) This hour now is;
and has been for the last nineteen hundred years, or ever since Christ was here in the
flesh.
But Christ also speaks of a future bodily resurrection in John 5:28-29; with a two-fold
result, saying, “Marvel not at this, (when I speak to you of a present spiritual
resurrection), for the hour is coming, in which all that are in the graves shall hear His
voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and
they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” Paul also affirms before
Felix that there is a resurrection of the dead; both of the just and unjust. (Acts 24:14-15)
These scriptures emphatically declare the resurrection of the dead both just and unjust;
but they do not teach that they are raised at the same time. The resurrection is
positively universal; but not essentially, nor possibly general. Every person that ever
lived will come forth some time, but not at the same time. In the parable of the ambitious
guest; Christ taught, “But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the
lame, the blind.” (Lu. 14:13) And why this? Because, “they cannot recompense thee” by
calling thee to a feast in return as a reward, (Lu. 14:14; and thou shalt be blessed.” (Lu.
14:14; and thus, “Thou shalt be blessed.” (14:14) And why thus blessed? “For thou
shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.” (Lu. 14:14) Here there is no
reference made at all to the resurrection of the wicked. Jesus reply to the Sadducees, in
reference to their question relative to the woman who had seven brethren as her
husbands. “Therefore in the resurrection, whose wife of them is she?”; was, “The
children of this world marry, and are given in marriage. But they which shall be
accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither
marry, nor are given in marriage.” (Lu. 20:27-36)
Note the expressions, “accounted worthy,” and “the resurrection from the dead,” not of
the dead.
Those we read of in Heb. 11:35, who might have gone free from being tortured, but
did not accept deliverance, had a definite object in view for so doing. And why did they
not avoid being tortured, why did they not accept deliverance? Did they do it so they
might be saved, or so they might be raised from the dead? Nay; but “that they might
obtain a better resurrection.” There is something like receiving the salvation of God, and
there is something like receiving the salvation of God with eternal glory. (2. Tim. 2:10)
Thus we are plainly taught that there is a difference in the resurrections both as to their
time and purpose. There are more than one general resurrection. Let us now turn to
Paul’s great and elucid treatise on the resurrection, in first Corinthians, fifteen, and see
what he so boldly sets forth concerning the same. Here we have first the resurrection of
Christ and the dead declared as a fact. (V. V. 20:22) “But now is Christ risen from the
dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept. For as in Adam all die, even so in
Christ shall all be made alive.” Christ is risen, hence all the dead shall be raised.
We have second the divine order of the resurrection. “But every man in his own order.”
This means that the dead come forth by “bands,” “companies” or “regiments,” and not
all at once and at the same time. - “Christ the first fruits.” (V.23) That is the first, sample or pledge sheaf out of the field.
(Lev. 23:10-11.) - “Afterward they that are Christ’s at His coming.” (V. 23) Here we have a positive
distinction; “they that are Christ’s at His Coming.” We have the divine order more fully
given to us concerning these in (1 Thess. 4:14-16). “For if we believe that Jesus died
and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him. For the
Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel,
and with the trump of God, and the dead in Christ, (not all the dead), shall rise first.” At
the rapture all those which “sleep in Jesus” shall come forth; this is the first resurrection.
For says John, “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection; on such
the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and
shall reign with Him a thousand years.” Rev. 20:6) These are the Bride of Christ, and
these only shall attain unto the resurrection from among or out of the dead. No doubt
the tried and true Old Testament Saints shall also be raised at this time. For Job
declares in glowing language his hope in His kinsman redeemer; saying, “For I know
that my redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth; and
though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.” (Job 19:
25 26.) Job looked beyond the power of death and the grave, unto the resurrection of
the dead.
Isaiah foretells a two-fold resurrection in Chapter 26-19; which as Scofield says should
read, “Thy dead shall live, my dead bodies shall rise.” (i.e., the dead bodies of
Jehovah’s people). Since the first resurrection; that of the Bride or the “Church of the
first born,” is unto participation in the kingdom (Rev. 20:4-6), it is evident that these are
referred to here in the first place. And since the restoration, exaltation and reestablishment of Israel as a nation is also spoken of as a resurrection (Ezk. 37:1-11), it
is evident that this is also referred to by Isaiah. God declares through Hosea concerning
His people; “I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from
death. O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction.” (Hos. 13:14)
Those referred to in these scriptures undoubtedly are the Old Testament Saints who fell
on sleep, in hope of that better and more glorious dispensation; they were taught by the
spirit of God to look for. For concerning these the apostle to the Hebrews writes, saying,
“and these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise.
God having provided some better thing for us, that they with out us should not be made
perfect.” (Heb. 11:39-40) This scripture plainly teaches that these faithful Old Testament
Saints, share the better thing God has provided for us, by virtue of their relation to the
Bride of Jesus Christ.
They cannot be the Bride, as this is wholly a New Testament revelation, it being
unknown in the Old Testament.
But they no doubt will be the friends of the Bridegroom and share the joys of the
coming age with Him and the Bride. (Jno. 3:29). There will also be some tribulation
saints raised at the first resurrection. For we read (Rev. 20:4), “and I saw thrones, and
they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them, and I saw the souls of them
that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the Word of God, and which had
not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their
foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.”
The first resurrection, translation and rapture take place before the great tribulation; just
as Enoch was translated before the flood came. (Heb. 11:5-6; Gen. 5:22-24.)
So these must pass through the tribulation and won’t share in the rapture; but will yet
share in the first resurrection. They were those who remained true to the testimony of
Christ through the reign of the Antichrist; and through the great tribulation, and were
thus killed for not worshipping the image of the beast. (Rev. 13:15.) These will possibly
be raised when Christ comes with His people to set up His kingdom on the earth.
These no doubt will be the friends of the Bride.
The Bride of Christ is a very special class. The friends of the Bridegroom are the Old
Testament Saints, who by faith in the coming Messiah remained true to God; fell on
sleep, and shall come forth in the first resurrection. The friends of the Bride are those
who are alive when Christ comes for His people; who have not proven themselves
worthy to belong to the Bride, and are therefore permitted to go through the great
tribulation, and there prove themselves true to God by being killed for Christ and the
truth’s sake; who shall be raised when He comes to set up His Kingdom. These
conclude the second band and constitute the first resurrection. - The rest of the dead—”But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand
years were finished.” Rev. 20:5.) But after the thousand years are finished, Satan
having again been loosed for a little season, and having made His final attempt to lead
humanity against God, the great battle of “Gog” and Magog.” Satan shall then meet His
ultimate doom, by being “cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and
the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever. Then we
read of the last and concluding judgment in the whole list of judgments; and then follows
the resurrection of all the dead, to appear at the great white throne of judgment. “And
the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead
which were in them, and they were judged every man according to their works.” (Rev.
20.)
“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. For He must
reign, till He hath put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed
is death.” (1 Cor. 15:24-26.)
The last enemy death was conquered by Christ when He arose from the dead, and will
finally be overwhelmingly defeated by the resurrection of all the dead ; and will
ultimately be destroyed by being cast into the lake of fire. (Rev. 1:18; Rev. 20.)
Here then we have the record of the last band of the dead coming forth in resurrection.
The order of the resurrection then is:
First: “Christ the first fruits.”
Second: “They that are Christ’s at His Coming,” including the Bride, the Old Testament
Saints, and the tribulation Saints who were true to God to the point of death during the
Anti-Christ reign.
Third: The rest of the dead not included in the first two bands, at the end of the
millennium. So then when Paul says: “If by any means, I might attain unto the
resurrection of the dead,” he by no means just refers to the resurrection of the dead. He
means the resurrection from among the dead. The cause of the first persecution was
the preaching of the resurrection from the dead. (Acts. 4:2.) The Jews like most of our
churches today believed in the resurrection of the dead; they were good post
millennialists and believed in a general resurrection, but the apostles preached a
resurrection from among the dead, which aroused the hatred of the Jews. - In the Fact of the First Resurrection Lies the Blessed Hope of the True Church.
(a) We shall then be fully delivered. From this body of humiliation (Phil. 3:20-21); from
death (Rev. 20:6) ; from all sorrow (Rev. 21:4) ; from the presence and last traces of sin.
(Heb. 9:28.) We shall then be redeemed not only by purchase but also by power.
(b) We shall then meet the Lord and all the redeemed. For “then we which are alive
and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the
air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” (1 Thess. 4:17) It is alright to talk about
meeting your friends in the hereafter, if you talk about it in the right way. Paul does not
make much in this passage of meeting the friends; but of meeting the Lord; for says he,
“We shall be caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air.” The emphasis is
laid on meeting the Lord and not on meeting our friends. It will be about in that day, as if
we would have a large room and along the sides of the large room and along the side of
the room we put a few small lights, and in the centre of the room we put a few large arc
lights, and then we light them up. What will be the effect? The effect will be that the
large lights will be so bright that you will scarcely take note of the small lights. The glory
of being with Jesus will be so grand that it will outshine the glory of being with our
friends. We shall then meet the Lord and be with Him forever. They used to meet Him
in the days of yore and we can and do meet Him to-day in the assembly and in the
study of His Word ; but then we shall meet Him face to face.
(c) We shall then bear His likeness. “But we know that, when He shall appear, we
shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.” (1 Jno. 3:2.) We shall then be glorified
together with Him and shall be like Him body, soul and spirit.
(d) We shall then receive our rewards. (2. Cor. 5:10; Lu. 14:14; 2. Tim. 4-8.) We are
not rewarded in life, nor at death, but “in that day” when He comes. - What Does Paul Mean by this Endeavor?
“If by any means” suggests that not any just ordinary Christian will share in this out
resurrection. This is not the lot of every believer. - Does Paul doubt his salvation here? Is he afraid that he is not saved? I say, no!
He is not here speaking about salvation for that was settled long ago, when on his way
to Damascus the Lord spoke to Him, and sent him to Ananias, who laid his hands upon
him, and prayed for him where upon the scales fell from his eyes and he was baptized
and received the Holy Ghost. (Acts 9.) Twice afterward he testified to the fact of his
salvation as recorded in the book of Acts. (Acts 22 and 26.)
Salvation is of grace and no one need or can add a straws thereto; and to this
salvation by grace Paul adds his own personal testimony in (1 Tim. 1: 12-15.) This
salvation he had received, but here he speaks of something that needs to be attained
to, and he also acknowledges the fact that he has not yet attained thereto. What is he
striving after? What is it he has not yet attained to? - The prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 3:12-14.)
He was apprehended for this by Christ Jesus, and he is also desirous of apprehending
that for which he is apprehended, (i.e., the prize of the high calling.) And what is the
prize of the high calling in Christ? It is the full glory with Christ in the coming age. Our
position in the coming kingdom depends upon our faithfulness here. In Isa. 24:21 we
read, “That the Lord shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the
kings of the earth upon the earth.”
Note:
(a) First the host of the high ones on high shall be punished. These are Satan and His
angels who now oppose the true Church in heavenly places and who rule the darkness
of this world. For, says Paul, “We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against
principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against
spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Eph. 6:12.) The Church of Christ is not engaged
fighting the saloons, gambling dens and houses of ill-fame; but her warfare is against
the host of demons who are pressing down upon mankind. The Church is in the
heavenlies (Eph. 2:6.); where Satan with all His hosts are. Here is where she wages her
warfare against spiritual wickedness.
The last conflict in the heavens will take place when the true Church will have been
caught up into the air. Then Satan will make a final attempt to overthrow it. But they
shall overcome Him “by the blood of the lamb, and by the word of their testimony.” Then
Satan will be cast down from heaven and will carry on His work against God, by
mustering all His forces of evil under one head “the Anti-Christ. (Rev. 12.)
(b) Second, the kings of the earth shall be punished. The Kings of Godless
Christendom and a Christ rejecting world will be punished when Christ sets up His
Kingdom on earth. The kingdom is to be established by power, not persuasion, and is to
follow divine judgment upon the Gentile world powers (Ps. 2:4-9; Isa. 9:7; Dan. 2:35-44-
45; 9:34-35; Zec. 14:1-19.)
The prize to which Paul refers is this rulership with Christ. He is desirous to rule with
Christ on this earth in the next age. Whose shall the future kingdom be? (Dan. 7:18.)
“But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom
forever.” (Dan. 7:22.); “Until the ancient of days come, and judgment was given to the
saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.”
(Dan. 9:27); “and the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under
the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose
kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him.” With
this agrees the promise of Christ Lu. 12: 32; “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s
good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” This compares with (Jude. 1:14-15; 2. Thess.
1:8-10; Rev. 5:10; Ps. 2:8-9; Rev. 2:26-27.)
(c) The saints shall judge angels. Paul writes to the Corinthians and says, “Know ye
not that we shall judge angels? (1 Cor. 6:3.) “The angels which kept not their first estate
but left their own habitation,” are ‘chained under darkness,’ awaiting judgment (2.Pet.
2:4; Jude. 6: Jno. 5:22.) These fallen angels who have Satan as their leader shall be
judged by the saints. For these everlasting fire is prepared. (Mat. 25:41; Rev. 20:10.)
This is what Paul is seeking to attain too. The prize of the “high calling of God in Christ
Jesus,” is participating with Christ in His rulership in the coming age. At the time Paul
wrote this Epistle he frankly admits that he had not as yet attained to this, for says he,
“not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect, but I follow after, if
that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I
count not myself to have apprehended, but this one thing I do, forgetting those things
which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward
the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 3:12-14.)
Did he ever reach the place of full assurance concerning this fact, ere he fell asleep?
Did he ever in his life time know that he had attained to this? Yes he did, for listen to his
last testimony, just before he was martyred for Christ’s sake. “For I am now ready to be
offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have
finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of
righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day, and not to
me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing.” (2 Tim. 4:6-8.) Here there are
no regrets, but all is full of hope and assurance.
If every believer in Christ shares this first resurrection and rulership with Christ, why
strive to attain there unto? Why this earnest and strenuous endeavor on Paul’s part? “If
by any means;” if it is at all possible at any cost or sacrifice for me to attain unto the
resurrection of the dead.”
But says some one, 1 Thess. 4:16, declares, “and the dead in Christ shall rise first” so
every believer will be raised at His Coming for His own. But I fear that some do not fully
apprehend what Paul means here when he speaks about those in Christ.
Note: - This was a model Church. These were sample believers. For says Paul to them,
“ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. For from you sounded
out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your
faith to Godward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak anything.” (1 Thess.
1:7-8.) Their faith was of such a clear, strong type that no preaching was necessary in
Macedonia and Achaia. There was no need of sending a notice to the Macedonia News,
or the Achaia Herald, if there were such papers at this time, stating that 25 or 50 people
were converted in a revival service at Thessalonica; for their lives did all the advertising
necessary.
Again in 1 Thess. 2:14, Paul says; “For ye, brethren, became followers of the
Churches of God which in Judea are in Christ Jesus; for ye also have suffered like
things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews,” and again in 1 Thess.
3:3-4 he says, “That no man should be moved by these afflictions, for yourselves know
that we are appointed thereunto. For verily, when we were with you, we told you before
that we should suffer tribulation even as it came to pass, and ye know.” These
Thessalonian Christians were true to Christ even to the point of suffering. What are the
conditions to reigning with Christ? “If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him.” (2. Tim.
2:12.)
Well, did these Thessalonians ever receive the evidence that they should belong to
this class? Most assuredly they did, for Paul writes to them saving, “So that we
ourselves glory in you in the Churches of God for your patience and faith in all your
persecutions and tribulations that ye endure. Which is a manifest token of the righteous
“judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which also
suffer.” (2 Thess. 1:4-5.) So then, if you compare an ordinary believer in Christ, with
these Thessalonians you make an unfair and unscriptural comparison. They were an
altogether exceptional Church. - That the phrase “in Christ” in 1 Thess. 4:16, refers to the body of Christ, all of whom
are called and faithful. This does not necessarily mean all those who are saved. The
Apostle tells us in Eph. 5 :24, “Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the
wives be to their own husbands in everything” Notice, Paul does not say that the Church
should be subject unto Christ, but, “as the church is subject unto Christ.” There can be
no doubt to this, that all who belong to the Church of Christ are subject to Christ, they
obey His word and submit to Him.
There were some saved before this age that do not belong to the Church, there will be
some saved after this age that won’t belong to the Church, and why could there not be
some saved during this age that won’t belong to the church? You say, will there be
some people saved alter this age? We answer, certainly there will be. You say, can
there be any who are saved and not belong to the church? We say there can be. For we
read in Rev. 20:15, “and whosoever was not found written in the book of life
was cast into the lake of fire,” which gives us to understand there must be some even at
the final judgment, that of the great white throne, whose names were found written in
the book of life. These are possibly such who did not share the first resurrection and
yet had life from God. Such who were not counted worthy of the kingdom of God and
yet were saved.
These “in Christ,” the body of Christ, probably are the “man child” of Revelation 12; or
the Church with in the churches. For there is yet a true church of Jesus Christ in the
midst of all this apostasy and confusion. There is a divine invisible church among the
churches, or, “the church of the first born and general assembly.” (Heb. 12:23.) - The Scriptures everywhere make a noted distinction between salvation and
rewards.
Eternal life is a free gift from God to us. (Rom. 6:23.) Salvation is all of grace and
none of works. (Eph. 2:8; Tit. 3:5.) But rewards are for service rendered and sacrifice
made. The condition to sitting on His throne is overcoming as He also overcame. (Rev.
3:21.) The condition to reigning with Him is to suffer. (2 Tim. 2 :12.)
We read of some who will be “ashamed before Him at His Coming.” (1 Jno. 2:28); and
of some who will only be called to the marriage supper of the lamb (Rev. 19:7-9); of
others whose works will all be burnt up by the testing fires of judgment, who will
themselves be saved only so as by fire (1 Cor. 3) ; and still others whose reward will not
be full (3 Jno. 8). If we want to be crowned “in that day” we must not only strive, but we
“must strive lawfully” (2 Tim. 2:5). The cause for which we strive must be the cause He
espouses, the armor must be supplied by Him, and the entire warfare must be carried
on under His directions, or according to His word. - Those that are with Him when He comes as “Lord of Lords and King of kings,” to
wage war against the Godless kings of earth, “are called, and chosen, and faithful.”
(Rev. 17:14) Those who are counted worthy to share the glory of ruling with Him in the
coming age must now be tested, tried, proven and found faithful. (1 Pet. 4:17.)
As there is a difference naturally between birth and marriage, so there is a difference
spiritually between salvation and Brideship. There is a difference between grace and
election, for, “Of His own will begat He us by the word of truth.” (James 1:18) ; but now
as those who are saved by grace, we shall “make our calling and election sure.” (2 Pet.
1:10-11)
In short it takes character to enjoy the full glory with Christ in the coming age. And
when I speak about character, I mean Christian character, not what a man is in himself
but what he is in and through Christ will determine His real worth then. - What does this all mean?
It means: - A battle to fight and to overcome. (2 Tim. 4:7; Rev. 3:21; 1 Tim. 6:12) We must
“fight the/good fight of faith” and come off victors if we would enjoy this rulership in the
next age. And what does this mean? It means that we must fight to lift up the truth of
God, in testimony and life, in word and deed. We must lift it up no matter what others
do, no matter what it cost us, and no matter what we must suffer for so doing. We must
get there where we live as the word of God enjoins us to live, no matter if all the others
live contrary, and if we have no preachers to preach at us all the time. We dare not drift
with the tide, but we must take our stand on the side of right and the truth, and if they
call us narrow minded irrational fools. - A course to finish. “I have finished my course,” said Paul at the close of his life. (2
Tim. 4:7) It is not ours to go the way of our own choosing, or to live an haphazard life.
God has a plan of our life mapped out for us. God has a life work ordained for us. Each
one has a divine mission to fulfill, a divinely appointed place to fill, and a divinely
ordered path to tread. It is not enough to end our course, for all do this, but we must
“finish our course.” It means to fulfill our mission, to faithfully fill our place, and to fulfill
our divinely entrusted ministry, therefore Paul’s earnest endeavor.
This to him meant:
(a) A concentration of all his efforts. For says he, “this one thing I do.” (Phil. 3:13) One
thing well done is much done. We need to engage all our powers to serve God aright.
We have no time to trifle and no strength to waste. All our powers need to be focused
on this the one all important thing of our life.
(b) A persevering against all obstacles–“I press toward the mark for the prize of the
high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 3:14) This literally means, “I elbow my way
through,” and suggests the idea of being on a crowded thoroughfare. We are on a very
crowded thoroughfare in a spiritual sense. We have all the hellish deceptive forces of
the evil one, all the forces of an evil world, and the deceitful forces of the cold nominal
church to brave. The tide is high and the current is swift that is against us, and we dare
not go with the tide lest we miss the prize. We must brave the current, and stem the
tide, and with a strong, true and brave heart with determined perseverance, press right
on in spite of opposing elements.
(c) A forgetting of all the things behind. (Phil. 3:13) Paul undoubtedly meant those
good things which he left and forsook for Christ. (Phil. 3:4-6)
To remember these all the time would be a hindrance to him, they would become a
snare and a temptation to him, and would retard his progress. To look back may create
a desire to be back. He is determined to keep his eye on the goal, and his affections on
his heavenly treasure.
(d) A firm gait in pursuing his course (Phil. 3:13) “Reaching forth unto those things
which are before.” This suggests the figure of a racer on the track trying to win a race. It
is not in the fast stepping- where the greatest speed is realized, but in taking a long
steady step, Paul wants to cover much ground in one step, he wants to take in new land
every day. - A faith to keep. (2. Tim. 4:7) “I have kept the faith.” “The faith” is the thing believed,
and the belief of the thing. It has nothing to do with feeling whatever. Faith is based on
evidence and revelation and not on feeling. Paul does not say, “I have kept the feeling,”
but, “I have kept the faith.” He means to say, I have preached and lived the principles of
God’s word unto my end. The promise to those who keep the “word of His patience” is,
“I also will keep you from the hour of temptation, which is to come upon all the world, to
try them that dwell upon the earth.” (Rev. 3:10.) - To suffer for and with Christ— (Rom. 8:17; 2 Tim. 2:12; Phil. 3:10). “If we suffer, we
shall reign.” “We shall be glorified together, if so be, that we suffer with Him.” “That I
may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings,
being made conformable unto His death,” was Paul’s great longing of heart. He did not
want to die a natural death, he was desirous to die like His Master, a martyr. And why
this? “If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.” His desire and
ambition was to share in the first resurrection, and to participate in the glories of the
coming kingdom.
In the light of all this, what can the careless, half-hearted and indifferent expect?
To live in the atmosphere of Philippians three is to live on holy ground. It is worthwhile
to live and suffer for Christ. May God bless this simple message to every reader. Amen.
Category:Writings from Our Pastors