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So John chapter 11, look at verse number 24, Martha, say unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. The title for the sermon tonight is the resurrection at the last day. The resurrection at the last day. I actually wanted to address this topic of the last day earlier, but it was just too much information in the previous chapters, and I do, even though it's quite a chunky chapter, it's a pretty straightforward story that we see here. You may feel like I'm Russian, but I'm only Russian because I want to get to the point of the last day. The big theme of this chapter is the resurrection, that Christ is our resurrection. If you believed in him, you too will, yes, perish in his flesh, but you will have a resurrection body made like unto Christ, a glorified resurrected body. So let's start there in verse number one. Now, a certain man was sick named Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister, Martha. All right, so we begin, you may recall in chapter number nine, that's the end of it, that Jesus Christ went into Bethabara, and that's on the east side of Jordan. Bethany is on the west side of Jordan. The reason Jesus Christ went to Bethabara is because the Jews were seeking to kill him. So it's just getting out of the way, focusing his ministry on things that are profitable rather than just fighting the Jews nonstop. But Bethany's on the west side and very close to Jerusalem, okay? In fact, it is so close, it is just like three kilometers. It is just easy walking distance from Jerusalem to Bethany. And in Bethany, you've got this family, Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, who are good friends with Jesus Christ. And so you've got the sisters coming here, Mary and her sister, Martha, to speak to Jesus. It says in verse number two, it was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. Now, we have this little verse number two we have in parentheses here. It's just telling us it's the same Mary, it's the same one that anointed Christ, his feet with the ointments. And you say, well, hold on, you know, pastor, we've been going chapter by chapter through John. I don't recall this story happening. Why is it being brought up here? Well, just very quickly, this story actually takes place in the next chapter. Come with me quickly to John chapter 12. John chapter 12, look at verse number three. It says, then took Mary a pound of ointment of Spikenard, very costly and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair, and the house was filled with the odor of the ointments. And so we know that Mary anoints Jesus Christ in preparation of his death to come. But you know, as we're reading the book of John, of course, John is writing this in the future. He knows of this great event, you know, this event of anointing the feet of Jesus is a very, very famous one. And so just remind the reader as you get to chapter 11, it's the same family, it's the same Mary that did this wonderful thing for Jesus Christ. Verse number three, therefore his sisters sent unto him, that's Lazarus sent the sisters, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. When Jesus heard that, he said, now notice the words of Jesus. He says, this sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. Now look, if you are, you know, if you're living in the time of Jesus and you know he can perform miracles, he can heal the sick, and you know, one of your loved ones is near the point of death, is very grievously sick, and you go to Jesus and say, Jesus, come, please come, because the one you love is sick, and he says those words, this sickness is not unto death. What would be your impression walking away from that? Oh, Jesus Christ has given me the promise that he's not going to die. Jesus Christ is telling me, look, oh, look, he's okay, might look serious now, but it's not unto death, he's going to recover. That's what I think my impression would be. You know, he's kind of always given me peace, he's not going to die. You know, because that's, isn't that what he means? This sickness is not unto death. Oh, don't worry, he's not going to die. And you know, Jesus Christ uses this example, we know that Lazarus does die. Does that mean Jesus Christ is lying? No, because you know, he takes this story, takes this opportunity to teach a much deeper truth. You know, this physical body will perish, but truly, if you're saved, you will never perish. Truly, you know, your soul and spirit will go on to live forever, and again, looking forward to that resurrected body to come. And so, Jesus Christ is using this opportunity to teach this lesson, but I can understand these sisters taking away the thought, oh, okay, Jesus Christ promised that it's not a serious sickness, he'll recover from this. He's not going to die. Now, let's keep going to verse number five now. Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. I mean, you know, we know that Jesus Christ loved the whole world. He gave his life for the whole world. But you know, it's just, when it speaks of Jesus Christ loving Lazarus and Mary and Martha, you know, these were very close friends. I wish we had, sometimes I wish we had a little bit more information as to how this friendship developed and how they got to know each other. It looked like they were just very close friends, and he has a great love for them. And I like the fact that Jesus Christ is able to get very close, you know, with certain people, even though they're still sinners. I mean, they look like a wonderful family, wonderful siblings that love the Lord, you know, that are definitely saved. But, you know, they're still sinners, and you can still see that Christ is able to get very close to them. It's just encouraging for me. You know, we live in this day, and we are sinners, and we know we failed the Lord many times over. But you know, Christ is able to be our friend. You know, we are able to walk closely with the Father in fellowship with him. All we need to do, of course, is be obedient to him and walk in his ways. But it says there in verse number six, now when he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was. So he stays on the east side of Jordan. He waits for two days, all right? I mean, we know this why. He's waiting for Lazarus to actually pass away. Okay, so he's waiting for two days. I mean, it might look like he's being negligent. You know, why don't you come in straight away, Jesus, if he's not doing well? If you know he's going to die, why don't you stop this? We already told Martha that everything that takes place is for the glory of God, okay? Now, as we keep going there, it says in verse number seven, then after that, sayeth he to his disciples, let us go into Judea again. All right, so let us go to Judea. Why? Because Bethany's in Judea. Remember, three kilometres from Jerusalem, very, very close. And so he says, all right, guys, it's time to go after waiting two days there in Bathabara. Verse number eight, his disciples sayeth to him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee. Remember, that's how chapter nine ended. They're trying to kill you. And God was there with the other again. Are you sure you want to go there, Jesus? They're trying to kill you there, Jesus. Isn't this why we left Jerusalem, to get away from all that persecution, so we can focus on the ministry? Look how Jesus Christ responds, verse number nine. Jesus answered, are there not 12 hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. Jesus Christ has just given the illustration, of course, roughly, you know, there's half of the day's gonna be light, roughly half of the rest of the day is gonna be night, okay? He says, look, we've got 12 hours. We've got 12 hours of daylight. Again, thinking about the time of darkness to come. You know, he's coming shortly to the end of his ministry, and his death, and his time is short. So he's just reminding, look, it's still daylight, it's still time to work, let's go and work so that we don't stumble. He continues in verse number 10, but if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him. So he's basically given the same teaching that he said in John chapter nine, if you wanna have a look at it quickly, John chapter nine, verse number four, you may recall this, he says in John nine four, I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day, the night cometh when no man can work. And so Christ was looking at his ministry. In chapter nine, he had nine months left. In chapter 11 now, there's less than four months to go. It's coming very close to his death, and Christ knows there's an urgency. It's time to get to work. And one of the great works he was going to accomplish before his crucifixion was the resurrection of Lazarus. Verse number 11, these things said he, back to John 11, sorry, John 11, 11, these things said he, and after that, he saith unto them, our friend Lazarus sleepeth, but I go that I may awake him out of sleep. So Lazarus is actually dead, all right? But he tells his disciples, oh, he's sleeping. So let's go and wake him out of sleep. Look how his disciples respond, verse number 12. Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. Like, because you know, normally you've all been sick. I'm sure you've had the flu or the COVID or something, right, you've had something, and usually when your body's not doing well, what are you kind of forced to do? You're forced to rest. You know, your body basically puts you to sleep. You know, there've been times when I've had like a major flu and I've just been in bed all day or just all day long. And the reason your body forces you into this, not only because you're sick, but because your body needs to recover. So instead of using all your energy to, you know, do a work, you know, the body wants to use that energy to fight the virus or to fight the sickness so that it can recover. And so Jesus says, all right, Lazarus is sleeping. The disciples, well, just let him sleep, Jesus. He does well, like, you know, he's recovering from his sickness. Just leave him alone. Why are we gonna go and wake him when he's trying to recover from his sickness? Verse number 13. Howbeit, Jesus spake of his death. When he says that he sleeps, he wasn't actually sleeping as we think of it, rather that he had died. And I love how the Bible many times when it talks about believers that have passed on, it speaks of a believer as sleeping. Because again, we don't truly perish. The body is asleep. The soul and spirit has gone to be with the Lord. And again, it's waiting for that resurrection when that body will wake up again out of sleep. Be resurrected when the soul and spirit join at the resurrection. Verse number 14. Just because the disciples don't get it, that he's speaking spiritually, deeper things. Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. I mean, they didn't get it. And you know what's interesting? The JWs don't get it. They believe when people die, their soul, they're asleep. They say it's soul sleep. That they're still asleep. No, no, the soul and body have left the body. Okay, the body's dead. JWs, they don't get it either. Okay, that false religion, that false cult, or that real cult, I should say, but a false religion, pointing people away from Christ. You know, that's the great thing about the Bible. And I hope as we go through this, you can see that while we take the Bible literally, you must understand there is a much deeper spiritual truth to all things, okay? You don't wanna be the kind of guy when you're walking with Jesus, Jesus says, ah, Lazarus is sleeping. They go, ah, well, you know, we're to take the word of God literally, therefore Lazarus is actually asleep. So let's, don't wake him, Lord, because he's recovering from his sickness. There's a greater truth. I want you to notice that so many times in the Bible, there's a much deeper spiritual truth. Yes, we take the Bible literally, except when it's not to be taken literally, okay? Because there's a much deeper spiritual truth being taught there. Verse number 13. Howbeit Jesus spake of the, oh, sorry, I read that already, Lazarus is dead, verse number 14. Verse number 15, he says, I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe. Nevertheless, let us go unto him. Now these are really interesting words. Verse number 16 really kind of baffled me a little bit. Then said Thomas, remember doubting Thomas? You know, when Christ is resurrected from the dead, there's Thomas that didn't see the resurrected savior, and all the disciples said, look, you should have been here, you should have seen Jesus, and Thomas doubted that Jesus Christ had resurrected. But you see, and we call him doubting Thomas. We kind of think, surely Thomas is weak in the faith, and of course he was weak in the faith for not believing that Christ had resurrected. But in verse number 16, he's actually one of the strong ones. Like he's actually helping, because remember, the disciples are afraid to go back into Jerusalem, right? They're gonna kill us, Jesus. They're gonna kill you. They're gonna stone you. Are you sure you wanna go there again, Jesus? Back to Judea. But how does Thomas respond in verse number 16? Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellow disciples, let us also go that we may die with him. They're afraid that Jesus Christ is gonna go and die. And Thomas is able to go, you know what, guys? Let's just go anyway. You know, let's do this. Let's not be afraid. Hey, if we die, what do we have to lose? We die with Christ. That's a pretty good statement to go by. Like, that's a pretty good death to have. How did you die? I died with Christ. They took him, they stoned him, and we died with our Savior. I mean, Didymus, I mean, yeah, Thomas, Didymus here, is strong in the faith at this point in time. He's encouraging the disciples. Look, we've got nothing to fear. Let's just get out there. Let's do the work, all right? And then he gets downcast and doubting. And the reason I wanna show you that is because that is what your spiritual life is gonna be like. That's what your Christian life is gonna be like. It's not always spiritual highs. It's not always that we may die. Yes, I'm willing to die for you, Jesus. There'll be times of weakness, there'll be times of doubt. You know, you have highs and you have lows. And you know, you can get excited when you have spiritual highs, and you might be looking at other Christians. You might be looking at other people in the church and go, why aren't they excited for the Lord? Why aren't they serving the Lord the way I am? Be careful when you have that attitude. Because you can be like Thomas, high one, an excited one, they're willing to die for Jesus. And the other moment, doubting. You know, fearful, doubting, afraid. That's just how it is. That's the spiritual life forever. And I say that because if you are in a point right now, if you're on a low, if you have doubts, if you have concerns, if you have fears today, well, don't give up. You know, keep doing what you know is right. Keep waking up and serving the Lord and singing him praises and reading your Bible and coming to church and going soloing. Just keep it up. And I'm sure, if you just keep your mind on the Lord God, that you'll have those highs again. And when you have those highs again, remind yourself that I'm probably gonna have a low in the future. But when I have that low again, I remind myself that I can get myself out of that and get myself excited for the Lord. This is just a struggle of our Christian life. Ups and downs, ups and downs. Hopefully, the overall trend is becoming more like Jesus, but on that trend, you're gonna have a lot of zigzags. But hopefully, you're getting more like Jesus as the days go by. Verse number 17. Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already. So he gets to Bethany. Verse number 18, now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about 15 furlongs off. Like I said, about three kilometers. And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary to comfort them concerning their brother. Okay, so many of the Jews, primarily from Jerusalem, are coming. You know, it's not far. They know this family, the great family, you know, great servants of God. They come to comfort them. So there's a great multitude here, you know, at the funeral, you know, weeping and crying, mourning for the loss of Lazarus. Verse number 20. Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him. But Mary sat still in the house. Then said, it seems like, from what the sisters are saying, they do love Jesus. They are faithful unto him. But they both will say something similar. They just wish Jesus Christ came earlier. That they wish he healed their brother. Remember, as I said, the words he said to them, it sounds like he's not going to die. This sickness is not unto death. And so maybe they've got some doubts themselves, maybe a little bit hardened toward Jesus. He said he's not going to die. Mary stays in the house, but Martha comes to see him. Verse number 21. Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. Jesus, why did you wait two days and then come? If you'd just come earlier, my brother would not have died. And so she's a little bit critical about it. But then she does have a faith in the Lord. Cause she says in verse number 22, but I know that even now whatsoever thou will ask of God, God will give it thee. So she has a strong faith in Jesus Christ. But I think she feels it's too late. Like the time to heal him was when he was sick. Now he's dead. Verse number 23, Jesus saith unto her, thy brother will rise again. Now, when he says these words, he's speaking literally, he's about to rise from the dead. But Martha is not thinking that this miracle is able. Cause then she responds in verse number 24, Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. She goes, I know he's going to be resurrected. I know at the last day, there's going to be a resurrection. That's what she thinks Jesus is speaking about. But Christ is speaking about raising him on the dead right now, right that same day. So why, what is this teaching about the resurrection at the last day? To me, this has been an interesting verse, interesting words. Now, for those, I mean, I think you all know, right? That we do not believe in a pre-tribulation rapture. We do believe this church does believe in a rapture to come just like the pre-tribbers, a rapture before the coming of Christ, before he sets up his millennial kingdom, I should say, in those words. But there are some that actually believe that the resurrection or the rapture will take place the same day that Christ starts his millennium. These are post-tribbers. We are post-tribbers, but we're post-trib, pre-wrath. We believe that after the tribulation, Christ is going to resurrect the dead, those that believe in him, the rapture, but that he's still going to pour out his wrath on this wicked world, and we will not have any part of God's wrath, okay? But you've got the post-tribulation, not pre-wrath, just post-tribulation, that believe at the end of the seven-year period to come is when Christ resurrects. There's a rapture, and immediately after that rapture, they come and establish the thousand-year reign of Christ. And one of the verses they use to teach this is verse number 24, Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. You see, they'll say, it's not before the tribulation, and it's not before the wrath, but it's on the last day, and what they interpret as the last day is the last day of those seven years. So how do we answer that? Will there be a resurrection at the last day? Well, Martha believes so. Is it true, though? Is it true? Yes, it is true. If you can keep your finger there, come with me to John chapter six. Whether I should get this idea of the resurrection at the last day, come with me to John chapter six. John chapter six and verse number 39. John 639, these are all the words of Jesus. He says, and this is the Father's will, which have sent me, that of all which have given me, I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. So John chapter six deals with this doctrine, and Mary, I assume, probably was there when he taught this, and so she responds here, yes, I know the resurrection is at the last day. Look at verse number 40, John 640. And this is the will of him that sent me, that everyone which seeeth the Son and believeth on him may have everlasting life, and I will raise him up at the last day. Look at verse number 44. No man can come to me except the Father, which have sent me draw him, and I will raise him up at the last day. Look at verse number 54. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. So is this a correct doctrine, that the resurrection takes place at the last day? 100% correct. I mean, look, you've got four witnesses from the words of Christ. You have Mary that confirms she understood what he taught. You've got more than two, three witnesses here. This is black and white. The resurrection is at the last day, okay? And so you've got your post-tribbers that'll say, well, it's the last day of the seven years. But, and I've had these conversations with people, and said, but we're here. Like, okay, I acknowledge that it says the last day, that the resurrection at the last day. I acknowledge that, 100%. But the last day of what? You're saying it's the last day of the seven years. But is that truly the last days? Is that the last day at the end of the seven years? No, because then Christ starts his millennial kingdom. There's still, we've still got a thousand years to go. How can that be the last day? You know, the pre-tribbers will say, well, it's the last day before the seven year period to come. The post-tribbers will say it's the last day of those seven years. But I'm saying to you, it's the last day of the world as we know it, is what it is, okay? It's the last day of Christ's millennial kingdom. The last day of the earth as we know it. Because we know at the end of the millennium, God creates a new heaven and a new earth where there is no more time. I do believe in the resurrection at the last day. You say, hold on pastor, you said you believe in a post-tribber prayer of rapture. Well, that's what I want to cover today. I wanted to just address this because it seems like the post-tribbers at the end of the seven year rapture people, they seem to have a monopoly on this doctrine. I've never really heard a great response, but I don't think it's confusing at all. I think it's very straightforward that there's a resurrection at the last day. Now let's talk about this. Before we get into this deeper, let's have a look back there in John chapter 11. John chapter 11, let's just read a little bit more. Verse number 25, Jesus Christ says here, in verse number 25, Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection and the life. He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. Oh, how beautiful are these words? What do we have to do to be saved? What do we have to do to live again, to have everlasting life, eternal life? Just to believe in him. Christ is the resurrection. He is the life. All we have to do, he that believeth in me. Though he were dead, yet shall he live. Salvation, so easy, believe on Christ. Trust him. Christ does all the saving, he does all the work. All we have to do is believe him, trust him. Look at verse number 26. And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? Says to Martha, do you believe that if you trust in me, if someone trusts in me, they will never die, they will never perish? I mean, right in front of the grave of Lazarus, who is actually physically dead. So we know that Christ is teaching something much deeper. He's not talking about a physical death, but rather that no one will ever die spiritually the moment you trust in Christ. Look how she responds in verse number 27. She saith unto him, yea Lord, I believe that thou art the Christ, the son of God, which should come into the world. What is her salvation? I believe that thou art the son of God, the Christ. That's it. You know that again, salvation crystal clear. Faith alone on Christ alone. And so she believes that he is the resurrection of life. She believes that if you trust in him, you will never perish. Again, right there in front of Lazarus' grave though. Her brother being, having perished in the flesh. All right, let's understand this doctrine of the last day. We're gonna bounce around. You can keep your finger in John 11. We're gonna come back to this. But come with me to 1 Corinthians 15. 1 Corinthians 15, verse 22. 1 Corinthians 15, verse 22. I love the topic of the end times and I hate it as well. I love the scriptures. I love the teaching of God's word. But I hate a lot of the, what's the word I'm looking for? I hate a lot of the conjecture. A lot of the myths and make believe events and stories and the end time movies that have tainted our minds of what the end times are gonna, I hate that whole genre of end times discussion. And oh, but what if a believer takes the mark? Believer's not gonna take the mark. But what if we do? What if we're struggling? What if we perish? Jesus Christ is the one that promised us if we set his kingdom first, that all these things shall be added unto you. You don't have to worry about it. It's not gonna happen. And people just watch these movies and they see people running away from the antichrist and all these things. Oh man, well, you know, no, no, you stop. I hate that part of the end times, but I love what the Lord reveals to us. I actually really believe that Christians, true born again believers in the end times, are gonna be fueled so mightily by the Holy Spirit that we're going to be able to do great exploits and reach the entire world of the gospel. I truly believe that. I don't think for a minute we're all gonna be, oh, the antichrist is around the corner. What do we do? I don't think that's gonna happen whatsoever. And so people create these things, or what if, what if, what if, and that's the part that I hate because I don't see those things in the Bible. I don't see believers taking the mark of the beast. I don't see believers begging for food. Oh, maybe I've gotta take the mark of the, nothing like that. I don't see that at all. Christ is at the gospel of the kingdom's gonna reach the entire world. Guess who's gonna be doing it? The believers that are living in that time period. How are they gonna be doing it? By the power of the Holy Spirit. Anyway, without getting sidetracked, 1 Corinthians 15 verse 22. It says, for as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. Christ is the life. Verse number 23, but every man in his own order. There is an order to be made alive. There is an order to the resurrection. What is the order? What is the process? Christ the first fruits. Who is the first to be resurrected from the dead? Christ. After they that are Christ's at his coming. The next resurrection takes place at his coming. That's what we call the rapture. Whether you're pre-Trib, post-Trib, pre-Raph, the rapture. The coming of Christ. That is the resurrection to come. Then it says in verse number 24, then cometh the end. Now this sounds like to me, the last day. So when I think of the end, I think of the last day. What is the end? What is the last? It says, then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father, when he hath shall put down all rule and all authority and power. At the end of the reign of Christ, he gives his kingdom to the Father. And if you follow the chronology of revelation, then God creates a new heaven and a new earth. That sounds like the end to me. That sounds like the last day. The end of the reign of Christ, millennial kingdom. So what's gonna take place at the end? Well the Bible, we have further, we've got the book of Revelation. What does the word revelation mean? It means to reveal. We've got more information about the end times. The book of Revelation just puts it all together, puts it on show. It reveals all of it for us. They're in Revelation. Come with me to Revelation chapter 20. Revelation chapter 20. We're gonna bounce around a little bit here, but Revelation chapter 20, verse number six. Revelation chapter 20, verse number six. Brethren, I'm looking forward to the rapture. I'm looking forward to that resurrection. The new body made unlike unto Christ. But it says in Revelation 20, verse six, blessed and holy is he that have part in the first resurrection. On such the second death have no power. Hey, the second death has no power over Lazarus. He never really died, Lazarus. He's with the Lord. And you will never die. You will never experience the second death. It says, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ. Look at this. Notice this. And shall reign with him a thousand years. So there is a resurrection before the thousand years. There has to be. Again, whether you're pre-trib, pre-rap, post-trib. Okay? We all agree there is a resurrection before the thousand years. Because those that face, experience this first resurrection are gonna reign with Christ for a thousand years. You see that? You say, pastor, but that's not the last day. Didn't you say the last day is the end of the millennium? Or the end, as it said there in 1 Corinthians 15. Correct. Look at the verse before in verse number five. Revelation 20, verse five. It says, but the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. There's another resurrection to come. At the end of the, when the thousand years are finished, the rest of those that died will rise. You say, who are the rest of them? Those that believe in Christ after the rapture. Okay? Like, obviously the rapture takes place. Those that believe in Christ, you and I, we're gonna be caught up in that rapture. Okay? But you know what? More people are gonna trust Christ. We've got a whole thousand years. Of course people are gonna believe in Christ. In fact, I would say the majority would believe in Christ during those thousand years. But they're going to die. They haven't received the new resurrected body just yet. They're gonna have a body just like you and I. Hey, but they're gonna be living like hundreds of years. Kind of like how we read about in Genesis, after they sinned, they lived for hundreds of years. They're gonna have a similar lifespan. But wait, where they die, and they're going to be resurrected again. At the end, in the millennium, the last day. And so when the Bible speaks of the last day, it is in reference to a resurrection. But it's not gonna be the resurrection you and I go through. But rather, referencing the last day, and it's not the one that Lazarus is going through. Lazarus is gonna have the rapture, or have the resurrected body at the same time as you and I. Anyone before this time will have the same resurrection. We're gonna be caught up together in the clouds. But rather, the importance of the last day means that all believers of all time are gonna have new resurrected bodies, and there'll be no further resurrection after that. Referencing the last day captures all believers of all times. Whereas the rapture only captures those that have believed on Christ till the rapture. And so that's why it's important to highlight the last day. It's because yeah, that is the last day of the resurrection as far as those that need to receive that body after the rapture. It captures every believer of all time. And so of course, under that umbrella is the rapture that we will experience, and this is important. If you can come with me, you're there in Revelation 20, drop down to verse number 12. Why is it important to have this in your mind? I just wanna make sure that the scriptures are clear to you as you read through it, because it can be a little confusing. I don't want you to be misled by false teachers. But it says in Revelation 20, 12, we already saw that we're talking about the resurrection. And the period here is the end of the millennium. When those that had died after the rapture, they received the new resurrected bodies. But there's another resurrection that we read about in Revelation 20, look at verse number 12. And I saw the dead, the dead, by the way, small and great stand before God, and the books were opened and another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged out of those things which are written in the books, according to their works. Is that you and I? No, because we believe in Christ, we will never die. The dead here are those that never believed on Christ. They're gonna be judged according to their works. Verse number 13, and the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them. So even those that have gone to hell, of course, all these have gone to hell, they will be resurrected, but in dead bodies, not in living bodies, in dead bodies. And it says there, and they were judged every man according to their works. Verse number 14, and death and hell were cast into the lake of fire, this is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. So at the last day, what do we have? Two resurrections. The resurrection unto life, for those that believe in Christ after the rapture, and those that would be resurrected unto damnation. Okay, those that have died, that have gone to hell, they're gonna be cast into the lake of fire because their names were not found written in the Lamb's book of life, okay? All of this is important. Now come with me to Daniel chapter 12. Come with me to Daniel chapter 12. Daniel chapter 12. So after this resurrection, okay, whether it's unto life or damned, second death into the lake of fire, that's when God, you guys know the book of Revelation, I'm sure, God then in the next chapter creates the new heavens and the new earth. But in Daniel chapter 12, look at verse number one, Daniel chapter 12 and verse number one, it says, Daniel 12, one, and at that time shall Michael stand up, that's Michael the archangel, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people, and there shall be a time of trouble, that's tribulation, great tribulation, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that same time, and at that time thy people shall be delivered. Who's gonna be delivered? Everyone that shall be found written in the book. Remember, those that are not found written in the book, they're going to experience what? Being thrown into the lake of fire, the second death, okay? A resurrection of death. But look at verse number two, Daniel 12 verse two. And many of them that sleep, hey, these are the words of Jesus. Remember Lazarus wasn't actually dead but just sleeping? And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake. There's gonna be an awakening. There's gonna be a resurrection. But notice what it says here. Some to everlasting life, and some to shame, and everlasting contempt. You see in Daniel 12, we see both of these resurrections take place. Even though it's actually referencing the time of tribulation, which then is followed up by the rapture, but then Daniel in verse number two continues on explaining of the two resurrections, referencing the resurrection at the last day. One unto life, and one unto damnation. And I wanna just highlight to you, because as far as God is concerned, there is really just one resurrection for all of us, but there is an order. Christ the first fruits, those that is coming at the rapture, then at the end of the millennium on the last day, okay? But the resurrection, those that experience on the last day is the same resurrection that you and I experience, okay? It's not like a lesser resurrection, it's the same. We're gonna receive bodies like unto Christ. Now, if you can, I wanna show you something else. Come back with me to Revelation 21. So this part is a bit of a Bible study, you gotta bounce around a little bit, sorry about that. Come with me to Revelation chapter 21. So after we see the resurrection at the end of the millennium, okay, and the resurrection of those that are damned into the lake of fire, like I said, God creates a new heaven and new earth. In Revelation 21 verse four, I find this very interesting. It says here, and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain for the former things that passed away. I want you to notice, straight after the resurrection, God creates a new heaven and new earth, you see God is wiping away the tears off faces, tears off the eyes of people, okay? Of course, he's wiping the tears of believers, okay? Obviously. So why is that important? Well, come with me to Revelation chapter seven. Revelation chapter seven. So our position on the rapture is that the rapture is after the tribulation, but before God pulls out his wrath. And in Revelation chapter seven, we have a multitude appear in heaven of every tribe of every nation, which is the rapture, which is that resurrection at Christ's coming, okay? It says here in Revelation chapter seven, verse number nine. And this I beheld and lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations and kindreds and people and tongues, stood before the throne and before the lamb, clothed in white robes and palms in their hands. Drop down to verse number 13. And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, what are these which are arrayed in white robes? And whence came they? Where did they come from? He asked John. How does John respond? Verse number 14. And I said unto him, sir, thou knowest. And he said unto me, these are they which came out of great tribulation and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the lamb. Who came out of great tribulation? This great multitude. And when I do the end time series at some point and go through the Revelation, I'll expand on this a lot further. But this is after the sun and moon are darkened and Christ comes in his glory at his coming. That's the rapture. When the trumpet blows and the angels gather the elect from all the corners of the earth into heaven. And there we are rejoicing in the Lord of all nations, of every tribe, of every tongue. But why is that significant? If you drop down a little bit further to verse number 17. It says for the lamb, that's Revelation 7, 17. For the lamb, which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. Do you notice that? After each resurrection, the one that is coming, verse number, chapter seven, he wipes the tears from their eyes. And then at the resurrection at the end of the millennium, what's he doing again? Wiping tears from off their eyes. Say, why is that important? I'm glad you asked, because the study's not over. Come with me to, where are we up to now? No, come with me to Isaiah. Actually, you know what? Go back to 1 Corinthians. Go to 1 Corinthians 15. Go with me to 1 Corinthians 15. 1 Corinthians 15 is where we started when we were going through this little thought about the last days, or the last day, I should say. 1 Corinthians 15, verse 52. Let's look at this first. 1 Corinthians 15, verse 52. I'm sorry if I'm dumping a lot of information. We'll tie it up in a neat bow soon, okay? 1 Corinthians 15, verse 52. I just want to read this part to you. It says, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump, for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. So this corruptible body, this body that dies, is going to receive an incorruptible body at the last trump, in the moment, in the twinkling of an eye, okay? I think everybody agrees that is about the rapture. Now before we keep reading, I'm going to read to you the other passage I was going to read to you, or tell you to turn to. Isaiah 25, verse eight. Isaiah 25, I just want to show you the consistency and the beauty of the Bible. Isaiah 25, verse eight, I'll just read it to you. It says, he will swallow up death in victory. That's important. I'll read it again. He will swallow up death in victory. It says that God is going to have victory over death. What does this mean? I'll read it again. Isaiah 25, eight. He will swallow up death in victory, and then it says this. And the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces, and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth, for the Lord have spoken it. Why are we weeping? Why are we tearing? It says because God's people were facing the rebuke of the world. And when death is swallowed up in victory, God's going to wipe away all tears from the faces. That's Isaiah 25, verse eight. Pastor, why did you read that? Well, stay there in 1 Corinthians 15. Let's look at it again. 1 Corinthians 15, verse 52. In a moment in the twinkling of an eye at the last trump, for the trumpet shall sound and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, death is swallowed up in victory. That's when it passed. That's when the saying comes to pass, that which was written. What was written? Isaiah 25, verse eight that I read to you. So what's going to take place after the rapture? According to 1 Corinthians 15, that God's going to wipe away all tears from our eyes. When does that happen? Revelation chapter seven, that is the rapture. And again, at the end of the millennium, at that resurrection as well. That is the resurrection at the last day. But that last day, resurrection, also contains a resurrection of damnation. Those that are not found in the Lamb's Book of Life. And so the reason I'm reading all these passages to you is that sometimes you're going to see in the scriptures that both resurrections unto life and death are referenced. But don't forget, that's speaking specifically of the last day. And sometimes it's going to feel like it's all combined with the rapture. But the reason for that is because the rapture is the resurrection. It's just a resurrection that takes place at his coming. And then another resurrection takes place on the last day. So I hope that makes sense. This is not an argument that Christ is coming at the end of the seven years. The last day is the last day. The end of the millennium, at the end of the world as we know it. Then the Father, God the Father creates a new heaven, a new earth where there is no more time. All right, back to John 11, John 11 verse 28. John 11, verse 28. It says, and when he had so said, she went her way and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, the master is come and call her for thee. As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly and came unto him. This is Mary now, the other sister, right? Now Jesus was not yet coming to the town, but was in that place where Martha met him. The Jews then, which were with her in the house and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her saying, she goeth unto the grave to weep there. Then when Mary was come where Jesus was and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, look at this, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. Again, the same approach as Mary. Why didn't you come, if you're just here earlier? So wouldn't I have taken place? They've got their faith in the Lord, but they're kind of disappointed, aren't they? Just, why'd you, could have come earlier, Lord. I guess sometimes we might be like that. We know the promises of God in the Bible. We know the promises that God will never leave us or forsake us. We know the promises that he answers our prayers. And sometimes in life, you might feel like the Lord had just not come through. Lord, if you just had been here, I would not have gone through this problem or this situation get downcast, sad and burdened, upset, worried, fearful about all things in life. And this just reminds us that, you know, our timing is not God's timing. God has the perfect timing. God has perfect timing, you know, and sometimes his timing is even after death. You might say, Lord, you know, I'm holding onto this promise that we would not see a death or a death in the family or my own death or something, Lord, you're gonna come through, but God's timing is perfect. You need to understand that. You need to understand it. And it's hard for us to wrap our heads around it. Say, surely, Lord, you could have come and you just, you could answer, you could have answered this earlier. If you just stepped in earlier, Lord, I wouldn't have to go through this sorrow and pain and hurt. And, you know, let's just, you know, let's not accuse God because he has our best interests at heart. I mean, so much so that he sent his son to die for us. And so much so that even as hard as death can be, we know that if someone has trusted Christ, they will never perish. They've never died. You know, they're waiting to be woken out of that sleep. Their bodies to wake up with new resurrected, you know, incorruptible bodies where all the tears, all the sorrows and pains will be wiped away from their faces by the hand of God. You know, we don't get it now. We don't get the pain and suffering we go through now and neither did Mary or Martha at this point. They didn't get it. They didn't understand why this pain. I don't, I can't comfort you. You know, what do you do when someone's full of sorrow? What do you do when someone has passed away? A loved one, how can you, how do you fix it? How do you comfort people? How does Jesus Christ comfort them? Does he just raise Lazarus like that from the dead immediately? I just want you to see, I want you to see his approach to this. And I think it's a good principle to live by. It says in verse number 33, when Jesus therefore saw her weeping and the Jews also weeping, which came with her, look at this, he groaned in the spirit and was troubled. That's fascinating to me. Jesus Christ knows that he's gonna raise Lazarus from the dead. Like Jesus Christ knows that Lazarus is not really dead. Right? This sickness is not unto death. He knows that Lazarus is in heaven with the Lord. He's not experienced hell or the second death or anything like that. But you can see that even, like he's gonna raise him from the dead. Like I kind of think if I had the power and I knew that I'm gonna raise someone from the dead, I'm gonna have, I don't know, I could be wrong. I don't know, cause I'm not that person. I'm not gonna, but I think I have a hard time weeping. I'm like, oh man, you're upset now, but just wait. Like, you know, I think I have a hard time weeping, but you can see, I just, I think this approach is the right approach. Christ just starts to have sorrow in his heart. Let's keep going there. It says in verse number 34, and said, where have you laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. And in the famous verse, Jesus wept. Brethren, what do you do when people are hurting and weeping? Just do what Jesus did. Just weep, weep with them. You can't fix people's problems. You can't take them out of issues and problems and hardships. The best thing you can do when people are weeping is just weep with them. Christ set us the example. Look at this, then said the Jews, behold how he loved him. And some of them said, could not this man which opened the eyes of the blind have cause that even this man should not have died? Look at verse number 38. And Jesus, therefore, again, groaning in himself, cometh to the grave. He was a cave and a stone lay upon it. And you know, brethren, we see that by Christ weeping, the people around could say, wow, he has a love for this family. He had a love for Lazarus. He has a love for the sisters. And so when someone's grieving and in pain and you know they've suffered a lot, you know, don't take the attitude, oh, come on, just get over it. You know? You know, if even in this church, if a loved one passes away, even if we know they're saved, you know, come on, get excited. We're gonna see them at the resurrection. I mean, that's exciting, but this is time to mourn. Okay? There's a time to mourn, there's a time to weep. And by lowering yourself and showing empathy and love and care, you know, you're following the steps of Jesus Christ. And you are in, by extension, comforting them, comforting those that are sorrowing, you know? Knowing that you have a love for them. So that's the right approach. You know, that's the right approach, to weep and be alongside. You know, the Bible says in Romans 12, 15, rejoice with them that do rejoice and weep with them that weep. One of the things about being a pastor is I hear hardships that people go through, and you can't fix everything, right? You can't. Like, you might give some words of comfort, but at the end of the day, the most effective thing is just to weep with them that weep. I found, honestly, those words are true. The example of Christ is true. It's like people are most comforted when they see your broken hardness. They see that you have empathy and love and concern for those that are suffering. Verse number 39. Jesus said, take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, safe unto him. Lord, by this time he stinketh, for he had been dead four days. So you see, she's not thinking that Christ is gonna raise him from the dead. Because if we open that stone, there's gonna be a bad stench, right? Stench of death. Verse number 40. Jesus saith unto her, said I not unto thee that if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God. This is referenced in verse number four. When they first came to Jesus before Lazarus had died, had asked him to come because he was sick, he said, look, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God. You're about to see the glory of God. You're about to see something wonderful. Verse number 41. Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, Father, I thank thee thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always, but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. Interesting. Remember there were many Jews comforting Mary and Martha. Many Jews have come from Jerusalem and surrounding areas, Bethany. Some of these don't believe in Christ. I mean, Mary and Martha do, but some of these don't believe in Christ. So why did Christ delay his coming? It caused sorrow, but through this death and through this experience, many would come to believe on Jesus. And sometimes the pains and the death and the most harsh and hurtful things in life can cause people to seek the Savior. Need to understand that. It's sort of this necessity in life to be humbled and to be lowly and to be crushed and hurt and go through pain where some people say, Lord, if you're real, if you're out there, then help me in this situation. Christ would use this example of death and this resurrection to come of Lazarus so people would believe on him, that people would believe the gospel, that people would get saved. Verse number 43. And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, both bound hand and foot with grave clothes. And his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, loose him and let him go. I mean, I don't know exactly how he gets up. He's tied up, he's bound, right? Somehow he gets up, right? And even his face is all covered in the wrappings, right? He comes out with his full, the grave clothes on him. He says, come on, loosen him, let him go. I mean, I don't know, maybe people are so shocked to see his body come out of the grave, they're like, Jesus Christ, come on, loosen him. Take off all those grave clothes off him. Verse number 45. Then look at this, many of the Jews which came to Mary and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him. Wow, many believed on him, success. I already gave this story, but just once again, the death of the child down in Sydney during COVID and so sad, but at the funeral, many believed on Christ. So what was the purpose of that child's death so suddenly? That child did not raise from the dead, but the promise to come to see that child in heaven one day, many believed, many called upon the Lord to be saved. And again, we don't fully understand when we're going through this, but this pain and suffering can lead people to Jesus Christ. We've got to utilize these opportunities to give people the gospel. And so, Jesus Christ was teaching about the resurrection on the last day, or the resurrection to come or the rapture for us. And this rising of Lazarus is just symbolic of what is to come. Like when Lazarus raised from the dead here, this is not his body, glorified body, sinless, resurrected body to come. It's just the same old corrupted body that died, come back to life, okay? So Lazarus, what I'm trying to say is Lazarus had to die again at some point, okay? Like, I remember as a child, I remember reading these stories of people being raised from the dead. I'm like, I wonder if they're still walking the earth today. No, because it wasn't the glorified bodies like Christ. The bodies that get resurrected here, they're just symbolic of what's gonna happen in the future, but they still have their old corrupted body, okay, that eventually perished once again. Verse number 46, but some of them, so these are the ones that didn't believe. But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees and told them what things Jesus had done. Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees, the council, remember, they're already trying to kill him, and said, what do we? For this man doeth many miracles. If we let him thus alone, look at this, if we leave him alone, like if we don't put a stop to him, all men will believe on him. What are they trying to do? They're trying to stop people from believing on him. If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him. And the Romans shall come, look at this, and take away both our place and nation. We don't wanna lose our place. We don't wanna lose our positions of authority and power and our riches as religious leaders. So let's stop people from believing on Jesus Christ. This is the corruption in many churches, many pastors, many religious leaders, even today. Reverend, as much as we are trying to get people to believe on Christ, there are forces of wickedness trying to stop people from believing on Christ. Like these false religions, right? And these false prophets. They're not just, oh, they've just got it wrong and they're trying their best. They are actively trying to stop people from trusting Christ. There are people like this in the world. We're doing the best we can to cause people to believe on Christ. And the most successful ones are those that say, yeah, yeah, we love Jesus, but it can't just be belief. Believing's not enough, even though over and over again in the book of John, Christ's believing is all sufficient. That's all needed. Yeah, believe on Christ, but you've gotta have the works. But you've gotta get baptized. But you've gotta clean up your life. But you've gotta repent of your sins. No, believing is all needed. Is that all that's needed? Faith alone, on Christ alone, is needed. And look, I understand there are some that are misguided and maybe sincere and confused, but that's very few. The majority of religious leaders today are trying to either stop people from believing on Christ or they just want the position, like these people. We want the position. We don't care if people get saved. We don't care if people have improved lives by following the commandments of God. They just want their positions. They want their titles. They wanna be looked up to. They don't wanna have their place removed. Brethren, I became a pastor, not for some position. I already had positions in the world, as it were. Okay, if you wanna be a religious leader, you better have a heart for people. Have a heart for the lost. They would come to Christ. Have a heart for the sheep that need to be fed God's word. Yeah, but we're actively trying to cause people to believe. There are people actively on the Sunshine Coast trying to cause people to not believe on Christ. Look at verse number 49. And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, you know nothing at all. Now consider that this is expedient or profitable for us, that one man should die for the people and that the whole nation perish not. And this spake he not of himself, but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation. This is really interesting. Caiaphas is not a believer of Christ, okay? But he says these words, and it says, look at verse number 51, let's read it again. And this spake he not of himself. He's speaking, and what he believes he's speaking is against Christ. Because what he's saying, look, this is what he thinks he's trying to say or communicate. He says, you guys know nothing. You guys are idiots, okay? It's good for us if Jesus dies, that our nation will be saved. So if he dies, the Romans won't come hard on us and take away our nation. But these are actually words spoken by the Holy Ghost that yes, it is profitable that Jesus would die, okay? That those that believe will not perish. That this would be, he would be the savior of the Jews, savior of Israel, okay? Again, how do you get saved by believing in Christ? And so it's kind of like this play, like there's two meanings of what he says. One thing in the flesh, let's kill him. It's good for our nation and our positions. But really what the Holy Spirit is communicating, it's profitable that he dies for those that believe in him will never die, will never perish. And this shouldn't be surprising because even Balaam's donkey was able to say words by God, words that were influenced by the Holy Spirit. And so he's basically just another Balaam's donkey. He's actually saying the right thing. God is utilizing to say the right thing. But what I find interesting about this, you know, he finishes with take away both our place and nation. Again, just again, addressing those that say, oh, Jesus Christ only came for the Jews. He only came for Israel. Well, then what does it say in verse number 40, verse number 50? This is like, I see these as the words of John, again, under the same inspiration of the Holy Spirit. He says, and not for that nation only though, right? Not for that nation, not just for Israel, not just for the Jews, not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one, one, the children of God that were scattered abroad. Okay, one of all, not just one nation, of all nations, all that believe in Christ come together as one, the children of God. Again, this division, oh, those are the Jews, those are the Gentiles, brethren, God's, that's just silly thinking, that's stupid thinking, okay? Christ came, plan A was to die for all the nations of the world. He died for all people, not just Israel. Verse number 53, and from that day forth, they took counsel together for to put him to death. Now they really tried to kill him in the past, right? They tried to stone him, but now from this day forth, now they've got a conspiracy against him. They've taken counsel, they're planning, okay? Now they're gonna make this happen, okay? Verse number 54, Jesus therefore, and because of this, it says, Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews. So he gets out of that area once again, okay? But went then unto a country knee to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and they continued with his disciples. The city is close to Samaria. He's still in Judea, but he's gone further north, close to Samaria. And again, we see the example of Christ, okay? When there's persecution, when there's those that are seeking to harm and to hurt, Christ goes, all right, let's go. We've done our job here. Let's go somewhere else, all right? So again, just the example that Christ set. We don't need to throw ourselves into danger, okay? If there's persecution, tribulation, we go serve the Lord God somewhere else. Verse number 55, and the Jews' passover was nigh at hand, and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover to purify themselves. So we're coming close to the crucifixion at the passover of Christ. Then sought they for Jesus and speak among themselves as they stood in the temple. What think ye that he will not come to the feast? So people are starting to gather in Jerusalem for the big feast, and people are wondering, is Jesus gonna show up? We don't know what's gonna happen. What's the next adventure? What's the next conflict that's gonna take place here with Jesus Christ and the chief priests? Verse number 57, now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment that if any man knew where he were, he should show us that they might take him. Okay, so the conspiracy is in full effect. Okay, they're seeking to arrest, capture, and murder Jesus Christ. So brethren, the resurrection at the last day. You know, all we need to do is believe on Christ. He did all the work. His death, burial, his resurrection. He's our Savior, the Son of God, the Christ. And you know, if you've put your faith on trust in Christ, then we really have nothing to fear. You know, like Thomas said, you know what, let's just go. If we die for him, we die for him. Yeah, you know what, you die for Christ. You know, praise God, you will never perish. You know, it's so amazing that we can appreciate that this physical death is not the end of us. They wouldn't have to worry and have the doubts. You know, are we right with God? Are we going to, are we doing the right things? You know, is God happy with us? You know, is our works measured up with our sins? We wouldn't have to worry about that. Christ has redeemed us, he's saved us. He's paid for all of our sins. And not only that, brethren, we've got the excitement of the resurrection to come. New bodies that'll never sin. Experiencing new heaven and the new earth. And all the pain and suffering you're going through and have gone through and will go through, all those tears will be wiped away by God. Let's pray.