THE HEAVENLY RESURRECTION

The Bible also refers to another kind of resurrection, one to life as a spirit creature in heaven.  Only one example of this type of resurrection is recorded in the Bible, that of Jesus Christ.

After Jesus was put to death as a human, Jehovah did not allow His faithful Son to remain in the grave. (Psalm 16:10; Acts 13:34, 35)  God resurrected Jesus, but not as a human.  The apostle Peter explains that Christ was "put to death in the flesh, but . . .made alive in the spirit."  (1 Peter 3:18) This truly was a great miracle.  Jesus was alive again as a mighty spirit person!  (1 Corinthians 15:3, 6) Jesus was the first ever to receive this glorious type of resurrection.  (John 3:13) But he would not be the last.

Knowing that he would soon return to heaven, Jesus told his faithful followers that he would "prepare a place" for them there.  (John 14:2) Jesus referred to those  going to heaven as  his "little flock." (Luke 12:32) How many are to be in this relatively small group of faithful Christians? According to Revelation 14:1, the apostle John says: "I saw, and, look! The Lamb [Jesus Christ]  standing upon the Mount Zion, and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand having his name and the name of his Father written on their foreheads."

These 144,000 Christians, including Jesus' faithful apostles, are raised to life in heaven.  When does their resurrection take place?  The apostle Paul wrote that it would occur during the time of Christ's presence.  (1 Corinthians 15:23)  As you will learn in Chapter 9, we are now  living in that time.  So those few remaining ones of the 144,000 who die in our day are instantly resurrected to life in heaven.  (1 Corinthians 15:51-55) The vast majority of mankind, however, have  the prospect of being resurrected in the future to life in Paradise on earth.

Yes, Jehovah really will defeat our enemy death, and it will be gone forever!  (Isaiah 25:8) Yet, you may wonder, 'What will those resurrected to heaven do there?  They will form part of a marvelous Kingdom government in the next chapter.  (and it won't corrupt like the one we have now) 

Next time: What Is God's Kingdom? Chapter Eight

From the Book: What Does the Bible Really Teach? 2005 and 2006