Cross-a-Resurrection In light of the death of Jesus at the cross and His subsequent rising from the dead, my objective is to describe our citizenship in Heaven. Adam’s fall resulted in humanity and creation being plunged into a state of corruption and chaos that led to the eternal decay and death to both. What the Father accomplished in the sending of His Son to the earth and to the cross and His rising and ascension to His right hand, was the restoration of all things impaled by the wages of sin and the consequences of eternal death and decay. Jesus’s sacrifice as the Lamb of God destroyed the adversary’s power of the over death and reclaimed the abundant life the Father intended for His creation. In Christ, the world and humanity is now progressively enjoying the benefits of His victory that will fully manifest on “the last day” at Jesus’s second Parousia. (Second coming)

Citizens of Heaven (Heaven is the dimension of Gods present reality)  Philippians 3 (20-21) For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; 21 who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory*, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject* all things to Himself. *Jesus’s mission as “the” proto-type through His glorified bodily resurrection, was to reveal the Father’s ultimate plan to reconcile ALL things back unto Him self. This includes humanity and the Cosmos, as described in Revelation as the New Heavens and New Earth. Context: The Philippian church was located in a Roman colony where retired soldiers of the Roman veterans were sent to establish Roman culture and business. My purpose is to have you understand the difference between the Greek view of “escapism” and the Hebraic view of being in God’s covenant community. (Kingdom Citizenship)

The first creed of the early Church 1 Cor 15 (3-8 & 11-14) For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; 7 then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; 8 and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also. 11 Whether then it was they, or I so we preach and so you believed.12 now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; 14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain

Resurrection is the hope of a future reality  1 Cor 15(42-49) So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45 So also it is written, “The first MAN, Adam, BECAME A LIVING SOUL.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46 However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. 47 The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven. 48 As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly. 49 Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly.  Citizenship of Heaven is not a location, but a state of reality.

Resurrection is The Last Day Promise of Death’s Defeat 1Cor 15(52-57 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. 55 O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; 57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Victory over Death) 1st John 3(2) 2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is

Resurrection and the Parousia: Physical presence--arrival   1Thess.2(19) For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His (*parousia) *coming? 1 Thess. 4(13-18) But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we, who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.