Today’s selected reading continues in and concludes the first epistle written by the apostle Paul unto the saints which were at Thessalonica. More specifically today’s passage is found in the fifth chapter of this New Testament book. “But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, Peace and safety! Then suddenly destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:1-11).

 

            “And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves. Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the faint hearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:12-22).

 

            “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it. Brethren, pray for us. Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss. I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read to all the holy brethren. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen” (1 Thessalonians 5:23-28).

 

            When you come to the fifth and final chapter of the first epistle written by the apostle Paul unto the saints which were at Thessalonica you will find what I would say a continuation of that which the apostle Paul wrote in the previous chapter. If you begin reading with and from the thirteenth verse of the fourth chapter of this first epistle written by the apostle Paul you will find him writing and speaking to them concerning the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and His return to gather together His people unto Himself. We dare not and must not miss and lose sight of the incredible importance of what is found within the final portion of the fourth chapter for within it we are brought face to face with absolutely astounding truth surrounding the language the apostle used to not only describe the coming of the Lord Jesus but also the day of the Lord. If you want to truly understand the words which are found in the fifth and final chapter of the first epistle written unto the Thessalonian saints you must needs acknowledge and understand that which the apostle Paul taught and preached unto them concerning the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. What’s more is when we think upon and look back unto the resurrection and ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ there is hidden within it a mystery concerning His coming again for His saints. In fact if you turn and direct your attention to the synoptic gospels you will find the accounts of the Lord Jesus Christ being raised from death to life on the first day of the week and showing Himself alive unto His disciples and others over a forty day period of time. It is absolutely impossible to think about the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ without and apart from also beginning with His resurrection—and not only His resurrection but also His ascension unto the right hand of the Father which would take place forty days after that resurrection occurred.

 

            I sit here today thinking about the words which are found in this passage of Scripture and I can’t help but think about the beginning of the mystery of the coming and return of the Lord Jesus Christ and how it begins with the resurrection of the Lord Jesus on the first day. As you read and study the four gospel narratives written at the beginning of the New Testament you will find the words and language surrounding the resurrection of the Lord Jesus on the first day of the week. I would dare say that if you want to truly understand the mystery surrounding the ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ—and not only the ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ but also His coming again and return—there is a great need to begin with the resurrection of the Lord Jesus and understand that which took place on the first day of the week. In fact it is when you come to the fifteenth chapter of the first epistle written by the apostle Paul unto the Corinthian saints you will find the apostle Paul beginning with the resurrection and using the resurrection to describe the mystery of the resurrection of the saints. For the apostle Paul the resurrection of the Lord Jesus on the third day was a portent and a firstfruits of another resurrection that would take place at His coming and return. Of course we know and understand that at the death of Jesus the graves of many righteous saints were opened, however, it wouldn’t be until He Himself was raised from death to life on the first day that those righteous saints would come forth from their graves and enter into the holy city appearing unto many. It is indeed true that Jesus is indeed the firstfruits of the resurrection from the grave, however, we must needs understand and acknowledge that there was indeed a powerful witness and portent of the resurrection of the saints that was witnessed during those days when the righteous saints whose graves were opened would themselves rise up after the Lord Jesus Himself was raised from death to life.

 

            It is with all of this being said I find it absolutely necessary to call and draw your attention to the absolutely wonderful truths which are found in the gospel narratives of the life and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. There is a great need for us to begin with and understand the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ for within His resurrection from the grave is not only the hope of the future resurrection of the saints but also the hope of His coming and return. I am absolutely convinced that the resurrection of the Lord Jesus on the first day of the week was a portent and sign pointing to the resurrection of the saints when He will return in the clouds with His holy saints and gather together unto Himself the dead in Christ first and foremost and then those who were alive and remain. We must needs recognize and pay close attention to this for it calls and draws our attention and focus to the undeniable reality that to understand the mystery surrounding the coming of the Lord Jesus we must not only understand His resurrection from the grave but we must also understand His ascension unto the right hand of the Father. It is when we truly understand these realities we will truly be able to understand the mystery of the coming of the Lord Jesus and His return in the clouds to gather unto Himself all of His holy saints to meet Him in the air. Having said this I find it absolutely necessary to begin with the words and language found in the New Testament gospel narrative written by the apostle Matthew concerning the death of the Lord Jesus for it is here in this particular passage of Scripture we begin to notice the pattern and portent of Christ’s death and resurrection—and not only of His death and resurrection but how His death was the key that opened and unlocked the grave while His death was the key that opened and unlocked the mystery of the resurrection. Consider if you will the following words which are found in the New Testament gospel narrative written by the apostle Matthew concerning the death of the Lord Jesus upon the cross:

 

            “Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after his resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared unto many. So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God! And many women who followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to Him, were there looking on from afar, among whom were mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons” (Matthew 27:51-56).

 

            It is absolutely necessary we recognize and understand the words which are found within this passage of Scripture for within it we are brought face to face with the reality of the death of the Lord Jesus.and His resurrection from the dead. The apostle Matthew directly links the death of the Lord Jesus to the opening of the graves of the righteous saints and how the death of the Lord Jesus is indeed the key which unlocks the graves of the righteous saints. It is precisely because of the death of the Lord Jesus Christ that resurrection is indeed possible for without and apart from the death there would be no resurrection. In order for there to be a resurrection—both the resurrection of the Lord Jesus as well as the resurrection of the saints—there needs to first be a death. That death was indeed the death of the Lord Jesus Christ upon the cross in the place of the skull two thousand years ago. This is something which warrants strong consideration for it calls our attention to the truly wonderful truth surrounding the wonderful reality of the the death of the Lord Jesus unlocking and opening the graves of the righteous while by and through His resurrection the righteous saints who were once asleep can and will be raised from death to life. Oh Scripture does not reveal what happened to the righteous saints who rose from their graves and how long they remained upon the earth before they either died again and were potentially buried. Or, what might be another possibility concerning those who emerged from the graves at the resurrection of the Lord Jesus is that when He ascended unto the right hand of the Father who was in heaven He took those who were raised from the grave with Him unto His Father who was in heaven. Scripture is entirely unclear what happened to those righteous saints who emerged from the grave and we are left to speculate concerning the events which took place during those days. Were those righteous saints who emerged from their graves able to walk upon the earth for those forty days Jesus still remained upon the earth showing Himself alive until His ascension or did they remain and abide upon the earth even after Jesus ascended unto the right hand of the Father.

 

            I have to admit there is something truly astonishing about the words and language that is found in the twenty-seventh chapter of the New Testament gospel written by the apostle Matthew for within it we encounter the death of Jesus being the key that unlocks the graves of the righteous while His resurrection was that which caused the resurrection of the righteous saints to become a manifestation and reality. What’s more is that during those forty days Jesus walked upon the earth showing Himself alive after His resurrection He wasn’t the only one who was a witness of the resurrection from the dead. There were others whom Jesus raised from the grave during His three and a half years of public ministry upon the earth during those days. Perhaps the most notable resurrection which Jesus performed was indeed that of Lazarus and how Jesus raised Lazarus after he had been dead and buried in the grave for four days. It would be Jesus who would show up at the grave of Lazarus on the fourth day and not only call for the stone to be rolled away but would also call Lazarus forth out of the grave and from death to life. Not only this but once the resurrection Lazarus emerged from the grave Jesus called for him to be loosed from his grave clothes. It is in the twelfth chapter of the New Testament gospel narrative written by the apostle John where we find a resurrected Lazarus being present at the house and sitting together with Jesus in the midst of the house with his disciples. What’s more is that Lazarus wasn’t the only one who was raised from death to life for there was also the only son of the widow in Nain as well as Jairus’ daughter. There are specific examples and accounts of resurrection found within the four gospels and this is something truly powerful when you think about how those resurrections coupled together with the resurrection of Jesus and the resurrection of the righteous saints who came forth from their graves at His resurrection would indeed be a fellowship of the resurrection.

 

            We have a great need to pay attention to the words which are found within these four gospel narratives and accounts for within them we not only read of the death of the Lord Jesus Christ but we also read of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. It would be after the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ we find Him appearing unto many over a period of forty days as He showed and demonstrated Himself alive with many infallible proofs. It was the beloved physician Luke in the New Testament book of Acts who described those days after the resurrection of the Lord Jesus and how He had indeed showed and demonstrated Himself alive unto the women, unto the apostles and others. What’s more is it was the beloved physician Luke who in the final chapter of the New Testament gospel bearing his name described how Jesus appeared unto the two men who were journeying and traveling from Jerusalem on the road to Emmaus. Moreover it was Luke who also described how Jesus showed Himself alive unto the apostles in the upper room and ultimately ascended unto the right hand of the Father which was in heaven. I am absolutely convinced we must needs recognize and pay close attention to the words which are found in these passages of Scripture for they call and draw our attention to the absolutely wonderful truth surrounding the death and the resurrection of the Lord Jesus and how Jesus demonstrated and showed Himself alive over a period of forty days to many. With this being said I find it absolutely necessary to include at this point the words the apostle Paul wrote unto the saints which were at Corinth in the first epistle written unto them. Consider if you will the following words which are found in the first chapter of the New Testament book of Acts as well as the words which are found in the opening verses of the fifteenth chapter of the first New Testament epistle written by the apostle Paul unto the saints which were at Corinth:

 

            “The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, you have heard from me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now. Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel? And he said to them, It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:1-11).

 

            “Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time. For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed” (1 Corinthians 15:1-11).

 

            There is a great need for us to recognize and pay close attention to the following words which are found within these passages of Scripture for within them we encounter the incredible truth of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. What’s more is that not only do we encounter the incredible reality of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus but we also understand that after He was raised from death to life He didn’t immediately ascend unto the right hand of the Father which was in heaven. Scripture makes it very clear that after the resurrection of Jesus on the first day from the grave He did ascend unto the right hand of the Father which was in heaven, however, it wouldn’t be until forty days later when that would take place. Both Luke and the apostle Paul describe how after Jesus was raised from death to life He demonstrated and showed Himself alive. It was the beloved physician Luke who described how Jesus showed Himself alive with many infallible proofs while it was the apostle Paul who described how Jesus showed Himself alive unto certain individual beginning with Peter, then by the other apostles. After this the apostle Paul writes how Jesus was seen by over five hundred brethren at once of whom the greater part remained unto the writing of the first epistle written by the apostle Paul unto the Corinthian saints. After this the apostle Paul goes on to write how He was seen by James, then by all the apostles before last of all being seen of the apostle Paul on the road to Damascus when he was traveling unto that city that he might bind and bring back to Jerusalem all those whom he found who were followers of Jesus in that place. Oh how absolutely incredible this truly is when you take the time to think about it for it calls and draws our attention to the absolutely wonderful truth surrounding the resurrection of the Lord Jesus and how He showed Himself alive unto many and even demonstrated Himself alive with many infallible proofs.

 

            At this point I find it absolutely necessary to call your attention to the accounts of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus on the first day of the week—and not only the resurrection of the Lord Jesus but also His showing Himself alive unto the apostles, unto the women and unto others. If we are to truly understand the ascension of the Lord Jesus Jesus as well as His return and coming again we must needs recognize the importance of His resurrection from the grave on the third day day. It is when we begin to understand the mystery surrounding the resurrection of the Lord Jesus on the first day of the week we are truly able to understand the mystery surrounding His ascension unto the right hand of the Father. It is and it was the ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ unto the right hand of the Father forty days after being raised from death to life we encounter and come face to face with the mystery surrounding His coming again and return that He might gather together unto Himself all His holy saints. It is when the Lord Jesus comes again in the clouds he will not only gather unto Himself the dead in Christ who will rise first but also those who were alive and remain at that time that all might be gathered together unto Him in the air and meet Him in that place. Having said this I find it absolutely necessary to call and draw your attention to the absolutely wonderful truth surrounding the resurrection of the Lord Jesus as it was written and recorded in the four New Testament gospel narratives found at the beginning of the New Testament. Consider if you will the following words which are found in the New Testament gospel narratives beginning first with the New Testament gospel narrative written by the beloved physician Luke:

 

            “Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. Then they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when he was still in Galilee, saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. And they remembered His words. Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles. And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them. But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves; and he departed, marveling to Himself at what happened” (Luke 24:1-12).

 

            “Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself draw near and went with them. But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know him. And he said to them, What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad? Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have you not known the things which happened there in these days? And he said to them, What things? So they said to Him, The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified. But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but him they did not see. Then He said to them, O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory? And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and he indicated that he would have gone farther. But they constrained Him, saying, Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to stay with them. Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and Brooke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they knew him; and he vanished from their sight. And they said to one another, Did not our heart burn within us while he talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:13-32).

 

            “So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the elven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon! And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of bread. Now as they said these things, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, Peace to you. But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. And he said to them, Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Handle me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bonded as you see I have. When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, have you any food here? So they gave him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. And he took it and ate in their presence” (Luke 24:33-43).

            There in the final chapter of the New Testament gospel narrative written by the beloved physician Luke we find the account of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. Within that passage of Scripture we not only find the account of the empty tomb and the stone rolled away but we find the women who came unto the tomb very early in the morning. What is so unique about the resurrection of the Lord Jesus is apart from the earthquake, apart from the guards falling to the ground as dead men and apart from angels who were present at the tomb we aren’t given any indication or insight into what happened on the first day of the week. There is a vast difference between the resurrection of Lazarus from the grave for the Lord Jesus showed up and appeared at His grave on the fourth day and commanded the stone to be rolled away. Moreover after the stone was rolled away Jesus would pray to the Father which was in heaven and would then cry out with a loud voice commanding Lazarus to come forth from the grave. Immediately after Lazarus came forth from the grave still bound in grave clothes Jesus commanded that he be loosed from the grave clothes and be free in his resurrection. This is something we must needs recognize and pay close attention to for it calls and draws our attention to the details of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself and how we have very little details about what happened. It might very well be assumed that either the earthquake caused the stone to be rolled away from the entrance of the tomb or that one of the angels rolled away and removed the stone from the entrance. As it pertains to the actual resurrection of Jesus from the grave we don’t know if the Holy Spirit breathed upon Him the breath of life as the breath of life was breathed into Adam outside the garden in the east. It would indeed be truly interesting if the Holy Spirit did indeed breathe into and breathe upon Jesus the breath of life causing Him—not to become a living soul but to be raised from death to life.

 

            What makes the resurrection of the Lord Jesus so incredibly unique and interesting when you take the time to think about it is when you consider the fact that while we aren’t given the details surrounding His resurrection we are indeed given details concerning His showing Himself alive unto many over the course of the next forty days. The four New Testament gospel authors as well as the beloved physician Luke in the first chapter of the book of Acts and the apostle Paul in the fifteenth chapter of the first epistle written unto the Corinthian saints describes how the Lord Jesus appeared and showed Himself alive unto many over the course of those forty days after He was raised from death to life. We will never know on this side of eternity the details surrounding the resurrection of the Lord Jesus and I have to admit that I am very curious and interested in the details surrounding the resurrection of Jesus and what specifically happened early in the morning on the first day of the week. Did the voice of the Father Himself call Jesus back from death to life while He was still present within the tomb? Did the stone need to be rolled away and removed first before the voice of the Father could call Jesus forth from death to life? It’s important to note that the stone needed to be rolled away, the grave clothes which were upon the physical body of Jesus needed to be left behind in the grave and the tomb needed to be empty—not only as a witness unto those who would behold these things but also that those who would come to the tomb during those days and even throughout the centuries even recently as this generation would come to the tomb and find it empty. Oh what makes this even more intriguing for me personally is I have been to what is believed to be the garden tomb where Jesus was buried, have seen the entrance absent the stone and have even entered into the tomb itself. I myself can personally vouch for the fact that the tomb is indeed empty and that the stone was rolled away and that Jesus is no longer dead and buried in the tomb.

 

            With this being said I find it absolutely necessary to call and draw your attention to the following words which are found in the other New Testament gospel narratives written of the life and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. I am convinced that before we can transition to the words which were written by  the apostle Paul unto the saints of Corinth in the fifteenth chapter of that first epistle we must needs consider the narratives and accounts of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus as it was recorded by the other New Testament gospel authors—the apostle Matthew, John Mark and the apostle John. Consider if you will the following words which are found within these passages beginning with the New Testament gospel written by the apostle Matthew:

 

            “Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. But the angel answered and said to the women, Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said, Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you. So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word” (Matthew 28:1-8).

 

            “And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, Rejoice! So they came and held him by the feet and worshipped him. Then Jesus said to them, Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see me. Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened. When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, saying, Tell them, His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept. And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will appease him and make you secure. So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day. Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. When they say Him, they worshipped Him; but some doubted” (Matthew 28:9-17).

 

            “Now when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him. Very early in the morning on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. And they said among themselves, Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us? But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away—for it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. But he said to them, Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples—and Peter—that he is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you. So they went out quickly and fled from the tomb, for they trembled and were amazed. And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid” Mark 16:1-8).

 

            “Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven demons. She went and told those who had been with Him, as they mourned and wept. And when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe. After that, He appeared in another form to two of them as they walked and went into the country. And they went and told it to the rest, but they did not believe them either. Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and he rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. And He said to them, Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In my name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover” (Mark 16:9-18).

            “Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him. Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. And he, stooping down and lookin in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed. For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. Then the disciples went away again to their own homes” (john 20:1-10).

 

            “But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. Then they said to her, Woman, why are you weeping? She said to them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him. Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking? She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus said to her, Mary! She turned and said to Him, Rabboni (which is to say, Teacher). Jesus said to her, Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to my Father; but go to my brethren and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, and to my God and your God. Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these tings to her” (John 20:11-18).

 

            “Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, Peace be with you. When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples wer glad when they saw the Lord. So Jesus said to them again, Peace to you! As the Father has sent me, I also send you. And when he had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained. Now Thomas, called The Twin, one of the twelve was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, We have seen the Lord. So he said to them, Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe” (John 20:19-25).

 

            “And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them, Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be to you! Then he said to Thomas, Reach your finger here, and look at my hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into my side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing. And Thomas answered and said to Him, My Lord and my God! Jesus said to him, Thomas, because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:26-29).

 

            Please pay close attention to the words which are found in these passages of Scripture for within them we encounter the tremendous truth surrounding the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. What’s more is that within these passages of Scripture we not only read of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus but we also read of His appearing unto others as early as the very first day He had been raised from death to life. It’s important to realize and recognize that on the very first day of the week after Jesus was raised from death to life He would appear unto Mary Magdalene in the garden where she had come at first. The apostle John describes how Mary would come to the tomb early in the morning while it was still dark and would behold the stone had been taken away from the tomb. When she witnessed and beheld the stone rolled away from the entrance of the tomb she ran and came unto Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved and declared unto them how they had taken away the Lord out of the tomb and she did not know where they laid Him. The apostle John goes on to write how both he and Peter ran to the tomb and found it just as Mary had described unto them with the notable exception being John stooping down and looking into the tomb while Simon called Peter actually entered into the tomb.

 

            If you continue reading the words which are found in this passage of Scripture you will find that Mary undoubtedly accompanied Peter and John to the tomb and although they had departed unto their houses she stood outside the tomb weeping. As she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb and saw two angels in white sitting—one at the head and the other at the feet where the body of Jesus had laid. It would be there in the tomb where these two men clothed in white would ask Mary why she was weeping of which she responded be declaring that they had taken away her Lord and she did not know where they had laid Him. Moving on within this passage of Scripture you will find that immediately after she said this she turned around and saw Jesus standing there and did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus upon seeing Mary weeping would ask her the same question the angels themselves asked her—“Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” The apostle John writes and records how Mary supposed that Jesus was the gardener and proceeded to speak unto him, saying, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Upon hearing these words spoken by Mary Jesus would simply respond by calling her by name—“Mary!” When Mary heard her name she turned to him and acknowledged Him as Teacher. Jesus would instruct and command her to not cling to Him for He had not yet ascended to His Father which was in heaven but instead to go to His brethren and declare unto. Them that He was ascending to His Father and their Father, and to His God and their God. Oh this is something we must needs recognize for while we find additional references within the final chapter of the New Testament gospel narrative written by the apostle John concerning Jesus showing Himself unto the women, unto the apostles and unto others we clearly find Him declaring unto Mary that He was preparing to ascend unto His Father which was in heaven. Jesus made it very clear to Mary that He was ascending to His Father and to her Father and to His God and her God. 

 

            With this being said I am absolutely convinced we must now turn and direct our attention to the following words which are found in the New Testament gospel narratives written by the beloved physician Luke as well as John Mark. Not only this but we must also turn and direct our attention to the following words which are found in the first chapter of the New Testament book of Acts. It is within these passages of Scripture we encounter and come face to face with the incredible truth surrounding the ascension of the Lord Jesus unto the right hand of the Father. While both the gospel narrative written by Luke as well as the gospel narrative written by Mark describe the ascension of the Lord Jesus it is the New Testament book of Acts where we find the mystery of the ascension of the Lord Jesus and its direct connection to the return and coming again of the Lord Jesus. If you want to understand the resurrection of the Lord Jesus you must understand it in direct relation to the resurrection of the saints at His coming again and returning. If you want to understand the ascension of the Lord Jesus you must needs understand it as being intrinsically linked and connected to the divine mystery of the coming again of the Lord Jesus for His saints. It was within the New Testament gospel narrative written by the beloved physician Luke we find two men appearing in shining garments appearing unto those who were present at the mount called Olivet and emphatically declaring and proclaiming unto them that in the same manner in which they saw the Lord Jesus ascend unto the right hand of the Father so would the Lord Jesus also come again. This is in direct alignment with the words which the apostle Paul wrote in the fourth chapter of the first epistle written unto the saints which were in Thessalonica as well as the words which the apostle Pauli would write in the fifteenth chapter of the first epistle written unto the saints which were at Corinth. Consider now if you will the following words which are found in these passages of Scripture beginning with the New Testament gospel narrative written by the John Mark:

 

            “So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen” (Mark 16:19-20).

 

            “Behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high. And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up his hands and blessed them. Now it came to pass, while he blessed them, that he was parted from them and carried up into heaven. And they worshipped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen” (Luke 24:49-53).

 

            “Now when he had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:9-11).

 

            Each of these passages of Scripture points to the reality that after Jesus was raised from death to life on the third day He appeared unto many over the period of the next forty days. It would after showing Himself alive during those forty days with many infallible proofs Jesus would ascend up to heaven and unto the right hand of the Father. This is important for us to recognize for within the ascension of Jesus Christ is the mystery surrounding His coming again and return for His saints. The two men who appeared unto those at the mount called Olivet emphatically declared unto them that in the same manner in which they saw Jesus ascend unto heaven and return to the right hand of the Father so also would He return and come again. We dare not and must not miss and lose sight of this for it brings us face to face with the truly wonderful truth surrounding the mystery of the ascension and how those who believe upon the name of the Lord Jesus and those who have confessed with their mouth that He is Lord and believed with their hearts that the Father has raised Him from the dead will be saved and will be caught up together with Him. This is the hope that the saints who believe have knowing that if they have died in Christ they will take part in the resurrection at the last day. This is indeed the hope that all who believe on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ have within their hearts and souls for they know that whether they have died in Christ they will be raised at that day when Christ returns or if they are alive and remain at that time they will experience a transformation of their physical bodies. This is precisely what the apostle Paul wrote in the fifteenth chapter of the first epistle written unto the Corinthian saints. Here in this particular passage of Scripture the apostle Paul emphatically speaks unto the Corinthian saints about the resurrection of Christ and how the resurrection of Christ from the dead is our hope that we will be changed, that we will be transformed and that we have more than simply hope in this life. We dare not and must not miss and lose sight of this for it brings us face to face with the awesome truth surrounding the coming of the Lord Jesus and His gathering His saints and His people unto Himself. Consider now the following words which were written by the apostle Paul unto the saints which were at Corinth in the fifteenth chapter of this first epistle:

 

            “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? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable” (1 Corinthians 15:12-19).

 

            “But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so iN Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, after and those who are Christ’s at His coming. Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. For He has put all things under His feet. But when He says all things are put under Him, it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all” (1 Corinthians 15:20-28).

 

            “Otherwise, what will they do who are baptized for the dead, if the dead do not rise at all? Why then are they baptized for the dead? And why do we stand in jeopardy every hour? I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. If, in the manner of men, I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me? If the dead do not rise, Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die! Do not be deceived: Evil company corrupts good habits. Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame” (1 Corinthians 15:29-34).

 

            “But someone will say, How are the dead raised up And with what body do they come? Foolish one, what you sow is not made alive unless it dies. And what you sow, you do not sow that body that shall be, but mere grain—perhaps wheat or some other grain. But God gives it a body as He pleases, and to each seed its own body. All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of animals, another of fish, and another of birds. There are also celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, The first man Adam became a living being. The last Adam became a life giving spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second man is the Lord from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly man” (1 Corinthians 15:35-49).

 

            Everything we read in these verses points to one singular reality—namely that there is indeed a resurrection and a transformation that will take place at the coming of the Lord Jesus. Scripture makes it very clear that it is the resurrection of Jesus that makes possible the transformation of our physical bodies. The apostle Paul makes it perfectly clear there is indeed a hope that we have as the saints of God and as those who believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ. We who believe on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and we who name the name of Jesus are those who do indeed and do in fact have the hope that we will meet Jesus in the air when He returns and comes again. We who are alive and remain will see Him coming in the clouds and both we who are alive and remain and those who have died in Christ will in fact be gathered together to meet the Lord in the air. There is a great need for us as the saints of God to live our lives with this hope and expectation knowing that there is coming a day at a time and hour when no one knows and the Lord Himself will descend with a shout. Please don’t miss and lose sight of this and how absolutely incredible it truly is for it brings us face to face with the absolutely wonderful truth surrounding the Lord Jesus and the hope that He Himself gives us that He has been preparing a place for us that where He is with the Father there we might also be with the Father. It was Jesus Himself who declared unto His disciples in the upper room that He was going to the Father to prepare a place for them and that in His Father’s house were many rooms or mansions. This is important for us to recognize and pay close attention to for it brings us face to face with the hope that we have in the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and His return to gather together unto Himself all of His holy saints—both those who were dead in Christ as well as those who are alive in Christ and remain:

 

            “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory? The sting of death is sin and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:50-58).

 

            “But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe t that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 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 by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we whom are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

 

            As I preparing to bring this writing to a close it is absolutely imperative we recognize the connection and link between the death of the Lord Jesus and the opening of the graves of the righteous saints. I do not believe that Jesus’ death unlocked and opened the graves of those righteous saints during that day and generation but also made possible the opening of the graves of all who would die in Christ from that day forward. There is a strong and intrinsic link between the resurrection of the Lord Jesus and the resurrection of the righteous saints whose graves were unlocked and opened at His death. What’s more is that the resurrection of the Lord Jesus does indeed and does in fact point to the resurrection that will occur at His coming when all who have died in Christ will be raised and resurrected first and then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together to meet Him in the air. As if this weren’t enough we must needs understand that the resurrection of the Lord Jesus as well as His ascension are linked to to His coming again for the two men who appeared next to those at the mount called Olivet declared that in the same manner in which the Lord Jesus ascended unto heaven from that mount so also would He return and come again. Within the ascension of the Lord Jesus is indeed the mystery of the return and coming again of Him at the appointed time ordained by the Father. Perhaps one of the greatest questions we must needs ask ourselves is whether or not—so long as we are within this earthly tent—we are watching and praying and are standing firm and enduring that we might be found faithful at that time. Consider the following words which are found in the third chapter of the second epistle written by the apostle Peter unto the saints which were scattering and suffering:

 

            “Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of remainder), that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation. For this they willfully forget: t hat by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:1-9).

 

            “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; bot the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:10-13).

 

            “Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen” (2 Peter 3:14-18).

 

            It is with this in mind I leave you with the following words which the apostle Paul wrote unto the saints which were at Thessalonica in the fifth chapter as well as the words which our Lord Himself delivered unto the disciples as they were departing from the Temple in the New Testament gospel written by the apostle Matthew:

 

            “But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, Peace and safety! Then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others did, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:1-11).

 

            “For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of man be. For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together. Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other” (Matthew 24:27-31).

 

            “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of man be. Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Matthew 24:36-44).