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Portland, Oregon Church - Affiliated with the Intercontinental Church of God and the Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association |
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SUBJECT: Adam
QUESTION: Will Adam be in the Kingdom of God?
ANSWER:
There is no Biblical reason to believe that Adam or Eve will not be in the second resurrection. There is also no Biblical reason to believe that the estimated 3 billion people that lived before the flood will not be in the second resurrection.
Remember that the first resurrection is for the firstfruits that were called by God and given the Holy Spirit after repentance and baptism and the laying on of hands.
Going into the 1000 year reign of Jesus Christ (at His return) will be all of the firstfruits who will be turned into spirit at His return and all those physical beings that will still be alive after the Great Tribulation. This is estimated to be about 750 million people.
All those that died, not having the Spirit of God in them AND all those that never heard the gospel and/or who never knew the name of Jesus Christ will be resurrected in the second resurrection AT THE END OF THE 1000 YEAR REIGN OF JESUS CHRIST. At that time they will know all the truth and will then be given the choice to accept it or reject it. It will be at that time, after another 100 year period that there will be a 3rd resurrection of all those that absolutely knew the truth but now reject it. This will include those that have committed the unpardonable sin. All these, a relative few, will be thrown into the Lake of Fire and be quickly burned up.
As to the idea that the pre-flood people not hearing the gospel (truth about God); Noah, did, in fact. preach to them for 120 years.
Genesis 6:3 And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.
Note: This verse tells us that God gave man (and Noah) just 120 years before the flood was to take place.
Notice the commentary:
NOAH But 120 years previously <Genesis 6:3> he had been warned of the catastrophe, and according to <1 Peter 3:20> had been preparing for the event by building the ark. ~from International Standard Bible Encylopaedia
Notice this from Nelson's Dictionary:
NOAH With unswerving confidence in the Word of God, Noah started building the ark. For 120 years the construction continued. During this time of grace, Noah continued to preach God's judgment and mercy, warning the ungodly of their approaching doom <2 Peter 2:5>. He preached for 120 years, however, without any converts <1 Peter 3:20>. People continued in their evil ways and turned deaf ears to his pleadings and warnings until they were overtaken by the Flood. ~from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary
2 Peter 2:5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;
1 Peter 3:20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
Clearly, you can see that these people were being preached to.
Regardless of that, they did not repent, were not baptized and did not receive the Holy Spirit, therefore they did not know the truth. Hence, they will be in the second resurrection.
Revelation 20:4-5 4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
Note: Here we see the difference between the first and second resurrection.
To learn more about these resurrections, listen to the two-part sermon by Mr. Armstrong on the resurrections. They are posted in the Sermons section of the EA site:
http://www.garnertedarmstrong.org/sermons.shtml
Now, getting back to Adam: I stated that there is no Biblical indication that Adam will not be in the second resurrection. Based on what you read above, such is the case. He was not baptized and he did not receive the Holy Spirit. The fact that the Lord was there in the garden with him means nothing (to this point). Christ was with the disciples for years and Peter still denied Him on the night He was put to death. But notice later, after the resurrection and after the Spirit was given, Peter is giving one of the best sermons ever given in history...DIFFERENCE? --THE SPIRIT OF GOD.
Look at the scripture sequence showing these facts:
Matthew 26:34-35 34 Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. 35 Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.
Matthew 26:73-75 73And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee. 74Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. 75And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.
John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Acts 2:1-4 1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Acts 2:14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
We see the sequence of events here. Peter is with Christ for 3.5 years in His ministry (not to mention that they knew each other as children growing up), he heard all those words of Jesus Christ, yet he denied him on the night he died. But then Christ is resurrected and remains with them for 40 days. Then comes the giving of the Holy Spirit as He, Christ promised and on the Day of Pentecost (which pictures the giving of the Holy Spirit) we see Peter rise up and speak with strength. He then goes on to raise up the Church of God and do His (God’s) Work. Nothing like this happened with Adam. Adam did not have the Holy Spirit, therefore he could not have chosen to turn his back on God IN FULL KNOWLEDGE. Now, clearly, he turned his back on God but not in the same way. There are billions of people who turn their backs on God everyday. Many have never heard the gospel, several others have heard the name (Jesus Christ) but never know the truth.
Adam will be in the second resurrection.
1 Corinthians 15 is known as the Resurrection Chapter....notice:
1 Corinthians 15:45-47 45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. 46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
Note: You see here that Adam was physical and natural but Christ was spiritual. One cannot be spiritual or have a spiritual life in this physical body unless he or she has the Spirit of God. Without the Spirit, you cannot be spiritual. Galatians 5 lists the fruits of the Spirit; love, joy, peace, etc. Man without the Spirit of God cannot fully produce these things.
If you have not received the Holy Spirit, and no where in the Bible does it say he (Adam) did, then you will be in the second resurrection.
You will see him then.
There was another statement you made that I think needs clarification. You said, "...and only because of Noah's righteousness with God, that the rest of the human race now has a second chance because of Christ and the bible."
It is important to understand that no one has ever been given a "second chance". As we stated above, man does not get his "first chance" until he or she is given the Spirit of God. At that moment, with the laying on of hands, when someone receives the Holy Spirit, they get their ONLY CHANCE. Once you have that Holy Spirit, you have two choices; to follow God or to reject Him.
The Flood was not about giving man a second chance; it was about destroying a society that was abundantly evil. It was a continuing with the original plan of God for mankind.
Genesis 6:7-8, 11-12, 17-18 7 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. 8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.
11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. 12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.
17 And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die. 18 But with thee will I establish my covenant;
Genesis 8:15-17 15 And God spake unto Noah, saying, 16 Go forth of the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons, and thy sons' wives with thee. 17 Bring forth with thee every living thing that is with thee, of all flesh, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth; that they may breed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful, and multiply upon the earth.
Note: Just like He said back in Genesis Chapter One:
Genesis 1:27-28 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
No single individual in this whole process is getting a second chance. Those that died in the flood never got their first chance...they WILL though in the second resurrection.
Clearly, Noah was not getting a second chance...he was righteous in the eyes of the Lord.
And also clearly, Noah's offspring...all those that have populated the earth from then to now have not been given a first chance much less a second chance, save those He called as first fruits. Notice:
1 Corinthians 15:22-26 (again in the chapter about the Resurrection)
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. 24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
Note: In verse 23 we see mention of those God calls..."afterward they that are Christ's at his coming".
Romans 8:9-11 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
Clearly, to be His, one must have the Spirit of God. To get that, you must be called of God.
John 6:44-45 44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
Note: See how in verse 44 it states that these people are to be raised up at the last day. He is speaking of the firstfruits.
1Thessalonians 4:16-17 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Conclusion of this point: You can see that those rising up must have the Spirit of God. The great majority of people will not rise up to meet Him. They are saved for the second resurrection where they will be given their first chance. The phrases "second chance" and "another chance" do not appear in the King James Bible.
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Portland, Oregon Church - Affiliated with the Intercontinental Church of God and the Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association |