And return to Jerusalem with great joy and we're continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen.
Heavenly Father, please bless the preaching this morning.
Please continue to bless our church and please fill the pastor with your Holy Spirit
that he preached a clear and bold message this morning. In Jesus' name we pray.
All right, we're in Luke 24. Look down at your Bibles at verse 24.
Luke chapter 24 and verse number 24, it says,
Insertion of men which were with us went to the sepulcher and found it even so as the woman had said, but him they saw not.
Then he said unto them, O fools and slow of heart to believe, all that the prophets have spoken, ought not Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into his glory.
And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them all the scripture, the things concerning himself.
And the title of the sermon this morning is the resurrection in the Old Testament.
The resurrection in the Old Testament. Of course, today is Easter Sunday.
In fact, every Sunday is Easter Sunday. Amen.
That's when we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
But today in particular, we take time in our country to celebrate and dedicate this day to think upon the resurrection of Jesus Christ and what it means to us as Christians.
And we see here that after Jesus Christ resurrected from the dead, he's on the road to Emmaus.
He's talking to two of the disciples. They could not recognize him.
And we see later on that he begins to abrade them.
He begins to chastise them with his words, speaking and saying that they are fools. Right.
And slow of heart to believe what the prophets have spoken.
And he says, Look, ought not Christ have suffered these things and to enter into his glory.
You see, two factors that we see there that he's referring to is his death,
but also enter into his glory is referring to the fact that he resurrected from the dead as well.
Now, does it say here that he began at John the Baptist, that he began at the Apostle Paul,
that he began at any New Testament pastor or New Testament prophet?
No. In fact, it says, beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them and all the scriptures,
the things concerning him self and more specifically,
referring to his sufferings and him entering into his glory, referring to his resurrection.
Now, before I get to that point in particular, let me just make some introductory statements here.
You know, the resurrection is a teaching that is a staple in our doctrine as Christians, right?
I mean, it's important to us. This is vital. It's important to us. It's not a secondary issue.
It's not something that we can just, well, we can agree to disagree.
No, the resurrection is part of eternal security. It's part of salvation.
You know, the mere fact that we are going to resurrect in the last days
is a fulfillment of the promise that we shall live forever.
Okay, so it's not that important. Well, the Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians chapter 15,
turn with me, if you would, to Matthew 28, if you would, Matthew 28.
I'm going to read from 1 Corinthians 15 verse 6 says,
For if the dead rise not, then it's not Christ's race.
And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain.
Ye are yet in your sins, then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perish.
If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable, the Bible says.
So this isn't some secondary issue that we shouldn't fight over.
No, the Bible tells us that if Christ be not risen, we're still in our sins.
If Christ be not risen, those who have believed on Christ, who have died in the Lord, they're perished.
The Bible says that our faith is in vain. We are of all men most miserable.
Why? Because of the fact that if Christ be not raised, then salvation is not eternal.
Salvation is not eternal. There is no security of the believer because our faith is vain.
Hey, let us drink, eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die.
We go into this abyss of darkness that has no life.
But the Bible tells us and it shows us over and over again that the resurrection is a biblical doctrine.
We are. It's a bodily resurrection at that.
OK, it's an important doctrine. It's a vital teaching of the Christian faith.
And in fact, when you think of foundational teachings in the Bible,
the Bible specifically highlights in Hebrews chapter number six, some specific teachings, foundational teachings.
It talks about the doctrine of baptisms, the laying on of hands and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment.
So out of all these teachings, the resurrection of the dead is is is portrayed as a foundational teaching for all Christians to learn and adhere to.
So it's no marvel if this is an important teaching and this is vital to our Christian faith,
then no marvel that there would be some that would seek to pervert that doctrine.
Right. No marvel that people would want to misconstrue its teaching, seek to subvert people from believing what the word of God says in regards to a bodily resurrection.
And this has been the agenda from the very beginning up until now.
You say you say, well, what do you mean by that?
Well, if you remember in the gospels, you had a sect referred to as the Sadducees, which the Bible says, say there is no resurrection.
I mean, these were a group of religious leaders who are denying the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
They were denying any resurrection. They don't believe that anybody would resurrect from the grave. They denied it.
And what did Jesus tell them? Ye do greatly err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.
You see, the power of God can be summarized into one phrase, you know, the resurrection, into one word, the resurrection, the power of God.
The apostle said this, that I may know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his suffering being made conformable unto his death.
It takes power, right, to resurrect a human who's been dead for thousands of years.
It takes power to to gather again all of the dust and the bones and create a brand new creation.
It takes power to do such a thing. That is the power of his resurrection.
Doesn't matter how long someone's been in the grave, how long someone has been dead for.
God's power is able to revive and resurrect that person once again and not just revive them, make them a complete new creation.
It is sown in corruption and is raised in incorruption. It is sown in weakness.
It is raised in power, the power of the resurrection. That's what that's referring to.
But you see, the Sadducees, they denied that. They didn't believe that.
They sought to attack the doctrine of the resurrection by saying there is no resurrection.
Look at Matthew 28, verse 11. You know, they weren't the only ones.
There was another sect in the gospels, a sect of religious leaders that sought to deny the resurrection of Jesus.
This is referring to the Pharisees, those who were spearheading the religion of the Jews known as Judaism. Right.
And people think, well, you know, if they were just to see him rise from the dead.
Look, they saw the empty grave and they sought to lie about it.
Look what the Bible says in verse 11 of Matthew 28.
Now, when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city and showed them to the chief priest all the things that were done.
And when they were assembled with the elders and had taken counsel, they gave large money into the soldiers.
So what's taking place here? The soldiers who were appointed to keep the watch over the grave of Jesus.
You know, they saw the angels come. They saw them roll the stone away.
They were a witness of this, that he resurrected from the grave and they came and they bore witness of this resurrection.
What do they do? Well, they gave large amounts of money to the soldiers to say, oh, man, thank you for giving me this information.
You deserve a prize. Now I'm going to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Is that what it was? No.
Verse 13, saying, say ye, his disciples came by night and stole him away while he slept.
While we slept. What in the world? So here's two witnesses that are confirming and validating what Jesus Christ was preaching while he was on this earth.
That he was going to resurrect from the grave. It happens and they're still not willing to believe it.
You know, they're like ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth,
even to the point where they're willing to bribe the soldiers into changing their story, the narrative, so that people would not believe on Jesus Christ.
He says there, and if this come to the governor's ears, verse 14, we will persuade him and secure you.
So they took the money and did as they were taught. And this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.
This agenda to change the narrative and say, well, Jesus didn't really resurrect it.
Actually, his disciples came by night and stole his body to make it look like he resurrected.
It was commonly reported among the Jews up until the day where this book was written. It's ridiculous.
But this is a group of people who hated the resurrection in such a way that they were seeking to just pervert it, deny it, pay someone off.
So they would deny it as well. Now, they're not the only ones.
The Bible tells us in 2nd Timothy 2.17, and their word will eat as doth a canker, of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus, who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already and overthrow the faith of some.
Now, they're not referring to the resurrection of Jesus. They're referring to resurrection of the believers, which is in tandem, right?
I mean, if Jesus Christ resurrects, that shows that he's the firstfruits, then we, you know, which are those who are dead in Christ shall rise first and we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with him in the clouds.
They were saying that that resurrection had passed already, perverting the doctrine of the resurrection there.
Now, this isn't something that wasn't, you know, was this problem that we see here, this false doctrine that the resurrection was not real, was not something was only prevalent in the Bible.
You know, even today, you have people who deny the resurrection of Jesus Christ and even a bodily resurrection of believers.
I mean, how about the Jehovah's Witnesses, right, which will say, well, Jesus didn't physically resurrect. It was his spirit that resurrected, you know, he did.
It wasn't his body that came out of the grave. You know, as Christians would like to think, you know, it was a spirit that came up that revived.
That's what the Bible is referring to. Wrong. Wrong. It was a bodily resurrection.
In fact, when Jesus Christ resurrected, he specifically said this for the Jehovah's Witnesses, by the way.
Behold my hands and my feet that it is I myself handle me and see for a spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see me half.
I mean, case closed, nailing of confidence.
You know, any person who denies that Jesus Christ bodily resurrected would have to deny Luke 24 39 when they specifically say he said, handle me.
You know, you're not going to try to reach into me and just go right through me. I'm not a spirit.
OK, this is flesh. This is bone. I have physically come out of the grave. This is what he's stating here.
The Bible says in First John one one, that which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and our hands have handled of the word of life.
So needless to say, this is an important doctrine that we as Christians need to have an understanding of, which is the resurrection.
Now, when talking about the resurrection of Jesus Christ, you know, people have a mystery.
Jesus, the doctrine of the resurrection is only a New Testament teaching.
You know, they say, well, that's something that was introduced in the New Testament, you know, and the culprits of such a statement, the culprits of such a teaching would be the hyper dispensationalist.
OK, because they'll say, well, the disciples didn't even believe in the resurrection.
How many have heard people say stuff like that? They'll say the disciples didn't even understand it.
They didn't believe it, you know, and they'll say this because they believe in different gospels.
They believe people were saved differently throughout the ages, these dispensations. We don't believe that we reject that.
And they'll say, well, you know, here's the proof that there are different gospels, because in Romans 10, verse nine says this, that if thou should confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in thine heart that God has raised them from the dead, thou shalt be safe.
Hey, the disciples in the gospels understood not they didn't believe on those things.
Why? Because salvation was different for them in the gospels.
You know, now in the dispensation of grace, we have to believe on Jesus.
We have to believe that he resurrected from the grave. Folks, this is stupid.
This is nonsense. This is a perversion of scripture.
Now go with if you were to Matthew 16, let's look at some of those passages of scriptures that they like to go to to try to claim that the disciples did not believe in the resurrection.
And I'm going to show you this morning how food nonsensical such a statement is.
OK, all you got to do is use common sense.
OK, look at Matthew 16, verse 21, it says from that time forth began Jesus to show unto his disciples how that he must go into Jerusalem and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes and be killed and be raised again the third day.
Then Peter took him and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from the Lord, this shall not be unto thee.
There you go. See, he didn't believe that Jesus Christ was going to resurrect. He was denying it.
Go to Mark Chapter nine.
So they'll use Matthew 16.
You know, Jesus says he's going to go to Jerusalem, suffer many things of the elders.
He's going to be killed and be raised again the third day.
Look at Mark Chapter nine, verse 30.
It says, And they departed thence and passed through Galilee, and he would not that any man should know it.
For he taught his disciples and said unto them, The son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him.
And after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day.
But they understood not that saying and were afraid to ask him.
So they use this and say, see, they didn't believe it.
They didn't believe in the resurrection. They didn't believe in the resurrection.
This is what they parrot constantly.
Go to Luke 18.
We're just going to look at all the passages that they use here in all the gospels.
Matthew, Mark, Luke, go to Luke 18 and verse 31.
It says, Then he took unto him the 12 in verse 31 and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem and all things that are written by the prophets, by the way, concerning the son of man shall be accomplished.
For he shall be delivered unto the gentiles and shall be mocked and spitefully and treated and spit it upon, and they shall scourge him and put him to death.
And the third day he shall rise again.
And they understood none of these things.
And this saying was hid from them.
Neither knew they the things which were spoken.
Oh, man, this is just what are we going to do?
They have so much proof that they didn't believe in the resurrection.
Let's go to one more scripture.
Go to John Chapter two.
By the way, I want you to notice in chapter 18 what we just read.
He says that all things which are written by the prophets concerning the son of man shall be accomplished.
And then he talks about what was written of the prophets, right?
That he was delivered, mocked, spitefully and treated, scourge and put to death and rose again the third day, by the way.
OK, look at John Chapter two, verse 19.
Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.
Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple and building and wilt thou rear it up in three days?
But he spake of the temple of his body when therefore he was risen from the dead.
His disciples remember that he said this unto them and they believe the scripture and the word which Jesus had said.
So this is their proof text.
And this is what they use.
These are the scriptures that they use to pervert the truth to say, well, the disciples weren't even saved during this time.
They didn't get saved until after he resurrected.
And they'll criticize independent fundamental Baptists for saying, well, you know, people in the Old Testament look forward to the cross to be saved.
We look back to the cross and say, oh, that's that's heresy.
How are you going to say they look forward to the cross?
They didn't even know.
They didn't even believe that he was going to resurrect.
They didn't even know about the resurrection.
But is this really what they didn't understand?
I mean, aren't they just putting words?
Aren't they just adding to what the Bible says here?
You know, what is it that they didn't understand?
Well, here's the thing.
It's funny how they use like people like Andrew Sluder will use Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
The scriptures that we just read to say they didn't believe in the resurrection, but they didn't say that they didn't believe in the fact that he was going to suffer.
Because in those same scriptures say that he was going to suffer, be spitefully and treated and be killed.
So are you going to sit there and tell me that the disciples did not know that Jesus was going to suffer and die?
Hello.
The Old Testament clearly shows throughout it that Jesus Christ was going to suffer and die and be spitefully and treated.
Yet when you talk to these people, well, you know, you got to go to Mark 9, Matthew 28.
And they didn't even understand the resurrection.
Oh, really?
So by that account, you're also saying that they didn't understand that he was going to die, too.
But, folks, to say that would be to be biblically ignorant because it's clearly laid out in the Old Testament that he was going to die.
Okay, what was it that they didn't understand?
They didn't understand the timing of the death and the resurrection.
That's what they didn't understand.
It wasn't that they didn't believe in the resurrection, because let me just say this.
Everyone who's been saved in the Old Testament, they all believed that Jesus Christ was going to resurrect from the grave.
Every single person who got saved in the Old Testament believed in the resurrection.
The disciples had this preconceived idea that Jesus was going to set up his physical kingdom.
That's what they didn't understand.
So they thought his first coming, he was going to establish his kingdom.
And they didn't understand how his death and his resurrection would fit into the timeline of that.
This is why after he resurrected, they were still asking him.
So when are you going to set up your kingdom?
He's just like, it's not for you to know the time.
You understand?
So what they didn't understand was the timing of everything.
It wasn't that they didn't believe that he died and was going to resurrect.
That's heresy for you to say something like that.
Okay, go to 1 Peter chapter 1.
1 Peter chapter 1.
Let me prove this to you.
And, you know, Andrew Sluder, he quoted this scripture that we're about to read right now.
And he said they couldn't even distinguish it.
The Bible says they couldn't even distinguish, you know, the sufferings, the beforehand,
the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should fall.
The Bible says that they couldn't distinguish.
Basically saying they couldn't understand it.
Is that really what the Bible says?
Look what it says in verse 10.
Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently,
who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you, searching what?
Or look what it says.
Or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ, which was in them, did signify,
when it testified beforehand, the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow.
Oh, I'm sorry.
Where's distinguish?
Oh, maybe that's in the Greek.
Does it say that they couldn't distinguish the resurrection?
No, no, no.
It says they didn't know they were searching what manner of time, right?
Testifying beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glory referring to the resurrection that should follow.
So what they were searching, what they didn't really know is the timing of everything, okay?
Not that they didn't believe in the resurrection.
And let me just reiterate that every single saved person, Old Testament, New Testament,
they all believed in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
You say, well, how do you know that?
Because of the fact that every Old Testament prophet who talked about them resurrecting
have to believe that Jesus Christ resurrected too.
Why?
Because the Bible says in 1 Corinthians 15, verse 13,
but if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen?
Did you hear me?
So if there be no resurrection of the dead, then Jesus Christ is not risen.
So you're trying to tell me that when Joe talked about his resurrection,
when Daniel talked about his resurrection,
they're like, well, yeah, we'll resurrect, but Jesus won't.
So they believe in their own resurrection,
but when it came to the Messiah coming,
he was just gonna die and just, you know, just gonna die.
He's not gonna live forever.
He's not gonna come back from the grave.
This is a ridiculous statement.
And look, this is why I said all you have to do is just common sense.
Look, folks, if someone believed in their own resurrection in the Old Testament,
that means they also believe that the one who's resurrecting them has to be alive too.
Common sense, folks.
If there be no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen.
Now, look, the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed.
The Old Testament is the New Testament concealed.
What that means is that progressively more information was given
as you entered into the New Testament.
The shadows, the light was shed on the shadows that were foreshadowed.
The shadows were foreshadowing the things to come.
But here's the thing.
The actual fulfillment of those shadows has never changed.
God is still God.
Jesus is still Jesus.
He's the eternal son of God.
Salvation has always been the same.
It's always been by faith alone.
Nothing has ever changed as far as salvation is concerned.
You know, the essence of God is concerned.
Jesus Christ is concerned.
Nothing has changed.
The only difference is this.
In the Old Testament, they believed on the Lord.
And in the New Testament, they believed on the Lord Jesus Christ.
But guess what?
Jesus, as He stated in the gospels, He is the I Am.
So, go to Hebrews chapter 11, if you would.
You know, David, Daniel, all of the kings that were saved,
all believed in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
It's ridiculous to say that they didn't
because they talked about their own resurrection.
Well, who are they being resurrected by?
Their own power?
They're being resurrected by the resurrected God.
Look at Hebrews 11, verse 34.
This is referring to Old Testament saints, by the way.
It says they quenched the violence of fire,
escaped the edge of the sword,
out of weakness remained strong, waxed, valiant,
and turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
Women received their dead race to life again.
And others were tortured, not accepting deliverance,
that they could obtain a better resurrection.
What do we see here?
We see Old Testament people recognizing the resurrection.
And in fact, they knew so much about the resurrection,
they knew that they could obtain a better one.
So, it wasn't that they had some shallow understanding
of the resurrection,
they knew that they can have a better resurrection, okay?
Go to John chapter 11, John chapter 11.
Yeah, the disciples though, they didn't know, okay?
The apostles didn't know,
they didn't believe in the resurrection.
Yes, they did.
In fact, let me give you an example
of a disciple of Jesus,
not one of the 12, not an apostle,
but just a regular disciple
who believed in the resurrection.
Look what it says in verse 23 of John 11.
Jesus saith unto her,
thy brother shall rise again.
Martha saith unto him,
I know that he shall rise again
in the resurrection at the last day.
Well, hold on a second.
Well, Jesus, why didn't you tell me?
Whoa, whoa, how'd you know that?
Hey, hey, hey, you need to keep that on the low.
People aren't supposed to know about these things.
Why isn't it hid from you?
Jesus said unto her,
I am the resurrection and the life.
He that believeth in me,
though he were dead,
yet shall he live,
and whosoever liveth and believeth in me
shall never die, believeth thou this.
So, Martha knew about the resurrection.
And by the way, this is still Old Testament.
The Book of John, all the gospels, Old Testament,
because anything prior to Christ dying on the cross
is Old Testament.
Now, obviously, we place, you know,
the books are placed in the New Testament
in our actual Bibles, okay, beginning with Matthew.
But when you actually look at what is considered
Old Testament, New Testament,
the New Testament does not begin
until Christ is crucified on the cross.
So, Martha, what are you doing?
You're messing up the dispensational chart here.
By believing in the resurrection of the last days.
No, folks, it's because everyone who say
believed in the resurrection.
And in fact, according to this,
Martha's brother knew about the resurrection
because he was gonna rise again in the last days,
insinuating the fact that he was saved, right?
So, keep in mind that the Apostle Paul said
that Jesus Christ arose from the dead
according to the scriptures.
Go to 1 Corinthians 15.
Let's just look at that real quick.
We're gonna jump around here to different scriptures.
Look what it says in 1 Corinthians 15 and verse 3.
Then we're gonna hop to Hebrews chapter 11.
1 Corinthians 15, 3 says,
For I delivered unto you first of all
that which I also received,
how that Christ died for our sins
according to the scriptures.
Hey, no one's gonna argue that.
We know that.
I mean, the Bible clearly lays that out there
and no dispensationalist could ever deny that either.
He died for our sins according to the scriptures
and then he was buried and then he rose again
the third day according to the scriptures.
So, answer that, Mr. Dispensationalist.
How do you refute that?
Was the Apostle Paul wrong?
Are you gonna go to him and say,
hey, you got a little mixed up there, buddy.
You said that he rose again the third day
according to the scriptures.
That's not in the scriptures.
No, you dispensational Sadducee.
You do greatly err not knowing the scriptures
nor the power of God.
So, he's referring to, by the way,
there's no specific scripture in the Old Testament
that uses the word that Jesus Christ
is gonna resurrect the third day,
but does it need to?
I mean, have you ever heard of something called synonyms?
Have you ever heard of symbology and analogies?
You know, again, the Old Testament
is the New Testament concealed.
So, obviously, there's parables,
there's phrases that are things that are being stated
that are a bit obscure,
but once you see it in the New Testament,
the Old Testament makes perfect sense.
Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God
who should take away the sins of the world,
the Bible says, right?
Referring to the fact that they would do sacrifices
in the Old Testament not to be saved
because it is impossible that the blood of bulls
and goats should take away sins.
That is foreshadowing the sacrifice
that Jesus Christ was going to make
that he did make, okay?
What he's referencing is the conglomerate of scriptures
in the Old Testament alluding to his sufferings,
his death, and his resurrection,
his coming back from the dead.
Now, go to Hebrews chapter 11, if you would.
Go to Hebrews chapter 11.
Let me read to you from Isaiah 26 verse 19,
it says, thy dead men shall live,
together with my dead body shall they arise.
Awake and sing ye that dwell in the dust,
for they do is as the dew of herbs
and the earth shall cast out the dead.
Let me read to you from Genesis 22 verse seven.
This is referring to one of those beautiful pictures
in the Old Testament of Jesus Christ,
of his crucifixion, of his sacrifice, okay?
It's referring to Abraham giving up his son, right?
Abraham symbolically represents God the father,
his son symbolically represents Jesus Christ.
And the Bible says in verse number seven,
and Isaac spake unto Abraham his father,
and said, my father, and he said, here am I, my son.
And he said, behold, the fire in the wood,
but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?
And Abraham said, my son,
God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering.
So they went both of them together.
We see later on, they find a ram caught in the thicket,
and that's what they use to sacrifice.
But the phrase there,
God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering,
is the foreshadowing of the sacrifice
that Jesus Christ was going to make.
No one would deny that this was referring to his suffering.
Now let me show you something
that's not written in the Old Testament,
but was in the mind of Abraham himself.
Because Genesis 22 speaks to the sufferings of Christ,
but look what it says in Hebrews 11, verse 19.
By faith, Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac,
and he that had received the promises
offered up his only begotten son,
of whom it was said, and Isaac, shall thy seed be called.
Look what it says now, a casting,
that God was able to raise him up,
even from the dead, from whence also he received him,
in a figure.
Oh, Abraham, what are you doing, man?
It's not supposed to be revealed unto you.
What are you doing believing in the resurrection?
You're only supposed to believe,
you're supposed to believe that the sacrifices save you, buddy.
You're out of line, Abraham.
No, here it tells us that he already knew
that God was going to raise him up.
He had accounted that God was able to raise him up.
So what do we see in the Old Testament?
The sufferings of Christ
are symbolically represented through Isaac,
but in the mind of Abraham, right,
we see in the New Testament what's revealed to us,
that he accounted that he was able to raise him up as well.
So we see there someone in the Old Testament
believing in the sufferings,
but also believing in his resurrection.
Go with me, if you would, to Psalm 16, if you would,
Psalm 16, Job chapter 19, verse 25 says,
For I know that my Redeemer liveth,
and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth,
and though after my skin worms destroy this body,
yet in my flesh shall I see God,
whom I shall see for myself,
and mine eyes shall behold, and not another,
though my reigns be consumed within me.
The mere fact that he believes that he's going to resurrect
is proof that he believes that his God,
the Messiah who's going to come,
is going to resurrect as well, okay.
The Bible says in Psalm 22, you're in Psalm 16,
For dogs have compassed me,
the assembly of the wicked have enclosed me,
they pierced my hands and my feet.
This is obviously referring to the crucifixion.
And here's what these dispensationalists will say,
well, the crucifixion wasn't even invented, you know.
The crucifixion wasn't even invented then.
How could they know of the cross?
How can they even have any idea
that he was going to be crucified on the cross?
Folks, the crucifix wasn't invented,
but death was already there.
You know, death was already present during this time.
And you know what?
The fact that Jesus Christ died.
Yeah, but you say, you know,
if you look forward to the cross,
we're referring to looking forward to his death,
his sacrifice, okay.
And look, folks, even in the Old Testament,
you're supposed to see the hangeth on the tree,
the Bible says.
And guess what a cross is made of?
A tree.
Yeah, but you got to believe in the actual cross, man.
No, it's the death.
You got to believe in the wood.
Does it have to be a specific type of wood too?
Yeah, red oak.
Crimson oak.
Look at Psalm 16 verse nine.
Therefore, my heart is glad and my glory rejoiceth.
My flesh also shall rest in hope.
By the way, you say, well, yeah,
but they believed in their own resurrection,
but still wasn't clear.
They didn't know that Jesus was going to resurrect.
Well, apparently David did.
For thou would not leave my soul in hell,
neither would thou suffer thine holy one
to see corruption.
Huh?
Yeah, but that's, no,
you're just taking that out of context.
Okay, well, that's why it's always good
to go to the New Testament,
which is revealing what the Old Testament was concealing.
Because what does the Bible say in Acts chapter two?
He, referring to David, seeing this,
spake of the resurrection of Christ,
that his soul was not left in hell,
neither his flesh did see corruption.
Here you go, folks.
So when he, notice that the things that they say
in the Old Testament,
that which is penned down in the Old Testament
is later clarified,
I mean, their thoughts are clarified
later on in the New Testament.
Because he said this,
and he spake this about the resurrection of Christ.
Well, they didn't know who Christ was.
They spake of the resurrection of Christ.
Moses knew who Christ was.
It talked about that he esteemed
the reproach of Christ's greater riches.
How can you not know who Jesus is
if the Bible's specific?
Are you saying that the Bible's lying?
So when he spake of the fact that
his soul was not left in hell,
neither did his flesh see corruption,
he's referring to the fact that
Jesus Christ will resurrect from the grave.
It looks to me
that the people in the Old Testament
knew all about the resurrection of Jesus.
Okay.
Go with me if you would to,
let's see here.
Go to Jonah chapter one.
Let me read to you from Psalm 17 verse 15.
It says,
As for me,
I will behold thy face in righteousness.
I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness.
Psalm 49, 15 says,
But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave,
for he shall receive me, Selah.
Daniel chapter 12, verse two,
And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth
shall awake,
some to everlasting life,
and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
And they that be wise,
shall shine as the brightness of the firmament,
and they that turn many to righteousness
as the stars forever and ever.
The Bible says in Isaiah 53 verse 10,
Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him.
He hath put him to grief.
When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin,
he shall see his seed.
He shall prolong his days,
and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.
Now look at Jonah chapter one,
and look at verse 17.
Now, you say, okay, fine, fine, fine, fine, fine.
They understood somewhat about the resurrection.
Now, I submit to you today
that they not only knew about the resurrection,
they knew how long he was gonna be dead for.
Three days.
They weren't confused about the timing of his death
as far as how long he was gonna be dead.
They were confused about the timing
of how his death, his resurrection,
tied in to his earthly kingdom.
But even to the very day, they had it down.
Look at verse 17.
Now the Lord had prepared a great fish
to swallow up Jonah,
and Jonah was in the belly of the fish
three days and three nights.
Go to chapter two and verse number one.
Three days and three nights, folks.
Verse one says,
Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God
out of the fish's belly,
and said, I cried by reason of my affliction unto the Lord,
and he heard me out of the belly of hell.
And thou hurtest my voice.
So is Jonah literally in hell?
No.
He is prophesying
that Jesus Christ was gonna be in hell, right?
Verse three.
He's a picture of Jesus Christ being in hell.
For thou hast cast me into the deep,
and in the midst of the seas,
and the floods compassed me about,
all thy billows and thy waves passed over me.
Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight,
yet I will look again toward thy holy temple.
The waters compassed me about even to the soul.
The depth closed me round about.
The weeds were wrapped about my head.
I went down to the bottoms of the mountains.
The earth with their bars was about me forever,
yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption,
O Lord my God.
When my soul fainted within me,
I remembered the Lord,
and my prayer came into thy holy temple.
They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy,
but I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving.
I will pay that that I have vowed.
Salvation is of the Lord.
And the Lord spake unto the fish,
and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.
Now go to Matthew chapter 12.
This will be the last scripture we go to.
Matthew chapter 12.
This is significant.
And in fact, this is one of the most clearest scriptures
that not only speak of the fact that Jesus Christ went to hell,
but that he resurrected as well.
Works in tandem with Psalm 16,
works in tandem with Acts chapter number two,
is as clear as day.
And look folks, if there's people out there
who just don't believe that,
then you just completely have to disregard
what we're about to read right now.
Look at Matthew 12, verse 38.
Then certain of the scribes
and of the Pharisees answered, saying,
Master, we would see a sign from thee.
But he answered and said unto them,
An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign,
and there shall no sign be given to it,
but the sign of the prophet Jonas.
For as Jonas was three days and three nights
in the well's belly,
so shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights
in the heart of the earth.
So not only is he speaking of the fact
that he's gonna be in the center of the earth
referred to as hell,
not only is it speaking to the fact
that he's gonna come up,
he's gonna resurrect.
Because this is what David said in Psalm 16
and also reiterated in Acts chapter two,
speaking of the resurrection.
But he's also even validating the fact
that it's gonna be for three days.
I mean, Jesus knew how long he was gonna be there
for three days and three nights.
You think that was by accident in the book of Jonah?
That he was there for three days and three nights?
Folks, nothing in the Bible is accidental or coincidental.
That was purposely put there
because it was gonna represent the fact
that Jesus Christ, after three days,
was going to resurrect.
So I don't think you can look at all these scriptures
that we looked at this morning
and walk away thinking,
no, the disciples didn't even know about the resurrection.
Those poor guys.
They were with Jesus for just three years,
you know, just with them day and night,
24-7, doing all types of ministry.
They're preaching the gospel.
Those guys aren't even saved.
They're not even saved
and they're preaching the gospel
and they're preaching the gospel.
They're casting out devils.
It wasn't until after the resurrection
that they got saved.
Bologna.
Bologna sandwich.
Look, these modern day Sadducees need to wake up
and rightly divide the word of truth.
Rightly divide the word of truth
and see that the resurrection,
of course, it's more clearly represented
and understood in the New Testament,
but it is for sure foreshadowed in the Old Testament.
Okay.
And look folks,
the reason we even know what they symbolically represent
is because the Old Testament prophets
signified of these things.
They pen these things down
and they knew that the fact that they were going to resurrect
and the implication there is that their God
who's resurrecting them when he dies
was also going to resurrect as well.
It'd be foolish to say,
well, they knew about the resurrection,
but they didn't know that Jesus Christ
was going to resurrect.
What in the world?
So what do you think that they believe?
You think that when the Messiah died,
that he was just going to die and just stay dead?
I mean, this is nonsense folks.
No, the Bible talks clearly about the resurrection
and look, just because an Old Testament book
doesn't use the same term as the New Testament does,
does not mean they're not...
It's called the...
You need to broaden your biblical vocabulary a little more,
you know, and understand,
if you don't think that certain things
are not being differently or have synonyms to them,
you're going to have a hard time
understanding the word of God.
Because God broadens our understanding of topics
and subjects in the Bible
by giving us different words
and then describing them in the Bible.
Okay.
So what's the message for this morning?
What is this, man?
So what's the message for this morning?
What is this, man?
Thank God.
And look, when we talk about the resurrection,
we're not just talking about the resurrection of Christ.
We're talking about our resurrection as well.
They're both God.
I mean, the mere fact that we are resurrected
is proof that Jesus Christ resurrected.
Because Christ is the first fruit.
Then we, which are his at his coming,
in Canada, the reason we're in the resurrection
in the last days,
we shall be in the likeness of his resurrection.
The Bible says,
Happy Easter, President of the Word of Prayer.
Father, we thank you so much for your word.
And Lord, thank you for the prophets of old,
that though they had minimal information,
the basics, they knew the basics.
They knew eternal judgment.
They knew about heaven.
They knew about hell.
They understood about the resurrection.
They understood about the millennial reign.
The things that they did not understand
was when would these things take...
That's okay.
Because as long as we know the foundational things,
we know that things will be revealed to us incrementally,
even in the New Testament.
But more so for them.
Now we have the complete word of God,
and those who transitioned from Old Testament
to New Testament gain more understanding.
It was more clearly clarified to them.
And so, Lord, I pray, God,
that you'd help us to continue to appreciate
the resurrection of Jesus Christ
because that right there,
the salvation of the world.