Hi Mike,

I have a question about one of your studies, here’s the link:

 

Here’s the part I wanted to ask you about. It’s about a quarter of the way down the page:

Being judged while in “a natural body” is much to be preferred to being judged in a “spiritual body” in the “resurrection of judgment” (John 5:28-29)

Why should a person desire to be judged in a weak, fleshly, corruptible vessel of clay as opposed to a body of spirit?

Thanks for your help with this, Mike, and I’ll look forward to hearing from you.

your brother,

C____

Hi C____,

You ask:

Why should a person desire to be judged in a weak, fleshly, corruptible vessel of clay as opposed to a body of spirit?”

I will just cut and paste what is in that study explaining the great advantage to being judged now in this life rather than being judged as a spirit in the lake of fire:

Eph 1:12  That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
Eph 1:13  In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Eph 1:14  Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Now I will include the verses in Peter which I quote immediately following the statement you quoted and which provoked your question. Here they both are beginning with the statement you quoted:

Being judged while in “a natural body” is much to be preferred to being judged in “a spiritual body” at “the resurrection of judgment” (Joh 5:28-29). The positive application of “the twelve tribes of Israel” is the judgment which begins at the house of God in this age.

1Pe 4:17  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
1Pe 4:18  And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

“The righteous” are those “who first trusted in Christ” of Eph 1:12-14. The “mark of the prize of the high calling” is “the… blessed and holy… first resurrection”. It is very immature to aspire to be in the “cursed… second death… lake of fire… white throne judgement”. Everyone in the second death/lake of fire/white throne judgment is “raised a spirit”, but all who are raised in that resurrection are raised to “the resurrection of judgment”. That is the answer to Peter’s question. After telling us that “judgment must begin at the house of God” he poses the question, “Where shall the ungodly and sinner appear”, and the answer is, “They will appear at the great white throne judgment/second death/ lake of fire, to have to endure in spirit the same “groaning and travailing in pain together” which they have already experienced in this life, but without the blessing of being judged in these corruptible clay vessels, as the Lord’s “first fruits” are “in this present time”.”

Look at how Paul shows us we are blessed if we are suffering and being judged “in this present time” in weak corruptible vessels of clay:

Rom 8:18  For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Rom 8:19  For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God [“The firstfruits unto God and the Lamb” – Rev 14:4].
Rom 8:20  For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
Rom 8:21  Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Rom 8:22  For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
Rom 8:23  And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
Rom 8:24  For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
Rom 8:25  But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
Rom 8:26  Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Rom 8:27  And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
Rom 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Rom 8:29  For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn [first resurrection] among many brethren [second death/lake of fire/great white throne judgment].

Who in their right mind wants to “groan and travail in pain… in this present time” just to have to do it all again in “the second death/lake of fire/great white throne… resurrection of judgment”.

Mat 25:41  Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand [“The resurrection of judgment” – Joh 5:28-29], Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting [eonian] fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

Read that study on Isa 32:1-8 again, and when you do, remember there are just two resurrections for mankind. The first is at the very beginning of the thousand-year reign of Christ and His Christ, and the only other resurrection is “when the thousand years are expired” (Rev 20:7).

Rev 20:7  And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
Rev 20:8  And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
Rev 20:9  And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
Rev 20:10  And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

Here is what Christ had to say of those two resurrections:

Joh 5:28  Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
Joh 5:29  And shall come forth; they that have done good [“the first resurrection, Rev 20 1-6], unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil [the resurrection which occurs only after the “short season” of rebellion which follows the thousand year reign of Christ and His elect who were all judged while in corruptible vessels of clay “in this present time”], unto the resurrection of damnation [judgment].

The scriptures reveal this about both of these two resurrections:

Dan 12:2  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.
Dan 12:3  And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever [“They that be wise…”].

Rev 20:1  And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
Rev 20:2  And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
Rev 20:3  And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
Rev 20:4  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.
Rev 20:5  But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
Rev 20:6  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

So there it is. Those who are judged at “this present time” are “blessed to have part in the first resurrection… and are not hurt of the second death/lake of fire”.

That is the whole point of the parable of the workers in the vineyard. The workers who were hired last and got paid first represent those who will be in the first resurrection.

Mat 20:1  For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.
Mat 20:2  And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
Mat 20:3  And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
Mat 20:4  And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.
Mat 20:5  Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.
Mat 20:6  And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?
Mat 20:7  They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.
Mat 20:8  So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.
Mat 20:9  And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.
Mat 20:10  But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.
Mat 20:11  And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house,
Mat 20:12  Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.
Mat 20:13  But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?
Mat 20:14  Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.
Mat 20:15  Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?
Mat 20:16  So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

“Few are chosen” only in “this present time”, and it is they who are “blessed and holy and are given part in the first resurrection” (Rev 20:1-6).

I hope this answers your question:

“Why should a person desire to be judged in a weak, fleshly, corruptible vessel of clay as opposed to a body of spirit?”

Your brother who is, Lord willing, being judged in “this present time” (Rom 8:18),

Mike