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| "... the hour is coming..." |
I just learned something weird... puzzling.
I inquired:
Q. What is the first death - death in Adam, or death at the end of one's life?
Meiko replied:
I think the answer is found in John 5:25 compared with 5:28.
Regeneration is here referred to as a resurrection from death in sin.
The second resurrection is that of the body in verse 28. Those who have part in this first resurrection are delivered from the second death. On the other hand, those who remain dead in sin, even though
their bodies will be raised, will ultimately suffer an eternal second death, much as the burning bush was being destroyed yet not consumed. II Thes. 1:8-9
I replied;
Thank you very much.
Here are the verses you mentioned.
25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
Both verse 25 and 28 are qualified "the hour is coming" - so I think it is a bit ARBITRARY to say that they refer to events separated by the "1000 years" between the two. How would you explain that?
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Comments:
Several others responded to my initial inquiry: all defending, and insisting that the phrase "the hour is coming" is BROAD enough to include the regeneration that has already been happening for several thousands of years, AS WELL AS the resurrection on the great day of judgment several thousands of years into the future.
After several rounds of ding-donging with several others on the possible meaning of the phrase "the hour is coming..." I wrote:
Dear brethren,
Here are some passages where the phrase 'the hour is..." occur.
Mt 26:45 Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
Mr 14:41 And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
Joh 4:21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
Joh 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
Joh 5:25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
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 12:23 And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.
Joh 16:32 Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
Joh 17:1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:
Re 14:7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
I believe the phrase uniformly indicate something imminent... something "which should shortly be", with no reference to the past, and no reference to something few thousands years in the distance future.
Thanks, I rest my case. As always, I gladly concede that these xBs may still be right on this point.
You and I are disagreed. Small matter since we are in agreement on many other points!
Love you! I always appreciate a good sounding board!
sing
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Conclusion: if the phrase "the hour is coming" indicates something imminent, then John 5:25.28 can't be speaking of regeneration (which has been happening since many thousand years ago) or the resurrection at the end of the world (still thousands of years into the future).
Jesus Christ was speaking of something imminent... even the first resurrection recorded in Mt 27:51-53. That's the first resurrection referred to in Rev 20:4-6.
What did they say about plain and obvious sense, and seek no other sense but the common sense??? Or you will end up with nonsense?
