[Revelation: The Comeback] VictoriousSample

Victory Over Death

The victory of the cross is victory over death. The apostle Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15:20 that God raised Christ from the dead. Christ was the first to resurrect, and therefore believers who die will also be resurrected. In Revelation 20:4–5, we read that John saw believers who had not received the mark of the beast come to life again and rule with Christ for 1,000 years. What a victory we find in this passage! Those believers who were decapitated will not only be raised from the dead but will judge and reign with Christ. This is a twofold victory, a vindication! God will vindicate those who die for His Son or suffer persecution for His name. He will not only give them eternal life but lift them up and seat them in a place of great honor. 

Christ is our hope of glory, that is, the glory of the resurrected life in the Kingdom of Heaven—a heaven full of glory, honor, truth, justice, righteousness, perfection, peace, love, and faith. The glory of the resurrected life is also expressed in Jude 1:24, where Jesus presents the believer faultless, before the presence of His glory, with a joy that exceeds human happiness. Christ is seen, in this verse, glorious and joyful for one reason: our righteousness. Hebrews 12:2 tells us that Jesus was able to withstand the suffering of the cross for the joy set before Him. But what joy was that? The joy of seeing those He purchased with His blood resurrected and perfected.  

The prophet Ezekiel describes an amazing vision in chapter 37. He saw a valley full of bones. God spoke to him and told him to prophesy life unto those bones. As he prophesied life, he saw those bones come together, flesh came up upon them, and skin covered them.  He prophesied again, and breath came to them, and they lived again. This is certainly a very vivid portrayal of the resurrection. 

1 Thessalonians 4:16 says that the Lord will come down from heaven. When He comes, it will be noisy. The world will hear a loud command, the voice of an archangel, and a trumpet. And then, there will be a resurrection:  the dead in Christ will rise. What can we say that hasn’t already been said in response to this astonishing news? God will give us the victory in Jesus. Thank the Lord!