The believer has overcome the world of demons and nowhere in scripture does it say that one of God's own can be demon possessed
So, first of all, thank you for making that point, it is of primary importance, and I was glad that someone eventually noted that. It may not be as apparent to some people, especially in distress, so it must be emphasized.
John 3:13 And
no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
Yes, to which I will add;
1Co 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.
Physical man does not ascend or descend in the juxtaposed kingdom of heaven. The soul, then soul/spirit body does.
1Co 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
So, physical man does not inherit incorruption in the sense of becoming physically immortal. But, one does put on incorruption. That is the present-tense concurrent resurrection of the spirit body within, and around, the physical body.
The translation of Enoch and Elijah is a higher process than the concurrent resurrection. It is called spontaneous somatic combustion by the world. Though it appeared to Elisha that Elijah had ascended, it was not Elijah's physical body which moved up, it was his spirit body, which had previously been resurrected within him.
Jesus, was the Word made flesh, and so His flesh was not corruption, which is why He ascended both physically and spiritually.
John 5:28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which
all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
John 5:29 And shall come forth;
they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
We must complete this passage by including a preceding verse;
Joh 5:24 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.
So, when Jesus said
all, He was talking about believers, and we all start out as being dead, and in the graves, regarding our spirit bodies. So, if one attains to the concurrent resurrection of the spirit body, then one may abide, or one may begin to fail again. Physical failure means spiritual descent, and if one descends far enough then one becomes subject to the death of the spirit body again, and if further, then to the second death in the Lake of Fire, which is perdition, which is ages of ages of torment unto the final death of the soul.
Heb 6:6 if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.
Heb 6:7 For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God;
Heb 6:8 but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned.
Therefore, in retrospect, one who fails has undergone the resurrection of (unto) condemnation. There is no resurrection of the unjust, in the sense of the Godless. The resurrection of the just and the unjust is in regards to the two methods of salvation, by Law or by Grace. For Christians it is salvation by grace, and so we are the unjust, in ourselves, though we receive the forensic justification of the vicarious atonement. As we are the unjust, the following concurrent resurrection was referred to by Paul, in Luke's account in Acts, as the resurrection of the unjust. As with the resurrection of condemnation, the resurrection of the unjust is not in reference to the Godless. The Godless are not resurrected.
Pro 11:7 When a wicked man dies, his expectation will perish, And the hope of the unjust perishes.
The first part of this remains true, though the second part may now come under the blood of the Lamb.
In response to your final quotations concerning the resurrection at the last day, the question is, what are the days of the Lord? What does the term, heavenly day mean? Why the supplication;
Psa 90:12 So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom.
from the Psalmist, who was lettered and learned already? Yes, this also may become known.
@Terraphim where do you get your theology that resurrections have continued throughout history as it is not found in scripture.
Rather, it is not apparent to you that it is in scripture. Do not be surprised that there is confusion;
Mar 9:9 Now as they came down from the mountain, He commanded them that they should tell no one the things they had seen, till the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
Mar 9:10 So they kept this word to themselves, questioning what the rising from the dead meant.
This is in regards to the special resurrection, but it also shows that the general resurrection was not well understood, either. It's evident that the term was used in several different ways, for several different things. I am focusing on the general resurrection, which I maintain to be concurrent, and in regards to the rebuilding of the spirit body, without which the soul is mortal.
This is probably the place in scripture where the concurrent resurrection is most obviously described.
1Co 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
So, physical man does not inherit incorruption in the sense of becoming physically immortal. But, one does put on incorruption. That is the present-tense concurrent resurrection of the spirit body within, and around, the physical body.
For a more complete exegesis, please refer back to the dropbox file.
Thank you again for your contribution to this discussion. I don't know if I can contribute much more at present. I have given a fairly thorough presentation of the topic, for now. Please feel free to review, as I am beginning to belabor the repetition. Be well.
