RAISING THE DEAD - IITB 03.14

 

Chapter 3.14

Raising the Dead

Why is it though incredible by any of you 

that God raises people from the dead? [1]

What is the Purpose of Resurrections?

Are Resurrections Possible Today?

Muslim Visions; Marian Apparitions

 

 

Raising the Dead Today

     Jesus raised the dead and said that he did the Works that the Father gave Him to do and He commissioned His disciples to do the same thing and said that they would do even GREATER works than He did.  Greater works; meaning MORE works since the ministry of Jesus was very short, only three years and most of us have many, many more years than that.

     God does not change, and Jesus does not change, and The Holy Spirit does not change, so YES; someone can be raised from the dead today.[2]  The Question that remains is, does it happen?

     The Good Book says; Go and Raise the Dead without payment; ⁷ and proclaim as you GO, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ ⁸ Heal the sick, RAISE THE DEAD, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received WITHOUT PAYING; give without pay.  Matthew 10:7-8 (ESV)

 

Visions of the Dead

     The Catholics are having Marian Apparition’s; the appearance of the Blessed Virgin Mary, but what they see does not remain and walk around among us, they are not flesh and blood. There is NO SCRIPTURAL EXAMPLE found in the Bible for us to follow concerning visions of someone communicating with us from the grave.

     The Muslims are having dreams and visions of Jesus appearing to them and they are worshiping Jesus who they call ISA.  Joy, love and peace immediately floods over them and they accept Christianity; but the Qur’an says ISA will judge Jews and Christians by the Qur’an, not by the Bible.

     Except for Paul (Saul) on the road to Damascus, there is no Biblical record of Jesus appearing to anyone after His ascension to Heaven… Paul only saw a light and only heard a voice; he did not see Jesus on earth; later however, he did see Jesus in a vision in heaven.

 

Word of Faith Movement Reports

     Benny Hinn television Evangelist prophesized that TBN, Trinity Broadcasting Network, is going to have people from around the world watching TBN that were raised from the dead.

     Sid Roth television host on “It’s Supernatural” had a guest on his program who had prayed for 8 people in his family that had died from poison and they all came back to life. No video

     Reinhard Bonnke on CBN, Christian Broadcasting Network, testified of the resurrection of a dead man in Nigeria where rigormortis had already set in and he had been embalmed with chemicals and was brought to where Reinhard was preaching and suddenly the man began to breath. No video

     Tyler Johnson and his DEAD RAISING TEAM made a documentary film of a “gang of Christians” who say they can raise people from the dead. No video of the dead raising.

     Melissa Fisher at Christian XP Media has a MORTUARY MINISTRY to raise the dead.  They have visited a number of Mortuaries attempting to raise the dead, but have not had any success so far, but feel like they are massaging the outreach for “raising the dead” and believe it will happen soon.

     In England Robby Dawkins pastor of Vineyard Church, in an interview with Charisma news published on 5/26/15 claimed that he raised a church member from the dead.  A doctor who was present verified Matt Catlow who was lying on their church floor was dead.

     In Mexico, David Hogan says he raised a little boy from the dead, in a back woods cabin who had been dead for four and a half hours.  He says that he has personally been present when 21 other people were raised from the dead.

     In Africa CBN, Christian Broadcasting Network reported a boy dead for 24 hours was raised from the dead and because of that, many accepted Christianity.

     In Nigeria a video surfaced on YouTube about a man dead on the street was raised from the dead and tells his story.

     I had a “deeply committed” Christian Friend whose wife had died; he prayed over her for three days to be “raised from the dead” and when it didn’t happen he was devastated.  So Far I have not seen any video nor read any personal testimonies of people being raised from the dead.  There seems to be an absence of medical records and most of the time there is an absence of names. 

     Because of the way my BS is wired, I WANT TO BELIEVE that God uses Believers to raise the dead today; but I am very doubtful.  Why doesn’t it happen in Irmo, South Carolina?

 

Purpose for Raising the Dead

     There were many sick and demon possessed people that Jesus and the disciples healed during His ministry.  While in the beginning of the ministry COMPASSION seemed to be the reason for the healings and resurrections, it also pointed to something else.  When a person raises someone from the dead, it AUTHENTICATES that he is “a man of God”.

     Jesus said the sign of His Divinity was the sign of Jonah who was in the belly of a great fish for three days and three nights.  I personally believe Jonah died in that great fish and was “Raised from the Dead” and I believe what Jesus said about His death and resurrection confirms this.[3]

     The Bible contains everything we need to know to BE CONVINCED of the Gospel.  Jesus said, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed and went on to say; blessed are those who have NOT SEEN and yet have believed”.[4]

     Bringing back someone from the dead in order to give THEIR TESTIMONY will have no effect. Jesus said, “If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be CONVINCED if someone should rise from the dead.” [5]    It’s in the Book.

 

Communicating with the dead

     Necromancy is a form of magic involving communication with THE DEAD either by summoning their spirit as an apparition or raising them bodily for the purpose of divination; imparting the means to foretell future events or to discover hidden knowledge.  Voodoo and Witchcraft practitioners also claim they can raise the dead and communicate.

     Since we are told to NOT communicate with the dead, then obviously we can do so.[6] 

The problem that arises is; what are you communicating with.[7]  

Jesus Christ IS THE ONLY ONE who has the authority to communicate with the dead.[8]

Witchcraft – The Witch of Endor

     You have to ask the question, are there any occurrences in scripture of people being raised from the dead to communicate with the living.  The answer is NO, there is ONLY one instance when THE WITCH OF ENDOR brought up “SOMETHING” for King Saul who thought it was Samuel.[9]

     Here is where you must accept that THE BIBLE IS THE INSPIRED WORD OF GOD, without error, and that all scripture being inspired of God carries the same weight regardless of how FEW TIMES a subject is mentioned.  This is only mentioned ONCE and Saul DID NOT actually see this apparition.  So what did Saul see, or did he actually see anything?[10]

     Nothing in scripture indicates that Satan has the power to resurrect someone from the dead.  HE CANNOT GIVE LIFE, but he CAN GIVE THE ILLUSION, he can utilize his minion demons and fallen angels who are immortal to trick you.[11]

1 Samuel 28:12-14 - Scared the Tater Tots out of the witch
¹² THE WOMAN SAW Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice and spoke to Saul, "Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul!"
¹³ The king said, "Do not be afraid. WHAT DID YOU SEE?" And the woman said to Saul, "I saw a spirit ascending out of the earth."
¹⁴ So he said to her, "WHAT IS HIS FORM?" And she said,

"An OLD MAN is coming up, and he is covered with a MANTLE."

And Saul PERCEIVED that it was Samuel, …

 

The Dead Raised

     There are some TEN recorded instances of people being raised from the dead included in the Old and New Testament.  People being raised from the dead BEAR WITNESS of God’s authority over everything, including death.

     Clearly God does this and it is not for just a few minutes in order to communicate information from the other side. They were raised to life and given back to their families to walk among them.    

There is NO RECORD that indicates that they had information to share about the afterlife.

 

1)            Elijah     raised the widow’s son from the dead.[12]

2)           Elisha    raised the Shulamite’s son from the dead.[13]

3)           Elisha’s bones raised a man from the dead.[14]

4)           Peter      raised Tabitha/Dorcas from the dead.[15]

5)           Paul       raised Eutychus from the dead.[16]

6)           Jesus      raised the man from Nain from the dead.[17]

7)           Jesus      raised Jairus’s daughter from the dead.[18]

8)           Jesus      raised Lazarus from the dead.[19]

9)           Jesus’     DEATH raised many from the dead.[20]

10)           God        raised Jesus from the dead.[21]

 

It’s in the Book

     Millions upon Millions more will be raised from the dead to meet Jesus Christ in the air at the rapture.[22]  

John 5:36 – Power over the grave bears witness of God’s authority

³⁶ But the witness which I have is greater than that of John;

for the works which the Father hath given me to accomplish,

the very works that I do,

BEAR WITNESS of me that the Father hath sent me

 

The Take Away

     Jesus FED four, then five thousand people at a time with just a few loaves of bread and a few fish; He turned water into WINE, He HEALED many people as well as raised some from the DEAD and the results was they just wanted MORE SIGNS, MORE MIRACLES and MORE FOOD.

     If someone today was raised from the dead, it would point to the “Raiser” as a “MAN OR WOMAN OF GOD”.   If that were the case they would need to do a few more “Raisings” to prove it was not a fluke.  Then if SOMEONE ELSE RAISED THE DEAD, there would be a conflict over who “YOU FOLLOWED” just like in the NT with Paul and Apollos when actually it is Jesus Christ to whom we should all be pointing.

     One of the Gifts of the Spirit is the “Working of Miracles” which would include RAISING THE DEAD and God could cut it loose in every church in the world if He so chose.  However Amazing Miracles are not what leads to genuine faith.

     I believe in the End Times, the Anti-Christ and his minions will use MIGHTY MIRACLES including “Raising the Dead” to deceive the world. (Satan can make you SICK and then HEAL you)

 

YES, God can raise people from the dead today…

But with by BS, my Belief System, I believe if I were God…

I wouldn’t do it…

 

1 Corinthians 3:4 - I follow Paul; and another, I follow Apollos
⁴ For when one saith, I AM OF PAUL; and another,

I AM OF APOLLOS; are ye not men?

(ASV)

Matthew 12:38 – We need some more SIGNS
³⁸ Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, WE WISH TO SEE A SIGN FROM YOU.”

(ESV)

2 Thessalonians 2:9-10 - False miracles, signs, and wonders
⁹  The coming ⌊of the lawless one⌋ is based on Satan’s working, with all kinds of FALSE MIRACLES, SIGNS, and WONDERS, and
¹⁰  with every unrighteous DECEPTION among those who are perishing.

(HCSB)

Revelation 19:20 – Mighty Miracles that deceive
²⁰ And the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet

who did MIGHTY MIRACLES on behalf of the beast

MIRACLES THAT DECEIVED all who had accepted the mark of the beast and who worshiped his statue.

(NLT)

John 6:26 – We WANT some more FREE FOOD
²⁶ Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you,

you are seeking me, not because you saw SIGNS,

but because you ATE your fill of the loaves.

---

[1] Acts 26:8 – Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?

[2] Hebrews 13:8 – Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever; He does not change -- John 14:12 – The believer has more time to do MORE WORKS -- Matthew 28:19-20 - Observe all that I have commanded you and make Disciples

[3] Matthew 12:38-40 – Jesus Raised from the Dead is the Sign

[4] John 20:29 - Blessed those who haven’t seen yet have believed

[5] Luke 16:27-31 – Man is not convinced by raising of the dead

[6] Isaiah 8:19 – People should seek God not Mediums and Wizards that whisper, mutter and peep -- Leviticus 19:31 – Do not defile yourself with Mediums; those how communicate with the dead -- Deuteronomy 18:9-12 – Sorcerer, Medium, Spiritist who communicate with the dead are an Abomination

[7] 2 Corinthians 11:14-15 – Demons disguise themselves as whatever you are looking for

[8] Ephesians 4:8-9 – Christ is the only one to communicate with the dead

[9] 1 Samuel 28:8-11 – Bring up Samuel from the grave --.Isaiah 8:19 – Familiar Spirits that mutter and peep

[10] 2 Thessalonians 2:8-10 – Satan will display Power False, Signs and Wicked Deception

[11] 1 Timothy 4:1 – Some will depart from the faith following Seducing Spirits and Doctrines of Devils

[12] 1 Kings 17:17-24 – Elijah raised the widow’s son from the dead

[13] 2 Kings 4:32-36 – Elisha raised the Shulamite woman’s son from the dead

[14] 2 Kings 13:21 – Elisha’s bones raised a man from the dead

[15] Acts 9:36-41 – Peter raised Tabitha/Dorcas from the dead

[16] Acts 20:9-12 – Paul raised Eutychus from the dead

[17] Luke 7:11-15 – Jesus raised the man from Nain from the dead

[18] Luke 8:51-55 – Jesus raised Jairus’s daughter from the dead

[19] John 11:43-44 – Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead

[20] Matthew 27:51-53 – Death of Christ, tombs were opened and many Believer’s bodies were raised from the dead

[21] Acts 2:32 – God raised Jesus from the dead

[22] 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 - The dead in Christ will rise first