Bible Study Seattle

“Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection.” Hebrews 11:35

A better resurrection? Doesn’t that imply an inferior resurrection?

Now some see the inferior resurrection as the resurrection of the wicked:
“Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned.” John 5:28-29

Most assume that ‘who have done’ refers to actions of the first life. They assume that the judgment is merely a sentencing. They envision multitudes momentarily rising out of hell only to be quickly condemned back to hell. Why bother with the sentencing if they’re already in hell? But we know that court trials first involve a trial and then a verdict. Except in this case the trial will probably last at least one hundred years:

“Never again will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his years; the one who dies at a hundred will be thought a mere child; the one who fails to reach a hundred will be considered accursed.” Isaiah 65:20

The firstborn Israelites received a double inheritance:
“But he shall acknowledge the firstborn, the son of the unloved, by giving him a double portion of all that he has, for he is the beginning of his strength; to him belongs the right of the firstborn.” Deuteronomy 21:17
The church is called the firstborn:
“to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven.” Hebrews 12:23
Heaven is the double portion; earth in the single portion.

Scriptures showing the heavenly and earthly resurrections:
“Indeed I will greatly bless you, and I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens and as the sand which is on the seashore.” Genesis 22:17
“For just as the new heavens and the new earth
Which I make will endure before Me,” declares the Lord,
“So your offspring and your name will endure.” Isaiah 66:22
“This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:3