Bible Study Seattle

“The same day some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came up to Him and questioned Him: “Teacher, Moses said, if a man dies, having no children, his brother is to marry his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. Now there were seven brothers among us. The first got married and died. Having no offspring, he left his wife to his brother.  The same happened to the second also, and the third, and so to all seven. Then last of all the woman died.  In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will she be of the seven? For they all had married her.” Matthew 22:23-28

This is actually an excellent question. Jesus skips right to the final resurrection in the new creation where marriage is no longer in operation. But we know that many people will come back in human form first. “But I know my living Redeemer, and He will stand on the dust at last. Even after my skin has been destroyed, yet I will see God in my flesh.” Job 19:25-26

“Therefore, prophesy and say to them: This is what the Lord God says: I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them, My people, and lead you into the land of Israel.  You will know that I am Yahweh, My people, when I open your graves and bring you up from them.” Ezekiel 37:12-13

The answer to the Sadducees’ question is that the man will be married to all seven former wives. The times of Jesus’ 1,000 year reign will still be messy with sin. It is an intermediate time where Jesus cleans the world to a point where it can pass God’s test and enter into the promised land of God’s new creation. But not all will enter. Some will choose death – like Pharaoh. We get a picture of those who are forbidden to enter Jerusalem on account of their unrepentant sin:

“Blessed are those who wash their robes [the repentant], so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates.  Outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying.” Revelation 22:14-15

Perhaps the extra wives of a man will be able to marry a new man so that it is one man to one woman. Think of Solomon! 300 wives and 700 cucumbers! Is it really equitable that a woman should have to compete with 999 others? No way! God has better things for us in Jesus’ 1,000 years. In heaven it may be different. The goal of the church is to marry Jesus. There is probably some way we can’t understand that Jesus can satisfy thousands of wives. But Jesus’ attendants in heaven may have a more standard marriage in the heavenly realm. Who knows? We will have to see when we get there. In any case someone is going to have lots of babies, either on earth or in heaven.

“Rejoice, childless one, who did not give birth;
burst into song and shout,
you who have not been in labor!
For the children of the forsaken one will be more
than the children of the married woman,”
says the Lord.
“Enlarge the site of your tent,
and let your tent curtains be stretched out;
do not hold back;
lengthen your ropes,
and drive your pegs deep.
For you will spread out to the right and to the left,
and your descendants will dispossess nations
and inhabit the desolate cities.

“Do not be afraid, for you will not be put to shame;
don’t be humiliated, for you will not be disgraced.
For you will forget the shame of your youth,
and you will no longer remember
the disgrace of your widowhood.
Indeed, your husband is your Maker—
His name is Yahweh of Hosts—
and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer;
He is called the God of all the earth.
For the Lord has called you,
like a wife deserted and wounded in spirit,
a wife of one’s youth when she is rejected,”
says your God.
“I deserted you for a brief moment,
but I will take you back with great compassion.
In a surge of anger
I hid My face from you for a moment,
but I will have compassion on you
with everlasting love,”
says the Lord your Redeemer.
“For this is like the days of Noah to Me:
when I swore that the waters of Noah
would never flood the earth again,
so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you
or rebuke you.
Though the mountains move
and the hills shake,
My love will not be removed from you
and My covenant of peace will not be shaken,”
says your compassionate Lord.

“Poor Jerusalem, storm-tossed, and not comforted,
I will set your stones in black mortar,
and lay your foundations in sapphires.
I will make your fortifications out of rubies,
your gates out of sparkling stones,
and all your walls out of precious stones.
Then all your children will be taught by the Lord,
their prosperity will be great,
and you will be established
on a foundation of righteousness.
You will be far from oppression,
you will certainly not be afraid;
you will be far from terror,
it will certainly not come near you.
If anyone attacks you,
it is not from Me;
whoever attacks you
will fall before you.
Look, I have created the craftsman
who blows on the charcoal fire
and produces a weapon suitable for its task;
and I have created the destroyer to cause havoc.
No weapon formed against you will succeed,
and you will refute any accusation
raised against you in court.
This is the heritage of the Lord’s servants,
and their righteousness is from Me.”
This is the Lord’s declaration.” Isaiah 54