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by W. Choong

Singaporeans have a penchant for queuing up for things, such as Hello Kitty dolls, Primary 1 school places, condominiums and concert tickets. All such things have some value, but the long queues that stretched out as Singaporeans lined up to for a last opportunity to pay their respects to Mr Lee following his passing in March was historic. At one point, the wait took as long as 8 hours, turning what was essentially a short stroll from the Padang to Parliament House into a long trek, involving a long detour towards the Esplanade and the Marina Bay floating platform, before one turned back towards the Singapore River and Parliament House.

My family joined the throngs of Singaporeans who braved the long queue. After 8 hours in the queue, we reached Parliament House at 5am. Even though their “batteries” were fully depleted by then, our boys aged 11 and 7 knew that this was a walk to remember. All the good things that they saw as we trudged slowly through the night that Friday – Singapore’s impressive skyline, Marina Bay, the Esplanade theatre and the bustling road infrastructure – were testament to Mr Lee’s hard work. This was a queue worth queuing for.

… our boys aged 11 and 7 knew that this was a walk to remember…

The Qualities That Defined Mr Lee

What made Mr Lee so special in the hearts of Singaporeans?

Among many of his fine qualities was the ability to see the vision and embark on a historic mission to achieve what seemed to be impossible. In 1965, as a newly-independent Singapore rued its separation from the Federation of Malaya, shorn of a hinterland and natural resources, Mr Lee bravely declared: “This was a mudflat, a swamp. Today, it is a modern city. And 10 years from now, it will be a metropolis – never fear!”

Mr Lee held fast to values such as honesty, integrity, respect for the rule of law and frugality – values that has made the Singapore brand so sellable today. He told off colleagues for wasting ice cream and used the same pair of running shorts for 17 years. In 1960, the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency sought to bribe Mr Lee in 1960, to cover up a botched intelligence operation. Said Mr Lee: “The Americans should know the character of the men they are dealing with in Singapore and not get themselves further dragged into calumny. They are not dealing with Ngo Dinh Diem or Syngman Rhee. You do not buy and sell this Government.”

A strong sense of conviction drove Mr Lee. For years, he sparred with Westerners, Americans in particular, over Singapore’s unique style of democracy and the way he managed the media. While his political signature was controversial in the eyes of Westerners, it is inarguable that Singapore “unique” political system has netted attributes that are the envy of the countries all over. As one commentator put it – freedom is the ability to walk the streets unmolested, with women being able to ride public transport alone without fear. Freedom is the ability to live in one of the least corrupt cities in the world.

Passion Mr Lee possessed by the bucketload. So concerned was he about a younger generation of leaders taking Singapore down the wrong path, he said at a 1988 National Day Rally that “even from my sickbed, even if you are going to lower me into the grave and I feel something is going wrong, I will get up.”

Lessons for Forerunners

Mr Lee provides many lessons for forerunners who seek to prepare the way for Jesus� return to the earth. Mr Lee had a vision of Singapore as a bustling metropolis as he faced the storm of taking a third world country to the first world. Forerunners will face a much bigger storm – an eschatological convulsion that will see the release of judgments on the earth by Jesus, that will lead to the great falling away of many believers (Matt 24:11, 2Thess 2:3) and the death of millions of people on the earth. At the release of the fourth seal in Revelation 6, for example, a quarter of the world’s population would be killed by the sword, hunger and death. So it is critical to know why such events happen, by keeping in sight the vision of the glorious return of Jesus, his reunion with the saints on the earth, and the establishment of heaven on earth.

Mr Lee had a vision of Singapore as a bustling metropolis as he faced the storm of taking a third world country to the first world.

In the same way that Mr Lee held on to his values, forerunners burning at Houses of Prayer across the world should hold fast to IHOP values of intercession, holiness, offering our lives extravagantly to God and moving in the prophetic. These are not only values needed to sustain their services in the House of Prayer; these are eternal values that will follow them through all of eternity!

And as Mr Lee was conviction personified, forerunners need to have the conviction to sustain them in building up houses of prayer across the earth, in preparing the earth for Jesus return. John the Baptist dwelt in the wilderness, ate wild honey and wore clothes made of camel’s hair – a radical lifestyle as he sought to prepare the way for the Lord’s first coming. The Apostle Paul, seeking to bring the Gospel to the Gentiles in Asia Minor, suffered all kinds of sufferings, lashings and imprisonments because he considered it “all joy” to see the masses reached for Jesus.

Likewise, forerunners living out the Joel 2 lifestyle of fasting, weeping and mourning will have to go through some, if not many, inconveniences in building up houses of prayer. This could entail lost opportunities in the marketplace, encountering derision at the hands of critics and the constant need to burn in the House of Prayer continually, come rain or shine, in personal situations good and bad. This makes conviction all the more important – the need to know why one needs to continue to serve and ‘burn’ in the House of Prayer. Jesus is worth it all!

This leads us to passion. Everyone values the passion of the mountaineer who scales Mount Everest, the cyclist who circumnavigates the globe or a Steve Jobs who single-handedly forged new markets in technology. In a sense, people with passion are men possessed; they are possessed by grand visions, such that they will exert everything in their ability to attain them. In the same way, forerunners should be associated with active verbs so indicative of passion – passion for Jesus and the establishment of His kingdom on earth. We are called to vow not to go to our bedchamber until a house is established for God (Ps 132:2), to take by force His kingdom with a holy violence (Matt 11:12) and contend earnestly for the faith (Jude 3).

People with passion are men possessed; they are possessed by grand visions, such that they will exert everything in their ability to attain them.

Mr Lee was seized by a vision, stayed true to his values even as he passionately sought to build Singapore. All the more, as forerunners, we should be seized by the vision of a beautiful Bridegroom King returning for his people, stay true to IHOP values and contend for the highest things of His heart with a holy passion!

God is inviting us to go higher in Him. He is calling us to leave our comfort zone and develop a history with Him. If we respond and press in, there will be many new experiences and breakthroughs in our lives. For some of us, we will see a breakthrough in our walk with the Lord. We will experience an intimate relationship with our God like never before. For others, the Lord may set you free from struggles, strongholds and bondage. We may also see our family relationships being restored, parents receiving Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour. And in terms of ministry, the Lord is going to bring us to a new height and dimension.

How can we be strong and courageous as we face the challenges of life? When the crisis hits and fear strikes its crushing blow, our spiritual muscles turn to mental mush; our fight turns to flight. How can we stay bold, strong and courageous?

As we wait upon the Lord for the promise of breakthroughs, many of us find ourselves struggling. We find ourselves struggling with fear, discouragement, disappointment, tiredness, loneliness and many others. Things seem to be more negative. You begin to wonder whether you will see victory and breakthrough in your life and ministry. Or if the promise is a mistake after all? The word of God for you is this: Arise and be strong & courageous!

We can identify with the great man of old by the name of Joshua, as we are expecting a breakthrough but yet living under the shadow of uncertainty, fear and discouragement. As we know, the book of Joshua begins with the announcement concerning the death of Moses. Splashed across the front page of “The Wilderness times”, Joshua reads the word, “Moses is dead.” This servant of God whom the people have followed for 40 years now retires for his heavenly reward. That is good news for Moses but bad news for Joshua, especially when Jehovah made the promotion announcement about Joshua’s new appointment as Commander-in-Chief. The weight of this divine appointment far exceeds the “glamour” that may accompany it. It is indeed a huge task to lead the people in battle against the Canaanites and to possess the land.

Standing across the Jordan under the gloom of grief over the death of his predecessor, Joshua must have found himself under the shadow of fear, uncertainty and doubt. He must be wondering whether he will eventually claim the promise which the Lord has given. That is why three times, the Lord commanded him, “Be strong and courageous (Joshua 1:6, 7, 9). Indeed in verse 9, the Lord added, “Do not be terrified or discouraged.” The word “discouraged” literally means to be shattered, to be broken, to give up.

This too is God’s Word to us. Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified or discouraged. When faced with a mountain, do not quit! Keep on trusting till we climb over, find a pass through, tunnel underneath – or simply stay and turn the mountain into a gold mine, of course with God’s help. So no matter what the next season holds, God’s Word to us is “Be strong and Courageous!”

How can we be strong and courageous as we face the challenges of life? When the crisis hits and fear strikes its crushing blow, our spiritual muscles turn to mental mush; our fight turns to flight. How can we stay bold, strong and courageous? God gave Joshua three pillars by which he can stand firm against every difficulty and problem.

The Promise of God First, God gave Joshua His promise with the promotion announcement. In verse 3, we read, “I will give you every place where you set your foot as I promised Moses.” God has solemnly sworn and promised the land to Joshua and His people. They are merely to possess this land of promise.

In the same way, God wants us to focus on the spiritual promises we have in Christ. Many Biblical scholars have compared the book of Joshua to the book of Ephesian. In Ephesians 1:3, we read, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.” Remember every spiritual blessing belongs to us in Christ. And Paul ends the book by saying, “Be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might.” And throughout the book of Ephesians, God challenges us to remember and to act on and appropriate the spiritual blessings which are ours in Jesus Christ.

God wants us to focus on the promises we have in Christ. He wants us to claim the inheritance He has for us. Let us claim the promise of God with confidence. Let us believe that God will bring breakthrough upon everyone in our lives and ministry. Let us be strong and courageous as we wait for the promise of God to come forth. On what basis can we be strong and courageous? On the basis of God’s promise!

The Powerful Word of God The second pillar God gave Joshua in order that he may be strong and courageous is the powerful Word of God. Joshua was to hang on to the Word of God in obedience. To win military battles, Joshua was to obey God’s Word faithfully and fully. If Joshua wanted prosperity and success in the conquest of Canaan, he was to do the following: 1. The law was not to depart out of his mouth; he was to talk about it 2. He was to meditate on it day and night 3. He was to obey its command, to live according to it

In fact, the last is really what releases the power of the Word in our lives. First, we must know it. Then we must allow it to occupy our minds and our souls. Finally, we must act upon it in obedience. Then the power of God makes our paths straight.

The commitment to the Word of God must be central in our lives and ministry. It is not just another program or another “thing” to do. We must not allow the law to depart from our heart, soul, mind and mouth. We must read it, think of it, talk about it and most of all, to live it out! I am praying that we will be committed and grounded in the Word of God as a ministry, then we will be prosperous and successful, and will see breakthrough as the Lord has promised.

Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified or discouraged. When faced with a mountain, do not quit! Keep on trusting till we climb over, find a pass through, tunnel underneath – or simply stay and turn the mountain into a gold mine, of course with God’s help.

The Presence of God Finally, we can be strong and courageous because the Lord’s presence is with us! The Lord assures Joshua of His presence. Just before Moses departed, Moses has said to Joshua in Deuteronomy 31:7, 8, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with His people into the land which the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them. The Lord is the One who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” And when the book of Joshua begins, we see the words not of Moses but of the Lord Himself. God says in Joshua 1:5, “I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you.” Then in verse 9 again, “… for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

The presence of God is with us! He will be with us in our offices, in our homes, in our ministry. We only need to believe, to doubt our doubts and to put our trust in Him who never leaves us or forsakes us. We must believe and claim the breakthroughs with faith and confidence. Let’s continue to be strong and courageous and ask the Lord for breakthrough till it comes. As we hang on to His promises, His powerful Word, and His presence, we will be strong and courageous!

by A. Ng

Timelines. I have a love-hate relationship with timelines. In the workplace, timelines are a great tool to help with managing projects, charting milestones and ensuring that preparations for an event or project are on the right track. However, in the event of unexpected delays and hiccups, timelines can seem like a countdown clock, with every second bearing down ominously as the deadlines loom closer and closer. They help me out, but sometimes also stress me out.

Timelines. The Father also has His timelines, whether we realize it or not. He had a timeline when He created the world in seven days. He had a timeline when He led the nation of Israel out of Egypt after 400 years of slavery. He had a timeline when Jesus came in the flesh 2,000 years ago to die on the cross for our sins. And He has a timeline for when Jesus will finally return to take His rightful place as King of the earth.

Unlike the timelines made by us at our workplaces, which are sometimes subject to change based on shifting circumstances, God’s timelines have been written from the foundation of the world, and do not change. In God’s timelines, there are windows of opportunity that open – opportunities that, if seized by us, could change the course of a nation. There are also events that will take place in His timing, whether we as individuals are prepared for them or not. These events affect human civilization on a planetary scale, and no nation or person will be exempt and left unaffected.

What do God’s timelines look like? Where do we as 21st Century believers living in Singapore fit along His timelines? What should we do, knowing where we currently are?

God’s Timeline for a Nation
In God’s timeline for Israel, He determined that every 50th year would be a year of Jubilee. In Leviticus 25, God commanded Israel to “consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout all the land to all its inhabitants” (v10). It was a time for restoration, the cancellation of debts, the redemption of property, and the release of Israelite slaves. God emphasized His ownership of the land, the nation and each individual Israelite, and repeatedly commanded them to fear Him (v17, 36, 43). Indeed, the year of Jubilee was to be holy to the Lord (v12) and not to be taken lightly.

Could the Lord also have the same intent for His people in Singapore as we enter our nation’s first-ever Jubilee? What is the Lord saying to the Church in this day and hour?

Much more than simply celebrating and giving thanks to God for how He has blessed Singapore thus far (which is good and should be done), He is calling His people to a time of returning and restoration, consecration, and contending. He is calling us to return to Him with all our hearts, and to restore the First (and Great) Commandment to first place in our lives (Matt 22:37). He is calling us to a season of consecration – of setting ourselves apart from the world to be wholly His and yielded and aligned to what He desires. He is calling us to contend – to press in fervently and pray down His will for Singapore, that it may be done on earth as it is in heaven. Indeed, the Lord has in His sovereignty opened the window of opportunity this Jubilee year for Singapore. The future trajectory of this nation will depend on whether we, the Church, respond in obedience, or whether we continue to live life business-as-usual.

God’s Timeline for Human History
The urgency to respond and obey is amplified when we place Singapore’s first Jubilee in the context of an even larger timeline – the timeline of God for human history. Ever since the return of Israel to her land in 1948 after almost 2000 years of non-existence, the signs of the End of the Age as described by Jesus in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21 have slowly begun to unfold on a global scale. Every other day brings news of earthquakes in various places, the emergence of new and deadlier diseases, the escalation of ethnic conflicts, and seemingly unsolvable economic and environmental woes. Anyone would be hard pressed to say that what Jesus prophesied in the Gospels as “birth pangs” signaling His return is not an apt description of what is happening in the world today.

Contrary to some who believe that we cannot know God’s timeline for the End of the Age and whether we are nearing His Second Coming, He has provided sufficient information in His Word to paint a relatively clear picture of this time, and especially so for human history’s final seven years. (See articles on Why We Should Know the Signs of the Times and 150 Chapters on the End Times). From as early as prophet Daniel’s visions to Apostle John’s revelations on the Isle of Patmos, God has given His people glimpses of this timeline – a timeline that we as believers today can search out, piece together, and grow to understand.

With regard to what we currently see around us, Jesus assured us that “the end is not yet,” (Mk 13:7) for “all these are the beginning of sorrows” (Matt 24:8). With regard to the years ahead, Jesus exhorted us to “know that [His return] is near – at the doors” (Matt 24:33), to “take heed” (Mk 13:23) and to “watch therefore, and pray always” (Lk 21:36), that we will not be caught unawares. Apostle Paul was unequivocal that as believers, we should be aware of the times and seasons, such that the day of the Lord does not overtake us like a thief in the night:
“But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.” (1 Thess 5:4-5)

An Appropriate Response
Knowing that the Lord has commanded us to be vigilant, let us press in for more understanding of His heart and plans as we witness the beginning of birth pangs. In this year of Jubilee, let us also take heed of His call for us to consecrate ourselves to Him and to contend for His will in a season of fasting and prayer. Through all of this, we need to fast and pray with an attitude that seeks to align ourselves with God’s very heart and plans. Let us not simply ask for the sake of gathering more information, but instead purpose in our hearts to obey whatever it is the Lord speaks and reveals, even if we do not yet fully understand. As we continue pressing in, He will speak with greater clarity.

As we as Singaporeans watch, fast, and pray for a deeper understanding of Singapore’s destiny in light of these times, could it be that God has raised Singapore up in this day and hour for a specific purpose? Have we fully grasped and understood the call of God upon our nation against the backdrop of God’s larger End-of-the-Age timeline? We do not; so let us press in earnestly during this year of Jubilee, gathering in sacred assemblies and trusting that the Holy Spirit will speak to us and give us perfect understanding in these latter days (Jer 23:20).

We also watch, fast, and pray to seek God’s wisdom as to how to live our lives and walk as believers in this day and age. What does consecrating our lives unto the Lord look like? What does it mean to live a life of circumspection? If it entails re-arranging our schedules to gather to pray, let us respond! If it entails studying His Word at a deeper level, let us respond! If it entails rending our hearts and removing the little distractions that hinder us from growing more intimate with God, let us respond! His grace is all-sufficient for whatever response He requires of us.

God’s timelines for our nation and the planet are fixed and objective and He is calling us as believers to align ourselves with Him. Whether we as individuals are prepared or not, His timelines will take place as written in His Word.

As a God who loves to partner with His people, He is inviting us to jump on board with what He is doing in Singapore and globally, as He steers the world we live in down the timeline of history.

Let us say yes to His invitation!

Jesus Christ has died. Jesus Christ has risen! Jesus Christ will come again! If Good Friday raised the question, Resurrection Sunday raised the Man, and the risen Man is the answer to all the raised questions!

Indeed the Resurrection is at the very core of our Christian faith. Insofar as the Resurrection can be validated and set forth, Christianity stands or falls. As believers of Jesus Christ, we are the resurrection people; we believe in the resurrection from the dead. Out of all the global religions, there is only one with a Founder who claimed that He would rise from the dead – and He did!

The Importance of the Resurrection

The birth of the Church is dependent upon Jesus Christ’s resurrection from the dead. Without the empty tomb and the appearance of Jesus to His disciples, no disciple would have left his fishing boat a second time and no one would ever have gathered in the upper room. What took place early on the third day after the Crucifixion began a historic shift in world history. Lewis Peter rightly said,

“Without the Resurrection, Christianity would have been still-born, for a living faith cannot survive a dead Savior.”

Jesus stated His own claims about the Resurrection. He foretold His own death and stated that the evidence of His identity would be based upon His rising from the dead. Imagine the audacity of a Man who was saying that the validity of His identity as the Messiah is based on his power over death (John 2:18 – 21)! No other religious founder has based the audacity of his claims as well as his ethics upon an empty tomb and upon post-death appearances in a physical body.

Wilbur M. Smith said,

“It was this same Jesus, the Christ who among many other remarkable things, said and repeated something which, proceeding from any other being would have been condemned him at once as either a bloated egoist or a dangerously unbalanced person. That Jesus said He was going up to Jerusalem to die is not as remarkable, though all the details He gave about that death, weeks and months before He died, are together a prophetic phenomenon. But when He said that He Himself would rise again from the dead, the third day after He was crucified, He said something that only a fool would dare say, if He expected longer the devotion of any disciples – unless He was sure He was going to rise. No founder of any other religion known to men ever dared say a thing like that!”

A Historical Event and a Real Event

Christianity claims that the Resurrection was not a mere spiritual resurrection in the hearts of disciples for some philosophical or theological construct. It claims that Jesus, in real time and space, rose from the dead with a physical body and appeared in the flesh to real people. The Gospel writers testified that the tomb was empty and that Jesus appeared to His disciples over a period of forty days. In those encounters, the disciples and the women held on to His feet and touched His hands and side. Jesus also ate with the disciples.

“Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst if them, and said to them, ‘Peace to you.’ But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. And He said to them, ‘Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.’” (Luke 24:36 – 39)

The Proofs of the Resurrection of Christ

There are five proofs to the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

1. The empty tomb stands as a proof of the Resurrection.

All it would have taken to dispel the “myth” and to squash the beginning of this upstart religion would have been to produce Jesus’ body from the tomb. One body from Joseph’s tomb and the testimony would have been over. It is important to note that even the enemies of the Gospel admitted to the empty tomb and did not try to dissuade people from believing in an empty tomb. Rather they spread the rumor that the disciples had stolen the body and paid off the guard to say the same. Tom Anderson (the former president of the California Trial Lawyers Association) said,

“Let’s assume that the written accounts of His appearances to hundreds of people are false. I want to pose a question. With an event so well publicized, don’t you think it’s reasonable that one historian, one eye witness, one antagonist would record for all time that he had seen Christ’s body? The silence of history is deafening when it comes to the testimony against the resurrection! As we will see, His opponents don’t even argue the fact that the tomb was empty. They concede it!”

2. The multitude of Jesus’ appearances stand as proof of the Resurrection.

The Resurrection of Jesus took place early on the third day. Over the next forty days, Jesus would make numerous appearances in His resurrected body. Some examples of Jesus’ appearance:

i. The women received the angelic report and told the disciples. Mary Magdalene continued to believe that someone has stolen Jesus’ body. (John 20)

ii. The race to the tomb – Peter and John raced to the tomb to verify the women’s report. John arrived at the tomb before Peter, yet stopped at the entrance as Peter rushed in and found the linen neatly folded. (John 20)

iii. Jesus appeared to two disciples on the road to Emmaus. As Jesus led them through the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms, the disciples moved into a supernatural understanding of Scripture. Their eyes were able to see both the suffering and glory of the Messiah. (Luke 24)

iv. The appearance specifically before Thomas in John 20:27 – 29.

v. The appearance to the disciples by the sea of Tiberias in John 21.

vi. The appearance to the five hundred, to James and to Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:3 – 8.

3. The changed lives of the apostles stand as proof of the Resurrection.

The Gospels are clear that the disciples were in a state of disillusionment when the Resurrection occurred. The Gospels testify that the disciples had not understood the prophecies of Jesus about His death and resurrection. Confused and broken, they were returning home after His death. The road to Emmaus alluded to their shattered faith. Even after the empty tomb, some did not believe until they had seen the risen Lord! It is clear that Thomas did not believe. Before the Resurrection, James, John, Peter and Andrew had returned to fishing.

Their almost immediate surge in courage is a proof of the Resurrection. The apostles moved from denial, disillusionment and being dispersed to gathering together to boldly proclaim Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. For instance, Peter had been moved to denial out of fear from a young girl’s question but shortly after, Peter was boldly proclaiming the resurrection of Christ in the face of death.

The self-sacrifice of the apostles is also a proof of the Resurrection. They had moved from arguing over who was the greatest to self-surrender and sacrifice for the witness of Christ. After the Resurrection, a moral shift took place among the twelve. By Acts 15, the reader of the book of Acts isn’t sure who was in charge – was it Peter or was it James? Humility permeated the scene. This is a weighty argument for the Resurrection. How could men who preached and lived lives of the highest moral standards have based their moral construct on a faked Resurrection? Keeping up with such an outlandish and intentional lie could not have caused them to live lives of moral integrity.

The martyrdom of the apostles is another proof of the resurrection. Even the scholars who do not believe in the bodily resurrection of Jesus admit that something powerful had to have happened for the disciples to be willing to die – powerful enough for them to be willing to die the most gruesome and torturous deaths imaginable.

4. The apostles’ preaching in Jerusalem stands as proof of the Resurrection.

The disciples immediately preached the message of the Resurrection in the very town where all the events described had happened in plain sight of everyone. Not enough time had transpired for legends or myths to be circulated and believed, for the events being proclaimed had happened just weeks before. Creating legends and myths about Jesus in the same town where He had been killed a few weeks earlier would have been impossible.

John Warwick Montgomery said,

“Note that when the disciples of Jesus proclaimed the resurrection, they did so as eyewitnesses and they did so while people were still alive who had contact with the events they spoke of. In 56 A.D. Paul wrote that over 500 people had seen the risen Jesus and that most of them were still alive (1 Corinthians 15:6). It passes the bounds of credibility that the early Christians could have manufactured such a tale and then preached it among those who might easily have refuted it simply by producing the body of Jesus.”

5. The conversion of Saul of Tarsus to Paul the Apostle stands as proof of the Resurrection.

In order to dispute the claims of Christianity and the resurrection of Jesus, one must explain the dramatic conversion of Saul of Tarsus. How do you explain a man who gave his life to killing Christians, but, in one moment, turned around and joined the very ones he was killing, even giving his own life for them? What happened on the road to Damascus? Your arguments against Christianity can be foolproof and your position can be strong. Yet, there is no defence against a risen Lord who shows up the way He showed up to Saul of Tarsus on that day. Paul gave the reason for his startling shift in belief and behaviour before the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem (Acts 22). He declared that he had met the risen Lord.

Five Historical Explanations against the Resurrection and the Arguments for the Resurrection

1. The wrong tomb theory

This position holds that because it was dark, the women went to the wrong tomb. Having found the wrong tomb empty, they rushed back with joy to tell the disciples, and thus what had been a rumour was presented as truth.

Argument against the wrong tomb theory:

a. Everyone knew where the tomb was. Peter and John verified the women’s account later and found the grave clothes folded in the empty tomb.

b. Jesus’ enemies knew where the empty tomb was and could have easily produced the body to silence the nascent movement.

2. The stolen body theory

This theory states that either the Roman or Jewish authorities stole the body.

Argument against the stolen body theory:

a. In light of the trouble that the apostles’ preaching about the Resurrection caused for both the Jewish and Roman authorities, this view is unthinkable. One cannot imagine the authorities would have hidden the very object that would have dispelled all rumours of the Resurrection.

b. The production of Jesus’ dead body would have ended all contention.

3. The swoon theory

This theory holds that Jesus did not actually die on the cross. While appearing to die, He actually swooned. Supposedly, His injuries left Him in shock but still alive, and the coolness of the tomb revived Him in such a way that He was able to come forth from the grave on the third day.

Argument against the swoon theory:

a. It is clear that Jesus was dead. No one could have survived those injuries, especially without aid or assistance. Also, the blood and water that flowed from His side clearly indicated that Jesus was dead.

b. The soldiers were experts at crucifixion. They made sure and testified that Jesus was dead. They did not break His legs due to their certainty of His death, but proceeded to stick a spear in His side to ensure their findings were correct.

c. Jesus was covered with burial clothes and eighty pounds of spices after the crucifixion. How could Jesus have lived for three days without food or water while being completely wrapped from head to toe in linen and covered by eighty pounds of spices?

d. How could Jesus have revived, unwrapped himself, rolled away a great stone that took many men to put in place, fought off a Roman guard, and then walked several miles on the road to Emmaus while dialoguing with two disciples?

e. How could Jesus have disappeared for the next forty or more years without a trace while the disciples died for a propagated lie? Moreover, why would He have done such a thing?

4. The hallucination theory

This theory holds that the Resurrection took place in the minds of the disciples. Dr. William McNeil articulates this position and he said,

“The Roman authorities in Jerusalem arrested and crucified Jesus… But soon afterwards the dispirited Apostles gathered in an upstairs room and suddenly felt again the heart-warming presence of their master. This seemed absolutely convincing evidence that Jesus’ death on the cross had not been the end but the beginning… The Apostles bubbled over with excitement and tried to explain to all who would listen all that had happened.”

Argument against the hallucination theory:

a. Hallucinations of this kind can only happen if certain conditions are met.

b. Also, hallucinations are perceived by only individuals, not groups, and are very subjective. Entire groups of people saw the risen Jesus, and they all saw the same thing.

c. The disciples did not claim to have seen a vision. They testified to touching Him and eating with Him.

d. Also, hallucinations are very restricted as to when, where, and how often they occur. The resurrection appearances happened in several different environments and at different times.

e. Hallucinations occur when a person is hopeful and expecting something to happen. The disciples were not in a hopeful or expecting state. Rather, they were disillusioned and in despair. Jesus showed up unannounced and suddenly.

5. The theft theory

This theory is the most popular and was the one the Jews circulated in an attempt to discredit and quash the Apostles’ ministry in Jerusalem.

Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened. When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, saying, “Tell them, ‘His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.’ And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will appease him and make you secure.” So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day. (Matthew 28:11 – 15)

Argument against the theft theory:

a. If the Romans were sleeping, how did they know it was the disciples who stole the body?

b. The possibility of a Roman guard sleeping was highly unlikely. Falling asleep on a night watch was punishable by death for a Roman soldier.

c. It is highly unlikely that the disciples would have gathered in one place to strategize such a plot. Their lives were in danger, and they were in hiding.

d. Even if they had gathered and formulated such a plan, the tomb was also secured with a Roman seal, and the punishment for the breaking of the seal was death. It is unimaginable that the disciples would risk their lives for their dead master when they had not been willing to risk their lives for their master when He was alive.

e. If the disciples had overcome their cowardice, broken the Roman seal, rolled the large great stone uphill without waking the soldiers, and stolen the body, why would they have taken the time to unwrap Jesus and leave His grave clothes nicely folded in the tomb?

Six Significances of the Resurrection

1. The Resurrection confirmed the identity of Jesus as the Messiah, the Divine Son of God. Jesus is the Lord, the resurrected Christ, and we are the people who testify to the Resurrection. He is going to judge the human race based on what we believe concerning the Resurrection.

This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear. For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself: “The LORD said to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool.’ Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:32 – 36)

The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him. (Acts 5:30 – 32)

Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come – that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles. (Acts 26:22 – 23)

2. The Resurrection vindicates the righteousness of Christ and the righteousness of God. God was vindicated as the righteous judge of sin, and Jesus was vindicated as the sinless acceptable sacrifice. In God’s economy, sin had to be judged. At the same time, He provided a way for weak humans to come back into relationship with God through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

3. The Resurrection announced the destruction of death.

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:2 5 – 26)

And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. (Rev. 1:17 – 18)

Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed-in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory. O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:51 – 57)

4. Paul teaches the Resurrection as more than just an historical event; it was an eschatological event (i.e. End-Times). It was the first fruit of a transition in the human experience. Just as Christ was raised from the dead, so shall you be raised from the dead when He appears, but between His resurrection and your resurrection, you have access to His resurrected life by the Spirit. Jesus’ resurrection was the beginning of the eschatological resurrection of the whole human race at the End-of-the-Age, but the resurrection has started in this Age through the Spirit. We share in the resurrection power of Christ.

His resurrected life indwells every believer, releasing divine might and power unto transformation. The Cross of Christ provides the basis for forgiveness of sin and the resurrection life of Jesus breaks the power of sin in our lives and makes us into a new creation. There is a new life working in us. The law of sin and death no longer prevails in our mortal bodies. The resurrection power enables us to live the crucified life as it produces a glorious new creation within us. We are a supernatural people, a resurrection people testifying to the resurrected Christ who now dwells in us by His Spirit.

Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. (Romans 8:11)

If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. (Colossians 3: 1 – 5)

That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. (Philippians 3:10 – 11)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:3 – 5)

5. The Resurrection testifies to a coming resurrection of the dead where Christ, the first fruit, will judge between the wicked and righteous. The righteous will rise unto eternal life and the wicked will rise unto eternal destruction.

For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this: for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth – those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge: and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me. (John 5:21 – 30)

And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree. Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins. (Acts 10:39 – 43)

Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead. (Acts 17:30 – 31)

6. The Resurrection of Jesus displayed what characteristics our renewed, glorified and resurrected human bodies will have.

The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being; The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. (1 Corinthians 15:42 – 45)

We have no ability within ourselves to love Jesus with our all, unless we encounter Him as One with a heart of a Bridegroom who loves us passionately and gives us His all (1John 4:19). More than saving us from hell’s fire, the Gospel is about God saving us to become His Bride. He is looking for a Bride who will love and trust Him. When we begin to realize how deeply Jesus loves us, we will have the power within us to love Him (Matt 22:37). Similarly, to have confidence in Jesus and to grow in our trust in Him (Proverbs 3:5-6), we must have assurance of His love and His ability as a leader. He is a good leader who is both able and willing. He has the wisdom to come up with the best plans for us and He has the power to bring them to pass. More than that, He wants the best plans for us to be realized. Our assurance is in His ability to lead. 2 Cor. 2:14 speaks of the triumphant procession that we will experience as we walk with God. More than experiencing victory in Christ, this verse assures us that God will always lead. There are two key words here: one is that He will lead, another is that He will always be there to lead. This will help us overcome the fear of stepping out or even fear of failure as we put our confidence in His ability to lead and guide us. Do not put our ability to follow Jesus, but put our confidence in His ability to lead us.

Psalm 23 – Jesus as our Shepherd and Great Leader

This Psalm powerfully portrays Jesus as our Shepherd. Jesus assures us that we do not have to worry and can trust in Him. He is our good Shepherd who has gone through the journey before us, and He is able to lead, protect and provide for us.

The Lord is my Shepherd. I shall not want. (verse 1) 

David uses the metaphor “Shepherd” as it is a profession the Israelites could relate to, and additionally speaks of one who is in close proximity to and intimate with His sheep. Sheep are known to be “dumb” animals that simply follow the rest of the flock. David rightly refers to us as sheep as many times we simply follow others or the ways of the world without much thought. Yet, our confidence is that Jesus is our Good Shepherd who He will lead us, protect us and provide for us, no matter how “dumb” we are. God created each of us and knows how we are wired (Psa. 139). He knows how to lead us and He will take care of us in this life as we seek to follow Him (Matt. 6:33). Jesus also assures us that we will have no lack. If, and when, we have a need, He provides for us. This is the Kingdom principle of finance and prosperity. Many confuse “having no lack” with God promising to prosper us financially. In the Bible, when the word “prosper” is mentioned, it primarily referred to the prospering of our inner man (soul / heart) and not to material things.

He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. (verse 2) 

We can rest in His provision for us. Just as a shepherd knows that his sheep need to eat from “green pastures” and will lead them there, God knows our need for sustenance and will provide for us. God does not promise that we will not have turbulent times and uncertainty, but He assures us that He will lead us through them triumphantly. We can be at peace and not afraid when the shakings of life come because He will be with us and He will walk through them with us. He will lead us beside the still waters.

He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. (verse 3) 

Jesus is committed to heal and bring restoration – emotional, physical and spiritual – to all of our past. He does this “for His name’s sake”. He will help us to arrive where He has destined for us to be, and He will help us grow in righteousness. He is our Shepherd who is able to lead and guide us into righteousness. He is committed to make us better.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. (verse 4) 

We will fear no evil because He is with us. There are moments in our lives where everything seems to fall apart; yet our confidence is that He is with us and will never leave us (Heb 13:5). We will not fear death or the threat of death, because He is with us. He uses His rod like a King to fend off our enemies and His staff as a Shepherd to lead us. Having this assurance will bring us comfort.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. (verse 5) 

In the midst of our enemies, God invites us to sit down and commune with Him. The cup refers to the cup of our “marriage covenant” with our Bridegroom God. Every time we take Holy Communion and we lift up the cup, it is in remembrance of this covenantal relationship. We remember that He is coming back for us (1 Cor.11:26). In the midst of our enemies, Jesus wants us to remember His commitment to us and say to Him, “Come back for me”.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. (verse 6) 

If Jesus is our Leader, then goodness and mercy will follow us. Mark 16:20 further says that miracles and wonders will follow us as we follow Jesus. Because Jesus is our Shepherd, we can be confident that we will be at the place that Jesus has destined for us – near Him and with Him forever. David longed to be in the house of the Lord. He had the assurance that despite his heavy commitment and schedule as king and ruler over Israel, he would dwell with God and be with Him forever. We have no power to trust God with all our heart (Prov 3:5-6) until we encounter Jesus as our Bridegroom and our good Shepherd. May we put our trust in Him as our great Leader!