Feeding the “Little Children” in God’s kingdom

NOTE: This article is Part 2 of 3 that relates to The Dietary Needs of Our Inner Man

Therefore in Hebrews 6:1-2 (previously) it says that every “little child” needs a regular diet of spiritual food, such as:

“…the DOCTRINE OF BAPTISMS, and of 
—LAYING ON OF HANDS, and of 
—RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD, and of 
—ETERNAL JUDGMENT.  
3 And this will we do, if God permit.”  (Heb 6:2)

Therefore, to continue feeding the “little children” the correct spiritual food for the child’s ‘Inner Man’, the following ‘diet’ is offered in scripture.

The Doctrine of Baptisms

There are SEVEN distinctive ‘baptisms’ mentioned in scripture that each Christian MUST understand, appreciate and partake of:

1. Baptism into Christ through confession of personal sins (Matt 3:6)
2. Water baptism (Matt 28:19)
3. Spirit baptism as evidenced in prophesying (Acts 19:6)
4. Baptism into the Body of Christ with the accompanying “gifts”(1 Cor 12:13; Gal 3:27)
5. Baptism in the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11;; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:33; John 7:37-39; Acts 1:5; Acts 11:16; Acts 19:2-3; Acts 19:6)
6. Baptism of Fire (Matthew 3:11; Matthew 20:22-23; Luke 3:16)
7. Baptism of suffering (Matt 20:23)

Every Christian MUST study and understand these doctrines to be able to do God’s will (Matt 12:50)

Laying on of Hands

The laying on of hands occurs WHEN:

1. Blessing men (Genesis 48:13-15)
2. Making offerings of servants unto the Lord (Numbers 8:10-11)
3. Ordaining servants into ministry (Numbers 27:18-20,23)
4. Imparting the Holy Spirit from a more senior to a more junior member (Deut. 34:9)
5. Blessing children (Matthew 19:13-15)
6. Healing the sick (Mark 6:2,5; Mark 16:18; Luke 4:40; Luke 13:13; Acts 5:12; Acts 28:8)
7. Performing miracles (Acts 19:11)
8. Imparting spiritual gifts between brethren (1 Tim. 4:14; 2 Tim. 1:6)
9. Imparting the Spirit Baptism (Acts 8:17-24; Acts 19:6; Acts 9:17)

Resurrection of the Dead

The period of ‘The Church’ (meaning, the Body of Christ in the world) commenced with the assembling of the one hundred and twenty souls in the upper room (Acts 1 and Acts 2) and ends with the Rapture of both the “dead in Christ” together with “we who are alive and remain”:

“For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain [on earth] unto the coming of the Lord[in the clouds at the Rapture] shall not prevent them which are asleep [in the dust of the Earth].  16 For the Lord [Jesus Christ] himself shall descend from heaven with A SHOUT, with THE VOICE of the archangel, and with the TRUMP OF GOD: and
— THE DEAD IN CHRIST shall rise first:  17 Then
— WE WHICH ARE ALIVE AND REMAIN
shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”  (1 Thes 4:15-17)

This is how our Earthly bodies shall be changed into glorious, eternal, immortal bodies:

“Behold, I SHEW YOU A MYSTERY; We [the truly ‘born-again’ Christians on Earth] shall not all sleep[in our graves],  but WE SHALL ALL BE CHANGED [into a glorious immortal body as Jesus Christ has],  52 IN A MOMENT, in THE TWINKLING OF AN EYE, at the last trump [of Christ’s archangel]: for the trumpet shall sound [first], and [then] THE DEAD [in Christ over the past 2,000-years] shall be raised incorruptible [with immortal bodies], and we shall be changed [to appear with the same bodies].  53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.  54 So when this corruptible [mortal body] shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY.  55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?  56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.  57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”  (1 Cor 15:51-57)

The following passage from 2 Thes 2:7 reveals the role of the True Church of God and what happens to those who are the Hinderers of lawlessness in the world:

“For the mystery of iniquity [—this refers to ‘The Antichrist’] doth already work [in our world at this time, as evidenced by the formation of the New World Order and of the “Great Reset” as promoted by the World Economic Forum]: ONLY HE [the Holy Spirit]who now letteth will let, until HE  [the Body of Christ over the past 20 centuries in the Rapture] be taken out of the way [into Heaven, until the end of the Tribulation when they return with Christ at the Second Coming].”  (2 Thes 2:7)

Eternal Judgment (or the Two Resurrections)

There are two aspects of the two resurrections: — spiritual and material.

Spiritual resurrection is that of the spirit —where a sinner in this life has become “quickened” from rejecting eternal death and embracing eternal life by becoming “saved” from this fate through faith in Jesus Christ.

 Such a ‘resurrection’ of their spirit causes one to be potentially be renewed in the glorious likeness of God, if they have not become beguiled by Satan along the ‘Narrow Way’ (1 Cor. 11:7; Ephes. 4:21-24; Col. 3:10; 1 John 3:9).

The resurrection of our human spirit is taught in:

• Ephesians 2:1-6;
• Ephesians 5:14;
• Romans 6:11

and the ‘spiritual resurrection’ ONLY occurs in this life!

When physical death comes, all possibility of a spiritual resurrection to avoid spending eternity in Hell has passed (Eccles. 11:1; Hebrews 9:27; Rev. 22:11).  God’s judgment will eventually decide the sinner’s fate for sinners, or the rewards He has waiting for His saints.

Kinds of Material Resurrection:

There are two kinds of material or physical resurrection: 

“MARVEL NOT AT THIS: for the hour is coming, in the which ALL THAT ARE IN THE GRAVES SHALL HEAR HIS VOICE,  29 And shall come forth; THEY THAT HAVE DONE GOOD, unto the [first] resurrection of life; and THEY THAT HAVE DONE EVIL, unto the resurrection of damnation.”  (John 5:28-29)

1. The righteous saints will experience eternal life with Christ.  This occurs before the Millennium; and
2. The wicked to eternal damnation in the Lake of Fire after the Millennium (Daniel 12:3; John 5:28-29; Rev. 10:4-6,11-15). 

The Bible says the 1,000 year reign of Christ on Earth with His saints occurs between the First and Second resurrections (Rev. 20:4-6).

1. The fact of a resurrection. 

The following Bible characters taught it:

• Job (Job 19:25-27),
• Isaiah (Isaiah 26:14-19),
• Daniel (Daniel 12:2),
• David (Psalm 16:10; Psalm 17:15; Acts 2:31),
• O.T. saints (Hebrews 11:35),
• N.T. saints (Matthew 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20-21; Acts 2; Acts 4; etc.),
• Jesus (Matthew 16:21; Matthew 22:23-31; Luke 14:14; Luke 20:27-36; Luke 24:13-45),
• Matthew (Matthew 28:1-20),
• Mark (Mark 16:1-18),
• Luke (Luke 24:1-49),
• John (John 19-21; Rev. 20:4-6),
• Mary (John 11:24),
• Herod (Matthew 14:2),
• Peter (1 Peter 1:3; 1 Peter 3:21), and
• Paul (Acts 17:18,32; Acts 23:6; Acts 24:15,21; Romans 1:4; Romans 6:5; Romans 8:34; 1 Cor. 15; Phil. 3:10-11; Hebrews 6:2; Hebrews 11:35).

2. The resurrections were foretold:

• Isaiah 26:14-19;
• Daniel 12:2;
• Psalm 16:10;
• Matthew 12:41-42;
• Matthew 20:19;
• Matthew 27:63;
• 1 Thes. 4:14-17;
• 1 Cor. 15;
• Rev. 20:4-6;
• John 5:28-29.

3. Examples of a resurrection—temporary and permanent:

1. Temporary

“While he [Jesus] spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live…25 But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and THE MAID AROSE.”  (Matthew 9:18, 25).

II. Permanent (for the saints)

In this resurrection, God’s holy, sinless and perfected people are raised to immortality to live forever in their new bodies.

Christ was “the firstfruits of the First Resurrection “.  He was the first of both permanent resurrections (1 Cor. 15:1-23).  Then followed many Old Testament saints who were resurrected after His resurrection (Matthew 27:53).

“And THE GRAVES were opened [by Christ]; and many bodies of the[Old Testament]  saints which slept [in their graves] arose,  53 And came out of the graves AFTER HIS RESURRECTION, and went into the holy city [Jerusalem], and appeared unto many.”  (Matt 27:52-53)

III. Permanent (for the sinners—Christian and non-Christian)

In this resurrection, ALL sinners are raised to immortality to live forever in their resurrected bodies to suffer punishment from God for their rejection of Him, His Son Jesus Christ and especially for Christians who knew to do His will but willfully rebelled against Him and those of His servants:

“Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord [Jesus], I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping [unsaved souls] where thou hast not sown [the gospel through evangelism], and gathering [souls] where thou hast not strawed:  25 And I WAS AFRAID [of being laughed and mocked at for preaching the gospel], and WENT AND HID THY TALENT [that you gave me to do so] IN THE EARTH [of my jar of clay]: lo, there thou hast that is thine [of what you gave me]. 
26 His lord answered and said unto him, THOU WICKED AND SLOTHFUL SERVANT, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:  27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers [or your own money to support those ministries that spread the Gospel], and then at my coming I should have received mine own [that I invested in you] with usury [or interest]. 
28 Take therefore THE TALENT FROM HIM [the joy of his salvation], and give it unto him which hath ten talents…30 And CAST YE THE UNPROFITABLE SERVANT INTO OUTER DARKNESS: THERE SHALL BE WEEPING AND GNASHING OF TEETH [forever].”  (Matt 25:24-30)

4. The order of the Resurrections (1 Cor. 15:20-34).

1. Jesus Christ –“the Firstfruit of the Resurrections”:

Resurrection: 

“But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become THE FIRSTFRUITS of them that slept.”  (1 Cor 15:20)

Ascension: 

“And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he [Christ] was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.”  (Acts 1:9)

When?  Some 2,000-years ago.

2. The Old Testament Saints —

Resurrection: 

“And THE GRAVES WERE OPENED; and MANY BODIES OF THE [Old Testament] saints which slept arose,  53 And came out of the graves AFTER  his [Christ’s] RESURRECTION, and went into the holy city [Jerusalem], and appeared unto many.”  (Matt 27:52-53)

Ascension:  There is no record in the Bible of any ascension occurring.  It has to be assumed this happened on the basis that other ascensions followed a resurrection. 

When?  Some 2,000-years ago.

3. The New Testament Saints — representing “The Ingathering of The Church” unto God:

“For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep [in their graves]."  
(1 Thes 4:17) 

Resurrection: 

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise [from their graves] FIRST: "  (1 Thes 4:16)

Ascension: 

“Then we which are alive and remain [on Earth] SHALL BE CAUGHT UP [or Raptured] together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.  18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”  (1 Thes 4:15-18)

When?  Anytime soon!.

4. The 144,000 Jewish Manchild

Resurrection:  There is no recorded ‘Resurrection’ for these people, as none of these men have to die prior to their Ascension.

Ascension: 

“And she [the Nation of Israel] brought forth a man child [of the 12,000 men from the 12 tribes of Israel - Rev 12:5], who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and HER CHILD WAS CAUGHT UP [or ‘Raptured’] unto God, and to his throne.”  (Rev 12:5)

When:  During the first half of the Tribulation.

5. The Two Witnesses of Revelation

Resurrection: 

“And after three days and an half the spirit of life from God entered into them [meaning, their dead bodies], and THEY STOOD UPON THEIR FEET; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.”  (Rev 11:11)

Ascension: 

“And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And THEY ASCENDED UP TO HEAVEN IN A CLOUD; and their enemies beheld them.”  (Rev 11:12)

When:  At the end of the Tribulation period.

Qualifications necessary for the First Resurrection (or Rapture)

1. To be in Christ (1 Thes 4:14,16; 2 Cor 5:17-18).
2. To be Christ’s (1 Cor 15:23; Gal 5:24).
3. To be blessed and holy (Rev 20:4-6; Heb 12:14).
4. To be good (John 5:28-29).
5. To be worthy (Luke 21:36).
6. To be an active member within the spiritual Body of Christ (1 Cor 12:13; Eph 1:20-23; 4:4-6; 5:27; Col 1:18,24).
7. To be pure (1 John 3:2-3).
8. To be without spot or wrinkle (Eph 5:27)
9. To live and walk in the Spirit (Gal 5:19-21).
10. To walk in the light (1 John 1:7; Col 2:6).

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