Shall Our Future Resurrection
Take Place on Earth
Or In the Heavens?
I found that this article should say
something regarding Paul’s tomb,
as a background for my topic…the
resurrection of the Saints.
Thus I have below two writings
clipped from the net…
St. Paul’s Tomb Unearthed in Rome
The ancient tomb will now be on display for the first time in centuries.
By Maria Cristina Valsecchi, December 31, 2006. (From National Geographics website)
“St. Paul’s stone coffin has been found beneath Rome’s second largest basilica, but its contents remain a mystery, Vatican archaeologists announced today.
The sarcophagus dates back to about A.D. 390 and was uncovered in Rome’s Basilica of St. Paul’s Outside-the-Walls, named for its location beyond the ancient wall surrounding Rome’s center.
Long believed to be buried beneath the church’s altar, the coffin is now on display for the first time in centuries—its precious cargo, however, is not.
“For now we didn’t open the sarcophagus to study the contents. Our aim was to unearth the coffin venerated as St. Paul’s tomb, not to authenticate the remains,” said Giorgio Filippi, the archaeologist of the Vatican Museum, who directed the excavations.
“The sarcophagus was buried beneath the main altar, under a marble tombstone bearing the Latin words “Paulo Apostolo Mart.,”meaning “Apostle Paul, Martyr.”
The basilica “rises on the place where, according to tradition, Paul of Tarsus was originally buried after his martyrdom,” Filippi said.
Saul of Tarsus
St. Paul was born Saul in the first decade of the first century A.D. in Tarsus, the capital of the ancient Roman region of Cilicia in what is now Turkey.
Though he never met Jesus Christ, he joined the first Christians after a dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus, as told in the Acts of the Apostles, one of the Bible’s New Testament books.
Baptized as Paul, he traveled around part of what is now Turkey as well as ancient Greece and Rome, founding a number of religious communities.
Paul’s thought largely influenced Christian doctrine by means of 13 or 14 letters, the Pauline epistles, included in the New Testament. Perhaps his most recognizable passage—to modern wedding guests, anyway—is his poetic definition of love (“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast. … “).
According to later reports, in A.D. 65 Paul of Tarsus was imprisoned in Rome, beheaded, and then buried in the family tomb of a devout Roman noblewoman, Matrona Lucilla (Rome map, facts, photos, and more).
“Around A.D. 320 Emperor Constantine built a first small basilica to receive the pilgrims visiting Saint Paul’s tomb,” Filippi said.
“In A.D. 390 Emperor Theodosius enlarged the building and encased Paul’s remains in a sarcophagus located on view in the middle of the basilica—the same sarcophagus we found.”
“We know for sure it’s the same object because the stone coffin is embedded in the layer of the Theodosian basilica,” he continued.
In A.D. 433 part of the building collapsed during an earthquake. In the course of renovations the floor was elevated. The sarcophagus was buried and covered by a marble tombstone.
In 1823 a fire completely destroyed the ancient basilica, and the modern Saint Paul’s Outside-the-Walls was built on the site.
“The sarcophagus and the tombstone were covered by concrete and debris, on top of which the main altar, named the Papal Altar, was placed,” Filippi said.
The Excavations
Six years ago the Catholic Church celebrated what it called the Jubilee 2000. Pilgrims from all over the world visited Rome and Saint Paul’s Outside-the-Walls.
“They asked to see Saint Paul’s tomb and were disappointed to learn that it was buried and not on view,” said Cardinal Andrea Cordero Lanza di Montezemolo, the archpriest of the basilica.
“So we decided to begin excavations and bring the sarcophagus to light.”
Work started in 2002 and just recently wrapped up.
“Archaeologists opened a window 70 centimeters [28 inches] wide and 1 meter [39 inches] deep through the concrete layer under the main altar to reach the side of the sarcophagus,” he continued.
Archaeologist Filippi said, “There is a hole in the cover of the sarcophagus, about ten centimeters [four inches] wide.
“In ancient times people used it to dip pieces of fabric inside the coffin, so they would become relics too. Currently the hole is closed by debris.
“It could be used to access to the remains of the saint if and when Vatican authorities decide to explore what the sarcophagus contains.”
Cardinal di Montezemolo added: “At last, today pilgrims visiting the basilica can see the side of the sarcophagus through a small window we left open under the papal altar.”
Thus far regarding National Geographics’ website on Paul’s grave site.
Dick Harfield, Sydney, Australia, wrote on the subject, “Where did the Apostle Paul die?”:
«According to a Christian tradition that probably dates from the second century, Paul was beheaded in Rome on the orders of Emperor Nero, around 67 CE.
Writing in about 96 CE (1 Clement), Clement of Rome, who ought to have been aware if Paul was martyred in Rome just a few decades earlier, seems to have believed that Paul continued on to Spain and died there:
1 Clement 5:5–6: “By reason of jealousy and strife Paul by his example pointed out the prize of patient endurance. After that he had been seven times in bonds, had been driven into exile, had been stoned, had preached in the East and in the West, he won the noble renown which was the reward of his faith, having taught righteousness unto the whole world and having reached the farthest bounds of the West [Spain]; and when he had borne his testimony before the rulers, so he departed from the world and went unto the holy place, having been found a notable pattern of patient endurance.”
I believe Clement’s evidence is most persuasive, and that Paul died in Spain.”
Shall Our Future Resurrection Take Place
On Earth, or In the Heavens?
JAN LILLEBY
My clips above from the internet may be had as a slight stage requisites, - not necessarily true. But it is entirely certain that Paul died. Whether put in tomb near Rome, or some place in Spain, he has been dead now (2024) - for about 1957 calendar years. Most scholars hold that he died in jail in Rome 67 CE, executed by Emperor Nero’s guards.
And yet – we can have Clement of Rome’s statement on Paul as an option. Who knows?
But my case at hand is: Shall the Christian believer, if he dies before God concludes this Church dispensation, be resurrected out of his grave on earth, or will it happen up in heaven?
RESURRECTION OUT OF GRAVES IS IMPOSSIBLE,
GIVEN THAT THE CHURCH HAS A HEAVENLY
CALLING AND SALVATION
If we are to have the Bible as our norm in question of things regarding resurrection in our time, we must take this matter thoughtfully, and not rushing it.
In the Gospels we find resurrection out of graves (tombs) as something which happened to dead people who had not been dead very long.
The first example in this regard is of course the Lord’s resurrection, after only three days/nights. An angel of God appeared and he removed the huge stone which covered the entrance to the tomb, as told in Mat. 28:2-4, NASB,
“2 And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it.
3 And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.
4 The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men.”
Jesus was not put 6-foot underground in a sealed wooden coffin, let alone a stone sarcophagus. His dead body was laid upon a stone platter and it was surrounded by regular Oxygen…since it might have been that the big stone not necessarily was airtight. I have not studied that particular detail. But the Bible says nothing of any such masonry work to keep the tomb airtight. The traditions among Jewry were to use perfumed oils and spices, so to make sure no bad odor would offend visitors to the cemeteries. Three women went to Jesus’ tomb to care for His body with such means, Luke 23:55, 56, NASB,
“55 Now the women who had come with Him out of Galilee followed, and saw the tomb and how His body was laid.
56 Then they returned and prepared spices and perfumes. And on the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.”
(The three women were Mary Magdalene, Mary (not the mother of Jesus) - and Salome, all from Galilee).
Then we have Lazarus, who had lain in the tomb for four days, dead due to sickness. It might have been a Typhus-fever…we do not know for certain. But he died, says Scripture. John 11, NASB,
“1 Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.
2 It was the Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.
3 So the sisters sent word to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.”
4 But when Jesus heard this, He said, “This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.”
5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.
6 So when He heard that he was sick, He then stayed two days longer in the place where He was.
7 Then after this He said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.”
8 The disciples said to Him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone You, and are You going there again?”
9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world.
10 “But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.”
11 This He said, and after that He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I go, so that I may awaken him out of sleep.”
12 The disciples then said to Him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.”
13 Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that He was speaking of literal sleep.
14 So Jesus then said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead,
15 and I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe; but let us go to him.”
16 Therefore Thomas, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, so that we may die with Him.”
17 So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days.
18 Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off;
19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary, to console them concerning their brother.
20 Martha therefore, when she heard that Jesus was coming, went to meet Him, but Mary stayed at the house.
21 Martha then said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.
22 “Even now I know that whatever * You ask of God, God will give You.”
23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
24 Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies,
26 and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never * die. Do you believe this?”
27 She said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world.”
28 When she had said this, she went away and called Mary her sister, saying secretly, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.”
29 And when she heard it, she got up quickly and was coming to Him.
30 Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha met Him.
31 Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and consoling her, when they saw that Mary got up quickly and went out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there.
32 Therefore, when Mary came where Jesus was, she saw Him, and fell at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”
33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled,
34 and said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.”
34 Jesus wept.
36 So the Jews were saying, “See how He loved him!”
37 But some of them said, “Could not this man, who opened the eyes of the blind man, have kept this man also from dying?”
38 So Jesus, again being deeply moved within *, came to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone was lying against it.
39 Jesus said, “Remove the stone.” Martha, the sister of the deceased, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there will be a stench, for he has been dead four days.”
40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”
41 So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised His eyes, and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.
42 “I knew that You always hear Me; but because of the people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that You sent Me.”
43 When He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth.”
44 The man who had died came forth, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”
45 Therefore many of the Jews who came to Mary, and saw what He had done, believed in Him.
46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them the things which Jesus had done.”
I have emphasized the essence of this marvelous miracle of raising a dead man, even making him come out of the tomb (cave) as described here.
Notice: In Lazarus’ case the stone was removed so he could come out, while in the case of the Lord’s resurrection, the stone was being removed by an angel of God, and thus displayed an empty tomb! Jesus had come out of the tomb without the stone having been removed first. Big difference!
John 11 clearly also show to us that the Lord used Lazarus’ tragic death as a sign of God, so the Jews could believe on Him, verse 45. Jesus had willfully held back some days of His visit to Bethany, so that he would not arrive when Lazarus still was alive. His resurrection became an astounding earth-shaking miracle of God!
Then I like to mention that mysterious mass-resurrection, which took place after Jesus died on the cross, Mat. 27:51-54, NASB,
“51 And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split.
52 The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised;
53 and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many.
54 Now the centurion, and those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were happening, became very frightened and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”
These shocking moves of God, having recognizable dead people raised from the dead, walking alive in the city of Jerusalem, had the Roman centurion and his guards actually repent ‘On the Spot’ – confessing faith in Jesus as the Son of God. Notice that they did not come out of their tombs before Jesus had risen from the dead, v. 53. They appeared to many, it says.
They had witnessed God’s miraculous power to raise the dead!
The whole story tells us that the raised dead ones were people who had lived in their own time. They were known and recognized by the Roman officer and his soldiers, and surely others had also recognized them. The dead had not been in their tombs very long, it seems.
Actually, we cannot find one singular example of any dead person in the New Testament who was raised from a grave, 6 foot underground in a sealed coffin…eventually on a cemetery somewhere. Eventually leaving gaping holes in the ground where an open coffin was left, and the lid opened.
If it was so that a future resurrection of dead Christian believers implicated ‘Bodies taken out of the coffins leaving millions of holes on the cemeteries’ – I think that anyone of you readers will understand that this is not what will happen.
The eventual cemetery would look like it had been bombed, or something to that effect!
No – God has a different kind of resurrection for dead Christians, and that is His great solution of having them resurrected UP IN THE HEAVENS, leaving not one trace on earth of anyone coming up from graves around.
The dead bodies mentioned in the Gospels, were actually bodies. They were still ‘In one piece’ – and not dissolved by bacteria’s making the bodies shrink and eventually turn to bare bones and dust. You understand this, yes?
But imagine if God was to resurrect bodies that no longer existed? What of bodies which was buried in the ground, say – 1000 years ago?
One might find some bones, yes, but the bodies as such, would be all gone. It is clear that God is not depending on having a complete whole dead body at hand, when raising a dead believer. He can even rise dead who have died in a bomb raid of WW II – persons who were burned to death by fire, or even shattered into bits and pieces in explosions.
God does not differ between a person who was burned to death in war, and one who was cremated…like the practice we have in most civilized nations today.
God will find this person no matter what kind of death happened to him. Death by fire, water, accidents, car-crashing, killed by robbers, died of sickness…nothing can stop God from finding and resurrecting a believer in Christ. The solution is that God will resurrect them all up in His High Heaven, and Paul had that in mind as he wrote Col. 3:1-4, NASB,
“1 Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.
3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.”
Gracepano.com
