Was Moses Resurrected?
I have a question. My husband and I got onto the topic in Matthew 27:50–53 where it says that Jesus gave up His spirit, and in verse 53 I had a new revelation: people were resurrected upon Jesus’ resurrection.
I was showing my husband how excited I was about this new-to-me revelation, and he immediately brought up Walter Veith. Then he said Walter had an episode from his “What’s Up Prof?” in which he talks about Moses’ resurrection. I don’t believe I was ever taught that Moses was resurrected.
I know he died at 120 years and was buried by God, but then my husband tried to show me Jude 1:9. In that verse it talks about Michael and Satan we’re contending for the body of Moses. Do you have more information on this? I’d like to look further into it. I don’t believe there was ever a resurrection before Jesus came to earth. Am I wrong? Is this an EGW Adventist belief?
—VIA EMAIL
Response: You are correct; no one was resurrected before Jesus. Yes, He did bring the dead to life during His ministry, but those people were “resuscitated”, not resurrected in glorified bodies. Jesus is the firstfruits from the dead (1 Cor. 15:20, 23). No one could be glorified until He had paid the full price for sin and satisfied the justice of God, fulfilling the curse of the law. We have addressed this Adventist doctrine of Moses being resurrected (because within the Adventist worldview, Moses could not have been with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration unless he had been resurrected because, Adventism teaches, people cease to exist at death) in a past Sabbath School commentary. You may read our response to this doctrine here.
Eternal Scars
I just finished watching/listening to the live podcast from the FAF Conference. It is very good, as always.
I have a question: where, other than EGW, do we get the idea that Jesus will always have the scars from the cross? Is it in the Bible? Or is it just tradition?
—VIA EMAIL
Response: The idea of Jesus’ eternal scars comes from His appearance to His disciples after His resurrection when He identified Himself to Thomas. He had Thomas touch Him and touch His scars.
Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:26–29).
In other words, Jesus’ glorified body was identifiable by His scars.
What Commandments Do We Keep?
One of the biggest areas of confusion as an former Adventist is a topic I heard in your podcast:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKUY5uzksNE&list=PLN9GSkxQf71bXlfb3tQnInEnyXfNVBSIP&index=14
Right around 33:20 you referred to “those who keep the commandments of God …”
I know that nomos = Mosaic Law and entole = instructions and teachings.
Nevertheless, I struggle with the same idea that every time a “commandment” is mentioned, my mind goes straight to the Decalogue.
Are there any study helps or advice you could give to me to help me sort this confusion out? I am already planning on searching through the New Testament and looking at the original Greek, but anything that you all have used in your studies I would find very helpful and would much appreciate.
Blessings and thank you for all you are doing.
—VIA EMAIL
Response: Thank you for writing! The “commandments” trigger is real. Here is an article that may help you:
What Commandments Are In Revelation 12 and 14?
Also, this video of a testimony given by Nikki Stevenson at the 2019 Michigan FAF Conference will be helpful: https://youtu.be/K706JKMXz0s
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