1 Cor. 15:20-24
3/26/16
Today I want to talk with you about the New World Order.
When it is fully established there will be no more war or bloodshed. Terrorism will be a thing of the past. Poverty will be unheard of. No one will ever hunger or thirst again in this new economy. All the problems that plague our earth will be fully resolved. Everyone will live in perfect bliss.
Turn with me to 1 Cor. 15 and let’s see how this will all come about.
Our text found in verses 20-24 “But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 23 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming. 24 Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power.”i
These verses summarize the implantation of the New World Order that God is bringing about. Notice in verses 23 and 24 three general phases of this plan. (1) Christ the firstfruits (2) afterwards those what are Christ’s at His coming. (3) The comes the end.…” There are details about each of these phases that are not spelled out in this passage.ii Paul is giving to us a general outline of establishing God’s New World Order.
Phase I: Resurrection of Jesus Launches New World Order.
Without the resurrection of Jesus, there could be no New World Order. Col. 1:18 says that He is the beginning, “the firstborn from the dead.” Here Paul refers to Christ in His resurrection as the firstfruits. The word firstfruits was meaningful to the Jewish mind. As harvest time approached they would bring the first ripened part to the temple as a wave offering unto God. It was thanksgiving for the whole harvest. The firstfruits was exciting evidence that the entire harvest was on its way.iii Jesus’ resurrection is the guarantee of your resurrection as a believer. Without the resurrection of Jesus, there could be no New World Order.
Paul passionately argues that point in 1 Cor. 15. There were some people spreading the old Sadducee heresy that the there is no resurrection.iv “God might be up there in the sky somewhere; but when you’re dead, you’re dead—it’s over. Live a moral life; be nice to people; that’s better for you and for society. But forget about life after death.” Paul jumps on this error with both feet. If Christ is not raised from the dead, then your faith is vain. What is the use of being a Christian if in this life only we have hope? It was the resurrection that declared Jesus to truly be the Son of God.v It was the resurrection that proved He is everything He claims to be. It is the resurrection of Jesus that is the basis of our hope as believers. Paul says in 1 Cor. 15:17 “And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!” The death of Jesus on the cross paid for our sins, but the resurrection proved that His sacrifice was acceptable before God.
Without the resurrection of Jesus all hope is lost. Paul even said in verse 19 “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.” Paul himself had paid a big price for His testimony of Jesus. He had been a privileged Pharisee of Pharisees.vi In the natural he had it made before he met Jesus. He could have lived a soft, comfortable life. But Paul met the Resurrected Christ on the Road to Damascus. Paul knew Jesus was Messiah because he had seen Him in His resurrected body. That encounter turned Paul completely around. That encounter changed the whole paradigm of Paul’s life. Now he suffers all kinds of abuse and reproach for the sake of His Master. He is stoned. He is beaten. He is shipwrecked and rejected.vii What a foolish way to live if there is no resurrection. In verse 32 Paul says, “If, in the manner of men, I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me? If the dead do not rise, ‘Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!’" If there is no life after death, if there is no moral accountability, if there is no judgment, then the logical conclusion is "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!" Live for your own pleasure and comfort.
I wonder how many people claim Christianity, but in practice that’s pretty close to their philosophy in life. They do it if they want to. They do it if it fits into their plans. They serve God on their own terms and mostly just serve their own desires. If we really understand the resurrection the way Paul understood it, we would serve God wholeheartedly-- because nothing short of that makes any sense. Hebrews 11:35 talks about people who “were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.” What do you do that you might obtain a better resurrection? Does Resurrection Day drive your decisions in life?
I talk with people who have supposedly given their lives to Christ. They claim to be Christians. Yet they live for their flesh just like the world does. They tack on a religious service now and then. But where the rubber meets the road, they just do what they want to do. They think that dedicated Christians sacrifice financially because they don’t particularly care for comfort and luxury. They think that dedicated Christians work hard to serve others because they can’t think of anything fun to do. They think dedicated Christians suffer persecution and reproach simply because they’re wired that way. No, in every human being the flesh is selfish and nasty. Everybody has a pull toward sin. But some people actually understand there is coming a judgement day. Some understand that they will one day give account for every idle word and every selfish deed.viii “Well, I’m a spiritual person, but I’m just not religious.” That’s fine, are you spiritual enough to deny ungodly lusts and selfish desires?ix Or are you just spiritual with no moral accountability. Oh, but you do have moral accountability! You’re just not acknowledging it.
Easter is a celebration of the resurrection of Jesus because His resurrection profoundly impacts our future. He is the firstfruits. He is the proof and guarantee of the whole harvest. Because He lives; we too will live. We too will have a body like His. Each star differs in glory. But each star is a heavenly body.x
The resurrection is a whole new order of creation; a different state of being. It is above and beyond the old creation. The New World Order God has in mind is not just an improvement on what is. No, that has to die and be done away with.xi God’s New World Order is a new creation. The resurrected Christ is the beginning of this. His body is not even made up of the same atomic elements that constitute this material world. Our mortal bodies are a natural body; but they will be raised a spiritual body. Not an improvement on the old; but a new creation—a New World Order.
Phase I was the resurrection of Jesus—the firstfruits.
Phase II: Holy Spirit is Currently Advancing God’s New World Order.
“afterwards those what are Christ’s at His coming.”
Every time someone hears the gospel and receives Christ and is born again—new creation is happening. 2 Cor 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” In the deepest part of that person’s being, there is a spiritual birth into the New World Order. Gal 6:15 “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.” To be a part of this New World Order you have to be born again; you have to be born of the Spirit.xii You have to become a new creature in Christ.
And God is developing His children day by day to rule and reign with Him in this New World Order. He trains us in ways. He renews our minds so that we think like He thinks. He brings us through fiery trials and burns away the dross.xiii The New World Order is being established in the hearts of God’s people. But it is a new creation; not just patchwork on the old man.
All of creation is moving toward the revelation of God’s New World Order.
Rom 8:16-25, “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs -- heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. 24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.”
All of creation is moaning and groaning and longing for the day this New World Order is fully established. The earth quakes; the skies thunder; the cry goes out throughout creation: “When will the consummation of all this be realized? Nothing is as it should be.” But God is at work resolving all the issues. At some point in the future the sons of God will be revealed. At some point in the future this mortality will take on immortality. There is a resurrection of the just coming in due time. The resurrection of the just is the highlight of Phase II in God’s plan.
1 Thess. 4:13-18 “But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”
That passage describes the resurrection of the just. There is a “catching up” element in it. It is not our purpose today to get into all the details of how that happens and what follows. But the implementation of the New World Order not only includes making you a new creature in Christ through the new birth, but also giving you a glorified body that corresponds to the New World Order.
The whole time that I have talked about New World Order there are probably some who feel a little uncomfortable with the term—and for good reason.xiv For the devil has hijacked what really belongs to God. Even as we speak; powerful men and women are speaking about a so-called New World Order that is very different than the one I’m describing. It is actually a counterfeit of what I have been talking about.
I know it’s going on because it’s always been going on. Lucifer has always wanted what belongs to God. Eons ago he said in his heart, “I will ascend above the heights of the clouds. I will become like the Most High” (Isa. 14:14). The Devil has always wanted to rule the world—and he has his own plans for a New World Order. It was first manifested at the Tower of Babel. Gen 11:4 “And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.” Two keys to the plan: centralization and unification—centralize the power and unify the people under that power (the “god of this world” inspiring mortal men to rule the world). We saw it at the Tower of Babel; we saw it in Alexander the Great; we saw it in the Caesars; we saw it in Napoleon; in Hitler; in Stalin. It’s not going to stop until God intervenes and put an end to it. In fact, the book of Revelations tells us it will intensify.xv
Never before in the history of mankind have we had the technology to unite and control the world like we have today. You would be surprised how much information about you is electronically stored and available to the powers that be.xvi
Something interesting happened behind the scenes last September. Last September the Shemitah (the Sabbath year) came to a close.xvii There were signs in the heavens, a lot of talk about the four blood moons that corresponded to the Jewish feasts in an amazing way. People were looking for something to happen. And something significant did happen.
On September 25, 2015 (while you and I were watching football games) the United Nations Agenda 2030 was approved by 193 nations including the United States. The Agenda declares 17 Sustainable Developmental goals for the world to be implemented during the next 15 years. The lofty objectives included eradicating poverty, saving the planet from environmental catastrophe, curing disease, establishing gender equality, and “the achievement of full human potential” throughout the world.xviii As I read this on the United Nations website, I thought “full human potential” reminds me of something I once read in the Bible. Six is the number of man because man was created on the sixth day. It is the number that falls short of the perfect number 7. Let me give you further proof that six is the number of man. Rev 13:18 “Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.” 666 is simply man taken to his highest potential. It is the Tower of Babel on steroids. These Agenda 2030 goals took effect on January 1st of this year.
I’m sure someone is thinking Conspiracy Theory. No, I’m just reporting the facts of what has been happening during the last few months. What I find in the Bible is a Conspiracy Revelation—not a theory. The god of this worldxix has conspired and continues to conspire to control mankind and to oppose God. I’m sure a lot of details of what people suspect is going on cannot be substantiated by the facts. But the desire for global dominance has been around in history for a very long time. And the Bible tells us that will emerge in the last days. The New World Order that fallen men are forging is a counterfeit and is in opposition to the New World Order God is working toward.
Why do we evangelicals think so different from most of the secular world on these matters? We believe biblical revelation; and we see world events through that paradigm. The goals of today’s Babel are deceptive because they sound lofty and seem reasonable to pursue. “What kind of person is against ending world hunger? Surely you would want to join us in curing disease and saving the planet? If not, maybe you’re the problem!” No, we want to see all those things happen. We do what we can to alleviate hunger and cure sickness. We care about the pain and suffering in the world. We simply know from biblical revelation that doing it without God (in a Tower of Babel manner) will not get us where we need to be. “Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”xx Communist ideals sound pretty good on the surface, but Russia wound up with a Stalin in power, a leader who killed millions of his own people. The real New World Order begins with a dramatic change in the individual heart and works its way out into the world around us. The counterfeit begins externally with world leaders forcing their agenda on the masses. The real New World Order is based on the principle of freewill and love. The counterfeit is based on power and coercion. God’s New World Order will prevail.
Coming back to our text in I Cor. 15:23 “But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits,” (Phase I) afterward those who are Christ's at His coming” (the resurrection of the just).
Phase III: End of the World Brings Full Realization of the New World Order.
Verse 24 “Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power.”
A pivotal point in human history is described in Revelation 19. There the Resurrected Christ returns to this earth as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He destroys the arrogant nations of the world; and establishes a 1000-year rule of peace. The United Nations talked about peace; but their hearts were deceived by the Devil himself. Peace can never come through corrupt ungodly men. What the Antichrist will do is promise peace, but actually bring war and destruction. “Then comes the end…” For 1000 years Jesus and His saints will rule the world in righteousness. During that time the Devil will be incarcerated. At the end of the 1000 years the Devil will be let loose to test the hearts of all those living in the earth. There will be a huge rebellion against God. Rev 20:9-15
“They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. 10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.”
That is the way it will all end. All opposition against a righteous, loving God will be eradicated. The New World Order will be fully established. Rev 21:1 “Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.”
This is a horrific event. The heavens will pass away Peter says “with a great noise; and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up” (2 Peter 3:10). That’s God’s solution for global warming! We should be responsible for managing our natural resources. God put man in charge of earth and we are accountable for how we take care of it. But in the end, God will renovate the whole thing Himself. This material world will be dissolved. A new heaven and a new earth will emerge that is of a whole different nature. We will dwell in that New World Order in glorified bodies like the one Jesus has right now. I don’t particularly like the term New World Order because it has been misrepresented by cults and by secular dictators alike. But I do like the plan God has for His people. I am particularly glad that Jesus rose from the dead. I like the way it all ends.
1 Cor. 15:24-28
“24 Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. 27 For "He has put all things under His feet." But when He says "all things are put under Him," it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. 28 Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.” It all begins with God, the Creator (Gen. 1:1) and it all ends with God being “all in all.”
END NOTES:
i All Scripture quotes are in New King James Version unless indicated otherwise.
ii There are only two resurrections: the resurrection of the just and the resurrection of the unjust. Christ’s resurrection is the firstfruits of the resurrection of the just.
iii “According to Lev. 23:4-14, the firstfruits in connection with the Passover were used to consecrate the coming harvest. Jesus died on the Passover, and His Resurrection is a promise of our own resurrection.” New Spirit Filled Life Bible, Jack Hayford, Gen. Editor (Thomas Nelson, 2002) p. 1602.
iv 1 Cor. 15:12; Matt. 20:23; Mark 12:18; Luke 20:27; Acts 23:8.
v Rom. 1:4
vi Phil. 3:5, 8; Acts 22:3-5 indicates affluence and influence as a Pharisee.
vii 1 Cor. 4:11-13; 2 Cor. 11:23-28; 1 Tim. 4:10
viii Matt. 12:36; Gal. 6:7-8
ix Titus 2:11-15
x 1 Cor. 15:41-42. Although Paul’s argument here centers on the difference between terrestrial bodies and celestial bodies, these verses probably imply a variation in the magnitude of glory that will be manifested in believers’ resurrected bodies. The “better” resurrection in Heb. 11:35 may refer to God granting that more glory be manifested in the person’s resurrected body. 2 Cor. 5:10 also indicates variation in the rewards of believers.
xi Rom. 6:3-6
xii John 3:3-6; 1 Peter 1:23; 1 John 5:1
xiii Rom. 8:16-18, 28-30; 1 Pet. 4:12-13
xiv The secular world uses the term often in their reference to globalization and other humanistic endeavors which leave God out of the picture, just as men did at the Tower of Babel. Cults also use the word with various interpretations. Jehovah’s Witnesses even title their corrupted translation The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures.
xv Rev. 13; 2 Thess. 2:3-12
xvi The invention of the computer has greatly increased the capacity of a central power to track and control people. Imagine how Hitler would have used such technology.
xvii Rabbi Jonathan Cahn’s book, The Shemitah, deals with this subject extensively.
xviii Information was accessed on 3/25/16 at the following websites. The United Nations website at http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/development-agenda/ ; The White House at https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/09/27/fact-sheet-us-global-development-policy-and-agenda-2030 ; United Nations press release at http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/presscenter/pressreleases/2015/09/24/undp-welcomes-adoption-of-sustainable-development-goals-by-world-leaders.html The Pope’s support for the agenda is at http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2015/09/03/holy_see_on_uns_2030_agenda_for_sustainable_development/1169218; UN News center at http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=51968#.Vvb_7OIrLIU. Of course, Agenda 2030 was preceded by Agenda 21 and other UN actions.
xix 2 Cor. 4:4; 1 John 2:16; Rev. 12:9
xx John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton, accessed 3/25/16 at http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/absolute-power-corrupts-absolutely.html.
