Time of ResurrectionThe chronological time of resurrection clearly denotes an event that is laden with clues of first century fulfillment. To demonstrate this in this, we will present a few introductory passages. Evidence from the Old Testament prophets, Christ and the apostles converge to present an effectively strong case in favor of the resurrection having already occurred. And do this, knowing the time that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. There is perhaps no more emphatic time statement for the resurrection in the New Testament. Paul says "knowing the time, literally, the hour (from hora Gk.) it is high time to awake out of sleep. In this verse, he figuratively describes the sleeper as catching the last wink before the sunrises. It is just the hour before dawn of the new day. That is how late in the game the apostles saw for the time of resurrection.
William Relaxing in the OfficeThe allusion to sleeping calls to mind Daniel 12:2, another passage with its own built-in time indicator noted in verse one. "At that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; and there shall be a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered. Every one who is found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt. " (Daniel 12:1, 2).This text is Paul's reference in Romans 13:11,12. Daniel had foretold that the time of the resurrection would occur in connection with Jerusalem's fall in A.D. 70. Compare Matthew 24:21, and Daniel 12:1. He further adds that it would be the time when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, i.e. Israel's destruction, (Daniel 12:7). Paul, and his readers knowing the time could with confidence report that the night was far spent, the day was at hand. Get your copy of William's latest book on eschatology: The Re-Examination
Likewise in Hebrews 10:25, the church was warned not to forsake the gathering together in view of Christ's imminent return as they could see the day approaching, (Hebrews 10:25). Paul's statement that now is our salvation nearer than when we believed accentuates the message that the day was then at hand, meaning it had already drawn near, hence the time of resurrection was near. A simple math calculation reveals that 70 AD was only about a decade away, a far shorter time distance than when the Romans first heard the gospel on Pentecost of A.D. 29, (Acts 2:10). Hence, he urges his readers, "let us cast off the works of darkness" and "let us put on the armor of light." This statement reflects the idea of making a complete transition from the law of Moses, discussed in Romans 7, and elsewhere in the epistle and going on to perfection in the gospel of Christ. Paul argued that the resurrection of the just and unjust was about to (mellein, Gk) occur, Acts 24:14, 15). Whereas Peter argued that God was ready to judge the living and the dead.(1 Peter 4:5)
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