12-1 The Resurrection in the Torah
For all the land which you see, to you will I give it, and to your seed forever.
The Torah does not say, “this is the resurrection of the righteous” in plain black and white text. We cannot type the word “resurrection” in our search engine for our favorite version of His Word and find a reference to the “resurrection” itself. It is not spelled out in the black and white. However, it is implied over and over throughout the Law and Prophets. We just need to remove a couple stumbling blocks.
There are two main stumbling blocks that prevent people from seeing the resurrection in the Torah. The first one is that most people do not treat the Word of Yahuah as something that stands forever. They form interpretations illustrating that the Word of Yahuah can be changed and/or deleted even by Yahuah, Himself. People claim that Messiah Yahusha changed or deleted the Laws spoken by Yahuah Elohiym. This leads to many misunderstandings and misinterpretations of the original intended message. The truth is that the Word of Yahuah cannot be changed or deleted. None of it. Yahuah cannot change or delete it and Messiah Yahusha cannot change or deleted it… ever! This is based on the following passages:
The grass withers, the flower fades: but the Word of our Elohiym shall stand FOREVER.
For I am Yahuah, I change not; therefore, you sons of Ya’aqob are not consumed.
For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and returns not there, but waters the earth, and makes it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So, shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
These testimonies clearly tell us that the Word of Yahuah stands forever. This means that the sacrificial system is still applicable. The ceremonial Laws are just as active as the moral Laws. His Laws include more than just the Ten Debarim (Commandments). ALL of the Laws written in the Torah are still active and applicable because they stand FOREVER. Here is an example:
Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, set-apart to Yahuah: whosoever does any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.
These are Words spoken by Yahuah Elohiym. They stand forever and cannot be changed or deleted. Yahuah says that His Word will not return to Him void. This means this Word will be “fulfilled”. Anyone who works on the seventh day Sabbath will be put to death and it will be our Messiah who brings this to pass. He said that he came to “fulfill” the Law, not to abolish it. As King, he will have the lawful authority to ensure this Law is “fulfilled” in the earth and he most assuredly will. Everyone in the whole earth will be honoring the Sabbath on the seventh day.
And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, says Yahuah.
The Word of Yahuah is like the natural laws of the universe. Scientists rely upon the natural laws of the universe to be constant. This is why cars drive and airplanes fly. Engineers have learned to operate within the bounds of the natural laws to create these things. The same Creator who established the natural laws of the universe is the same Creator who spoke His Word into existence. His Words bear the same characteristics as the natural laws of the universe. The words of men and women do not. This is how we must understand His Word in order to see the promises for the resurrection.
The second stumbling block is that people do not seem to fully comprehend that Yahuah is a Keeper of promises. One of His Laws requires us to follow-through on everything that we have promised with our mouth.
When you shall vow a vow unto Yahuah your Elohiym, you shall not slack to pay it: for Yahuah your Elohiym will surely require it of you; and it would be sin in you. But if you shall forbear to vow, it shall be no sin in you. That which is gone out of your lips you shall keep and perform; even a freewill offering, according as you have vowed unto Yahuah your Elohiym, which you have promised with your mouth.
Yahuah abides by His own Laws. He does not sin. This means that Yahuah Elohiym MUST fulfill everything that comes from His mouth. Here is an example:
For all the land which you see, to you will I give it, and to your seed FOREVER.
Yahuah Elohiym promised Abraham that he would be given this land FOREVER. Yahuah Elohiym also promised that his seed would be given this land FOREVER. However, testimony says that Abraham, Yitzak (Isaac) and Ya’aqob (Jacob) were strangers in the land their entire lives.
He is Yahuah Elohiym: his judgments are in all the earth. He has remembered his covenant forever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations. Which covenant he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Yitzhak; And confirmed the same unto Ya’aqob for a Law, and to Yashar’El for an everlasting covenant: Saying, Unto you will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance: When they were but a few men in number; yea, very few, and strangers in it.
They did not receive the land promised to them FOREVER because they died.
Then Abraham gave up the spirit, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people.
And Yitzhak gave up the spirit, and died, and was gathered unto his people, being old and full of days: and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.
And when Ya’aqob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the spirit, and was gathered unto his people.
Yahuah made a promise to Abraham and confirmed it with Yitzhak and Ya’aqob. By Yahuah’s own Law, Yahuah is required to “fulfill” these promises He made to them.
What must Yahuah do to keep this promise to them?
He must resurrect them from the dead in order to keep this promise to them. Abraham, Yitzhak and Ya’aqob will receive the land and live in it FOREVER. It is a promise spoken by the mouth of Yahuah Elohiym. His Word does not return void. It is always “fulfilled”. These promises cannot be changed or deleted. They stand FOREVER. We can count upon it.
Yahuah made the same promise to Ya’aqob:
And he [Ya’aqob] dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the messengers of Elohiym ascending and descending on it. And, behold, Yahuah stood above it, and said, I am Yahuah Elohiym of Abraham your father, and the Elohiym of Yitzhak: the land whereon you lie, to you will I give it, and to your seed; And your seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in you and in your seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. And, behold, I am with you, and will keep you in all places where you go, and will bring you again into this land; for I will not leave you, until I have done that which I have spoken to you of.
Yahuah specifically said that He will give that land to Ya’aqob and his seed. Ya’aqob would inherit this land. However, it was not realized in his lifetime. In order to keep this promise to Ya’aqob, Yahuah will have to resurrect him from the dead. Yahuah follows-through on ALL of His promises. He is trustworthy and we have evidence that He is capable of resurrecting us from the dead. His promises are reliable.
Here is another example illustrating the resurrection in the Torah.
See, I have set before you this day life and good, and death and evil; In that I command you this day to love Yahuah your Elohiym, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that you may live and multiply: and Yahuah your Elohiym shall bless you in the land where you go to possess it. But if your heart turn away, so that you will not hear, but shall be drawn away, and worship other mighty ones, and serve them; I denounce unto you this day, that you shall surely perish, and that you shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither you pass over Jordan to go to possess it. I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore, choose life, that both you and your seed may live: That you may love Yahuah your Elohiym, and that you may obey his voice, and that you may cleave unto him: for he is your life, and the length of your days: that you may dwell in the land which Yahuah swore unto your fathers, to Abraham, to Yitzhak, and to Ya’aqob, to give them.
Yahuah has presented two choices in this passage:
- Life without death which includes blessings in a land of promise.
- Death without life which includes curses.
If we follow the instructions in this passage, we will receive a “life without death and curses”. This is an eternal life filled with great blessings in a land of promise. The “death” in this passage is avoidable. It is an option. This is not speaking about the “first death” mentioned in Bereshith (Genesis) 2:17. ALL of us experience the “first death” whether we follow these instructions or not. In order to have a “second death,” everyone must be resurrected from the first death. This is discussed by Shaul of Tarsus (Paul) in the following passage:
For since by MAN came death, by MAN came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam ALL die, even so in Messiah shall ALL be made alive.
Everyone is going to be resurrected from the first death because of the redemption provided by Yahusha. This is how ALL the families of the earth will be blessed.
And I will bless them that bless you, and curse him that curses you: and in you shall all families of the earth be blessed.
And your seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in you and in your seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.
ALL of the families of the earth are blessed because ALL have been redeemed from the curses and first death mentioned in Bereshith (Genesis) 3:14-24. Everyone is going to be resurrected from the dead. This is the subject of the Abrahamic Covenant. When Yahuah was speaking in Debarim (Deuteronomy) 30:15-20, He was speaking from a frame of mind in which the redemption of mankind was a settled matter. He was and is telling us how to avoid the “second death”. This is how we avoid it.
- We love Yahuah.
- We walk in His Ways.
- We guard His commandments, statutes and judgments.
- We hear and obey His Voice which is His Word.
- We cleave to Him in the bond of covenant.
If we do these things, we will avoid the “second death”. If we do these things we will receive a “life without death and curses” which is eternal life. Many people have placed their faith in these Words and have not received what was promised. In order to “fulfill” this promise to these people, He must resurrect them from the first death. Debarim (Deuteronomy) 30:15-20 is the promise for eternal life with blessings in a land of promise. It is the promise of our resurrection from the dead.
People who do not do the actions listed in Debarim (Deuteronomy) 30:15-20 will receive the “second death” and “curses” in the resurrection. This is confirmed by Messiah Yahusha in the following:
Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
Debarim (Deuteronomy) 30:15-20 makes a distinction between “doing good” and “doing evil”. Messiah Yahusha is referring directly to this passage in the Law. Those who have “done good” have followed the instructions in Debarim 30:15-20. They will inherit a “life without death and curses”. Those who have “done evil” will inherit a “death without life and blessings in a land of promise”. There is no redemption from the second death. We will not be given another chance to do that which is right. Now is the time.
The new covenant in Yirmeyahu (Jeremiah) 31:31-34 does not give us a promise for eternal life. Here is the text:
Behold, the days come, says Yahuah, that I will make a new covenant with the House of Yashar’El, and with the House of Yahudah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they break, although I was an husband unto them, says Yahuah: But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the House of Yashar’El; After those days, says Yahuah, I will put my Law [TORAH] in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their Elohiym, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know Yahuah: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, says Yahuah: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
Yahuah Elohiym is going to take ALL of the Laws mentioned in the writings of the Prophet Moshe and put them into our hearts. This is not a promise of eternal life because that promise was already established in the covenant given at Mount Sinai. He does not need to make another promise granting eternal life to people. Debarim (Deuteronomy) 30:15-20 is it. It provided the lawful framework that allowed Yahuah to raise Yahusha from the dead. Yahusha did all the things summarized in Debarim 30:15-20:
- He loves Yahuah.
- He walks in Yahuah’s Ways.
- He guards Yahuah’s commandments, statutes and judgments.
- He hears and obeys the Voice of Yahuah which is His Word.
- He cleaves to Yahuah in the bond of covenant.
As a result, Yahusha is living in the Presence of Yahuah in the Garden of Eden with access to the Tree of Life. If we do what he did, we will receive the same outcome in the resurrection. Our Father must fulfill all of His promises.
If we do what He has summarized in Debarim (Deuteronomy) 30:15-20, we will receive a “life without curses and death”. If we don’t, we will receive the “second death and curses without life and blessing in a land of promise”.
Yahuah cannot make another promise that contradicts this promise.
This promise stands FOREVER and cannot be changed or deleted. We can count on these Words. If we do what He says, He is bound to the outcomes promised. There is no new covenant with Yahuah that gives people permission to violate His Laws and still receive a “life without death and curses”. This would contradict His own Words and make Him a liar. Yahuah is NOT a liar. He is trustworthy and faithful.
The Words summarized in Debarim (Deuteronomy) 30:15-20 IS the Message of Salvation in the Torah. It is the promise of eternal life and blessings in a land of promise. Everyone who follows His instructions in this passage will receive that which is promised just like Messiah Yahusha. Yahuah cannot make a promise that is different than this one. We cannot allow people to deceive us and convince us otherwise. If we do, we will surely receive curses and the second death in the resurrection.
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