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APPENDIX by
Stuart Allen.
As an appendage to this study, we would point out that the above reflects our late
President's mature views on this subject. It was written in October 1964 when he was
ministering fully at the London chapel. It is evident from the Scriptures that there is
more than one "out-resurrection". Some have imagined that a special out-resurrection is
peculiar to the Mystery alone, and yet they go to II Cor. 5: for some of its details!
As Mr. Welch has shown, the Lord, in His earthly ministry, taught that there was an
out-resurrection for those who "shall be accounted worthy to obtain that age (world), and
the resurrection out from (ek) the dead" (Luke 20: 35). The resurrection of Rev. 20: 5 is
parallel, as those who experience it are overcomers who have been faithful unto death,
whereas the rest of the dead are left in their graves until after the 1,000 year reign of
Christ is accomplished. While the word out-resurrection is not used, the fact of it is
obviously there. Similarly we can place the `better resurrection' of Heb. 11: 35 in the
same category, as all those mentioned in chapter 7: are likewise overcomers who are
stamped with faithfulness, being willing to suffer loss in this present life, and content to
be strangers and pilgrims.
These are therefore at least three out-resurrections: (1) in connection with the Lord's
earthly kingdom; (2) the ministry of the Acts and the heavenly Jerusalem; (3) the Body
of Christ. In the first two the exact time element is not revealed. Neither is there any
time element in Phil. 3: 11, but if we realize that `prize' and `crown' are symbols, not
of two separate things but of one thing, namely reward for faithful service, then the
parallel epistle of II Timothy does date it for us. The Apostle says:
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith.
Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the
righteous Judge shall give to me AT THAT DAY, and not only to me, but also to all them
that have loved His Appearing" (II Tim. 4: 7, 8, R.V.).
In Philippians he was running the race for the prize, but, at that time, he was not
certain of attaining to it. In his last letter, II Timothy, he has finished the same course
and is allowed to say with certainty that he will receive his reward, not at death, but AT
THAT DAY, which the context of verses one and eight links with the Lord's appearing
(epiphaneia), the distinctive word which describes the hope of the Body. If the prize or
crown is received through a special resurrection just after death, then the Lord must be
sitting on His award-throne all down this age of grace and giving rewards one by one as
each prize winner dies. Needless to say, such an idea is completely unscriptural.
If we allow this important passage of Scripture to weigh with us, then we shall believe
that, as far as the time element is concerned, the prize or crown is received at the same
time as the hope is experience, namely at the epiphaneia of the Lord as Head of the
Body.