Hey Mike,

I hope things are going well for you and your family. I have a question about the resurrections. When will Abraham, Moses, etc. be resurrected? Luke 18:28 says there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you shall see Abraham, Jacob, etc… in the kingdom of God and you yourselves thrust out. They can’t be in the first resurrection, yet there are those that are cast out while Abraham is in the kingdom. Is this speaking of those that blaspheme the holy ghost?

Sincerely,
P____

Hi P____,

Like all the rest of the words Christ spoke, the words Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, are also spiritual words which mean what they mean instead of what they say.

Here are a few verses which demonstrate that the name Abraham, actually means Christ, the name Isaac actually means the children of promise, and the name Jacob or Israel actually means those who are in Christ:

Gal 3:29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Gal 4:28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the [true] children of promise.
Gal 4:29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him [that was born] after the Spirit, even so [it is] now.
Gal 4:30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.
Gal 4:31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

Rom 9:8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God [ physical Isaac, physical Jacob]: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.

Eph 2:11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Eph 2:14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

Flesh counts for no more than dung.

Php 3:3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
Php 3:4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:
Php 3:5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, [of] the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
Php 3:6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
Php 3:7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
Php 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

We are as Isaac. We are the true Israel of God if we are in Christ. There are not two men. There is but “one new man.” “Who hath made both ONE.”

Here is what makes one an Israelite:

Gal 6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.
Gal 6:16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace [be] on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

Here is a much better take on these two verses:

Gal 6:15 Can’t you see the central issue in all this? It is not what you and I do–submit to circumcision, reject circumcision. It is what God is doing, and he is creating something totally new, a free life!
Gal 6:16 All who walk by this standard are the true Israel of God— his chosen people. Peace and mercy on them! (MSG)

This is a perfect example of “comparing spiritual with spiritual” instead of physical with spiritual and calling it spiritual with spiritual. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are spiritual types of spiritual realities. They are not physical persons with spiritual understanding or spiritual promises of faith:

Gal 3:6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness [Meaning spiritually:].
Gal 3:7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. [“If ye be in Christ”].

Thinking spiritually is not a natural talent but is a gift of the spirit:

1Co 2:12 Now we have received [as a gift], not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
1Co 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned.

“Not in the words which man’s wisdom teaches…” Man, in his wisdom believes that the names Abraham, Isaac and Jacob mean what they say, and man in his wisdom does not believe that “He is not a Jew which is one outwardly.”

Rom 2:28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
Rom 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision [is that] of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

I hope this helps you to see the true spiritual meaning of Christ’s words to which you refer:

Mat 8:11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.

Notice the “Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,” under discussion here are “in the kingdom of God.” I will close with a few more very pertinent verses relating to this subject:

Mat 11:11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he [Or physical Abraham, Isaac, or Jacob].
1Pe 1:9 Receiving the end of your faith, [even] the salvation of [your] souls.
1Pe 1:10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace [that should come] unto you:
1Pe 1:11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
1Pe 1:12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

I hope this gives you an “all things new” understanding of who really are “Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”

Your brother in Christ,

Mike