Further Thought: Read Ellen G. White, “Visions of Future Glory,”
pp. 722–733, in Prophets and Kings.
Modern science teaches that all matter is composed of atoms, them-
selves made up of two smaller particles, quarks and leptons, which are
believed to be the building blocks of all physical reality. If, then, at the
core the physical world is quarks and leptons, couldn’t the God who
not only created and sustains that world also just reconfigure the quarks
and leptons when the time comes to resurrect us? Mocking the resur-
rection, atheist Bertrand Russell asked what happens to those whom
cannibals ate, because their bodies are now part of the cannibals’, and
so who gets what in the resurrection? But suppose the Lord simply
grabs quarks and leptons, the ultimate building blocks of existence,
from wherever, and, based on the information that He possesses about
each one of us, reconstructs us from those quarks and leptons on up?
He doesn’t need our original ones; any will do. Or, in fact, He could
just speak new quarks and leptons into existence and go from there.
However He does it, the God who created the universe can re-create us,
which He promises to do at the resurrection of the dead.
“The Life-giver will call up His purchased possession in the first
resurrection, and until that triumphant hour, when the last trump shall
sound and the vast army shall come forth to eternal victory, every
sleeping saint will be kept in safety and will be guarded as a precious
jewel, who is known to God by name. By the power of the Saviour
that dwelt in them while living and because they were partakers of the
divine nature, they are brought forth from the dead.”—Ellen G. White
Comments, The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 4, p. 1143.
Discussion Questions:
Ê There are an estimated two trillion galaxies out there, each
made of billions and billions of stars. And some of these stars have
planets orbiting them, just as the planets in our solar system orbit
the sun. Now, think about the incredible power of God, who not
only created all these stars, but who also sustains them and knows
them by name (Ps. 147:4). Though this amazing reality does not
prove that this same God can or will raise the dead, how does it
reveal to us this same awesome power that He does have and why,
certainly, something like the resurrection would not be beyond His
power?
Ë Hebrews 11 highlights the faithfulness and expectations of many
of the “heroes of faith” of ancient times. How can this chapter
enrich our understanding of the hope that the characters in the Old
Testament had, even before the resurrection of Jesus?
