칼빈과 한국장로교회의 교파별 종말론에 관한 비교연구 <‘부활과 천년왕국’을 중심으로>

Abstract

Celebrating the quintcentennials of the great reformer John Calvin, is the Korean Presbyterian Church truly standing firmly on the foundation of 'Calvinistic thoughts and reformed theology'? Why does the Korean Prebyterian Church, while it endeavors to follow 'Calvinistic theological thoughts and the principles of reformed theology' in all other Christian doctrines, does it avoid the standpoint of reformed theologians including Calvin, Luther and Augustine when it comes to 'eschatology'? What is 'Spiritual resurrection' and 'Physical resurrection'? When we talk about 'resurrection doctrine', we must explain the definition of 'death' first. We speak of three deaths in Christianity in doctrinal terms. These are 'Spiritual death, physical death and eternal death'. Adam and Eve, the progenitors of the human race, ate from the 'tree of the knowledge of good and evil' which God forbade to eat, when they were tempted by Satan, and began this great unhappiness. 'Spiritual death' means that by the 'sins of man', who were created in God's image, 'Spiritual relationship' between God has been severed. To put it in short, 'life with God' has been stopped. The first purpose of life is to glorify God and to live in delight of God. The reality of 'Spritual resurrection' is the life of the believer shown through listening to the word of God everyday through worship, and sharing a spiritual prayer with God and thanking and praising God for all graces that we have received. In that case, when did we 'spiritual resurrect'? Seen from a soteriological aspect, we have obviously experienced 'spiritual resurrection' when we were born-again by the Holy Spirit. However, seen from a eschatological dimension, 'spiritual resurrection' is finally realized by the death of the believer who lived in the faith of Jesus Christ. 'Physical death' means the 'separation of the body and the spirit'. In Genesis chapter 2, when God created man, God made the body out of the soil and then created the spirit by blowing life into him. The 'Spirit and body' of man was made into a organic entity, but as it was fused by God's mystical methods, it cannot be divided through the human methods of anatomy. A doctor will never find a person's spirit within his/her body. The final universal end will come with 'The second coming of Jesus Christ'. However, 'Personal end' will come from 'human death' because it is a personal event. Paradoxically, the final 'resurrection of the believer' will be realized through 'the physical death of the believer'. Of course, 'the body of the believer' will be layed in his tomb. Yet, 'the spirit of the believer' will go up to the Lord. This is to say that when we look at the process of Salvation displayed in the order of 'rebirth-gradual sanctification-death of the believer(completion of sanctification)', we know that the words of the Scripture 'blessed are those who die in Christ!'(Rev. 14:13) are true. Therefore, how these people whom the theologians call Amillenialist (which the present writer would like to call 'realized kingdom of God') interpret the 'first resurrection' might actually be the right interpretation of the Scripture. The only thing would be that calling 'first resurrection' 'rebirth' without exposition of the text would be a hasty answer. Revelations 6:9(the slain spirits of people), 14:13(blessed are those who die in Christ), 20:4(the spirits of the decapitated...came alive, and reigned with Christ for a thousand years), and such verses refer to the martyrs who died in their belief of Jesus Christ, who, though dead in body, 'resurrected in Spirit(the completion of sactification)'. In other words, this the scripture calls 'the first resurrection'. The unbeliever can never take part in 'resurrection' which signifies 'eternal life'. 1Corinthians chapter 15 and 1Thessalonians chapter 4, when it comforts those believers who are undergoing hardships, talk of 'the resurrection of the believer' only. The only instance where the resurrection of the unbeliever is mentioned is in John 5:29 where it talks of 'resurrection for judgement'. This verse was written in caution of the Saducees who denied the resurrection and taught the theory that spirits either sleep or are destroyed. The doctrine which the whole of the Scripture teaches is that only the bodies of believers resurrect (meaning sanctification) when Christ comes for the second time. In no sense does the Scripture teach that 'Earthly Millenium' will exist after the second-coming or that the 'resurrection of the unbelievers' will occur after the millenium. The believer attains the complete salvation through 'Spiritual resurrection' which is acquired through 'the death of the believer', and is completed by 'Physical resurrection(Glorification)' at the second-coming of Jesus Christ. When Christ comes again, the present earthly history will come to a conclusion, and the 'Eternal Heavenly Kingdom' will begin, as it is clearly stated in Revelations 21. Furthermore, in Revelation 22 it is stated that with the second-coming there is a 'final judgement', and revelation of the 'Eternal Heavenly Kingdom' for the believer, and 'Eternal condemnation(hell)' for the unbeliever(wicked). When a believer is born again, it can mean two things. First, is 'the beginning of Spiritual resurrection', and second, 'definite sanctification(beginning of sanctification)'. However, strictly speaking, 'the completion of spiritual resurrection' of the believer is achieved through 'death of the believer' in Christ. In other words, 'death of the believer' means 'the spiritual resurrection of the believer'(Heb. 11:4). Concerning Expository and Doctrinal discussion and conclusion on the problem of the 'Physical resurrection'. The clearest evidence about 'physical resurrection' is unquestionably shown in 1Corinthians 15 and 1Thessalonians 4:13-18. Pre-millenialist are misunderstanding these texts and extend unreasonable arguments, yet they only suggest the physical resurrection of Christians. When we interpret the Scripture, the parts are interpreted and enlightened by the whole and the whole by the parts. It is the general principle to interpret the uncertain parts by the clearer parts. Incidentally, from the two texts 1Thessalonians 4 is a clearer text than 1Corinthians 15. In other words, in 1Corinthians 15:22 it says "Just like all died in Adam, all will receive life through Christ", and then continues to say in verse 23, "begins with Christ who is the first fruit, and next it is with those attached to him when he comes again". Yet in verse 24, it says 'Then comes the end, when he delivers…….' It is clearer and amplified in 1Thessalonians 4:16, where it is written, 'For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the archangel's call, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first', and in verse 17 it says 'then we who are alive, who are left, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we shall always be with the Lord.' Here, the line of logic shown as '1. we who are still alive and are left' '2 will be caught up together with them in the clouds' '3 to meet the Lord in the air' '4 And so' '5 we will be with the Lord forever' clearly point to believers still living until 'that time(the second coming)'. Thus the order of 'Physical resurrection is as follows. 1. The Christ who is the firstfruit. 2. Those who died in Christ. 3. Those who are alive until the second-coming. It is in that order, because the concept of 'physical resurrection' is only decided after anyone experiences 'physical death'. Therefore, neither Enoch or Elijah who lived in Old-Testament times and rose to heaven cannot be the 'first-fruits of resurrection'. The Scripture testifies that only Jesus Christ, who died and resurrected, can be the 'first-fruits of resurrection(1Cor. 15:23)'. In that case, when can those 'believers who are alive till the resurrection' experience physical death? The answer to this question is in 2Peter 3:10 to 13. In verse 10, it is written that "the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire", then it goes on to use the expression "the earth and everything in it will be laid bare". Here, for 'those believers still alive' awaits a last test in which a 'pure faith' is made like pure gold made in by the refining process in a smelting furnace. However, we the believers need not worry, because like we read in Daniel 3:23-25, we will come out of this fiery test alive, just like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego who were thrown in the blazing furnace. Non only that, but as revealed in Daniel 3:25, 'the Christ who came again' will be with the believers, and so we will come out through the tunnel of death and will resurrect like the Scripture says (1Thess. 4:17). 1Thessalonians 4:17 is a passage which suggests that believers will resurrect and rise to heaven with Christ when the land mass of the earth burns like a furnace. Also, the part where it says 'together with them' must mean 'together with those who died in Christ' 'those who are still alive' will have 'physical resurrection', meaning eternal life, when Christ comes again(1Thess. 4:1-16). However, those who do not believe Jesus Christ until 'that time(his second coming)' cannot by any means participate in 'resurrection which signifies eternal life'. Only, they will resurrect, only for 'resurrection for judgement' as it is testified in John 5:29.