Are you really so sure that "many of those who sleep in the dusty ground" is not also saying that some are yet remaining asleep in the dusty ground?
Romans 6:3-5
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Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
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Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death:
that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
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5 [/SUP]For if
we have been planted together in the likeness of his death,
we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Colossians 3:1-3
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If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
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2 [/SUP]Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
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For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
Christ came to save all. And when He rose, ALL MEN indeed were drawn to Him.
If the rest had risen in Christ as you say, then it would be "all who remained asleep in the dusty ground" that would rise, by your theory.
But it does not say that "all of those who sleep in the dusty ground will awake..."
It says quite clearly, "Many of those who sleep in the dusty ground will awake..", just as clearly meaning that some remain asleep in the dusty ground.
Matthew 22:29-32
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Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.
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30 [/SUP]For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.
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But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,
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I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.
Matthew 27:50-53
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50 [/SUP]Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
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51 [/SUP]And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
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And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
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And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is One of the LIVING. Those that arose from the grave ARE THOSE OF THR RESSURECTION FROM THE DEAD. The arose and went into the "holy city AND APPEARED UNTO MANY"???
Hebrews 12:22-24
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But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
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23 [/SUP]To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
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24 [/SUP]And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
Again, those that arose were among the firstfruits of the dead. Those of the Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob variety, or "THE FEW" who finds life, walks the narrow path, etc. were not part of this grouping. God has been saving since man has been dying!
Exodus 29:37-42
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Seven days thou shalt make an atonement for the altar, and sanctify it; and it shall be an altar most holy: whatsoever toucheth the altar shall be holy.
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38 [/SUP]Now this is that which thou shalt offer upon the altar; two lambs of the first year
day by day continually.
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39 [/SUP]The one lamb thou shalt offer in the morning; and the other lamb thou shalt offer at even:
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40 [/SUP]And with the one lamb a tenth deal of flour mingled with the fourth part of an hin of beaten oil; and the fourth part of an hin of wine for a drink offering.
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41 [/SUP]And the other lamb thou shalt offer at even, and shalt do thereto according to the meat offering of the morning, and according to the drink offering thereof, for a sweet savour, an offering made by fire unto the Lord.
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This shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the Lord: where I will meet you, to speak there unto thee.
Jesus again being the door, accessed by His baptism INTO DEATH. Therefore the TRUE daily sacrifices are us!
Romans 8:36
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As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
But what has happened to these "daily sacrifices" commanded by God now?
Daniel 11:31-35
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31 [/SUP]And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength,
and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.
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And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.
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And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days.
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34 [/SUP]Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries.
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And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.
Romans 11:7-16
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What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.
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8 [/SUP](According as it is written,
God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear
unto this day.
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9 [/SUP]And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:
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10 [/SUP]Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.
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11 [/SUP]I say then,
Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid:
but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.
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Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?
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13 [/SUP]For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
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14 [/SUP]If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.
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For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?
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For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.
Even the branches that break off are holy!
Jeremiah 25:27 "Therefore thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Drink ye, and be drunken, and spue, and fall, and rise no more, because of the sword which I will send among you."
Exactly. God has done this. As you can CLEARLY SEE WITH YOUR OWN EYES there are 18 MILLION empty homes here in America. We can EASILY take 40 MILLION off of the streets RIGHT NOW. But has God blinded you to what's right in front of your face, or do you want to continue with the internet battle? There is no imaginary being keeping those houses empty, or people starving. Only ourselves and our own self righteousness!
Let's wake up people!
