Let us once again return to our scripture in question and find the true significance of our Lord’s meaning to our subject text, viz., Luke 20:34-36. First as any good bible student would do, we should thoroughly read the context to find out exactly why the Lord made this statement and to what or to whom (as well as to when) it is applicable.

The Sadducees with whom our Lord held this conversation were disbelievers in a resurrection. They held that death ended all existence forever, as much to mankind as to beasts; and they held up the case of this woman with seven husbands, as an argument to prove that if a resurrection should take place, it would produce an endless jangle by reason of mixed and confused social arrangements.

Our Lord’s answer is that they erred from not appreciating the power of God to control and arrange the entire minutia, as well as the grander and greater features of his plan, and from not understanding the Scriptures. The Scriptures now opening up in the dawn of the approaching Day, disclose to us the fact that the world’s resurrection (Greek anastasis—raising up) will be a gradual work covering a period of a thousand years, and not a momentary work as the Sadducees and others, supposed.

We at one time held the view that the resurrection here referred to was the First Resurrection, the resurrection of THE CHURCH to spiritual perfection. But if so, the Greek word translated resurrection should be emphatic, so as to show that a special or particular resurrection is meant. But on critical examination, we find that anastasis as here used is not specially emphasized. Besides, as we examine the context it is evident that not the resurrected condition of the Church is discussed, but the resurrected condition of the World, as represented by the woman who had been married successively to the seven husbands. Our Lord’s reply as above is an answer to the query, “In the resurrection, whose wife shall she be?”

Our Lord’s answer steps right over the Millennial Age or period of attaining perfection (resurrection), with the answer that they must learn to trust “the power of God.”

“He does not explain how it will be during the Millennial age, while the race is being awakened, but points his words to “that age” of perfection which will follow the Millennium of testing.”

His explanation shows how it will be in that great everlasting future, “the ages to come”, which stretches out beyond the Millennium, and to which the Millennial Age serves but as a gateway, to admit the willing and worthy, and to “cut off” the unwilling and disobedient.

Thus viewed, mark the import of our Lord’s words: “They which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world [age] and the resurrection, neither marry nor are given in marriage.” It is evident from a close examination that our Lord refers to a period after the world has been tried.

The words “shall be accounted worthy,” show that those referred to were not yet accounted worthy; and that some future trial must be undergone by them, which would demonstrate their worthiness to attain the resurrection, and their right to live under the new order of things, where sin and sinners are inexcusable and will not be permitted.

As to the second part of our text in question, “Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.” Luke 20:36

This passage would better be rendered “LIKE UNTO THE ANGELS.” rather than “equal” unto.

The word “equal” here is a poor translation; the sense is “like”, as rendered above. (See Strong’s # 2465, compare with the Diaglott) Man in his perfection is “a little lower” than angels, a human, earthly being, while angels are spirit beings. The work of perfecting or raising up the fallen race (Acts 3:19-21) to the perfection from which it fell, will not change man to a spirit-being such as angels are.

But while men and angels are of different natures, they will be alike in some respects. The Lord mentions the particular point of likeness here referred to, viz., that “they will no longer marry, neither will they die thereafter.”

The thought is this, the trial or judgment of the Millennial age will be so complete and the lessons of obedience so well impressed upon men that only the “worthy” will attain to that condition of perfection and on these the lesson of the bitterness of sin and the blessedness of obedience will be so deeply impressed that eternity will not efface it, and they will never again choose sin; and consequently “neither will they die thereafter.” All who attain that age at all will be so, because all not “counted worthy,” the great Judge will “cut off,” or “destroy from among the people.”–Acts 3:23.

Another way in which both those accounted worthy of that age will be like or similar to angels is that at that time the prayer of all the saints since the beginning will be fulfilled. “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done (completely) on earth even as it is in heaven” In heaven God’s will is complete, all his works are perfect, holy. All the heavenly host are holy, so too will be mankind, that is those so worthy to obtain that age, holy, perfect “even like unto the angels”

 Continued with next post.