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1. The Resurrection that every human being experiences when they die - and then immediately find themselves continuing as spiritual beings (many Christians believe they will wait in their graves for this - even until the end of the world). [-ed] (35:61) see

2. The Resurrection of an individual from unbelief to belief in God's Manifestation. [-ed] (35:62)

3. The Resurrection of the Cause of God which occurs whenever a new Manifestation of God comes to resurrect all mankind through the establishment of new teachings and a new religion. [-ed]. (35:63)

The Physical Body: According to the Bahá'í Writings, and the Bible, the physical body only exists in this physical plane. It is for temporary use only, and is not the reality of a human being. The human reality is 'spiritual' and will exist eternally in the spiritual Worlds of God. [-ed] (35:64)

The Heavenly Body: The Bible speaks abundantly about an ethereal 'Heavenly' body which can be manifested to this physical world in a 'Heavenly Vision'. This body obviously possesses marvelous spiritual powers which can duplicate the physical body in such accurate detail that it appears completely physical to beholders. (see mat 17:4,9, act 26:13,14,19) [-ed] (35:65) see

In the New Testament, Paul said: ".. flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God" (1co 15:50). (35:66) see

From the Bahá'í Writings, here are three statements about "Heavenly Bodies":
1) ".. It is manifest that beyond this material body, man is endowed with another reality which is the World of Exemplars constituting the heavenly body of man.." (fwu 108:4). (35:67) see

2) Thus it is certain that in man there is a reality which is not the physical body. Sometimes the body becomes weak but that other reality is in its own normal state. The body goes to sleep, becomes as one dead but the reality is moving about, comprehending things, expressing them and is even conscious of itself.. This other and inner reality is called the heavenly body, the ethereal form which corresponds to this body." (fwu. 109:2-3). (35:68) see

3) "When man desires help and communication from holy souls, he puts himself in a condition of self-unconsciousness and becomes submerged in a sea of meditation; then a spiritual state, which is sanctified from matter and all material things, becomes visible and apparent to him. Then he thinks he beholds a form. Its appearance is like unto a vision. Men behold in the World of Vision various images, communicates with them and receives benefits, and in that World of Vision he thinks they are physical temples and material bodies, while they are purely immaterial." (Star of the West, Dec. 1911, p. 6) (35:69)

Resurrection/Ascension insight (35:70)

As Jesus provided new insight into Judaism, Bahá'u'lláh has provided new insight into Christianity: [-ed]: (35:71)

"The resurrections of the Divine Manifestations are not of the body. All Their states, Their conditions, Their acts, the things They have established, Their teachings, Their expressions, Their parables and Their instructions have a spiritual and divine signification, and have no connection with material things. For example, there is the subject of Christ's coming from heaven: it is clearly stated in many places in the Gospel that the Son of man came from heaven, He is in heaven, and He will go to heaven. So in chapter 6, verse 38, of the Gospel of John it is written: "For I came down from heaven"; and also in verse 42 we find: "And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?" Also in John, chapter 3, verse 13: "And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but He that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven." (saq 103:2) (35:72) see

Observe that it is said, "The Son of man is in heaven," while at that time Christ was on earth. Notice also that it is said that Christ came from heaven, though He came from the womb of Mary, and His body was born of Mary. It is clear, then, that when it is said that the Son of man is come from heaven, this has not an outward but an inward signification; it is a spiritual, not a material, fact. The meaning is that though, apparently, Christ was born from the womb of Mary, in reality He came from heaven, from the center of the Sun of Reality, from the Divine World, and the Spiritual Kingdom. And as it has become evident that Christ came from the spiritual heaven of the Divine Kingdom, therefore, His disappearance under the earth for three days has an inner signification and is not an outward fact. In the same way, His resurrection from the interior of the earth is also symbolical; it is a spiritual and divine fact, and not material; and likewise His ascension to heaven is a spiritual and not material ascension. (saq 103:3) (35:73) see

Beside these explanations, it has been established and proved by science that the visible heaven is a limitless area, void and empty, where innumerable stars and planets revolve. (saq 104:1) (35:74) see

Therefore, we say that the meaning of Christ's resurrection is as follows: the disciples were troubled and agitated after the martyrdom of Christ. The Reality of Christ, which signifies His teachings, His bounties, His perfections and His spiritual power, was hidden and concealed for two or three days after His martyrdom, and was not resplendent and manifest. No, rather it was lost, for the believers were few in number and were troubled and agitated. The Cause of Christ was like a lifeless body; and when after three days the disciples became assured and steadfast, and began to serve the Cause of Christ, and resolved to spread the divine teachings, putting His counsels into practice, and arising to serve Him, the Reality of Christ became resplendent and His bounty appeared; His religion found life; His teachings and His admonitions became evident and visible. In other words, the Cause of Christ was like a lifeless body until the life and the bounty of the Holy Spirit surrounded it. (saq 104:2) (35:75) see

Such is the meaning of the resurrection of Christ, and this was a true resurrection. But as the clergy have neither understood the meaning of the Gospels nor comprehended the symbols, therefore, it has been said that religion is in contradiction to science, and science in opposition to religion, as, for example, this subject of the ascension of Christ with an elemental body to the visible heaven is contrary to the science of mathematics. But when the truth of this subject becomes clear, and the symbol is explained, science in no way contradicts it; but, on the contrary, science and the intelligence affirm it." (saq 104:3) (35:76) see

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