Bavinck 5: Last Things

Shadow and Body

The Old Testament was a shadow of the New Testament. The Old Testament showed us a shadow of Christ but now in Christ coming the New Testament gives us his body, this allows us to finally see the Old Testament more clearly now that we know who has cast its shadow. The Old Testament is revealed in the New and the New is concealed in the Old. For that reason, the New Testament frequently refers to the truth as its focus over the law of Moses. Christ is truth sending the spirit of truth. All Old Testament concepts shed their external, national-Israelitish meaning and become manifest in their spiritual and eternal sense. p. 731

The Same Body Raised

In the resurrection, the identity of the resurrection body with the body that has died will be preserved. Jesus rose with the same body in which he suffered on the cross and which was laid in the tomb. At the time of Jesus’ death, many bodies of the Saints were raised and came forth from their tombs. In the resurrection of the last day, all who are in tombs will hear Jesus’ voice and come forth. Paul teaches that the resurrection body proceeds from the body that has died, just as from the grain that has been sown, God raises up new grain (1st Corinthians 15:36). p. 750

Could it be then just as the grain that goes dies is raised new with the DNA of the old grain so we too in heaven will keep not the dust that was our bodies of course but the DNA that God built us with but pure. All mutations removed and in its glorified version. Just as Adam had perfect DNA before the fall and we have been gaining mutations over time our DNA will be made like Adam’s.

We must also not feel pain or be able to be hurt so perhaps these things are gained to our DNA or perhaps the DNA is unchanged but the matter in which the DNA controls is changed or perhaps this is something orchestrated by God to make us never have painful opportunity arise but the focus is that like a seed whose DNA is reborn so too God will use our purified DNA to rebuild our bodies for our souls. That would mean any mutations or defects in our DNA or scars or deformities gained in life will be taken away and Christ’s scars are either something he manifested just as he was able to change his appearance or a unique cosmetic decision for his body as a reminder of his sacrifice for us.

The History of the World

Scripture and history vie with each other in teaching that blessing and curse, compassion and anger, signs of favor and judgment alternate in the lives of people and Nations. There is great truth in the poet Schiller’s sayings that “the history of the world is the judgment of the world.” p. 754

Bavinck 5: Last Things

Shadow and Body

The Same Body Raised

The History of the World

Pairs well with

Bavinck 4: Christ and Salvation

Will We Keep Our DNA?