The Apex of History

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I have an incredible chart of history. It shows the spread of people groups, the rise and fall of world empires, the modern world wars, major epidemics, important discoveries and inventions—thousands and thousands of key events in the chronology of human affairs from creation week until it was published in 1992 and given to me as a phenomenal gift. I refer to it often.

But none of these events come close in comparison to that single morning in Jerusalem when Jesus rose from the dead.

Having been horribly scourged and put to death by crucifixion, certified dead by a sword thrust into the gut, he was buried in a tomb, shut up with a massive grave stone that was then sealed and protected from tampering by a Roman guard.

On Sunday morning, an earthquake broke the seal and rolled the stone away for the body of Jesus had come to life and departed, leaving the grave clothes and heavy spices in a collapsed heap.

Jesus had risen, just as He had said.

This is the great Christian event. This is the great world event.

The is the great, consummating proof that Jesus was everything He had declared Himself to be: the way, the truth and the life; the Messiah; the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the great I Am.

This is the Apex of History. Upon this rests our hope for today and our hope for the future.

(If you would like to ponder this event for the next 40 days until Pentecost, you may do so below.)

If Jesus Rose from the Dead, then... (#0)

If Jesus Rose from the Dead, then (#1) the Seal Was Broken

If Jesus Rose from the Dead, then (#2) the Stone Was Rolled Away

If Jesus Rose from the Dead, then (#3) the Guards Knew It

If Jesus Rose from the Dead, then (#4) Creation Knew It and Clapped Its Hands

If Jesus Rose from the Dead, then (#5) the Angels Would Have Announced It

If Jesus Rose from the Dead, then (#6) the Women Would Have Known It First

If Jesus Rose from the Dead, then (#7) the Disciples and Peter Would Have Known It

If Jesus Rose from the Dead, then (#8) God Would Record It Inerrantly (Times)

If Jesus Rose from the Dead, then (#9) God Would Record It Inerrantly (Numbers)

If Jesus Rose from the Dead, then (#10) God Would Record It Inerrantly (Events)

If Jesus Rose from the Dead, then (#11) God Would Record It Inerrantly (Places)

(#12) Harmony in the Resurrection Accounts (Preface)

(#13) The Resurrection Story (Harmonized)

If Jesus Rose from the Dead, then (#14) He Must Have Existed

If Jesus Rose from the Dead, then (#15) He Must Have Been Dead and Buried

If Jesus Rose from the Dead, then (#16) the Tomb Would Have Been Empty (Evidence)

(#17) The Resurrection Polemic

(#18) The Early Resurrection Creed

If Jesus Rose from the Dead, then (#19) the Tomb Would Have Been Empty (Theories Against)

If Jesus Rose from the Dead, then (#20) Jesus Was and Is Alive

If Jesus Rose from the Dead, then (#21) It Would Have Radically Changed the Disciples

If Jesus Rose from the Dead, then (#22) It Would Have Radically Changed the World

If Jesus Rose from the Dead, then (#23) Satan Was Crushed

If Jesus Rose from the Dead, then (#24) Death Was Defeated

If Jesus Rose from the Dead, then (#25) We Will Also Rise

If Jesus Rose from the Dead, then (#26) He Is the Firstfruit

If Jesus Rose from the Dead, then (#27) Why Did He Leave?

If Jesus Rose from the Dead, then (#28) the Predictions Were True

If Jesus Rose from the Dead, then (#29) It Was the Great Confirmation

If Jesus Rose from the Dead, then (#30) He Is Lord and God

If Jesus Rose from the Dead, then (#31) Our Sins Are Forgiven

If Jesus Rose from the Dead, then (#32) Our Faith Is Not in Vain

If Jesus Rose from the Dead, then (#33) We Will Be Together Again

If Jesus Rose from the Dead, then (#34) He Is Interceding for Us

If Jesus Rose from the Dead, then (#35) He Will Judge the World

If Jesus Rose from the Dead, then (#36) After Departing He Would Have Sent the Holy Spirit

If Jesus Rose from the Dead, then (#37) He Would Have Equipped Us for Changing the World

If Jesus Rose from the Dead, then (#38) He Is Preparing Opportunities for Us Now

If Jesus Rose from the Dead, then (#39) He Left and Turned It Over to Us

If Jesus Rose from the Dead, then (#40) It Would Have Changed Everything

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10
If Jesus Rose from the Dead, then... (#0)
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