The Year of our Lord, Jesus Christ
John 5:25
Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
The hour that Jesus talked about in this verse has lasted at least 17,520,000 hours already. Yep, the seventh Verily, verily truth is astounding, no doubt. Jesus said that …The hour is coming, and now is… Herein is the twofold spiritual event spoken of as being both a present reality and a future prophecy.
Look at it like this, the hour that now is, is the spiritual offer of salvation. To receive eternal salvation all a person needs is to hear and receive the voice of the Son of God calling that person to come unto Him through the Gospel. This is done through a combination of ways and means. To hear the Son of God one must hear of the Son of God. They have to hear the gospel, meaning that someone somewhere tells them the good news of Jesus Christ straight from the pages of God’s Holy Word. This may be a pastor, a parent, a friend, Sunday School teacher, co-worker, anyone. Jesus said clearly that the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God. As the gospel is presented to humans by humans there is an unseen person called the Holy Spirit communicating to the one needing to receive Jesus. He is compelling sinners to receive Jesus in the spiritual realm, in the soul. If the person hears that voice and accepts the Gospel (Jesus) they will live. Not only will they live this life, but they will also live eternally in the next life.
Also, though, in this hour that the Lord speaks about, those who have died, will one day hear His voice and be resurrected. A few verses later John proves this when he wrote: Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; John 5:28-29a.
This is the duality of the Verily, verily teaching number seven. Individuals today hear His voice and they either receive it or reject it. Later in the graves those who have died will hear His voice and be resurrected. This is the hour in which we live.
Herein is the truth that Jesus wants all to know. Every person will hear His voice, every person today has the testimony of the Gospel through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, and one day, every person will come back to life after hearing His voice to “come forth” (remember Lazarus). Not only those who receive Him will come back to life, but every person. Proof? John 5:29 proves it; And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. Doing good is hearing and believing, therefore receiving the Gospel. Doing evil is living a life absent of the goodness (righteousness) of God having rejected His voice which is His call unto salvation. Truly, truly.
Until next time,
William T. Howe, Ph.D.