It all depends

October 7, 2010

No, Michael Joseph Jackson isn't alive, hiding out somewhere, preparing for a startling comeback. As phenomenal as that would be, the King has indeed passed. So then, why the cruel question? Because it addresses other questions regarding MJ's outlook on life and marriage, particularly as understood by Jehovah's Witnesses in their critique of Scripture. Intriguingly, Jesus unlocks the mystery of marriage, resurrection, and different destinations in an answer he gave to religious and political opposers of his day.

Marriage Made in Heaven?: "On that very same day the Sadducees (unlike the Pharisees who only believe in the writings of Moses, and don't believe in the resurrection) came up to him and asked: ‘Teacher, Moses said, "If a man dies childless, his bachelor brother should marry the dead man's wife, have children, and then raise them as if they belonged to his dead brother." Now, there used to be seven brothers with us. The first one married and died. He had no children, so the next brother married his wife. The same thing happened with the second, the third, and eventually all seven brothers.

"‘Finally, the woman died herself. Now, this is our question to you: Since she married all seven brothers, whom will she be wife to in the resurrection?' In reply Jesus answered: ‘Your reasoning is warped. You neither know the entire Hebrew Scriptures--Moses's Writings included--nor the power of God. In the heavenly resurrection there won't be marriage ceremonies where the groom waits for his prospective bride to be given away. Men and women resurrected to heaven will be like the heavenly angels, who also don't marry.

"‘As for those resurrected to earthly life, you guys didn't read where God spoke to you through Moses, saying, "I am Abraham's God, Isaac's God, and Jacob's God"? That's why it's as if they never died here on earth. They're still alive to him, as if they were still here--on earth. For he is a God of the living, not the dead.' On hearing Jesus' words, the listening crowds were astounded." (Matt 22:23-33, Carr's Christian Bible) Jesus brilliantly showed here, and later after his own resurrection and ascension to heaven, that there would be more than one resurrection.--Re 20:5, 6; see also Ac 26:23.

Seven & Heaven: In projecting forward to the heavenly resurrection (as Jesus would do during his earthly ministry; see for example Matt 11:11, 12), Jesus demonstrated that the woman wouldn't be married to any of the seven brothers since it was understood that death ends the marriage.

(Also, in his revelation to the apostle John the resurrected Jesus made clear that the number seven signifies completeness in the spiritual heavens as revealed at Re 1:4, 12, 16; 4:5; 5:1, 6; 10:3, 4; and 12:3. Granted, while Jesus didn't introduce the "seven" brothers, the fact that this exchange was preserved in Scripture bolsters its significance.) Although they thought themselves clever the Sadducees, lacking substance, essentially asked Jesus a dumb question, clothe in shallow sophistication.  

The inspired apostle Paul reiterated the fact that death dissolves Christian marriages. (1 Co 7:39; Ro 7:2) Consequently, heaven-bound former Christian husbands and wives would be gender neutral. (1 Pe 3:7) They'd be spirit creatures, "like the heavenly angels."--Matt 22:30.

They would, however, carry their experiences as former men and women with them to heaven where they'll act as sympathetic kings, priests, and judges. (Lu 22:30; Php 2:5-11; 2 Ti 2:12; Re 5:9, 10; 14:13; 20:4; 22:5) But what about those like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob who'd be resurrected to life on earth?--Jn 3:13; Ac 2:34; Heb 11:1-13.

Earthly Resurrection & Marriage: Of the all the persons resurrected by Elijah, Elisha, Jesus, Peter, and Paul, there was no scriptural prohibition against them marrying. (1 Ki 17:21-3; 2 Ki 4:8, 32-7; Mk 5:22, 35, 41-3; Lu 7:11-17; Jn 8:38-45; Ac 9:36-42; 20:7-12) They could've all married later.

Will Race Matter?: Jesus' own enemies acknowledged to him: "It doesn't matter at all to you what the surface skin color of a man's face is." (Matt 22:16, CCB) To a resurrected Michael, who endeavored to imitate Jesus when with us, race won't matter should he decide to marry again.

Conclusion: Will Michael marry again? Not if he's in heaven. If, on the other hand, he's resurrected into the paradise earth he so longed for and tried to duplicate at Neverland, then it'll be his call. We'll just have to wait and see. Peace and blessings to all. Amen.