Mike Painter

Six LITERAL Days of Creation?

It is a fact of history that Jesus Christ rose from the dead. No other explanation can account for all the data. Here is what we know for a fact happened in history: 1. Jesus Christ was killed by crucifixion. 2. He was buried in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea, a rich man and member of the Sanhedrin - formerly his enemy. 3. Jesus' death caused the disciples to despair and lose hope, believing that their leader was dead. 4. Jesus' tomb was found empty a few days later. 5. The disciples had experiences that they believed were literal appearances of the risen Jesus. 6. As a result of these experiences, the disciples were transformed from fearful doubters into bold proclaimers of the resurrection message. 7. This message was taught very early, within months of the crucifixion. 8. The disciples were willing to suffer and die for their belief in the resurrection. 9. James, the skeptical brother of Jesus who had not believed in him during his ministry, became a follower after an experience he believed was an appearance of the risen Christ. 10. Saul of Tarsus (later known as Paul), who was an enemy and persecutor of the early church, became one of Christianity's most prolific evangelists after an experience he believed was an appearance of the risen Jesus. 11. The resurrection message was the central proclamation of the early church and led to its rapid growth despite intense and oftentimes brutal persecution. 12. The resurrection account was proclaimed in Jerusalem, the very city where the events occurred, where enemies of Christianity could have easily disproven it, if false. They didn't. No explanation can account for all of these facts of history except that Jesus Christ of Nazareth really did rise from the dead, as prophesied in the Old Testament for thousands of years. He is Risen Indeed!