The Resurrection

Introduction

The idea of resurrection is of critical importance to the Christian Faith. When Jesus conquered death on the cross, he validated that fact through his resurrection when he appeared to his disciples and many others. (Acts 1:1-8) The New Testament tells us how his resurrection applies to believers.

1 Corinthians 15:16-17 – For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; 17and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins… If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.

As far back as the book of Job, considered to be the oldest book of the Bible, Job spoke of his belief in the Resurrection. As we will show, this is a core belief in the Bible.

As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives,
And at the last He will take His stand on the earth.
Even after my skin is destroyed,
Yet from my flesh I shall see God;
Whom I myself shall behold Job 19

Romans 6:5 – For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection

 

The Resurrection of Lazarus

Read the story of Lazarus in John 11:1-27

The Gospel of John says that Jesus loved his friends – the family of Lazarus – Mary, Martha and their brother. However, in this very unique case, Jesus allowed his friend Lazarus to die in order to display the power of God over death, and the true identity of Jesus.

  1. Note how the death of a believer is called sleep. “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I go, so that I may awaken him out of sleep… Jesus then said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead”
  2. In case anyone might claim that he wasn’t really dead – “he had already been in the tomb four days.”
  3. Jesus makes a general statement about the Resurrection – “Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
  4. Jesus reveals himself as Lord over Resurrection. – “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies,26 and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die” (see also John 10)

John 5:21 – “For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes.”

John 10:18 – I lay down My life so that I may take it again. 18“No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again.

 

The Gospel of Jesus

The Resurrection is clearly woven into the Gospel message.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.”

 

Resurrection and the Endtimes

Other than a special group of people described in 1 Corinthians 15, the Resurrection is the promise of a new body, raised from the dead. (however that works)

How many resurrections does the Bible teach? Surely just one right? One might think, sensibly, that there is only one Resurrection from the dead, but that is not correct. Our Dispensational viewpoint is helpful here as we see the timing of the Resurrections tied to different groups of people along with their relationship to the Endtimes. For example, in Revelation 20:4-6, two groups are described, one (believers) to be resurrected and the other (unbelievers) to wait for a later date. Also, notice how the verse says “This is the first resurrection”

And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection

See also: 1 Cor 15, Daniel 12, Revelation 20:4-6, John 5:25-29, 11:17-27, Romans 6:5, 1 Samuel 2:6, Psalm 16:10

 

What does the Resurrection Look Like?

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself (Philippians 3:1-3)

Powerful statement. Jesus has the power to subject All Things to himself, and the body of the resurrected Jesus is the model for our new resurrected bodies. The new body is Imperishable. This new body can never die. It never gets sick or old. It functions perfectly in the way God has designed it for eternity. Pretty awesome! It’s worth the time to take a look at the references to the risen Christ in the Gospels.

 

The Special Group and the Church

1 Corinthians 15:51-52– Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

  • A Mystery is announced – a previously unknown truth
  • We won’t all Die – huh?
    • The Trumpet will sound – This is a huge Event. The end of the Church Age
    • The Dead are raised imperishable. These are all of the believers of the Church Age that died
  • We are changed. These are those that are still alive. The mystery!

 

One unique aspect of this prophecy or mystery in 1 Corinthians 15 is that some people will NOT die, but will be resurrected while still alive, their bodies transformed, like Christ’s resurrected body – in a split second. It says we will be changed. Seems like the Apostle Paul possibly expected this to happen in his lifetime. The reason that this can happen is due to the fact that some will be living at that moment that the Church Age ends. (The Rapture) As they have never died, their bodily resurrection will happen at the same moment as those that are raised from the dead.

 

Resurrection of the Old Testament Saints 

(By ‘saints’ we mean believers of Old Testament times) Daniel 12:1-4 gives an overview of the resurrection of his people, the Jews. Note: “after a time of distress such as never occurred”, so this resurrection happens at the end of the Tribulation, when the seventieth week is complete. That week, as we have shown, is focused on Israel. As the Church is gone, and John 14:1-3 has been fulfilled, believing Jews will be resurrected together around the time of the Second Coming.

“Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued. 2 Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt. Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. 4 But as for you, Daniel, conceal these words and seal up the book until the end of time; many will go back and forth, and knowledge will increase.”

 

Resurrection of Church Age believers

From Pentecost to the Rapture of the Church, this is described above in The Special Group. 

What happens today when a believer dies?

As the Apostle Paul states in the book of 2 Corinthians, to be absent from the body (dead) is to be home with the Lord. There is no soul sleep or Interim waiting. Our soul and spirit are consciously with the Lord and with those that have gone before us. So we do not immediately receive the new Christ-like body when we die. And yet, it seems that we have form if it’s valid to use a different group of believers shown in Revelation 7:9, wearing white robes, with palm branches in our hands. Hard to say what form those in heaven have right now, but they are content and waiting for the Resurrection of their heavenly bodies.

After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands;

It seems that we will shine like the stars

Daniel 12:3 – Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.

 

Resurrection of Believers that die during the Tribulation

These martyred believers are resurrected just after the Second Coming and reign with Christ for 1000 years, described in Revelation 20:4, after Satan is cast away for 1000 years.

Revelation 20:4, Revelation 7

 

Resurrection of those that are alive at the Second Coming

These two groups are judged at the Sheep and Goats judgement described in Matthew 25:31-46

The Sheep, who showed their faith by their action during the Tribulation enter the Kingdom with other believers, while the Goats, who showed their lack of faith go into eternal punishment

 

The Unbelievers when Satan is bound.

This group of unbelievers died during the tribulation, shown in Revelation 20:4-5. They were not resurrected until after the 1000 year Millennial Kingdom was complete.

“The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed”

By the way, did not come to life does NOT mean that they were not in conscious existence, but that they did not yet have the resurrected body. Evidently unbelievers are held in Hades, referred to as Death and Hades below.

 

Resurrection at The Great White Throne Judgment

After the 1000 year reign of Christ on the earth, there is a final revolt when Satan is released to tempt the nations again. Satan and the unbelievers that were born into the kingdom are judged at the Great White Throne Judgement, the final judgment before the New Heaven and New Earth are created in Revelation 21

Note that they are resurrected to punishment. They are pictured coming to life in new bodies from the places they had been sent.

  1. The sea gave up the dead which were in it
  2. Death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them

They were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. If the free offer of Salvation accomplished by Jesus at the cross is refused or disregarded, they must be judged on their works, and as we know from Romans 3:10 – “THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE”

Revelation 20:7-10 – When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison,8 and will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the sand of the seashore. 9 And they came up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, and fire came down from heaven and devoured them. 10 And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

 

The Timeline of Resurrections

 

Resurrection timeline