The Resurrections
The truth of the resurrection was revealed very early, how early we are not sure, but it appears in some of the first writings of the Old Testament. The Book of Job, the events of which seem to date from pre-Mosaic times, has this to say concerning the resurrection:
[19:25-27] I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!
David mentioned the resurrection in Psalm 16, a messianic psalm, when he said,
[vv.9-10] Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay.
There are several other references to the resurrection in the Old Testament (cf. Isa. 25:8; Ezek 37:1-14; Dan. 12:2,13; Hos. 13:14). One of the clearest references to resurrection in the Old Testament is in Daniel 12:2, where an angel conveyed the truth of the resurrection to Daniel.
“Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.”
Even though the teaching of the resurrection is introduced in the Old Testament, there is amazingly little said concerning this truth. It was not until the New Testament that many details concerning the resurrection were revealed. Jesus spoke of the resurrection (Matt. 22:23-32; Lk. 14:14; 20:35-38; Jn. 5:21-29; 6:39-54; 11:23-25; 14:19), but revealed few new details concerning it. His teaching on this subject resulted in conflict with the Sadducees, who denied the resurrection (Matt. 22:23-32, cf. Mk. 12:18-27; Lk. 20:27-37). Jesus taught that resurrected saints will share at least two characteristics in common with the angels: they will not marry, and they will not die (Lk. 20:35-38). He also said it would be His voice that will call the dead from their graves (Jn. 5:21-29). Without a doubt, Jesus’ most definitive teaching on the resurrection was accomplished through His own resurrection from the dead. As Paul later observed, Christ is “the firstfruits” of what is to come cf., 1 Cor. 15:23 (true both chronologically and prototypically).
In the New Testament the two main sources of detailed information on the resurrection are Paul and John. Paul dealt with the resurrection more extensively than any other biblical writer (Rom. 4:16-21; 8:10-23; 1Cor. 6:14; 15:12-57; 2Cor. 4:14; 5:1-5; Phil. 3:10-21; 1 Thess. 4:14-16; 2 Tim. 1:10; 2:18). He clearly taught the resurrection of the physical body, not a mere “spiritual” or “mystical” event (Rom. 8:10-23). According to Paul the resurrection is the consummation of our redemption and adoption as sons (Rom. 8:23). To deny the resurrection of the body is to deny the faith (1 Cor. 15:12-19). Apart from the resurrection there can be no redemption, for in that case not even Christ would be raised, and those who have fallen asleep have utterly perished. Indeed, apart from the resurrection it would be the final lot of all men to perish (1 Cor. 15:17-19). Paul emphasized that the resurrection body, while a genuine physical body, will differ from the present body in ways that are not apparent to us now (1 Cor. 15:35-50). What we do know is the redeemed will bear the likeness of the resurrected Christ, a point that John also made (1 Jn. 3:2). Paul was the only New Testament writer to make a connection between the resurrection and the rapture of the Church (1 Cor. 15:51-57; Phil. 3:20-21; 1 Thess. 4:13-17). He says in 1 Corinthians:
[15:51-55] Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead in Christ will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where O death, is your sting?”
John in Revelation adds the final details to the New Testament teaching on the resurrection. It was revealed to John that the first resurrection—the resurrection of the righteous to be completed at the beginning of the millennium (Rev. 20:4), and that the second resurrection—the resurrection of the unrighteous—will not occur until after the millennium, at the final judgment (Rev. 20:5).
The first resurrection is the resurrection of the redeemed (Rev. 20:5) and will occur in two phases. The first phase occurs at the rapture of the Church (1 Cor. 15:51‑57; 1 Thess. 4:13‑17) and the second phase occurs a short time later at the beginning of the millennium (Rev. 20:4). The concept of a two-phase resurrection should not seem strange; some things pictured in the Old Testament as one event actually work out to be two distinct events; for instance, the coming of Christ was viewed as a singular event in the Old Testament (Isa. 61:1-3), but we see from our perspective in history that it involves two comings (His first advent to die for sin, and His second advent to rule). One item of special interest is that at the rapture, those believers who are alive will have their bodies transformed into a “glorified” state without having to pass through death. This is referred to as the “translation,” or “transformation” since only the dead can be “resurrected.” Paul uses the term “changed” in 1Corinthians 15:51 in reference to the glorification of living believers at the rapture. Whether any differences exist between “resurrected” and “transformed” bodies we cannot say. Traditionally, students of the Bible have viewed them as being equivalent.
The question is sometimes raised as to whether saints living in their natural bodies during the millennium will be subject to death, and if so, when they will be resurrected. Scripture is not clear on this point, and any answer given must necessarily be inferred. Premillennialists generally hold that believers will not die during the millennium. This is the simplest solution to the problem, since there is no mention of a resurrection of the righteous after the one at the beginning of the millennium. However, the fact that no subsequent resurrection is mentioned is not conclusive proof that there will not be one—though such an important omission seems unlikely. Another related question concerns when the believers in the millennium receive “glorified” bodies. The Scripture is silent on this too, except we know their bodies must be transformed in order for them to be prepared for eternity (1 Cor. 15:35-50). Perhaps their physical transformation occurs in the moment prior to the dissolving of the present heavens and earth, at the end of the millennium.
The second resurrection, unlike the first, does not occur in phases, it is a singular event. This resurrection will occur in eternity after the present heavens and earth have been dissolved and before the new heavens and earth are created (Rev. 20:11-15). All of the unrighteous dead will be raised in bodies suited to their eternal abode in the Lake of Fire. John describes this event in Revelation.
[20:11-15] Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the Lake of Fire. The Lake of Fire is the second death. If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the Lake of Fire.
Copyright 2005, by Sam A. Smith
All rights reserved.
Published at: http://prophecy.biblicalreader.com
Adapted from What the Bible Says About the Future
Copyright 1995, 2004, by Sam A. Smith
All rights reserved.
Page-Formatted PDF version available at:
www.biblicalreader.com/books/future/future.html
See full copyright notice posted at:
http://prophecy.biblicalreader.com/copyright_info.htm
All Scripture taken from the New International
Version (NIV)
of the Bible unless otherwise indicated.