The Hope of the Resurrection
One of the Bible’s greatest and most comforting promises is that there is a resurrection of the dead when Jesus returns to the earth:
“And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” Daniel 12:2
“For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.” Matthew 22:30
“And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.” Luke 14:14
“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; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” John 5:28-29
“That everyone which seeth the Son and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 6:40
“Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” John 11:24
“…of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.” Acts 23:6
“…that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.” Acts 24:15
“For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.” Romans 6:5
“…how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen.” 1 Corinthians 15:12-13
“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16
Both Old and New Testaments, therefore, combine in consistently teaching this doctrine. It is fatal to the theory of an immortal soul, or of heaven-going at death. If the soul has gone to its reward, why raise the body from the grave? Theology replies: for the purpose of judgement. It would reward first, and judge later! It would consign souls to heaven or hell, and then millenniums after, it would reunite them to their bodies for the purpose of judgement! Such teaching is completely inconsistent, and quite contrary to the Bible teaching.
The doctrine of a physical resurrection is so plainly taught in the Bible but the majority of theologians relegate it to a position of minor importance.
Who will be Raised?
It is sometimes claimed that if all the countless millions that ever lived were suddenly raised from the dead there would not be found room for them upon the earth. The fact of the matter, however, is that all people will not be raised from the dead, and, indeed, only a minority will enjoy that experience. The Bible clearly shows that those who lack an understanding of God’s purpose will not be raised for judgement. (See Psalm 49:19-20; 88:5, Isaiah 26:14, 43:17, Jeremiah 51:57), and Paul describes such as “having no hope, and being without God in the world” (Ephesians 2:12).
Jesus expressed the truth in these words:
“I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” (John 11:25).
The Lord declared that those who “believe” will live again, and in doing so he emphasised that “light” or “knowledge” is the ground of responsibility. He who knows the will of God will be raised to judgement whether he performs that will nor not, for to know is to be held responsible to do so. Christ taught that those who refuse to submit to the requirements of the Truth will “see” Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, with all of similar faith, granted eternal life in the kingdom of God, whilst they, themselves, will be “cast out” (Luke 13:28, John 3:19).
What will happen at the Resurrection?
The Bible teaches that the responsible dead (both just and unjust) will be raised, and, together with the living, will be assembled before the judgement seat of Christ. At the judgement we will receive a reward for how we have lived this life in a bodily form as in Corinthians where it states to receive “in body what they have done in this life” whether it be good or bad (2 Corinthians 5:10, Romans 14:10-12). Those who by “patient continuance in well doing, seek for glory, honour and immortality,” will receive eternal life (Romans 2:7). Those who have rejected Christ’s way of life, will experience “tribulation and anguish,” ending in the “second death,” which will again bring them to the grave from where they will have come (Revelation 2:11; 21:7-8, Galations 6:8, Romans 6:21-23).
Most people however, live in ignorance of divine Truth, and will remain forever in the grave, for upon what grounds could those who are ignorant of the divine way be judged?
1 Corinthians 15 speaks in detail of the resurrection. It explains how that as a seed is sown and then emerges from the ground to be given a body by God, so the dead will likewise rise, to be rewarded with a body. As Christ rose from the grave and had his mortal body changed to an immortalised body, so the true believer will share his reward:
Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.” Philippians 3:21
Bible Examples of Belief in a Resurrection
This hope of a literal bodily reward has been understood by God’s people from earliest times. Abraham was promised that he, personally, would inherit the land of Canaan forever, as surely as he had walked up and down in it (Genesis 13:17). His faith in those promises would have necessitated his belief that his body would somehow, at a future date, be revived and made immortal, so that this would be possible.
Job clearly expressed his understanding of how, despite his body being eaten by worms in the grave, he would, in a bodily form, receive his reward:
“My redeemer liveth, and…shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh (or bodily form) shall I see God: whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another: though my reins be consumed within me.” (Job 19:25-27)”.
Isaiah’s hope was identical:
“My dead body shall..arise” (Isaiah 26:19)”.
Very similar words are found in the account of the death of Lazarus, a personal friend of Jesus. Instead of comforting the man’s sisters by saying that his soul had gone to heaven, the Lord Jesus spoke of the day of resurrection: “Thy brother shall rise again”. The immediate response of Lazarus’ sister Martha shows how much this was appreciated by the early Christians. “Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” (John 11:23, 24). Like Job, she did not understand death to be the gateway to a life of bliss in heaven, but, instead, looked forward to a resurrection “at the last day” (cp Job’s “latter day”). The Lord promises:
“Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father…I will raise him up at the last day.” John 6:44,45