What Do We Know About The Resurrection?
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Life after Death • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 57:25
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· 218 viewsScripture reveals the nature of the resurrected body.
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INTRODUCTION
1. As noted in the previous study, the "Second Coming" of our Lord will usher in a series of wonderful events...
a. The resurrection of the dead
b. Deliverance of the kingdom to the Father
c. The day of judgment d. The new heavens and new earth
2. In this study, we shall concentrate our attention to just one of these events: the resurrection of the dead
a. As with many other things pertaining to "life after death", there can be a great deal of speculation about the resurrection
b. But what can we know about the resurrection?
c. I.e., what has been clearly revealed in the Scriptures about this subject, that can give the Christian assurance and hope for the future?
[First of all, we can know...]
I. THE "FACT" OF THE RESURRECTION
I. THE "FACT" OF THE RESURRECTION
A. JESUS TAUGHT THERE WILL BE A RESURRECTION...
A. JESUS TAUGHT THERE WILL BE A RESURRECTION...
1. A time is coming in which both those good and evil will come forth from the grave - Jn 5: 28-29
28 Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice
29 and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.
2. Jesus assures those who believe in Him will be raised at "the last day" - Jn 6:39-40,44,54
39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.
40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.
54 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.
B. HIS APOSTLES PROCLAIMED A RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD...
B. HIS APOSTLES PROCLAIMED A RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD...
1. Peter and John "preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead - Ac 4:1-2
1 And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them,
2 greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
2. In his defenses before the Sanhedrin and Felix, Paul confessed his hope in the resurrection - Ac 23:6; 24:15
6 Now when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.”
15 having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust.
3. To the church at Corinth, Paul asserted the necessity of the resurrection - 1 Co 15:12-23
12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.
14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.
15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised.
16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised.
17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.
18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.
19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.
20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.
22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.
23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.
4. To the church at Thessalonica, he taught the doctrine of the resurrection as a source of comfort - 1 Th 4:16-18
16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.
18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
[Unless one questions the authority of Christ and His apostles, the "fact" of the resurrection is undeniable. But how can such a thing happen? It helps to remember...]
II. THE "AGENT" OF THE RESURRECTION
II. THE "AGENT" OF THE RESURRECTION
A. CHRIST ATTRIBUTED IT TO THE POWER OF GOD...
A. CHRIST ATTRIBUTED IT TO THE POWER OF GOD...
1. As He reminded the Sadducees, who denied the resurrection - Mt 22:29
29 But Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God.
2. And of course, "with God nothing will be impossible" - cf. Lk 1:37
37 For nothing will be impossible with God.”
B. PAUL ALSO EMPHASIZED THE POWER OF GOD...
B. PAUL ALSO EMPHASIZED THE POWER OF GOD...
1. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead - 1 Co 6:14
14 And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power.
2. He who can raise Jesus from the dead can certainly raise us up at the last day - 2 Co 4:14
14 knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence.
[While it may be difficult for us to comprehend "how" the dead can be raised, it is not difficult for God to do it (unless "your" God is too small)! Another question to be addressed concerning the resurrection pertains to "who" will be raised. Therefore we note...]
III.THE "UNIVERSALITY" OF THE RESURRECTION
III.THE "UNIVERSALITY" OF THE RESURRECTION
A. AS TAUGHT BY JESUS...
A. AS TAUGHT BY JESUS...
1. "ALL who are in the graves will...come forth" - Jn 5:28
28 Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice
2. Both "those who have done good" and "those who have done evil" - - Jn 5:29
29 and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.
a. One to experience a "resurrection of life"
b. The other a "resurrection of condemnation"
B. PAUL TAUGHT ALL WOULD BE RAISED...
B. PAUL TAUGHT ALL WOULD BE RAISED...
1. "both of the just and the unjust" - Ac 24:15
15 having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust.
2. "for as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive" - 1 Co 15:21-22
21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.
22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.
[While there may be a difference in the nature of the resurrected bodies experienced (see later under the comments on "the body of the resurrection"), in some way EVERYONE will be raised from the dead! What about the timing of the resurrection?]
IV. THE "TIME" OF THE RESURRECTION
IV. THE "TIME" OF THE RESURRECTION
A. AT THE "LAST DAY", WHEN THE LORD COMES AGAIN...
A. AT THE "LAST DAY", WHEN THE LORD COMES AGAIN...
1. Jesus spoke again and again of raising the dead at "the last day" - Jn 6:39-40,44,54
39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.
40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.
54 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.
2. Paul wrote of it occurring when Jesus comes again, to deliver the kingdom to the Father, having destroyed the last enemy, death itself - 1 Co 15:22-26
22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.
23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.
24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power.
25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
3. He later says that it will occur at "the last trumpet" - 1 Co 15:52
52 in 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 shall be changed.
B. WHAT ABOUT THE DOCTRINE OF SEPARATE RESURRECTIONS...?
B. WHAT ABOUT THE DOCTRINE OF SEPARATE RESURRECTIONS...?
1. The premillennialists (and others) teach that there will be more than just one resurrection
a. E.g., all premillennialists teach at least two resurrections:
1) The resurrection of believers at the beginning of the millennium
2) The resurrection of unbelievers at the end of the millennium
b. Dispensational premillennialists add even two more:
1) The resurrection of tribulation saints at the end of the seven-year tribulation
2) The resurrection of millennial saints at the end of the millennium
2. There are several reasons why the doctrine of several resurrections is found wanting...
a. The Bible presents the resurrection of believers and unbelievers as occurring together - Dan 12:2; Jn 5:28-29; Ac 24:14-15; Re 20:11-15
2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
28 Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice
29 and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.
14 But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets,
15 having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust.
11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them.
12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.
13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done.
14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.
15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
b. The Bible teaches that believers will be raised at "the last day", not several times (and therefore several days, years, or millennium) before "the last day"! - Jn 6:39-40,44,54
39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.
40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.
54 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.
c. Passages offered in support of several resurrections do not necessarily teach what premillennialists say they do
1) E.g., 1 Th 4:13-16 concerns itself with the resurrection of the righteous, but that does not demand that the wicked are not being raised at the same time
13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.
14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.
15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.
16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
2) E.g., Re 20:4-6 describes a resurrection of "souls", not bodies, and the reigning with Christ is likely to be occurring in heaven, not on earth - cf. Re 2:26-27; 3:21
4 Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection.
6 Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.
26 The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations,
27 and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father.
21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.
[One more subject to be considered in this study, and that pertains to...]
V. THE "BODY" OF THE RESURRECTION
V. THE "BODY" OF THE RESURRECTION
A. THE RESURRECTION BODY OF THE RIGHTEOUS...
A. THE RESURRECTION BODY OF THE RIGHTEOUS...
1. Will be our physical bodies, but gloriously changed and different! - 1 Co 15:35-55
a. By the power of God (cf. Mt 22:29), our physical bodies will serve as the "kernel" from which comes incorruptible and immortal bodies in which to house our souls - 1 Co 15:35-37
29 But Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God.
35 But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?”
36 You foolish person! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies.
37 And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain.
b. Our physical bodies...
1) Sown in corruption, will be raised in incorruption! - 1 Co 15:42
42 So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable.
2) Sown in dishonor, will be raised in glory! - 1 Co 15:43a
43 It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power.
3) Sown in weakness, will be raised in power! - 1 Co 15:43b
43 It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power.
4) Sown as natural bodies, will be raised as spiritual bodies! - 1 Co 15:44-49
44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.
45 Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
46 But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual.
47 The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven.
48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven.
49 Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.
c. Even those who are alive at Christ's coming will undergo this "change", in which that which is corruptible and mortal will "put on" incorruption and immortality - 1 Co 15:50-55
50 I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.
51 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 in 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 shall be changed.
53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.
54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
2. Will be conformed to the glorious body of our Lord! - Php 3:20-21
20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.
a. That which is "lowly" will be transformed to be like that which "glorious"
b. How? "...according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself" - i.e., by the power of God!
B. THE RESURRECTION BODY OF THE WICKED...
B. THE RESURRECTION BODY OF THE WICKED...
1. Very little is actually revealed, other than the wicked will indeed be raised from the dead
2. Though the Scriptures only apply the terms "incorruption" and "immortality" to the resurrection bodies of the righteous, most interpreters hold that the resurrection body of the wicked...
a. Is not subject again to death
b. Is capable of experiencing eternal suffering
3. There are some, however, who understand that the "second death" will be literal...
a. I.e., after the resurrection and judgment, the wicked will "die" again (a separation of resurrected "body" and spirit)
b. Not that the wicked will be annihilated, but that they will spend eternity as "disembodied spirits" in the lake of fire
c. This is not to be confused with those who don't believe in a resurrection of the wicked, or who believe the wicked will be annihilated
4. Since the Bible is relatively silent on this subject perhaps "...the best course seems to be simply leave the problem where it was left by the writers of the New Testament." (Ray Summers, The Life Beyond, p. 93)
CONCLUSION
1. There is probably much more about the resurrection that we would like to know
2. But certainly enough is revealed to motivate those who desire whatever God has prepared to love and obey Him!
Are you making it your aim to be ready for whatever God has prepared...?
So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written:
"Death is swallowed up in victory."
"O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?"
The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. - 1 Co 15:54-58