Doctrine of the Future: Resurrection of the Dead

Hebrews 6:1–2 KJV 1900

1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

Hebrews 9:27 KJV 1900

27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

Our Condition

—Everyone in this world deserves to go to Hell. We are all sinners, Rom. 3:10–23

Romans 3:23 KJV 1900

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Because of our sins, we are already judged and doomed, Rom. 6:23; John 3:18.

Romans 6:23 KJV 1900

23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

John 3:18 KJV 1900

18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

However, Jesus came to deliver us from that condition—Luke 19:10; Mark 10:45; 1 Tim. 1:15; 2 Cor. 5:21; Isa. 53:5

1 Timothy 1:15 KJV 1900

15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV 1900

21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

This is the work of Christ in the Past - His redemption for our Justification!

Repentance from dead works and faith toward God

His Compassion

—Why did He do what He did on that cross? His mission can be summed up in one word: Love! He did what He did because He loves you, Rev. 1:5; Rom. 5:6–10; 1 John 3:16.

Revelation 1:5 (KJV 1900)

5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

2 Corinthians 5:18–21 (KJV 1900)

18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Therefore, we see the doctrine of baptisms and of laying on of hands.

These phrases deal with the present work of Christ with the Saint. Identifying, Authorizing, and Blessing us for the representation of the Gospel unto the world.

Now, we see the future work of Christ dealing with our Glorification or Damnation based on our faith toward God.

resurrection of the dead and of eternal judgment

John 5:25–29 (KJV 1900)

25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.

26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;

27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.

28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,

29 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.

This promise becomes our hope if we are in Christ and our fear if not.

Acts 24:15 (KJV 1900)

15 And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.

What is the Resurrection?

Act of being raised from the dead, used in the Bible with three different meanings.

It refers to miraculous raisings of the dead back to earthly life,

such as when

Elijah raised a boy (1 Kgs 17:8–24);

Elisha raised the Shunammite’s son (2 Kgs 4:18–37);

Jesus raised both Jairus’ daughter (Mk 5:35–43) and Lazarus (Jn 11:17–44);

Peter raised Dorcas (Acts 9:36–42); and

Paul raised Eutychus (Acts 20:9–12).

There is no hint that these resuscitations would prevent future death.

It also refers to the eschatological resurrection at the end of time for punishment or reward

(Jn 5:29; cf. Rv 20:5, 6).

Finally, resurrection refers frequently to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The resurrection of Christ is the central point of Christianity.

So important was the resurrection of Jesus Christ that Paul tied it to the Gospel message.

1 Corinthians 15:3–4 (KJV 1900)

3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

Paul also hinged the resurrection of Christ with both preaching and faith upon its validity. He considered that a Christianity without the resurrection would be empty and meaningless

1 Corinthians 15:12 (KJV 1900)

12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?

1 Corinthians 15:13–19 (KJV 1900)

13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:

14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.

15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.

16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:

17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.

18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.

19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

Indeed, the resurrection for him was the unveiling of God’s messianic power in Jesus (Rom 1:4 ).

Romans 1:4 (KJV 1900)

4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

1 Corinthians 15:35–49 (KJV 1900)

35 But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?

36 Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:

37 And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain:

38 But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.

39 All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.

40 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.

41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.

42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:

43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:

44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.

46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.

47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.

48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.

49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

When is the Resurrection?

Daniel 12:1–3 (KJV 1900)

1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

2 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.

3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

Daniel mentions 2 resurrections: one to life everlasting and 1 to shame and everlasting contempt.

Let’s look at first at the

1st Resurrection: Believers in Christ

Revelation 20:1–4 (KJV 1900)

1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.

2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,

3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

Revelation 20:5 (KJV 1900)

5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

Again the Old Testament Saints:

Daniel 12:1–2 (KJV 1900)

1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

2 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.

Revelation 20:5 (KJV 1900)

5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

The first resurrection is the raising of all who believe in Jesus Christ, who have repented from their dead works and had faith toward God.

The first resurrection actually came in 3 parts or stages:

Christ’s Resurrection:

1 Corinthians 15:20 (KJV 1900)

20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

It is His resurrection that gives us the hope and security of our faith for a future resurrection.

The Dead in Christ:

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 (KJV 1900)

13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

16 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:

17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

The Tribulation Martyrs and Old Testament Saints:

2nd Resurrection: Deniers of Christ

This resurrection happens in one stage.

Revelation 20:5–15 (KJV 1900)

5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,

8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.

9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.

10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

The resurrection is implied. John sees the Kingdom, he sees the 1,000 year reign of Christ, what we call the millennium. And there living alive and reigning with Christ are all the saints, those who were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, for the Word of God, those who wouldn’t worship the beast, those who wouldn’t take his mark, they are all alive.

But the rest of the dead, verse 5, did not live until the thousand years were finished.

Jesus prophesied about this event

John 5:24–29 KJV 1900

24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. 25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. 26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; 27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. 28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 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.

This resurrection is resurrection to shame and everlasting contempt.

God resurrects Christ, and then the Church, those that have been saved to consummate the end of the church age, and then God takes 7 years, the tribulation period, to deal with His people Isreal then the Old Testament Saints and martyrs.

There will be a resurrection of this body.

The question then becomes

Which Resurrection is for me?

There will be a resurrection, but which resurrection will you participate in will determined by your works.

Our works are dead works. They cannot produce life.

Isaiah 64:6 (KJV 1900)

6 But we are all as an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; And we all do fade as a leaf; And our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Therefore, our future is determined on our past.

No one’s works are good enough. Salvation is the reception of grace. However, grace can not be received until you the first part of the gospel.

1 Corinthians 15:3 (KJV 1900)

3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

Repent from your dead works

Jesus did not come to condemn you dead in your works. He came to give you life eternal.

John 3:17 KJV 1900

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

and have faith toward God.

John 3:18 KJV 1900

18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

The Resurrection of your participation will be determined on your relationship with Christ.

John 5:28–29 KJV 1900

28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 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 5:38–40 KJV 1900

38 And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. 39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. 40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.

Have you believed in Christ, His death and resurrection, for payment for sins?

Have you accepted Christ’s payment?