The Resurrection of the Dead..

Part 7 of 9

"Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation... of [the] resurrection of the dead..." (Heb 6:1-2).

Does death have the last word? As Christians, we know death to be nothing but a door into life. Death is not eternal - "there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both the of the just and unjust" (Acts 24:15). Every time we see a blade of green grass shooting up as the snows of winter melt away, we are further heartened in the hope of resurrection, for God would not give the sprigs of nature promise to live again at the end of deadly winter, and leave beloved man, made in his own image, with a lesser hope and prospect.

Again, let's examine this truth according to it's respective covenants...

Old Testament Resurrection:

The great truth represented in the resurrection of the dead has been the constant and unvarying faith of the saints from the earliest periods of time: This and other doctrines were founded in Jewish theology but were only partially revealed. Isaiah spoke of resurrection when he said, "Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead" (Isa 26:19). I have no doubt that Joseph believed in a resurrection too, for he gave commandment concerning his bones; and surely he would not have been so careful of his body if he had not believed that it should be raised from the dead (Heb 11:22; Gen 50:24-25). Ezekiel too, in his vision of the valley of dry bones, gives us an illustrated glimpse into his beliefs concerning resurrection (Ezek 37). Daniel was another prophet who hinted at a resurrection and judgment: "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" (Dan 12:2). David, Hosea and Job had similar testimonies (Ps 16:9; 17:5; Job 19:25-27).. "I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction" (Hos 13:14)! David believed it beyond the shadow of a doubt, for he sang of Christ Jesus, "Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine holy one to see corruption" (Ps 16:10). These, and other dear saints whole-heartily looked for a coming resurrection! The text is positive and sure. Why are we to doubt, then?

The truth of the resurrection was seen in type as well. Abraham's son, Isaac, was raised from the dead in type (Gen 22:5). Though he was never actually slain, Paul makes it clear that this was a "figure" of the resurrection: "By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure" (Heb 11:17-19). Furthermore, Jonah was an Old Testament type of resurrection too. His resurgence from the belly of the fish typified the resurrection of Christ Jesus (Jon 1-2; Matt 12:38-40).

Finally, in the Old testament, the principle of resurrection was seen in reality. Both Elijah and Elisha knew this power, for they themselves raised the dead from the grave by the power of God (1 Kgs 17:17-24; 2 Kgs 4:18-37; 8:5; 13:20-21).

New Testament resurrection:

The foundation of this doctrine was laid in the Old Testament, and was variously represented under the law, but it was referred to the Gospel for it's final proof and illustration. The apostle Paul, therefore, wishes us to consider the Gospel as holding forth this truth in it's full spirit and power. For, in the Gospel, we see a much fuller view of the resurrection of the dead, as it is both proven and illustrated by the resurrection of Christ Jesus, the firstfruits: "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming" (1 Cor 15:22-23). In fact, so important was this truth of resurrection, that Paul says, "If Christ be not risen from the dead, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is vain, and ye are yet in your sins" (1 Cor 15:14).

First of all, our Saviour brought the resurrection to light in the most excellent manner, for he explicitly and frequently declared it.. He spoke of His own physical resurrection (Jn 2:18-21), as well as the physical resurrection of the general dead: "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" (Jn 5:28-29; 6:39-54; Lk 16:19-31; 20:35-36). Indeed, throughout His perfect preaching, there was one continued flow of firm belief, and a public and positive declaration of the resurrection of the dead! Furthermore, some people even experienced such a physical resurrection under the ministry of Jesus, Peter and Paul (Matt 9:18-26; Lk 7:11-23; Jn 11:43-44; Acts 9:36-42; 20:7-12; 27:50-53). These were actual physical resurrections that occurred. They both literally occurred and symbolically pointed to the ultimate physical resurrection of the saints, spoken of by the writers of the New Testament (Acts 24:15; 1 Cor 15; 1 Thess 4:14-18; Phil 3:11, 21; Rev 20:4-6).

Secondly, Jesus also taught of a spiritual resurrection, that is, a passing from death unto life at the heeding to His words (Jn 5:21-25, 26-29). John discusses this spiritual theme more in his first epistle: "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death" (1 Jn 3:14). As does Paul: "Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus..." (Eph 2:5-6).

Thirdly, the New Testament speaks of the latter day resurrection of the righteous, and the resurrection of the unrighteous. The resurrection of the righteous is said to be the first resurrection (Rev 20:4-6), the resurrection of the just (Acts 24:15; Lk 14:14), the resurrection of life (Jn 5:29), the awakening to everlasting life (Dan 12:2), etc. Some scholars think the "better resurrection" to be included in this as well (Heb 11:35). However, there is a school of thought which says the "better resurrection" and the "out-resurrection" (Greek: "ex-anastasis" - Phil 3:11) to be referencing a special resurrection reserved solely for the remnant (manchild) of God (Rev 12:5; 2:26-27). The depth of this thought would encompass an entire blog post in and of itself, and therefore must be reserved for a later date.

The resurrection of the unrighteous is said to be the second resurrection (Rev 20:4-6), the resurrection of the unjust (Acts 24:15), the resurrection to judgment and "damnation" (Jn 5:29), the resurrection to "shame and everlasting contempt" (Dan 12:2).

Those redeemed saints will possess a resurrected body similar to the Lord Jesus' glorious resurrected body. It will be a real body, of flesh and bones (Lk 24:39; Jn 5:28; 1 Cor 15:22; Rev 20:12; 2 Cor 5:10), and yet a spiritual body - a body wholly molded by the Spirit, one perfect in all it's parts, no longer dependant upon mere natural productions, but existing in a region where there will be no more death; no more causes of decay leading to dissolution (1 Cor 15:44). It will be a redeemed body (Rom 8:11-23; 2 Cor 5:4), a glorious body (Phil 3:21; Lk 24:39), an incorruptible body (1 Cor 15:42), and a heavenly body (1 Cor 15:47-49; 2 Cor 5:1-6). No real description is given for the resurrection body of the unrighteous.

And thus we have a meager glimpse into this foundational doctrine of the resurrection of the dead. Scripture reveals this to be a physical, spiritual, past, present and future truth, advocated by Old Testament prophets, Jesus, and the apostles. Who are we to challenge their persistent authority? Hallelujah! Resurrection is coming!

"Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality" (1 Cor 15:51-53).

To be continued...