Elementary Series #6: Resurrection of the dead
For atheist, death is the final answer to any human being, and is the end of the existence. But the Bible clearly teaches us that all dead will be resurrected in the end. Christ Jesus is the firstfruits that is offered to God of those who are dead. His resurrection gives us the first glance of the resurrected body, an immortal and glorious body…
ENGLISH - BASICS
YTM
12/7/20255 min read
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, of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit.
(Hebrews 6:1-3)
In the previous post, we talked about the practices of laying on of hands in the church life. The key is not the importance of someone’s hands but the spiritual significance and authority behind this simple act. It’s God design to bless the people, heal the sick, commission believers to a ministry, and give the gift of Holy Spirit to new converts by the power of the Holy Spirit through the hands of people. Today, we will move onto the fifth elementary teachings about Christ, and look at another item on the nutrient table of God’s milk to believers - - resurrection of the dead.
In the Old Testament, resurrection of the dead had been prophesied several times. It’s very clear that the Old Testament teaches about the bodily resurrection of dead back to the physical world. The book of Job recorded Job’s declaration of his bodily resurrection with faith during his sufferings. The prophet Isaiah also believed the resurrection. And in the Book of Daniel, the Glorious Man described in Daniel’s vision, most likely is the Lord Jesus before his incarnation, told Daniel that there will be resurrection in the end.
But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last. And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God! I will see him for myself. Yes, I will see him with my own eyes. I am overwhelmed at the thought!
(Job 19:25-27; NLT)
Your dead shall live; Together with my dead body they shall arise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in dust; For your dew is like the dew of herbs, And the earth shall cast out the dead.
(Isaiah 26:19; NKJV)
Many of those whose bodies lie dead and buried will rise up, some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting disgrace.
(Daniel 12:2; NLT)
The Firstfruits
Jesus Christ is the firstfruits of the whole creation to God. In Hebrew, the firstfruits is “bikkurim”, which means the very earliest produce of field or tree—the first grain heads, the first figs, the first grapes, the first loaves baked from the new harvest. Offering these “firsts” acknowledged that the whole harvest was the LORD’s gift. Since the fall of the creation, the whole world is under the control of the evil one (1John 5:19). But God’s will is to have the mankind to have dominion over all the creations on the earth. Because the first Adam was failed, the second Adam came and took the authorities from the evil one and redeem all the creations back to God. Right now, Jesus Christ is the firstfruits. But with the expansion of His kingdom, the whole world will be brought back to God in the end.
And furthermore, it is not angels who will control the future world we are talking about. For in one place the Scriptures say,“What are mere mortals that you should think about them, or a son of man that you should care for him? Yet for a little while you made them a little lower than the angelsand crowned them with glory and honor. You gave them authority over all things.” Now when it says “all things,” it means nothing is left out. But we have not yet seen all things put under their authority. What we do see is Jesus, who for a little while was given a position “a little lower than the angels”; and because he suffered death for us, he is now “crowned with glory and honor.” Yes, by God’s grace, Jesus tasted death for everyone. God, for whom and through whom everything was made, chose to bring many children into glory. And it was only right that he should make Jesus, through his suffering, a perfect leader, fit to bring them into their salvation.
(Hebrews 2:5-10; NLT)
But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
(1Corinthians 15:20; KJV)
Because of this reason, the resurrected body of Christ can interact with both physical world but will not under the law of the physical world. Jesus’s new body can be touched but can also pass through walls. Jesus can eat breakfast with his disciples after the resurrection but His body can also ascend to heaven. In a simple way, the new body will break the boundaries and interact with both the physical word and spiritual world. We will be able to see both worlds with our own eyes. What a glorious body!
The First Resurrection
As mentioned above, to bring “all things” back to God, Jesus choices to come back to earth the second time to reign and govern with His saints through the Millennium. When Jesus comes back again, the believers who were died will raise again, and those who were still alive will be raptured with a resurrected body.
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.
(1Corinthians 15:52; KJV)
During the 1000-year reign of Christ, there will be natural humans (with natural bodies) – descendent of the first Adam as well as the “supernatural humans” (with resurrected bodies) - dependent of the second Adam lived together on the earth. Can you imagine that? At that time, Satan the Devil will be bound in prison for a thousand years. I think, the evil spirits and demons are still on the earth. We will be busy to preach the gospel, fight the demons, to reign with Christ to bring the whole creation back to the God the Father. The whole earth will be filled with God’s glory and His knowledge! How blessed we are!
But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 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.
(Revelation 20:5-6; KJV)
The Second Resurrection
Now, when the thousand years are done, Satan will be loosed from his prison. And he will go around the earth to deceive the nations around the world to fight against God. But fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. The devil will be cast into the lake of fire to be tormented day and night for ever. (Revelation 20: 7-10) After this, all the dead people on earth will be resurrected for the final judgement. This is the second resurrection.
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. 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. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
(revelation 20:12-15, KJV)
The teaching of the resurrection of the dead is so vital to us especially at this age of the time. When the dark force seems so strong, the lawlessness is so prevalent, and the hearts of many are grow cold. Beloved brothers and sisters, cheer up! Our death on earth is never the end of the story. But a short waiting time for the fulfillment of our salvation- the redemption of our mortal bodies. All the struggles, all your hard work of your body on the earth has a glorious hope!
Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
(Metthew 24:12-13; NLT)