Resurrection - Part 1
Before we begin please do the following things:
1. Put aside any preconceived ideas you might have about the resurrection.
If you’re like me, you grew up hearing about the rapture and resurrection from a physical perspective. You saw it expressed in teachings, movies and you just knew that it was in the Bible somewhere.
Now, you probably hear it mentioned from time to time by many who seem to be obsessed with something called the “end times”. You’ve always been taught that this is something that’s going to happen in the future right at the end of the world although the timing varies on when this will happen amongst many.
However the Bible tells us when it will happen and how it will happen IF we read it correctly!
Right now, make a commitment to not read into the Bible what you’ve been taught about the resurrection, let the Bible speak for itself.
2. Start as a blank page and be open.
In other words, it’s not as important to get a literal blank piece of paper so that you can take notes. What’s more essential is that YOU become that blank page.
Be open to what we’re going to learn about the resurrection. Part of being “Christ-like” means that you lovingly and patiently listen to what your brothers and sisters are trying to share with you about the Word, and then study for yourself to see if these things are so.
The definition of death is the absence of life. Death is the consequence of sin. Resurrection is the restoration of life lost in Adam. 1 Corinthians 15:22
The life lost in Adam was not physical life. The death introduced by Adam was not physical death. The death introduced by Adam was sin-death, the loss of fellowship with God.
The Biblical concept of the resurrection involves a spiritual raising of man out of sin death. Sin death is the separation from God caused by sin. Spiritual resurrection is the restoration of man back into the presence of God.
In Genesis 2:15-17, the death that Adam and Eve died that day was a spiritual death. They were cast out of the presence of God. All people, who lived before Jesus conquered death, suffered spiritual death because all have sinned. Genesis 3:17,19,24, Romans 5:12,19
In Christ, we regain what was lost in Adam. 1 Corinthians 15:22 It was spiritual life that was lost not physical life. Physical resurrection is not what the Bible means by resurrection. The nature of the resurrection is spiritual not physical. Ephesians 2:1, Romans 8:11, Colossians 2:13
The word “quicken” in this verse means “to give life”, “to make alive”. This happens to us when we respond to the Gospel by believing and obeying.
Two more verses that use the word “quicken” are John 5:21 and John 6:63.
Eschatology is the study of the last things of the Old Covenant that God had with the 12 tribes of Israel, the Return of the Lord Jesus Christ, the judgment, and the resurrection. When we study these events, we seek to understand when they were to take place and how they were to take place.
When does the Scripture say the resurrection was to occur and how?
Although the word “resurrection” itself does not occur in the Old Testament, the concept does.
The concept of a resurrection was mentioned several times in the Old Testament. See: Job 14:12; Job 14:14
Job 17:16 says, “They shall go down to the bars of the pit…..”
But Jesus gives us the victory over the grave. Matthew 16:18
"....the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath." Job 21:30
Isaiah 26:19 speaks of a “resurrection” out of the dust.
In the Book of Daniel 12:2,4,13 tells us about the end.
The last days belong to that age that was coming to an end, that is the Old Covenant age.
If the last days were in the first century, then the last day of those last days was also in the first century.
This present Kingdom Age cannot have a last day because the Kingdom of God is Everlasting. 2 Peter 1:11, Luke 1:33, Daniel 4:3
Only those who were dead needed a resurrection. Today, born again believers who have eternal life do not need a resurrection. John 10:28
We receive our resurrection life through the “new birth” when we believe and obey the Gospel message of Jesus Christ. From then on, there is no separation from God.
Separation from God is spiritual death.
Just as the life that Jesus came to bring is spiritual rather than physical, so is the death he frees us from John 10:10
Ignorance of foundational Biblical principles will inhibit future maturity and development. We must study to show ourselves approved unto God. 2 Timothy 2:15
Know what you believe and believe what you know.
The current teaching on resurrection, its timing, its nature, and its implementation have fostered many false doctrines. For example, the belief in a future rapture of the Church gives believers a sense of escapism which excuses them from getting involved in important issues in our world.
Several verses in the New Testament also tell us when the resurrection would take place.
Jesus taught that the resurrection would take place on the last day.
Four times, Jesus said regarding those who believed on Him, “I will raise him/them up on the last day”. John 6:39,40,44,54
Later, when Lazarus died, Jesus said to Martha, “Your brother shall rise again.” Martha responded, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” John 11:23-24
The Bible divides time into two ages. Ephesians 1:21
1. “This age” meant the Old Covenant/Mosaic Age which continued as long as the temple was standing. Hebrews 9:8
2. “The age to come” refers to the Everlasting Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ in which we live now.
When was the resurrection to take place?
First, it would be after “great distress” or “tribulation”. Daniel 12:1- 2
Second, it would be at the “time of the End.” Daniel 12:4,9
Third, it would be at “the finishing or shattering of the power of the Holy people”. Daniel 12:7
The power of the Holy people was their covenant relationship with God. This power the Romans destroyed when they destroyed Jerusalem and its temple in AD 70.
The last words of the Book of Daniel are the Angel’s promise that Daniel would enter into rest (die) and rise again at the end of the age, the last day of the last days. Daniel 12:13
Conclusion
The Biblical concept of the resurrection involves a spiritual raising of man out of sin death which was separation from God caused by sin.
It is the restoration of man back into the presence of God.
In Genesis 2:15-17, Adam and Eve died spiritually that day and were cast out of God's presence. All people who lived before Jesus conquered death, suffered spiritual death because all have sinned. Romans 5:12
Through obedience to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we regain Spiritual life Romans 6:5
Spiritual life is what was lost in the garden, not physical life.
