The resurrection
Having looked at the “Christian birth” which included baptisms we also noted that this is part of the basic or “elementary principles of Christ” see Hebrews 6:1-3 “1Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.3 And this we will do if God permits.”
These things are connected in pairs Repentance with faith, baptisms with the laying on of hands and the resurrection of the dead with eternal judgment.
In a few weeks we will be studying Judgment, also being one of the "elementary principles of Christ" this study will be on the resurrection.
We will be considering:
In Pt 1
A What does resurrection mean? (it’s biblical definition)
B What is resurrection?
C Who is the resurrection?
Pt 2
A How are we resurrected ?
B Why are we resurrected ?
C When are we resurrected and caught up?
D How many resurrections are there or have there been?
Pt 1 A. What does resurrection mean? It’s biblical definition
The New Testament words we are looking for regarding resurrection: Are Raise or rise, up, stand, out from.
Greek words include:
anístēmi strong’s number 450 to cause to rise, raise up ( it’s can be something active that is done by one upon another or a command)
(Acts 12:7; Ephesians 5:14 Acts 9:11)
(Acts 12:7; Ephesians 5:14 Acts 9:11)
to raise up from death John 6:39f, 44, 54; Acts 2:32; Acts 13:34
anástasis strong’s number 386 (from 303 /aná, "up, again" and 2476 /hístēmi, "to stand") – literally, "stand up" (or "stand again"), referring to physical resurrection (of the body).
1825 eksegeírō (from 1537 /ek, "wholly out from," intensifying 1453 /egeírō, "raise") – properly, raise out completely, awake. emphasizing its end-impact on the person God raises up. The specific force of 1825 /eksegeírō ("raise completely up") is defined by the context and only occurs twice in the NT.
Examples where we find this used 1 Corinthians 6:14, Romans 9:17
Ek lso found in Revelation 3:10 from
The word Church ekklēsía 1577 (from 1537 /ek, "out from and to" and 2564 /kaléō, "to call") – properly, people called out from the world and to God, the outcome being the Church (the mystical body of Christ) – i.e. the universal (total) body of believers whom God calls out from the world and into His eternal kingdom.
[The English word "church" comes from the Greek word kyriakos, "belonging to the Lord" (kyrios). 1577 /ekklēsía ("church") is the root of the terms "ecclesiology" and "ecclesiastical."]
In connection with the resurrection we find these words
eksanástasis strong’s 1815 (from the route word 1537 ek, (a preposition, written eks before a vowel) meaning "completely out from," intensifying 450 /anístēmi, "rise up") – properly, rising up to experience the full-impact of resurrection, i.e. completely removed from the realm of death (the grave). See John 11:24
eksanástasis is akin to analambanó (353 strongs)
eksanástasis is akin to analambanó (353 strongs)
from ana = up and lambanó Definition: actively lay hold of, to take up, raise or receive
Examples of where analambanó is used.
1. to take up or taken up, raise: Mark 16:19; Acts 1:11; Acts 10:16 (the Sept. 2 Kings 2:11); without case, Acts 1:2, 22; 1 Timothy 3:16
Examples of where analambanó is used.
1. to take up or taken up, raise: Mark 16:19; Acts 1:11; Acts 10:16 (the Sept. 2 Kings 2:11); without case, Acts 1:2, 22; 1 Timothy 3:16
Recap the key Greek words in connection with resurrection
ana/ani = up
Hístēmi = to stand-stand up
egeiro = revive, release, raise up, awake
Ek = out from
lambanó = lay hold of, to take up
Having looked briefly at these terms and defining the meaning of resurrection and it's application in scripture, we must ask the next question.
Pt1 B What is Resurrection?
As we look at this section I want to try and make a distinction between two words, resurrection & caught up (Rapture)
The bible teaches that a time will come when the dead will be raised up. Here are two examples OT & NT
Daniel 12:1-13 gives us and an Old Testament example
John 5:26-29 “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29 “and come forth–those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation".
However we often jump from resurrection to rapture. When referring to the return of the Lord I do believe they are part of the same event but resurrection comes before the rapture. What do I mean?
At the beginning we looked at John 11:24 (see the interlinear verse below). Martha does not say I know He will rise again at the rapture, but "at the resurrection".
Daniel 12:1-13 gives us and an Old Testament example
John 5:26-29 “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29 “and come forth–those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation".
However we often jump from resurrection to rapture. When referring to the return of the Lord I do believe they are part of the same event but resurrection comes before the rapture. What do I mean?
At the beginning we looked at John 11:24 (see the interlinear verse below). Martha does not say I know He will rise again at the rapture, but "at the resurrection".
This does not mean there is no rapture as some teach. It's just that the wrong word gets used. The actual word rapture is not found in the English Bible it comes from the Latin word raeptius, used in the Vulgate translation which is a translation of the Greek word harpazo found in 1Thess 4:17 Which in most English translations is rendered as "caught up"
The word harpázō 726 – means to be seized by force, snatch up, suddenly and decisively – like someone seizing bounty (spoil, a prize); to take by an open display of force (i.e. not covertly or secretly).
Other places where we see this word used are:
2 Corinthians 12:2, 4 Paul caught up to Paradise)
2 Corinthians 12:2, 4 Paul caught up to Paradise)
Matthew 12:29 (to plunder (take from by force) and carry off
John 10:12 the wolf catches (harpazo) the sheep)
Matthew 11:12 seize (entering the kingdom with force) The sinking ship story
Matthew 13:19 Snatches away
John 10:28 Snatch
Jude 1:23 Pulling out
Amos 4:11, Zechariah 3:2 Hebrew word natsal (to strip, plunder, deliver oneself, be
delivered, snatch away, deliverd, plucked
John 6:15 ( Jesus knew they came to take him by force to make Him King)
Acts 23:10 ( Paul was to be taken out by force by the soldiers)
Acts 8:39 ( Phillip caught away by the spirit)
Revelation 12:5 ( a prophecy about the child (Jesus) who was to be caught up) to God)
1 Thess 4:17 Caught up (Christ comes to take the church up to Him)
I specifically want to draw our attention to 1Thess 4:17 which says "Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord".
I specifically want to draw our attention to 1Thess 4:17 which says "Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord".
The word "together" (Strongs 260) in Greek is hama, meaning at the same time, or along with. The meaning is obviously telling us that the dead and alive saints are caught up all together to meet the Lord in the clouds and the location is in the air. This relates directly to the Lord's coming in the same way as He was seen ascending after His ascension. (See Acts1:9-11, Rev 1:7)
A couple of reasons for the rapture are, first the Lord saves us from wrath and second we are glorified. It is a fulfilment of prophecy; Jesus came to do the will of the Father See John 6:39-45
What do we see here?
The fraises, “Raise up” & at “the last day” is repeated 3 times, so the raising up of believers or the resurrection, happens when? “At the last day”, this is what Matha understood, that the resurrection would happen at the last day.
conclusion of this part
- There are differences between resurrection and being caught up (rapture)
- With regard to the coming of Christ the resurrection definitely happens at the last day and therefore rapture does not precede the resurrection. Resurrection comes first.More on this later.
- The resurrection and being caught up are very closely connected.
Pt 1 C. Who is the resurrection?
In John 11:20-25 We read “Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him, but Mary was sitting in the house. Now Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. “But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.”
The context (Lazarus’s death)
3 points we see here
· That Jesus is Lord
· the timing of the resurrection
· and a specific reference to an attribute of God.
Jesus says "I am the Resurrection and the life", He is connecting Himself with Him being God. Hence we read John 8:58 Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”
The example in the OT
In Exodus 3 God first revealed the meaning of this name to Moses and His people Israel. (Read Exodus 3: 13, 14).
In Exodus 3 God first revealed the meaning of this name to Moses and His people Israel. (Read Exodus 3: 13, 14).
"I AM WHO I AM . Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, I AM has sent me to you
The example in the NT In John 9:9 after Jesus had healed the blind man Jesus again spoke of Himself as I AM. The Greek word I AM here is ego eimi (it's emphatic telling us plainly I AM) See also John 8:24
In Hebrews 11:6 We read “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him”.
We must believe that He is what? God yes, but God has many attributes. Love , faithfulness, truth, Goodness, salvation, just and so on He is also, resurrection.
Diverting a little from our subject but important to remember that when explaining the trinity or the Godhead John 14:9-10 says speaking to Philip, Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? “Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.
Read John 5:30 the Fathers will being done
Read John 16:15-17 “All things that the Father has are Mine. “
The trinity
it’s necessary to be clear that the Father is not the Son, yet we have to be clear that the son is God, because He is the word of God, the word Who became flesh. (John1) He is both the son of God and the son of man.
See 1 Tim 3:16
But those things that are attributed to God are seen and manifested in Jesus because they have been given to Him by the Father.
Hence God is salvation= Jesus comes to save,
God is love = Jesus came to demonstrate love, being our substitute, taking the punishment for our sin on the cross.
So when Jesus speaks of being “the resurrection and the life” He means through Him alone God’s resurrecting comes, because God is resurrection as is Jesus Christ (the definite article).
And Life comes because He came to give us life more abundantly and life forever. (John 10:10)
Recap
- Jesus is the resurrection because God is
- He has come to do the will of the Father (John 5:30)
- All that God is, God has given to Jesus His son
So all that is given to Jesus is given to us
when we are in Him (2Cor 5:21, John 6:27,39,57) See also Eph 1:3
Keep this in mind
With us flesh comes first with Christ Spirit is first then flesh
Then we are spirit born or born again we are now a new creation born from above.
The preeminence of Christ
Colossians 1:17-20 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.
The word pre-eminence means to have first place, first in line, ranked first, above all or before all things. The Greek word is prōteuō what word do you think we get from this? Prototype
OK Prototype
In the Old Testament we find types & shadows
Read Deuteronomy 16:16, Ex.23:14-16
Feast of Israel
Three times a year God commanded the people to come
to Jerusalem to celebrate the feasts ( Deuteronomy 16:16, Ex.23:14 -16)
to Jerusalem to celebrate the feasts ( Deuteronomy 16:16, Ex.23:14 -16)
For the Feast of unleavened bread, feast of weeks, and Tabernacles.
All three of these feasts or festivals are agricultural harvest
There are 3 spring feast in the month of Nisan
There are 3 spring feast in the month of Nisan
1 summer feast, Pentecost which is the fulfilment of feast of weeks 50 days after the resurrection. (7th day of month Sivan)
There are 3 autumn / fall feasts, trumpets, atonement and Tabernacles. Yet to be fulfilled
So there is a first fruits harvests and a final harvest that was to come at the end of the year during the Festival of Tabernacles, which is the fruit harvest.
So the type/shadow shown here teaches us of a future harvest that the Lord will gather in at the appointed season.
Christ the firstfruits
Read Lev 23:9-14
Note1: Sabbath was Saturday and the day after was what we now know as the first day of the week, resurrection day or Sunday. Notice in verse 12 "you shall offer on that day, when you wave the sheaf, a male lamb of the first year, without blemish, as a burnt offering to the LORD"
Note 2 this offering was made in connection to entering into the land that God gave to His people.
Note 3a The sheaf offering had to be taken on behalf of the people by the priest, who took it before God so that it could be accepted. If it was accepted then all the rest of the harvest would likewise be accepted.
Note 3b The sheaf offering was a sacrifice directly linked to the lamb offering.
Note 4 This first fruits offering represented the whole harvest yet in the field, yet to be gathered in.
Note 5 Just as Jesus was the first to be resurrected from the dead and be presented to the Father as the accepted lamb. We are part of the final harvest yet to be brought in. Side note see ( Matthew 13:30,40)
Rom 11:16 Says "For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches". See Eph 1:13-14, 4:30
Note 2 this offering was made in connection to entering into the land that God gave to His people.
Note 3a The sheaf offering had to be taken on behalf of the people by the priest, who took it before God so that it could be accepted. If it was accepted then all the rest of the harvest would likewise be accepted.
Note 3b The sheaf offering was a sacrifice directly linked to the lamb offering.
Note 4 This first fruits offering represented the whole harvest yet in the field, yet to be gathered in.
Note 5 Just as Jesus was the first to be resurrected from the dead and be presented to the Father as the accepted lamb. We are part of the final harvest yet to be brought in. Side note see ( Matthew 13:30,40)
Rom 11:16 Says "For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches". See Eph 1:13-14, 4:30
Read 1Cor 15:20-23
4 points we see here
- Christ is risen from the dead (the firstborn from the dead)
- Death came through one man Adam resurrection from the dead came through another man Jesus (last Adam)
- The order of resurrection: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s
- at His coming.
1Pet 1:3 says Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
So what should we conclude so far?
Our hope is that our resurrection has already been accomplished in Christ. He came to Save us and bring us to glory.
Pt 2
A How are we resurrected ?
B When are we resurrected and caught up?
C Why are we resurrected ?
We will also consider how many resurrections there are or have there been?
A How are we resurrected ?
It's very hard to separate these questions out as in fact they are all connected.
But studying is a process, where we dissect information in order to digest its meaning, little by little. So it is good to go through these things bit by bit.
So let’s look at a How.
But studying is a process, where we dissect information in order to digest its meaning, little by little. So it is good to go through these things bit by bit.
So let’s look at a How.
1 Cor 6:14 says "And God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power."
When scripture says God are we to think Father Son and Holy Spirit? Yes I believe we should.
Our example is Jesus, so how was He raised up?
When scripture says God are we to think Father Son and Holy Spirit? Yes I believe we should.
Our example is Jesus, so how was He raised up?
In Gal 1:1 we read "Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead"),
John 10:18 “No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”
Rom 8:11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
So who raised Jesus from the dead? God did. That is Father, Son, Holy Spirit. And so it will be for "those who are Christ’s at His coming" see (1Cor 15:23, John 5:21)
So God raises us up by His power. But we are still grappling with how does that happens?
In part 1 we looked the fact that we have already been blessed with every spiritual blessing in heavenly place in Christ (Eph 1:3) And we also grasped the truth of our death and resurrection with Christ symbolized at our baptism Rom 6:4 says " Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."
Past present & future
Importantly then we see that our resurrection with Christ is also a resurrection life with Christ through new birth. It's not possible to raise someone from dead and that person not be alive. Jesus is the resurrection & the life. Resurrection is multi faceted. It's spiritual and physical it past present and future. We died with Christ and are raised up with Him now (when we believed) and live as a resurrected new created being by the spirit of Christ, having been delivered from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of the son of His love. So in effect we are in the kingdom now but we have still to come into the reality of Jesus coming to establish it on earth.
So although the how is a spiritual work in progress, it will one day culminate in a physical reality and a spiritual completeness. 1John 3:2 says "Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is."
Here we will consider how many resurrections there have been?
The examples we see in the OT & NT where all temporary miracles until Christ's resurrection
The examples we see in the OT & NT where all temporary miracles until Christ's resurrection
remember He was and had to be the firstfruits, to be raised from the dead. (1Cor 15:20)
OT examples
2 Kings 4:32-37 the son of the Shunammite women
2 Kings 13:20-21 Elisha being raised from the dead.
NT examples
Matthew 9:18-26 the resurrection of the daughter of Jarius
2 Kings 13:20-21 Elisha being raised from the dead.
NT examples
Matthew 9:18-26 the resurrection of the daughter of Jarius
Luke 7:11-17 the son of the widow of Nain
John 11:1-44 Lazarus
and in Matthew 27:52-53 we read "and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many."
John 11:1-44 Lazarus
and in Matthew 27:52-53 we read "and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many."
We don't see any more information here about what happened to these saints we can only say that they were raised from the dead. But the process of resurrection is not complete until the whole of the body is raised, transformed and completed, again see (1John3:2) .
Think about it when a marriage takes place at the ceremony the husband doesn’t marry and arm on the Monday a leg on Tuesday an eye on the Wednesday and so on He marries one complete bride.
The man shall leave. This idea we in Gen 2:24. )God of cause is not a mother )
Recap:
How are we resurrected? by the power of God over a period of time by the work of the spirit and when we see the Lord we shall be like Him.
There have been some resurrection already by they we not permanent.
The how, the when, and the why become clear as we read the following scriptures.
1Cor 15 overview and comment
Notes: we must believe according to scripture Christ died, was buried and rose again 3days later.
Witnesses saw Jesus after His resurrection 5-8 (an apostle had to be one who saw Jesus after His resurrection)
Paul says that they (the apostles) would be found to be false witnesses if they had gone round saying He has been raised from the dead by |God when in fact He had not.
Now an important verse 17 "And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!"
Here we find one reason for Christ resurrection, to defeat sin. We read "The wages for sin is death" Rom 6:23 and Rom 6:10 Says "For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God."
The whole point of Jesus dying was to be able to be a life giving spirit to all who believe so eternal life comes through His resurrection. (1Cor 15:45)
Verses 20-28 here we get a quick chronological overview of resurrection and the comparison of the man Adam and the man Christ.
Observation
We see again Christ the firstfruits
Then a comparison - Death came through Adam and in Christ all shall be made alive
Then comes the order of the resurrection events all made alive in his own order. Christ the firstfruits then those who are Christ’s at His coming.
Another how gets answered here. How are we resurrected? by Christ making us alive. Then a when gets answered. When are we made alive? At His coming.
Question in Pt 1 we read in John 11:20-25, John 6:27,39,57. The last day is when the resurrection happens and we are made alive at His coming.
So at Christ’s coming at the last day we can be sure that we who believe will be resurrected and made alive. (note more evidence required )
Continuing in 1Cor 15
Vs 24 then comes the end and delivers the kingdom over.
Vs 25 He reigns until all under His feet.
Vs 26 last enemy death See Rev 20
Here again we will also consider how many resurrections there are?
Rev 20 Here we see mention of a time span of 1000 years known as the millennium.
Some teach this a not literal or physical, teaching that Christ reigns from heaven since His resurrection and so when He comes no one knows. There are some terms used for this teaching
It is A Millenial or post millennial. A means no or none
Terminology
A mill spiritualise the 1000 years to there thinking there is No literal Mill. But if we read Rev 20:1-3 we see a literal binding up of Satan, he is cast into the bottomless pit for the millennium. So if we are in the millennium then who let Satan out early?
Also we read in Matt 25: 31-46 of Jesus being on earth on His throne with His angels judging. This points to a physical reign not a spiritual one.
Post mill is Kingdom now / Dominion minded, saying that the church must take the kingdom physically and make it complete before Jesus can return.
Rev 20: 4-5
A little confusing but compared to what 1Cor 15:23-26 says there must be two resurrections of the dead. The first group live and reign with Christ 1000 years. These are surly those who are blessed and Holy because they reign with Christ. These must be therefore be in “the first resurrection” (see Vs 6)
Back to 1Cor 15: 35-49
What is this “made alive” see Greek below &
Made alive here Strongs 2227 zōopoiéō (from 2221 /zōgréō, "alive" and 4160 /poiéō, "make") – properly, make alive (zōos); i.e. "quicken," vivify ("animate"); (figuratively) cause what is dead (inoperative) to have life; empower with divine life.
2227 /zōopoiéō ("make alive, enliven") is particularly used of God infusing His life in the believer. John 5:21 (to quicken) The Lord infuses eternal life (zōē) into us each time we receive (obey) faith from Him. This enables living with God – not just for Him (cf. Gal 2:20; Ro 8:28-30; 1 Jn 5:4). His self-existent, all-powerful life overcomes all the deadly effects of sin.
Now we need to conclude and answers the how’s and the when’s and a why
let’s do some comparisons of the major verses that use reference about the last day, resurrection and our gathering to meet the Lord also called the catching up (or rapture)
See Acts1:9-11,1Cor 15:50-58, 1Thess 4:13-17,5:1-11, 2Thess2:1-17, Matt 24, Daniel 9:24-27,12:1-13, Zech 14, Joel 2:1-32; 3, Rev 6:12-17, Rev 11:15-19, Rev 20, Rev 21
Detective work - What are we looking for as we look at these verses?
We are not appointed to wrath (therefore the Lord come before then)
Cosmic signs
Trumpets (how many are there when is the last?)
Christ coming – our gathering – caught up
What do we conclude?
When does this happen?
After tribulation - at the last trump - after the 6th seal is opened- before the wrath comes - the dead in Christ rise first then those who are alive at His coming, the lawless one is consumed and destroyed by the brightness of the Lords coming, the anti Christ and falling away come before Christ comes, the resurrection happened at the last day.
There is a first resurrection of those who will reign with the Lord for 1000 years
The judgment of the dead takes place after the millennium. These are cast into the lake of fire.
Why are we resurrected?
To be glorified, (transformed corruptible putting on incorruptible) to be united with Christ as a bride to her husband, to be with the Lord forever, to fulfil the word of God in Christ. (the lord shall loose not but raise them up at the last day John 11:20-25, John 6:27,39,57)Amen
