CHAPTER VIII


A STUDY OF THE RESURRECTIONS


In the preceding chapters we have learned according to the Holy Scriptures that the departed spirits of the righteous are in paradise the third heaven, and that they are conscious and in the presence of Christ.

However, the righteous will not remain in this paradise for all eternity, for the Bible teaches that the bodies of the dead will be resurrected, and that after the righteous have received their resurrection bodies, there will be a final heaven in which they will spend the countless ages of eternity.

Therefore, before we see what the Bible reveals about the Final Heaven, let us first consider the next logical subject, namely

THE RESURRECTIONS

There are those who think of the resurrection of the dead as just foolishness. People make all kinds of excuses for not believing in the literal resurrection of the body. Some say that it is unnecessary. Others even go so far as to say that if all the dead who have ever lived on this earth were to be raised at one time, there would not be standing room for everyone. This is a silly argument, for it has been figured out that if every person since Adam were raised all at the same time, and if each were given a square yard to stand on, all of them together could stand on less than one-half of the state of Texas.

Others say that bodies that have been cremated, or torn to pieces by explosives, or destroyed by fire, or those decomposed in the grave, cannot possibly be restored. But the Bible says that nothing is impossible with God. Luke 1:37.

All the excuses that mere man can offer against the resurrection of the body will not change or alter the fact one bit. The infallible Word of God declares that the dead will be resurrected, so we need not be concerned in the least how the resurrected body will be provided.

The Resurrection of the Body is taught in the Old Testament.

Job 19:25-27. "Though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet, in my flesh shall I see God:" Daniel 12:2. "And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to everlasting shame and contempt."

The Resurrection of the Body was taught by Christ Himself.

John 5:28, 29. "Marvel not at this; for the hour is coming in 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."

Jesus taught the Resurrection of both the "Righteous" and the "Unrighteous." The same was taught by the Apostle Paul in:
Acts 24:15. "And have hope toward God, which they themselves allow, that there shall be a Resurrection of the Dead, both of the just and of the unjust."
These passages of Scripture clearly teach that all the dead will be resurrected. At first glance, they might appear to teach that there will be just one Resurrection in which the bodies, both of the "righteous" and "unrighteous" will be raised all at the same time. However, this much believed theory that there will be one general resurrection in which bodies both of saved and unsaved, will be raised from the dead is not supported by the statements of Scripture. When the above pas- sages are considered in the light of other references on the same subject, it is clear that there will be Two Distinct Resurrections, one for the "righteous" and one for the "unrighteous" separated by a period of time.

Daniel 12:2 plainly teaches Two Resurrections when we add the literal translation. "And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some (lit. those who awake at this time) to everlasting life, and some (lit. those who do not awake at this time) to shame and everlasting contempt." This passage is translated by some of the most eminent Hebrew scholars as follows: "And (at that time) many (of thy people) shall awake (or be separated.) out from among the sleepers in the earth dust. These (who awake) shall be unto life eternal, but those (who do not awake at that time) shall be unto contempt and shame everlasting." This shows that there will be two separate resurrections. Those who will be resurrected "out from among" the rest of the dead will be those who "shall be found written in the book." Daniel 12:1.

Philippians 3:11 brings out the truth that all the dead are not resurrected atone time. "If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead." The literal translation is (the resurrection "out of" the dead). Paul was speaking of being in the resurrection "out from among" the dead. This shows that the righteous are to be raised out from among the rest of the dead, that is the wicked, and that here will be an "interval" of time before the wicked are resurrected.

Paul, in I Corinthians 15:22-24, plainly shows that all the dead will not be resurrected at the same time. Speaking of how "all shall be made alive" (Resurrected) he says "But every man in his own order." Here the word that is translated "order" is a military word which means, "battalion, brigade, band, rank, group." "But every man (shall be raised) in his own 'group' or rank."

  1. "Christ the Firstfruits." (Resurrection of Christ now about 1900 years ago.)
  2. "Afterwards they that are Christ's at his coming" (Resurrection of righteous still future).
  3. Then cometh the end." (Resurrection of the wicked). "They that are Christ's are to be raised, then sometime later come the others.
The Greek word "Then" means next in order, or sequence. This shows that there will be an "interval of time" between the resurrection of them that are Christ's and "the end." (Remember there has already been a period of 1900 years since "Christ the Firstfruits," the resurrection of Christ and "they that are Christ's at his coming."

Luke 14:14 also makes it clear that all the dead will not be raised In just one general resurrection, but that there will be two resurrections, one for the righteous, and one for the wicked. Christ said, "Thou shalt be recompensed at the Resurrection of the Just." This shows that there must be another resurrection for the rest of the dead the wicked. Here Jesus is referring to a "certain class of the dead" who are to be raised.

The fact that there will be two resurrections is brought out in Hebrews 11:35 where the writer refers to a "better" resurrection. This shows that there must be also another resurrection, but of the two, he was referring to the one termed "better."

Here is more evidence of two distinct resurrections. Revelation 20:6, "Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the First Resurrection, on such the Second Death, (the fate of the wicked) hath no power, but they shall be Priests of God and of Christ, and shall Reign with Him a Thousand Years."

Verse 5 tells us "But the REST OF THE DEAD lived not again until the thousand years were finished."

Here we read of the FIRST RESURRECTION and that those in it will be blessed, and holy. The use of the word "FIRST" implies that there is yet another resurrection a second resurrection namely, for the unrighteous, and here we see that there is a period of one thousand years between the TWO resurrections. "For the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished."

The Scripture, then, clearly teaches that there will be two distinct resurrections, one for the righteous and one for the wicked, not just one general resurrection for the raising of all the dead. Terms such as "resurrection out of the dead" (Philippians 3:11), and resurrection of "them that are Christ's at his coming (I Corinthians 15:23), "Resurrection of the Just" (Luke 14:14), "Better resurrection" ( Hebrews 11:34), "First resurrection" (Revelation 20:5) clearly distinguish the resurrection of the righteous from the resurrection of the rest of the dead the wicked. Acts 24:15, John 5:29, Daniel 12:2, the references first quoted, also name the two resurrections, and from Revelation 20:5, 6, we learn that there will be a period of one thousand years between them.

Now that the fact of the two resurrections separated by a period of one thousand years has been established on Scripture, let us ask a question.



WHEN WILL THE FIRST RESURRECTION OR RESURRECTION OF THE RIGHTEOUS OCCUR?


The Bible testimony is that the righteous will be raised at the SECOND COMING OF CHRIST. I Thessalonians 4:13-17. "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. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of our Lord shall not prevent (precede) them which are asleep. 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: 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."

From this passage we learn that when Christ descends from heaven from the throne of God and paradise. He will bring the righteous, (them which sleep in Jesus) with Him. The righteous will come to earth to get their resurrection bodies (for the dead in Christ shall rise first.) After the spiritual natures of the righteous have been re- united with their bodies, that is, after the righteous dead are resurrected, THEN "we which are alive and remain," meaning the living saints, "shall be caught up together with them (the resurrected dead) in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord."

Speaking of the same event, the raising of the righteous dead, and the changing of the living believers, Paul says I Corinthians 15:51. "Behold I shew you a mystery. WE (meaning the Christians) 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 (dead in Christ) and we shall be changed (living saints)." This refers only to those in Christ, and not to the ungodly, because it is said "For this Corruptible (the dead in Christ) must put on incorruption, and this mortal (the living saints) must put on immortality." (The "putting on" of incorruption and immortality refer only to the righteous see next chapter on the resurrection body. )

Then the Apostle goes on to say, "So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

0 death, where is thy sting?

0 grave, where is thy victory?" I Corinthians 15:51-55.

The two statements above apply only to those who are "changed without dying," for they are the only ones who will be able to make such a declaration.

Yes, "we shall all be changed" the "dead in Christ" as well as the righteous who are "alive and remain." Both the resurrected saints and those who are changed without dying shall be "caught up" "together" "to meet the Lord in the air, and .so shall we ever be with the Lord"

One of these events will be the judgment of believers as to works.

There are erroneous ideas about Judgment. Some think of judgment as being administered immediately at death. A study of the subject will show differently. There are the Post-Millennialists who believe that there is to be one great judgment which will take place at the end of the world when all mankind shall be judged as to destiny and rewards. We believe that such a view is incorrect.

The Christian's judgment as to destiny is past.

"There is therefore now no condemnation (judgment) to them that are in Christ Jesus." Romans 8:1.

"He that heareth my word, and believeth on Him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation (judgment); but is passed from death unto life." John 5:24.

The word translated "condemnation" means "judgment." The believer's judgment as to sin is past. This judgment took place on Calvary's cross on the basis of Christ's Finished work. Galatians 3:13, I Peter 2:24, II Corinthians 5:21. The sins of the believer were judged and put away. Thus Paul rightly says in I Timothy 5:24, that some men's sins are open beforehand and go before into judgment, and some men's sins follow after. The believer's judgment, as to sin is long past, but the believer's judgment as to works is still future and will occur at the "judgment seat of Christ" after the "dead in Christ" are raised and the "living believers" are changed. This judgment has reference to the works of the believer, not to his salvation. It is not to decide destiny but is for adjustment, reward, and position in the kingdom. Every man shall be judged according to his works. This will net be a judgment for "sin," but for "works."

II Corinthians 5:10. "We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that every one may receive the things done in his body according to that he hath done, whether good or bad." Also I Corinthians 3:11-15.

The Greek word for "judgment seat" is "bema," a tribunal of award. It has to do only with those who are saved. This is not a trial to see whether the subjects are to be saved or lost. The references II Corinthians 5:1, 5, 7, 9, and also I Corinthians 4:5, make it clear that saints are referred to for we read that those who are judged "shall have praise of God." This is not true of the wicked. I Corinthians 4:5 sets the time of this judgment at the second coming of Christ.

Various crowns mentioned in scripture are referred to as rewards. The Crown of life James 1:12, Revelation 2:10.

The Crown of Glory I Peter 5:2-4. The Crown of rejoicing I Thessalonians 2:19, 20. The Crown of righteousness II Timothy 4:8. The Crown incorruptible I Corinthians 9:25-27.

(The judgment of the Unrighteous will be considered later in the book.)

Now we have learned that after the "dead in Christ" are raised, and the "living believers" are changed, they will appear before the "judgment seat of Christ" for rewards according to their works. There are still other events that will transpire before the righteous enter the final heaven to spend eternity. There is to be the great event "the marriage of the Lamb" (Christ) Revelation 19:7-9. The bride of Christ will be the true Church those of the first resurrection and the living believers, who will be caught up and changed without dying. It is believed that the great tribulation period will take place on earth during the judgment of believers and the marriage of the Lamb. The climax of the terrible tribulation period will be the revelation of Christ, the "apokalupsis," the other phase of Christ's second coming. The two phases of Christ's second coming are clearly distinguished in the Greek. The "parousia" or corporeal appearing, is His coming for his saints (living believers). This will be the raising of the "dead in Christ" and the changing of the "living believers." The "apokalupsis" (the revealing, unveiling, making manifest) is His coming with his saints following the believers' judgment and the marriage of the Lamb. The following are some of the references in which the word "parousia" is found. It is translated "coming." Matthew 24:3, 27, 37, 39, I Corinthians 15:23, I Thessalonians 2:19, 4:15, 5:23, II Thessalonians 2:1. (Luke 17:34-36, John 14:33 and others refer to Christ's "parousia.") Some verses which refer to the "apokalupsis" are Revelation 1:7, Colossians 3:4, Jude 14, Zechariah 14:5, II Thessalonians 1:7, 8.

This revelation of Christ, His coming with His saints, will climax the tribulation period and usher in the Millennial reign of Christ with His saints. (Revelation 20:6). After this the earth will be renovated by fire (II Peter 3:10-13) and the New Jerusalem, the eternal abode for the righteous will descend from heaven. (Revelation 21:1-2).

(For a detailed study on the Second Coming of Christ, and events which surround it, read "Jesus Is Coming" by W.E.B.)

Before we study the chapter devoted to the Bible teaching relative to this Final Heaven, the following important chapter is inserted.