The resurrection of the dead is a core doctrine of Christianity and is one of the specifically mentioned phrases of the Apostle’s Creed (shown below). So it’s safe to say that all Christians believe in the resurrection of the dead but there is division over how and when that will occur. The Bible lists several resurrections that occur over a long period of time. In fact, some have already passed and others remain and will occur at various points in the future. In the end, all of mankind will be raised from the dead in their time and place and human existence goes on forever. This is one of the core doctrines of Christianity so we will discuss the various resurrections to explain how this is not one single event at the end like so many uninformed people assume it will be.
The Resurrection of Jesus Christ
First and foremost, Jesus Christ is the firstborn from among the dead (Colossians 1:18) and should be mentioned first in the subject of resurrection. Several resurrections are recorded in the Bible prior to Christ, but these are all people who lived, died and were resurrected temporarily until they died a natural death again. Christ was different. He died and rose again and gained his resurrection body which will never see decay or die (Psalm 16:9-10). He served as our forerunner and opened the way to resurrection life (Hebrews 6:19-20). Because of Christ’s resurrection, we have hope and confidence in our resurrection.
Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.
1 John 3:2
Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.
“Look, he is coming with the clouds,”
and “every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him”;
and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.”
So shall it be! Amen.
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”
Revelation 1:4-8
But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.
1 Corinthians 15:12-19
The Resurrection of the Saints in Jerusalem
At the time of Christ’s resurrection, a number of Jewish saints in Jerusalem were also raised from the dead and came alive. We don’t know their names and we don’t know what happened to them later, but they appeared to many witnesses. After making their appearances, it is likely that they were raptured to heaven to be with the Lord.
The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus’ resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.
Matthew 27:52-53
The probable meaning of the resurrection of saints at the time of Christ’s resurrection may be found in the offering which it fulfilled according to the law of Moses. The third of the feasts involves the ceremony in which, at the beginning of the harvest, the Israelites would bring a handful of the grain to wave it before the Lord and to offer appropriate sacrifices in recognition of their expectation of the coming harvest. Christ then was not alone in His resurrection, but He was the forerunner of the great harvest to come. The resurrected saints in Jerusalem were symbolic of the firstfruits offering signifying that a great harvest of souls was coming in the future.
The LORD said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you enter the land I am going to give you and you reap its harvest, bring to the priest a sheaf of the first grain you harvest. He is to wave the sheaf before the LORD so it will be accepted on your behalf; the priest is to wave it on the day after the Sabbath. On the day you wave the sheaf, you must sacrifice as a burnt offering to the LORD a lamb a year old without defect, together with its grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil—an offering made to the LORD by fire, a pleasing aroma—and its drink offering of a quarter of a hin of wine. You must not eat any bread, or roasted or new grain, until the very day you bring this offering to your God. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live.
Leviticus 23:9-14
The Resurrection of the Church
The church age dispensation saints will be raptured prior to the seven-year dispensation period. Technically the word rapture means to snatch away and that is what will happen to the living saints at that time. However, there will also be a resurrection of the church age saints who had died. Actually, the apostle Paul explained that according to the Lord’s own word, the dead in Christ will rise first and then the living will be taken. Together these two acts are what most people refer to as the rapture. This is expected to occur imminently as there is no prophecy to be fulfilled prior to it. Many Christians believe that when the rapture occurs, the seven year tribulation period will begin.
According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
1 Thessalonians 4:15-17
But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?” How foolish! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body. Not all flesh is the same: People have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another and fish another. There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another. The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor.
So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.
If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. The first man was of the dust of the earth; the second man is of heaven. As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven. And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man.
I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
“Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
1 Corinthians 15:35-58
The Resurrection of the Old Testament Saints
The term Old Testament saints is used of every believer of the Old Testament era from Adam up to and through all the events recorded in the Gospels. Technically, it would be any believer who died prior to the day of Pentecost as recorded in Acts 2. These believers will most likely not be included in the rapture but will be resurrected apparently when Christ returns to establish the Millennial Kingdom on earth. This conclusion is drawn mostly from the prophecy of Job and is consistent with prophecies from Daniel and Isaiah as noted below.
I know that my redeemer lives,
and that in the end he will stand on the earth [something Christ does when he comes again to establish the Millennial Kingdom].
And after my skin has been destroyed,
yet in my flesh I will see God;
I myself will see him
with my own eyes—I, and not another.
How my heart yearns within me!
Job 19:25-27
“At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then [this is consistent with the description of the seal, trumpet and bowl judgments which occur in the 2nd half of the tribulation period as described in Revelation chapters 6-19]. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered. Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.
Daniel 12:1-3
But your dead will live, Lord;
their bodies will rise—
let those who dwell in the dust
wake up and shout for joy—
your dew is like the dew of the morning;
the earth will give birth to her dead.
Isaiah 26:19
The Resurrection of the Tribulation Saints
The term tribulation saints refers to all who became believers during the tribulation period and died prior to the establishment of the Millennial Kingdom. This number will be composed of both Jews and Gentiles. At that point, all saints of all time that had died will be resurrected and will be able to celebrate the wedding supper of the lamb as announced in Revelation 19:7-9. Again, this timing is not supported explicitly by any prophecy, but is logical speculation. The time and place of the wedding supper is considered by some to be in heaven, not on earth.
I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.
Revelation 20:4-6
The Resurrection of the Millennial Saints
The term Millennial saints refers to believers who are alive in the Millennial kingdom. We know that the curse on mankind will be partially lifted during that era and length of life will be extended as noted in Isaiah 65:20-25. If any saints happen to die during the 1000 year period, they must be resurrected at the end. Also living saints of the kingdom must be raptured at the end, but this event is not recorded in Scripture and is a conclusion drawn to fill in some missing blanks. Perhaps no prophecy is made of these events because it isn’t of direct concern of anyone living in prior ages. It is the most logical conclusion because there are prophecies that the world will be destroyed and a new heaven and earth will be created. Those living believers would have to be translated to bodies fit for such an environment.
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.
Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
2 Peter 3:10-13
“See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.
Isaiah 65:17
“As the new heavens and the new earth that I make will endure before me,” declares the Lord, “so will your name and descendants endure.
Isaiah 66:22
Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
Revelation 21:1-5
The Resurrection of the Unbelievers
The unbelievers of all time will be resurrected together for what has been called the second death (Revelation 20:6). This occurs after the present heavens and earth are destroyed and apparently prior to the creation of the new heavens and earth. The wicked dead will be resurrected and stand before Jesus Christ at the great white throne judgment. The destiny of everyone there will be the same, condemnation to the lake of fire with Satan and his angels for eternity.
Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.
Revelation 20:11-15
Summary
The doctrine of the resurrection of the dead is grounded in both the Old and New Testaments. Christ was the first one who was raised from the dead and who received his resurrection body. Believers will receive a similar body when our time to be resurrected comes. Though the Bible is clear that all people will be raised, it is less precise on exactly how and when that will occur. Therefore, students of the Bible have come up with logical interpretations based on what we do know. Not everyone agrees on the specifics but there is no doubt that all Christians believe in the concept. We share the hope of being raised from the dead and joining Christ and other believers in heaven for eternity. The other side of the coin is that all unbelievers will also be raised but only to receive their judgment of condemnation and will be confined to the lake of fire for eternity.
“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.
“Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned. By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.
John 5:24-30
Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”
John 6:35-40
“Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”
Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
John 11 21-26
For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.
2 Corinthians 5:1-4
We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
Romans 6:4
And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.
Romans 8:11
“The Lord brings death and makes alive;
he brings down to the grave and raises up.
2 Samuel 2:6
Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.
Daniel 12:2
The Apostle’s Creed (for reference)
I believe in God,
the Father almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty;
he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting.
Amen.
All Scripture quoted from:
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
