What of the Resurrection, Who is it for?
In this study we will be looking at the four different types of resurrections.
First off, what do the scriptures say of the resurrection, and who will be resurrected?
“But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” (Matt 22:31, 32)
The first thing we learn from this particular scripture spoken of by our Lord is that, He defended the doctrine of the resurrection. So this makes it a certainty.
Second, God does not say that He was the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but that He is, in other words, “God is not the God of the dead, but of the living”.
The statement made of the Father that He is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is a certainty that they were all to be resurrected, and the words of the Lord that “God is not the God of the dead, but of the living” is a true statement, for all live unto God in the sense that in Christ, God has provided for the reawakening of all.
For the Lord said: “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth (crucified), will draw all peoples to myself.” (John 12:32)
And as the Apostle Paul so stated, “…I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question." (Acts 23:6)
“Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the first fruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. Then the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power." 1 Cor 15: 12-24
Acts 24:14, 15 “But this I confess unto thee, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: And have hope toward God, which they themselves also accept, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just AND unjust.”
And the Lord said in 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 judgment.”
Dan 12:2 “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, AND some to shame and age-lasting contempt.”
So in answer to our original question as to who will be resurrected we find the answer to be ALL. Yes all shall share in the ‘common salvation’ (Jude 3) made possible through the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ as it is stated “… God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them.” (2 Cor 5:19), and thus ALL shall have a resurrection.
THE RESURRECTION OF LIFE AND THE RESURRECTION OF JUDGMENT
Notice in Acts 24:14, 15; John 5:28, 29 and in Dan 12:2 that the resurrection is divided into two parts.
“The just AND unjust”, those who have done good, AND those who have done evil, some awakening to everlasting life, and some to shame and age-lasting contempt. Here we have stated two different types of resurrections.
What the Apostle calls the just and the unjust (Acts 24:14, 15), our Lord calls the good and the evil (John 5:29).
The good, the just; are those who take part in the “resurrection to life” they are the consecrated, who through the merit of Christ’s perfection imputed to them, are in a justified condition. Their trial having taken place in this age, they shall immediately be granted their full reward. The faithful of the past ages (the ancient worthies) resurrected to perfect human life, and the overcomes of this Gospel age to perfect life as spirit beings.
The other class, the evil, the unjust are those who take part in the “resurrection of judgment”, mistranslated in our Common Version “resurrection of damnation.”
The remainder of the world who have not been acceptable to God; including not only the heathen, non-believers, but likewise the majority of believers, all who have heard of the special privilege offered now during the “acceptable time” (2 Cor 6:1, 2), the privilege of becoming joint sacrificers with their Lord, who fell to respond, who in essence receive “the grace of God [the special favor of *justification through faith] in vain”, remain in an un-justified condition and have as yet to have escaped “the condemnation that is on the world.”
*The intention of this reckoned or faith justification of the present time is to enable the justified ones to present their "bodies living sacrifices, holy, and acceptable to God," their reasonable service; because they could not be acceptable to God as sacrifices, nor in any sense of the word come to his altar, while still they were sinners. Since to permit this sanctification and sacrifice is the only object of the giving of this grace in the present time, they have received it in vain, in that they have not used it as God designed it to be used by those who are appreciative.
Nevertheless as was stated by the Apostle Paul in Acts 24:15 there shall be a resurrection of BOTH the just and the unjust alike.
The word “resurrection” is from the Greek “anastasis” which means a full, complete rising up out of death conditions into perfection of life conditions, it signifies to raise up again, thus implying that a thing was once up and fell down, and is to be brought up again to the place where it originally was, if not higher.
While the word anastasis signifies rising again, it in no sense limits the process so as to make it either instantaneous or gradual, neither does anastasis change the nature of the being.
Mankind will be awakened in the same condition in which they died, “children of disobedience”, but they will be granted the opportunity of standing up once again, of resurrection, of full recovery from the fall into sin and imperfection. This is the meaning of the word “resurrection”-standing up again.
This resurrection will be a resurrection of judgment that is mankind will be put on trial for life. Not a judgment, or trial, for past sins; but another trial for life. Remember 2 Cor 5:19
“… God was in Christ reconciling THE WORLD to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them…”
We were all tried and condemned once already though Adam, and now a second chance for life comes to all through Christ Jesus-an individual chance.
“So then as through one trespass [the judgment came] unto all men to condemnation; even so through one act of righteousness [the free gift came] unto all men to justification of life.” (Rom 5:18)
This Greek “krisis”, resurrection of trial will be a gradual resurrection; the awakening will be a preparatory work, not the full resurrection, but one, which will require the entire thousand years to complete, with each individual progressing at their own pace. Naturally those more depraved and fallen will take longer, but nevertheless they will have the same opportunity for a full recovery, standing up again.
Thus we have shown that there are two different resurrections, one to life and to an immediate resurrection, and the other to a reawakening and a gradual resurrection, a gradual rising up out of sin and death conditions.
Next post.
Back to Index
In this study we will be looking at the four different types of resurrections.
First off, what do the scriptures say of the resurrection, and who will be resurrected?
“But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” (Matt 22:31, 32)
The first thing we learn from this particular scripture spoken of by our Lord is that, He defended the doctrine of the resurrection. So this makes it a certainty.
Second, God does not say that He was the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but that He is, in other words, “God is not the God of the dead, but of the living”.
The statement made of the Father that He is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is a certainty that they were all to be resurrected, and the words of the Lord that “God is not the God of the dead, but of the living” is a true statement, for all live unto God in the sense that in Christ, God has provided for the reawakening of all.
For the Lord said: “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth (crucified), will draw all peoples to myself.” (John 12:32)
And as the Apostle Paul so stated, “…I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question." (Acts 23:6)
“Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the first fruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. Then the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power." 1 Cor 15: 12-24
Acts 24:14, 15 “But this I confess unto thee, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: And have hope toward God, which they themselves also accept, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just AND unjust.”
And the Lord said in 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 judgment.”
Dan 12:2 “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, AND some to shame and age-lasting contempt.”
So in answer to our original question as to who will be resurrected we find the answer to be ALL. Yes all shall share in the ‘common salvation’ (Jude 3) made possible through the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ as it is stated “… God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them.” (2 Cor 5:19), and thus ALL shall have a resurrection.
THE RESURRECTION OF LIFE AND THE RESURRECTION OF JUDGMENT
Notice in Acts 24:14, 15; John 5:28, 29 and in Dan 12:2 that the resurrection is divided into two parts.
“The just AND unjust”, those who have done good, AND those who have done evil, some awakening to everlasting life, and some to shame and age-lasting contempt. Here we have stated two different types of resurrections.
What the Apostle calls the just and the unjust (Acts 24:14, 15), our Lord calls the good and the evil (John 5:29).
The good, the just; are those who take part in the “resurrection to life” they are the consecrated, who through the merit of Christ’s perfection imputed to them, are in a justified condition. Their trial having taken place in this age, they shall immediately be granted their full reward. The faithful of the past ages (the ancient worthies) resurrected to perfect human life, and the overcomes of this Gospel age to perfect life as spirit beings.
The other class, the evil, the unjust are those who take part in the “resurrection of judgment”, mistranslated in our Common Version “resurrection of damnation.”
The remainder of the world who have not been acceptable to God; including not only the heathen, non-believers, but likewise the majority of believers, all who have heard of the special privilege offered now during the “acceptable time” (2 Cor 6:1, 2), the privilege of becoming joint sacrificers with their Lord, who fell to respond, who in essence receive “the grace of God [the special favor of *justification through faith] in vain”, remain in an un-justified condition and have as yet to have escaped “the condemnation that is on the world.”
*The intention of this reckoned or faith justification of the present time is to enable the justified ones to present their "bodies living sacrifices, holy, and acceptable to God," their reasonable service; because they could not be acceptable to God as sacrifices, nor in any sense of the word come to his altar, while still they were sinners. Since to permit this sanctification and sacrifice is the only object of the giving of this grace in the present time, they have received it in vain, in that they have not used it as God designed it to be used by those who are appreciative.
Nevertheless as was stated by the Apostle Paul in Acts 24:15 there shall be a resurrection of BOTH the just and the unjust alike.
The word “resurrection” is from the Greek “anastasis” which means a full, complete rising up out of death conditions into perfection of life conditions, it signifies to raise up again, thus implying that a thing was once up and fell down, and is to be brought up again to the place where it originally was, if not higher.
While the word anastasis signifies rising again, it in no sense limits the process so as to make it either instantaneous or gradual, neither does anastasis change the nature of the being.
Mankind will be awakened in the same condition in which they died, “children of disobedience”, but they will be granted the opportunity of standing up once again, of resurrection, of full recovery from the fall into sin and imperfection. This is the meaning of the word “resurrection”-standing up again.
This resurrection will be a resurrection of judgment that is mankind will be put on trial for life. Not a judgment, or trial, for past sins; but another trial for life. Remember 2 Cor 5:19
“… God was in Christ reconciling THE WORLD to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them…”
We were all tried and condemned once already though Adam, and now a second chance for life comes to all through Christ Jesus-an individual chance.
“So then as through one trespass [the judgment came] unto all men to condemnation; even so through one act of righteousness [the free gift came] unto all men to justification of life.” (Rom 5:18)
This Greek “krisis”, resurrection of trial will be a gradual resurrection; the awakening will be a preparatory work, not the full resurrection, but one, which will require the entire thousand years to complete, with each individual progressing at their own pace. Naturally those more depraved and fallen will take longer, but nevertheless they will have the same opportunity for a full recovery, standing up again.
Thus we have shown that there are two different resurrections, one to life and to an immediate resurrection, and the other to a reawakening and a gradual resurrection, a gradual rising up out of sin and death conditions.
Next post.
Back to Index
