The next event after the spiritual revelation of Jesus to, in and through believers is the resurrection of believers who have passed on – 1 Thess.4:13-16,
“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 to you by the Word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent 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:”
Types of resurrection
Let us take it from the scratch. There are two types of resurrection as follows:
• Spiritual resurrection from spiritual death – Jn. 5:25, “Verily, verily I say unto you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.”
“And you hath He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins…wherefore He saith, awake you that sleepeth, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.” – Eph. 2:1; 5:14.
This resurrection is a present event in this life. All believers have undergone it, whether they are presently physically dead or alive. So, any time a sinner repents and is ‘born again’ he is resurrected from spiritual death to spiritual life.
• Physical resurrection from physical death – Jn. 5: 28-29, Jesus said
“Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the 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.”
Please note that Jesus does not add “and now is” as in Jn. 5:25 (earlier quoted). This suggests that the resurrection in this quote is a future event.
Actually, there is a thousand year gap between the resurrection of “they that have done good” (referring to believers) and “they that have done evil” (referring to unbelievers).
This physical resurrection of believers is what will take place before the rapture. Unbelievers will be resurrected after the Millennium or thousand year rule of Jesus, for the Great White Throne judgment – Rev. 20:11-13.
Importance of the resurrection
Resurrection of the dead is central to the believer’s life because it is central to Jesus’ life on earth. Yes, Jesus Himself died and was resurrected as an example to us.
1) Therefore sinful man being forgiven and justified before God is dependent on Jesus’ resurrection – I Cor. 15:17, “And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.”
“Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.” – Rom. 4:25. This is why you cannot be saved without believing and confessing the Lordship and resurrection of Jesus – Rom. 10:9.
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”
2) Resurrection is also God’s proof that Jesus is His son – Rom. 1:4, “And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: by
whom we have received grace…”
3) The resurrection of Jesus is a sign that the world would be judged using Jesus as the standard – Acts 17:31,
“Because He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom He hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He
hath raise Him from the dead.”
4) Resurrection is the ultimate goal of our mortal life – Phil. 3:10-12,
“That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death; if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
“If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable”-1 Cor.15:19.
5) The future resurrection of believers who are asleep or physically dead is the proof that Jesus physically resurrected – 1 Cor. 15:12-13, 16,
“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….For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised.”
6) The resurrection of Jesus enables us to lead a Christ-like and powerful life on earth – Rom. 6:4-5,
“Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection”
“And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead…” – Eph. 1:1 -20a.
7) Through Jesus’ resurrection, our bodies become vitalized by the Holy Spirit to live above sickness – Rom. 8:11,
“But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you.”
8) The resurrection of Jesus qualifies Him to be a High Priest forever, to receive tithes and to intercede for us – Heb. 7:8,
“And here men that die receive tithes; but there He receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that He liveth.”
“And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: But this Man, because He continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.” – Heb.7:23-25
9) Resurrecting from the dead gave Jesus the keys or controls of hades and death – Rev. 1:18,
“I am He that liveth, and was dead; and behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell (hades) and death.”
Satan used the fear of death to keep mankind in slavery instead of man being daring to rule in life. So now, if Satan tells you that you will die, it’s a lie. His trump card for violating your ruler-ship is taken away by Jesus, thus eliminating his power to enslave you now – Heb. 2:14-15.
10) The future resurrection and acquiring of new bodies by believers is the victory over death – 1 Cor. 15:54-55,
“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. O death where is thy sting? O grave , where is thy victory.”
We now have victory over the effects of death in Jesus. We await the final victory over death, where we will not die at all, as intended in the first Kingdom era.
11) Through Jesus’ resurrection, all of God’s promises in the Old Testament are made available to us – Acts 13:32-33,
“And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that He hath raised Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten thee.”
12) Through Jesus’ resurrection, the blessings of David are experienced by us –Acts 13:34,
“And as concerning that He raised Him (Jesus) up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, He said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David.” The blessing of David is being taken from nothing to a place of ruler-ship – 2 Sam.7:8,
“Now therefore so shalt thou say unto My servant David, thus saith the Lord of host, I took thee from following the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over Israel.”
The next event after the physical resurrection of believer will be the rapture of the church. We will cover that in the next chapter.
