P. O. Box 40031 / Cleveland, Ohio 44140 / USA / 440-201-6046
Bible Basics
For Smart People
Who Do Not Want To Be Dummies
About God and the Bible
(Parts I, II, III)
By J. George Cover
Lesson 14 - What About the Resurrection? (Text Version)
Scripture References: Job 14:12; 19:25; 1 Corinthians 15; Revelation 20. Many others.
If A Man Die Shall He Live Again? (Job 14:14)
The Sadducees say there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both (Acts 23:6).
Resurrection - definition:
The Greek word for resurrection is anastasis, meaning arising, a raising.. Resurrection means a returning to life subsequent to death. It is interesting to note that the word, quicken, (Ephesians 2:1 and other places) means to be made alive or "put to life" just as to kill means to "put to death."
Although there were some people mentioned in both the Old and New Testaments who were raised from the dead, these all had to die again -- none survive until now! It appears that those who arose from the dead when Christ arose from the dead were taken on to Heaven by the Lord, although this is not explained. The resurrection from the dead that we are studying today is a resurrection to immortality at the end of this age.
The Resurrection of Christ
The resurrection of Jesus is a fact of history with many infallible proofs. It was prophesied in the Old Testament (Psalm 16:8-22, cited by Peter in Acts 2:25-28; Isaiah 53:10).
Dead people resurrected in the Old Testament and New Testament times: (temporary resurrections; all had to die again).
- Elijah raised the widow's son (1 Kings 18:21).
- Elisha raised the Shunammite's son (2 Kings 4:18-37).
- A Moabite man cast hurriedly into Elisha's sepulchre whose body touched Elisha's bones (2 Kings 13:21).
- Jesus raised Jairus' (a ruler of the synagogue) daughter from the dead (Matthew 9:18-25; Mark 5:21; Luke 8:40).
- Jesus raised the son of the widow of Nain (Luke 7:11-15).
- Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead (John 11:43-44).
- Peter raised Tabitha (Dorcas) from the dead (Acts 9:36-41).
- Some believe that Paul died when he was stoned at Lystra. 'And having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead. Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city, and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe" (Acts 14:19-20).
- Some believe that Eutychus, a young man who fell asleep sitting in a window and fell to the ground as Paul preached long at Troas. "He sunk down with sleep, and fell from the third loft, and was taken up dead... And Paul went down and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him (Acts 20:9-10).
Jesus sent his disciples out to "heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils" (Matthew 10:8). No specific incidences of their raising the dead are recorded, but we must assume that they did what Jesus asked them to do. We do not know how many were raised from the dead under the ministry of the apostles. We have read of some people being raised from the dead in the name of Jesus during this century.
"Please tell me more."
|
|