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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)
Resurrection - Old Testament:
It may seem strange that the teaching that all the dead must be resurrected and then judged is not a prominent teaching in the Old Testament. "Our Savior Jesus Christ ... hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel" (2 Timothy 1:10).
There are, however, statements recorded in the Old Testament by Job, David, Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel (under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit). In the New TESTAMENT statements are made by Jesus and the Apostles regarding a coming resurrection for people of the Old Testament period as well as people of all times.
- Job 14:14-15: "If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, til my change come. Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee; thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands."
- Job 19:25-27: "I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me."
- Psalm 16:9: "Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption." This is a prophecy regarding Jesus' resurrection before his body would decay.
- Psalm 17:15: "As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with they likeness."
- Psalm 49:15: "God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me."
- Isaiah 25:8: "He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces."
- Isaiah 26:19: "Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead."
- Isaiah 53:10: "...When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. " This is a prophecy of the resurrection of Jesus.
- Ezekiel 37 is a picture prophecy of Israel, dead spiritually, scattered into the nations of the world, thinking they are hopeless and of God's promise to bring them back to their own land and put life in them. The vision, no doubt, can also be seen as a picture of the resurrection from the dead of people in general at the day of resurrection.
- Daniel 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 everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever."
- Daniel 12:13: "But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days."
- Hosea 13:14: "I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O Death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction."
These are the most of the prophecies and insights regarding the resurrection from the dead in the Old Testament.
"The question why there are not more and clearer resurrection passages in the Pentateuch and the historical books, must be met with facts as they stand in the progress of God's revelation. Not everything is revealed at once, yet every age has sufficient light for its spiritual life and fellowship with God" [Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictionary].
Scripture on the Fact of the Resurrection,
in the New Testament.
Statements of Fact by Jesus:
- John 5:21, 25, 28-29: "For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will...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...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 tell me more."
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