Facts Concerning the Resurrection From the Dead (Cont'd.)

• 8. At the resurrection, the Lord will bring with him the souls of the saved who have died and will resurrect their bodies and unite the two together (1 Thessalonians 4:14).
• 9. The tribulation martyrs will also be included in the first resurrection (Revelation 20:4-6).
• 10. The harvest of the righteous from the earth is typified by the Jewish harvest -- The firstfruits, the main harvest, and the gleanings. "...Every man in his order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. Then cometh 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 Corinthians 15:23 -24).
• 11. The first resurrection seems to include five different groups, rising from the dead at five different times, so that when Revelation 20:5 says, "This is the first resurrection," it seems to mean that this is the completion of the first resurrection.
  1. Christ and the many saints that were resurrected after His resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:20; Matthew 27:52-53; Ephesians 4:8-10).
  2. "Afterward they that are Christ's at His coming" (both dead and alive) (1 Corinthians 15:23; John 14:1-3; Luke 21:34-36; 1 Thessalonians 2:10; 3:13; 4:13-17).
  3. The great multitude of tribulation saints, "Who have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb " (Revelation 7:14) after those described in # (2) above.
  4. The great tribulation martyrs. The first martyrs of this period are told to wait until the rest of them are killed (Revelation 6:9-11), when vengeance will be taken. This will include those killed by the beast (antichrist) during the last 3 1/2 years of the great tribulation (Revelation 20:4-6).
  5. The two special witnesses during the tribulation period (Revelation 11:3-11).

  There is one more group taken from the earth and appearing in heaven who do not seem to have died but just taken up into heaven. These are the 144,000 Jewish witnesses sealed during the great tribulation (Revelation 7:18; 14:1-5).

• 12. To say that there is no resurrection of the dead is also to deny that Christ arose from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:13).
• 13. If there be no resurrection both our preaching and our faith are vain (empty, profitless, in vain) (1 Corinthians 15:1314).
• 14. If there be no resurrection, then we are found to be false witnesses (1 Corinthians <15:15).
• 15. If Christ did not rise from the dead, we are yet in our sins (1 Corinthians 15:17).
• 16. If there be no resurrection, those who have died are perished.
• 17. "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable" (1 Corinthians 15:19).
• 18. If there is no resurrection, baptism is meaningless (1 Corinthians 15:29).
• 19. Laboring and suffering as a Christian is useless if there is no resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:30-32).
• 20. The nature of the burial and resurrection of the body is similar to the planting rotting, and growing again of grain th!t is planted in the ground" (1 Corinthians 15:36-38).
• 21. Just as earthly bodies and heavenly bodies, whether earth, sun, moon, or stars have different glory, honor, or dignity. so our heavenly bodies will be more glorious than our earthly bodies. I Corinthians 15:40.
• 22. Just as one star differs from another, so in the resurrection we will differ one from another, even in honor or glory (1 Corinthians 15:40-41).
• 23. Our bodies are "sown" in the earth in corruption and dishonor but will be raised in glory and power (1 Corinthians 15:42-43). They are sown as natural bodies and are raised spiritual bodies (1 Corinthians 15:44).
• 24. "As we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly (1 Corinthians 15:49).
• 25. "Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God" (1 Corinthians 15:50). In Luke 24:3 9, Jesus said, Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself- handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have." Since we will have a body like Christ (1 John 3:2; Philippians 3:10-11) had upon his resurrection, it appears that it will be a body of "flesh and bones" but not a body of "flesh and blood." (Jesus gave his blood on the cross.) His body could enter or leave a room, all doors and widows closed (John 20:19, 26). He also ate (Luke 24:43).