5. The Christian Hope of Resurrection at the Last Day
by Dr. Ralph F. Wilson
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Luca Signorelli (c. 1450-1532), Angel Blowing
Horn at the Resurrection on the Last Day, detail from "Resurrection of the Flesh" (1499-1502), Fresco, Chapel of San
Brizio, Duomo, Orvieto, Italy.
Larger image of full scene. |
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As you prepare to study this lesson, read again 1 Corinthians 15 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. |
Jesus was raised from the dead on the third day, breaking the
hold that death had on mankind. He is the "firstborn from the
dead" (Revelation 1:5; Colossians 1:18), "the firstfruits of
those who have fallen asleep" (1 Corinthians 15:20). He is the
first to be resurrected eternally, but not the last. Jesus
clearly taught that on the Last Day, both the righteous and the
unrighteous will be raised, the righteous to eternal life, and
the unrighteous to eternal condemnation (John 5:28-29; Daniel
12:2-3; Acts 24:15).
Rapture vs. Resurrection
I've heard a lot of Christians talk about the "rapture" (a
word that doesn't actually occur in the New Testament) but far
fewer talk about the "resurrection" (which is mentioned many
times). The word "rapture" comes from the Latin noun raptus,
which means, "a carrying off," a concept referred to in 1
Thessalonians 4:17. Clearly the "rapture of the saints" and the
"resurrection of the righteous" are one and the same event. Jesus
himself talked about this great resurrection in terms of
gathering. In a moment we'll look at several passages of
scripture describing the order of Christ's return, but first
observe the elements in the accounts:
- The appearance of Christ in the heavens,
- The angel's trumpet call summoning all God's people,
- Gathering of his people, dead and alive ("the quick
and the dead") (Matthew 13:24-30, 37-43, 47-50; 25:31-46; 2
Thessalonians 2:1)
- Resurrection of those who are dead and
- Changing into resurrection bodies of those alive
at that time.
- Appearing before God's judgment (Revelation
20:11-13)
- Entering into glory
These things are mentioned in a number of places in the New
Testament, but most completely in the following four passages:
"At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the
sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see
the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and
great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet
call, and they will gather (episunagō1)
his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens
to the other." (Matthew 24:30-31 || Mark 13:27)
"Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we
will all be changed -- in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye,
at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will
be raised imperishable (aphthartos2),
and we will be changed (allassō3)" (1
Corinthians 15:51-52)
"For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a
loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the
trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
After that, we who are still alive and are left will be
caught up together (harpazō4) with them
in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be
with the Lord forever." (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)
"Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on
it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no
place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing
before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was
opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged
according to what they had done as recorded in the books.
The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades
gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was
judged according to what he had done." (Revelation 20:11-13;
see also Romans 14:10; 2 Corinthians 5:10)
Q1. What is the word used in the Bible
instead of "rapture"?
When will the resurrection take place in relation to Christ's
return? In relation to judgment? In relation to glory? (This
is NOT the place to debate various theories of the rapture
and the millennium.)
http://www.joyfulheart.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=585
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In Heaven Prior to the Resurrection
In 1 Thessalonians 4:17 above we see both the resurrection of
the dead ("and the dead in Christ will rise first") and the
rapture of those Christians still alive ("we who are still alive
and are left will be caught up together with them"). Where have
the dead been during this time? Verse 14 is rather clear: "We
believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen
asleep in him." They have been in the presence of God from
the instant of their death until the resurrection.
Occasionally you may hear the doctrine of "soul sleep," that
Christians who die are asleep until the resurrection, when
suddenly they awake -- unaware of the interval in time -- and are
raised from the dead at the Last Day. "Sleep" is sometimes used
as a euphemism for death in the New Testament. But soul sleep is
not taught in the Bible. The scriptures are clear that at death,
Christians are with Christ instantly. Consider Paul's words:
"I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be
with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more
necessary for you that I remain in the body." (Philippians
1:23-24)
"We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from
the body and at home5 with the Lord."
(2 Corinthians 5:8).
So at the moment of death, we are ushered into the presence of
God. The Book of Revelation twice mentions saints in heaven
awaiting the resurrection.
"I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain
because of the word of God and the testimony they had
maintained. They called out in a loud voice, 'How long,
Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants
of the earth and avenge our blood?' Then each of them was given
a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until
the number of their fellow servants and brothers who were to be
killed as they had been was completed." (Revelation 6:9-11)
The other mention is the 144,000, "wearing white robes and
were holding palm branches in their hands" (7:9), worshiping the
Lamb. "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation"
(7:14). I think it's likely that these are two different pictures
of the same group, though, of course, that's hotly debated.
The point is that there is a place for us with God, for Jesus
told his disciples:
"In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I
would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for
you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back
and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."
(John 14:2-3)
Redemption and Glorification
"Getting into heaven will satisfy me," you might be saying.
"You can have this old body." That may be so, but God has a plan
not only for your immortal soul, but also your body. We see
several words that describe this in the New Testament:
Redemption of our bodies. Paul writes, "We ourselves ...
groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons,
the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved"
(Romans 8:23-24a). Redemption (apolutrōsis) means
literally, "the redeeming or setting free by paying the price."
Christ's redemption is not only spiritual, but holistic,
physical. In some sense the completion of the promises of God to
us (such as "adoption as sons") await the resurrection at the
Last Day.
Glorification. A number of passages associate being
glorified with receiving the resurrection body: "It is sown in
dishonor, it is raised in glory" (1 Corinthians 15:43;
also Romans 8:17, 30; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 4:17; Philippians 3:21;
Colossians 1:27; 3:4; 2 Thessalonians 2:14; 2 Timothy 2:10;
Hebrews 2:10; ) This glory was also spoken concerning Jesus (Luke
24:26; John 7:39; 12:16, 23; 13:31; Acts 3:13; Colossians 3:4; 1
Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 2:9; 1 Peter 1:11, 21). There seems to be a
special sense in which our final entering into Christ's glory
will follow our resurrection.
Corruptible vs. Incorruptible, Natural vs. Spiritual Bodies
Edward Burne-Jones (Pre-Raphaelite English painter,
1833-1893), Last Judgement (1896). West Window, St. Philip's
Cathedral, Birmingham, UK.
Larger image. |
Probably the most important passage teaching about the
resurrection is 1 Corinthians 15. Here Paul gives a number of
contrasts between the characteristics of the natural body and
those of the resurrection body.
"35 But someone may ask, 'How are the dead
raised? With what kind of body will they come?' ...
42 So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The
body that is sown is perishable, it is raised
imperishable; 43 it is sown in dishonor,
it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it
is raised in power; 44 it is sown a
natural body, it is raised a spiritual body." (1
Corinthians 15:35, 42-44)
We see several pairs of words in this passage:
Corruptible - Incorruptible. Our physical bodies are
"perishable, corruptible," phthora, "a breakdown of
organic matter, dissolution, deterioration, corruption' in the
world of nature. Then "the state of being perishable."6
But our bodies in the resurrection will be just the opposite --
imperishable, incorruptible (aphtharsia).7
Dishonor - Glory. Our physical bodies are characterized by
"dishonor," atimia, "dishonor, ignominy, disgrace," used
here of the unseemliness and offensiveness of a dead body."8
The contrast is a resurrection characterized by "glory", doxa,
"the condition of being bright or shining, brightness, splendor,
radiance."9
Weakness - Power. The physical body, especially one that
is showing its age, is weak. The Greek noun is astheneia,
which refers to both "sickness, disease" and physical "weakness
-- incapacity or experience of limitation."10 By
contrast the resurrection body is raised in "power," dunamis,
"power, might, strength, force, capability."11
Natural - Spiritual. Paul describes the natural body with
the adjective psuchikos, from psuchē, "soul, life,"
means here specifically, "pertaining to the life of the natural
world and whatever belongs to it, in contrast to the realm of
experience whose central characteristic is pneuma,
"natural, unspiritual, worldly."12 Here it is
translated "natural" (NIV, KJV) or "physical" (NRSV). The
resurrection body is described as pneumatikos, "having to
do with the (divine spirit)."13 This doesn't mean that
people in the resurrection are spirits without a body. Jesus
wasn't. But it means that the resurrection body has a spiritual dimension
as Jesus' resurrection body did, able to operate in the spiritual
realm as well as the physical.
What Is Our Resurrection Body Going to Be Like?
Just what is our resurrection body going to be like? Consider
these passages:
"Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will
be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he
appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as
he is." (1 John 3:2)
"[The Lord Jesus], who, by the power that enables him to
bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly
bodies so that they will be like his glorious body."
(Philippians 3:21)
"And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man,
so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven."
(1 Corinthians 15:49)
Our resurrection bodies will be like Jesus' resurrection body.
While we can't be certain of all that means for us, Jesus' body
was described as "flesh and bones" (Luke 24:39c) -- though, of
course, it is more than that (1 Corinthians 15:50)! Jesus' body
could eat (Luke 24:42-43; Acts 1:4), be touched (Matthew 28:9;
Luke 24:39b), could walk and talk (Luke 24:15), and be recognized
by others -- when he wanted to be (Matthew 28:9; Luke 24:16, 31;
John 20:14-16, 20; 21:4, 12). In these respects it was able to
relate to the physical world like a normal physical body.
But it was not limited to the physical world. Jesus could
enter locked doors (John 20:19, 26) disappear (Luke 24:31) and
appear (Luke 24:36) at will. Our resurrection bodies will be
incorruptible (1 Corinthians 15:42), glorified (1 Corinthians
15:43a), powerful (1 Corinthians 15:43b), and able to navigate in
the spiritual realm (1 Corinthians 15:44).
Jesus' wounds were still visible in his renewed body (Luke
24:39-40; John 20:20, 25-27). Does that mean that our
resurrection bodies will bear the scars, wounds, and sicknesses
of our earthly struggle? No. Jesus' body seems to be a special
case so his disciples would not mistake who he was. We expect
that our bodies will be raised to an appearance that is in the
full strength of health and beauty. Nevertheless, physical beauty
will no longer have the sexual implications that it does now,
since in the resurrection, marriage and sexuality no longer have
meaning (Luke 20:34-36). These are spiritual bodies, no longer
mortal. Jesus said: "They can no longer die, for they are like
the angels" (Luke 20:36).
Why Will We Have Resurrection Bodies?
For some, who are quite happy with heaven -- thank you very
much -- resurrection bodies may seem unnecessary. Why go to all
this trouble? they ask. Surely, resurrection is the final victory
over death. But we probably don't know the full answer.
Nevertheless, I have often pondered these verses:
"That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by
fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping
with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and
a new earth, the home of righteousness." (2 Peter 3:12-13)
"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the
first heaven and the first earth had passed away... He who was
seated on the throne said, 'I am making everything new!'"
(Revelation 21:1, 5)
"You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our
God,
and they will reign on the earth." (Revelation 5:10)
What is life going to be like in the new heavens and new
earth? We don't know. But we do know that in the resurrection we
will have bodies that are capable of navigating on earth as well
as heaven, and we may have some role in both places as we reign,
that is administer the rule of the Kingdom of God, on earth.
We'll see!
Getting All the Right Molecules Restored
Clearly Jesus' resurrection body had a continuity with his
physical body. After the resurrection he was recognized (when he
wanted to be) and his wounds were visible as a sign that it
indeed was he.
For us, frankly, by the time Jesus comes there may not be a
lot left to resurrect. For this reason some Christians have
resisted cremation so that at least some bones are left rather
than ashes. To a whimsical mind, this presents all sorts of
questions. What if someone is buried at sea and his molecules end
up as part of the food chain in another human being? But this
whole approach becomes silly. Wayne Grudem puts it this way:
"Whatever remains in the grave from our own physical bodies
will be taken by God and transformed and used to make a new
resurrection body. But the details of how that will happen remain
unclear to us...."14
Death Is Not the Victor
The point is that physical death is not the victor. Paul
writes, "The last enemy to be destroyed is death" (1 Corinthians
15:26). Resurrection of the body on the Last Day underscores the
completeness with which God is restoring us to his original
intent, our wasted world to the Garden of Eden and a New Heavens
and a New Earth where righteousness dwell (2 Peter 3:13;
Revelation 21:1, 5; Isaiah 65:17-19; 66:22).
I've conducted many funerals in my lifetime. Many times as I
have stood in cemeteries surveying all the graves around me, I've
thought: This will be a wonderful, wild place to be when Christ
returns and raises the bodies lying here to resurrection life!
The resurrection is the sign of victory and glory. Death is
not the end. Death does not have the last word. Your Christian
loved ones are with Christ right now in spirit. But one day, at
Christ's return, their bodies will rise, be reunited with their
spirits, and live triumphant with Christ.
"Listen, I will tell you a mystery! We will not all die, but
we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye,
at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead
will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this
perishable body must put on imperishability, and this mortal body
must put on immortality... Thanks be to God, who gives us the
victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!" (1 Corinthians 15:51-53,
57, NRSV)
Come soon, Lord Jesus!
Prayer
Father, thank you for the confidence we have of victory over
death through our Lord Jesus Christ. Implant in us afresh a
living faith in the resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord and a
living hope of our own resurrection on the Last Day. In Jesus'
triumphant name, we pray. Amen.
Key Verses
"Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will
all be changed -- in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the
last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised
imperishable, and we will be changed." (1 Corinthians 15:51-52)
"For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud
command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet
call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that,
we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together
with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we
will be with the Lord forever." (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)
References
- Episunagō, "to bring together, gather (together),"
BDAG 382. See also the noun in, "Concerning the coming of our
Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered (episunagōgē)
to him..." (2 Thessalonians 2:1).
- Aphthartos, "pertaining to imperviousness to
corruption and death, imperishable, incorruptible, immortal,"
the adjective of aphtharsia (1 Corinthians 15:42), see
footnote 7 below.
- Allassō, "to make something other or different,
change alter" (BDAG 45-46, 1).
- Harpazō, "to grab or seize suddenly so as to remove
control, snatch/take away" (BDAG 134, 2.b.). The Latin Vulgate
translation uses rapio, "seize, carry of by force,"
related to our English words "rapture" and "rape."
- Endēmeō, "to be in a familiar place, to be at home"
(BDAG 332).
- Phthora, BDAG 1054-1055, 1.
- Aphtharsia, "the state of not being subject to
decay/dissolution/interruption" (BDAG 155).
- Atimia, Thayer.
- Doxa, BDAG 256-258, 1.b.
- Astheneia, BDAG 142, 2.a.
- Dunamis, BDAG 262-263, 1.
- Psuchikos, BDAG 1100.
- Pneumatikos, BDAG 837, 2.
- Grudem, Systematic Theology, p. 833.
Resurrection and Easter Faith
Copyright © 1985-2010 Ralph F. Wilson. <pastor
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