Notes on the Resurrections
Compiled by WD Kemner February 2024
Resurrection taught in the Bible
by nine different Individuals
Job – in Job19:25-27
Isaiah – in Isaiah 26:19
Daniel – in Daniel 12:2
Jesus – in Matthew 16:21, 22:23-31, Luke 14:14, 20:27-36; 24:13-45
Matthew – in Matthew 28:1-20
Mark – in Mark 16:1-18
Luke – in Luke 24:1-49
John – in John 19-21 Revelations 20:4-6
Paul – in Acts 23:6-9, 24:15,21; 1 Corinthians 15, Philippians 3:11, Hebrews 6:2; 1 Thessalonians 2:19; 3:11
People who were Resurrected from dead
Note that each of these individuals was required to yet again face death physically before joining in the resurrection of the dead.
There are also the “Elijah verses Elisha” resurrections to consider:
Elisha had asked for a "double portion" when Elijah went to heaven. Years later Elisha raises from the dead the child of the Shunamite woman (2 Kings 4:34). This is similar to what his mentor Elijah had done raising the dead son of the woman from Zarephath! (1 Kings 17:21-22).
They were not competitive with one another but just consider that Elisha did have a double portion and was not through. He had to die to go "one better" than his mentor.
The last person he raised was when they threw a dead man’s body on the tomb of Elisha. (2 Kings 13:20-21) The man’s corpse touched the bones of Elisha and STOOD UP and WALKED OFF!
Resurrections occurring at the death of Jesus on Calvary
We read about the power that was displayed at the moment of death of Jesus on the cross. There was the ripping of the veil in the temple. Earth quakes and rocks were being split.
There were also GRAVES THAT WERE OPENED! Verse 53 states that they “came out of the graves AFTER his resurrection”.
1 Corinthians 15:23 states: “But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.”
Jesus had to be the first one to come out of the Grave!
These that HAD BEEN “dead” in the graves and resurrected appear to have had to wait 3 days until they could follow Jesus out of the graves! Then they appeared all over Jerusalem as Jesus was appearing to the world! It falls into that category of things scripture does not elaborate on. It is still JUST FUN to contemplate.
Who were the ones chosen to rise at Jesus’ death, instead of waiting three days and going with those “captives he led free”; when Jesus went charging through the Gates of Hades? Why them? One hint might lay in the fact that these people (previously dead corpse) began appearing in Jerusalem. They could have been recently deceased members of the community. What better testimony of the power of the resurrection?
Take a little liberty here. This is not the creation of a new doctrine. If our God does not believe in humor, he would not have created us.
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Imagine the fictious comedy sketch playing out here. (NOT SCRIPTURAL)
David ben Judah had been a leading official in town. He had died two weeks earlier and was now dead in his grave when he is suddenly revived at Jesus’ dying words! He is now laying there wondering why he is in the ground and thinking about what’s next:
“First, I will visit John the owner of that market on the corner; he always said he would have the last laugh…second, I will visit Joseph my neighbor, he will have a heart attack when I tell him where I’ve been lately…”
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Scripture Passages using the word “Resurrection”
Matthew 22:23-32; Mark 12:18-27; Luke 20:27-38 – Are Parallel Passages in the Gospels
The Sadducees are one of the sects of the Jewish Sanhedrin. They did not believe in a resurrection and they also believed the only scriptures were the books of Moses. In these passages is the account of the story where the Sadducees believe they can trick Jesus with a question on the resurrection.
In the account in Matthew 22:31-32 Jesus quotes to them from Exodus 3:6.
“But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”
In quoting from the book of Moses, Jesus not only baffled the Sadducees but proved there was a resurrection. If everyone dies, then how can he be their God after death? There must be a resurrection or God is a liar.
Mark 12:25 Jesus states:
“For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven”.
He is getting right to the point and telling them they “WILL RISE”.
Verse 25 also states: “but are as the angels”.
[This phrase has been used by men attempting to “create new doctrine”. In the passage Jesus is simply referencing the “need for marriage for procreating”. Man on earth needs procreation in order to keep the race in existence. In heaven man can live forever (just as the angels do) and do not need marriage and procreation. Simple.]
OTHER PASSAGES
Luke 14:14 “And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.”
John 5:28-29 “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.”
Acts 24:15 “And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust”
Philippians 3:21 “Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body”
Most detailed information comes from the Apostle Paul
1 Corinthians 15:12-26
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1 Corinthians 15:12-18 |
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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: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
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If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ did not rise and faith is in vain.
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1 Corinthians 15:19-20 |
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If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
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Christ is risen and became “the firstfruits of them that slept”.
This is also taught in Acts 26:23 “…that he should be the first that should rise from the dead”
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1 Corinthians 15:21-22 |
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For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
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Death entered the world because of man, death was not part of the original plan.
By man (Jesus) now comes the resurrection of the dead, to get things back to the original intent.
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1 Corinthians 15:23-26 |
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But every man in his own 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. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
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There is an order to the resurrection. It is in this sequence:
Jesus being FIRST – It states that “Christ the firstfruits”
Then comes everyone else - “AFTERWARD they that are Christs at His coming”
There is an OBVIOUS time delay with the word “Afterwards”. Considering the fact that there have already been 2000 years since the resurrection of Jesus AND his second coming has not taken place as of this writing.
THE FIRST RESURRECTION
Composed of 5 individual and separate resurrections
This event started with the resurrection of Christ. It ends with the Second Coming of Christ.
All the groups in the list below are resurrected PRIOR to the Second Coming of Christ. This will be to allow them to participate and join Christ in the events associated with the Day of the Lord. This day will happen prior to the one-thousand year Millenium period.
1) Christ and the Old Testament saints that rose at his resurrection.
a. Matthew 27:52-53; Ephesians 4:8-10; 1 Corinthians 15:20
2) The Rapture - “afterward they that are Christ’s at His coming” -1 Corinthians 15:23
3) The 144,000 Jews saved during first 3 ½ weeks of tribulation
a. Revelations 7:1-8; Matthew 24:31
4) Multitudes of tribulation saints. Those saved after rapture (#2 above) has occurred.
a. They are the first martyrs of this period (Revelations 6:9-11) and are told to wait until the others that are going to get killed join them.
5) The rapture of the two witnesses of Revelations 11:7-11
The resurrections discussed up until this point are all resurrections of the godly saints (ONLY) that will end up spending eternity in heaven. Everyone else throughout all of the history of man will await the Second Resurrection at the end of the Millennium.
THE SECOND RESURRECTION
Occurs after the Millennium
Revelation 20:5 “…but the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years was finished” (This is the wicked dead.)