Resurrection

Concise Bible Dictionary:

This may be said to be the fundamental principle of God’s dealings with man in grace, seeing that man is through sin under the judgment of death. The expression, The general resurrection is found in works on theology, and is explained as meaning that the dead will all be raised at the same time; but this idea is not found in scripture. The Lord speaks of a resurrection unto life. “The dead in Christ” will be raised at the coming of the Lord Jesus (1 Thess. 4:16¹⁶For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: (1 Thessalonians 4:16)); and John speaks of the first resurrection, and adds that “the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished” (Rev. 20:5-6⁵But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. ⁶Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. (Revelation 20:5‑6)). The term “first” designates rather the character than the time of the resurrection, it will evidently include only the saved; “the rest” being simply raised for judgment.

It will be seen in Romans 8:11¹¹But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. (Romans 8:11), that the resurrection of believers is of a wholly different order from that of the wicked: the saints will be quickened by, or on account of, God’s Spirit that dwells in them, which certainly could not be said of the unconverted. The resurrection of the saints is also distinguished from that of the wicked in being, like that of the Lord and of Lazarus, “out from among (έκ) the dead” (Mark 12:25²⁵For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven. (Mark 12:25)). It was the earnest desire of Paul to attain this (Phil. 3:11¹¹If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. (Philippians 3:11)—see Greek).

The resurrection condition is in the strongest contrast to that after the flesh. That which springs from the seed sown in the ground appears very different in form from the seed sown, though absorbing the substance of the seed. 1 Corinthians 15 refers only to the resurrection of the saints, as may be seen in 1 Corinthians 15:23-24²³But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. ²⁴Then 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). There were those at Corinth who said that there was no resurrection (1 Cor. 15:12¹²Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? (1 Corinthians 15:12)); and on the other hand it appears from 2 Timothy 2:18¹⁸Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some. (2 Timothy 2:18), some held that the resurrection had already past, that they had in fact reached a final condition

Few distinct intimations of the resurrection are found in the Old Testament, though the idea of it underlies all the teaching. Job may perhaps have learned it (Job 19:25-27²⁵For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: ²⁶And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: ²⁷Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me. (Job 19:25‑27)), and when the Lord rebuked the Sadducees He taught that resurrection could be gathered inferentially from God speaking of Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob long after they were dead. He is God of the living, not of the dead (Mark 12:26-27²⁶And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? ²⁷He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err. (Mark 12:26‑27)). Martha spoke of the resurrection as a matter of common orthodox belief (John 11:24²⁴Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. (John 11:24)); which is also implied in its being said that the Sadducees did not believe in it.

Isaiah 26:19¹⁹Thy 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 26:19); Ezekiel 37:1-14¹The hand of the Lord was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones, ²And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry. ³And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord God, thou knowest. ⁴Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. ⁵Thus saith the Lord God unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live: ⁶And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the Lord. ⁷So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone. ⁸And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them. ⁹Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord God; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. ¹⁰So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army. ¹¹Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts. ¹²Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. ¹³And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves, ¹⁴And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the Lord have spoken it, and performed it, saith the Lord. (Ezekiel 37:1‑14); and Daniel 12:2²And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. (Daniel 12:2), are often quoted as testimony to resurrection; but these passages are figurative and refer to Israel being raised up as from their national decease—the consequence of their departure from the Lord (Isa. 1:1-4¹The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. ²Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the Lord hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me. ³The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. ⁴Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the Lord, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward. (Isaiah 1:1‑4)), when God will again bless them on the earth. It is an important fact, however, that the figure of resurrection is used.

From Anstey’s Doctrinal Definitions:

Man is a tripartite being—having a spirit, a soul, and a body. Physical death has to do with the spirit and soul becoming separated from the body (James 2:26²⁶For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. (James 2:26)). Resurrection, on the other hand, involves the re-union of the soul and spirit with the body. Scripture says, “In Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Cor. 15:22²²For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. (1 Corinthians 15:22)). The “all” in this passage refers to all in the human race—regardless of whether they are saved or lost. While all the dead will rise, they will not all be raised at the same time. There are actually two resurrections: one involving “the just” and one involving “the unjust” (John 5:26-30²⁶For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; ²⁷And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. ²⁸Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, ²⁹And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. ³⁰I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. (John 5:26‑30); Acts 24:15¹⁵And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. (Acts 24:15); Rev. 20:5, 12-13⁵But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. (Revelation 20:5)
¹²And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. ¹³And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. (Revelation 20:12‑13)). Scripture indicates that these two resurrections will occur about a thousand years apart. This is something that the Old Testament saints did not know about; they only knew of resurrection in a general way (John 11:24²⁴Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. (John 11:24)). The gospel has shone light on this subject, and we now know that there are two resurrections (2 Tim. 1:10¹⁰But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: (2 Timothy 1:10)).

The first resurrection, which has to do with the righteous, is spoken of as being a resurrection “from among the dead” in J. N. Darby’s translation. Thus, it is a selective thing; the righteous dead will be selected from among the wicked dead and raised to life. This “out-resurrection” as it is sometimes called was first taught by the Lord Jesus Christ (Matt. 17:9⁹And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead. (Matthew 17:9)), and then later by the apostles (Rom. 6:4⁴Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:4); 1 Cor. 15:20²⁰But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. (1 Corinthians 15:20); Eph. 1:20²⁰Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, (Ephesians 1:20); Phil. 3:11¹¹If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. (Philippians 3:11); Col. 1:18¹⁸And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. (Colossians 1:18), etc.). The first resurrection has three phases:

• “Christ the firstfruits” (1 Cor. 15:2²By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:2)3a). This occurred when the Lord rose from among the dead (Matt. 28:1-6¹In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. ²And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. ³His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: ⁴And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. ⁵And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. ⁶He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. (Matthew 28:1‑6)). The character of His resurrection is a sample of that which will follow for the righteous. Hence, He is “the firstfruits” of this resurrection.

• “They that are Christ’s at His coming” (1 Cor. 15:2²By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:2)3b). This refers to saints from Old Testament and New Testament times being raised at the Rapture (1 Thess. 4:15-18¹⁵For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. ¹⁶For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: ¹⁷Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. ¹⁸Wherefore comfort one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:15‑18); Heb. 11:40⁴⁰God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. (Hebrews 11:40)).

• Faithful Jews and Gentiles who will die during Daniel’s 70th week will be raised at the end of the Great Tribulation, thus completing the first resurrection (Rev. 14:13¹³And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them. (Revelation 14:13)).

Christians often speak of resurrection and immortality as the saints receiving “new” bodies, but this is not Scripturally accurate. Scripture does not say that the saints will get “new” bodies, but rather, that their bodies will be "changed" (Job 14:14¹⁴If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. (Job 14:14); 1 Cor. 15:51-52⁵¹Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, ⁵²In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (1 Corinthians 15:51‑52); Phil. 3:21²¹Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. (Philippians 3:21)). The very same bodies in which the saints have lived will be raised, but in an altogether different condition of glorification (Luke 14:14¹⁴And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just. (Luke 14:14); John 5:28-29²⁸Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, ²⁹And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. (John 5:28‑29); 1 Cor. 15:51-55⁵¹Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, ⁵²In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. ⁵³For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. ⁵⁴So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. ⁵⁵O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? (1 Corinthians 15:51‑55); 1 Thess. 4:15-16¹⁵For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. ¹⁶For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: (1 Thessalonians 4:15‑16), etc.). 1 Corinthians 15:42-44⁴²So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: ⁴³It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: ⁴⁴It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. (1 Corinthians 15:42‑44) states this clearly. It says that the same body that is “sown” in the earth in burial will rise again. Note the use of the word “it” in the passage, referring to both the sowing and the raising. If the saints were to receive “new” bodies when the Lord comes, then there will be no need of the Lord’s raising the bodies of the saints in which they once lived. If we take this mistaken idea and work it out to its logical conclusion, it really denies resurrection. To avoid any idea like this, Scripture is careful never to say that we get "new" bodies.

Scripture records ten incidences of people being raised from the dead, but these are not part of the first resurrection (1 Kings 17:21-22²¹And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the Lord, and said, O Lord my God, I pray thee, let this child's soul come into him again. ²²And the Lord heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived. (1 Kings 17:21‑22); 2 Kings 4:32-37; 13:20-21³²And when Elisha was come into the house, behold, the child was dead, and laid upon his bed. ³³He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto the Lord. ³⁴And he went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and he stretched himself upon the child; and the flesh of the child waxed warm. ³⁵Then he returned, and walked in the house to and fro; and went up, and stretched himself upon him: and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. ³⁶And he called Gehazi, and said, Call this Shunammite. So he called her. And when she was come in unto him, he said, Take up thy son. ³⁷Then she went in, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground, and took up her son, and went out. (2 Kings 4:32‑37)
²⁰And Elisha died, and they buried him. And the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year. ²¹And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band of men; and they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet. (2 Kings 13:20‑21); Matt. 9:24-25; 27:52-53²⁴He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. ²⁵But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose. (Matthew 9:24‑25)
⁵²And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, ⁵³And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. (Matthew 27:52‑53); Luke 7:14-15¹⁴And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. ¹⁵And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother. (Luke 7:14‑15); John 11:43-44⁴³And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. ⁴⁴And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go. (John 11:43‑44); Acts 9:40-41; 14:19-20; 20:9-11⁴⁰But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up. ⁴¹And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive. (Acts 9:40‑41)
¹⁹And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead. ²⁰Howbeit, 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)
⁹And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead. ¹⁰And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him. ¹¹When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed. (Acts 20:9‑11)). These all died again. The first resurrection is a resurrection to a state of glorification; those thus raised will never die again.

The second resurrection—of the unjust—will occur at the end of the Millennium (Rev. 20:5, 11-15⁵But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. (Revelation 20:5)
¹¹And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. ¹²And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. ¹³And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. ¹⁴And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. ¹⁵And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:11‑15)). The wicked dead will be raised at that time and judged before the Great White Throne and then assigned to a lost eternity in the lake of fire.

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Scripture indicates at least twelve reasons why God raised the Lord Jesus from the dead:

• To fulfil the Scriptures (1 Cor. 15:3-4³For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; ⁴And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: (1 Corinthians 15:3‑4)).

• To prove that the Lord Jesus is the Son of God (Rom. 1:4⁴And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: (Romans 1:4)).

• To set a seal of approval on the Lord’s finished work on the cross (1 Pet. 1:21²¹Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. (1 Peter 1:21)).

• That the Lord would be set forth as an object of faith for salvation (Rom. 10:9⁹That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Romans 10:9)).

• For our justification (Rom. 4:25²⁵Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. (Romans 4:25)).

• That the Lord might be the Head of the new creation race (Col. 1:18¹⁸And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. (Colossians 1:18)).

• That the Lord might carry out His present high priestly intercession (Rom. 8:34³⁴Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. (Romans 8:34); Heb. 7:25²⁵Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25)).

• That we might bring forth fruit to God in our lives (Rom. 7:4⁴Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. (Romans 7:4)).

• That the Lord might be the first-fruits of them that sleep (1 Cor. 15:20²⁰But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. (1 Corinthians 15:20)).

• To strengthen the faith of His disciples to witness for Him (Acts 2:32-36³²This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. ³³Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. ³⁴For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, ³⁵Until I make thy foes thy footstool. ³⁶Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:32‑36)).

• To demonstrate the power of God to bring in the kingdom according to the Old Testament promises (Eph. 1:19-20¹⁹And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, ²⁰Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, (Ephesians 1:19‑20)).

• To give assurance to all men of coming judgment (Acts 17:31³¹Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. (Acts 17:31)).

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Resurrection is also used in a national sense. Israel will have a national resurrection from the dead (Isa. 26:19¹⁹Thy 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 26:19); Ezek. 37:1-14¹The hand of the Lord was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones, ²And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry. ³And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord God, thou knowest. ⁴Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. ⁵Thus saith the Lord God unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live: ⁶And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the Lord. ⁷So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone. ⁸And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them. ⁹Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord God; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. ¹⁰So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army. ¹¹Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts. ¹²Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. ¹³And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves, ¹⁴And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the Lord have spoken it, and performed it, saith the Lord. (Ezekiel 37:1‑14); Dan. 12:2²And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. (Daniel 12:2); Hos. 6:2²After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. (Hosea 6:2); Rom. 11:15¹⁵For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? (Romans 11:15)). The nation of Israel has been non-existent for about 2000 years, but when the Lord comes (His Appearing) and restores the nation, there will be a public re-appearance of the nation. In fact, it will become the leading nation on earth for the duration of the Millennium.

The return of about five million Jews to their homeland since 1948 is not this national resurrection. It is rather “the fig tree” putting forth “leaves,” but with no fruit for God on it (Matt. 24:32³²Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: (Matthew 24:32)). The Jews in the land today have not owned Jesus Christ as their Messiah, and thus there is only an outward profession of spiritual life among them, which leaves speak of. There will be no fruit for God in Israel until they own Christ as their Messiah (Gen. 49:22²²Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall: (Genesis 49:22); Hos. 14:8⁸Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found. (Hosea 14:8)). When they do, He restore them, and then there will be this national resurrection of which Scripture speaks.

Resurrection

Concise Bible Dictionary:

From Anstey’s Doctrinal Definitions:

Related Books and Articles: