The resurrection of the dead is taught in both
Old and New Testaments.|
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The resurrection of the dead is taught in both
Old and New Testaments.
For we must all appear before the judgment
seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the
body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Knowing,
therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are
well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences
(2 Corinthians 5:10-11).
And many of those who sleep in the dust of the
earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and
everlasting contempt (Daniel 12:2)
Daniel clearly points to the resurrection of the
dead. The word "many" here should not be confusing.
"Many" is often used in scripture to refer to "all"
(Romans 5:19). The apostle Paul clearly teaches that "all"
will be involved. Both passages point to the two realities of
the resurrection: everlasting life, or shame and everlasting contempt.
In that great "resurrection chapter"
of the Bible we are taught, "If in this life only we have
hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable" (1 Corinthians
15:19). The lives of some are filled with trouble, heartache,
pain and sickness. If the blessings of Christianity were only
for this life we are a pitiable lot indeed. But the resurrection
provides hope for the faithful. The apostle John wrote to the
tribulation-plagued church at Smyrna, "Do not fear any
of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil
is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested,
and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death,
and I will give you the crown of life" (Rev 2:10). Yes,
they were to suffer great tribulation; but those who were faithful
until death were given the crown of eternal life.
In that view of the holy city, New Jerusalem,
coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned
for her husband (Revelation 21:2), John tells of that blessed
existence where tears, death, sorrow, crying and pain shall be
no more (Revelation 21:4). And so, the best is not in this life,
but the best is yet to come.
A familiar story is told of an elderly woman who
called the preacher to her side shortly before she died. And she
gave him a letter of instructions concerning her funeral service.
The man went home and studied the woman's requests and, for the
most part, the requests were the standard ones that one would
expect of a faithful Christian. But the very last sentence in
the letter said, "Make sure they put a fork in the casket
with me." Puzzled, the preacher returned to her side and
asked about the fork. She told him that when she was a very young
girl she remembered the dinners they would have with their church
friends. As the plates were being taken up, she recalled, she
would often be told, "keep your fork." That usually
meant some of the best chocolate cake was being served for dessert.
This familiar story illustrates the truth that this life is not
all there is. "Keep your fork," meant the best was yet
to come. By having that fork visible to her grieving loved ones,
she was letting them know that she was in a very enjoyable situation.
Beloved, this is what you want to avoid. In that
great judgment scene of Matthew 24:41-46, those who did not faithfully
serve the Lord in this life will hear those sad words, ".
. . Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared
for the devil and his angels (Matt 25:41). In that thrilling
passage from the twentieth chapter of the Revelation of Jesus
Christ we see the devil, the beast and the false prophet cast
into the lake of fire and brimstone. But that is not the end,
for we next read of the great white throne judgment scene (Revelation
20:10-15). And who do your suppose will be there? The dead! So
a resurrection of the dead must be coming. And, the small and
the great (all souls) will be judged by the things that were written
in the record of their works while alive. But notice the hopeless
situation in which some will find themselves. "And anyone
not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of
fire" (Rev 20:15).
The gospel of Jesus Christ is plain. The apostle
Paul was sent to preach "obedience to the faith among
all nations" (Romans 1:5). And in teaching of the gospel
of the death burial and resurrection of Christ, this inspired
apostle clearly taught how it is that we take part in that death
and that burial and that resurrection, and thereby
gain eternal life. "Know ye not, that so many of us as
were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Therefore 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. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of
his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection"
(Romans 6:3-5). Beloved, if we will be in the likeness of
His resurrection, that will be glorious!
The dead shall rise, Some to everlasting life,
Some to shame and everlasting contempt (Daniel 12:2).
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