The Resurrections Associated With The Second Advent.

I. The Resurrections Associated With The Second Advent. 

II. Introduction.

A. The Old Testament associated the hope of resurrection with the Messianic hope of the Day of the Lord. In Daniel the resurrection (12:2) is seen to be an event subsequent to the time of trouble under the Anti-Christ (12:11). In Isaiah the resurrection (26:19) is spoken of in reference to “the indignation” (26:20-21). In John’s Gospel the resurrection is stated as a hope associated with the “last day,” or the day of the Lord (11:24). Since this is true, it is necessary to consider the second advent in its relation to the resurrection program. It is not possible in this connection to consider the whole doctrine of resurrection, but confine the study to the eschatological or prophetic aspects of that doctrine.

B. It will readily be observed that the doctrine of resurrection is a cardinal doctrine of the Word of God. In the ministry of the apostles after Christ’s resurrection the theme of the resurrection of Christ dominated their preaching, almost to the exclusion of His death. In more than forty New Testament references to resurrection, it is always used of a literal resurrection, never in a spiritual or non-literal sense, and has to do with the raising up of the physical body. 

III. The Kinds Of Resurrections. In Scripture two different kinds of resurrection are anticipated in God’s resurrection program: the resurrection to life and the resurrection to judgment. 

A. The resurrection to life. There are a number of passages which teach this distinctive part of the resurrection program. 

1. But when you make a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: And you shall be blessed; for they can not repay you: for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just [Luke 14:13-14]. 

2. That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead (literally, the resurrection, the one out from the dead) [Phil. 3:10-14]. 

3. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection [Heb. 11:35]. 

4. Do not be amazed at this: for the hour is coming, in 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 [John 5:28-29]. 

5. Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection: on such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years [Rev. 20:6]. 

6. These references show that there is a part of the resurrection program that is called “the resurrection of the just,” the “out-resurrection from the dead,” “a better resurrection,” “the resurrection of life,” and “the first resurrection.”

7. These phrases suggest a separation; a resurrection of a portion of those who are dead, which resurrection leaves some dead unchanged while these resurrected undergo a complete transformation.  

a. If Christ is coming to raise the righteous a thousand years before the ungodly, it would be natural and imperative that the former should be called a resurrection from, or out of the dead, the rest of the dead being left; this is just what is most carefully done in the Word. It consists in the use made, in the Greek text of the words [ek nekron]. 

b. These words signify “from the dead” or, out of the dead, implying that the other dead are left. 

c. The resurrection [nekron or ek nekron] (of the dead) is applied to both classes because all will be raised. But the resurrection (ek nekron—out of the dead) is not once applied to the ungodly. The latter phrase is used altogether 49 times.

(1) 34 times, to express Christ’s resurrection, whom we know was raised out of the dead.

(2) 3 times, to express John’s supposed resurrection, who, as Herod thought, had been raised out of the dead.

(3) 3 times to express the resurrection of Lazarus, who was also raised out of the dead.

(4) 3 times, it is used figuratively, to express spiritual life out of the deadness of sin (Rom. 6:13; 11:15; Eph. 5:14).

(5) Luke 16:31, “Though one rose from the dead.”

(6) Heb. 11:19, Abraham’s faith that God could raise Isaac from the dead.

(7) The remaining 4 times it is used to express a future resurrection out of the dead, namely, in Mark 12:25, “they rise from the dead; Luke 20:35-36, ”the resurrection which is from among the dead; Acts 4:1-2 “the resurrection which is from among (the) dead;” And in Phil. 3:11 the literal translation is the out resurrection from among the dead, which peculiar construction of language gives a special emphasis to the idea that this is a resurrection out from among the dead.

d. These passages clearly show, that there is yet to be a resurrection out of the dead; that is, that part of the dead will be raised, before all are raised. The “phrase would be inexplicable if it were not derived from the idea that out of the masses of the dead some would rise first.” 

9. This resurrection, usually called the first resurrection, but which might be called the resurrection unto life (John 5:29) with greater clarity inasmuch as this resurrection is made up of a number of component parts, is that part of the resurrection program in which the individuals are raised to eternal life. It includes within it all who, at any time, are raised to eternal life. The destiny, not the time, determines to which part of the resurrection program any event is to be assigned. 

B. The resurrection to damnation. Scripture anticipates another part of the resurrection program that deals with the unsaved. It is the second resurrection, or the resurrection to damnation. 

1. They that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation [John 5:29]. 

2. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished [Rev. 20:5]. 

3. And 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. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God, “And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them” [Rev. 20:11-13]. 

4. Inasmuch as the first resurrection was completed before the thousand year reign began (Rev. 20:5), “the dead” referred to in Revelation 20:11-12 can only be those who were left behind at the out-resurrection from among the dead ones and who constitute those that are raised unto damnation. The second resurrection, better termed the resurrection of damnation, includes all who are raised to eternal condemnation. It is not chronology that determines who is in the second resurrection, but rather the destiny of the one raised. 

IV. Study References.

All of my study references are listed  in my Page, “About My My References.”