In 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 1Cor 15:52
What is the Resurrection?
Paul is saying to the Church in 1Cor 15, let me explain the Gospel to you again, so you don’t forget, just like I taught you before. Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose on the third day, according to the scriptures. 1Cor 15:1-4
Paul makes it very clear that if there is no resurrection our faith and preaching is all in vain, the conclusion of the gospel is a resurrection, Christ first then the Saints, at His second coming, at the last trumpet.
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. 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. 1Cor 15:12-20
Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In 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. 1Cor 15:50-52
This is the hope of our salvation that Jesus Christ died for our sins, was buried, rose, appeared to many, and now sits at the right hand of the Father. He will return for His bride, that is one event al the last trumpet, the Resurrection of the saints, first those that died in Christ then those in Christ that are still alive will be caught up in the air and we will forever be with Him.
When is the Resurrection?
The chronological events in the last days build up to the resurrection as taught by Jesus in Matt 24. The Resurrection occurs at Jesus’ second coming, after the tribulation, at the last trumpet.
First
- Deception, Many deceived
- Wars & Rumour of wars
- But the end is not yet
- Nation rises against nation
- Kingdom against kingdom
- Famine & pestilences
- Earthquakes
- All these are the beginning of sorrow
Then
- Persecution
- Many shall betray one another
- Many false prophets shall arise and deceive many
- Iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold
- But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Then
- And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations;
- And then shall the end come
Then
- The abomination of desolation
- Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
- For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
Then
- For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
- Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken
Then
- And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory
Then
- And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
The first warning Jesus gave “Do not be deceived”
Listen to what someone, that has a right to speak, has to say out of experience.
Corrie Ten Boon
Corrie Ten Boom was a Dutch survivor of the Nazi Concentration Camps. Her family had hidden Jews during the German occupation of Holland. For this they had been captured and sent off. Corrie was the only one to come out alive. Corrie was just one of the many evangelical Christians sent to concentration camps during the World War II. Her life hung in the balance during an ordeal that went on for years. But God was with her. Her faith was preserved in and through those terrible trials. She lived to testify all over the world of how God kept her in, though, and out of that time of tribulation.
Taken from her journal she said the following: “There are some among us teaching there will be no tribulation, that the Christians will be able to escape all this. These are the false teachers that Jesus was warning us to expect in the latter days. Most of them have little knowledge of what is already going on across the world. I have been in countries where the saints are already suffering terrible persecution.
In China, the Christians were told, “Don’t worry, before the tribulation comes you will be translated – raptured.” Then came a terrible persecution. Millions of Christians were tortured to death. Later I heard a Bishop from China say, sadly, “We have failed. We should have made the people strong for persecution, rather than telling them Jesus would come first. Tell the people how to be strong in times of persecution, how to stand when the tribulation comes, – to stand and not faint. “
For I know that to all who overcome, He shall give the crown of life. Hallelujah!” – Corrie Ten Boom – 1974
To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. Rev 3:21
The saints of Revelation
Just listen to how John describes the most incredible praise and worship ever.
After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. Rev 7:9-12
According to the Angel, these at this worship are all the saints that came out of the tribulation, those that hold to a “secret rapture of the church before the tribulation” are not at this worship, only those that came out of the tribulation.
And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Rev 7:13-14
The saints that are martyred in Revelation are the church
Sadly the church is not ready for what is lying ahead, and many will fall from the faith when they face persecution.
The problem with "The Rapture" teaching
You do not find it mentioned anywhere in the Bible
One would think that if the church was to be “raptured” before the great tribulation, Paul would at least make a reference to that in this important chapter about the resurrection, but He does not. As a matter of fact, no one mentioned it anywhere in the Bible. You can infer it in types and shadows and metaphors, e.g. Noah got on to the ark and escaped the flood, and Enog was taken away, etc. but you will not find one text clearly stating it. All the text that refers to the gathering of the saints refers to this explanation of the resurrection in 1Cor15.
Jesus also talks about this day Paul is talking about and states that it is after the great tribulation, one would think that if there was a “secret rapture” Jesus would at least mention it.
Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. Mat 24:29-30
You do not find it taught in Church history
Early church fathers did not have a clear statement regarding eschatology or “the rapture “. There is no evidence that church fathers like Augustin, Ignatius, Clement and others taught the doctrine of rapture. The early church believed, taught and expected the second Christ coming. The early fathers placed strong emphasis upon imminency of Christ coming and they understood it as a literal coming of Christ. Early church experienced great tribulation and persecution from the Roman Empire. We would expect that if someone and somewhere this teaching about “the rapture “could develop, then the early church period was the perfect one. Because they were persecuted and were in the middle of great tribulation, and yet they did not preach and taught about being “raptured”. They went through great suffering, turmoil’s because they were faithful to the Lord. God was with them as they went through the Death Valley.
The period between Augustine and the Renaissance was largely dominated by “Augustine’s understanding of the church, and his spiritualization of the Millennium as the reign of Christ in the saints.
You do not find it taught by the Reformers
You do not find it taught by the ReformersWe must then go on and ask if Reformers knew something about “the rapture” theory. The Reformers of the sixteenth century saw sharp parallels between the Church of Rome and the Book of Revelation. This opinion was so strong among the Reformers that they went as far as declaring that the Pope was the Anti-Christ, and the Roman Church was the Harlot of Babylon.
Martin Luther and John Calvin had strong faith in Christ coming and encouraged their listeners and readers to be prepared and expect Him, every moment. As the early church fathers, they also emphasized the imminency of His return-one event. Lord’s return was one of the greatest undeveloped themes of the Reformation era. If the early fathers did not teach “the rapture “, and reformers too, then this doctrine is really a new doctrine.
To many it is both amazing and shocking to discover that neither the word “rapture” nor the doctrine/teaching of a “the rapture” is to be found in any bible translation. Moreover, it is not even mentioned in any Christian literature prior to the year 1830.
The message of “escape” is not found in the Bible
Nowhere do you find the message of escape in the Bible, not from Jesus, the disciples, or Paul’s teachings? You rather find the message of endurance. Once again you can insinuate or refer or implicate it, but you will not find it as a text in the Bible.
Jesus did not once teach His followers to relax and wait for the Church to be “Raptured“ before the tribulation, His teachings and Revelation to John was to endure to the end to overcome.
And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved Matt 24:11-13
Through fiction movies like Left Behind the teaching of the “secret rapture“ is only found in Western society, everywhere else where there is persecution in the world among believers there is a Biblical view of endurance qualified with Bible text. You will not find the message of “escape” in the Bible nor taught outside the “West”.
Persecution outside the “West” has always been the norm, Voice of the Martyrs are a dedicated group that supports martyrs around the world.
Richard Wurmbrand
The Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) is a missionary organization that serves persecuted Christians in the world’s most difficult and dangerous places to be a Christian. Founded in 1967 by Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand, VOM is dedicated to inspiring all believers to a biblical faith by encouraging their commitment to Christ and the fulfillment of his Great Commission – no matter the cost
China.
A real picture of a Chinese believer named Huang Xikai being tortured by Communist police. This and other gruesome images were smuggled out of China and published some years ago. Thousands of Christians are currently undergoing similar barbaric treatment. Please pray for our precious brothers and sisters.
“We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead” 2Cor 1:8-9
India & Pakistan
Thousands of Christians were forced to convert to Hinduism under threat of violence. This violence was led by the Bajrang Dal, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the VHP. After the riots, 20,000 people were sheltered in 14 government established relief camps and 50,000 people fled to the surrounding districts and states.
Where did "the Rapture” originates from
The first preacher who preached “the rapture“ was Edward Irving during the mid-1800. Irving held some eccentric positions on the use of “spiritual” gifts, including speaking in tongues and prophesying. He contended that these gifts were for the present day “church”, and had quite a few followers of his radical notions. However, when chaotic disturbances arose in Irving’s services during the manifestations of these “gifts”, the Church of Scotland (Presbyterian) took action, dismissing Irving from his position as minister in 1832.
The ultimate result of Irving’s dismissal was the formation of the Catholic Apostolic Church, which still exists until this day. Irving’s movement grew and became the basis of modern-day Pentecostalism. The natural evolution of this movement has resulted in the recent emergence of the “Toronto Laughing Spirit” phenomenon which has seduced and mislead more than a few well-intentioned people. Some church historians referred to Irving as “the father of modern Pentecostalism.” 
However, in 1830 during one of Irving’s sessions before his dismissal, a young Scottish girl, named Margaret MacDonald, fell into a “trance”. After several hours of “vision” and “prophesying” she revealed that “Christ’s” return would occur in two phases, not just one. “Christ” would first come visibly to only the righteous and rapture them, then He would come a second time to execute wrath on the unrighteous in the nations.
This “secret rapture” was promoted by Irving claiming he, too, had heard a “voice” from heaven commanding him to teach it. (Some modern researchers submit that Irving’s speculations of the “rapture were influenced by the Spanish Jesuit priest, Lacunza whose book Irving had translated in 1827 under the title, The coming of the Messiah in Glory and Majesty)
John Darby, an Englishman and pioneer of the “Plymouth Brethren” movement became caught up in “the rapture” philosophies of Irving. When Darby heard about Irving’s activities, he traveled to Scotland to talk with Irving and his followers about the “secret rapture”. It was Darby who became the master developer of “scriptural” arguments to support the theory/doctrine that evolved.
Darby’s development of “the rapture” theory has since become widely popularized in Britain and finally in the U.S., largely as a result of Cyrus Scofield’s notes in his Scofield Reference Bible. So, Darby became “the father of the rapture doctrine “.
The Scofield Reference Bible was the most popular Bible in during The Great Awakening, the first Bible with human comments and the footnote of the “rapture” allowed this doctrine to spread through the Church in the West.
The Great Awakening was a series of religious revivals in American Christian history. Historians and theologians identify three, or sometimes four, waves of increased religious enthusiasm between the early 18th century and the late 20th century. Each of these “Great Awakenings” were characterized by widespread revivals led by evangelical Protestant ministers, a sharp increase of interest in religion, a profound sense of conviction and redemption on the part of those affected, an increase in evangelical church membership, and the formation of new religious movements and denominations.
This led to Dispensationalism. The majority of dispensationalists profess a pretribulation rapture, while mid-tribulation, or post-tribulation rapture are minority views. Pre-tribulational rapture doctrine is what separates dispensationalism from other forms of premillennialism and other millennial views.
Clarence Larkin (1850–1924) was an American Baptist pastor. He mapped the “Rapture” in charts. This is then used to teach people the theory of “the rapture”. You will never get to the conclusion of “the rapture” by just reading the Bible under the guidance of the Holy Spirt, someone needs to teach you this.
Conclusion
Remember that wonderful day you met the Lord Jesus, your Savior, how He took you out of the miry clay and planted your feet on the solid rock, the only foundation, Jesus Christ.
Remember when you were first enlightened and tasted the heavenly gifts and were made partaker of the Holy Spirit, do you remember?
Remember how the scripture started to fall in place and make sense to you as the Holy Spirit began teaching you everything about Jesus, do you remember?
Then someone taught you “the rapture”………. do you remember?
Sadly many will fall from the faith during the tribulation because they were expected an escape and did not prepare themselves for tribulation and endurance. There is only one resurrection and that is at the last trumpet, just after the great tribulation, prepare yourself for we do not know the hour, but Jesus warned us:
He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times? Mat 16:2-3
Below are all the resurrection-related texts found in the Bible. Some point to Jesus, the first of the resurrection and some to the single event at the last trumpet at Jesus’ second coming.
Jesus, the first of the Resurrection | |
Mat 27:52-53 | And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. |
Act 2:26-31 | Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. |
Acts 17: 31 | Because 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. |
Rom 8:10-11 | And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But 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. |
1Cor 6:14 | And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power. |
1Cor 15 | Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.
But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 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. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits |
Heb 11:19 | Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. |
Rev 1:18 | I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. |
Jesus second coming, at the last trumpet, after the Great Tribulation | |
Job 14:12-15 | So man lieth down, and riseth not: Till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, Nor be raised out of their sleep. O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, That thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, That thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me! If a man die, shall he live again? All the days of my appointed time will I wait, Till my change come. Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: Thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands. |
Job 19:25-27 | For I know that my redeemer liveth, And that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, Yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, And mine eyes shall behold, and not another; Though my reins be consumed within me. |
Psa 16:9-10 | I have set the LORD always before me: Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: My flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; Neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. |
Psa17:15 | As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness. |
Psa 49:15 | But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: For he shall receive me. Selah. |
Isa 25:8 | He will swallow up death in victory; And the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; And the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: For the LORD hath spoken it. |
Isa 26:19 | Thy 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. |
Eze 37:1-14 | The 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, And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry. And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest. Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live: And 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. So 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. And 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. Then 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. So 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. Then 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. Therefore 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. And 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, And 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. |
Dan 12:2-3 | And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. |
Dan 12:13 | But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days. |
Hos 13:14 | I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: Repentance shall be hid from mine eyes. |
Mat 22:23-32 | The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him, Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother: Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh. And last of all the woman died also. Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her. Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. 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. |
Mat 24:31 | And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other |
Mat 25:1-13 | Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. |
Mar 12:18-27 | Then come unto him the Sadducees, which say there is no resurrection; and they asked him, saying, Master, Moses wrote unto us, If a man’s brother die, and leave his wife behind him, and leave no children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. Now there were seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and dying left no seed. And the second took her, and died, neither left he any seed: and the third likewise. And the seven had her, and left no seed: last of all the woman died also. In the resurrection therefore, when they shall rise, whose wife shall she be of them? for the seven had her to wife. And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God? 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. And 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? He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err. |
Luk 14:14 | And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just. |
Luk 20:27-38 | Then came to him certain of the Sadducees, which deny that there is any resurrection; and they asked him, Saying, Master, Moses wrote unto us, If any man’s brother die, having a wife, and he die without children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. There were therefore seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and died without children. And the second took her to wife, and he died childless. And the third took her; and in like manner the seven also: and they left no children, and died. Last of all the woman died also. Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them is she? for seven had her to wife. And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage: But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection. Now that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him. |
Joh 5:21-25 | For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. |
Joh 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. |
Joh 6:39-40 | And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. |
Joh 6: 44-54 | No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. |
Joh 11:23-25 | Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: |
Joh 14:19 | Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. |
Act 4:1-2 | And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. |
Act 17:18 | Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection. |
Act 23:6-8 | But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question. And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided. For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both. |
Act 24:14-15 | But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: 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. |
Act 26:6-8 | And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers: Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope’s sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews. Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead? |
Rom 4:16-21 | Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; |
Rom 8:10-11 | And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But 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. |
Rom 8:19 | For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. |
Rom 8:21-23 | Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. |
1Cor 6:14 | And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power. |
1Cor 15 | Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed. 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. 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. 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. 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. For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith, all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead? And why stand we in jeopardy every hour? I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die. Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame. But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In 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. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So 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. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. |
2Cor 4:14 | Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. |
2Cor 5:1-5 | For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. |
Phi 3:10-11 | 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. |
Phil 3: 21 | Who 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. |
1The 4:14-16 | For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For 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. For 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: |
Heb 6:2 | Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. |
Heb 11: 35 | Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: |
Rev 20:4-6 | And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed 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. |
Rev 20:13 | And 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. |
By Jacques Lucas
