Resurrection

 •  1 min. read  •  grade level: 15
The resurrection of Christ is one of the cardinal truths of the Gospel (1 Cor. 15), for it demonstrates the acceptance by God of the work of Christ on our behalf, He being raised from the dead by “the glory of the Father” (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)). The idea of a general resurrection is a Jewish one (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); John 11:2424Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. (John 11:24)), but the clearer light of the New Testament teaches us this will be divided into the resurrection of the just (of which 1 Cor. 15 speaks), and of the unjust (see Rev. 20), separated by an interval of more than 1,000 years. The first resurrection is of all the dead in Christ, and may take place at any moment when Christ comes, and will be instantaneous (1 Thess. 4) It will also include some Jewish saints, who will be slain by Antichrist after the Christians have all been taken to heaven (Rev. 20:4-64And 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. 5But 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 20:4‑6)). The second resurrection or second death (John 5:2929And 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 5:29)) takes place after the millennium, and is exclusively to damnation, all being condemned who then rise. Christians now are risen with Christ, being alive in a new life, by a spiritual resurrection, (Col. 3:11If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. (Colossians 3:1)) in the power of which they are to live daily. Hence the expression, “resurrection ground,” meaning the position of being risen with Christ—no longer dead in trespasses and sins.