The Resurrection of the Dead

1.    What is man’s present relation to death, and why was it pronounced on him?

“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned,” Romans 5:12.

2.    As death has come upon man, what do the scriptures tell us of a set time of remembrance?

“O that Thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that Thou wouldest keep me secret, until Thy wrath be passed, 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,” Job 14:13, 14, 15.

3.    What important testimony does the witness Isaiah give of the resurrection?

“For, behold, the Lord cometh out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: The earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain,” Isaiah 26:21.

4.    What promise is made of redemption from the grave?

“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,” Hosea 13:14.

5.    As death entered the world through one man, through Whom will life again come to him?

“For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” I Corinthians 15:22.

6.    Does this imply that everybody who has died in the past will be resurrected, both wicked and righteous?

“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,” John 5:28, 29.

7.    Will there be order in the resurrection of the dead and which class of people will be brought to life first, the righteous or wicked?

“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,” I Corinthians 15:22, 23.

8.    What great event do the scriptures declare will transpire in connection with the resurrection of the dead?

“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,” I Thessalonians 4:16.

9.    What further evidence have we that the righteous dead will be resurrected before the wicked dead?

“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,” Revelation 20:6.

10.    When will the wicked dead be resurrected?

“But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished,” Revelation 20:5.

11.    Before whom will the dead stand when they are resurrected, and by what records will they be judged?

“And 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,” Revelation 20:12.

NOTE: “The books were opened, and another book was opened which is the book of life.” The books that are first opened when the dead are judged, spoken of here are evidently the Old Testament Scriptures, and the book of the New Testament. Then besides these books we have mentioned the book of life, and in it are the names written of all who will be saved.

12.    How extensive and complete is the resurrection and does it take in all portions of the globe?

“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,” Revelation 20:13.

13.    What becomes of those in the resurrection whose names are not found written in the book of life?

“And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire,” Revelation 20:15.

14.    What classes of people are especially mentioned that have their part in the lake of fire, and what becomes of them?

“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death,” Revelation 21:8.