The Bible says so!

The resurrection of the dead is a doctrine taught in the Bible, and has been a core tenet of the Christian faith.

Christ taught that the dead will resurrect.

Jesus said, “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).

He also died and resurrected to create the possibility for the dead to rise and live again on the resurrection day.

Revelation 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.

The Bible teaches that since by one man Adam death came to be, by one man Jesus Christ comes to be the resurrection of the dead, and he, Christ, being the first fruit.

The Just and the Unjust must Resurrect

Because Christ resurrected, the dead whoever they be, wherever and however they died,whether they were believers or not will be resurrected back to life. This is because since death exists due to the fall of man’s federal head Adam (Romans 5:14; 1Corinthians 15:21-22), by the resurrection of man’s federal head Jesus, death will cease to exist some day (1Corinthians 15:25-26). Note that the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is not only a scriptural truth but also a historical fact.

The Bible explains: For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

The sin of Adam entitled every living creature to death. So death, the termination of life, came to be. Adam was a representative of all living things and the federal head of all creation on earth put under his dominion (Genesis 1:26). His fall to the devil through sin affected all (Romans 8:19-23). Now through the person of Christ God raised another federal head who resurrected from the dead to break the power of death which stands inevitable to all. Now if death be destroyed at all, then those held bound in death will be free from death and thus live again. Everyone dies because death exists, everyone will live when death ceases to be.

Acts 24:15 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..

Two Resurrections

The Bible talks of two resurrections. Resurrection of the righteous dead and sinful dead. The one unto eternal life and the other unto eternal condemnation. In other words, the righteous will resurrect to spend eternity in bliss, while the sinners will resurrect and be condemned in judgment to spend eternity in torment

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 5:29

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. Daniel 12:2

A Core Tenet of the Christian Faith

The Christian faith is hanging on Christ’s resurrection from the dead and its consequent resurrection of the dead by which righteous saints can spend eternity in bliss with him. It is called the Christian hope.

1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

Acts 24:15 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.

Acts 26:6 And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers:

Colossians 1:23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

1 Thessalonians 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

Titus 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

Titus 3:7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

1 Corinthians 15:19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

Apostle Paul in strong terms buttress the coreness of the tenet of resurrection of the dead to the Christian faith:

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. 1 Corinthians 15:12-19

But are there those who do not believe in the resurrection of the dead among Christians? Alarmingly yes. Such ones have greatly erred from the faith, for Apostle Paul had had to deal with that issue way back then in the first century, in his letter to the Corinthian church, in 1Corinthians 15, and in his letter the Thessalonian church, in 1Thessalonians 4; and denounced in 2 Timothy 2:18 those who erred by affirming that the resurrection was past.

Next