How can you comprehend the resurrection of the body?

The resurrection of the body is such an overwhelming matter, that I cannot comprehend it with my mind, but I believe it with child-like faith because God teaches it in His Word, and because it is not based on our human abilities, but on God’s power.

For God, who created the world out of nothing through His Word, nothing is impossible. He is able merely by His Word to call forth also all the dead.

Matt. 22:29: (Jesus said to the Sadducees who did not believe in the resurrection of the body): Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God.

Matt. 11:25: At that time Jesus answered and said: I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.

Rom. 4:17: Abraham believed, even God, Who quickeneth the dead and calleth those things which be not as though they were.

Rom. 4:21: And (Abraham) being fully persuaded that what He (God) had promised He was able also to perform.

Assignment: Read Matt. 22:23-33: Jesus and the Sadducees, and 1 Cor. 15: The Apostle Paul teaches concerning the resurrection of the body.

What will be the order of events in the resurrection?

On the Last Day, in connection with the second coming of Christ, a general resurrection of all people will take place. First those who died in faith will be raised, and then those believers yet living will be glorified. There will not be a long period of time between the resurrection of the believers and unbelievers, or a thousand-year kingdom, as some believe.

Matt. 12:41: The men of Nineve shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonas, and behold a greater than Jonas is here.

1 Cor. 15:51-52: Behold, I show 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.

1 Thess. 4:16-17: 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; then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Heb. 9:27: It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.

Assignment: Consider which of the above Bible passages refutes reincarnation.

Note: The belief in the thousand-year reign of Christ on earth (Chiliasm) is based on the literal interpretation of certain prophecies of the Old Testament and the book of Revelation. The Old Testament, using illustrations from temporal life, describes the time of the Messiah, His kingdom and its spread as a wonderful kingdom of peace. The New Testament shows us that these prophecies were fulfilled in Christ Jesus and His kingdom of grace, and refutes their literal interpretation with the words: “The kingdom of God comes not with observation”. (Luke 17:20). Compare, for example, Is. 9:1-6 and chapter 11, where the happy time of peace and the return of the remnant of Israel are connected to Christ’s birth and the ensuing proclamation of the Gospel. The prophecies of the book of Revelation are illustrative and they
are to be interpreted in the light of the clear passages of the Bible. The Confessions of the Christian Church do not recognize the teaching of Chiliasm, and teach according to the Bible that Christ will return visibly only once and at that time will conduct the Judgment. The Small Catechism: ”Will at the Last Day raise up me and all the dead.”

What difference will there be in the resurrection of the dead?

Believers in Christ will rise with glorified bodies to eternal life, but unbelievers will arise to eternal death and torment, with bodies subjected to sin, ridicule and shame.

Phil. 3:21: Christ 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.

Is. 66:24: Their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched, and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.

What does the Bible teach concerning the resurrection of the body?

The Bible teaches that on the Last Day Christ will raise up me and all the dead. At that time He will make this same body in which I have lived and died, alive again.

Joh. 5:28-29: 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.