Resurrection of the saved
"According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds" (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17). The resurrection of the believer is an essential doctrine of the Christian faith. At some unknown point in the future the dead in Christ will rise in glorified bodies, followed immediately by the
glorification of those believers who are still alive.
The Old Testament teaches the resurrection of the saved and unsaved: "But at that time your people -- everyone whose name is found written in the book -- will be delivered. Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake; some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt" (Daniel 12:1-2). Jesus confirmed the resurrection: "In My Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am" (John 14:2-3). When the saints are raised, the sanctification process will be complete. The glorified bodies will no longer have a sin nature. Many cults deny this essential doctrine though it is clearly taught in Scripture. It cannot be compromised. Listen, I tell
you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed -- in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. or the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed" (1 Corinthians 15:51-52).
glorification of those believers who are still alive.
The Old Testament teaches the resurrection of the saved and unsaved: "But at that time your people -- everyone whose name is found written in the book -- will be delivered. Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake; some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt" (Daniel 12:1-2). Jesus confirmed the resurrection: "In My Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am" (John 14:2-3). When the saints are raised, the sanctification process will be complete. The glorified bodies will no longer have a sin nature. Many cults deny this essential doctrine though it is clearly taught in Scripture. It cannot be compromised. Listen, I tell
you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed -- in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. or the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed" (1 Corinthians 15:51-52).
Resurrection of the unsaved
"Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt" (Daniel 12:2). The Bible teaches the resurrection of the unsaved as well as the resurrection of the saints. Some Christians believe these events are separated by a one-thousand year period known as the Millennium. Other Christians believe the resurrection of the saved and unsaved is a single event. Both positions are acceptable.
The unsaved will be resurrected to stand in the final judgment. Those who have rejected God's salvation will be judged according to their works: "And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and the books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them ...Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire" (Revelation 20:12-14).
At the resurrection of the unsaved, the time of judgment, there is no second chance for
those who have rejected Christ: "He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power" (2 Thessalonians 1:9).
Many cults deny the resurrection of the unsaved, and the final judgment. Some prefer to believe in universal, or near-universal, salvation. Others prefer doctrines of birth and rebirth eventually resulting in enlightenment and escape from the cycle. Those teachings deny the reality of the utter sinfulness of man, and always result in a salvation by works doctrine. This, of course, denies the clear teaching of Scripture. It is sobering to note that God, who cannot tolerate sin, will bring to light all works done in the flesh. Any sin will be enough to bring condemnation and eternal separation from God's grace. Since the unrepentant sinner will have rejected Christ's offer of salvation, they will have to pay the price themselves.
The unsaved will be resurrected to stand in the final judgment. Those who have rejected God's salvation will be judged according to their works: "And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and the books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them ...Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire" (Revelation 20:12-14).
At the resurrection of the unsaved, the time of judgment, there is no second chance for
those who have rejected Christ: "He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power" (2 Thessalonians 1:9).
Many cults deny the resurrection of the unsaved, and the final judgment. Some prefer to believe in universal, or near-universal, salvation. Others prefer doctrines of birth and rebirth eventually resulting in enlightenment and escape from the cycle. Those teachings deny the reality of the utter sinfulness of man, and always result in a salvation by works doctrine. This, of course, denies the clear teaching of Scripture. It is sobering to note that God, who cannot tolerate sin, will bring to light all works done in the flesh. Any sin will be enough to bring condemnation and eternal separation from God's grace. Since the unrepentant sinner will have rejected Christ's offer of salvation, they will have to pay the price themselves.
