The Coming of Jesus: The Dead in Christ Are Resurrected. Part Three
The Apostolic Testimony of the Resurrection
For Jesus’s apostles, proclaiming His resurrection was far more than just a doctrinal teaching topic. The strength, grace, and boldness with which they preached, as well as their courage to face the religious leaders of their time—as described in the first chapters of the Book of Acts—stemmed from three fundamental sources:
– Their deep zeal for the Scriptures
– Their unwavering love for Jesus, for whom they had left everything
– The Spirit’s conviction that “we must obey God rather than men”
The resurrection of Jesus constituted the initial foundation of the church in Jerusalem and the basis of faith for more than three thousand people who accepted Peter’s testimony and word on that morning of Shavuot (Pentecost), during the glorious and powerful manifestation of the Holy Spirit. The central truth was clear: Jesus has risen and is seated at the right hand of God.
“Foreseeing this, he spoke about the resurrection of Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.”
(Acts 2:31-33)
The Purpose of Apostolic Testimony
The main objective of their preaching was to establish unequivocal testimony: Jesus is not dead. He has risen from the dead according to ancient prophecies, which announced that a shoot would spring from Jesse’s roots and that the Glory of Israel would flourish for the blessing of the entire world.
The apostles were eyewitnesses, as confirmed by multiple passages:
“Beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.”
(Acts 1:22)
“This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.”
(Acts 2:32)
“And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.”
(Acts 4:33)
The Doctrine of Resurrection: Prophetic Foundation
The doctrine of Jesus’s resurrection is firmly rooted in ancient prophecies that announced his resurrection on the third day. This fact was:
1. Declared by Jesus to His disciples:
“And He said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead.’”
(Luke 24:46)
2. Prefigured by Abraham:
“He said, ‘Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.’… On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar.”
(Genesis 22:2-4)
3. Prophesied by Hosea:
“After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him.”
(Hosea 6:2)
The Importance of the Resurrection
The resurrection of Jesus is fundamental for multiple reasons:
1. It is the basis for reconciliation:
“For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.”
(1 Corinthians 15:21-22)
2. It is the foundation of justification and sanctification:
The absence of the resurrection would invalidate our entire faith, as Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 15:13-17.
13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. 14 And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. 15 Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. 16 For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. 17 And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!
1 Corinthians 15:13-17
3. It is the hope of resurrection for believers:
“But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.”
(1 Corinthians 15:20)
The Final Resurrection: Characteristics and Process
The resurrection of the dead in Christ will occur at His coming, simultaneously with the transformation of the righteous who are alive. This process will be:
1. Instantaneous:
“In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.”
(1 Corinthians 15:52)
2. Universal and visible:
The event will be public, visible to all, occurring simultaneously throughout the world.
Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.
Revelation 1:7
3. Glorious:
Those resurrected will receive a glorified body with the following characteristics:
– Incorruptible and eternal
– Endowed with supernatural power
– Spiritual and radiant
– Similar to Christ’s resurrected body
– With flesh and bones, but without blood
– Immortal
Learning Assessment Questions
1. Can you explain how the resurrection of the dead in Christ Jesus will occur?
2. What does ‘glorified body’ mean?
