Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment. - John 5:28-29
Last Sunday we began a 3 part discussion of 1 Corinthians 15 on the topic of resurrection. In the first message, we learned that Jesus’ resurrection is absolutely essential to the gospel and that numerous eyewitness reports confirm it to be a historical fact. In today’s message, we will consider the order in which the resurrection of the dead will take place. Then next Sunday, we will study about the resurrected body and how it will be changed.
I. THE SEQUENCE (1 Cor. 15:20-24a)
Having presented a hypothetical scenario in the previous verses (v12-19) in which Christ was not risen from the dead, Paul opened this next paragraph by emphatically assuring his readers that Jesus had been resurrected. He described the risen Lord as “the first fruits” of those who had died. According to Jewish Law, on the 2nd day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread (which began the day after the Passover) the Israelites were to give a sheaf of the first fruits of their grain harvest as an offering in the temple prior to eating any of the season’s new growth (Leviticus 23:9-14). Just as this sheaf was the first of the harvest, so also the resurrection of Jesus was the first of many to come. It is no coincidence that Jesus’ resurrection occurred on the Day of First Fruits.
God created Adam, the first man, and placed him in the Garden of Eden. The genealogy of all mankind can be traced back to him. Likewise, the curse that God placed upon Adam as the result of his sin was applied to all of his descendants. In short, through Adam death has come to all humanity. On the other hand, Jesus, the divine Son of God, took on flesh and became a man in order to conquer sin and death. Through His glorious resurrection, life is given to the children of God (His descendants). Therefore, all who have trusted in Christ for salvation will be spiritually and physically raised from the dead, just as Jesus was.
Paul taught the general order of this resurrection. Jesus, who has already risen, was the first fruits. The resurrection of believers, sometimes referred to as the resurrection of the righteous or the first resurrection, will take place next when Christ returns. The particular timing of this resurrection is dependent upon one’s views of the end times. Personally, I believe that the resurrection of the righteous will occur in multiple phases - Christians at the Rapture; Tribulation and Old Testament Saints at the Second Coming, and Millennial Saints following Christ’s 1,000 year reign. The resurrection of nonbelievers, also called the resurrection of the unrighteous or the second resurrection, will occur at the end of the age immediately prior to the coming of the new heaven and earth at the beginning of the eternal state. Thus, all people will be resurrected - some to eternal life (present with God) and others to eternal death (separated from God).
To be clear, Jesus was the first fruits of those who had fallen “asleep” (that is, who had physically died). He was the first human being to be physically raised from the dead and then physically present in heaven. In the Old Testament, both Enoch and Elijah were carried alive by God into heaven before experiencing natural death. As such, neither were bodily resurrected. This same thing will happen to living Christians at the moment of the Rapture. Therefore, the amazing experiences of Enoch and Elijah do not contradict or negate the truthfulness of Jesus as the first fruits of the resurrection.
II. THE SUBMISSION (1 Cor. 15:24b-28)
Paul elaborated on the transfer of God’s kingdom that will take place at the end of the age. After abolishing all earthly rule, power, and authority, Jesus will turn the kingdom over to God the Father. Make no mistake, Jesus has already conquered sin and death. All authority has been given to Him on heaven and earth (Matthew 28:18). Jesus is, right now, seated in heaven as King of kings and Lord of Lords. That said, there is still rebellion against Him. Though the enemy has been defeated, he has not yet been brought into submission. Jesus will reign until all of His enemies are put under His feet in complete and total subjection to Him (Philippians 2:10-11) .
The last enemy to be abolished is death. This will take place following the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15). At this time, death and hell will be cast into gehenna - the lake of fire - never again to resist or war against the just rule of King Jesus. Immediately following this glorious abolition, God will restore the heavens and earth to its original splendor and the new Jerusalem will come down out of heaven. Then, the redeemed of all ages will dwell in the manifest presence of God forever! Hallelujah!
When all of Christ’s enemies have been brought into submission and death itself has been eternally eradicated, Jesus will turn the kingdom over to His Father. The Son will subject Himself to the One who has subjected all things to Him (Psalm 110:1). Thus, all of creation will be subjected to King Jesus, who Himself will be subjected to the Father, so that God is over all.
III. THE SUBSTANCE (1 Cor. 15:29-34)
Paul asked the Corinthians why some people were being baptized on behalf of the dead. Apparently, some erroneously believed this would benefit their deceased loved ones in some way. Obviously, this was an unbiblical application of baptism, but Paul wasn’t commenting on the inappropriateness of the practice. Rather he was pointing out that no one would be doing this if they didn't sincerely believe in the resurrection of the dead.
Paul went on to say that he and his companions placed themselves in constant peril by preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. They denied themselves and died to their carnal ambitions and desires on a daily basis. Paul even fought against wild beasts at Ephesus, possibly referring to actual animals or metaphorically to vile people, for the cause of Christ. Again, why would he and his colleagues do such things if Jesus had not been risen?
Paul concluded that if the dead cannot be raised, everyone might as well live for today and not concern themselves with the future. They should indulge in the things of this world while there is still time. But because the dead are raised, Christians must be careful not to allow the bad company of those who live only for the here and now to corrupt the good morals of those who live in light of eternity. He told the Corinthians to think soberly, to stop sinning, and to quit doubting in resurrection. He scolded some of them for their shameful lack of the knowledge of God.
CONCLUSION
Jesus is risen and resurrection is true. The people’s own actions testified to the Corinthians of this truth. Those who questioned the resurrection could simply look around and see evidence of the resurrection in the motivations and practices of others around them. A fervent and unyielding belief in resurrection had become the foundation of many people’s lives.
One day, after all of creation is subjected to Christ and death itself has been permanently abolished, King Jesus will hand the kingdom of God over to the Father. But before that happens, all people will be resurrected - either to eternal life or eternal condemnation. This is the order of resurrection: Jesus is the first fruits whose resurrection has already occurred, the righteous and redeemed will be raised next at the return of Christ, and finally the unrighteous and unsaved will be resurrected immediately prior to the dawning of the new heaven and new earth. Thus, every person will exist forever both spiritually and physically as a human being in either heaven or hell. If you were to die today, where would you spend eternity?
Last Sunday we began a 3 part discussion of 1 Corinthians 15 on the topic of resurrection. In the first message, we learned that Jesus’ resurrection is absolutely essential to the gospel and that numerous eyewitness reports confirm it to be a historical fact. In today’s message, we will consider the order in which the resurrection of the dead will take place. Then next Sunday, we will study about the resurrected body and how it will be changed.
I. THE SEQUENCE (1 Cor. 15:20-24a)
Having presented a hypothetical scenario in the previous verses (v12-19) in which Christ was not risen from the dead, Paul opened this next paragraph by emphatically assuring his readers that Jesus had been resurrected. He described the risen Lord as “the first fruits” of those who had died. According to Jewish Law, on the 2nd day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread (which began the day after the Passover) the Israelites were to give a sheaf of the first fruits of their grain harvest as an offering in the temple prior to eating any of the season’s new growth (Leviticus 23:9-14). Just as this sheaf was the first of the harvest, so also the resurrection of Jesus was the first of many to come. It is no coincidence that Jesus’ resurrection occurred on the Day of First Fruits.
God created Adam, the first man, and placed him in the Garden of Eden. The genealogy of all mankind can be traced back to him. Likewise, the curse that God placed upon Adam as the result of his sin was applied to all of his descendants. In short, through Adam death has come to all humanity. On the other hand, Jesus, the divine Son of God, took on flesh and became a man in order to conquer sin and death. Through His glorious resurrection, life is given to the children of God (His descendants). Therefore, all who have trusted in Christ for salvation will be spiritually and physically raised from the dead, just as Jesus was.
Paul taught the general order of this resurrection. Jesus, who has already risen, was the first fruits. The resurrection of believers, sometimes referred to as the resurrection of the righteous or the first resurrection, will take place next when Christ returns. The particular timing of this resurrection is dependent upon one’s views of the end times. Personally, I believe that the resurrection of the righteous will occur in multiple phases - Christians at the Rapture; Tribulation and Old Testament Saints at the Second Coming, and Millennial Saints following Christ’s 1,000 year reign. The resurrection of nonbelievers, also called the resurrection of the unrighteous or the second resurrection, will occur at the end of the age immediately prior to the coming of the new heaven and earth at the beginning of the eternal state. Thus, all people will be resurrected - some to eternal life (present with God) and others to eternal death (separated from God).
To be clear, Jesus was the first fruits of those who had fallen “asleep” (that is, who had physically died). He was the first human being to be physically raised from the dead and then physically present in heaven. In the Old Testament, both Enoch and Elijah were carried alive by God into heaven before experiencing natural death. As such, neither were bodily resurrected. This same thing will happen to living Christians at the moment of the Rapture. Therefore, the amazing experiences of Enoch and Elijah do not contradict or negate the truthfulness of Jesus as the first fruits of the resurrection.
II. THE SUBMISSION (1 Cor. 15:24b-28)
Paul elaborated on the transfer of God’s kingdom that will take place at the end of the age. After abolishing all earthly rule, power, and authority, Jesus will turn the kingdom over to God the Father. Make no mistake, Jesus has already conquered sin and death. All authority has been given to Him on heaven and earth (Matthew 28:18). Jesus is, right now, seated in heaven as King of kings and Lord of Lords. That said, there is still rebellion against Him. Though the enemy has been defeated, he has not yet been brought into submission. Jesus will reign until all of His enemies are put under His feet in complete and total subjection to Him (Philippians 2:10-11) .
The last enemy to be abolished is death. This will take place following the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15). At this time, death and hell will be cast into gehenna - the lake of fire - never again to resist or war against the just rule of King Jesus. Immediately following this glorious abolition, God will restore the heavens and earth to its original splendor and the new Jerusalem will come down out of heaven. Then, the redeemed of all ages will dwell in the manifest presence of God forever! Hallelujah!
When all of Christ’s enemies have been brought into submission and death itself has been eternally eradicated, Jesus will turn the kingdom over to His Father. The Son will subject Himself to the One who has subjected all things to Him (Psalm 110:1). Thus, all of creation will be subjected to King Jesus, who Himself will be subjected to the Father, so that God is over all.
III. THE SUBSTANCE (1 Cor. 15:29-34)
Paul asked the Corinthians why some people were being baptized on behalf of the dead. Apparently, some erroneously believed this would benefit their deceased loved ones in some way. Obviously, this was an unbiblical application of baptism, but Paul wasn’t commenting on the inappropriateness of the practice. Rather he was pointing out that no one would be doing this if they didn't sincerely believe in the resurrection of the dead.
Paul went on to say that he and his companions placed themselves in constant peril by preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. They denied themselves and died to their carnal ambitions and desires on a daily basis. Paul even fought against wild beasts at Ephesus, possibly referring to actual animals or metaphorically to vile people, for the cause of Christ. Again, why would he and his colleagues do such things if Jesus had not been risen?
Paul concluded that if the dead cannot be raised, everyone might as well live for today and not concern themselves with the future. They should indulge in the things of this world while there is still time. But because the dead are raised, Christians must be careful not to allow the bad company of those who live only for the here and now to corrupt the good morals of those who live in light of eternity. He told the Corinthians to think soberly, to stop sinning, and to quit doubting in resurrection. He scolded some of them for their shameful lack of the knowledge of God.
CONCLUSION
Jesus is risen and resurrection is true. The people’s own actions testified to the Corinthians of this truth. Those who questioned the resurrection could simply look around and see evidence of the resurrection in the motivations and practices of others around them. A fervent and unyielding belief in resurrection had become the foundation of many people’s lives.
One day, after all of creation is subjected to Christ and death itself has been permanently abolished, King Jesus will hand the kingdom of God over to the Father. But before that happens, all people will be resurrected - either to eternal life or eternal condemnation. This is the order of resurrection: Jesus is the first fruits whose resurrection has already occurred, the righteous and redeemed will be raised next at the return of Christ, and finally the unrighteous and unsaved will be resurrected immediately prior to the dawning of the new heaven and new earth. Thus, every person will exist forever both spiritually and physically as a human being in either heaven or hell. If you were to die today, where would you spend eternity?