1. The Resurrection Teaches Us What Happens to Us When We Die. Matthew 27:57 – Matthew 28:7 “He just left.”

2. Nothing

3. Ghosts

4. Reincarnation

5. As part of the universe We return to what we were before we were what we are

6. 1 Corinthians 15:50-53 - 50 Brothers and sisters, this is what I mean: Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. What decays cannot inherit what doesn't decay. 51 I'm telling you a mystery. Not all of us will die, but we will all be changed. 52 It will happen in an instant, in a split second at the sound of the last trumpet. Indeed, that trumpet will sound, and then the dead will come back to life. They will be changed so that they can live forever. (from GOD'S WORD)

7. THE EASTER MIRACLE CHANGED EVERYTHING

8. “There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

9. “The angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.’” Matthew 28:2–6

10. Matthew 16:21 - 21 From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day.

11. Matthew 20:17-19 - 17 As Jesus was about to go up to Jerusalem, He took the twelve disciples aside by themselves, and on the way He said to them, 18 "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn Him to death, 19 and will hand Him over to the Gentiles to mock and scourge and crucify Him, and on the third day He will be raised up."

12. 1 Corinthians 15:3-9 - 3 I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. 4 He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. 5 He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. 6 After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. 7 Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw him. Holy Bible, New Living Translation.

14. His resurrection is the proof and promise of ours. 1 Corinthians 15:20 - 20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. 1 Corinthians 15:23 - 23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ's at His coming,

15. HERE IS WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO US. TWO EXPERIENCES AT THE RESURRECTION John 5:28-29 - 28 Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice 29 and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.

16. John 3:16 - 16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. ESV Perish or eternal life.

17. Ecclesiastes 12:7 – You will turn back into the dust of the earth again, but your spirit will return to God who gave it.

18. “If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far” (Philippians 1:21-23)

19. “…the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God…all who are…in their graves will hear His voice…they will come out…” (John 5: 25,28-29 ).

20. He who created us, will collect us. 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18 - 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.

21. “so we shall always be with the Lord.”

22. OUR SPIRITS WILL BE REUNITED WITH OUR BODIES, OUR GLORIFIED BODIES. “ …when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2).

23. 1 Corinthians 15:42-44 - 42 It is the same way with the resurrection of the dead. Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever. 43 Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength. 44 They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies. For just as there are natural bodies, there are also spiritual bodies. Holy Bible, New Living Translation.

24. Revelation 21:4 (ESV) “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

25. “So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18 ).

26. He says “whosoever believes.” We must repent of our sins. We need to confess our faith in Jesus. Acts 8 – the Ethiopian Eunuch… Here God washes away all our sins. Acts 22:16; Acts 2:38. Then we need to walk faithfully with the Lord. Revelation 2:10 – “be faithful unto death and I will give you the crown of life.”