Resurrection For a long time after Man’s sin and ejection from the Garden of Eden, he puzzled over a certain experience which he beheld. From time to time someone would lie down and not get up. There would neither be breathing nor movement, and finally the flesh would change in form and disappear. Man learned to take up these lifeless bodies and place them in caves, or in the waters, or on a platform for the vultures, or to dig a hole and put the body in. But several questions plagued Man. **What became of the person who died? **Would they live again? **Where would they live? **Would they have a body? **If so, what kind of body?

The return of the spirit to God! Ecclesiastes Chapter 3: 18. “I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.” 19.”For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no pre-eminence above a beast: for all is vanity.” 20.”All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.” 21.”Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?” Ecclesiastes Chapter 12: 7.” Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.”

The Resurrection of the Dead The Principles of the Doctrine Hebrews Chapter 6: 1. “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God.” 2. “Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.” 3. “And this we will do if God permit.”

Doctrine Of Christ The Principles of the Doctrine of Christ - Fundamentalism: Fundamentalism is a movement that grew out of the controversy with many liberal religious leaders, when godly Christian leaders insisted that certain truths were fundamental to Christianity and could not be compromised. These included : Divine creation, the verbal inspiration and inerrancy of Scripture, the Virgin birth of Christ, His deity, substitutionary atonement, bodily resurrection and physical return, and the existence of a literal hell and a literal heaven

The Resurrection of the Dead The Christian Church was founded upon the fundamental belief in the resurrection of Jesus, and the hope of a general resurrection. Jesus and the apostles preached the resurrection as part of their primary message. Acts Chapter 2: 30. “Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;” 31. “He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.” 32. “This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.” John Chapter 6/ verses 39, 40 and 44: Acts Chapter 17/ verse 18:

Resurrection The word “resurrection” simply means to rise again. It is specifically used with reference to the rising of those who are dead. Technically speaking, the Shunammite woman’s son (2 Kings 4/ verses 32 to 35), Lazarus of Bethany (John 11/ verses 43 and 44), and Dorcas (Acts 9/ verses 36 to 40), to name a few, were all resurrected, but it is generally presumed that they died again. This cannot be proven and it is entirely possible that they were translated. The resurrection of the dead is however usually referred to as the rising of the dead to their eternal habitation.

The Nature of the Resurrection The Bible establishes that the resurrection is to be a body resurrection. It will not be the same kind of body we now have. 1 Corinthians Chapter 15: 37. “And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain.” 38. “But God giveth it a body as it has pleased him, and to every seed his own body.” 42. “So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption.” 43. “It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power.” 44. “It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.” Philippians Chapter 3/ verses 20 and 21:

The Nature of the Resurrection In the parable of the beggar Lazarus and the rich man, we see there is a conscious existence with feelings of pleasure and pain. Luke Chapter 16/ verses 19 to 31:

Who Shall be Resurrected? One question remains to be answered. Who shall be resurrected? At one time the Jews taught that only the righteous would rise again. Of course they meant only those of the Jewish faith. Later, they changed their minds and taught that the Gentiles would also be resurrected, but only to witness the Jews attaining to the presence of God. The New Testament teaches that ALL men will be resurrected, some to salvation and some to damnation. John Chapter 5: 27. “And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.” 28. “Marvel not at this; for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the grave shall hear his voice,” 29. “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.” 1 Corinthians Chapter 15/ verses 22 and 23:

Who Shall be Resurrected? All nationalities and classes of men shall be resurrected to receive their rewards according to how they have lived in this life. Acts Chapter 24: 14. “But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets.” 15. “And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.” 16. “And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscious void of offense toward God and toward men.”