Introduction

This is a study of The Resurrection Body; Lesson #7 in the New Christian Series.

This lesson is about the new glorified bodies that all born again believers will receive when the Lord Jesus Christ returns to take His Church out of this world. Regretfully, our bodies of flesh and blood are sinful: they are just no good. Being subject to death, they are dying. No matter how we pamper, exercise, and beautify them, our bodies continue to get older every day, and closer to the grave. But praise God, when we are born of the Spirit, our souls are safe forever. All the saved who are still living when the Lord returns will view a great spectacle as Jesus Christ brings with Him the souls of the saints who died and went on to Glory before us. At that time, we will also be caught up to be with Him in the air; and all of us will have a new, glorified, perfect, sinless, holy body that will live forever and ever. That's what this lesson is about, what our resurrection body will be like. It should give us joy and hope as we look forward to the Lord Jesus Christ's soon return. It should especially help those with weak, crippled or diseased bodies.

Two Resurrections

First of all let's study an outline of the two resurrections.

   I. The Fact of the Resurrection

The Jewish religious sect called the Sadducees did not believe in a literal resurrection. (That's why they were "Sad, U-See?"). But the resurrection is a Bible doctrines mentioned throughout the Scriptures from Genesis through Revelation.

   A. Old Testament Proof of the Resurrection

1. Job Believed In Christ's Resurrection And His Own

   (See Job 19:25-27)

2. David Prophesied Christ's Resurrection And His Own

   (See Psalm 16:9,10) A double prophecy

3. The Prophets Looked For A Resurrection

   (See Isaiah 26:19; Daniel 12:2; Hosea 13:14)

4. Abraham Believed God Could Raise The Dead

   (See Genesis 22:5; Hebrews 11:19)

5. Several Accounts Of the Resurrection Are Given

   (See I Kings 17:17-24; II Kings 4:32-35; 13:21)

   B. New Testament Proof Of the Resurrection

1. The Lord Jesus Christ Taught A Resurrection

   (See John 5:21,28,29; 11:23-26)

2. The Apostle Paul Expounded The Resurrection

   (I Corinthians 15 is the resurrection chapter of the Bible.)

3. The Apostle John Saw The Two Resurrections

   (See Revelation 20:4-6,13,14)

4. Christ Raised People From The Dead

   (See John 11:43; Luke 8:52-55; Matthew 27:52)

5. Christ Himself Was Raised From The Dead

   (See Acts 2:32; 4:10; Romans 1:4; 4:25; I Corinthians 15:4-

   II. The Importance of the Resurrection

   The importance of the Christian's resurrection is seen in that of the Lord Jesus Christ. The resurrection of Christ is both important and essential because:

1. It Declares His Death To Have Been Of Redeeming Value

If Christ had not risen, we would never have known if His death was sufficient to save us.    (See I Corinthians 15:17)

2. It Declares The Extent Of Power Available To Us

Resurrection power (the greatest power there is) is that which God makes available to the believer in his daily walk.

   (See Romans 1:4; Philippians 3:10a; I Corinthians 15:5

3. It Declares The Fact Of Our Own Resurrection

   (See I Corinthians 15:22)

   III. The Nature Of The Resurrection

1. It is Literal And Bodily

In detailing the resurrection in I Corinthians 15, the word of God makes it clear it refers to the body of man.

   (See verses 37-40,44)

2. It is Universal

In general terms, the resurrection applies to all men, believers and unbelievers. All shall be raised.

   (See John 5:28,29; Acts 24:15)

3. It is Two Fold

In specific terms, the resurrection is in two distinct stages. From the Book of Revelation, it is evident these two phases of the resurrection are not simultaneous, but are separated by 1000 years of time. One is before the Millennium; the other after (cf. Revelation 20:5).

1. The Resurrection Of The Just

   (See Luke 14:14)

2. The Resurrection Of The Unjust

   (See John 5:29b; Acts 24:15)

   IV. The Order Of the Resurrection

I Corinthians 15:22-24 suggests a definite order in the resurrection. It’s not only that of the first and second resurrection, but an order within the first resurrection.

• The first resurrection (of the righteous dead) is likened to that of the laws of a Jewish harvest, and has 3 distinct stages.

   (See diagram below of I Corinthians 15:22-24.)

1. The First Fruits

The Lord Jesus Christ represents the first fruits of the first resurrection. (See I Corinthians 15:23b.) Included in this stage are the saints who arose at the time of the crucifixion (Matthew 27:52,53).

2. The Harvest

This is the major stage of the first resurrection, and corresponds to the rapture.

   (See I Corinthians 15:23c)

3. The Gleanings

The Bible clearly teaches that many will be saved during the Great Tribulation (Revelation 7:9-14), but multitudes will be slain for their testimony. These saints will consist of believing Jews and Gentiles (Revelation 14:3). We also learn from Revelation 20:4, that both raptured saints and tribulation saints will reign with Christ during the Millennium. The actual time of resurrection for these tribulation saints is difficult to determine. Revelation 6:9-11 suggests it will be a definite time, though Revelation 7 sees them at the throne.

   V. The Resurrection Body

Since the resurrection involves a physical body, the nature of that resurrection body becomes of interest.

   A. The Resurrection Body Of The Believer

The Bible indicates several facts concerning our resurrected bodies.

1.      A Redeemed Body

   (See Romans 8:23)

2.      A Glorified Body

   (Philippians 3:20,21)

Our resurrection bodies will be like Christ’s glorified body. As a seed of corn, when planted, yields similar seeds of corn, our present corruptible bodies shall be planted in death, but shall be raised incorruptible (I Corinthians 15:43,53).

3.      A Christ-Like Body

   (See I John 3:2)

Our glorified resurrection bodies will have similar characteristics to the resurrection body of Christ.

a.       Recognizable?Luke 24:31

b.      Touchable?Luke 24:39; John 20:27

c.       Unlimited?John 20:19

d.      Able to Eat?Luke 24:42,43; John 21:12

e.       Able to Vanish?Luke 24:31

   B. The Resurrection Body of the Unbeliever

Little is said in the word of God about the resurrected body of the unbeliever. Matthew 5:29,30 indicates that it will be a corrupt body, subject to the pains and torments of the second death.

THE RESURRECTION BODY

We have seen from our outline that there are two different resurrections. Now we will do a more detailed study on the resurrection body itself.

The two resurrections can be clearly seen in Luke 20, where the Sadducees approach Jesus about a hypothetical problem relating to the resurrection of the dead.

"Then came to him certain of the Sadducees, which deny that there is any resurrection; and they asked him,

Saying, Master, Moses wrote unto us, If any mans brother die, having a wife, and he die without children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.

There were therefore seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and died without children.

And the second took her to wife and he died childless.

And the third took her; and in like manner the seven also: and they left no children, and died.

Last of all the woman died also

Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them is she? for seven had her to wife."

Luke 20:27-33

Of course, this religious sect of the Jewish religion did not believe in a literal resurrection of the dead at all. They only brought this question before the Lord to try to trick Him. Simply put, the question is this: After being the wife of seven husbands, whose wife will she be after the resurrection? They thought they were really going to stump Jesus with that one, but upon hearing His answer, they went away confounded by the wisdom, knowledge, and understanding He demonstrated in answering their question.

Here is His answer:

"And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage:

But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:

Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection. "    Luke 20:34,36

Notice that in verse 34 Christ begins talking to them about "The children of this world" (the world we are part of now). But in verse 35, he is speaking about another world. He says, "But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world." That will be the new world John spoke of in Revelation 21:1: "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth." At that time, the Lord is going to destroy this present world, and create a new world.

The apostle Peter also mentions this.

"Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness."            II Peter 3:13

• There is a "resurrection FROM the dead" (Luke 20:35) when believers will come up, but the unsaved will stay down.

 At this resurrection, believers bodies will be taken out from among the dead, while the bodies of the unsaved dead will remain in the grave. The Bible refers to this as the first resurrection. The actual words, "first resurrection," are found in Revelation 20.

"But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. "     Revelation 20:5

• There is also a second resurrection called the "resurrection OF the dead" (I Corinthians 15:12,13) in which all the remaining dead, who had no part in the first resurrection, will rise.

After the Millennium, all the souls of the unsaved dead in Hell will be brought before the Great White Throne Judgment. There they will be judged by the Lord Jesus Christ and subsequently cast into the Lake of Fire. That is the resurrection of the dead. But Luke is talking about believers from the Church Age, because we are the ones who will come up from the dead. Also notice in Luke 20:35 that there will be no marriages in Heaven. The last part of that verse says, "the dead neither marry [the man], nor are given in marriage [the woman]." The spouse we have on this earth will not be our spouse in Heaven. (I don’t know if that makes you glad or sad, nevertheless it is true.)

We also learn from verse 36 that believers will never die again after this resurrection of the dead takes place.

"Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection. "     Luke 20:36

" hildren of God;" that’s us! Jesus said that when we come up in this resurrection, we will be "equal to the angels." Matthew also records the same conversation, and though the wording is a little different, Jesus’ answer is the same.

"Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God." Matthew 22:29

Jesus told the Sadducees they had erred, because they did not know "the scriptures nor the power of God." After almost 2000 years, the problem is still the same. Many have erred in doctrine because they did not know the scriptures, nor the power of God. (False doctrine, especially about salvation, is the result of a failure to rightly divide the Scriptures.) Naturally, false teachers do not know "the power of God," because the gospel is the power of God unto salvation. Most of them, as the Sadducees, have simply never been saved.

Paul says:

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation... "     Romans 1:16

We refer to the particular passage in Luke because there we find the exact wording, "the resurrection from the dead." We know this passage is aimed at believers because we are the ones who will come up from the dead. While Luke says we will be "equal unto the angels of God" Matthew puts it even stronger when he says "in the resurrection?we will be as the angels of God in heaven."

There are two very important words in the Bible that will do much to instruct us - like and as. These words are used to teach things by similitude (comparing one thing with another). By this means, we are able to learn about the unknown, by comparing it with that which is known. Matthew says we will be "as the angels, in heaven." This alone tells us nothing about our resurrection body, but a study of the angels will teach us what we will be like in the resurrection.

As we read about in Hosea:

"I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets. "     Hosea 12:10

The use of similitudes, wherein we find similarities through comparison, is one of the ways the Holy Spirit opens our understanding to the things of God. So, if we want to learn what we will be like in Heaven, we have to study the angels of God, because Matthew 22:30 says we are "as the angels of God in heaven."

The Sons of God

Some believe that angels are sexless. Dr. C.I. Scofield teaches that angels have no gender, neither male nor female. In his note on Genesis 6:2 he gives Matthew 22:30 as a cross reference, because it says that angels neither marry nor are given in marriage. Notice, however, that verse 30 says nothing about the angel being either male or female. However, there are many verses that show us plainly that angels are male.

Appearing to Abraham:

"And the Lord appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day; And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three MEN stood by him... "    Genesis 18:1

Now look down in verse 22;

"And the MEN turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the Lord. "     Genesis 18:22

Now, if we want to know who these MEN are, we will find the answer by simply letting scripture explain scripture. So, let’s see what light Genesis 19:1 can shed on this problem. "And there came two ANGELS to Sodom at even." There you have it then, these MEN were ANGELS . Reading the rest of Genesis 18 we find that one of them stayed with Abraham while the other two went to Sodom. They are called MEN in chapter 18 and ANGELS in chapter 19. Notice Genesis 19:5; "And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the MEN which came in to thee this night?" Here the men of Sodom ask Abraham about the MEN who had been seen entering his house. Also read verse 10; "But the MEN put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house." Look once more at verse 15; "And when the morning arose, then the ANGELS hastened Lot." These ANGELS were MEN. (Go back and read the whole chapter and you will see that I am not taking these verses out of context.)

Now some of you might be shaking their heads right now, saying, "I just can’t believe that." And there lies the problem. When we come to something in the Bible we cannot understand; something that staggers the mind and goes against something we already assume to be true, we have a tendency to reject the plain teaching of Scripture. But, let’s continue our study and see what else the Scripture has to reveal about this subject.

In Judges 13:3 we read "And the angel of the Lord appeared unto the woman," and Judges 13:6 says, "Then the woman came and told her husband, saying, A man of God came unto me." There is no question, that in this passage of Scripture, " he angel of the Lord" is a MAN.

Again in Judges 13:8 we read, "Then Manoah intreated the Lord, and said, O my Lord, let the man of God which thou didst send come again to us..." And in verse 9, "And God hearkened to the voice of Manoah; and the angel of God again..." Again, "the angel of God" is a MAN.

See them again in Luke 24, after Jesus, body had been put in the tomb. Verse 4 says, "And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments." Verse 23, "And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive." Those men were angels .

Finally, we read in Revelation 21:17, "And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a MAN, that is, of the angel." The MAN measuring the wall is an angel.

So, the Scofield Reference Bible errs in its note for Genesis 6:2, in saying that angels are sexless. Angels are never sexless. Angels always appear as men. Dr. Scofield says they are sexless, because he is trying to prove that "the sons of God," mentioned in Genesis 6:1-6 were godly descendants of Seth while "the daughters of men" were ungodly descendants of Cain. That is not true at all. Here is a brief explanation.

First, we notice that every occurrence of the term "sons of God" in the Old Testament is a clear reference to angels. The one exception cited by Dr. Scofields supporters is in the book of Isaiah.

"I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth; "     Isaiah 43:6

This is not really an exception, as we shall see. Let us now look at Dr. Peter Ruckman’s list of seven things overlooked in the Scofield Reference Bible note accompanying Genesis 6:2.

"Before laying the text bare (with its accompanying scriptures), allow me to say that the Old Scofield Reference Bible, not the Jew, one has as fine a reference Bible as God ever allowed to be published. Its editors were godly men and they have produced a Bible which has kept American Conservative Christianity pre-millennial for half a century. No one can go wrong on any one of the fundamental doctrines of Christianity with an Old Scofield Reference Bible."

1. "They forgot that Adam fell. To call any man, in any ine of men, in the Old Testament a son of God would be ridiculous, for the son of God was God’s image, and John 1:12 is for those who become sons of God by receiving the image.  One would think this would be sufficiently clear after reading Genesis 5:1-3.

2. They forgot that the designation of sons and daughter (Isaiah 43:6) is not the equivalent of sons of God because the words are spelled differently in the English. (This is a tongue in cheek remark. But how else can a sober man take it when an editor running references on sons of God, or on of God insists on defining it with expressions that don’t mention either designation). The sons and daughters of Isaiah 43 are all Israelites, not pre-deluge sons of Seth!  Seth had plenty of descendants who were not Israelites.  (see Genesis 11:22,26).

3. The contrasting expressions sons of God and daughters of men (Genesis 6:2) would never allow such a careless and loose interpretation as, the sons of Seth and the daughters of Cain regardless of what the uniform Hebrew and Christian interpretation has been. Why would a man insist the text says what it does not say and try to make it say something it was never intended to say to prove his point? Yea, hath God said?

4. If it were the sons of Seth with the daughters of Cain, how is it that the whole operation takes place again after that (Genesis 6:4 After the days of the flood), when all the daughters of Cain were drowned out?

5. If it were the daughters of Cain with the Sons of Seth, how did they then produce Giants? The giants were FONT SIZE WHEN the sons of God came in... etc., not anytime. Do saved people beget giants when they marry lost people? Will you not have to change the word giant also, before you get through and imagine that it is giants in adventure??

6. How can it be that the godly line of Set  intermarried when the term godly line is an illusory fabrication of the most non-Christian character, and is not even hinted at in 66 books of Holy Writ? There is a Messianic line through which the Messiah comes, but this line is just about as ungodly as you could make it (note, Judah, a fornicator (Genesis 38; Phares, an illegitimate child; Rahab, a harlot; Bathsheba, an adulteress (Matthew 1:1-6); David, an adulterer; but why go on?) The godly line like apostolic succession is a figment of the imagination...?

7.  Sons of God, in the Old Testament, are defined in a book written shortly after the flood (Job 1,2,3 and they are present in time, before Adam is created (Job 38:7). They are mentioned in a connection between Satan (Job 1,2) and the creation (Job 3 . The sons of the mighty (Psalm 86:6) are undoubtedly the gods of Psalm 82:1, note the flood in the context!!"

Scripture seems to clearly indicate that these "sons of God" are indeed fallen angels who have chosen to follow Satan (cf. Job 2:6; 6:1; 38:7). Since Dr. Scofield could not understand how an angel could know a woman (the daughters of men), he assumed these "sons