Eschatology (Doctrine of Last Things): Resurrection
The doctrine of the resurrection lies at the very heart of Christian hope. From the earliest pages of the Old Testament to the closing visions of the New, the people of God are promised that death does not have the final word. Resurrection is not simply a metaphor or spiritual survival but a bodily reality. The Scriptures affirm that both the righteous and the unrighteous will be raised—the former to eternal life in God’s presence and the latter to final judgment (John 5:28–29).
At the center of this doctrine stands the resurrection of Jesus Christ. His victory over the grave provides both the model and the guarantee of the resurrection to come. For believers, this hope anchors their faith, shapes their endurance, and points them toward the eternal kingdom. For unbelievers, the resurrection also signals accountability, as all will face God’s final judgment.
This article will explore the biblical witness to the resurrection, its significance for the Gospel, the nature of resurrection bodies, the scope of resurrection for both believers and unbelievers, and the encouragement this doctrine provides for the church today.
1. Resurrection in the Old Testament
Though not as fully developed as in the New Testament, the Old Testament anticipates resurrection.
Isaiah 26:19 proclaims, “Your dead shall live; their bodies shall rise. You who dwell in the dust, awake and sing for joy!”
Daniel 12:2 speaks directly of both the righteous and the wicked: “Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.”
Job 19:25–26 reflects a personal confidence in God’s redemption: “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God.”
These glimpses reveal that God’s promises to His people extend beyond death. The resurrection is not a novelty of the New Testament but rooted in God’s covenant faithfulness throughout history.
2. Resurrection in the Teaching of Jesus
Jesus’ ministry and teaching consistently point toward the resurrection.
His own resurrection: Jesus foretold His death and rising again on the third day (Mark 8:31; 9:31).
The general resurrection: He declared in John 5:28–29 that all who are in the tombs will hear His voice and come out—those who have done good to life and those who have done evil to judgment.
The resurrection as hope: In His exchange with Martha at the tomb of Lazarus, Jesus proclaimed, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live” (John 11:25).
In Jesus’ teaching, resurrection is both a future promise and a present reality, because He Himself is the source of life.
3. The Resurrection of Jesus as the Firstfruits
Paul makes clear that the resurrection of Christ is central to the doctrine of resurrection.
1 Corinthians 15:20–22: “Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.”
His resurrection demonstrates that death has been defeated and guarantees the resurrection of all who belong to Him.
It initiates the last days, setting in motion God’s plan to bring all things under Christ’s rule until the final resurrection and judgment.
Without the resurrection of Jesus, Paul insists, Christian faith would be futile and believers would still be in their sins (1 Cor 15:17). But because He rose, His people have the sure hope of rising with Him.
4. The Nature of the Resurrection Body
The Bible describes resurrection as involving continuity with our present bodies yet transformation into something gloriously new.
Continuity: Just as Jesus’ resurrection body bore the marks of crucifixion (John 20:27), so believers’ resurrection bodies will be recognizable and personal.
Transformation: Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 15:42–44 that the body is sown perishable but raised imperishable, sown in dishonor but raised in glory, sown in weakness but raised in power.
Mystery: While details remain beyond our grasp, the resurrection body will be perfectly suited for eternal life in the presence of God (Phil 3:21).
This transformation reveals God’s intent to redeem not only souls but the whole person, including the body, as part of the new creation.
5. Resurrection of Believers and Unbelievers
The Bible affirms that all people will be raised, though with different destinies.
Believers: They will rise to eternal life, sharing in Christ’s glory, reigning with Him, and enjoying unbroken fellowship with God (Rev 21:3–4).
Unbelievers: They will rise for judgment, facing eternal separation from God in what Scripture calls the second death (Rev 20:12–15).
This twofold resurrection underscores the seriousness of faith in Christ. The Gospel is not simply about present transformation but about eternal destinies.
6. The Resurrection and the Gospel
Anthony Delgado’s understanding of the Gospel emphasizes its breadth: not merely the forgiveness of sins but the restoration of creation and the reign of Christ over all things. Resurrection fits squarely into this vision.
For the individual believer, resurrection means eternal life in communion with God, free from sin and death.
For the church, resurrection affirms that its labor is not in vain, for God will complete His work (1 Cor 15:58).
For creation, resurrection anticipates the renewal of all things, as even the groaning world awaits liberation (Rom 8:19–21).
The resurrection is therefore not only a doctrine of personal hope but also part of the larger story of the Gospel: Christ has conquered death, and His kingdom will endure forever.
7. The Resurrection in Eschatology
Resurrection is inseparable from the larger framework of eschatology. It will occur at the climax of history when Christ returns.
The millennium as present age: The time between Christ’s resurrection and His return is the symbolic thousand years of Revelation 20.
Final judgment: The resurrection ushers all people before the throne of God, where their eternal destinies are determined.
New creation: The resurrection inaugurates eternal life in the new heavens and new earth, where death will be no more.
In this way, resurrection is the bridge between present faith and eternal hope, anchoring the church in the promise of God’s victory.
8. Living in Light of the Resurrection
The resurrection shapes the Christian life in profound ways:
Hope in suffering: Believers endure trials knowing that their present afflictions are temporary compared to the eternal weight of glory (2 Cor 4:17).
Holiness in daily life: Paul exhorts believers to present their bodies as living sacrifices, anticipating the resurrection of those very bodies (Rom 12:1).
Mission to the world: Because resurrection is universal, the church proclaims the Gospel urgently, calling all to faith in Christ.
Living in light of the resurrection means living with confidence, holiness, and purpose, knowing that death is not the end.
Conclusion
The doctrine of resurrection is central to Christian eschatology. Rooted in the Old Testament, fulfilled in the resurrection of Jesus, and promised for all humanity, it proclaims that death is defeated and eternal life secured. For believers, resurrection is the assurance of everlasting communion with God. For unbelievers, it is the sobering reality of final judgment.
Ultimately, resurrection magnifies the Gospel by pointing to the fullness of God’s kingdom: a redeemed people in a renewed creation, forever with their risen King.
Bible Verses about the Resurrection
“Your dead shall live; their bodies shall rise. You who dwell in the dust, awake and sing for joy!” (Isaiah 26:19)
“Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” (Daniel 12:2)
“For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth.” (Job 19:25)
“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.” (John 11:25)
“Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out.” (John 5:28–29)
“But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” (1 Corinthians 15:20)
“So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable.” (1 Corinthians 15:42)
“He will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body.” (Philippians 3:21)
“For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16)
“He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence.” (2 Corinthians 4:14)
