The Second Advent of the Messiah and the Resurrection

LESSON 6

THE SECOND ADVENT OF THE MESSIAH AND THE RESURRECTION

You are welcome to another edition of Insights from God's Word, a Bible study programme that is committed to sharing God's Word by allowing the Bible to speak for itself.

In this edition, we continue with our series on The Plan of Salvation. The topic for this study is: The Second Advent of the Messiah and the Resurrection. Soon and not too far away, our dear Lord and Saviour will come. The apostle Matthew describes the Second Advent of our Lord with these impressive words: "24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other."

(Matthew 24:30-31) Friends, very soon and not too far away, the various prophecies in relation to the Second Advent of the Messiah in Scripture will be fulfilled. While the wicked will mourn for rejecting the Saviour of the human race (review Matthew 24:30), the righteous will gladly proclaim: "Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation" (Isaiah 25:9; for more on the Manner of the Messiah's Second Advent, please request for Lesson 3 in our 11-Part Series on the Rapture and the Second Coming of Christ through any of the WhatsApp lines below).

Beloved, one important event in Scripture that is closely tied to the Second Advent of the Messiah is the resurrection. However, it is interesting to learn that the subject of the resurrection was among the topics which generated a lot of contention among the religious sects of ancient Israel. In fact, during the time of Christ, two of the main Jewish religious groups; that is, the Pharisees and the Sadducees were sharply divided on the belief in the bodily resurrection of the dead. While the Pharisees believed in the resurrection of the dead, the Sadducees on the other hand, believed otherwise (Matthew 22:23; Acts 23:6-9). In order for us to cover the various details in relation to this important subject, the rest of the lesson has been divided into six sub-sections as follows:

1) THE SUBJECT OF THE RESURRECTION IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

In this section of our study, I want us to consider what the Bible has to say on this important subject. First, I want us to consider what some Old Testament Patriarchs and Prophets had to say on the resurrection of the dead:

A) THE PATRIARCH JOB

When the body of Job was slowly wearing away, he asked in desperation: If a man die, shall he live again?" (Job 14:14).

Inspired by the Holy Spirit, the patriarch answered his own question with these words of assurance: "Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee" (Job 14:15).

Beloved, from the text above, we learn that this faithful servant of God believed in the bodily resurrection of the dead of which he hoped to partake.

B) THE PROPHET ISAIAH

Moreover friends, the Prophet Isaiah also made a prophecy in relation to the resurrection of the dead. From Isaiah 26:19, we read a statement which basically serves as a direct answer to Job's desperate question. This text reads: "Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead" (Isaiah 26:19).

C) THE PROPHET DANIEL

Beloved, besides Job and Isaiah, the Prophet Daniel also wrote about the resurrection of the dead while in vision. From Daniel 12:2, we read the following in relation to the resurrection of the dead: "And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt."

Thus friends, from the Old Testament Scriptures, we gather enough evidence that prove that the dead will one day be resurrected.

2) THE SUBJECT OF THE RESURRECTION IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

It is interesting to note that when we come to the New Testament, we discover much more detail on the subject of the resurrection. Through the epistles of the apostle Paul and the words of Jesus Christ Himself, we obtain several evidences in relation to the subject of the resurrection:

A) THE APOSTLE PAUL

Among those who have written extensively on the subject of the resurrection in Scripture is the apostle Paul. In his first letter to the Christian church at Corinth, Paul argued convincingly in favour of the bodily resurrection of the dead. From 1 Corinthians 15:12-22, we read the following from the apostle Paul: "15:12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?

15:13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:

15:14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.

15:15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.

15:16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:

15:17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.

15:18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.

15:19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

15:21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.

15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive."

(1 Corinthians 15:12-22) Beloved, the apostle Paul makes it very clear that the subject of the resurrection is at the very heart of Christianity. The ardent defender of the truth argued that if there is not going to be a resurrection of the dead, then our faith as Christians is vain; then are we yet in our sins, even to the extent that those who have fallen asleep in Jesus are perished. What strong words from Paul to defend the biblical belief in the resurrection of the dead!

B) OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST

Friends, beside the strong words of Paul in favour of the resurrection, our Redeemer, the Son of God Himself, also made very powerful statements on this subject. Here are some few statements on what Christ had to say on the resurrection:

i) "And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day" (John 6:40).

ii) "13 But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: 14 And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just" (Luke 14:13-14).

iii) "28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves 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" (John 5:28-29).

Thus beloved, from the evidence of these texts in the New Testament, it is very clear that there is going to be a bodily resurrection of the dead. Both the dead who have done good as well as the dead who have done evil are all going to be resurrected (Daniel 12:2; John 5:28-29).

3) THE TWO MAIN TYPES OF RESURRECTION IN SCRIPTURE

Friends, when we do a further study on the subject of the resurrection in Scripture, we learn that the resurrection of the righteous dead is differentiated from the resurrection of the wicked dead. In fact, Christ refers to the resurrection of the righteous dead; the resurrection of life, while He calls the resurrection of the wicked dead; the resurrection of damnation (John 5:28-29). Thus, it becomes very clear from Scripture that there are two main types of resurrection; the resurrection of life, and the resurrection of damnation.

A) THE RESURRECTION OF LIFE

The resurrection of life is the resurrection of the saints who have fallen asleep in Jesus (Luke 14:14). Their resurrection is referred to as the resurrection of life because they are given the reward of immortality or eternal life after they are resurrected from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:52).

B) THE RESURRECTION OF DAMNATION

The resurrection of damnation is the resurrection of the dead who have done evil. Their resurrection is referred to as the resurrection of damnation because they are resurrected only to receive the final punishment of their wrong deeds in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15). The prophet Daniel prophesies about the wicked dead being resurrected unto shame and everlasting contempt (Daniel 12:2). Friends, the wicked dead will be resurrected and punished for their wrong deeds basically because they refused to accept heaven's Precious Gift of salvation in the Person of Jesus (John 3:16).

4) THE TIMING OF THE TWO MAIN RESURRECTIONS

Beloved, a closer study on the topic of the resurrection in Scripture actually reveal that the righteous dead do not resurrect at the same time with the wicked. The Bible makes it clear that the righteous dead are going to be resurrected ahead of the dead who have done evil. In fact, the Bible refers to the resurrection of the saints as the FIRST RESURRECTION. Let us consider some few Bible texts that make this point clear: "16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: AND THE DEAD IN CHRIST SHALL RISE FIRST: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord" (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Capital Emphasis Added). Beloved, from this text, we learn that when Christ appears the second time, it is only the dead in Christ who will rise from the dead. In fact, the apostle Paul uses the word FIRST to describe the resurrection of the saints because the wicked dead will also resurrect, but at a later time (John 5:28-29; Daniel 12:2; Revelation 20:5). Now, if the resurrection of the saints is described as the FIRST RESURRECTION, then the resurrection of the wicked at a later time can be described as the SECOND RESURRECTION.

At this point in our study friends, a straightforward question that begs for an answer is this: When specifically will the wicked dead be resurrected?

Beloved, the book of Revelation provides a ready answer to this question. From Revelation 20:5-6, we read the following from the apostle John: "20:5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished...

20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the FIRST RESURRECTION: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years."

(Revelation 20:5-6; Capital Emphasis Added) Friends, from the passage above, we learn clearly that the dead who committed evil and because of that couldn't make it in the FIRST RESURRECTION at the second coming of Christ, will only resurrect after the saints have spent a thousand years with Christ in heaven. This resurrection of the wicked after the thousand-year period is what has been termed the SECOND RESURRECTION. As I stated earlier, the wicked dead will resurrect only to receive their final punishment for the evil deeds that they committed on the earth in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15). This fire will burn them up (Malachi 4:1, 3). This is the second death of which there is no hope of a resurrection (Revelation 20:6).

5) PROPHECIES CONCERNING A SPECIAL RESURRECTION

Beloved, besides the first and second resurrection, the Bible also presents a third type of resurrection. This resurrection will actually involve some of the wicked as well as the righteous dead. Some of the wicked dead will be raised before the general resurrection of the wicked (see Revelation 20:4-6) to fulfill two very important prophecies in Scripture.

The first of these prophecies was made by Christ Himself. You see friends, when Christ was arrested and brought before Caiaphas; the high priest for interrogation, He made a serious prophetic statement in answer to Caiaphas' overbearing questions. From Matthew 26:62-64, we read the following account of what took place at the palace of Caiaphas: "26:62 And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?

26:63 But Jesus held his peace, And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.

26:64 Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, HEREAFTER SHALL YE SEE THE SON OF MAN SITTING ON THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER, AND COMING IN THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN."

(Matthew 26:62-64; Capital Emphasis Added) Friends, beside this prophecy that Christ made when He stood as a criminal before Israel's high priest, the apostle John also made a similar prophecy in relation to the soldiers who crucified the Lord of glory. From Revelation 1:7, we read the following prophetic words from the apostle John: "Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, AND THEY ALSO WHICH PIERCED HIM: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen" (Capital Emphasis Added).

Thus friends, from the prophesy of Christ and that of the apostle John, we learn that the Jewish leaders who plotted the death of Christ (Matthew 26:3-4, 59; Matthew 27:1), and actually had their way through a weak governor (Matthew 27:11-26); as well as the soldiers who carried out the crucifixion itself will be resurrected to behold the glory of the Son of God when He appears in the skies of heaven.

You see beloved, we have already established the general biblical fact that the wicked dead will not resurrect at the second coming of Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:16; Revelation 20:5). Thus, for the prophecy of Christ, and that of the apostle John to come to pass, there must be a SPECIAL RESURRECTION for this small class of the wicked dead. These religious leaders who exhibited great enmity against the works of Christ; and actually plotted and saw to His death, as well as the soldiers who mocked and painfully crucified Him, are all going to resurrect only to behold the glory and majesty of the only begotten Son of God. Many of these people treated Christ as a common criminal. Now, when He appears in the skies of heaven at His second advent, these people will be specially raised from the dead just to behold the glory that He shares with the Father (John 17:5). Unlike the saints who will resurrect with immortal bodies (1 Corinthians 15:52-54), these religious leaders and soldiers will resurrect with their old corruptible bodies only to perish again after they had witnessed the overpowering glory that enshrouds the Son of God (2 Thessalonians 1:7-8; 2 Thessalonians 2:8).

Besides the special resurrection of the wicked that we have considered above, some scholars assert that the special resurrection will also involve some class of the righteous. For instance, scholars such as Gerhard Pfandl point out that the text in Daniel 12:2 convey the idea of a special resurrection for both the righteous and the wicked. From the book "Daniel: The Seer of Babylon" page 107, we obtain the following insight on Daniel 12:2 from Gerhard Pfandl: "The text states: "Many of those who sleep ... shall awake," i.e., they shall be resurrected, some to eternal life and some to everlasting condemnation. Clearly this cannot be the general resurrection at the Second Advent, when only the righteous will rise (1 Thess. 4:16, 17), nor the resurrection of the wicked 1,000 years later (Rev. 20:4-6). It must, therefore, be a special resurrection of some righteous and some wicked at the time of the seventh plague (Rev. 16:17, 18)." At this point in our study, an important question that begs for an answer is this: "Who are the group of the righteous that will partake in the special resurrection before the general resurrection? Some Bible scholars see in the text of Revelation 14:13, the class of the saints who will partake in the special resurrection. From Revelation 14:13, we read the following: "And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord FROM HENCEFORTH: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them" (Revelation 14:13; Capital Emphasis Added).

Friends, it is worth noting that the key words from the text above are "from henceforth" as opposed to before. You see beloved, the death of the saints mentioned in Revelation 14:13 is clearly positioned at the time of earth's history when the inhabitants of the world would have been polarized into two main groups; those who worship the beast power (Revelation 14:9-11) and those who obey the commandments of God, and have the faith of Jesus (Revelation 14:12). At this point in the history of our world (which is yet future), many of the people who will express faith in the message of the third angel will also seal their testimony with their blood (see Revelation 13:15-17; Revelation 20:4). However, the Scripture in Revelation 14:13 clearly teaches that these saints will obtain a special blessing from God. Some Bible scholars assert that this blessing, among other things, refers to the privilege that God will grant those who die in the faith of the third angel to partake in a special resurrection (review Daniel 12:2) before the general resurrection of all the saints (see 1 Thessalonians 4:16).

From the book Great Controversy, page 637, Ellen G. White summarises the special resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked with these beautiful words: "Graves are opened, and many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth... awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. Daniel 12:2. All who have died in the faith of the third angel's message come forth from the tomb glorified, to hear God's covenant of peace with those who have kept His law. They also which pierced Him (Revelation 1:7), those that mocked and derided Christ's dying agonies, and the most violent opposers of His truth and His people, are raised to behold Him in His glory and to see the honor placed upon the loyal and obedient." -- Great Controversy, page 637. 6. Beloved, from our study so far, we have proven from Scripture that there is actually going to be a resurrection of the dead. The dead who have done good are going to resurrect unto eternal life, while the dead who have done evil will resurrect unto shame and everlasting contempt (Daniel 12:2; John 5:28-29).

My good friend, no one knows when death will knock at their door. But what the Scripture makes clear is that after death, there is going to be a judgement (Hebrews 9:27). Now, with these facts of Scripture in your mind, an important question I want to ask you before I bring this study to a close is this: If you should honestly consider the kind of life you are living today, how do you think you will fare in the judgement? Or better still, if you should die today, are you going to be resurrected unto eternal life; or you will be resurrected unto shame and everlasting contempt?

Beloved, if your answer to the question above is not a positive one, it's not too late. Once you are alive today, there is hope. You can always choose to accept heaven's Precious Gift in the Person of Jesus. He specializes in making chief of sinners into saints. Why not give Him a chance in your life today? He will help you to overcome sin, and make you a brand new creature to the glory of God. What is more, should you even die before He comes the second time, your life will be hid in Him (Colossians 3:3-4), and He will raise you up on that last day when He finally comes for all His children.

Exhortation: "And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day" (John 6:40).

"I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live" (John 11:25).

REFERENCE: "Daniel: The Seer of Babylon" by Gerhard Pfandl.

In our next study, we will consider the topic: The Millennium and the End of Sin. The Bible Study references for this study are Revelation 20, 1 Corinthians 6:2-3, 1 Corinthians 4:5 and Ecclesiastes 12:13-14. Please do well to go through these passages before the next study is released.

NB: Beloved, since today's study was focused on the resurrection, important points in relation to what happens to the living at the Second Coming of Christ were not captured. I realize that in order for us to have a solid background for our next study, it is important that we go through a summary of the complete order of events that will take place at the Second Coming of Christ. The general order of events in relation to the Second Advent of Christ is as follows:

A) EVENTS IN RELATION TO THE RIGHTEOUS AT THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST

1. The saints who have fallen asleep in Jesus are resurrected with immortal bodies (1 Corinthians 15:52-54). This is the first resurrection.

2. The saints that will be living at the time of the Second Advent will be translated from a corruptible or mortal nature to an immortal one (1 Corinthians 15:52-54).

3. When the resurrected saints are reunited with the living saints, they are all then taken up to heaven by Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).

4. The saints spend a thousand years reigning with Christ in heaven (Revelation 20:4-6).

B) EVENTS IN RELATION TO THE WICKED AT THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST

1. The wicked dead do not resurrect from the dead. It is only a few who are raised to life for a short space of time just to behold the glory of the Son of God (Matthew 26:62-64; Revelation 1:7). This is the special resurrection.

2. The wicked that will be living at the time of Christ's Second Coming will be killed by the overpowering glory that will enshroud the Saviour (2 Thessalonians 1:7-8; 2 Thessalonians 2:8).

3. All the wicked will remain dead on the earth during the thousand-year period (Revelation 20:5). This is the same time period when the saints reign with Christ in heaven (Revelation 20:4, 6).

4. The wicked are resurrected at the end of the thousand years to face the dreadful judgement of God (Revelation 20:5; Revelation 20:11-15). This is the second resurrection.

Friends, with this order of events at our fingertips, I believe we are ready to zoom into our next study on the millennium.

Stay blessed and keep shining for King Jesus.

Maranatha!

Powered by White Throne Ministries