Resurrection, what is it?

[Checkpoint]

We are familiar with the word, and know what it is in a general sense.

Yet when it comes down to it, our views of exactly what it means, what it involves, and why it is promised, vary, probably more than we realise.

That is because how we see it reflects how we see the creation of man, and our ultimate destiny.

What do you think resurrection is, and why is it an essential part of God's plan?

Does it refer to only the body, or to the person? If to the person, in what way?

What about the resurrection of Jesus, is it the same for us as it was for him?

Is the resurrection of the unsaved any different?

Acts 24:15

having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust.

[onewithhim]

We are familiar with the word, and know what it is in a general sense.

Yet when it comes down to it, our views of exactly what it means, what it involves, and why it is promised, vary, probably more than we realise.

That is because how we see it reflects how we see the creation of man, and our ultimate destiny.

What do you think resurrection is, and why is it an essential part of God's plan?

Does it refer to only the body, or to the person? If to the person, in what way?

What about the resurrection of Jesus, is it the same for us as it was for him?

Is the resurrection of the unsaved any different?

Acts 24:15

having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust.

Mankind's ultimate destiny has always been life on Earth in paradise conditions. Adam's life-purpose was to take care of the planet and the animals and fill the earth with people like himself. (Genesis 1:28; 2:15) Things were temporarily screwed up when Adam willfully rebelled; he lost perfection and the privilege of living forever, but God's purpose for the earth and Adam's offspring was never thwarted. He didn't change His mind about humans filling the earth and having a relationship with Him like Adam had at first. Why would Jehovah's plan change?

Jehovah had to immediately make plans for the reconciliation of mankind, and He formulated the plan for a perfect man to cover all of imperfect mankind's inherited sins. Jesus would make things right after Adam screwed things up. (Romans 5:18,19)

The Resurrection is a means by which Jehovah sees that His purpose toward the earth, as stated to Adam, is carried out. How could He leave Adam's descendants dead in their graves? The Resurrection is certainly essential to mankind's happiness and to undo all the harm, suffering, and evil that have come upon humans. So much horrid stuff has happened throughout mankind's history. The Resurrection will take care of the effects of that horror.

Satan got his hold on mankind, becoming quite influential regarding Adam's children, first by seducing Eve and thus inducing Adam to rebel against Jehovah. In the first prophecy (Gen.3:15), Jehovah gave hope that the "Serpent" would be done away with (see also Romans 16:20) and all his works "broken up." (I John 3:8) The fulfillment of this prophecy would necessarily require the undoing of the death brought on by Adam, including bringing back by a resurrection those of Adam's offspring who go into Sheol (Hades), the common grave of mankind, as a result of his sin, which they inherited. (I Corinth.15:26)

The Resurrection refers to the whole person. It will be "a standing up again" of persons who have died, though without the sicknesses and disfigurements of this old system of things.

The majority of mankind will not have the same kind of resurrection Jesus had. He and his chosen co-rulers will be in heaven for all time, and thus have spirit bodies....living in exceedingly glorious surroundings in the spirit realm. (See I Timothy 6:16.) If mankind had never sinned, Jesus never would have left the spirit realm! And no one would have ever been called from the earth to live in heaven! The only reason that some humans have been called to heaven is that Jehovah wanted to give some the privilege of helping to guide their fellow humans in making the earth the paradise that it was always supposed to be.

The resurrection of the "unsaved" will be the same as most of mankind's resurrection. Only the 144,000 will be resurrected to heaven.

[JehovahsWitness]

[Replying to post 1 by Checkpoint]

The word in scripture literally means "standing [back] up" to life. So a "resurrection" is the bringing of a person who has died back to life.

The bible has 9 examples of resurrections to demonstrate what a resurrection is.

Jehovah's Witness depiction of the future resurrection.
[youtube][/youtube]

Does it refer to only the body, or to the person? If to the person, in what way?


It refers to the person. A person is another word for soul. In the bible the soul dies. The dead soul (or person ceases to exist) When God resurrects that dead soul (person) he recreates the body and everthing that makes that body work (the brain with memories in tact etc).


What about the resurrection of Jesus, is it the same for us as it was for him?

Jesus was dead (he stopped existing) for three days. He was resurrected with a spirit body because he was to go and live in heaven. Most people will not be going to heaven so they will be given a physical flesh and blood body, like the 8 cases of resurrections demonstrated in the bible.

Is the resurrection of the unsaved any different?

The bible doesn't say "unsaved" it refers to the resurrection of the "unjust" and the "just". These ones will not be resurrected to heavenly life, but to live in Paradise. They are presently dead but will come back to life (be resurrected).

Acts 24:15
having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust.

JW

[Monta]

[Replying to post 1 by Checkpoint]

"What do you think resurrection is, and why is it an essential part of God's plan?

Does it refer to only the body, or to the person? If to the person, in what way?

What about the resurrection of Jesus, is it the same for us as it was for him? "

Without ressurection life's would be meaningles.
It would be like God amusing Himself to see how little creature behave and when He is tired of them they disappear from existence.

Body ages, body ceases to be of use to the soul so body dies.
The man himself, his soul, ressurects to eternal life, those who did good to heaven
those who did evil to hell.

[Checkpoint]

[Replying to post 4 by Monta]

The man himself, his soul, ressurects to eternal life, those who did good to heaven
those who did evil to hell.

This appears to be the common belief, but I have not seen it put in quite this way before.

You say that resurrection occurs at the time a person dies.

You also say this is "to eternal life", including the "to hell" ones.

On what basis do you hold those views?

For example, are those conclusions drawn from scripture, from other believers or from the Church, or from your own reasoning?

[Monta]

[Replying to post 4 by Monta]

The man himself, his soul, ressurects to eternal life, those who did good to heaven
those who did evil to hell.

This appears to be the common belief, but I have not seen it put in quite this way before.

You say that resurrection occurs at the time a person dies.

You also say this is "to eternal life", including the "to hell" ones.

On what basis do you hold those views?

For example, are those conclusions drawn from scripture, from other believers or from the Church, or from your own reasoning?

Basicaly from the scripture but as you move through life you also pick up things from others. In the end you come to conclusion and that becomes your faith.

[Checkpoint]

[Replying to post 4 by Monta]

The man himself, his soul, ressurects to eternal life, those who did good to heaven
those who did evil to hell.

This appears to be the common belief, but I have not seen it put in quite this way before.

You say that resurrection occurs at the time a person dies.

You also say this is "to eternal life", including the "to hell" ones.

On what basis do you hold those views?

For example, are those conclusions drawn from scripture, from other believers or from the Church, or from your own reasoning?

Basicaly from the scripture but as you move through life you also pick up things from others. In the end you come to conclusion and that becomes your faith.

Scripture tells us, over and over again, that the resurrection takes place at the return of Christ, all together.

People may say this or that, but I do not consider that as solid ground for faith.

[onewithhim]

Yes, Jesus always referred to the Resurrection taking place "on the last day." (See John 6:44; Revelation 20:11-15; John 11:24,25.)

[Checkpoint]

Yes, Jesus always referred to the Resurrection taking place "on the last day." (See John 6:44; Revelation 20:11-15; John 11:24,25.)

Exactly.

Paul referred to it as taking place "at the last trump", 1 Corinthians 15:52, which he also called "the trumpet of God", 1 Thessalonians 4:16.

This is the seventh trumpet of Revelation 11:15-18.

[Monta]

[Replying to post 7 by Checkpoint]


"Scripture tells us, over and over again, that the resurrection takes place at the return of Christ, all together."

When do you that happening?
It appears many must have already seen him.

Hebrews 9:28King James Version (KJV)

28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.