RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD

When we think of Easter morn, we think of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead ... AS WELL WE SHOULD, however resurrection of the dead is MORE than a one-time event. Resurrection of the dead is one of the basic teachings and practices of Christ and is found THROUGHOUT the Bible, and not just on Easter :)

Heb 6:1 -2 (The basic teachings/doctrines of Christ)

Resurrection of the dead in the Old Testament:

Son of the widow in Zarephath:

IKing 17:16-24 (NIV)

16 For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the LORD spoken by Elijah.

17 Some time later the son of the woman who owned the house became ill. He grew worse and worse, and finally stopped breathing.

18 She said to Elijah, "What do you have against me, man of God? Did you come to remind me of my sin and kill my son?"

19 "Give me your son," Elijah replied. He took him from her arms, carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his bed.

20 Then he cried out to the LORD, "O LORD my God, have you brought tragedy also upon this widow I am staying with, by causing her son to die?"

21 Then he stretched himself out on the boy three times and cried to the LORD, "O LORD my God, let this boy's life return to him!"

22 The LORD heard Elijah's cry, and the boy's life returned to him, and he lived.

23 Elijah picked up the child and carried him down from the room into the house. He gave him to his mother and said, "Look, your son is alive!"

24 Then the woman said to Elijah, "Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the LORD from your mouth is the truth."

The young man laid in Elisha’s grave:

II Ki 13:20-21(NIV)

20 Elisha died and was buried. Now Moabite raiders used to enter the country every spring.

21 Once while some Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders; so they threw the man's body into Elisha's tomb. When the body touched Elisha's bones, the man came to life and stood up on his feet.

People that Jesus raised from the dead:

The widow’s son at Nain:

Luke 7:11-16 (NIV)

11 Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him.

12 As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out-- the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her.

13 When the Lord saw her, HIS HEART WENT OUT TO HER and he said, "Don't cry."

14 Then he went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, "Young man, I say to you, get up!"

15 The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.

16 They were all filled with awe and praised God. "A great prophet has appeared among us," they said. "God has come to help his people."

Jairus’ Daughter:

Luke 8:49-56 (NIV)

49 While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. "Your daughter is dead," he said. "Don't bother the teacher any more."

50 Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, "Don't be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed."

51 When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John and James, and the child's father and mother.

52 Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. "Stop wailing," Jesus said. "She is not dead but asleep."

53 They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead.

54 But he took her by the hand and said, "My child, get up!"

55 Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat.

56 Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.

Jesus raised Lazarus:

John 11:32 - 45

Other New Testament resurrections:

Dorcas by Peter: Acts 9:36 - 42

Eutychus by Paul: Acts 20:7 - 12

Two prophets of revelation:

Rev 11:3-13 (NIV)

3 And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth."

4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.

5 If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die.

6 These men have power to shut up the sky so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.

7 Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them.

8 Their bodies will lie in the street of the great city, which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified.

9 For three and a half days men from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial.

10 The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.

11 But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them.

12 Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here." And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on.

13 At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.

Are you learning more about the resurrection of the dead that you knew before? . . .

The ASTOUNDING THING is that EVERYONE WHO EXPERIENCES DEATH WILL BE RESURRECTED:

John 5:28-30 (NIV)

28 "Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when ALL WHO ARE IN THEIR GRAVES WILL HEAR HIS VOICE

29 and come out-- those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.

30 By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.

Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; (John 11:25 NIV)

----------------------------------------------------------

YOU need to receive the Son of God into your HEART and LIFE if you want to be resurrected to LIFE ! ! !

John 1:12 (KJV)

12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

This next scripture applies to you ONLY if you receive Jesus as your Savior and Lord:

Eph 2:4-7 (NIV)

4 But BECAUSE OF HIS GREAT LOVE FOR US, God, who is rich in mercy,

5 MADE US ALIVE WITH CHRIST EVEN WHEN WE WERE DEAD in transgressions-- it is by grace you have been saved.

6 And God RAISED US UP WITH CHRIST and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,

7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.