Doctrine Of The Resurrection

All through out scripture men are raised from the dead. From the child Elisha prayed unto the Lord for (2 Kings 4:31-37), to the apostle Paul embracing a man that fell out a window while he was preaching (Acts 20:7-12). There is much more to this as well. A final judgment when all the dead shall be raised to go before the great white throne (Revelation 20:11-15). And the resurrection of our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ at the end of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. However, here lets focus on the promise of the resurrection of the body of Christ, what is commonly but incorrectly referred to as the "rapture". The resurrection is a mystery we are still waiting for according to the blessed hope spoken of by Paul. Such a promise is according to the power and grace of Christ Jesus our Lord and not of our own selves or any works we should or have need to do.

1 Corinthians 15:51-58 KJV  Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,  (52)  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.  (53)  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.  (54)  So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.  (55)  O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?  (56)  The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.  (57)  But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  (58)  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 KJV  But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.  (14)  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.  (15)  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.  (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.  (18)  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Titus 2:13 KJV  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

This promise is and should be a comfort to all who believe in Christ Jesus. As it is in Romans 8:25 "But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it." So going according to things we can see or understand through any fleshly wisdom is not according to hope or faith in God. Even still there were Sadducees that believed not in the promise of the resurrection in the early years of the church and also during the gospel accounts of Christ Jesus. With plenty of scriptural examples and prophecies these Sadducees still did not believe in there being a resurrection.

Matthew 22:23 KJV  The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him,

Acts 23:6-7 KJV  But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.  (7)  And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.

Notwithstanding, even the lost world believes in the resurrection of the dead. Rather they realize it or not. They have a lot of pop culture about "zombies" "vampires" and so forth.

The Sadducees would also follow philosophical reasoning instead of scripture for what the believed and taught. Looking again at Matthew 22:23, lets read the context of what unfolds.

Matthew 22:23-29 KJV  The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him,  (24)  Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.  (25)  Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother:  (26)  Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh.  (27)  And last of all the woman died also.  (28)  Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her.  (29)  Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.

You see the answer was in what sounded right by mans wisdom, they had no care for the scriptures as Jesus pointed out. When Jesus answered, he brought things back to the word of God and did not bother contending over any kind of philosophical reasoning. But only pointed out that they had no faith to trust the word of God, neither in the power of God.

There are men today that think the same as the Sadducees back then. Coming up with an earthly and carnal reasoning for what the scriptures say. Having philosophical answers such as mid-trib or post-trip raptures. Believing they must endure to the end, these modern day Sadducees are little more than just carnally minded preppers. They literally think they have to survive the wrath of God in the book of Revelation: (Such a belief is done without rightly dividing the word of God; as there are promises in Romans 5:9, 1 Thessalonians 1:10 & 5:9. In these three passages we are told to be delivered from the wrath to come that begins with the first seal being opened in Revelation 6:1.)
There is also those like the Catholics which believe such an event as the resurrection of the body of Christ, written by Paul, has happened in the first century being past already.
If in this life only you have hope in Christ like unto either of these two groups of beliefs. Then you have a hope that is not according to the word of God, neither trusting in the power of God.

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

1 Corinthians 15:16-17 KJV  For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:  (17)  And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.

2 Timothy 2:18 KJV  Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.

There has always been and always will be those who handle the word of God deceitfully. It is often done without rightly dividing the word of God and applying the things before Jesus went to the cross to us today. Typically as in Matthew chapter 24. Turning "whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption" (Ephesians 4:30) which is according to the grace of God (Ephesians 2:8-9) into a work. The thing is that Paul is the one given the dispensation of the grace of God to fulfill the word of God according to scripture in 1 Corinthians 9:17, Ephesians 3:2 and Colossians 1:25. And in this there are things that started with Paul's writings also that will end with Paul's writings.
Salvation by Grace is part of this. Also our blessed hope, the resurrection of the body of Christ.
If you go outside of the epistles of Paul concerning these two matters of doctrine then you can find contradictions. Which if not rightly divided, understanding dispensations, a person will have to start theorizing how to sort out such matters. Notwithstanding, if you simply know there are dispensations to take into account. You can begin to know according to scripture two big things. How salvation works for us today and that we will be caught up to be with the Lord before he pours his wrath out on all the earth.

• ONE
  If we are saved by grace through faith then the works of our flesh have nothing to do with the salvation God gives as a free gift in grace.

Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  (9)  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Romans 11:6 KJV  And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

• TWO
  The salvation of God is not of ourselves. We are not powerful enough to work the working of God, nor are we powerful enough to undo the working of God.

Ephesians 2:10 KJV  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Colossians 2:10-12 KJV  And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:  (11)  In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:  (12)  Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

• THREE
  If we are saved then we are sealed with the Holy Spirit, being a purchased possession of God. He has purged us clean and dwells in us who are saved.

1 Corinthians 6:19 KJV  What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

2 Corinthians 6:16 KJV  And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

• FOUR
  God will not put asunder what he has brought together. He will not give the chance for someone sealed with the Holy spirit to receive the mark of the beast and be sealed unto destruction.

Mark 10:9 KJV  What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

Ephesians 5:31-32 KJV  For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.  (32)  This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

Revelation 14:11 KJV  And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

• FIVE
  So if you are born again You are espoused to Christ, God will not turn you away, or else God be a liar and his faith be without effect. "God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar" (Romans 3:4).

2 Corinthians 11:2 KJV  For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

Hebrews 13:5 KJV  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

So again when it comes to the matter of the resurrection of the body of Christ; our hope and faith is in the Lord Jesus Christ according to the word of God, not in the wisdom of men. Here is a playlist of Video-Bible-Studies that cover this topic even more.