The
Resurrection Was the Raising of a People, Not Just Individuals Introduction † Most people
have been taught to think of the resurrection as individual bodies
coming out of graves all over the world, but that's not how the Bible
consistently describes it. † When we let
Scripture define its own language, we see resurrection used in a
covenantal, corporate way, not just biological. † The
resurrection is about God raising a people, not just isolated
individuals. Ezekiel 37 The Valley of
Dry Bones † This is one
of the clearest resurrection passages in the entire Old Testament,
and it tells us exactly what kind of resurrection we're dealing with. Ezekiel 37:11 † The text
doesn't leave this open to interpretation, the dry bones are
explicitly called the whole house of Israel. † This isn't
about individual corpses coming out of graves, it's about a nation
that was spiritually dead being raised. † Their
condition is described as hopeless, cut off, and lifeless,
covenantally dead.
Ezekiel 37:12-14 † Notice the
language, graves opening, coming out, being raised, but it's clearly
about a people, not scattered individuals across the planet. † The key is
the Spirit, I will put my Spirit in you, and ye shall live. † This is
resurrection language tied directly to receiving the Spirit, not
flesh being reanimated. Daniel 12 Many Awakening † Daniel
carries this same resurrection language forward into the time of the
end of the old covenant age. Daniel 12:1 † Notice the
limitation, Daniel's people, this is not global humanity, it's
covenant Israel. † This defines
the scope for everything that follows, including the resurrection in
verse 2. Daniel
12:2 † This isn't
describing every human being who has ever lived, it says many, not
all. † The context
is Daniel's people and the time of tribulation on Israel. † This
awakening is a division, some entering life, others entering
judgment, exactly what we see in the first century. 1 Corinthians 15 The
Nature of the Body † Paul doesn't
contradict Ezekiel or Daniel, he explains what kind of resurrection
body we're dealing with. 1
Corinthians 15:44 † The contrast
is not between a physical body and another physical body, it's
between natural and spiritual. † The
resurrection body is defined as spiritual, not fleshly. † This fits
perfectly with Ezekiel, where life comes through the Spirit. 1
Corinthians 15:45 † Christ is
not giving life through flesh, He is a life-giving Spirit. † So what kind
of resurrection gives life, not flesh, but Spirit. † This tells
us the nature of the resurrection, it's about receiving life from the
Spirit, not returning to biological existence. John 5 The Hour Of
Resurrection John
5:28-29 † This is
often used to argue for a global, end of time resurrection, but
notice the timing, the hour is coming, not thousands of years later. † Jesus
already defined that hour earlier in the same passage as a present,
covenantal transition (John 5:25). † The tombs
language matches Ezekiel 37, where graves represent Israel's covenant
death, not literal burial sites across the planet. † This is the
same division seen in Daniel 12, life and judgment within Israel's
last days. Timing Locked To That
Generation Matthew
23:36 † Jesus places
the fulfillment of these events within that generation, not thousands
of years later. † This
includes judgment, resurrection, and the covenant transition. Matthew
24:34 † This removes
any possibility of pushing resurrection into a distant future. † Everything
tied to His coming and judgment was fulfilled in that generation. Ephesians 2 Raised
Together In Christ Ephesians
2:5-6 † Notice the
language, made alive and raised up, this is resurrection language
applied to a people, not graves opening. † This was
already happening in the first century, proving resurrection is tied
to covenant life, not biological reanimation. † The people
of God were being raised into a new living body in Christ. 1 Corinthians 12 The
Corporate Body 1
Corinthians 12:12 † Paul defines
the body as a corporate people, not individual physical bodies. † This is the
same body discussed in 1 Corinthians 15, the one that is raised
spiritual. † So the
resurrection is the raising of that corporate body into its completed
form in Christ. Bringing It Together † Ezekiel
shows a dead nation raised by the Spirit. † Daniel shows
a covenant people awakening during a time of judgment. † Paul shows
that the resurrection body is spiritual and comes from Christ as a
life giving Spirit. † John
confirms the hour of this resurrection was in their time. † Jesus locks
the timing to that generation. † Paul shows
it was already happening among believers. † The
corporate body is clearly defined as one people in Christ. † All of it
agrees, the resurrection is about a people being raised into life in
the Spirit. † It's not
about corpses coming out of dirt across the planet. † It's about
the dead covenant body of Israel being replaced with a living body in
Christ. † That
transition was completed in AD 70, when the old covenant system
passed away and the new covenant stood fully revealed. Historical References † Josephus
described Israel in the first century as being under judgment,
scattered, and cut off, matching the language of covenant death. † Eusebius
records the destruction of Jerusalem as the decisive end of the old
covenant order. † Tertullian
speaks of the transition from the old covenant to the new as a
completed reality in Christ. How it applies to us
today † We're not
waiting for resurrection, we're living in it. † We are part
of the body that has already been raised in Christ. † Our life
comes from the Spirit now, not from the expectation of a future
physical event. † This changes
everything, we don't live in fear of death, we live in the reality of
life already given. Q & A Appendix Q:
I thought the resurrection meant bodies coming out of graves, doesn't
the Bible say that? A:
Ezekiel 37:11-14 shows graves opening as a picture of Israel being
restored as a people, not individual bodies worldwide. Q:
Doesn't Daniel 12 prove a future global resurrection? A:
Daniel 12:1-2 shows it is limited to Daniel's people and says many,
not all, and it's tied to the time of tribulation on Israel, not a
distant future event. Q:
What kind of body are we raised with? A:
1 Corinthians 15:44 says it is raised a spiritual body, not a fleshly
one. Q:
How does Christ give resurrection life? A:
1 Corinthians 15:45 says the last Adam became a life giving Spirit,
showing that life comes through the Spirit, not flesh. Q:
If the resurrection is spiritual, does that mean nothing really
happened? A:
No, it means something greater happened. The entire covenant world
changed. The dead body of Israel passed away, and a living body in
Christ was raised, exactly as prophesied in Ezekiel 37:11-14 and
fulfilled in the first century, as explained in 1 Corinthians
15:44-45. Q:
What about people physically dying, don't they still need
resurrection? A:
The Bible separates physical death from covenant death. Ephesians 2:1
says we were dead in trespasses, yet still physically alive. The
resurrection addresses that death by bringing life through the Spirit
(Ephesians 2:5-6; 1 Corinthians 15:45). Q:
Doesn't the Bible say death is the last enemy to be destroyed? A:
Yes, 1 Corinthians 15:26 says the last enemy is death, and that was
defeated when Christ brought life through the Spirit and the old
covenant system of death passed away (1 Corinthians 15:54-57; Hebrews
8:13). Q:
What about the graves opening in Matthew 27:52-53? A:
That event was a sign tied to that generation, not a global
resurrection. It showed that resurrection life had begun in
connection with Christ's work, pointing forward to the full covenant
transition (Matthew 27:52-53; Daniel 12:2). Q:
If the resurrection already happened, why do people still die
physically? A:
Because the resurrection was never about stopping physical death. It
was about overcoming spiritual death and separation from God. Christ
gives life through the Spirit, which physical death cannot take away
(1 Corinthians 15:45; Romans 8:10-11). Q:
Doesn't Philippians 3:20-21 teach a future bodily transformation? A:
Philippians 3:20-21 speaks of transformation into conformity with
Christ, and Paul defines that body in 1 Corinthians 15:44 as
spiritual. This is about being conformed to His life giving Spirit,
not returning to flesh. Q:
What about Acts 24:15, a resurrection of both the just and unjust? A:
Acts 24:15 reflects the same division seen in Daniel 12:2, life and
judgment within that covenant generation. It doesn't require a global
resurrection of all people across all time. Q:
If resurrection is corporate, how do individuals experience it? A:
Individuals participate by being brought into the body of Christ.
When the body was raised, those in Christ share in that life
(Ephesians 2:5-6; Colossians 3:1). Q:
Doesn't Job say in my flesh I shall see God? A:
Job 19:26 uses poetic language about vindication and restoration. It
can't override the clear teaching that the resurrection body is
spiritual (1 Corinthians 15:44). Q:
Why does Paul talk about being clothed instead of unclothed? A:
In 2 Corinthians 5:1-4, Paul speaks of being clothed with a heavenly
dwelling, not returning to flesh. This matches the transition from
the natural to the spiritual body. Q:
If everything is already fulfilled, what are we still hoping for? A:
We're not waiting for resurrection or covenant fulfillment, those are
complete. Our hope is the continued life we have in Christ, which
doesn't end with physical death (1 Corinthians 15:54-57; Romans
8:10). † This is the fulfilled
perspective we proclaim at Fulfilled Prophecies † Source Index † Ezekiel
37:11-14; Daniel 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 15:44-45; John 5:28-29;
Matthew 23:36; Matthew 24:34; Ephesians 2:5-6; 1 Corinthians 12:12 † Josephus,
Wars of the Jews; Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History; Tertullian,
Against Marcion
By Dan Maines
Then
He said to me, "Son of man, these bones are the entire house of
Israel; behold, they say, 'Our bones are dried up and our hope has
perished. We are completely cut off.'
Therefore
prophesy and say to them, 'This is what the Lord God
says: "Behold, I am going to open your graves and cause you to
come up out of your graves, My people; and I will bring you into the
land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord,
when I have opened your graves and caused you to come up out of your
graves, My people. And I will put My Spirit within you and you will
come to life, and I will place you on your own land. Then you will
know that I, the Lord,
have spoken and done it," declares the Lord.'"
"Now
at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons
of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such
as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at
that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book,
will be rescued.
And many
of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to
everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting
contempt.
it
is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a
natural body, there is also a spiritual body.
So
also it is written: "The first man,
Adam, became
a living person."
The last Adam was a life-giving spirit.
Do not
be amazed at this; for a time is coming when all who are in the tombs
will hear His voice, and will come out: those who did the good deeds
to a resurrection of life, those who committed the bad deeds to a
resurrection of judgment.
Truly I
say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.
Truly I
say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things
take place.
even when
we were dead in our wrongdoings, made us alive together with Christ
(by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated
us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
For
just as the body is one and yet has many parts, and all the parts of
the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ.
©
Fulfilled Prophecies - Dan Maines.
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