THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD—A NECESSITY.
By A. O. Tait
What does the Bible teach as regards the resurrection of the dead? "But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets; and have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust." Acts 24:14, 15. The resurrection is clearly a Bible doctrine, for this text shows that Paul found it taught in both "the law and in the prophets." 2. If the dead go either to heaven or to a place of torment as soon as they die, what is the need of this resurrection? This is a question for you to ponder and answer for yourself. 3. When will the resurrection take place? "I will raise him up at the last day." John 6:44. It is at the "last day" that Jesus will raise the dead. 4. What power will awaken the dead? "Marvel not at this; for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice, 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. The dead are in the graves, and the voice of the Son of God brings them forth. Thus is it made plain that, were it not for the power of God to raise from the dead, the grave must forever hold all its occupants. 5. What redemption is promised? "I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death; O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction; repentance shall be hid from mine eyes." Hosea 13:14. The grave and death have power, but our Father has promised to ransom all His own from their power, and not only so, but death and the grave shall both be destroyed. 6. In what condition will the righteous dead be raised? "Behold, I show you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 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. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 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. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" 1 Cor. 15:51-55. They go into the grave mortal, they are raised immortal; they go into the grave corruptible, subject to decay; they are raised incorruptible, beyond the reach of decay. 7. What would be our condition were there no resurrection from the dead? "Now if Christ be preached that He rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen; and if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. 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. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised; and if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished." 1 Cor. 15:12-18. Thus the Bible plainly makes the resurrection the doorway to immortality. 8. Why is the resurrection not preached as much as it was in Bible times? Plainly because the unscriptural doctrine that the dead go to heaven immediately upon dying has been made to take the place of the hope of the resurrection. God points us to the time when the grave must give up its dead as the time of victory, and not when the cruel monster is victorious over us by locking us in his relentless embrace.