IV. The Resurrection of the Body
187. What do the Scriptures teach about the resurrection of the
body?
They teach that on the Last Day Christ "will raise me and all
the dead." The same bodies that have died shall be made alive. |
| 655 |
Job 19:25-27 I know that my Redeemer
lives, and that in the end He will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has
been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see Him with my
own eyes - I, and not another. |
| 656 |
John 5:28-29 A time is coming when all
who are in their graves will hear His voice and come out. |
| 657 |
1 Thess. 4:16 The Lord Himself will come
down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with
the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. |
188. Are people
reborn in bodies or forms?
Reincarnation, the belief that when
people die they are reborn in other bodies or in a series of other bodies, is
contrary to Scripture. |
| 658 |
Heb. 9:27-28 Just as man is destined to
die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to
take away the sins of many people; and He will appear a second time, not to
bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him.
Note: See 1 Corinthians 15. |
189. What
difference will there be between believers and unbelievers in the resurrection?
A. The believers will rise with glorified bodies and enter
everlasting life in heaven with God. |
| 659 |
Dan. 12:2 Multitudes who sleep in the
dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and
everlasting contempt. |
| 660 |
John 5:28-29 All who are in their
graves will hear His voice and come out-those who have done good will rise to
live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned. |
| 661 |
1 Cor. 15:42-43 So will it be with the
resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised
imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in
weakness, it is raised in power. |
| 662 |
Phil. 3:21 [Christ) will transform our
lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body. |
| B. The unbelievers
will rise to eternal death, that is, to shame and torment in hell forever.
|
| 663 |
Is. 68:24 Their worm will not die, nor
will their fire be quenched, and they will be loathsome to all mankind. |
| 664 |
Matt. 10:28 Do not be afraid of those
who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who
can destroy both soul and body in hell. |
| 665 |
Matt. 25:41 He will say to those on His
left, "Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for
the devil and his angels." |
| 666 |
Rev. 1:7 Look, He is coming with the
clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the
peoples of the earth will mourn because of Him. So shall it be! Amen. |
| Bible
narrative: The story of the rich man and Lazarus illustrates that there are
only two places (Luke 16:19-31). |
