The Nature Of The Resurrection

THE NATURE OF THE RESURRECTION.

The nature of the resurrection will be explained under different forms of resurrection Firstly- A LITERAL RESURRECTION OF THE BODIES OF ALL MEN -- A UNIVERSAL RESURRECTION.

John 5:28 -- "Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth." 1 Cor.15:22 -- "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." The apostle is speaking of physical death in Adam, and physical resurrection in Christ.

Revelation 20:12, and 2 Corinthians 5:10 both show the necessity of the raising of the body in order that judgment may take place according to things done in the body. See also Job's hope (19:25-27); David's hope (Psa.16:9).

An objection is sometimes made to the effect that we literalize these scriptures which are intended to be metaphorical and spiritual. To this we reply: While the exact phrase, "resurrection of the body," does not occur in the Bible, yet these scriptures clearly teach a physical rather than a spiritual resurrection. Indeed John 5:25-29 draws a sharp contrast between a spiritual (v.25) and a literal (v.28) resurrection. See also Phil.3:21; 1 Thess.4:13-17.2 Tim.2:18- "Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is passed already," indicates that the early church believed in a literal resurrection. Surely there is no reference here to a spiritual resurrection such as we read of in Ephesians 5:14. Acts 24:15 speaks of a resurrection of the just and the unjust- this cannot refer to a spiritual resurrection surely. If the resurrection were spiritual then in the future state every man would have two spirits- the spirit he has here, and the spirit he would receive at the resurrection. The term "spiritual body" describes, not so much the body itself, as its nature. The "spiritual body" is body, not spirit, hence should not be considered as defining body. By the term "spiritual body" is meant the body  is spiritual and not physical. So there is a natural body- a body adapted and designed for the use of the soul; and there is a spiritual body- a body adapted for the use of the spirit in the resurrection day.