Bible Study – The Resurrections

December 11 – 17, 2022

Key Text

“Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.” 1 Corinthians 15:12–14

Study Help: The Great Controversy, 644-662

Introduction

“The hope of the bereaved is in looking forward to the glorious day when the Life-giver shall break the fetters of the tomb, and the righteous dead shall arise and leave their prison house to be clothed with glorious immortal life.” Testimonies, Vol. 1, 40

Sunday

1 RESURRECTIONS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

1.a.        Name a few cases of resurrection in Old Testament times. 1 Kings 17:18–22; 2 Kings 4:32–36; 13:21

 Note: “Christ, the great Life-giver, restored her [the Shunammite’s] son to her. In like manner will His faithful ones be rewarded, when, at His coming, death loses its sting and the grave is robbed of the victory it has claimed. Then will He restore to His servants the children that have been taken from them by death.” Prophets and Kings, 239

1.b.        What does the resurrection of Moses symbolize for all believers? Matthew 17:1–3

Note: “Moses was present [at Christ’s transfiguration] to represent those who will be raised from the dead at the second appearing of Jesus.” Early Writings, 164

Monday

2 RESURRECTIONS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

2.a.        Relate some resurrections in the New Testament. Luke 7:11–15; 8:49–55; Acts 9:36–40; 20:9–12

 Note: “He who gave back to the widow of Nain her only son, and who in His agony upon the cross remembered His own mother, is touched today by the mother’s sorrow. In every grief and every need He will give comfort and help.” The Desire of Ages, 512

“Jesus approached the bedside [of Jairus’ daughter], and, taking the child’s hand in His own, He pronounced softly, in the familiar language of her home, the words, ‘Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.’

“Instantly a tremor passed through the unconscious form. The pulses of life beat again. The lips unclosed with a smile. The eyes opened widely as if from sleep, and the maiden gazed with wonder on the group beside her. She arose, and her parents clasped her in their arms, and wept for joy.” Ibid., 343

“Directing that the weeping friends be sent from the room, he [Peter] kneeled down and prayed fervently to God to restore Dorcas to life and health. Turning to the body, he said, ‘Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.’ Dorcas had been of great service to the church, and God saw fit to bring her back from the land of the enemy, that her skill and energy might still be a blessing to others, and also that by this manifestation of His power the cause of Christ might be strengthened.” The Acts of the Apostles, 132

2.b. The resurrection of Lazarus was the greatest miracle performed in Christ’s ministry on earth. Tell the sequence of events in this experience. John 11:14, 21, 32, 33–44

 Note: “There is a stir in the silent tomb, and he who was dead stands at the door of the sepulcher. His movements are impeded by the graveclothes in which he was laid away, and Christ says to the astonished spectators, ‘Loose him, and let him go.’ Again they are shown that the human worker is to cooperate with God. Humanity is to work for humanity. Lazarus is set free, and stands before the company, not as one emaciated from disease, and with feeble, tottering limbs, but as a man in the prime of life, and in the vigor of a noble manhood. His eyes beam with intelligence and with love for his Saviour. He casts himself in adoration at the feet of Jesus.” The Desire of Ages, 536

Tuesday

3 A WONDERFUL PROMISE

3.a. What promise belongs to those who die in the Lord? Job 14:14; Isaiah 26:19; 1 Corinthians 15:20–23

 Note: “The Sadducees were in opposition to the Pharisees regarding the resurrection of the dead. The former claimed that there would be no resurrection of the body. But Jesus tells them that one of the greatest works of His Father is raising up the dead, and even so the Son of God has power in Himself to raise from the dead. ‘Marvel not,’ said He, ‘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.’ ” The Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. 2, 167

3.b. What is the greatest proof that there will be a resurrection of the dead? Luke 24:1–8; John 11:23–27

 Note: “[At Christ’s resurrection,] brave soldiers, who had never been afraid of human power, were now as captives taken without sword or spear. The face they looked upon was not the face of mortal warrior; it was the face of a heavenly messenger, sent to relieve the Son of God from the debt for which He had become responsible, and for which He had now made a full atonement. This heavenly visitant was the angel that on the plains of Bethlehem had proclaimed Christ’s birth. The earth trembled at his approach, and as he rolled away the stone from Christ’s grave, heaven seemed to come down to earth. The soldiers saw him removing the stone as he would a pebble, and heard him call, Son of God, Thy Father saith, Come forth. They saw Jesus come from the grave as a mighty conqueror, and heard Him proclaim, ‘I am the resurrection, and the life.’ The angel guards bowed low in adoration before the Redeemer as He came forth in majesty and glory, and welcomed Him with songs of praise.” The Youth’s Instructor, May 2, 1901

“In Christ is life, original, unborrowed, underived. ‘He that hath the Son hath life.’ 1 John 5:12. The divinity of Christ is the believer’s assurance of eternal life. ‘He that believeth in Me,’ said Jesus, ‘though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die. Believest thou this?’ Christ here looks forward to the time of His second coming. Then the righteous dead shall be raised incorruptible, and the living righteous shall be translated to heaven without seeing death.” The Desire of Ages, 530

Wednesday

4 THE PARTIAL RESURRECTION

4.a.        What did Daniel the prophet say would take place in the time of trouble? Daniel 12:1, 2

 Note: “There was a mighty earthquake. The graves were opened, and those who had died in faith under the third angel’s message, keeping the Sabbath, came forth from their dusty beds, glorified, to hear the covenant of peace that God was to make with those who had kept His law.” Early Writings, 285

“ ‘Many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.’ Daniel 12:2 All who have died in the faith of the third angel’s message come forth from the tomb. … ‘They also which pierced Him’ (Revelation 1:7), those that mocked and derided Christ’s dying agonies, and the most violent opposers of His truth and His people, are raised to behold Him in His glory and to see the honor placed upon the loyal and obedient.” The Great Controversy, 637

4.b. How many classes of people will be living on earth after the partial resurrection? Matthew 25:31–33

Note: “Soon we heard the voice of God like many waters, which gave us the day and hour of Jesus’ coming. The living saints, 144,000 in number, knew and understood the voice, while the wicked thought it was thunder and an earthquake.” Early Writings, 15

“A decree went forth to slay the saints, which caused them to cry day and night for deliverance. This was the time of Jacob’s trouble. Then all the saints cried out with anguish of spirit, and were delivered by the voice of God. The 144,000 triumphed. Their faces were lighted up with the glory of God.” Ibid., 36, 37

“Through a rift in the clouds there beams a star whose brilliancy is increased fourfold in contrast with the darkness. It speaks hope and joy to the faithful, but severity and wrath to the transgressors of God’s law.” The Great Controversy, 638

“In the issue of the contest all Christendom will be divided into two great classes—those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, and those who worship the beast and his image and receive his mark.” Ibid., 450

Thursday

5 THE FINAL RESURRECTIONS

5.a.        When will the general, final resurrection of the righteous take place? 2 Timothy 4:8; Revelation 20:4–6

 Note: “Amid the reeling of the earth, the flash of lightning, and the roar of thunder, the voice of the Son of God calls forth the sleeping saints. He looks upon the graves of the righteous, then, raising His hands to heaven, He cries: ‘Awake, awake, awake, ye that sleep in the dust, and arise!’ Throughout the length and breadth of the earth the dead shall hear that voice, and they that hear shall live. And the whole earth shall ring with the tread of the exceeding great army of every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. From the prison house of death they come, clothed with immortal glory, crying: ‘O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?’ 1 Corinthians 15:55. And the living righteous and the risen saints unite their voices in a long, glad shout of victory.” The Great Controversy, 644

5.b. When will the unrighteous be raised from the grave? Revelation 20:5, 7, 8, 12, 13

 Note: “After the judgment of the wicked dead had been finished, at the end of the one thousand years, Jesus left the city, and the saints and a train of the angelic host followed Him. …

“Then, in terrible, fearful majesty, Jesus called forth the wicked dead; and they came up with the same feeble, sickly bodies that went into the grave. What a spectacle! What a scene!” Early Writings, 291, 292

Friday

PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS

1    How do Old Testament resurrections reveal the everlasting gospel?

2    Why did Jesus allow Lazarus to die?

3    How did the Sadducees and the Pharisees differ in their beliefs concerning the resurrection of the dead?

4    Where is the partial resurrection recorded, and why is it so important?

5    Explain the difference between the first and second resurrection.

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