The Resurrection of the Body

According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For 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. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up forever with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17)

“I believe … in the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.” The Apostles’ Creed ends with those words. Christians believe in the resurrection of the body. That’s God’s promise to us through faith in Jesus!

But when? The Bible teaches that when you die, your soul goes directly to heaven or hell (see Ecclesiastes 12:7 and Luke 23:43). There’s no waiting. Your soul doesn’t go to sleep. On the day you die, your soul goes to heaven to be with Jesus.

But not your body. At least, not yet. Your body will lie in the ground until Judgment Day. On that great day, Jesus will raise your body and make it imperishable, and you will live with your soul and body forever in heaven. Isn’t that good news? Whether you’re buried or cremated or lost at sea, Jesus will find your body and raise it again on Judgment Day. That’s the “resurrection of the body.”

Remember the confusion in Thessalonica? They worried that believers in Jesus who die before Judgment Day miss out on heaven. Did they need to be worried? No! In fact, those who die before Judgment Day will actually be raised first: “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. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.” Whether you die before Judgment Day or are still alive when Jesus returns, all who believe in Jesus will be raised up to meet Jesus in the clouds.

So don’t be afraid of death. Don’t be afraid of Judgment Day. We believe in the resurrection of the dead!

Dear Jesus, you make amazing promises to us. No matter what happens to our bodies, you will find us, raise us, and give us eternal life on the Last Day. Thank you for your grace! Amen.

Pastor Nathan