The Lord Jesus Christ Himself declared; “I am the resurrection and the life.” These words contained the abundant treasure of His redemption; they extend from the victory of His vicarious death [Heb 2:14] and His glorious resurrection [Rev. 1:18] to the everlasting life which He gives to all those who believe on Him [John 6:40; 17:21; Rev. 21:4]

The living Word of God establishes the fact of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. His resurrection is also affirmed by millions of proofs through the centuries since He arose from the dead. Every regenerated person is a manifestation that Christ arose for his justification and has created within him Divine Life from God through the Holy Spirit. In the great triumph of his resurrection Christ has shown [1 Cor. 15:2-24] and declared to be the firstfruits.
God the Father raised Him from the dead, and Christ will raise all the other dead. [John 5:21, 28,29.] Christ is the first born from the dead as the One who in His death brought to nought “him that had the power of death, that is the devil.” [Heb.2:14]

When He comes into the air for His Church, He will raise those members of the body who have fallen asleep {died}. [1 Thess. 4:16-17] Both in resurrection and exaltation we are said to be united with Him. [2 Cor.4:14; Eph. 1:20-to 2;6; 1Thess. 4:14] The raising of the bodily deceased members of the Church is sometimes considered as one stage of the resurrection of the righteous mentioned in Revelation 20:4-6. It may be said however, to be connected with the resurrection of Christ. When the Lord returns to the earth at the end of the tribulation He will raise the righteous from among the dead. [Rev. 20:4-6]. This resurrection is called the resurrection of life [John 5:20]. It takes place before the thousand years and embraces all the saved not in the Church. This resurrection of life is the hope of the believers in all other ages.

After the thousand years Christ will raise all the remaining dead [Rev. 20:11-15]. This is the last resurrectiion [John 5:29] In this way God maintains His Divine order, “every man in his own order,” that is in his proper class [1 Cor. 15:23] This is a summary of the order.

[1] Christ the Firstfruits” [ 1 Cor. 15:23]

a. The resurrection of Christ foretold.
1. By the prophets. Psa.16:10; 22:30-31; Isa. 53:12-12; Matt. 12:39-40; 16:21; John 2:19-22; Acts 26:22,23;
2. By Christ Himself. Matt. 16:21; John 11:25.

b. The fact of His resurrection.
1. The empty tomb. Matt.28:6; Luke 24:6,7; John 20:6-9.
2. The living crucified Lord. Matt. 28:9; Luke 24:39,40; John 20:14-17.

c. The proofs of His resurrection.
1.The many person’ who saw Him after He arose. 1 Cor. 15:3-7
2. The gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:32,33.
3. The church. Eph. 1:22,23; 2:10,15; 4:15.

d.The reasons for His resurrection.
1. His deity Acts 2:24.
2. His sinless humanity. 1 Cor. 15:21.
3. His full propitiation for sin. Isa. 53:10; Rom. 4:25.
4. His victory over satan. Heb. 2:14.
5. His sovereignty. Rom. 14:9.
6. His redemption of men. “ Cor. 5:15.

e. The results of His resurrection.
1. The Firstborn from the dead. Col. 1:18; Rev. 1:18.
2. His deity declared. Acts 13:33; Rom. 1:4.
3. His exaltation. Eph. 1:20-22; 1 Pet. 1:21.
4. The creation of His church. Eph. 1:22,23.
5. His intercession. Rom. 8:34
6. His coming. 1 Thess. 4:14; Acts1:11; Zech. 12:10.
7.His judgement. Acts 17:31.

[2] “They that are Christ’s at His coming” [1 Cor. 15:23]

a. The resurrection at His coming for the Church.
1. This resurrection a mystery revealed in apostolic times. 1. Cor. 15:51.
2. Those asleep in Jesus raised. 1 Thess. 4:14.
3. These with living saints translated into His likeness. 1 Cor. 15:51-54; Phil. 3:20,21.
4. The glorious Church caught up to Him 1 Thess. 4:15-17; Eph. 5:17.
5. Then follows the judgement and rewards of the Church. 1 Cor. 3:13-15; 2 Cor. 5:10

b. The resurrection at His coming to earth.
1. Foretold and hoped for. Job 19:25-27; Isa. 26:19; Dan. 12:2; John 6:39; Acts 23:6; Heb. 11:35
2. The first resurrection. Rev. 20:5,6.
3. The resurrection of life. Dan. 12:2 ; John 5:29; 6:39.
4. The resurrection and recompense of the justified. Luke 14:14; Rev.11:18; 20:4.
[Compare Dan. 13:13; Jer. 30:9; Luke 20:37,38.]

[3] “Then cometh the end” [1 Cor 15:24]

a. The resurrection of all the remaining dead.
1. Foretold. Dan.12:2; John 5:29; Acts 24:15.
2. After the events of Rev.20:7-10.
3. The resurrection of judgement. Dan.12:2; John 5:29; Rev. 20:11-13.
4. All not in the book of life cast into the lake of fire. Rev. 20:15

b. The doom of death and hades.
1. Cast into the lake of fire. 1 Cor. 15:26; Rev. 20:14.
2. No more death. Rev. 21:4. 1Cor.15:28; Isa. 25:8.