The doctrine of the resurrection of the dead is found in the Old Testament. Notice the expression, "sleep in the dust of the earth."

This is speaking of the resurrection of the physical body. Neither our spirit nor our soul sleeps in the dust of the earth, as we understand the Scriptures.

But it is not unusual for the Scriptures to refer to physical death as "sleep"—the sleep of the mortal body in the grave.

There is an important concept in Daniel 12:2. It is that both the righteous and the wicked are raised from the grave.

The term resurrection is not restricted to the righteous. Resurrection signifies neither good nor evil consequences. It is what we are resurrected to that is of such tremendous importance.

All human beings will be raised from the dead, some to eternal joy and glory in the flesh, and others to eternal suffering (also in the flesh, as far as we can determine from the Scriptures).

Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves [tombs] 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. (John 5:28,29)

The body of each human being will, at one time or another, hear the voice of Christ and come from the place where the body was buried, or slain in some fashion.

We notice also that there is a resurrection to life and a resurrection to judgment. Therefore it is not that we are resurrected that is of concern but the kind of resurrection we experience, whether to life because of righteous behavior or to judgment because of our evil deeds.

Some might claim that if we believe in the Lord Jesus we cannot be raised to face Divine judgment. If that were the case, if John 5:28,29 were speaking to those who do not believe in the Lord, then we would have to accept that those who do good outside of Jesus will be raised to eternal life. Most evangelical teachers would not accept this.

The truth of God is, those who are righteous in behavior will be raised to eternal life and those who are wicked in behavior will be raised to judgment. The Word of God shall stand! However, if we have heard the Gospel, we cannot reject the Lord Jesus and enter life on the basis of good works. But if we accept the Lord, and then practice wickedness, we will face Divine judgment when we are raised from the dead.

If God raises the wicked, what force restores consciousness and function to their bodies? If being raised from the dead does not mean, in their case, the entrance of God's Substance and Presence into their bodies, what power will animate them?

How can the physical body become immortal, stand before God and be judged, and then experience punishment, apart from the Life of the Holy Spirit—that eternal glory that is the portion of the righteous? What force animates the bodies of the wicked? What is the appearance of their bodies?

Precisely what kind of life lifts up the resurrected body of the righteous before it receives the Life of God?

To be continued.