The Amazing Resurrection of the DeadSample

When will the resurrection take place?

The Bible teaches that the general resurrection will occur ‘at the last trumpet’ (1 Corinthians 15:52)—in other words at the return of Christ.

The sequence of events is outlined clearly by Paul in his letter to the Thessalonians:

For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord (I Thessalonians 4:16-17). A similar pattern is presented in 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9.

Jesus, the prophetic Son of Man, will be revealed coming from heaven accompanied by his mighty angels. What a triumphant procession that will be! God’s fiery wrath will be inflicted on those who either don’t know God or don’t obey the gospel, and they will be banished forever. God’s people, his saints (holy ones), will be eternally glorified.

Jesus gave a similar description to his disciples (Matthew 24:30-31). He particularly described the woe and dismay of ‘all the tribes of the earth’ and the subsequent joy of the angels and the saints meeting at the sound of a loud trumpet call.

We don’t know what kind of trumpet that will be, but no doubt, by comparison, all earthly trumpets will sound like piccolos. In the Bible, it certainly signifies a call to arms (Nehemiah 4:20; Zephaniah 1:16) and perhaps a coronation ceremony (1 Kings 1:39) or a national festival (Psalm 81:3). There is no doubt that the impact of that sound will be both chilling and thrilling. The ungodly will tremble with terror when that spine-chilling sound blasts through the atmosphere. Believers will thrill with excitement and anticipation as the Lord of Armies sweeps down from the heavens in power and great glory! (Psalm 47:5)

No wonder the graves will open and the dead will rise. And no wonder those believers who are alive will join them as they rise with great rejoicing to meet the Lord in the air.

Paul astonishes us by pointing out that, incredibly, all this will happen ‘in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye’ as the last trumpet sounds. ‘For the trumpet will sound,’ he stresses, ‘and the dead will be raised imperishable and we shall all be changed’ (1 Corinthians 15:52).

Nowadays, anything can be described as amazing. But this truly will be amazing! How can it be? That, says Paul (1 Corinthians 15:51), is a musterion (the word means ‘secret’). The Day will reveal it. As we are known now, we shall know then (1 Corinthians 13:12).

What next?

From the Scripture readings for today, compile a list of seven key aspects of what will happen on the day of the resurrection.

Read (aloud), record, repeat, and recall 1 Corinthians 15:52