When is the resurrection of the righteous to take place?
Answer
"For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with
the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first." 1 Thess. 4: 16.
NOTES - If, as stated in Eccl. 9: 5, the dead know not anything, then they have no knowledge of
the lapse of time. "Six thousand years in the grave to a dead man is no more than a wink of the eye to the
living." To them, consciousness, our only means of measuring time, is gone; and it will seem to them when
they awake that absolutely no time has elapsed. And herein lies a most comforting thought in the Bible
doctrine of the sleep of the dead, that in death there is no consciousness of the passing of time. To those
who sleep in Jesus, their sleep, whether long or short, whether one year, one thousand years, or six
thousand years, will be but as if the moment of sad parting were followed instantly by the glad reunion in
the presence of Jesus at His glorious appearing and the resurrection of the just.
It ought also to be a comforting thought to those whose lives have been filled with anxiety and
grief for deceased loved ones who persisted in sin, to know that they are not now suffering in torments,
but, with all the rest of the dead, are quietly sleeping in their graves. Job 3: 17.
Again, it would mar the felicity of one's enjoyment in heaven could he look upon earth and see his
friends and relatives suffering from persecution, want, cold, or hunger, or sorrowing for the dead. God's
way is best-that all sentient life, animation, activity, thought, and consciousness should cease at death, and
that all should wait till the resurrection for their future life and eternal reward. See Heb. 11:39-40.
What estimate did Job place upon the words of God?
What portion of the 2300 days (years) mentioned in the vision, was allotted to the Jews?
What inspired tribute is paid to the law of God?
What deliverance will God finally bring to His people in this controversy?
What promise did Christ make concerning His coming?
At His ascension, what assurance was given of Christs return ?
Does God always see fit to grant our petitions?
Questions & Answers are from the book Bible Readings for the Home Circle