General Resurrection

HiRes | MidRes

Loading...

(Right click this link to download video.)

Question
What is the general resurrection from the dead?
Answer
The general resurrection from the dead is the Jewish belief that begins to develop in the Old Testament that at the end of time, on judgment day, all people will be raised physically from the dead for judgment. And so we see that in Daniel chapter 12 verses 1 and 2, and the expectation includes that at that judgment point some will go on to everlasting life, a kind of good destination, and other's will come under eternal judgment. We see that idea picked up in the New Testament as well by Jesus. In John chapter 5 he says the exact same thing: all will be raised from the dead, some to everlasting life and some to eternal condemnation. And that means that the general resurrection from the dead is tied to judgment and vindication-righteousness kind of ideas.

Answer by Dr. Constantine R. Campbell

Dr. Constantine R. Campbell is Associate Professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School