John 11:23-27 (WEL) Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Even if he may die, he will live. 26 “And all who live and believe in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord, I have believed that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”
V23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
A statement of fact. Here are some Old Testament verses indicating a bodily resurrection: Daniel 12:2, Psalm 49:15, Job 19:26-27, and Hosea 13:14. Interesting that Jesus states these words referring to that very day, but Martha understood it as referring to the end as in Daniel 12:2. Jesus is gently teaching His followers.
Principle: Be aware of what your students can handle at any given time.
V24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
Martha shows her faith that this is truth; she believes it. Her belief and words specifically appeal to Daniel 12:2.
Daniel 12:2 refers to the end of the Tribulation by its context. The 70th week is in view and prophesied by the angel to Daniel (Daniel 9:24-27). This 70th week refers to the time remaining for God’s dealings with Israel (the Tribulation). The 69 weeks prior have been completed. It lasted until the Lord Jesus was crucified on the Cross.
The 70th week (the Tribulation) lasts until the time of Messiah’s kingdom (the Millennium) to begin (Zechariah 14).
The believing Gentile and Jew will be resurrected at the end of the Tribulation. At the end of the Tribulation, the sheep and goat (rod) judgment begins. It happens at the end of the Tribulation.
V25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Even if he may die, he will live.
Jesus is Lord, the decision maker, for everything concerning resurrection and life. Every individual will have a resurrection except those at the end of the Millennium, who are still alive because they will repopulate the world.
There is the resurrection to life: 1) for church age believers at the Pre-Tribulation Rapture, 2) for believers from before Jesus’s resurrection which occurs at the end of the Tribulation, and 3) for the unbelieving dead at the Great White Throne Judgement (Revelation 20:11-15).
AskAndyAI:
Please list all the permanent resurrections in the Bible and when they have or will occur.
Answer:
From Scripture’s teaching as presented in these lessons, the Bible describes a small number of distinct, permanent resurrections. Below I list each one and the timing associated with it according to the passages discussed.
- The bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ — already occurred
• When: Historically — on the third day after His death (the empty tomb). Paul calls Christ the “firstfruits,” and this resurrection is a past, historical event attested by eyewitnesses.
• Importance: It is the guarantee and prototype of all future resurrections; it validates the gospel and the promise of believers’ future bodily resurrection.
- The resurrection of Old Testament saints (the righteous of the ages) — eschatological (end‑time) fulfillment
• When: At the end of the age as part of the general resurrection described in the prophets (e.g., Daniel 12) and alluded to elsewhere.
• Notes: Daniel 12:2 and passages like Job and Isaiah anticipate a future awakening of the righteous. This is a permanent resurrection to everlasting life.
The Old Testament saints are resurrected at the end of the Tribulation — that is, at the dawn (the beginning) of the Millennial Kingdom. Daniel 12:2 predicts the awakening of the righteous “at the end” of that time; Revelation 20:4–6 pictures Old Testament saints together with tribulation martyrs coming to life and reigning with Christ when the Millennium begins. In short: Christ returns at the close of the seven‑year Tribulation, the non‑Church‑age saints (Old Testament believers) and those martyred in the Tribulation receive resurrected bodies at that time (the start of the 1,000‑year Kingdom), then 1,000 years pass, and only afterward the resurrection of the unsaved occurs for final judgment.
- The “first resurrection” of martyrs/tribulation saints (as depicted in Revelation) — future, at or just before Christ’s kingdom reign
• When: In Revelation 20 (chapters 4–6), John records a resurrection of those martyred for Christ and for His word; this is presented as a blessed, special resurrection (often called the “first resurrection” in that passage).
• Notes: This resurrection confers blessing (everlasting life) and is tied to rule with Christ; it is permanent.
- The resurrection of all believers at Christ’s coming (the general resurrection of the saved) — future, at Christ’s return / when Christ, the firstfruits, returns
• When: Paul (1 Corinthians 15:20–23) presents the order: Christ the firstfruits, and then those who belong to Christ at His coming. This is a permanent resurrection into transformed, imperishable bodies.
• Notes: This resurrection secures believers’ future bodies and the Father’s ultimate victory.
- The resurrection of the wicked for judgment — future, end‑time condemnation
• When: Daniel 12:2 and related passages teach a resurrection in which some awake to shame and everlasting contempt; Revelation’s final scenes portray a resurrection leading to final judgment and condemnation (the resurrection of the unjust).
• Notes: This is permanent and results in eternal punishment.
Summary of timing in sequence (as the lessons present it)
• Past: Christ’s bodily resurrection (already occurred; “firstfruits”).
• Future end‑time events: The eschatological resurrections — the blessed resurrection(s) of God’s people (including martyrs/tribulation saints and the general resurrection of the saved at Christ’s coming) and the resurrection of the wicked for final judgment (Daniel 12 and Revelation 20 frame these future awakenings).
V26 “And all who live and believe in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
Physical death is the fate for most people. The permanent, eternal death (separation from God and life), is the eternal torments in the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:11-15).
Jesus tells the truth, states a fact, and asks a question as a test.
Principle: Good teachers test after teaching.
V27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord, I have believed that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”
This is Martha’s answer. I believe she passed the test of faith.
This is not a decreed faith or some other manipulated faith; it is a true free choice after God initiated salvation (John 16:8 and Acts 16:15). It is her faith. Faith precedes regeneration. All see Acts 16:31.
See John 3:18, John 3:36, John 6:35, John 6:47, John 7:38, John 12:44, and John 14:12. Faith is the condition.
Ryrie writes of the four types of faith:
“The Scriptures seem to distinguish four kinds of faith.
- Intellectual or historical faith. This apprehends the truth intellectually as a result of education, tradition, rearing, etc. It is human and does not save (Matthew 7:26; Acts 26:27-28; James 2:19).
- Miracle faith. This is faith to perform or receive a miracle, and it may or may not be accompanied by salvation (Matthew 8:10-13; Matthew 17:20; Acts 14:9).
- Temporary faith. Luke 8:13 illustrates this kind of faith. It seems similar to intellectual faith, except that there seems to be more personal interest involved.
- Saving faith. This is a reliance on the truth of the Gospel as revealed in the Word of God.
We learn:
- Testing occurs after teaching.
- Jesus is the Master teacher.
- The Lord Jesus is the only resurrection and life. There is nothing that can be added.
Questions:
- Do you believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
- How do you teach?