1. A LITERAL RESURRECTION OF THE BODIES OF ALL MEN--A UNIVERSAL
RESURRECTION.
John 5:28--"Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the
which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall
come forth." 1 Cor. 15:22--"For as in Adam all die, even so in
Christ shall all be made alive." The apostle is speaking of physical
death in Adam, and physical resurrection in Christ.
Revelation 20:12, and 2 Corinthians 5:10 both show the necessity
of the raising of the body in order that judgment may take place
according to things done in the body. See also Job's hope (19:25-27);
David's hope (Psa. 16:9).
An objection is sometimes made to the effect that we literalize
these scriptures which are intended to be metaphorical and spiritual.
To this we reply: While the exact phrase, "resurrection of the
body," does not occur in the Bible, yet these scriptures clearly
teach a physical rather than a spiritual resurrection. Indeed John
5:25-29 draws a sharp contrast between a spiritual (v. 25) and a
literal (v. 28) resurrection. See also Phil. 3:21; 1 Thess. 4:13-17.
2 Tim. 2:18--"Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the
resurrection is passed already," indicates that the early church
believed in a literal resurrection. Surely there is no reference
here to a spiritual resurrection such as we read of in Ephesians
5:14. Acts 24:15 speaks of a resurrection of the just and the
unjust--this cannot refer to a spiritual resurrection surely. If
the resurrection were spiritual then in the future state every
man would have two spirits--the spirit he has here, and the spirit
he would receive at the resurrection. The term "spiritual body"
describes, not so much the body itself, as its nature. The "spiritual
body" is body, not spirit, hence should not be considered as defining
body. By the term "spiritual body" is meant the body spiritualized.
So there is a natural body--a body adapted and designed for the
use of the soul; and there is a spiritual body--a body adapted for
the use of the spirit in the resurrection day.