1. SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES

2. RECAP OF OUR LAST STUDY
From our last study, entitled “Victory over temptation”, we learnt that temptation is enticement to sin and is common to all men. Satan brings temptations to believers so they can fall but God’s grace is sufficient for all. The believer needs to be watchful and prayerful in order not to fall into temptation. By enduring and overcoming temptation, the believer’s character is developed and strengthened. He will also receive a crown of life at the end.

3. TODAY’S STUDY: LESSON 715: THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD
MEMORY VERSE: …… “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; they that have done good unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation” (John 5:28,29). TEXT: 1 Corinthians 15:3-57; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-16

4. TODAY’S STUDY (continued)
INTRODUCTION:
Life does not end after death. Every human being will continue to live after physical death either in joy or in pain. At the resurrection of the dead, the body will rise to meet the soul. All will stand before God at the Great White Throne judgment. From there, the saint will live in everlasting honour and glory while the sinner will go to shame and everlasting contempt.
QUESTION 1: Explain the meaning of the resurrection of the dead – Daniel 12:2

5. SCRIPTURAL TRUTH ON EXPEXTED RESURRECTION OF ALL MEN Matthew 16:21; Daniel 12:2; Job 19:25-27
The Old Testament, Christ and the apostles taught the resurrection of the dead. Christ rose from the dead as the first to taste the experience (1 Cor. 15:20). Lazarus and others were raised from the dead by divine mercy. They still died. But here, we are focused on the resurrection in which people die no more (John 11:25,26).
QUESTION 2: Cite some specific statements of Christ and other saints on resurrection of the dead – John 11:25; Daniel 12:2
QUESTION 3: How should believers live in the light of the truth of the resurrection of the dead? – Luke 21:34-36; 1 Timothy 4:13,15,16

6. THE FIRST RESURECTION OF LIFE Revelation 20:4-6; John 5:28,29; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-16
The resurrection of the saints of God has four phases: (1) The resurrection of Christ the first fruit. (2) The resurrection of the church-age saints at the Rapture. (3) The resurrection of the tribulation period saints. (4) The resurrection of the Old Testament saints at the second advent of Christ to the earth.
QUESTION 4: Highlight the four phases of the first resurrection – 1 Corinthians 15:3,4,12,20,23; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-16 ; Revelation 20:3-5 ; Daniel 12:2

7. THE SECOND RESURRECTION TO DAMNATION John 5:29; Revelation 20:11-15
The second resurrection, also described as the resurrection of damnation, is the resurrection of those who died unsaved, whose names are not written in the book of life, who missed the first resurrection. They will resurrect unto eternal punishment and torment in the lake of fire. The second resurrection will be one thousand years after the first resurrection. Sinners will not be wiped out of existence (doctrine of Annihilation) or be refined in hell (purgatory) before they are ‘promoted’ heaven. These are false.

8. PARTAKING OF RESURRECTION OF LIFE 2 Corinthians 5 :17-19; Romans 16: 17; Luke 21:36
Those who will partake in the first resurrection, need to first be genuinely born again and be holy. Apart from this, they also need to be watchful, prayerful, study, meditate in, and obey God’s word, fellowship with other brethren and avoid erroneous teachings and teachers.
QUESTION 5: What should sinners and backsliders do to avoid resurrection to damnation? – Isaiah 55:7; John 3:16,18

9. CONCLUSION
Death is not the end of life. Our souls will live forever. Those who have died shall resurrect either to everlasting life or everlasting damnation. Our faith in Christ is vain without Christ’s resurrection from the dead. In view of the future resurrection of the dead, sinners and backsliders need to repent of their sins and believers need to be watchful, prayerful and be obedient to God’s word.