FRIDAY October 2, 2026 “Is Resurrection in our Future?” (1 Cor. 15:22,23 & 1 Thess. 4:13-18)

Hello, my ‘Walking with Jesus’ friends,

In the part of the world where I live there is an obsession with predicting the future, how about where you live? Gambling has become big business here as millions of people bet on future sporting events or political elections. Amazingly, in Christian circles there is a fascination with prophetic future events with books, podcasts and conferences dedicated to seeking clarity about the WHEN and the HOW and even the WHO are key aspects of God’s next major actions in our world. 

Even when Jesus was here on earth, some of His closest followers occasionally asked Jesus for clarity about the future. Matt. 24 describes one of Jesus’ most significant discussions about the future, prompted by this question from His disciples: “…what will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?” (Matt. 24:3)

Even in His very last recorded conversation with His disciples before ascending back to heaven, they asked resurrected Jesus “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” And Jesus responded: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by His authority…” (Acts 1:6,7) 

About 30 years later, as Paul was writing his first letter to the Christians in Corinth, evidently some of these same questions were stirring in that great city, so let’s pick up our close look at 1 Corinthians 15, with verse 22: “For as in Adam all die, so in [resurrected] Jesus Christ all will be made alive. But each in their own turn: Jesus Christ the firstfruits; then when He comes those belonging to Him.” (1 Cor. 15:22,23)

Do you hear the progression in time? Obviously, when Paul wrote this letter Jesus had already been raised from the dead as the ‘first fruits’, but as of today, 2000 years later, no other resurrections have happened, thus we are still waiting for the second event in that statement. 

Yesterday we looked at this phrase: “Jesus Christ the first fruits” and we understand it means Jesus’ resurrection was the FIRST, and EVERY, ALL human beings will follow, each of us being resurrected with a new body, similar to the body Jesus received in His resurrection. And we will be resurrected by the power of God as Jesus was. But the big questions are WHEN and WHO, right?

Do you see Paul answered BOTH questions? The WHEN of this NEXT resurrection is the moment resurrected, ascended Jesus Christ returns to earth. WHO is all people, both living and deceased, who belong to Jesus as they have been redeemed by God from their sin condemnation before they died, because they trusted in the atonement death of Jesus Christ. That’s the Gospel, remember? But wait a minute, can we be a bit more specific? What about other people?

A few weeks ago we looked together at Paul’s two letters to the Christians in Thessalonica and we saw that Paul clarified there will be TWO future returns to earth of our risen Lord Jesus Christ, remember? The first return of Jesus is explained in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and is often called the “rapture” of the church because in that glorious and miraculous moment all the “dead in Christ will rise first”. (1 Thess. 4:16) That will be a great, worldwide resurrection of ALL deceased Christians who had trusted in Jesus’s atonement sacrifice for their salvation before they died. 

All those from the time of Jesus’ resurrection until this His return to earth, are included in this rapture of living Christians and resurrection of deceased Christians. That phrase “dead in Christ” defines who will be resurrected in this first return of Jesus. Do you see how that fulfills what Paul wrote to the Corinthian Christians: “then when He comes those belonging to Him”? (1 Cor. 15:23)

Here’s a critical question: will YOU be raptured up by Jesus in this first return of Jesus resurrection/rapture of 1 Thess. 4? Are you sure? Upon what are you basing your confidence?  If you are NOT sure, please contact me, I’d love to help you find assurance of your salvation by Jesus. 

But what about all those redeemed by God BEFORE Jesus died on the cross, going all the way back to Adam? They, as we’ve discussed before, were credited righteousness by God based upon their Abraham-like faith in God. This is explained in Genesis 15:6 & Romans 4:18-25. 

Some Bible scholars believe these “Old Testament redeemed, deceased, righteous” will all be resurrected at the very same time as those who are ‘dead in Christ’, thus that will be a resurrection of ALL Redeemed, of ALL time, up to that moment. Other scholars believe the Old Testament redeemed will be resurrected later, but in time to participate in the ‘wedding supper of the Lamb’. (Rev. 19:5-9)

But then what about all those people who will trust Jesus Christ to be their Savior AFTER that first great rapture/resurrection? (1 Thess. 4:13-18) Will there yet be a second return of King Jesus to earth and more resurrections for those and others? YES and tomorrow we’ll look closely at those resurrections. Will you join me here? 

The “lessons learned” study notes will be helpful to you my friends, as you help other people find confidence and hope about their future. I’ve included a new glorious worship song to help us celebrate the truth of Jesus’ soon return. And I’m already preparing for our study tomorrow.