Resurrection in the Old Testament

Intro.

1.  Did people of faith in the Old Testament believe in life after death? In bodily resurrection from the dead?

2.  Complete revelation did not come until God spoke truth through Christ - Heb. 1:1-2; Jno. 14:6; 16:12-13.

3. Since the Old Testament is a tutor & shadow - Expect its teaching on resurrection to be only a shadow of the substance of NT truth (Gal. 3:24; Col. 2:16-17; Heb. 10:1).

I.  THE COMMONLY HELD VIEW OF DEATH IN THE OLD TESTAMENT.

  A.  Death Was Seen As The End - Gen. 3:19; Psa. 103:14-16; Eccl. 12:7.

  B.  Notable Occurrences Which Illustrated Life Beyond Death (Life On Earth):

    1.  Translations (transfer, change): Enoch (Heb. 11:5); Elijah (2 Kgs. 2:11-12).

    2.  Resurrections: Widow's son (1 Kgs. 17:21- 22); Shunammite woman's son (2 Kgs. 4:32-37); Man thrown in Elisha's tomb (2 Kgs. 13:20-21).

  C.  Death (Sheol) Ended Opportunities Of Man On Earth.

    1.  Place of the dead, the Pit, destruction.

    2.  No hope - Psa. 6:5; 88:10-12; 115:17.

  D.  Death Would Not End The Saint's Relationship With God - Psa. 139:8 (Prv. 15:11).

    1.  Implies life beyond the grave.

    2.  Psa. 17:15 - Expected to awake after death.

II.  DEVELOPMENT OF THE IDEA OF RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD IN THE OLD TESTAMENT - cf. Acts 24:14-15.

  A.  Job.

    1.  7:9-10 - Death ends existence on earth.

    2.  14:1, 7, 10-12, 13-14 - He accuses God with consigning man to frailty without hope - Yet he hints at the hope of resurrection.

    3.  19:25-27 - See God without his body.

  B.  Abraham - Gen. 22:5 (cf. Heb. 11:19).

  C.  Moses - Exo. 3:6, 15 -- Lk. 20:37-38.

  D.  David - 2 Sam. 12:23 (life beyond death); Psa. 16:8-11.

• Progression in OT:  From speculation -- to faith -- to expression -- to confident assurance.

III.  THE MESSIAH'S RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD - Lk. 24:46.

  A.  Prophecies Indicate Resurrection:

    1.  Not left in death - Psa. 16:8-11 -- Acts 2:24-31.

    2.  Begotten "this day" - Psa. 2:7 -- Acts 13:32-37 (Isa. 55:3; Psa. 16:10).

    3.  Chief cornerstone - Psa. 118:21-24 -- Acts 4:10-11; Rom. 1:4.

    4.  Days prolonged - Isa. 53:9-10 -- Jno. 10:17-18.

IV.  JESUS: OUR HOPE OF RESURRECTION - Jno. 11:25.

  A.  A Spiritual Resurrection - Jno. 5:24-25 (Dan. 12:2; Rom. 6:4-5).

  B.  A Bodily Resurrection - 1 Cor. 15:20-23.

    1.  Heb. 2:17-18 - Death will not destroy our relationship with God!

    2.  1 Cor. 15:51-57 - Victory in Christ!

Conclusion

1.  What was revealed about resurrection in the Old Testament in shadowy terms is fully manifested in the New Testament, the gospel of Christ!

2.  Jno. 5:28-29 - When you are resurrected, what will you receive?!