The Bible tells us that “the Sadducees say that there is
no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all”
(Acts 23:8 ESV).But did you know that
the Pharisees believed that only the righteous would be resurrected?Our brother Wayne Jackson reported:
In his
discussion of the Pharisees, the Jewish historian Josephus declared that the
Pharisees “believe that souls have an immortal vigor in them,” and that there
will be eternal rewards and punishments for both the obedient and disobedient,
corresponding to how one has lived upon the earth — whether “virtuously or
viciously.” But only the righteous “shall have the power to revive and live
again,” i.e., be raised from the dead (Antiquities 18.1.3)[From the article, “The Resurrection of the
Wicked” on Christian.Courier.com].
But the Bible makes it clear
that there’s a great day coming when both the righteous and the wicked
will be resurrected from the dead:
vThe apostle Paul plainly stated: “there shall
certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked” (Acts
24:15 NASB).
vLikewise, Jesus said, “an hour is coming when
all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done
good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the
resurrection of judgment” (John 5:28-29 ESV).
vAnd consider these words from the Old
Testament:“Multitudes who sleep in the
dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and
everlasting contempt” (Daniel 12:2 NIV).
Jesus also said, “And do not
fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can
destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28 ESV).And based on the passages above, we know that
some of those bodies in hell will be bodies that were once in graves!The wicked will be resurrected!
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