Bible Dictionary Resurrection

Resurrection of Christ Vatican Pinacoteka

BIBLE DICTIONARY

Resurrection

The resurrection consists in the uniting of a spirit body with a body of flesh and bones, never again to be divided. The resurrection shall come to all, because of Christ’s victory over death. Jesus Christ was the first to be resurrected on this earth (Acts 26: 23; 1 Cor. 15: 23; Col. 1: 18; Rev. 1: 5; cf. Matt. 27: 52-54).

Others had been brought back from death, but were restored to mortality (Mark 5: 22-43; Luke 7: 11-17; John 11: 1-45), whereas a resurrection means to become immortal, without blood, yet with a body of flesh and bone.

All will not be raised to the same glory in the resurrection (1 Cor. 15: 39-42; D&C 76), nor will all come forth at the same time (see 1 Cor. 15: 23; Alma 40: 8). Christ was first; the righteous have precedence over the wicked, and come forth in the first resurrection, whereas the unrepentant sinners come forth in the last resurrection (cf. Rev. 20: 5-13).

The N.T. gives ample evidence that Jesus rose with his physical body: He ate fish and honey (Luke 24: 42-43); he said he had flesh and bones (Luke 24: 39); the people touched him (Luke 24: 39-40; John 20: 25-29); the tomb was empty (Luke 24: 2-3; John 20: 1-10); and the angels said he had risen (Mark 16: 1-6).

One of the most fundamental doctrines taught by the Twelve was that Jesus was risen from the tomb, with his glorified, resurrected body, as in Acts 1: 21-22; Acts 2: 32; Acts 3: 15; Acts 4: 33. To obtain a resurrection with a celestial, exalted body is the center point of hope in the gospel of Jesus Christ. The resurrection of Jesus is the most glorious of all messages to mankind.

Latter-day revelation confirms the reality of the resurrection of Christ and of all mankind, as in Alma 11: 41-45; Alma 40: 1-26; 3 Ne. 11; D&C 76; Moses 7: 62.