Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. (John 5:28-29)

Everyone Will Rise

Jesus taught that most people walk the broad path to destruction, with only a few choosing the narrow path to righteousness. This has always been the case with the human story. In the days of the great flood, only eight souls were saved from the whole earth. The nation of Israel was the greatest nation on earth, but through rebellion, they were destroyed by the will of the Father, with only a remnant surviving. Most people in the world do not believe in the one true God, and fewer accept Jesus as the Son of God. In the number of those who believe Jesus is God’s Son, fewer still follow His will. Regardless of the few that will be saved, all men have two things in common: all will die and all will be resurrected.

Death is a reality the world cannot deny. Marble monuments fill the landscape of every continent with the memories of those who lived and died. Death is an appointment that cannot be ignored. All men will die. The world knows this and believes in the reality of death. What the world does not accept is that there is life after death. It has seldom been the denial of death that men have struggled with, but the acceptance that there is any accountability to the actions of life. For most, death is the final curtain with nothing after. Jesus denies this, telling His disciples that all men will die and everyone will rise from the dead. What makes a distinction in the resurrection is the kind of life after death everyone will experience.

All men will die, including what happens to the world at the coming of the Lord. When the Lord returns, the universe will be obliterated with a great noise and fervent heat. Everyone will come forth from their graves by the power of God. No one will be left behind, and no one will be forgotten. It does not matter how a person died; they will be remembered. The righteous will enjoy a resurrection of life, and the unrighteous will face a resurrection of condemnation and judgment. Those who have done good will be resurrected to eternal life. For those who did evil they will face the damnation of eternal fire. Jesus taught that all men will rise from the dead. The Son of God taught that the righteous will be saved, and the unrighteous will suffer eternal torment with weeping and gnashing of teeth in eternal darkness.

God is not a respecter of persons. He does not regard the stature of a man or his place in history as a qualification for eternal life. The righteous will be saved, and those who do not do the will of the Father will be damned. Jesus taught that all men will be resurrected. There is life after death. The manner of life one lives will determine where eternity is spent. Solomon taught long ago that when life is over, judgment comes. The duty of all men is to fear God and keep His commandments. God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil. All men will be resurrected. Jesus came to be the resurrection of hope and life. Only those found in Christ will be raised to eternal life. The only hope of life after death to be joyous is when one obeys the word of God and is faithful unto death. You will be raised. The question remains what type of resurrections will that be.