The following "Question" was asked by a member of the congregation at Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, and "Answered" by their pastor, John MacArthur Jr. It was transcribed from the tape, GC 1301-D, titled "Bible Questions and Answers Part 6."  A copy of the tape can be obtained by writing, Word of Grace, P.O. Box 4000, Panorama City, CA 91412 or by dialing toll free 1-800-55-GRACE.  ©1976. All Rights Reserved.

Question

Why raise the dead at the Rapture if they are already with the Lord?

Answer

Because at the Rapture you are going to raise their "bodies"--their spirits are with the Lord, but their "bodies" are going to come out of the grave, and the bodies will be reunited with the spirits.  You say, "What's our body going to be like?" Just like Jesus Christ: 1 John 3:2, "We shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is."  And you read 1 Corinthians 15 if you want to know what you body is going to be like--that's exciting to read that.  I mean, you start reading about that body you are going to have and you can really get excited, especially if you check yourself out in the mirror--I mean, it gives you great hope--believe me!  Each year that goes by I am getting more anxious for my glorified body.  But there will be a resurrection.

Did you know also that the ungodly will be resurrected and given some kind of a body in which to be tormented?  Yes, Revelation, chapter 20, says that there will be a resurrection of the ungodly to the Great White Throne judgment.  In John 5, Jesus said, there will be a resurrection of damnation and a resurrection of life--two parts. 

The first resurrection was the resurrection of Jesus Christ; the resurrection of the Church saints at the Rapture; and the resurrection of the Old Testament saints at the Second Coming--those three form the first resurrection.  The second resurrection is the resurrection of all the ungodly at the Great White Throne and it happens at one time.

So resurrection is for the physical body--the glorified body to be joined with the spirit that is already with the Lord. 

Added to Bible Bulletin Board's "MacArthur’s Questions and Answers" by:

Tony Capoccia
Bible Bulletin Board
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