Resurrection Fulfilled
Here’s a simple way to show the general resurrection happened in the first century.
The general resurrection was one of the Old Testament promises that God made to Israel (Isa. 25:8, Dan. 12:2). And Jesus said he came to fulfill the promises made to Israel. In fact, he said not one jot or tittle could pass from the law until it was ALL fulfilled (Matt. 5:17–18). In other words, until the general resurrection (and all the other Old Testament promises) happened, God’s people would remain under all the requirements of the law, including Sabbath keeping, dietary regulations, physical circumcision, and everything else.
We can be confident Jesus did fulfill the Old Testament promises–including resurrection–because Paul said that the Old Testament promises are “yes” and “amen” in Christ (2 Cor. 1:20). Specifically regarding the resurrection…When Martha asked Jesus about this event, Jesus said “I am the resurrection and the life…Whoever lives and believes in me shall never die” (John 11:25–26, italics mine). Once again, we see Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament promise of resurrection.
This is why Jesus said to the Jews of his day, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes...has passed from death into life. Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is [present tense], when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live” (John 5:24–25, italics mine). This is resurrection.
This also why Paul said, “Even when we were dead in trespasses, [God] made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:5–6, italics mine).
In another passage, Paul said, “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Col. 3:1–2, italics mine).
All these passages show that the promised resurrection happened in the first century. Note: the general resurrection was a spiritual event, which is why Jesus said, “Whoever lives and believes in me shall never die [spiritually] (John 11:26). Obviously, everyone still dies physically.
For more about this issue–and possible objections–get my book The End Is Here: How the New Testament’s Prophecies Were Fulfilled.
Alex Polyak, The Bible Fulfilled 2/25/24
