Resurrection Timing Indicators
Here is a list of statements by Jesus and the apostles concerning the timing of the resurrection.
AD 30: “For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death [die] till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom” (Matt. 16:27–28, NKJV).
Note: Jesus said some of his first-century audience would still be alive when the Son of Man came in His kingdom and “rewarded each according to his works.” Yet the apostle John said the “rewarding of each according to his works” would happen at the resurrection (Rev. 20:12–13 and 22:12). Therefore, logically, the resurrection must have happened in the first century.
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AD 52: “For this we [apostles] say to you [Thessalonians] by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air” (1 Thess. 4:15–17, NKJV).
Note: The apostle Paul said some of the Thessalonians he was speaking to (in the first century) would still be alive at the second coming and resurrection.
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AD 57: “Behold, I [Paul] tell you [Corinthians] a mystery: We shall not all sleep [die], but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory’” (1 Cor. 15:51–54, NKJV).
Note: Paul said some of the Corinthians he was speaking to would still be alive at the resurrection.
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AD 61: “There is about to be a rising again of the dead, both of righteous and unrighteous” (Acts 24:15, YLT).
Note: “About to be”—not in 2000+ years.
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AD 63: “They will give an account to Him [Jesus] who is ready to judge the living and the dead…For the time has come for judgment to begin” (1 Pet. 4:5, 7, 17).
Note: Jesus was ready to judge the living and the dead when Peter said this. The time had come. Yet the judgment of the living and the dead happens at the general resurrection (Rev. 22:11–13).
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AD 63: “I [Paul] do fully testify, then, before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who is about to judge living and dead at his manifestation and his reign” (2 Tim. 4:1, YLT).
Note: Jesus was about to judge the living and the dead when Paul said this. Yet the judgment of the living and the dead happens at the general resurrection (Rev. 22:11–13).
Conclusion: Jesus and the apostles expected the resurrection to happen in the first century—which means it must have happened.
For more information about the resurrection, get my book The End Is Here: How the New Testament Prophecies Were Fulfilled.
By Alex Polyak, Director of The Bible Fulfilled, 2/15/25
