“Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”

    “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”

    “Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: 14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. 15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. 16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: 17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. 18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. 20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. 24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.”

    “There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. 42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: 43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: 44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. 46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. 48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. 49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. 50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

    “...as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”

    “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.”

More important, Jesus said in John 11:25-26,

    “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?”

    “Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. 19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. 20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: 21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.”

    “Art thou not from everlasting, O LORD my God, mine Holy One? we shall not die. O LORD, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast established them for correction.

In Habakkuk 1:12 it is made plain that Habakkuk knew that he would not die, because he had given his life to the Lord. He also knew that those who come against God’s people have been "ordained" for judgment.”

To clarify this point we must consider that there are 2 lives spoken of in Scripture. There is Life in Christ, which is righteous and eternal, and there is life outside of Christ, which is a life of condemnation and judgment. Let’s let Scripture make our point for us.

In Jesus words, recorded in John 5:24-29,

So, there are two lives, 1) everlasting life and 2) a life of condemnation. There are also two resurrections, 1) the resurrection of life, and 2) the resurrection of damnation. (There are also two deaths spoken of in Scripture. We will address these later in this study.) But in consideration of the point at hand, please notice where the people are when they hear Jesus’ voice. They are in the grave and are called forth, either to the resurrection of life or the resurrection of damnation.

To better present this point, let’s turn to another passage of Scripture that examples this line of thought. The passage is a large passage that offers much in illustrating the topic under discussion. I not include a posting of the entire passage, but rather, I will ask you to read it from the Bible and follow along as we quote the passage portion by portion, establishing and exploring each phrase as we consider this most enlightening passage. Please read John 11:1-45.

Jesus’ friend, Lazarus was sick and sisters Mary and Martha sent someone to find Jesus, so that Jesus would go to Lazarus and keep him from dying. Jesus’ response was, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby." Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus and one would think that He would hurry to Bethany and heal his friend, but this is not how Jesus responded.

Jesus did NOT hurry to Bethany save his friend’s life, he stayed where He was (by the Jordan river, where John was baptizing) for two more days and Lazarus died. Jesus said that "…this sickness is no unto death…," yet Lazarus died. Did Jesus lie? Of course not, but then, it becomes apparent, as we continue, that the people, even Jesus’ disciples misunderstood the reasoning by Jesus’ statement, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby." They were confused about what happens when a person dies, but Jesus knew that there was something far more important that He was to teach and that was His power over death itself.

Jesus was not concerned about the actions that might be taken against him, if He were to return to or pass through Jerusalem on His way to Bethany. He had a mission that surpassed and eclipsed any human consideration for the welfare of self.

The next line of reasoning from Jesus’ lips is paramount to our current discussion.

In the process of healing, one of the most important factors is rest – sleep. While we sleep, our bodies heal. The disciples knew this, but the fact that they considered this, only revealed that they did not understand what Jesus was trying to tell them.

Verse 13:

It is clear, to the discerning mind, that Jesus not only referred to death as a sleep, but that this is the term he used, first, when informing that He was going to raise Lazarus from the dead. In Jesus’ own words, it is declared that death is a sleep. Not only did He declare this to His disciples, but to others also. (Please consider the raising of Jairus’ daughter in Luke Chapter 8, especially verse 39.)

Verse 15:

When Jesus told Martha that her brother, Lazarus, would rise again, she knew the truth concerning the resurrection and when it would take place. She knew that it would be at the last day. And, of course, this is what the whole of Scripture teaches. In John 5:24-29, Jesus says:

The same doctrinal principle, found in John Chapter 5, is that which Jesus is now discussing with Martha. Notice that Jesus said, "…for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth…; unto one of two resurrections; either the resurrection of life (Eternal Life) or the Resurrection of Damnation. These are, clearly, two different resurrections. It does not say in these texts just when this would take place, but it is sure that it was to be at some time in the future. Please, notice also that Jesus said that "…all that are in the graves…" shall here His voice and shall come forth…" How could this be so if people are not in the grave when Jesus comes to receive them unto Himself. More pointedly, How could this be true if, in fact, people go to heaven or hell when they die?

The truth concerning this is made evident as we continue in our consideration of the raising of Lazarus, beginning again with verse 25.

Lazarus had been in the grave for four days and as is the way of nature, every one knew that he would be stinking from decomposition after this period of time.