April Fool? The Dead Will Rise – Old Testament or New Testament?

 No April Fool joke here.

Do the Old Testament and the New Testament have teachings about the Lord Jesus and resurrection of the dead? Search for yourself. I did and these passages below are some of what I found. Those who believe in the LORD Jesus will be resurrected—rise again. Jesus comforted people whose loved ones had died by explaining to them that those loved ones were merely sleeping (See Matthew 9:24, Mark 5:39, or Luke 8:52). Once again, we see Jesus addressing the same subject in the Old and New Testaments, revealing Himself to those who read only those books and emphasizing the same teaching, thus strengthening the truths He was teaching throughout the Bible.

It is exciting to know—to be reassured—that not only is Jesus Christ returning, but He will raise from the dead those who believe in Him as their Savior and we will all be in Heaven together with Jesus. That is part of the Good News of the Bible. Jesus was born, lived, and died as a human being, but the best news is that He was resurrected and is now in Heaven. He will come back again, just as He said, and we will live eternally with Him in a new home that He has prepared for us. We’ll serve Him forever. What a wonderful and unique opportunity. Yes, we will sing for joy! That is hopeful encouraging news. If you are among those who believe in Jesus as your Lord and Savior, share this Good News with everyone you meet. If you are not a believer…why not?

 

But those who die in the LORD will live; their bodies will rise again! Those who sleep in the earth will rise up and sing for joy! For your life-giving light will fall like dew on your people in the place of the dead! Isaiah 26:19

 

And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died. We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. So encourage each other with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

 

Prayer – Lord Jesus, thank you for Your promises. We look forward to Your return—whether it happens when we are already in the grave…or before…we are excited to know that You’ve prepared a place and an opportunity for us to serve You for eternity. Come quickly, Lord Jesus.

 

Meditate. Consider this promise from the Old and New Testaments that the dead in Christ will rise from their graves and then we who are still alive will be caught up to Heaven, too.

 

Verse of Salvation ~ As for us, we can't help but thank God for you, dear brothers and sisters loved by the Lord. We are always thankful that God chose you to be among the first to experience salvation—a salvation that came through the Spirit who makes you holy and through your belief in the truth. 2 Thessalonians 2:13

 

© 2025 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. 

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted. 

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm. 

 

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