Resurrection is a real, visible, bodily event in which God raises the dead unto eternal life—not merely an invisible spiritual existence or a temporary return to mortal life.
Les Feldick defines resurrection as a unique, sovereign act of God that brings a person back to eternal life, never to die again—distinct from miracles like Lazarus or the widow's son, who were brought back only to die later. Departed saints, now in heaven without bodies, will be reunited with new bodies, and living believers will be changed, so together they meet the Lord in the air. The doctrine stands at the core of Christianity because Christ Himself was raised, never to die again.
1 Corinthians 15:22-23 — Paul explains the order of resurrection: as all died in Adam, so in Christ all will be made alive—Christ first, then those who are His at His coming.
John 5:28-29 — Jesus Himself promised a coming hour when all in the graves will hear His voice and come forth, showing resurrection is a future, bodily event.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 — This passage describes the resurrection of dead saints and the catching up of living believers together to meet the Lord in the air.
Jesus Himself promised a future resurrection: "Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation" (John 5:28-29). Paul likewise teaches a structured, bodily resurrection: "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming" (1 Corinthians 15:22-23). He reveals that believers will be "changed"—the dead raised incorruptible and those alive transformed "in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump" (1 Corinthians 15:51-52). The actual gathering is described in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17: "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: 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." Old Testament saints also looked forward to bodily resurrection: "For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God" (Job 19:25-26).
Les Feldick insists that resurrection is not merely being brought back to life. He uses the widow's son under Elijah and Lazarus as examples: both were raised from the dead but died again. True resurrection, he says, is the unique, sovereign act of God whereby a human being is raised from the dead into a life of eternity, never to die again. This is exactly what happened to Christ, and it is the very crux of the Gospel. Les also teaches that our resurrected bodies will not be invisible spirit beings like angels. Instead, we will eternally exist in a body patterned after the Lord Jesus's post-resurrection body. He describes the order of events: the souls and spirits of departed saints are already in heaven in Christ's presence, in bliss and blessing, but without bodies. At the great resurrection day, their descending soul and spirit are reunited with a new body, and together with living believers who are changed, they meet the Lord in the air. Les emphasizes that resurrection is unique to Christianity and is the basis of everything Christians believe. No other religion teaches resurrection as the Bible understands it, and this life does not end at the grave—believers must experience a biblical resurrection to enjoy eternal existence.
Les Feldick clarifies that resurrection is not simply bringing a dead person back to life. He gives the Old Testament widow's son under Elijah and Lazarus in Christ's earthly ministry as examples: both were raised but afterwards died again. Resurrection, he says, is the unique, sovereign act of God whereby a human being is raised from the dead into a life of eternity, never to die again.
Les says we will not be invisible spirit beings or have an angelic-type existence. Our resurrected body will be on the same order as this present body, though not the same flesh and blood. He points to the Lord Jesus in His forty days after His resurrection as the best illustration of what our resurrected body will be like.
Les points to a coming resurrection day when those who died in Christ are raised and living believers are changed and caught up with them to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52). Jesus similarly spoke of a coming hour when all in the graves would hear His voice (John 5:28-29). Paul also lays out the order in 1 Corinthians 15:22-23: Christ the firstfruits, then those who are Christ's at His coming.
Les says Old Testament saints certainly believed in resurrection. Job said, "I know that my Redeemer liveth... in my flesh shall I see God," which Les describes as resurrection. David, after the loss of his child, realized he could not bring the child back but said, "I shall go to him," speaking of resurrection life. Paul's teaching in 1 Corinthians 15 lays out the details more fully.
Departed Saints Meet the Lord in the Air
Les teaches that church-age saints who died are already in heaven in His presence but without bodies; at the great resurrection day their souls and spirits descend with the Lord and are reunited with new bodies, while living believers are changed.
Resurrected Body Like Christ's
Les answers how we will exist after resurrection—not as invisible angels but eternally in a body patterned after the Lord Jesus's resurrection body.
Resurrection vs. Brought Back to Life
Les defines resurrection as rising into eternal life, never to die again, and distinguishes it from temporary returns like the widow's son and Lazarus.
Unique to Christianity
Les stresses that resurrection is the foundation of Christianity and is not found in other religions; life after the grave requires a biblical resurrection.
Sovereign Act of God to Eternal Life
Les explains resurrection as God's unique sovereign act that brings the dead back, not to die again, but to a life of eternity, in line with man's immortal soul and spirit.
Old Testament Hope and Paul's Details
Les shows that Job and David believed in resurrection, and that 1 Corinthians 15 is the fullest revelation of its details and order.
Distinct from Other Religions
Les again highlights that no religion outside Christianity teaches resurrection as the Bible understands it, and uses the widow's son and Lazarus as negative examples.
Old Testament and John's Gospel
Les references Job's resurrection hope and Jesus's teaching in John 5 that all in the graves will come forth, showing resurrection was known in the Old Testament and confirmed by Christ.
John 5:28-29: Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
Jesus directly teaches that resurrection is a future, bodily coming forth from the grave.
1 Corinthians 15:22-23: For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
Paul lays out the order of resurrection, beginning with Christ and then those who belong to Him at His coming.
1 Corinthians 15:51-52: Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 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.
This describes how living believers will be changed and the dead raised incorruptible at the last trumpet.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17: 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: 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.
This passage connects the resurrection of dead saints with the catching up of living believers to meet the Lord in the air.
Job 19:25-26: For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:
Job's words show an Old Testament hope of bodily resurrection and seeing God in the flesh.
2 Samuel 12:23: But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.
David expressed confidence that he would one day join his departed child, reflecting a resurrection hope.
1 Kings 17:22: And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.
This miracle brought the widow's son back to mortal life, illustrating the difference from resurrection to eternal life.
John 11:44: And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
Lazarus was called out of the grave but later died again, contrasting with true resurrection.
No. Les Feldick teaches that we will not be invisible spirit beings or angelic-type existence. Our resurrected body will be on the same order as the present body, patterned after the Lord Jesus in His forty days after His resurrection.
No. Les Feldick says Lazarus was merely brought back to life and died again. Resurrection is a unique act of God that brings a person back to a life of eternity, never to die again.
The rapture includes the resurrection of dead saints and the changing of living believers. At that event, the souls of departed saints descend with the Lord, are reunited with new bodies, and together with living believers are caught up to meet the Lord in the air.
Watch the Teaching: From Adam to the Rapture: God's Plan for the Ages