As we’ve stated before on Answers From the Book, we believe that we should take everything the Bible says to be literal unless it is obvious we should not.  These verses before us should be taken literal.  Let’s look at them carefully to show that truth.  The Lord Jesus had just stated in John 5:24-25, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and NOW IS, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.”  In speaking of an hour which is coming, the Lord expressed here that that hour was present that the dead should hear His voice, and upon hearing His voice they would live.  Here, the Lord is speaking of His Word and His voice in calling those who are “dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1).  Those who are spiritually dead, who will listen and hear the truth of the Gospel of Christ, and will accept the Lord as their savior, will immediately receive eternal life as we read in 1 John 5:13, “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” 

Now, let’s move on to John 5:28-29 which is a statement from the Lord Jesus that says, “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.”  This refers to an hour, or time, when all those who are physically dead and are in the grave will wake at the voice of the Son of man.  Some will be raised to life, while some will be raised to damnation.  It is important to realize that these resurrections do not occur at the same time, and that this is a general rule, for we shall see that there are some who will not experience a physical death. 

It is crystal clear in the Bible that we cannot be saved by doing good works, so those who are raised to life have not earned that by doing good works.  Let’s read John 6:28-29 which says, “Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.”  The Lord makes it clear that it is by believing on Him that we receive eternal life.

Let’s go to 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 to learn about those who are raised unto the resurrection of life.  That says, “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. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 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. 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.”  When the Lord returns for His church, all those who have died physically died, will be raised, and along with all those who are alive and believe on the Lord Jesus, will rise to meet the Lord in the clouds, and “so shall we ever be with the Lord.” 

Now let’s go to Revelation 20:12-14 to learn about those who are raised to damnation.  That says, “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.” 

Dear reader, the Lord assures us that “all that are in the graves shall hear his voice.”  You will hear His voice someday even as I will hear His voice.  Will you be raised to life, or raised to damnation?  You will be raised to life if you have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your savior.  We are assured and we are warned in John 3:36, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”  Have you believed on the Lord Jesus?  Revelation 20:6 declares, “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power…”  (CC)  (615.6)