HOPE OF THE RESURRECTION

But it may be asked, Does not Paul speak of the resurrection of the dead as the hope? Yes, and we will quote a few texts where he thus speaks of it. “He cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.” Acts 23:6. “But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets; and have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.” Acts 24:14, 15. “And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers; unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope’s sake, King Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews. Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?” Acts 26:6-8.HPGO 16.1

The above texts clearly present the resurrection as one branch of the hope, or one step in the fulfillment of events that are essential to the ushering in of the hope. It is at the resurrection that the saints are to be made immortal. “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.” 1 Corinthians 15:51, 52. As the saints are to be made immortal at the resurrection, if there were no resurrection, the eternal life would never be given, and so the hope of receiving a future kingdom would prove a failure.HPGO 16.2