All who are in their graves...

Q: So its hard to accept but I've finally accepted the fact that no one is currently in heaven or hell. The resurrection will come and our fates will be appointed,right? In Job 14, is he worried that he will not live again? Or that there is no resurrection? Since we won't have remembrance of anything when we are resurrected will we feel cheated when we wake to find out our fate? (John5:28)...is there a chance we may not be resurrected?

A: Thank you for your questions. Everybody is resurrected. There is nothing in the Bible that states otherwise. In fact, our eternity rests on the fact of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul addressed this subject in his first letter to the Corinthians. "For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins (1 Corinthians 15:16-17)." There will be a resurrection of the righteous (born again Christians) and the wicked (unbelievers). "I have the same hope in God as these men, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked (Acts 24:15)."Therefore, regardless of what one believes about Jesus Christ, there is no chance there will not be a resurrection. As far as Christians go, our "fates" are already appointed. This is not something we will only learn at the resurrection. Assurance of our salvation, our fate, is a central piece of our faith in Jesus Christ. Scripture reminds us of the assurance of our salvation (1 John 5:10-13). Jesus Christ testified of our assurance (John 5:24). God will keep us from falling (Jude 1:24). We are secure in God the Father's hand (John 10:29). Nothing can separate us from God (Romans 8:38-39). We are sealed by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30). A Christian will not only be resurrected, we will be resurrected to be with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. That is a guarantee from God!

I do not believe that Job 14 is evidence that Job does not believe that he will live again or that there is no resurrection. Given what Job was experiencing, it would stand to reason that what is written is the feelings of a distraught and depressed man who is in total despair over his circumstances. In chapter 14, Job is talking more about mankind and that our legacy is one of trial and tribulation that will end up in death.  From the beginning Job writes, "Man born of woman is of few days and full of trouble (Job 14:1)." This parallels the words of Jesus in the Gospel of John where He said, "In this world you will have trouble (John 16:33)." Nobody will dispute the fact that mankind does not live long on this earth, when compared to eternity, and that our lives are filled with trouble. Yet, one thing that is evident within this chapter is how Job seems to point towards the resurrection rather than deny it. While Job does ask the question, "If a man dies, will he live again (Job 14:14a)?" he goes on to say, "I will wait for my renewal to come (Job 14:14b)." The "renewal to come" could be an allusion to being resurrected. Some translations say "release from death" instead of "renewal to come." Job also says that God will "not keep track of my sin. My offenses will be sealed up in a bag; you will cover over my sin (Job 14:16b-17)." This appears to be a clear reference to the death of Jesus Christ on the cross. In order for God to resurrect any of us, He had to first take away the sin that caused death in the first place. Therefore, these passages of Job appear to confirm the reality of the resurrection.

In your question, you referenced John 5:28. This passage of scripture should settle any of the questions you have about the resurrection. "Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out—those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned (John 5:28-29)." All those who are in their graves will hear the voice of the Lord and "come out." That means they will be resurrected. There will not be anybody left in their graves. Those who do good, believe in Jesus Christ, will be resurrected to eternal life. Those who do evil, not believe in Jesus Christ, will be resurrected to be eternally condemned. This should be both an encouragement to the believer in Jesus Christ and motivation for a Christian to continue to be a witness for the Lord to those who do not yet know Him as their Savior. Jesus Christ said, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this (John 11:25-26)?” Now, if Jesus referred to Himself as the "resurrection," I think we can be confident that there is a resurrection. If He is the resurrection and the life, and He indwells every believer, what does that say about Christians? We are resurrected and have His life because He is in us. 

You made the statement that you have "accepted the fact that no one is currently in heaven or hell." I am assuming this is the reason behind why you are asking about the resurrection. If nobody is in heaven or hell, then there is no place to put people after they die. Therefore, there must not be a resurrection. Whether people are in heaven or hell has been debated by many people and I don't assume to be able to solve the dilemma. However, I do think there is evidence to suggest that we do go somewhere after we die. The Apostle Paul said, "We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8)." It is safe to conclude that when we die (away from the body) we are at home with the Lord (in His presence). This may just be a spiritual experience of some sort, since we do not get our spiritual bodies until the resurrection. However, this is evidence that I believe suggests that Christians go into the presence of the Lord in some conscious state after our death. There is also the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus. There it reads, "Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom; and the rich man also died and was buried. In Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom (Luke 16:22-23)." Hades and Abraham's bosom would appear to be actual places that, at least at one time in history, were occupied by unbelievers and believers. We clearly see that there is a conscious existence experienced after death even if it is not the actual heaven or hell. I pray that I have been able to shed some light on the subject of the resurrection and have given you some comfort about it. Grace and Peace.