Dr. Couch, I understand that there are but few resurrection passages in the OT? Is this true?
Well, not really. There are far more than you may think. Some are
obscure and may be hard to discover at first. For example: Isaiah 57:1-2
and Hosea 6:2.
Isaiah 57:1 reads: “The righteous man perishes, and no man takes it
to heart.” The righteous will be disregarded and repudiated by the
world. Unger notes that the time frame here is the tribulation period
when wickedness will abound (Matt. 24:9-12). Because of the excesses of
the unfaithful watchmen in Israel (Isa. 56:10-12), many of the godly
will perish in the violent persecutions under the apostate Jewish
leaders, who will side with the Antichrist (Rev. 13:1-18).
“Devout men are taken away” (v. 1b) refers to the “men of covenant
faithfulness” who will experience a violent death (Micah 7:2). The
“righteous man is removed from evil” (v. 1c) refers to the calamitous
divine judgments of the great tribulation which is about to burst upon
the wicked at that time. This refers to their martyrdom and the fact
that they die before all of the judgments climax toward the end of the
period of wrath.
With the death of the righteous, “he [the righteous] enters into
peace and they [all] rest on their beds” (v. 2a), i.e. “those who walked
in [God’s?] upright way” (v. 2b). Unger points out that the “entering
into peace” and “resting on their beds” shows they lie in calmness and
peace with the certainty of awakening at the resurrection. This is
virtually what is said to Daniel (Dan.12:1-2).
Hosea 6:2 reads: “[God] will revive us after two days; He will raise us up on the third day that we may live before Him.”
Unger points out that the Lord will restore the Jewish believing
remnant in every way: physically, politically and spiritually. This has
to do with the surviving remnant who make it through the tribulation
(Matt. 24:13; Rom. 11:26). There will also be the resurrection of the OT
saints who come to enjoy the millennial reign of the Son of David (Isa.
26:19; Dan. 12:2). They will be here to participate in the messianic
kingdom (Ezek. 37:1-14).
“In the third day He will raise us up.” Unger thinks this refers to
the physical resurrection of the OT Jewish saints who die in the
tribulation. The “third day” may point to the fact that Christ came
forth from the grave on the third day (1 Cor. 15:4). “And we shall
live,” or He will “revive us,” “make us alive.” The OT saints and the
godly remnant of Israel will be brought back to earth in a resurrection.
The purpose of God raising up His people is that they may live “in His
sight” and enjoy His favor and fellowship as in ancient times.
Verses like this prove the reason Martha could say to Jesus, “I know
that [Lazarus] will rise again in the resurrection on the last day”
(John 11:24).
Thanks for asking.
Dr. Mal Couch
