What Is the Hope of Christ’s Sheep?

 

 

The Bible speaks clearly about resurrection—God’s promise to raise the dead to life. Jesus Himself taught about two resurrections: one to life and one to judgment. For those who belong to Christ, called His sheep, the resurrection is the foundation of their hope of eternal life with Him.

 

 

Jesus said:

 “Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth: those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.” (John 5:28–29, LSB)

 

The first resurrection is the resurrection to eternal life for the righteous. Jesus, as the first fruits of those who have died, has made this resurrection certain:

 

“But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.” (1 Corinthians 15:20, LSB)

 

 

Those who are Christ’s will be raised at His coming:

 “But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming.” (1 Corinthians 15:23, LSB)

 

Jesus spoke of His sheep—those who hear His voice and follow Him—and promised them eternal security:

 

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish—ever; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.” (John 10:27–28, LSB)

 

The hope of Christ’s sheep is resurrection to everlasting life in the Kingdom of God. Paul explains that this resurrection involves receiving imperishable, glorious, powerful spiritual bodies:

 

“It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.” (1 Corinthians 15:44, LSB)

 

 

Believers will be changed in an instant at the last trumpet:

 “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.” (1 Corinthians 15:52, LSB)

 

The second resurrection occurs after the thousand-year reign of Christ. It is for the rest of the dead, those not in the first resurrection. It leads to judgment at the great white throne:

 

“And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.” (Revelation 20:12, LSB)

 

 

Blessed are those who have part in the first resurrection:

 “Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no authority, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.” (Revelation 20:6, LSB)

 

The hope of Christ’s sheep is sure: resurrection to eternal life, reigning with Christ, and dwelling forever with God in righteousness and peace.

 

 

Referenced Scriptures (LSB):

 

John 5:28–29, “Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth: those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.”

 

1 Corinthians 15:20, “But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.”

 

1 Corinthians 15:23, “But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming.”

 

John 10:27–28, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish—ever; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.”

 

1 Corinthians 15:44, “It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.”

 

1 Corinthians 15:52, “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.”

 

Revelation 20:12, “And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.”

 

Revelation 20:6, “Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no authority, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.”