SDA Sabbath School Lessons
Monday September 23, 1996


The Partial Resurrection
(Dan. 12:2)

At His trial, what did Jesus predict would eventually happen to the high priest and the members of the council?

Who are raised in this partial resurrection? Dan. 12:2.

Jesus assured Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin that they would be raised from the dead to see His coming in the clouds of heaven (Matt. 26:63, 64). All those who took part in His unjust trial and crucifixion will be raised from the dead to witness this glorious event.

Daniel 12:1 indicates that some righteous people, some who died with faith in Jesus, will also be raised to witness the advent. This is a wonderfully kind act on God's part. He wants to give a special reward to some of the faithful saints because they believed and taught the Bible truth about His advent. He wants them to see the fulfillment of their hopes.

"Graves are opened, and many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth . . . awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.' Daniel 12:2. All who have died in the faith of the third angel's message come forth from the tomb glorified, to hear God's covenant of peace with those who have kept His law. They also which pierced him' (Revelation 1:7), those that mocked and derided Christ's dying agonies, and the most violent opposers of His truth and His people, are raised to behold Him in His glory and to see the honor placed upon the loyal and obedient.
"Those who derided His claim to be the Son of God are speechless now. There is the haughty Herod who jeered at His royal title and bade the mocking soldiers crown Him king. There are the very men who with impious hands placed upon His form the purple robe, upon His sacred brow the thorny crown, and in His unresisting hand the mimic scepter, and bowed before Him in blasphemous mockery. The men who smote and spit upon the Prince of life now turn from His piercing gaze and seek to flee from the overpowering glory of His presence. Those who drove the nails through His hands and feet, the soldier who pierced His side, behold these marks with terror and remorse. With awful distinctness do priests and rulers recall the events of Calvary."--The Great Controversy, pp. 637, 643.

Why do you think God has a partial resurrection before the main resurrection?