The Bible's resurrection accounts teach us much about the resurrection to come. People who were restored to life right here on earth were reunited with their loved ones. The future resurrection will be similar-but much better. As we learned in Chapter 3, God's purpose is that the whole earth be made into a paradise. So the dead will not be raised to life in a world filled with war, crime, and sickness. They will have an opportunity to live forever on this earth in peaceful and happy conditions.
Who will be resurrected? Jesus said that "all those in the memorial tombs will hear his [Jesus'] voice and come out." (John 5:28, 29) Similarly, Revelation 20:13 says: "The sea gave the dead in it, and death and the Greave gave up the dead in them." This collective grave will be emptied. All those billions who rest there will live again. The apostle Paul said: "There is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous." (Acts 24:15) What does that mean? In Paradise, the dead will be reunited with their loved ones.
"The righteous" include many of the people we read about in the Bible who lived before Jesus cam to the earth. You might think of Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Moses, Ruth, Esther and many others. Some of these men and women of faith are discussed in the 11th chapter of Hebrews. But "the righteous" also include Jehovah's servants who die in our time. Thanks to the resurrection hope, we do not have to be afraid of dying. - HEBREWS 2:15.
Next time: Real Hope for Your Loved Ones Who Have Died - Conclusion of "ALL THOSE IN THE MEMORIAL TOMBS"
From the j.w.org publications
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