Answers about resurrection

On what day did Jesus die?

The timing and sequence of events in the last week of Jesus’ mortal life is very uncertain with nearly as many attempted chronologies as commentators. The one fixed time is the resurrection which occurred “on the first day of the week” before dawn (Lk 24:1; Mk 16:2-3); that is, early Sunday morning. But the day [...]

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Where did Jesus’ soul or mind go when he died?

When people die their bodies begin the process of turning to dust (decomposition) and they cease to be concious — i.e. their existence, including their mind, ends. …the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten. Their love and [...]

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How can we be sure that the Bible is true?

This is a quite complicated question, not least because of the very nature of the book. The Bible is often described as a library of books and this is very true. It was written over a period of about 1500 years with around 40 different authors making contributions. So to answer the question properly we [...]

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When did Christ rise? (Mark 16:9)

Q: If it is true that in the original Greek there “was no punctuation”, and different translations place the commas in different places, then that changes the understanding of the meaning of what is being said here. Holman, CEV and others place the comma in a way that implies that Jesus had already risen, before [...]

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Is cremation wrong?

No, cremation is not wrong. The Bible does not give instructions about what to do with a body after someone has died. When someone dies they eventually decompose and turn to dust (just as God said would happen — Gen. 3:19. Also see Ps. 104:29; Eccles. 3:20; 12:7). Cremation simply speeds this process up. At [...]

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What are the keys to hell and death? (Revelation 1:18)

The ‘keys of death and hades’ (Rev. 1:18 (ESV); ‘keys of hell and death’ (KJV)) are a metaphor for authority over death and the grave. Sometimes in the Bible ‘keys’ represent authority. For example, in Isaiah 22:22 God says the following about Eliakim: …I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of [...]

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Why did Jesus’ disciples and Mary not recognise him after the resurrection?

Beyond simple surprise that Jesus was alive again (hardly an expected outcome — unless they had been listening), it seems that Jesus prevented them from recognising him: When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they [...]

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Why was the cloth that covered Jesus’ body in the tomb folded?

It was actually the cloth that covered Jesus’ face: John 20:6-7 Then Simon Peter came … and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. The significance of [...]

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Did the thief on the cross go to heaven?

Luke 23:42-43 And he [the thief] said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” {43} And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” It’s probable that Luke 23:43 should read as follows: And he said unto him – Verily, I say unto thee [...]

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Who will be raised from the dead?

The Bible is not explicit on who will or will not be raised when Jesus returns. But we can draw some conclusions by carefully reading some passages. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. (Daniel 12:2) This [...]

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