There is no doubt whatsoever that resurrection is one of the most important and basic

doctrines of the Scriptures. Without it salvation is a mockery, and the whole Divine

purpose of redemption falls to pieces. It is not therefore dispensational, that is, belonging

to any particular stewardship of truth, but runs as a foundation throughout every

dispensation. Each dispensation has a resurrection as the means of attaining its prize, and

also as a means of attaining its hope, and these need to be distinguished, otherwise

contradiction and difficulty will result.

However, we are not concerned at the moment to elaborate this, but to ask if the

Scriptures teach that the unsaved will be raised from the dead? Some definitely assert

that this is not so. Certain movements have held this as a doctrine for many years, so

there is nothing new in this view. Others believe it because they say they cannot see any

point in God raising unsaved sinners from the grave. Let us state this at the outset. Our

knowledge or capacity to understand is no basis for truth. If it were so, many of us would

have a very small Bible! There is one criterion and one only, namely, what saith the

Scriptures? And so to the Word of God we turn.

To those whose minds are already made up, John 3: 36 settles the matter:

But what does John mean by "life"? Fortunately we need be in no doubt of this. He

uses the word zoe, life, 36 times, alternating "life" with "eternal life":