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“For Thy salvation I do yearn, Adonai. I do yearn for Thy Salvation. Adonai for Thy salvation for I yearn.”
Orthodox Jewish Views of Resurrection
“Those who are born are destined to die, and those who die are destined to live” (Pirkei Avot, 4:22).
The concept of the bodily resurrection of the dead goes back to primordial Jewish history, perhaps to Chavah’s (Eve) reaction to the death of her son Hevel (Abel) but certainly to Abraham’s faith that God would raise Isaac from the dead after offering him up as a burnt offering (Genesis 22:1-14; Hebrews 11:17-19).
Among Orthodox Jews it is maintained that the resurrection of the dead will occur in the Messianic age, when the righteous dead will be brought back to life and given the opportunity to experience the perfected world (in Israel) that their righteousness helped to create. The wicked dead will not be resurrected.
Those buried outside of Israel will somehow be transported to the land, though it is preferable to be buried in the land of promise. This explains why Joseph wanted his bones to be taken from Eygpt to Israel (Hebrews 11:22). (The Midrash (Devarim Raba 11:9) says that Moses was buried outside of Israel, so that at the time of the Messiah, he will serve as a “merit” to make things easier for everyone else buried outside the land to come.) Cremation is considered to be heretical, since the destruction of the bones (and especially the “luz bone”) makes the reconstitution of the body somehow more difficult.
Faith in the bodily resurrection of the dead is a major doctrine of Orthodox Judaism. In fact, the second blessing of the Amidah (Gevurot), recited no less than three times a day by observant Jews, clearly references the resurrection of the dead.
Christian Views of Resurrection
The resurrection of the dead is of paramount importance for the Christian faith, and faith in the bodily resurrection of Yeshua from the dead is a touchstone of saving faith.
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