“For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another, though my reigns be consumed within me.” (Job 19:25–27)

Job was a man of great character and faith. He was determined to trust God and do what was right, no matter what. “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him. He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him.” (Job 13:15–16)  Although he could not understand why God was allowing the trials he was experiencing, Job believed that God’s ultimate plan was for his good. “But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” (Job 23:10)

Job had far less knowledge of God and His ways than we do today, but he did have a special relationship with God and knew several important truths  about the resurrection that had not yet been revealed in Scripture.

1. Job believed his Redeemer was alive. Jesus did not begin to exist when he was born over 2000 years ago; He has always been (John 1:1-3) and will always be!
2. Job believed his Redeemer would one day stand on the earth. This was fulfilled in a limited sense during Christ’s earthly ministry, but the Hebrew word translated stand carries with it the idea of “to set up, establish, restore” and so this will more literally be fulfilled when Christ returns to earth, and sets up His earthly Kingdom.
3. Job believed in the bodily resurrection of the dead. Daniel 12:2 reads: “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” There will be a bodily resurrection of the dead. “And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.” (Revelation 20:13)
4. Job believed he would personally see God, and that his decomposed body would be restored. What Job didn’t seem to know, however, is that believers will receive a glorious body, just like that of the our resurrected Lord! David wrote: “As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.” (Psalms 17:15)  Paul wrote: “…the Lord Jesus Christ… shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body,” (Philippians 3:20–21).  John writes: “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” (1 John 3:1–3)

All of this is only possible because Jesus Christ rose from the dead and became the first-fruits of the resurrection of all them that believe (1 Cor. 15:20-57). ~Pastor DAvid