Do Jewish people believe in resurrection of the dead?

[CHRISTINE77]

I have often heard that practicers of the Jewish faith think that their reward is on earth rather than in heaven. Is this true? Also I was reading Acts 23 today and here is a quote from it:

Paul was aware that some were Sadducees and some Pharisees, so he called out before the Sanhedrin, “My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees; (I) am on trial for hope in the resurrection of the dead.”
7
When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the group became divided.
8
For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection or angels or spirits, while the Pharisees acknowledge all three.

Do Jewish people today believe in all three?

 

[Robbinson]

I have often heard that practicers of the Jewish faith think that their reward is on earth rather than in heaven. Is this true? Also I was reading Acts 23 today and here is a quote from it:

Paul was aware that some were Sadducees and some Pharisees, so he called out before the Sanhedrin, “My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees; (I) am on trial for hope in the resurrection of the dead.”
7
When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the group became divided.
8
For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection or angels or spirits, while the Pharisees acknowledge all three.

Do Jewish people today believe in all three?

There are varying views on this within mainstream judaism. Scripturally, yes, Jews believe in the resurrection (including a bodily). We see resurrection alluded to in the book of Job and the book of Macabees. We also so indirect references in Ezekial. There are also verses of resurrection to eternal life (or eternal punishment) in Isaiah.

As to common rabbinic Jewish thinking/practice, it is nevertheless true that Judaism, in general, does not emphasize the after life to the same extent as Christianity. There is not a well defined sense, litergy or doctrine regarding the specifics of heaven or hell. Thus, it is commonly said that Jews focus more on perfecting this world then worrying about or focusing on the afterlife. But even that is a generalization. Today is Yom Kippur and all Jews today are praying to be included in the “book of life” - this is a book not only of earthly life, but eternal life. This same book of life is mentioned in Exodus and in Revelation and itself implies an afterlife (if not resurrection).

Blessings,

Brian

 

[CHRISTINE77]

There are varying views on this within mainstream judaism. Scripturally, yes, Jews believe in the resurrection (including a bodily). We see resurrection alluded to in the book of Job and the book of Macabees. We also so indirect references in Ezekial. There are also verses of resurrection to eternal life (or eternal punishment) in Isaiah.

As to common rabbinic Jewish thinking/practice, it is nevertheless true that Judaism, in general, does not emphasize the after life to the same extent as Christianity. There is not a well defined sense, litergy or doctrine regarding the specifics of heaven or hell. Thus, it is commonly said that Jews focus more on perfecting this world then worrying about or focusing on the afterlife. But even that is a generalization. Today is Yom Kippur and all Jews today are praying to be included in the “book of life” - this is a book not only of earthly life, but eternal life. This same book of life is mentioned in Exodus and in Revelation and itself implies an afterlife (if not resurrection).

Blessings,

Brian

Thank you! I like the idea of the Book of Life. Where in Exodus is it cited?

 

[Robbinson]

Thank you! I like the idea of the Book of Life. Where in Exodus is it cited?

The exodus reference is below. I also cited the references in the NT.

Exodus:

Ex 32:32 - 33
**But now, if thou wilt forgive their sin–and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written." But the LORD said to Moses, "Whoever has sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book. **

New Testament

Php 4:3 -
**And I ask you also, true yokefellow, help these women, for they have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. **

Re 3:5 -
He who conquers shall be clad thus in white garments, and I will not blot his name out of the book of life; I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.

Re 13:8 -
**and all who dwell on earth will worship it, every one whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the *book of life *of the Lamb that was slain. **

Re 17:8 -
**The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is to ascend from the bottomless pit and go to perdition; and the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the *book of life *from the foundation of the world, will marvel to behold the beast, because it was and is not and is to come. **

Re 20:12
**And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Also another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, by what they had done. **

Re 20:15 -
**and if any one’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. **

Re 21:27 -
**But nothing unclean shall enter it, nor any one who practices abomination or falsehood, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life. **

Blessings,

Brian

 

[CHRISTINE77]

The exodus reference is below. I also cited the references in the NT.

Exodus:

Ex 32:32 - 33
But now, if thou wilt forgive their sin–and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written." But the LORD said to Moses, "Whoever has sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.

New Testament

Php 4:3 -
And I ask you also, true yokefellow, help these women, for they have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

Re 3:5 -
He who conquers shall be clad thus in white garments, and I will not blot his name out of the book of life; I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.

Re 13:8 -
**and all who dwell on earth will worship it, every one whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the *book of life ***of the Lamb that was slain.

Re 17:8 -
**The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is to ascend from the bottomless pit and go to perdition; and the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the *book of life ***from the foundation of the world, will marvel to behold the beast, because it was and is not and is to come.

Re 20:12
And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Also another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, by what they had done.

Re 20:15 -
and if any one’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Re 21:27 -
But nothing unclean shall enter it, nor any one who practices abomination or falsehood, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Blessings,

Brian

Thanks again. I researched a little on the Book of Life, and it seems there are two, the one in Revelations is the Lamb’s book, which basically, if you do not worship Christ you are blotted out from the Book of Life and will serve the AntiChrist.

The Book of Life in the Old Testament seems a little different.

 

[Robbinson]

Thanks again. I researched a little on the Book of Life, and it seems there are two, the one in Revelations is the Lamb’s book, which basically, if you do not worship Christ you are blotted out from the Book of Life and will serve the AntiChrist.

The Book of Life in the Old Testament seems a little different.

I personally think the books are the same. God (Jesus) is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews). The book of life is another way of saying those who are saved (who will have eternal life with God). Notice, we can be “blotted out of the book” (no eternal security).

Before Christ, that included those Jews who had faith in God (looking forward to the coming of the Messiah), and confessed and repented for their sins, and whose sins were covered by the Mosaic sacrifices. For Gentiles, it included a yearning for God and living in accordance with the moral law (which is within all of our consciences).

After Christ’s incarnation, death and resurrection, it includes all (Jews and Gentiles) who have faith in Jesus Christ as the Messiah (God) (this faith will lead to Baptism with water and the Holy Spirit) , who confess and repent from their sins and whose sins are atoned for by the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus as Messiah. It may also include (the Church tells us it may) those who do not know Jesus or have never heard the Gospel (and perhaps even those spiritually blinded by God as part of his greater plan (e.g, the majority of Jews) who yearn for God and live in accordance with the moral law (which is within all of our consciences).

But - the book of life remains the same and, as you can see, God’s salvation plan has remained the same, but is more fully developed after Christ (just as the Old Testament is made fuller and more completely revealed in the New Testament).

Blessings,

Brian

 

[Valke2]

I have often heard that practicers of the Jewish faith think that their reward is on earth rather than in heaven. Is this true? Also I was reading Acts 23 today and here is a quote from it:

Paul was aware that some were Sadducees and some Pharisees, so he called out before the Sanhedrin, “My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees; (I) am on trial for hope in the resurrection of the dead.”
7
When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the group became divided.
8
For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection or angels or spirits, while the Pharisees acknowledge all three.

Do Jewish people today believe in all three?

We believe God will ressurect (some) dead. God’s resurrection of the dead is one of the 13 principles of jewish faith set forth by Rambam. I don’t know what the difference between an angel and spirit would be, but Judaism certainly has its share of angels.