We believe that JESUS died on the cross, was buried and rose again from the dead after three days. Earlier, He said “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” (John 2: 19) He was referring to His material body.

When Jesus rose again from the dead, He was seen by the disciples and by the brethren of the church. (1 Cor. 15: 3-6) But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. The resurrection of JESUS is a picture of what will happen in the future, that is the resurrection of all who have died in Him, which He will rise up on His return. 1Th 4:16  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 1Th 4:17  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.The resurrection is an earlier prophesy in the book of Ezekiel 37.