According to Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, all human beings are suppose to die and some day face the judgement. There were however a few people were able to die more than once before facing the judgement as recorded in the Bible.
Son of the widow of Zarephath 1 Kings 17:1-24
Elijah was a prophet in the Old Testament who prophesied there was going to be a drought in Israel. The lack of rain led to shortage of food but God made provisions for Elijah. The ravens fed him and he drank from the Brook Cherith. After a while the Brook dried and God sent him to live with a widow who was to take care of him. The interesting thing was this was not a rich widow. She was getting ready to eat what may be her last meal with her son. They didn’t have enough for the two of them yet God sent Elijah to take a share of the little they had left. 1 Kings 17:12 So she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I do not have bread, only a handful of flour in a bin, and a little oil in a jar; and see, I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die.”
The widow was obedient and generous she prepared the meal as requested by Elijah and the result of her generosity was they never lacked. The drought was not a concern to them because God was their sufficiency. 1 Kings 17:15-16 So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and her household ate for many days. The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke by Elijah.
As time went by, the son of the widow became very sick and died. How could it be that this woman who had been generous and giving had to face such tragedy? The woman cried to Elijah and Elijah cried to God. God answered the prayer of Elijah and the child came back to life. 1 Kings 17:23-24 And Elijah took the child and brought him down from the upper room into the house, and gave him to his mother. And Elijah said, “See, your son lives!” Then the woman said to Elijah, “Now by this I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is the truth.”
The son of the widow of Zarephath was revived back to life when God’s prophet, Elijah prayed. God was glorified indeed.
Lazarus John 11:1-44
Lazarus was a dear friend to Jesus along with his sisters Mary and Martha. When Jesus received the news that Lazarus was sick, the sisters sent for Jesus Christ to perhaps come and pray for healing for their brother. Jesus told his disciples the illness was not to death but he stayed longer two more days and Lazarus died. Read what Jesus said in John 11:4 When Jesus heard that, He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” The sisters, Mary and Martha at this time already resorted to their fate and were mourning along with the rest of the community. There hope was to see their brother again in the new life but God had a different plan. Sometimes our timings don’t line up with God’s timing because He has a better plan for us in the grand scheme of things.
When Jesus arrived in Bethany where Lazarus and his sisters lived, He asked that the stone be rolled away from the tomb where Lazarus was buried. At this time the dead body must have been smelling and the people wondered what on earth Jesus was trying to do. The Bible says Jesus cried out with a loud voice calling Lazarus to come forth (John 11:43). The dead heard the voice of Jesus and obeyed. Lazarus came back to life. The people had to loose him and take off the graveclothes from him. This same Lazarus sat at the table with Jesus Christ (John 12:2).
Jesus said I am the Resurrection and the life. Lazarus death and resurrection must have been part of God’s plan to encourage the people and show to them what Jesus was going to experience. Jesus had been telling His disciples about His death and Resurrection and they just could not come to a good understanding of such possibility.
Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. Jesus wept (John 11:35) and the people believed this was because of how much Jesus loved Lazarus which is not untrue. Could Jesus have wept also understanding just how much more significant Lazarus death and resurrection meant in the bigger picture of His ministry on earth. Jesus had the power to overcome death which He eventually did. Jesus came back to life and He is now seated on the right hand of God the Father.
Dorcas Acts 9:36-43
Dorcas was one of the disciples who lived in Joppa. Acts 9:36 At Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and charitable deeds which she did. Dorcas was a generous woman. Her generosity was experienced in many homes.
Dorcas became very sick and died. The widows testified to Dorcas generosity and begged Peter to come over and pray for her. Acts 9:40-41 But Peter put them all out, and knelt down and prayed. And turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. Then he gave her his hand and lifted her up; and when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive.
Dorcas was raised back to life and many who heard the story believed and turned to the Lord.
Jairus daughter Luke 8:40-56
Jairus was a ruler of the synagogue who had a 12 year old daughter that was sick and dying. He came running to Jesus begging Him to pray for healing for his daughter. Jairus believed Jesus could do something. He understood the authority that Jesus Christ had. He had faith and begged Jesus to heal her daughter.
While the conversation was still going on his servants came and informed him the girl had died. At this point Jesus told Jairus to keep on believing. It was his faith that made him come to Jesus in the first place. Luke 8:50 But when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying, “Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well.”
Jesus went to Jairus house and went into the room with Peter, James and John. they prayed and Jairus daughter came back to life. Luke 8:55 Then her spirit returned, and she arose immediately. And He commanded that she be given something to eat. Interesting this time Jesus told the parents not to tell anyone.
Son of the Widow of Nain Luke 8:11-17
Jesus encountered a crowd outside the city of Nain carrying the dead body of teh only son of a widow. Jesus was compassionate towards the mother and touched the coffin carrying the man. Then Jesus spoke to the dead man and he came back to life. Luke 8:13-15 When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother.
The mother received her son back to life and God was glorified.
The man who was thrown into Elisha’s tomb
Then Elisha died, and they buried him. And the raiding bands from Moab invaded the land in the spring of the year. So it was, as they were burying a man, that suddenly they spied a band of raiders; and they put the man in the tomb of Elisha; and when the man was let down and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet.
2 Kings 13:20-21
The son of the Shunamite woman 2 Kings 4:1-37
The Shunnamite woman and her husband showed hospitality to Elisha and his servant. Then Elisha felt he needed to return the favor. He asked his servant, Gehazi what he could to show huis gratitude. Gehazi pointed out to Elisha that the couple had no children and the husband weas old. They were not likely to have any kids except a miracle happens. Elisha prayed for them and prophesied they were going to have a san. 2 Kings 4:17 But the woman conceived, and bore a son when the appointed time had come, of which Elisha had told her.
The son became sick and died. The Shunnamite woman ran after Elisha to let him know what had happened. Then Elisha sent his servant Gehazi with her to go lay his staff on the boy but the woman insisted Elisha must come with her which he did.
Elisha locked himself in the room with the boy and prayed laying himself on the boy until he became warm and came back to life. 2 Kings 4:35 He returned and walked back and forth in the house, and again went up and stretched himself out on him; then the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes.
The woman gave Elisha a lifeless body but he returned to her a living son.
Eutychus Acts 20:7-12
Eutychus was one of the disciples in the early church who died during one of Paul’s ministration.
And in a window sat a certain young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep. He was overcome by sleep; and as Paul continued speaking, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. But Paul went down, fell on him, and embracing him said, “Do not trouble yourselves, for his life is in him.” Now when he had come up, had broken bread and eaten, and talked a long while, even till daybreak, he departed. 12 And they brought the young man in alive, and they were not a little comforted.
Acts 20:9-12
Jesus Christ is the resurrection and life. He overcame death assuring us His followers of a life that will no longer be able to be defeated by death.
Women received their dead raised to life again. Hebrews 11:35
Three times Jesus raised the dead before He himself made an open show of death and Resurrected never to die again but seated on the right hand of the Father.
