ORIGINS of the WALKING DEAD

CHRISTIAN WITNESS & TESTIMONY

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THE CHRISTIAN OUTDOORSMAN'

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...that Glorify God

"ORIGINS of The Walking Dead"

by Steven G. Coy
“Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.” (Matthew 27:51-53)

There is a seemingly very popular and contemporary program on TV these days entitled, The Walking Dead. Though this writer does not happen to be a fan of the series, or even a casual viewer for that matter (I've never had the desire to watch the show, thank you), it apparently has a large and faithful audience after five seasons.

In fact, the subject of zombies – the key topic of the series - has become a hot topic and a buzzword of the media, in particular the Hollywood scenario. An online article appeared recently on one of the big three news networks having to do something about 'the safest place to hide from zombies'. However, when I returned to quote the exact wording of the article, I was unable to find it. It apparently had a short-lived run as a news item, which, to be honest, was somewhat of a surprise to me. However, another article found on Fox News was entitled,
“Ivy League study dedicated to zombie attacks”
I'm not sure of your take on zombies, such as, “Are they real?, or “Could they be real?”, or “Will they be real some day?”... but, and anyhow, here is the definition found online in Wikipedia:
“Zombies are fictional undead creatures, typically depicted as mindless, reanimated human corpses with a hunger for human flesh. Zombies are most commonly found in horror and fantasy genre works.”

So, moving on, our focus here is not on zombies, but on the term, “the walking dead”, and what the Bible might have to say about the subject of dead people walking again.

Believe it or not, there are at least seven or more examples of individuals or persons who could be considered the walking dead. In other words, individuals or groups of people who were once dead, but who walked or lived again after their deaths. Hence, the application of the term, 'the walking dead'.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego
In the Old Testament, three Hebrew friends of the prophet Daniel got in hot water with a powerful Babylonian ruler named Nebuchanezzar. Because they would not bow down to the ruler, and because of their dedication to God, things got worse, until they were finally condemned to execution by the fiery furnace.

But, totally trusting in God, the Hebrews declared to the king, “...our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.” (Daniel 3:17)

As if things were not bad enough, the enraged ruler, full of fury, then commanded his mighty men of valor to heat the furnace seven times more than it was normally heated. The furnace became so hot, that when the king's men threw the three Hebrews into the furnace, they were killed themselves by the intense heat.

“And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.” (vs 23)

But the men of God? Well, for all practical purposes, these three men should have been dead before they hit the bottom of the furnace - fried to a crisp, so to speak. But when king Nebuchanezzar peered into the furnace, much to his astonishment and terror, he said,
“Look! I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like a son of God.” (vs 25)

Scripture goes on to say, as the king and his men gathered together to look upon the victims,
“...and they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed, nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them.“ (vs 27)

Truly, this is a miraculous biblical account of formerly 'dead' men again walking alive through the power of God. It is an Old Testament account... of the walking dead.
Elijah and the Widow's son
“Now it happened after these things that the son of the woman who owned the house became sick. And his sickness was so serious that there was no breath left in him. So she said to Elijah, “What have I to do with you, O man of God? Have you come to me to bring my sin to remembrance, and to kill my son?”

And he said to her, “Give me your son.” So he took him out of her arms and carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his own bed. Then he cried out to the Lord and said, “O Lord my God, have You also brought tragedy on the widow with whom I lodge, by killing her son?” And he stretched himself out on the child three times, and cried out to the Lord and said, “O Lord my God, I pray, let this child’s soul come back to him.” Then the Lord heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came back to him, and he revived. 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!””
(I Kings 17:17- 23)
The widow's son, who was dead, walked again. Another Old Testament account... of the walking dead.
Lazarus
There was a friend of Jesus, whose name was Lazarus. He was the brother of Mary and Martha of Bethany. Jesus loved them as his own kin. But one day the sisters sent word to Jesus, with heart-breaking news that Lazarus was gravely ill.

After two more days of demanding ministry in Jerusalem, and after two more days of travel to Bethany, Jesus arrived after Lazarus had died and been buried in a tomb for four days. Martha lamented to the Lord, if only You had been here, Lazarus would not have died. But Jesus said to her,
“Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?”

Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said,

“Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.”

Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!”   And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.” Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him.“ (John 11:40-45)

Lazarus came alive from the dead, and surely looking somewhat like a mummy, waddled out of the tomb, shortly to again see his friend Jesus face-to-face. A New Testament account... of the walking dead.
“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.”
(Jesus Christ, recorded in the New Testament book of John, chapter 11 verse 25)
The dead Saints at Christ's resurrection
There were those who were called 'saints' who 'fell asleep', or died, before His crucifixion and resurrection. They believed that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, and the Savior of the world. They were raised from the dead and the grave when He arose on the third day after His burial. They then lived out the remainder of their natural lives and died natural deaths. One day they will be resurrected unto eternal life, to live forever and to receive their rewards in heaven,
“Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.”   (Matthew 27:51-53)

They were dead, they were resurrected to life when Jesus arose, and they walked and lived. A profound New Testament account of the walking dead.
   All believers in Christ
Those who die physically, but are in Christ through faith, are resurrected to a body of glory, to dwell forever with Christ and Almighty God the Father.

All believers, who trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and His sacrifice at the cross of Calvary, shall be the eternal evidence of God’s eternal plan for the Origins of the Walking Dead.

“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.”   (John 11:25)