RESUSCITATIONS AND RESURRECTIONS

The Bible speaks of many people who died, being raised from the dead.  There are three examples in the Old Testament:
   1)  Elijah raised the son of the Zarephath's widow from the dead
        (1 Kings 17:17-22).
   2)  Elisha raised the son of the Shunammite woman from the dead
        (2 Kings 4:32-35).
   3)  A man was raised when his body touched Elisha’s bones
        (2 Kings 13:20-21).

However, the New Testament records far more people being brought back to life.
Those raised by Jesus Christ during His earthly ministry:
   1)  Jesus raised the son of the widow of Nain from the dead (Luke 7:11-15).
   2)  Jesus raised the daughter of Jairus from the dead (Luke 8:41-42, 49-55).
   3)  Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead (John 11:1-44).
Those raised by the Apostles:
   1)  When Jesus sent the disciples out to preach, He told them to do four things:
        "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, and cast out demons"
        (Matthew 10:8).  We are not told how many were raised by them at that time.
   2)  Peter raised Dorcas from the dead (Acts 9:36-41).
   3)  Paul raised Eutychus from the dead (Acts 20:9-10).
Unique examples of those raised from the dead:
   1)  Many were raised from the dead at the Resurrection of Jesus
        (Matt. 27:50-53). 
        [Note:  Matthew tells us of certain saints who came out of the graves.  There
        was an earthquake which took place at the time of Christ’s death, which
        caused the rocks to split and the graves to be opened, but Matthew is careful
        to explain that the bodies of these saints did not come out of their graves
        until "after His Resurrection," which indicates that Christ’s Resurrection
        took place first (See 1 Cor. 15:20).  These risen saints went into Jerusalem
        and appeared to many people, letting them know that Christ’s victory over
        death also guarantees believers will have victory over death].
   2)  The Two Witnesses will be killed and raised back to life (Rev. 11:3-12). 
        They will be killed by the "Beast" (Antichrist); then, three and a half days
        later, they shall be raised from the dead and ascend to heaven.

We do not know the total number of those raised from the dead, as Matthew's account does not tell us the number raised following Christ's Resurrection.  But with the exception of Jesus, Himself, and the Two Witnesses, it appears that all of those who were raised, eventually died.  None of those cases use the term "resurrection," Because Hebrews 9:27 says, "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment," the only explanation I can come up with is that what happened to them was a resuscitation rather than a resurrection.  Either way, each was definitely a miracle!