This inquiry examines the theological prospects of the resurrection of fetuses and infants within the "New Earth" promised by Scripture. Recently, Gerrit Lösch, a member of the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses, made statements suggesting uncertainty regarding the resurrection of aborted fetuses and implying that individuals might be resurrected in a state of physical impairment. Such assertions, however, appear to represent a theological departure—if not a complete state of confusion—from the biblical principles of Christ’s omnipotent ransom and the perfection of divine re-creation.
In contrast to these increasingly restrictive and mechanistic views held by modern organizational leadership, this paper juxtaposes the dynamic mechanism of restoration depicted in the Book of Ezekiel and the early Church Father Irenaeus’s concept of the Millennium as a "gymnasium" for attaining incorruptibility. The resurrection of a fetus is not a mere "continuation of deficiency," but a process of complete restoration and ethical validation under the sovereignty of God. Through a rigorous exegesis of the following scriptures, we shall clarify the continuity of life and the hierarchical structure of salvation in the world to come.
The Mechanism of Physical Restoration: Ezekiel’s Prophecy and Immediate Healing
Modern interpretations from certain organizations—suggesting that individuals might be resurrected with physical impairments or remaining agnostic about the resurrection of fetuses—stand in direct contradiction to the restorative process described in Scripture. The Book of Ezekiel provides a meticulous depiction of the dynamic re-creation of the human form, far transcending mere animation.
Ezekiel 37:4-8, 12-14 "Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! ... I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life.’ ... O my people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them. ... I will put my Spirit in you and you will live."
This prophecy serves as a legal guarantee that resurrection is not a "continuation of past deficiency" but a perfect re-constitution through the breath (Spirit) of God. Furthermore, the fact that Jesus immediately healed even those who failed to show gratitude (Luke 17:17-19) confirms that the starting point of the Millennial Kingdom is the immediate and total restoration of mind and body.
The Resurrection of Fetuses and Infants: Nurturing in the "New Earth"
The resurrection of those who perished in the womb or in infancy must be understood within the context of the "abolition of the curse" regarding childbirth and the protection of life.
- Unconditional Acceptance (Luke 18:15-17): "Let the little children come to me... for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these."
- Prophecy of Painless Birth (Isaiah 66:7-9): "Before she goes into labor, she gives birth... Can I bring to the moment of birth and not give delivery? says the Lord."
- Grace for the Innocent (Deuteronomy 1:39): "And the little ones... who do not yet know good from bad—they will enter the land. I will give it to them."
Regarding the form of their resurrection, we can infer either a transition to a completed adult state (as with the first Adam) or a miraculous nurturing process overseen by Christ and his co-rulers—perhaps involving surrogate gestation (paralleling Mary’s experience) or the utilization of the New Earth’s abundant resources (Isaiah 11:6-9).
Furthermore, should the biological father be unrighteous and subject to destruction, the soul of the infant is entirely severed from that negative lineage. As the Almighty who can "raise up children for Abraham out of these stones" (Matthew 3:9), God can perform a genetic renovation at the DNA level, integrating the child into the lineage of a new, righteous father.
"Many Times as Much" and the Eternal Dwelling of Descendants
Most notably, Scripture provides a legal promise that those resurrected will form new families, with their lineage enduring throughout the ages. Ezekiel explicitly states that the resurrected people will multiply and remain through successive generations.
Ezekiel 37:25 "They will live in the land I gave to my servant Jacob... they and their children and their children’s children (grandchildren) will live there forever."
This promise of an eternal lineage aligns perfectly with Jesus’ promise in Matthew 19:29, which the early Church Father Irenaeus interpreted as a physical and familial reward to be realized during the Millennium.
Matthew 19:29 "And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life."
The Multilayered Coexistence of Humanity (Krisis)
In the Millennial Kingdom, a divine "Krisis" (appropriate distinction/separation) will be administered based on each individual’s background and spiritual maturity. The core intent of this structure is to restore (undo) the "reversion of Eden"—where the first human couple bypassed God’s gradual educational process and rejected spiritual maturity—through a righteous process of judgment and re-education.
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Resurrected Righteous (Previously Married/Polygamous):
They become "like the angels" (Matthew 22:30), transcending sexual desire to fulfill priestly and administrative roles. -
Resurrected Righteous (Previously Single/Childless):
Based on Matthew 19:29 and Ezekiel 37:25, they are granted the blessing of forming families and witnessing their descendants dwell forever. -
Resurrected Ignorant (Unbelieving/Polygamous):
Those who lived according to worldly or instinctive standards. They must first learn self-control and monogamous loyalty in a "neither marrying nor being given in marriage" state until they achieve spiritual maturity. -
Resurrected Ignorant (Single/Childless - Second Chance):
Those who had no opportunity to build a family or failed to take on that responsibility. Through education, they learn "godly love" and "parental responsibility" before being assessed (Krisis) for their readiness to form a household. -
Those Liberated from Unrighteous Marriages (The Abigail Model):
As seen in the case of Nabal (1 Samuel 25), the unrighteous spouse is judged, while the faithful heart is granted a new bond under the protection of a Christ-figure. -
The Great Crowd (Tribulation Survivors):
Righteous ones who survive without experiencing death. They maintain their current marriages and continue to multiply as the foundational population of the New Earth.
The Standard of Sincere Love: The Spirituality of Ruth and Boaz
In Ruth 3, even though the young woman Ruth lying beside Boaz in bed,
he was not driven by momentary lust, nor did he treat her as his personal
possession; instead, he proposed that she marry a young man who was suitable
for her. Ultimately, no young man was found to marry Ruth, and because of
their relationship built on sincere care for one another, Boaz and Ruth were
united in marriage, lived a happy life together, and became ancestors of the
Messiah. This demonstrates that the standard for marriage in the Millennium is
not carnal desire, but “fidelity and sincerity toward God and one’s neighbor.”
God blesses such righteous people and multiplies their descendants.
The Ethical Judgment: The Final Test after the Millennium
As Irenaeus taught, the Millennium is a "gymnasium" where humans "become accustomed to beholding God" and attaining incorruptibility. Infants and fetuses are granted resurrection unconditionally, and God fulfills the promise that their children and grandchildren will dwell forever.
However, eternal life is not an automatic grant; it must be the result of a free-will choice. After maturing in a perfect environment and attaining the "full knowledge of God," every soul—including those resurrected as infants—must face the final release of Satan (Revelation 20:7-8). Through this autonomous choice, each individual must demonstrate that they are ethically worthy of being entrusted with eternal life, proving their inner integrity before God.
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