Isaiah 26:19

Was Isaiah referring to national survival or to individual resurrection here? Probably both. [Note: See Chisholm, A Theology . . ., p. 322.] He had been talking about the near-death experiences of Israel in the preceding verses (Isaiah 26:16-18), and he had already revealed that a remnant would enter the Millennium (Isaiah 25:6-10; cf. Ezekiel 37). However, in the same passage the prophet also looked forward to the abolition of death itself (Isaiah 25:7-8). So probably we have both a figurative and a literal resurrection in view, a figurative resurrection of Israel in the future and a literal resurrection of Israelites in the future (cf. Daniel 12:2; Job 19:26). As dew descends, so God would come to the Israelites bringing refreshment and vitality (cf. Psalms 72:6; Hosea 14:5).

Interestingly, Young, who interpreted many of Isaiah’s predictions figuratively, insisted, "The language [of Isaiah 26:19] is not to be taken figuratively" (2:226). [Note: Young, 2:226. See also Archer, p. 627.] He believed, correctly I think, that believers who actually died physically are in view here and that physical resurrection is in view.