Sunday, June 26, 2011

The Two Resurrections

The Two Resurrections

First and Second Resurrection Overview

·         The term "first resurrection" is more a description of a type of resurrection, as opposed to a chronology. The first resurrection is namely the resurrection of the righteous to life eternal, which occurs at various times.

·         The second resurrection is after the millenium, and corresponds to the "second death", or the "resurrection of damnation".


The First Resurrection

·         The first resurrection started with Christ, as the first fruits of them that slept.  All are made alive after Him, but every man in his own order, Christ first, then those that are Christ's.  1 Cor 15:23 tells us that there is a sequence to the first resurrection, meaning different parts.

1 Cor 15:20-23  But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.  (21)  For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.  (22)  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.  (23)  But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.

Parts of the First Resurrection


Part 1 - (The First Fruits) Jesus's resurrection was the first part of the first resurrection. Amazingly, His death and resurrection coincided with the Jewish feast days foreshadowed the actual events.  He died on the Passover, and three days later, on the Feast of the Firstfruits, he was raised from the dead, along with many others who also arose after His resurrection. Jesus was the first begotten of the dead, and He and those who arose with Him were the First Fruits.

1 Cor 15:20  But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

Rev 1:5  And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

Col 1:18  And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

Mat 27:50-53  Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.  (51)  And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;  (52)  And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,  (53)  And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

Part 2 - (The Harvest) The second part of the first resurrection is the Rapture, the snatching away of the church, first those that are dead, and right afterwards, those that are alive. 

1 Thess 4:16-17  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:  (17)  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

1 Cor 15:51-53  Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,  (52)  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.  (53)  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

These Old Testament passages refer to the rapture event. The Indignation and Lord's anger speak of the Tribulation time period, and He will hide His Church from this wrath.


Psa 27:5  For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.

Isa 26:17-21  Like as a woman with child, that draweth near the time of her delivery, is in pain, and crieth out in her pangs; so have we been in thy sight, O LORD.  (18)  We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind; we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen.  (19)  Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.  (20)  Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.  (21)  For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.

Zeph 2:1-3  Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired;  (2)  Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the LORD come upon you, before the day of the LORD'S anger come upon you.  (3)  Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD'S anger.

·         Part 3 - The rapture of the two witnesses around the middle of the tribulation.

Rev 11:12  And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.

Part 4 - (The Gleanings) The fourth part of the first resurrection is the raising of the old testament and tribulation saints at the end of the tribulation.

These Old Testament passages speak of the resurrection of the Old Testament saints. 

Job 19:25-26  For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:  (26)  And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:

Dan 12:2-3  And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.  (3)  And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

Dan 12:11-13  And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.  (12)  Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.  (13)  But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.

Isa 25:8-9  He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it.  (9)  And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.

Psa 17:15  As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

Hos 13:14  I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.

The Revelation speaks about the tribulation saints.

Rev 6:9-11  And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:  (10)  And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?  (11)  And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

Rev 20:4-6  And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.  (5)  But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.  (6)  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

·         Part 5 - Although scripture does not specifically address this issue, it is possible and logical that believers who are both, alive and those who will have died during the millennium will be resurrected at the end of the millennium to receive their glorified bodies in preparation for the eternal state.

Summary

This verse indicates that all who have risen to this point are part of the first resurrection, and the rest of the dead are part of the second resurrection.

Rev 20:5  But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.


The Second Resurrection

·         (The Tares) The second resurrection is of all of the the unjust to the Great White Throne Judgment, and the second death, at the end of the Millennium.

Rev 2:11  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

Rev 21:8  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Rev 20:5-6  But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.  (6)  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Rev 20:11-14  And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.  (12)  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.  (13)  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.  (14)  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.


Notes Regarding the Rapture and Old Testament Saints

Some studies indicate the Old Testament saints being resurrected as part of the rapture, and some indicate they are resurrected at the end of the tribulation along with the tribulation saints.  Although a full study of this is beyond the scope of this document, some references that support the Old Testament saints resurrection at the end of the tribulation are given below.

The church is clearly identified as the bride of Christ.  Following the rapture, the Marriage of the Lamb to the church takes place. This occurs before the second coming of Jesus. It stands to reason that the rapture is the catching away of the bride in preparation for the marriage ceremony.  Since the church began on the Day of Pentecost, it makes sense that the Old Testament saints are not included in this marriage.  Since this period is for the Bema Judgement (rewards), and the Marriage of the Lamb, it further makes sense that only the church is resurrected at this time.

Eph 5:25-32  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;  (26)  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,  (27)  That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.  (28)  So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.  (29)  For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:  (30)  For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.  (31)  For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.  (32)  This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

2 Cor 11:1-3  Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.  (2)  For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.  (3)  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

Eph 5:22-23  Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.  (23)  For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

It is further noted that the Marriage Supper takes place after the second coming of Jesus to earth. After the second coming the Millennium begins, and it seems that the Marriage Feast could be the party to start the Millennium. At this event, are many guests. It makes sense that both the Old Testament and tribulation saints would be the guests at this feast.

Rev 19:7-9  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.  (8)  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.  (9)  And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.


Notes Regarding Resurrections Types

·         Enoch

Gen 5:24  And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.

Heb 11:5  By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

·         Elijah

2 Kings 2:1  And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.

2Kings 2:11  And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

·         Phillip

Act 8:39  And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.

·         Paul Making Reference

2 Cor 12:2-4  I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.  (3)  And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)  (4)  How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

No comments:

Post a Comment