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Singapore Moses
Supporter
FIRST_RESURRECTION 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 20:6 Who are part of the First Resurrection? 1. Christ and the many saints that were resurrected after His resurrection (Matthew 27: 52- 53; 1Cor. 15: 20, 23; Eph. 4: 8- 10). 2. Afterward they that are Christ's at His coming known as "Church saints"(1Cor. 15: 23, 51- 54 Jn. 14: 1- 3 Lk. 21: 34- 36; 2Cor. 5: 1- 8; Eph. 5: 27; Php. 3: 11, 20- 21 1Th. 2: 19; 3: 13; 4: 13- 17 5: 9, 23; 2Th. 2: 1, 7; Col. 3: 4; Jas. 5: 7- 8 1Jn. 2: 28; 3: 2; 1Pet. 5: 4). Everyone in Christ, dead or alive, will be translated at this time. Not one person will be left on earth who is in Christ (1Th. 4: 16- 17). 3. The "144,000 Jews" saved in the first 3 1/2 years of Daniel's 70th week (Rev. 7: 1- 8). They will be caught up as the manchild in the middle of this week or 3 1/2 years before the second coming (Rev. 12: 5 14: 1- 5 Isa. 66: 7- 8 Dan. 12: 1). See these scriptures. 4. The great multitude of "tribulation saints" who are saved after the rapture of His Church (point 2 above) and during the whole of Daniel's 70th week (Rev. 6: 1-- Rev. 19: 21). The first martyrs of this period are told to rest until the rest of them are killed (Rev. 6: 9- 11) when vengeance will be taken and all raptured in time for the marriage supper (Rev. 7: 9- 17 15: 2- 4 20: 4- 6). Even those killed by the beast in the last 3 1/2 years of this week have part in the first resurrection (Rev. 20: 4- 6). This proves their rapture in time for the marriage supper (Rev. 19:1- 10) and in time to come back with Christ (Rev. 19:11- 21 Jude 1:14; Zech. 14:5). Six reasons for their beheading: 1. For the witness (testimony) of Jesus 2. For the Word of God 3. For not worshiping the beast 4. For not worshiping his image 5. For not taking his mark upon their foreheads 6. For not taking his mark in their hands These tribulation saints (not church saints) will be resurrected) and reigned with Christ 1,000 years. 5. The rapture of the two witnesses (Elijah and Enoch), ending the first resurrection which began with the resurrection of Christ (Rev. 11:7- 11). Apart from the above resurrected saints, there are last generation natural people who will live from the future tribulation period through the Millennium (but not beheaded or killed) and then on into the New Earth forever-- if they do not commit sin or rebel with Satan at the end of the Millennium (Rev. 20: 7- 10 Mt. 13: 39- 50 25: 46). Resurrected people (above points 1 thorough 5) who have part in the first resurrection will be the eternal rulers of the eternal generations of natural people (Rev. 20:4). The resurrected people will not marry or give in marriage (Mt. 22:30); but the natural people who are alive at the second coming and who are permitted to be subjects of the eternal kingdom will marry, have children, and carry out the natural SECOND RESURRECTION The Second Resurrection, we can read from Dan. 12:3; Jn. 5:28-29 Rev. 20:4-6. This is the resurrection of all the wicked from Adam to the end of the Millennium. It will take place after the Millennium and will also include those wicked who die during the Millennium (Rev. 20:4-6,11-15). They will be raised with immortal bodies to be tormented in hell forever (Mt. 10:28 Jn. 5:28-29; 12:24; Dan. 12:2; Acts 24:15; 1Cor. 15:21,34-50 Rev. 14:9-12; 19:20; 20:4-6,11-15). The theory that only the righteous will be raised to immortality is false, not being founded on one scripture. The method of the resurrection of the just and unjust is plainly taught and illustrated by a grain of wheat or any other grain. Both the saved and unsaved will be immortal as is plainly taught in all Scripture. The wicked bodies will exist in conscious torment forever (Lk. 12:5).
S. Michael Houdmann
Supporter
Daniel 12:2 summarizes the two very different fates facing mankind: "Many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contem...
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Philip Davies
Supporter
The first resurrection is spiritual, the second resurrection is physical. The first resurrection is sometimes called being born again. It is a coming to life spiritually. It only happens to Christians when the gospel is preached and people come to faith. They are born again when the spiritually dead are made spiritually made alive. John 5:25 This is first resurrection. Rev 20:4 This is in contrast to the physical resurrection later. John 5:28 The rest of the dead do not come to life until the end of the millennium, when the Lord Jesus returns. Rev 20:5 John 5:25-28 is saying exactly the same as Rev 20:4-5. As soon as you understand those two passages together, everything falls into place. So in answer to the question: the first resurrection is spiritually being born again, and the second resurrection is physically raised to life. Regards Philip
Craig Mcelheny
Supporter
The Rapture is the First Resurrection, and it occurs one thousand years before the Second Resurrection. This is discerned in the passage from Rev. 20:4 to the end of the chapter. BTW, Rev., Chapter Twenty, occurs just after the Battle of Armageddon, which occurs at the very end of the Day of the Lord (the Great Day of the Lord’s Wrath – Rev. 6:16-17). See Figures 10 and 3 on my FB Author’s page: https://www.facebook.com/Craig-McElheny-430759656985167/ Depending on your point of view (pre-, mid-, or post-tribulation) and your understanding of precisely when God’s Wrath begins, the character of those remaining after the Rapture is in question. There are saints identified in the Tribulation. The Antichrist is given authority for forty-two months (Rev. 13:5-6) to make war with the saints (Rev. 13:7-8). This occurs during the last half of the Tribulation, or what is commonly referred to as the Great Tribulation. If you believe in a pre-tribulation Rapture, then those left behind will have to become saints/believers by the time the Antichrist assumes power at the mid-point of the Tribulation, and face the prospect of having to worship the Antichrist. This will come in the form of accepting the Mark of the Beast (Rev. 14:9). Should you do this, you forfeit eternal life before the Father (Rev. 14:10), and resign yourself to eternal torment in Gehenna (the Second Death) – Rev. 14:11-12. Rev. 14:13 is a critical verse for defining the end of the dispensation of salvation based on faith, and the beginning of a new dispensation (the Millennium) of salvation by works/deeds. The dead is in reference to the spiritually dead – those remaining after the Rapture, but also those born into the new age of the Millennium. They are no different than those of us born during this Age of the Church. We are all born spiritually dead, but those living in the Millennium will have to “earn their stripes” by their deeds. It will be much like it was during the Age of the Law and the Prophets. They had to live by the Ten Commandments. The timing of Rev. 14:13 is a little nebulous because it is mixed in with the fall of Babylon (lasting for the duration of the Battle of Armageddon – Rev. 14:8) and the Mark of the Beast during the last half of the Tribulation (Rev. 14:9). Perhaps it is best to place the precise point at which Rev. 14:13 is referring to, as the End of the Church Age, or the occurrence of the Rapture as shown in Figure 12 on my FB Author’s page: https://www.facebook.com/Craig-McElheny-430759656985167/ Daniel was told, in Dan. 12:13 (NASB), to “go your way to the end; then you will enter into rest and rise again for your allotted portion at the end of the age." Addressing the issue of a second resurrection, we see that judgment takes place at the First Resurrection (Rev. 20:4) and those saints who did not accept the Mark of the Beast, came to life. This occurs simultaneously (1 Corinthians 15:51-52, 53-54) with the Rapture. The Second Resurrection takes place at the Great White Throne Judgment at the end of the Millennium. Obviously, judgment takes place, but notice that the dead are being judged from the Book of Life and they are being judged according to their deeds (Rev. 20:11-12). This cannot be lumped in with the First Resurrection which was based on faith. It is the summation of all those who lived throughout the Millennium – a separate and distinct dispensation from the Church Age. God bless!
Jack Gutknecht
Supporter
What is the difference between the first resurrection and the second resurrection? At least two future resurrections are described in the Bible. The first resurrection is mentioned in Rev 20: "This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years" (Revelation 20:5b-6). Those involved in the first resurrection will already be raised to life prior to the 1,000-year reign of Christ called the millennium. This first resurrection includes those who return to life at the rapture as described in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (the "dead in Christ" and believers alive at the rapture) as well as the resurrected Christian martyrs from the end of the tribulation period mentioned in Revelation 20:4. This is the resurrection of the church saints at the rapture. “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; then we who 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 Thess. 4:16-17). The second resurrection is described in Revelation 20:12-13: "And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done." This group will include those who are unbelievers who will be assigned by judgment to the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15). Thus, 1 of the at least 3 resurrections is the resurrection of the unsaved dead at the conclusion of the millennial age (Rev. 20:5, 11-14). The resurrection of the unsaved dead is at the conclusion of the millennial age (Rev. 20:5, 11-14). The points in the New Testament doctrine of the resurrection of the righteous, then, seem to be these: The personality of the believer survives after death and is with Christ. But it is lacking in something that will be supplied at the consummation when a body will be given in which there is nothing to hinder perfect intimacy with God. The connection of this body with the present body is not discussed, except for saying that some connection exists, with the necessity of a transformation for those alive at the end. In this state, nothing remains that is inconsistent with the height to which man is raised, and in particular sexual relations (Mk 12:25) and the processes of nutrition (1 Cor 6:13) cease. For this end the whole power of God is available. And it is insured by the perfect trust the believer may put in God and by the resurrection of Christ, with whom the believer has become intimately united. The unrighteous are raised for the final vindication of God's dealings in history. Two resurrections are found in Rev 20:5,13 and quite possibly in 1 Thess 4:16; 1 Cor 15:23,24. Hence, the phrase first resurrection. Thus, resurrections include at least two: 1. The resurrection of the church saints at the rapture. “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; then we who 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 Thess. 4:16-17). 2. The resurrection of the unsaved dead at the conclusion of the millennial age (Rev. 20:5, 11-14). Therefore, the first resurrection is for the people of God; the second resurrection is for the judgment of unbelievers. The difference between these two groups is based on one's relationship with God through Jesus.
Tony Flores
Supporter
Michael fully mention the First Resurection which was many of the Christians that arose from the dead when Jesus died on the cross and those Christians appeared to many. And also the Resurection of the Saints at the rapture, would have to be the second Resurection. There has to be a third resurrection which would be the rapture of the 144,000 Jews that were sealed by God during the Tribulatons and the two Wittneses plus the martyred saints during the first 31/2 years of the tribulations. The reason I say that is because of Rev 14-1 which says: "Then I looked, and behold a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him 144,000 having His Father's name written on their foreheads. (Rev 14:3)(Rev 22-4). This will be in the middle of the Tribulations, where martyred saints are taken into heaven. Also, all men, both righteous and unrighteous, will experience a resurrection day. In John 5:27-29, Jesus Christ says that the Father "has given Him (the Son), authority to execute judgement also, because He is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth--those who have done good,to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil (who have never repented), to the resurrection of condemnation. Then John continues in Revelation 20:12 to describe the Great White Throne judgement, which will be the final Resurrection. All men/women will be judged by God and only the ones that their names are written in the Book of Life will spend Eternity with God.
Rotimi EWEDEMI
Supporter
The first resurrection is the resurrection of CHRISTIANS who will be taken to heaven to become kings and priests with Jesus. “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. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 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” (Revelation 20:4-6 KJV). Those involved are referred to as: -the Little flock, Luke 12:32; those that Jesus promised heavenly life in “my father’s Houseq in John14:1-4 -secondary part of the Seed of the Woman and of the Seed of ABRAHAM (Gen 3:15; Rom 16:20; Gen 22:18; Gal 3:16, 26-28, Rev 6:11;12:17). - saints of God, Dan 7:18; 1 COR 6:1-4. -partakers of heavenly calling, Heb 3:1 “And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ (Revelation 12:17 KJ) Their number is 144000. “And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb (Revelation 14:1-4 KJV). The original 12 apostles of Jesus form the foundation members of these CHRISTIANS, Luke 22:14,20,28-30; Rev 21:1-2, 9, 14. The second resurrection is the earthly resurrection, that is, of those who will have opportunity to live on the “ new earth”. See John 5:28-30; Acts 24:15. These are the “righteous and unrighteous among whom are “other sheep” of John 10:16. The great crowd of Rev 7:9-15 are Christians who are alive on earth at the Christ's return that “come out” or passed through and survived the great tribulation. In summary: The first resurrection, also referred to as heavenly resurrection is a resurrection to heavenly life and is for CHRISTIANS who will rule with Jesus as kings and priests. These are also called “saints of God”. Only 144000 will be involved. The second resurrection is that to earthly life, and humans who enjoy this plus the great crowd of Re. 7:9-15 will have everlasting life on earth if they believe in Jesus Christ and survive the final test of Rev 20:7-15.
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