Chapter 9: The Resurrection (Part 2)

Today we will study God’s programme of resurrections.There are two basic resurrections, one for believers and one for unbelievers. 
 
 *John 5:28,29: “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— (1) those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and (2) those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.” 
 
 *Daniel 12:2: Many (not all) of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake (the resurrection), some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.”
  
 Acts 24:14,15: “Believing all things written in the Law and the Prophets. I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, 
both of the just and the unjust.”
 
 These 2 Resurrections do not happen at the same time but are separated by 1000 years (Revelation 20:4-6): “I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgement was (had been) committed to them Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshipped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands (martyred in the Tribulation) and they lived(they were resurrected) and reigned with Christ for 1,000 years. (But the rest of the dead (the unbelievers) did not live again until the 1000 years were finished). This is (completes) the first resurrection (of the just). Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection (all believers). Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.” 
 
 *Those in the first resurrection go into Eternal Life, but those in the 2nd Resurrection go into the 2nd Death.
 
 1Corinthians 15:20-26: “But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the First Fruits (prototype) of those who have fallen asleep (believers). For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all (believers) shall be made alive. But each one in his own order (RANK or TROOP).” God’s Resurrection programme is in stages (or in army ranks) - each in his own ORDER (1Corinthians 15:23). ‘ORDER’ is a military word for a RANK or TROOP. All will be raised but it will be one TROOP or COMPANY at a time, in military procession:
 
 1. Christ - the First Fruits (which we saw last-time)
2. Afterward those who are Christ’s at His Coming 
(all believers raised at the time of the Rapture and 2nd Coming),
3. Then comes the end (2nd Resurrection -1000 years later, this refers to the resurrection of all unbelievers at the end of time, so that death has been completely defeated as Paul goes on to explain) when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.
 
1. Christ -the Firstfruits
Spiritually we have already entered into Firstfruits, in that our spirits are reborn and raised with Christ so that we are spiritually firstfruits unto God (james 1) and we have received the firstfruits of the Spirit so we go to heaven at death, but our physical resurrection is part of a future Pentecostal harvest (countdown).
 
 *FIRSTFRUITS of the SPIRIT.
Ephesians 1:13,14: “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession —to the praise of his glory.”
 
 Romans 8:23,24: “Not only that, but we also who have the FIRST FRUITS of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees?” 
 
 *Jesus Christ is the FIRSTBORN FROM THE DEAD.
 
Revelation 1:5: “Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the FIRSTBORN from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth.”
 
 Revelation 1:18: “I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.” 
 
 Colossians 1:18: “He is the head of the body, the Church, Who is the beginning, the FIRSTBORN from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.” 
 
 Romans 8:29: “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the FIRSTBORN among many brethren.” 
 
 *Hebrews 1:5, Psalm 2, Acts 13 - ‘this day have I begotten thee.”
refers to Christ’s resurrection REBIRTH. In His resurrection, He has become the head and origin of a new human race, the new creation, the prototype. He is the FIRSTBORN from the dead, meaning that not only have we received the same spiritual birth (resurrection) as Christ and we will receive the same physical resurrection as Christ, the Firstfruits from the dead (see Chapter in Positional Truth for more on this).
 
 “Afterward those who are Christ’s at His Coming.”
  
 2. The Church - at the Pre-Tribulation Rapture. 
Because He has risen as Firstfruits He has guaranteed our like-resurrection in due time as the Pentecostal harvest (Phil 3:20,21).
at the Rapture.
 
 1Corinthians 15:51-56: “Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we (who are alive) shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption and this mortal must put on immortality. 

So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory. O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” 
 
 1Thessalonians 3:13: “He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.”
 
 1Thessalonians 4:13: “But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 
 
 v14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus (they are in heaven). 
 
 v15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 
 
 v16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first (reunited to their bodies). v17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up (harpazo=rapto) together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.” 
 
 3. The Mid-Tribulation Rapture: 
*The 2 Witnesses in Revelation 11:7-12: “When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them. And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies three-and-a-half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves. And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth. Now after the 3-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them.” 
 
 *The 144,000 ascend with them, who were sealed in Revelation 7.
 v4: “And I heard the number of those who were sealed. 144,000 of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed.” 
 
 *At Mid-Tribulation the 144,000 stand resurrected before the Throne as firstfruits of the rest of righteous Israel, who will be resurrected 3.5 years later at the 2nd-Coming: Revelation 14:1-5: “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. And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the 144,000 who were redeemed from the earth. These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.” 
 
 5. The Old Testament Saints (Daniel 12:1-3; Isaiah 26:19; Job 19). This happens after the Tribulation and Second Coming. (Unbelievers are not raised until after the 1000 years).
 
 JOB: The Old Testament saints raised at this time include Job, who said: “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; and after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!” (Job 19:25-27). He will see His God, His Redeemer, out of his flesh, when He comes again to the earth.

He knew his resurrection is to be at the Coming of Christ to the earth. “Oh, that You would hide me in the grave, that You would conceal me until Your wrath is past, that You would appoint me a set time, and remember me! If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait, till my change (resurrection) comes. You shall call, and I will answer You; You shall desire the work of Your hands” (Job 14:13-15). 
 
 Isaiah 26:19-21: “Your dead shall live; together with my dead body (Isaiah’s resurrection) they shall arise. Awake and sing, you (righteous) who dwell in dust; for your dew is like the dew of herbs (the Spirit will come upon them), and the earth shall cast out the dead (bodies). Come, my people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you; hide yourself, as it were, for a little moment, until the indignation is past (the remnant are protected in the Great Tribulation). For behold, the LORD comes out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity (the Second Coming) the earth will also disclose her blood, and will no more cover her slain (all sins will be revealed).” Again this resurrection of believers is linked to the Return of Christ. The order of events is Rapture, Tribulation, 
then Second Coming and Resurrection.
 
 Resurrection also in Hosea 13:14, Psalm 17;15, 73:23-25, immortality Ecc 12:7
 
 Daniel 12:1-3: “At that time (Mid-Trib) Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time (the Great Tribulation). And at that time your people (Israel) shall be delivered, every one who is found written in the book(believers in Israel). And many (not all) of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake (the resurrection), some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever (the righteous are rewarded with glory when they are resurrected, the degree depending on how they have served God).

Here we see that a resurrection happens at Christ’s Return after the Great Tribulation. Many but not all are raised at that time, only the righeous) for there are 2 resurrections. Revelation 20 makes it clear that unbelievers are only raised after the 1000 years.
 
 A more literal translation of v2 should help: 
“And (at that time) many (of thy people) shall awake (or be separated) out from among the sleepers in the earth’s dust. These (who awake) shall be unto life everlasting, but those (the rest of the sleepers who do not awake at this time) shall be unto shame and contempt everlasting.”
 
 Thus at Christ’s Return, all the righteous dead will be raised and then rewarded with glory, according to their good works (v3).
 
 Daniel’s resurrection at this time is also assured: “But you (Daniel), go your way till the end; for you shall rest, and will arise to your inheritance (reward) at the end of the days” (v13).
 
 6. The Tribulational Martyrs (Revelation 20:4).
After the Second Coming (Rev 19), but before the 1000 years. The Church (represented by elders) are already on thrones. In fact in Revelation 4 at the start of the Tribulation they are already there after the Church-Age (Rev2,3) and before the Tribulation starts (Rev 6) (They are resurrected men with crowns, robes, thrones). 
 
 The Church: “I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgement was (had been) committed to them” (Rev 20:4a).This refers to the Church-saints, who are already raptured, sitting on thrones from which they will reign with Christ for 1000 years - 1Cor 6:2,3; Rev 2:25-27, 3:21; 2Timothy 2:12; Matthew 19:28).
 
 The Tribulation martyrs (Revelation 20:4b): “Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshipped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands (martyred in the Tribulation) and they lived (they were resurrected) and reigned with Christ for 1,000 years.” 
 
 Revelation 20:5,6: “(But the rest of the dead (the unbelievers) did not live again until the 1000 years were finished). This is (completes) the first resurrection (of the just). Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection (all believers). Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.” These complete the first resurrection - all believers are now resurrected. Thus only unbelievers will die in the Millennium.

Now all believers will have been raised, but the unbelievers are still in death. This makes it clear that unbelievers are not part of this resurrection. They are not raised until after the 1000 years.So, during the Millennium only unbelievers are in death (Hades). 
 
 Revelation 20:5,6 makes it clear these resurrections are separated by 1000 years. It also identifies those in the first resurrection as all believers. Therefore the 2nd resurrection which happens 1000 years after the first one is completed is that of unbelievers.
 
 *Those in the first resurrection go into Eternal Life, but those in the 2nd Resurrection go into the 2nd Death.
 
 The 2nd Resurrection - also has a first fruits: The Antichrist and the False Prophet are RESURRECTED and thrown into the lake of fire at the 2nd Coming before the 1000 years: “Then the beast was captured (and killed by the sword of His mouth), and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshipped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone” (Revelation 19:20).
 
 After resurrection is always judgment to determine their sentencing (already guilty/innocence established) - the degree of punishment or reward and seal a person’s eternal state and destiny.
1. Those in the First Resurrection avoid the Second Death (the lake of fire) and are judged for reward and given their measure of glory.
2. But those in the Second Resurrection are judged and sent to the Second Death (eternity in the Lake of Fire) - The Second Resurrection (of all unbelievers) 
 
 Revelation 20:11-15: “Then (after the 1000 years see v7-10- v7 Now when the thousand years have expired....), I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead (These are described as the dead - the spiritually and physically dead. All unbelievers (now being dead) are raised for judgment after the 1000 years and thrown into the Lake of Fire, for their works were not sufficient to save them), small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. 

And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.”
 
 With all believers raised, the first resurrection is now complete. This tells us that no believers will die in the Millennium and have to be raised - they simply receive a transformed body to enter the Eternal State (much like those in the Church who are alive at the Rapture). Believers in the Millennium will be given transformed bodies at the end (1Corinthians 15:26) but do not die and so are not raised.
 
 FINAL DESTINIES: All are either RAISED in the First Resurrection to LIFE, or raised in the Second Resurrection to the SECOND DEATH - the Lake of Fire.
 
 Conclusion: Which one will you be in? One (the 1st) for a judgement of reward and the 2nd for a judgement of condemnation.
 
 *Believer: Rejoice He has risen, conquered hell and death for us and opened a new and living way for us into heaven’s glory. 
 
 *Warning to unbeliever: But unbelievers still go down to Hades-Torments to await their final sentencing. We have this life to choose life or death, heaven and hell. CHOOSE LIFE. 
 
 *RECEIVE JESUS and His salvation (only antidote that can work) and when you do He will come in by His Spirit and fill you with His love and power to live a change life.
 
 Put all your trust in Him for forgiveness, salvation and eternal life. Then live a life that proves your faith (trust) in Him is genuine.
 
 *If you have not yet put all your trust in Him and so do not have assurance pray this prayer with me.

*Sinner’s Prayer