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The Resurrections
The Bible shows that there are resurrections to
fleshly physical Life, and to spiritual immortal Life. These resurrections occur
at various times. There are special circumstances that take place with regard to
the three basic types of resurrections.
“… The hour is coming, and now is, when the
dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.”
(John 5:25)
“… that there shall be a resurrection of
the dead, both of the just and unjust.” (Act 24:15)
The First Resurrection
Is to spiritual immortal Life. It pertains to Jesus Christ and the saints.
Jesus Christ is the first resurrection:
“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection,
and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:”
(John 11:25)
“But now is Christ risen from the dead, and
become the firstfruits of them that slept.” (1Co 15:20)
“[Jesus is] firstborn among many brethren.”
(Rom 8:29, Col 1:15,18)
Jesus was resurrected to eternal life by the
exceedingly great power of the Father.
“Which he wrought in Christ, when He [Father]
raised him from the dead, and set Him at his own right hand in the heavenly
places,” (Eph 1:20)
We, the saints, are to be a part of the first
resurrection:
“But every man in his own order: Christ the
firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.” (1Co 15:23)
“For if we believe that Jesus died and rose
again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.” (1Th
4:14)
Those saints, who have died in the faith, will
be in the first resurrection:
“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.” (1Th 4:16)
The prophets of old, who had God’s Holy
Spirit, will be a part of the first resurrection:
“…ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and
Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God.” (Luke 13:28)
For those saints still living at the time of
Christ’s return there will be a unique special resurrection. They will not
have to taste death, because:
“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.” (1Th 4:17)
At the first resurrection – the saints,
become divine, eternal, spirit born children of God, priests of God, ruling with
Jesus Christ throughout the millennium.
“And they lived and reigned with Christ a
thousand years. This is the First Resurrection.” (Rev 20:4-5)
The conclusion is this – the saints are being
judged now:
“For the time is come that judgment must
begin at the house of God:” (1Pe 4:17)
The saints must “live” in Jesus Christ –
it is not enough to simply “believe” in Him. “And whosoever liveth and believeth in me
shall never die.” (John 11:26)
The Second Resurrection
Is to fleshly physical Life, for those people
never before “called” by God. The second resurrection takes place in the
time period represented by the Last Great Day. (John 7:37)
The second resurrection takes place at the end
of the one thousand year rule of Jesus Christ over the Kingdom of God
established on earth.
“Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall
rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” (John 11:24)
The purpose of the second resurrection is for
all people to be able to know God, be converted and go on to salvation. All who
have ever lived throughout history, not having been partakers of the Holy
Spirit, or tasting the good word of God, will be resurrected back to their
physical lives:
“And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I
have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves, and
shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live.” (Ezek 37:13-14)
For most who have ever lived, this will be
their opportunity for salvation:
“And all flesh shall see the salvation of
God.” (Luke 3:6)
“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I
will pour out my spirit upon all flesh.” (Joel 2:28)
There are also Biblical examples of special
resurrections. God resurrected some to temporary physical life to show His
glory, His power over death, and for His purposes:
“And the graves were opened; and many bodies
of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after his
resurrection.” (Mat 27:52-53)
“Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus
is dead. And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come
forth.” (John 11:14, :43)
Those people who were baptized and received God’s
Holy Spirit, will not be in the second resurrection. If they were faithful, they
will be in the first resurrection – if they were unfaithful, they will be in
the third resurrection.
The Third Resurrection
The third resurrection is to fleshly physical
life at the time of the Great White Throne Judgment. It differs from the second
resurrection in that those in the third resurrection were once converted, had
God’s Holy Spirit, but were not faithful to the end. For them there will be no
resurrection to spiritual life. There is no second chance. They have blasphemed
God’s Holy Spirit:
“For it is impossible for those who were once
enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of
the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the
world to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance;
seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open
shame.” (Heb 6:4-6)
They will go into the lake of fire – the
second death: (Rev 20:14)
“For if we sin willfully after that we have
received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall
devour the adversaries.” (Heb 10:26-27)
“Then shall he say also unto them on the left
hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil
and his angels.” (Mat 25:41)
“There shall be weeping and gnashing of
teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in
the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.” (Luke 13:28)
“And these shall go away into everlasting
punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.” (Mat 25:46)
“And whosoever was not found written in the
book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Rev 20:15)
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