Two Resurrections
- 1. Two Resurrections? Rev. 20:4b-6, “They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years . (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended .) This is the first resurrection . Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priest of God and of Christ and will reign with him one thousand years.”
- 2. Spiritual or Physical? Either physical or spiritual but can’t be both in the same reference. Cannot be spiritual in the first resurrection and physical in second. “ Protos” for “first” resurrection means “earliest or first or most important”. “ Souls” of the beheaded had dead bodies , so “they came to life ” taking on a resurrection body .
- 3. We rule on Jerusalem Ps. 122:3-5, “ Jerusalem is built like a city that is closely compacted together . That is where the tribes go up , the tribes of the Lord to praise the name of the Lord according to the statute given to Israel. There the thrones for judgment stand”. Ps. 110:2, “The Lord will extend your mighty septer from Zion; you will rule in the midst of your enemies”. Christ is there with us after enemies made a footstool. Ps. 132:13, “For the Lord has chosen Zion , he has desired it for his dwelling : ‘This is my resting place for ever ; his I will sit enthroned , for I have desired it”.
- 4. Literal 1,000 years “ Chilioi” which is a literal period of time . Same word used Rev. 11:3 and Rev. 12:6 in “one thousand two hundred and sixty days”. 2 Pet. 3:8, “With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like a day”. Yes, a day for God is comparable to a literal 1,000 years from our mortal perspective, like a literal 1,000 years.
- 5. Second Death Rev. 20:6, “Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him a thousand years”. Has to be physical death , as you can’t have two spiritual deaths , but a physical resurrection can enable two physical deaths, therefore Rev. 20:4b should be physical life .
- 6. Second Death at White Throne Revelation 20:11-13, “Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small , standing before the throne , and the books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books .”
- 7. Spectators at White Throne These spectators are the raptured saints through all eternity and make a single resurrection of the dead a contradiction. Dan. 7:9+10, “As I looked, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat…The court was seated and the books were opened.
- 8. Unsaved Judged at White Throne Rev. 20:13-15, “ The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done . Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire . The lake of fire is the second death.”
- 9. “The Sea” The “sea” is symbolic for the unrighteous nations and peoples of the world. The term is also used in Revelation in regards to the Antichrist or Beast “coming out of the sea” in Rev. 13:1. The New Jerusalem mentioned in Rev. 21:1 had “no sea”, implying the sinful and unredeemed of humanity . See also Dan. 7:2 and Rev. 15:2.
- 10. “Death and Hades” Hades at the time of the judgment has only the lost souls of humanity . Their dead bodies are a symbol of the “death” represented here. Rev. 6:8 discusses the pale horse, “whose rider was named Death, and Hades was following behind him”.
- 11. Why 2 pools of unsaved? Gehenna is not used as a place of judgment until The Battle of Armageddon, and their bodies AND souls are there. (The Sea.) The Beast and False prophet-Rev. 19:20 , “The two of them were thrown ALIVE into the fiery lake of burning fire.” Matt. 22:1-13 as reference to those not ready for Christ’s return are thrown there.
- 12. First Fruits as 1 st Resurrection 1 Corinthians 15:20-23 states, “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep . For death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes , those who belong to him.”
- 13. Christ The First Fruit Christ died physically like those who die in Christ prior to the rapture . Christ rose physically in a resurrected and glorified body , as the raptured saints will later follow. Christ did not rise spiritually , as He has always been alive spiritually and always will be.
- 14. Saints World Reign, now? Saints not judging the world 1 Cor. 5:12-13, “ What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? 1 Cor. 4:4, “ Judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes”. 1 Cor. 2:15, “The spiritual man make judgments about all THINGS , but he himself is not subject to man’s judgment” Saints will someday judge
- 15. Satan Not Bound Rev. 20:1-3, “And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain . He seized the dragon , that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan; and bound him for a thousand years . He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him to keep him from deceiving the nations .”
- 16. Saints will Reign 1 Cor. 6:2, “Do you not know that the saints will judge the world ?” Matt. 19:28, “I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things , when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you … judging the twelve tribes of Israel ”. 2 Tim. 2:12, “ if we endure , we will also reign with him ”
- 17. Our Reign at the Resurrection Rev. 20:4, “I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge . And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark.. They came to life and reigned with Christ..
- 18. Finite Millennial Reign 1 Cor. 15:24-28, “Then the end will come when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For he ‘has put everything under his feet.’ Now when it says that ‘everything’ has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ. When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all.” ( Contradiction of eternal state at Christ’s return .)
- 19. Single Resurrection For All? What may appear like a single resurrection for all involves telescoping prophecies , which are very common in The Bible. You can’t throw out the more specific prophecies like Rev. 20, where the time sequence is clearly delineated. Jesus judges the ungodly at his return for their sins, but it is not the White Throne.
- 20. Telescoping Prophecy John 5:28-29, “Do not be amazed at this, for the times is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out- those who done good will rise to live , and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned .” Acts 15:24, “same hope in God as these men, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked .” Doesn’t mean at same time.
- 21. Multitudes Awake Dan. 12:2, “ Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake : some to everlasting life , others to shame and everlasting contempt .” Spirits of the unsaved of humanity do awake to witness the second coming of Christ, but not with raptured bodies and not for their judgment , but condemnation.
- 22. Unsaved Souls at 2 nd Coming Isaiah 14:9, “ The grave is astir to meet you at your coming.” (The unsaved of humanity.) Rev. 1:7, “Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him , even those who pierced him ; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him.”
- 23. Unsaved Condemned 1 Cor. 11:32, “When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.” 2 Pet. 3:7, “By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men .” Jude 14-15, Lord coming to judge lost.
- 24. Unsaved Wrath Rom. 2:5, “But because of your stubborness and your unrepentent heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath .” This is not the White Throne . 1 Thess. 5:9, “For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Wrath of second coming and eventual Lake of Fire.
- 25. Resurrection of Righteous Luke 14:14b, “you will be blessed at the resurrection of the righteous .” Must be a separate resurrection from unrighteous. 1 Cor. 15:22-23, “For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive . But each in his own turn : Christ , the firstfruits; then, when he comes , those who belong to him.”
- 26. 7th Trumpet-Righteous Rise Rev. 11:18, “The nations were angry; and your wrath has come . The time has come for judging the dead , and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your saints and those who reverence your name, both small and great and for destroying those who destroy the earth.” Righteous judged and unsaved destroyed.
- 27. Last Trumpet-Righteous Rise 1 Cor. 15:51-52, “Listen, I tell you a mystery, we will not all asleep, but we will all be changed- in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet . For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.” No mention of unsaved being resurrected then. There’s a 1,000 year difference!
- 28. Better Resurrection Phil. 3:10b-11, “becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection of the dead .” Not all attain this separate rising. John 11:24, “ I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day .” Different event than second resurrection. Hebrews 11:35b, “ better resurrection .”
- 29. Righteous Judgment 2 Cor. 5:1-9 highlights the Christian’s hope , “ heavenly dwelling ”, then verse 10: “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ , that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad .” Rom. 14:10, “For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat .” (Christian specific).
- 30. Righteous-Judged by Good Done Rom. 2:5b-7, “ God will give to each person according to what he has done . To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life .” Rom. 2:16, “This will take place on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Jesus Christ , as my gospel declares.” Saints judged through what Jesus has done through them in their lives.
- 31. Motives Judged Also 1 Cor. 4:5, “There judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts . At that time each will receive his praise from God.”
- 32. Righteous Motives 1 Cor. 3:11-14, If any man builds on this foundation using fold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.”
- 33. Unsaved Judged by Evil Done Rev. 20:12b, “The dead were judged according to what they had done , as recorded in the books .” The White Throne. Dan. 7:10b-11, “ The court was seated, and the books were opened. Then I continued to watch because of the boastful words the horn was speaking. I kept looking until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire .” See similarities Rev. 20:4b+15.(Saint court)
- 34. Sheep and Goats Matt. 25:31-33, “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.”
- 35. Rapture-Immediate Separating 1 Thess. 4:17, “After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.” Harpzso -snatch up sudden force. 1 Cor. 15:51, “the dead raised ” (Christians). Matt. 24:31, “And he will send his angels out with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather the elect from the four winds”
- 36. Sheep Inheritance Matt. 25:34, “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world .” Basileus -foundation of authority and power and should not be confused with heaven , as heaven was not prepared since the creation of the world.
- 37. Sheep Promise Matt. 25:46, “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life .” All Christians who enter the millennial kingdom will not die and do have the promise of eternal life. Dan. 12:12, “ Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the 1,335 days .” Millennial kingdom starts then and the eternal promise.
- 38. Wheat and Tares Matt. 12:24-43. The Kingdom of Heaven has the final harvest at the end of the millennial Kingdom. Firstfruit harvest occurred at the rapture of the saints at the second coming of Christ. Rev. 14:14-20 noted saints collected first , then the winepress judgment of Armageddon.
- 39. Satan’s Weeds Matt. 13:25, “But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away.” Rev. 20:7, “When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations.” The earth looks like a wheat field in the millennium due to forced righteousness .
- 40. Final Harvest Matt. 13:30, “ Let both grow together until the harvest . At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.” Unsaved burned first , then saved harvested. Rev. 20:9, “But fire came down from heaven and devoured them .” (Same fire.)
- 41. Final Glorification Weeds first burned in parable of wheat and tears, then Matt. 13:43 states, “ Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father .” No mention of a rapture , so it is likely that the saved mortals living at the end of the millennial kingdom are instantly glorified. No resurrection/rapture, but glorification.