The Bible speaks of two
bodily resurrections for all of mankind, one for believers and
one for
unbelievers.
The oldest patriarch, Job
said, “I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the
earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I
myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns
within me!” (Job 19:25-27 NIV)
The writer of Hebrews said of
Abraham, “Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a
manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.” (Hebrews 11:19 NIV)
King David said, “Therefore
my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope”
(Psalm 16:9) and “As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall
be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.” (Psalm 17:15)
The Lord Jesus said, “Marvel
not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves
shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the
resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of
damnation.” (John 5:28-29)
Yes, both resurrections will
be bodily resurrections, one to life and one to damnation.”
The apostle Paul told Felix,
“And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall
be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.” (Acts 24:15)
The apostle John had this to
say, “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)
Some teach that there will be
one general resurrection of everyone, believers and unbelievers and then we’ll
all answer to God at the great white throne judgment. This isn’t so.
Some think they will be able
to plead their case before God, because their good works will be greater than
any bad they may have done. Not so.
As previously stated, there
are two resurrections. The second resurrection occurs after the Millennium. God
the Son will raise all unbelievers of every age and they will all stand before
Him at the Great White Throne Judgment. They will bow before Him and “confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord.”
“Wherefore God also hath
highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the
name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth,
and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus
Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11)
If they were an unbeliever on
earth, their name will not be found in the book of life.
“And whosoever was not found
written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:15)
All who have chosen to deny
the Lord Jesus Christ will be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone.
“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.” (Revelation
21:8)
The lake of fire is the
second death, which has no power over any believer of God’s Son Jesus Christ.
“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 20:6)
Anyone who is raised before
God at the second resurrection will join Satan and his fallen angels in the
lake of fire for eternity. Some passages, among others, that show the lake of
fire as being eternal are; Isaiah 66:24; Daniel 12:2-3; Matthew 25:46; Mark
9:42-49; Revelation 14:10-11.
The Jewish harvest is a
perfect illustration of the first resurrection. All those who are part of the
first resurrection belong to God because of their belief in His Son Jesus
Christ. They are not all resurrected at the same time however.
The Jewish harvest was the
fruit of one season that was obtained by the farmers on three different
occasions; i.e. firstfruits, main harvest and gleanings.
The firstfruits, which were
an earnest or pledge of the greater harvest, were in the spring of the year.
The main harvest was in the summer and was the greater part of the crops, and
the gleanings were what was left in the fall of the year.
Jesus was our firstfruits. “But
now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that
slept.” (1 Corinthians 15:20) He is the earnest or pledge for all who come to
Him as believers. Also, when Jesus arose from the grave, “… the graves were
opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the
graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto
many.” (Matthew 27:52-53)
It has been 2,000 years since
the firstfruits of the harvest. The main harvest will occur next. It is called
the Rapture of the Church or the bride of Christ.
“But I would not have you to
be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not,
even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose
again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this
we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain
unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 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 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. Wherefore
comfort one another with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)
The gleanings part of the
first resurrection will occur at the end of the Tribulation. The Tribulation
Martyrs and Old Testament believers will be resurrected at that time.
“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.” (Revelation 20:4-5)
“And at that time shall
Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy
people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was
a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be
delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. 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.” (Daniel 12:1-2)
Let us briefly re-cap.
The First Resurrection (all
believers)
· Firstfruits (Jesus and others He raised at that time)
· Main harvest (Rapture of the Church)
· Gleanings (Tribulation martyrs and O.T. saints at the
end of the Tribulation)
The Second resurrection (all
unbelievers)
· After the Millennium to face the great white throne
judgment and the lake of fire
Grant Phillips
Email: grantphillips@windstream.net
Pre-Rapture Commentary: http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com
