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The First Resurrection
" . . . but when the last trumpet
sounds, we shall all be changed in an instant, as quickly as the blinking of an
eye. For when the trumpet sounds, the dead will be raised . . ." (1 Corinthians 15:51-52, see also 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)
What is the FIRST resurrection of the dead taught in the
Bible?
When
does it occur? Who is in it?
What
did Jesus teach about it?
What
is the order in which the dead are brought back to life?
In
Hebrews 6 the Apostle Paul states that this teaching is one of the foundational
principles of true Christianity (Hebrews 6:1 -
2).
In
this study we will examine what happens to those who die faithful to God and
end up in the first resurrection of the dead.
The
first raising of the dead, or resurrection, in God's plan occurs during the
time of Jesus' second coming.
"The dead in
Christ" or "those
who sleep in Jesus," deceased Christians, are brought back to life at
his return (1 Thessalonians 4:16).
When Jesus returns Christians will "always be with the
Lord" (verse 17).
When
He returns, He will come again to the Mount of Olives with the Saints (see Acts 1:9-12, Zechariah 14:1-5).
Those
brought back to life will reign as Kings and Priests on earth (Revelation 20:4-6; 5:9-10, Daniel 7:13-14, 18, 22, 27).
Specifically,
this resurrection takes place when the "last trumpet" sounds.
This trumpet is the last of seven to be blown (see
Revelation 8:1-9:21; 11:15-18).
" . . . but when the last trumpet sounds, we shall all
be changed in an instant, as quickly as the blinking of an eye. For when the
trumpet sounds, the dead will be raised . . ." (1 Corinthians 15:51-52, see also 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)
As Jesus Christ returns to earth "with a shout, with the
voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. . . ." the
dead who have been faithful will rise.
Then those still living at the time of the second coming are
"caught
up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air" (1 Thessalonians 4:16 - 17).
According to Matthew, as Jesus comes with the "clouds
of heaven," He will send angels with the mighty sound of a great
trumpet to gather his converted servants (most of whom will be dead) from the
entire earth (Matthew 24:30 - 31).
After
meeting him in the atmosphere above the earth, the Saints will descend to the
earth and land east of Jerusalem (Zechariah
14:4-5, see also Revelation 20).
The
battle that takes place during the Second Coming is recorded in Revelation
19:11-21.
An
additional event happening at that time is the binding of Satan for a thousand
years (Revelation 20:1-3).
Paul's teaching
If any section of the Bible provides us with the greatest
information on the subject at hand it is 1 Corinthians 15.
This
chapter is known as the "resurrection
chapter." By studying it we will learn several very important facts.
One
of the things we learn is that if Jesus had not risen from the dead then no one
else would be able to do so.
However,
He was brought back to life and is called the "first fruit" of
the grave.
He
is the first individual resurrected with a glorified body.
“13 For if there is
no resurrection from the dead, neither has Christ been raised.” (1 Corinthians 15:13, HBFV)
God has a plan
There is a time order to God's plan for all men (1 Corinthians 15:21-23).
Jesus
is the first person resurrected, followed by the dead in Christ at the Second Coming
(1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians
15:51-56; Matthew 24:29-31; Mark 13:24-27).
After
the Millenium, there will be a second resurrection of all those who never heard
or never fully understood the gospel (Revelation
20:5).
Then
God will bring back to life those who knowingly reject His way of life and
refuse to repent in order that they mercifully be put out of their misery
forever (Revelation 20:14-15).
In
Luke 14, Jesus teaches us that at the time of his return He will repay or
reward Christians for their works in this life (Luke
14:12-14, Matthew 16:27, Revelation 22:12).
Rise and SHINE!
“2 Many of those
who have already died will live again . . . 3 The
wise leaders (any Christian who dies in the faith) will shine with all the
brightness of the sky. And those who have taught many people to do what is
right will shine like the stars forever.” (Daniel 12:1-3)
There will come a time in the future when the dead, "those
who sleep in the dust of the earth," awake from their sleep of
death.
Some
of those brought back to life will receive everlasting life.
Others will receive "shame and everlasting contempt."
This
sounds very similar to Jesus' statement in John chapter 5:28 - 29.
Those
in the first resurrection cannot die again because they have been given new
spiritual bodies and have received immortality (Luke
20:34 - 36, 1Corinthians 15:52
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