IN treating of the coming of Christ, when His living saints will be changed and caught up to meet Him in the air, we have partially glanced at the resurrection of the saints asleep through Jesus. The two acts, raising the sleeping and changing the living, taking place at the same moment, it would be difficult to treat of the latter without referring to the former. But it needs a further paper to explain the way in which the first resurrection will take place, as the fact itself is so little understood by Christians generally; by many even denied. And of those who have bowed to the testimony of God's word as to the fact, numbers have failed to grasp the full extent of this truth, or the classes of persons embraced in it.
Like the rapture of the saints, the first resurrection finds no place in revealed truth in the Old Testament; it would be impossible to gather it from its pages, as it is only treated of in the New. Theology for hundreds of years past has taught a general resurrection and a general judgment of all mankind, basing it on certain passages of Scripture, which I think in these pages I shall be enabled clearly to show have been greatly misunderstood. God's word speaks distinctly of two resurrections, and of several different judgments.
In Mark 9:9, 109And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead. 10And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean. (Mark 9:9‑10), when the Lord came down from the mount of transfiguration, He charged His disciples " that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead. And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean." They knew of and believed in resurrection, but this remarkable communication from the Lord's own lips of the rising from the dead was a strange sound in their ears. Notice the force of the words; it was not simply of resurrection out of death that He spake, but from (Greek-from among) the dead, showing that when this wonderful event should take place, other dead ones would be left in their graves. And the resurrection of the Son of man is a sample of what will characterize the resurrection of His people.
Scripture testimony is abundant as to the fact of the resurrection of Christ. Luke, in Acts 1:33To whom also he showed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: (Acts 1:3), testifies that “He chewed Himself alive after His passion, by many infallible proofs, being seen of the apostles forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God." Peter, in Acts 2:3232This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. (Acts 2:32), declared to the Jews on the day of Pentecost, " This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses." And Paul, in 1 Cor. 15, writes, " How that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures; and that He was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve. After that, He was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that He was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all He was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time," &c. Stephen also saw Him standing at the right hand of God. (Acts 7:5656And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. (Acts 7:56).). In John 5:28,2928Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29And 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), the Lord said to His disciples, " Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice " (speaking of Himself), " 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."
This scripture, among others, has been thought strongly to favor the thought of a general and simultaneous rising of the dead; but if we carefully examine it with the context, we shall find that the reverse is the case. In John 5:2525Verily, verily, I say unto you, 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) we read, “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." The hour spoken of here, in which the dead in sin have heard the voice of the Son of God, has already lasted a period of more than one thousand eight hundred years, and is running on still. And surely if this first hour is thus prolonged, there is no difficulty in the second hour, which has reference to resurrection, being taken to mean a prolonged period also. And further, instead of saying that all that are in their graves shall come forth to the general resurrection, the Lord distinctly distinguishes between the good and the evil, showing that the former shall come forth unto the resurrection of life, the latter to the resurrection of damnation—the one perfectly distinct from the other. We shall see further on the time that will elapse between the two.
In the gospel of Luke (14:13, 14), where the Lord was dining at the house of one of the chief Pharisees, He said unto him, " But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: and thou shalt be blessed;... for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just." This saying evidently singles out the resurrection of the just as a distinct event from that of the wicked, or unjust. Why should the Lord use such language if a resurrection of just and unjust indiscriminately were intended? And how could it be called the resurrection of the just, if all will be raised together to be judged?
Matt. 27 also makes mention of an event which took place just after the death of Christ. “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." As to what became of these saints afterward we have no record, and where Scripture is silent, it is well for us to be silent too; but it demonstrates without question that a resurrection of certain saints from or from among the dead, has already taken place. In this, like the resurrection of Christ, we have another sample of what will happen when the Lord comes.
The book of the Revelation speaks so positively and definitely as to this important truth of "the first resurrection," that it seems strange that any who profess to bow to the word of God could have a shadow of doubt about it. I will cite the whole passage that refers to it.
“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." (Rev. 20:4-64And 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. 5But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6Blessed 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).)
You will remark that in these verses the term, the first resurrection," occurs twice; and the very fact of the use of the word “first " implies " a second." Those who have part in this resurrection are called, “Blessed and holy." How could the Spirit of God use such language if the whole of mankind were intended? Nothing could be plainer than that the saints only are treated of —those who, having discovered whilst on earth their lost condition, believed the testimony of God concerning His Son, were justified, fell asleep in the faith, and come forth, blessed and holy, to the resurrection of life. The rest of the dead, as this scripture so plainly states, "lived not again until the thousand years were finished."
The just, being raised at the first resurrection, reign with Christ a thousand years, the duration of His kingdom and glory, of which we shall see more in another paper; the rest of the dead—the unjust, the wicked—remain in their graves until the close of that period, when they are raised for judgment, brought before Him who sits on the great white throne, and cast into the lake of fire. (Rev. 20:11-1511And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:11‑15).) “Blessed and holy is he that path part in the first resurrection."
We must now turn to some details connected with this truth, which may at first appear to present difficulties to any who have not considered them; for we are very apt to come to God's word full of our own thoughts, and thus are unprepared to receive what He has to communicate to us. Trained in tradition, we are very slow to grasp the scope of God's thoughts as to this and other truths of Scripture.
Now not only do we read of two resurrections, perfectly distinct in time, and embracing distinct classes of persons, but if we carefully weigh the passage that we have been already dwelling on in connection with others, we find that the first resurrection will not take place all at one time; that is to say, that those who have part in it are not only saints who fall asleep previous to the coming of Christ for His people, and are raised at that moment, but also those who pass away between that event and the commencement of His reign, the latter being raised just previous thereto.
Let me explain this more fully. We have already seen that when the Lord descends into the air for His saints all will be removed-the dead raised, the living changed; " they that are Christ's at His coming" will be raised (1 Cor. 15:2323But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. (1 Corinthians 15:23)), and those who have not fallen asleep, but are alive and remain, " shall all be changed." (1 Cor. 15:5151Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, (1 Corinthians 15:51).) But after this has taken place, and previous to Christ's coming forth to reign, a short, but most terrible period of tribulation will elapse, unparalleled for its horrors in the world's history (Matt. 24:21, 2221For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. (Matthew 24:21‑22); Rev. 3:1010Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. (Revelation 3:10)), during which time the beast and false prophet will be manifest and the apostasy take place, details of which we shall speak of later on.
Whilst these things are coming to pass the Spirit of God will have raised a fresh testimony of Jesus among the Jews (Christians having been caught up), and fearful persecutions will be the result. The effect of this is seen in Rev. 6:9-119And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: 10And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? 11And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled. (Revelation 6:9‑11), " And when He had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: and they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow-servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled."
Here you will observe there are two classes of sufferers, martyrs for the truth's sake, in that day. The former are seen in the vision in the disembodied state-souls under the altar crying to the Lord for vengeance upon their enemies (a cry which would point to their Jewish character, Christians being taught to bless them which persecute, &c.), and they are told to rest until their fellow-servants and their brethren (probably Gentiles and Jews) should be killed as they. If we compare these verses with the description of the first resurrection in Rev. 20:44And 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. (Revelation 20:4) that we have already looked at, we shall find these two classes of martyred saints are again brought forward, distinct from those raised and translated at the coming of Christ in the air. All is in the most perfect order.
First, “I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them." These are the heavenly saints, corresponding with those represented by the four and twenty elders (chaps. 4., 5., &c.) glorified at Christ's coming in the air, here viewed on millennial thrones, judgment given to them. " Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world?" (1 Cor. 6:22Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? (1 Corinthians 6:2).)
Secondly, " I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God," corresponding with the first class of martyrs of the fifth seal (Rev. 6:99And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: (Revelation 6:9)), almost the same words being used of both.
Thirdly, " And (those, Gr.) which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands," corresponding with the fellow-servants and the brethren of Rev. 6:1111And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled. (Revelation 6:11), for whom the other martyrs are told to wait.
Now mark, those on the throne are already in glorified bodies-seated, ready to judge; but the two classes of martyrs are still viewed in the vision in the disembodied state. “I saw the souls," says the prophet; but at the close of the verse we read, “They lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years." All three classes share the heavenly blessing during the millennial reign; they live and reign with Christ. (See also verse 6.) But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. THIS IS THE FIRST RESURRECTION.
“Christ," then, is " the firstfruits " (1 Cor. 15:2323But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. (1 Corinthians 15:23)); and " the first resurrection " embraces not only those who are asleep when He comes for His own in the air, but also the two classes of saints martyred during the awful troubles and great tribulation that will take place between that event and His manifestation in power to reign, the whole of the saints in fact who go into death from Adam to the millennium. These future martyrs will yield up their lives, like many saints of old, that they might obtain a better resurrection. (Heb. 11:3535Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: (Hebrews 11:35).) The rest of the dead, that is, those who die in their sins, as we have already seen, remain in the grave until the close of the millennial kingdom, the end of the world, when they shall come forth to the resurrection of judgment. (John 5:2929And 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 5:29); Rev. 20:55But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. (Revelation 20:5).)
The twelfth chapter of Daniel, second verse, has presented a difficulty to some: " 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," &c. If you read carefully the first verse you will see that it is not a question here of literal resurrection, but speaking figuratively of the restoration of the Jews, the deliverance of some out of the time of trouble-great tribulation-judgment being the portion of others. Notice that the words "thy people" occur twice. (Dan. 12:11And 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. (Daniel 12:1).) This is not the only scripture where the restoration of Israel is spoken of thus. In Ezek. 37 they are compared to dry bones coming to life, being brought up out of their graves, and placed in their own land. (Ezek. 37:1-141The hand of the Lord was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones, 2And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry. 3And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord God, thou knowest. 4Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. 5Thus saith the Lord God unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live: 6And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the Lord. 7So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone. 8And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them. 9Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord God; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. 10So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army. 11Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts. 12Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. 13And 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, 14And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the Lord have spoken it, and performed it, saith the Lord. (Ezekiel 37:1‑14).) Also in Psa. 68:2222The Lord said, I will bring again from Bashan, I will bring my people again from the depths of the sea: (Psalm 68:22): “I will bring my people again from the depths of the sea."
“But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? Thou fool! that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: and that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: but God giveth it a body as it hath pleased Him, and to every seed his own body.... So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: it is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: it is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body." (1 Cor. 15:35-4435But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? 36Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: 37And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: 38But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. 39All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. 40There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 41There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. 42So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: 43It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: 44It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. (1 Corinthians 15:35‑44).)
With God all things are possible, and He who by His own mighty power raised from among the dead our Lord Jesus, will surely accomplish this mighty act, and raise all His own who sleep, to be with and like His Son in glory. (1 Cor. 6:1414And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power. (1 Corinthians 6:14).) It matters not by what means or where God's people fall asleep, whether their bodies shall go into the grave or the ocean's depth, "We know, that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." (2 Cor. 5:11For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. (2 Corinthians 5:1).)
How blessed for the Christian, as he stands by the open tomb, and sees lowered into it a coffin containing the corruptible remains of some dearly loved one who has fallen asleep in Christ, to be enabled to look beyond this scene of sorrow and death, and to know that the departed is "absent from the body and present with the Lord." To know too that at any moment the welcome sound of the Master's voice may be heard in the air, when every sleeping and every living saint shall be caught up, in a moment conformed to His blessed image; so to be "forever with the Lord." 'Tis then that “shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which, giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Cor. 15:54-5754So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:54‑57).)
How precious to have as the object of our hearts in the glory of God that Blessed One, who could say, " I am the resurrection and the life;" who could weep as a sympathizing man at the grave of Lazarus, but who could display the mighty power of God, for He was and is the Son of God, in raising him from the dead.
A Jewish sect, called the Sadducees, in the days of Christ on earth, denied resurrection altogether. Our Lord's answer to a question put by them is well worthy of note in considering this subject. He saith unto them, "The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage: but they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage. Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection. Now that the dead are raised, even Moses chewed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. For He is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto Him." (Luke 20:34-3834And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage: 35But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: 36Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection. 37Now that the dead are raised, even Moses showed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. 38For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him. (Luke 20:34‑38).)
Paul also, in writing to Timothy, warns him to " shun profane and vain babblings; for they will increase unto more ungodliness: and their word will eat as doth a canker; of whom is Hymenæus and Philetus; who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some." (2 Tim. 2:16-1816But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. 17And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymeneus and Philetus; 18Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some. (2 Timothy 2:16‑18).)
I cannot close writing on this wonderful subject without asking you, my dear reader, if death were to overtake you this day, are you ready to go? Would you be amongst those who would come forth at the first, the glorious resurrection? or are you still in your sins, still under the judgment of God? If summoned from this scene in the latter condition, your portion must be to come forth at the resurrection of judgment, and to be cast into the lake of fire. There is only one way of deliverance from such a doom, and that is by faith in the Son of God, who was judged on the cross as the sin-bearer. (2 Cor. 5:2121For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:21).)
How bright the resurrection morn
On all the saints will break!
The Lord Himself will then return,
His ransomed church to take.
We cannot linger o'er the tomb
The resurrection day
To faith shines bright beyond its gloom,
Christ's glory to display.