How many resurrections are there?
Hebrews 9:27, “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” Except for a few examples like Lazarus Hebrews 9:27 holds true for all others. Judgment means separation; and as a metaphor division, dissension. In a judicial sense it’s a reference to the final judgment, as, the day of judgment.
Let’s examine several verses that will put this puzzle together, that puzzle concerns, “the orders of resurrection.
1 Corinthians 15:22-23, “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive (resurrected.) But every man in his own ORDER: Christ the first fruits: afterward (a word of time,) they (the church) that are Christ’s at his coming,” and, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).”
Jesus is called Colossians 1:18, “The first-born from the dead; that in all things he might have pre-eminence.” Pre-eminence meaning to be the first, to hold the first rank, the highest position and place.
It is also said that He Jesus, Revelation 1:5, is “the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth.” First-begotten is the same as first-born.
Jesus is the First-fruit: this points to the first part, the earnest, a down payment, a token of what lies ahead.
Romans 11:16, “For if the first-fruits (Jesus resurrection) be holy, the (whole) lump (all the saved) is also holy,” therefore, Jesus is the first portion of the whole. Jesus as the first-fruit presented himself to His Father, and the Father said he was well pleased with His Beloved Son.
Now for the word order: “ORDER,” as in “every man in his own order.” The word is not used in the abstract, but concrete; concrete meaning existing in subject. So, these verses speak of a sequence of events that will unfold at very specific periods of time, and in a calculated order, Jesus being the first in the year 30 A.D.
Picture, 3 platoons of soldiers 50 men to each platoon. All 3 platoons, make-up a company totaling 150 soldiers: of course the captain (Jesus) is in charge of the whole company.
Each platoon will represent a specific resurrection (or order in time). The three platoons are told to fall in, one behind the other, so we have three rows or ranks of soldiers.
The 1st is rank is told to march off, leaving two ranks. This 1st rank represents those in Matthew 27:52-53, note the KEY word, “AFTER” in the following verse.
Matthew 27:52-53, “The earth did quake, and the rocks rent (thrown about); And the graves (of the dead) opened; and many (a large number) bodies (corpses) of (Old Testament Jewish) saints (believers) which slept arose (were raised from the dead). And came out (stood on their feet) of the graves AFTER His (Jesus) resurrection; and (then) went into the holy city (Jerusalem,) and appeared (were witnessed) unto (by) many.”
This was the first order, these were the first-fruit of all Old Testament saints who trusted God. These were raised unto the Lord Jesus; as he was the first-fruit unto the Father, these are the first-fruit unto Him. These will never die again.
Let’s move on to the 2ed rank of soldiers. The 2ed rank is told to march off, leaving one rank standing. This 2ed rank represents the general resurrection of the body of Christ, His bride; those who believed by faith in His death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and return, for He is “our blessed hope.” These also will never die again.
Unlike the first rank, these are caught up in the air before the 7 years of tribulation begins; then taken directly into the third (3ed) heaven where the Father’s house is said to be, and where Jesus promised to build a house for his bride. Jesus feet will not touch the ground, but will meet his bride in the air, 1 Thessalonians 4:17.
The third rank are those we read about in,
Revelation 20:4, “I (John) saw (with his eyes) the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness (witness is same word for martyrs) of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshiped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his (the beasts) mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they (these beheaded saints) lived (were resurrected) and reigned with Christ a thousand years.”
These will remain on earth and rule with the 12 apostles (Luke 22:30) and the Lord. Zechariah speaks of these saints and what their mission or calling will be in the 1000 Year reign.
Zechariah 8:23, “In these days (1000 Year reign) it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the (Gentile) nations, even shall take hold of the skirt (sleeve) of him that is a Jew, saying, we will go with you (to Jerusalem) for we have heard that God (Jesus) is with you.” Also;
Isaiah 60:3, “And the Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of thy (Jesus) glory.”
This is the third order, or rank to be resurrected. Now here’s the tricky part, a stumbling block for many.
Revelation 20:5, “But (this “but” tells us that what follows is the opposite of what was just said) the rest of the dead lived not (were not resurrected) again until (a word of time) the thousand years were finished.” Then it reads, “THIS IS THE FIRST RESURRECTION.”
“THIS IS THE FIRST RESURRECTION” in not pointing to those who are not resurrected but to the 3 orders of resurrection that have taken place, beginning with those in Matthew 27.52-53. The first resurrection has three parts, and can be compared to the harvest of one field of barley or wheat that will have three separate pickings.
The first picking represents a very small part of the whole. It consisted of few stalks that have ripened before all the others. These are picked, tied in a sheath and offered to the Lord. These represent those in Matthew 27:51-52. O.T. saints who believed God while under law, and now belong to the Lord Jesus.
The second part of the harvest is to be the general and largest harvest of this one crop. This represents the Christian church.
What is left of the field are the four corners of the field. These were left for the poor to pick. This represents those who did not receive the mark of the beast during the 7 years of tribulation.
Three harvests make up the “FIRST RESURRECTION.”
Revelation 21:6. “Blessed and holy is he that has part in the FIRST resurrection: on such (these) the second death has no power.
The 2ed resurrection consists of one final resurrection: Revelation 20:5 begins with “but.” It is the flip side of those spoken of in verse 4. “BUT the rest of the dead (all the unsaved) lived not again until (a word of time) the thousand years were finished.” Who are these? They are all the unsaved from Adam to the end of the age. Read, Revelation 20:11-12-13-14-15.
Now at the end of the 1000 Year reign, there will be one final rebellion by the Gentile nations who will be led by Satan. Their defeat will be swift and conclusive.
Those in Revelation 5 will not have their names written in the “Book of Life” therefore they will be judged from the other books as they stand before the great white throne of Jesus Christ.
I hope this gives you all a clearer picture of what is in store for the world of believers and unbelievers.
Phillip LaSpino www.seekfirstwisdom.com