The following are some interesting questions asked by a member of the forum in response to our study of the Resurrection.
First question: Am I right in thinking that the first resurrection will take place at the end of the tribulation period?
Actually the first resurrection takes place prior to the great tribulation. At our Lord’s return, which obviously we believe takes place prior to the great time of trouble, the first of those to experience a resurrection will be the sleeping saints.
“For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming (Greek: parousia, presence) of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep (dead). For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ (as one complete body or group) will rise first.” (1 Thess 4:16)
This event like our Lord’s presence will be completely invisible to the eyes of the world; they will have no idea that it’s taking place. Now intervening between the time of this event and the time of that which is mentioned in the next verse, will be the resurrection of individual members of the body of Christ as each faithfully completes their sacrifice even unto death.
For, “blessed are the dead who die in the Lord (finish their course in actual death) from now on.’ ” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.” (Rev 14:13)
We must all die (Psa 82:7), but "we shall not all sleep." In the cases of those remaining alive at the time of our Lord's second presence, there will be no need to sleep--the moment of death will be the moment of resurrection change.
“Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment (that is, at the moment of death), in the twinkling of an eye (such will be immediately transferred to their spirit bodies and joined with the rest of the Church on the other side of the vail)…” 1 Cor 15:51, 52
Rev 14:13 proves the individual resurrection of the living church will take place over a period of time. This, like that of the sleeping saints will be taking place all along without the world’s knowledge, the whole thing happening behind the seen, at the moment of the death of one of the Lord’s saints.
Now we come to the latter half of our text from First Thessalonians the Forth Chapter verse 17
“Then (or subsequent to this) we who are alive and remain (at the moment of death) shall be caught up together (as a company or group) with them in the clouds (symbolic of trouble and persecution upon the faithful) to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”
“Several scriptural references pertaining to the closing days of this age indicate that the very last members of the body of Christ will suffer violence and death, thereby being abruptly caught or snatched up from the earthly fold. Their experience would be comparable to that of Elijah (typically representing not an individual but a class), who was caught up in a fiery chariot and an accompanying whirlwind (2 Kings 2:11).
After careful consideration of these and other Scriptures, the conclusion seems reasonable that there will be no particular individual who can, in the future ages of eternity, be looked back upon as the one last member of THE CHRIST. To have one such individual would detract from the preeminence of Jesus as the Head of The Christ company and would violate, to a certain extent, the principles laid down respecting the office of the High Priest (Lev. 21:17–23). Thus the last members will depart as a company, and the Gospel Age, as it applies to the Very Elect, will have a distinct and abrupt ending, even as the Church had a definite commencement at Pentecost.” (Keys of Revelation, Page 382, 383)
Now it’s important here not to get the idea that we are describing three separate resurrections because that is not the case, this is all one resurrection, the first resurrection. “Blessed is he who has part (a share) in the First Resurrection…” Rev 20:6
Now although the resurrection of the church as a whole is not an instantaneous gathering to Christ, but rather a gradual resurrection of the body gathered to Christ, nevertheless each individual’s resurrection change is instantaneous.
Second question: when does the second (resurrection) take place?
It depends on what specifically you are asking, as there are three more resurrections to follow, viz. the resurrection of the “Great Company”, the resurrection of the faithful of the past (the ancient worthies), and lastly the resurrection of mankind. The order in which we’ve listed them here is the order in which they will follow. We will explain more about this as we continue with our study.
Last question: could you explain what you mean by a gradual resurrection. How does that work?
The world will receive a gradual resurrection "by or through judgments"
"Those who have done evil" (the “un-justified”) will come forth to the resurrection of "judgement" (Greek, krisis), a resurrection of trial, of testing. What kind will it be? The Scriptures show us that it will be a gradual resurrection. During the thousand years of Christ's reign the people will be awakening from the sleep in the tomb. This awakening will be a preparatory work, not the full resurrection, which will require the entire thousand years.
But the Divine provision is that the account will have been settled for the whole world, so that when they shall come forth from the tomb in the future they will be in the hands of the Redeemer, who’s Kingdom will be worldwide. They will have the opportunity of being raised again to that which was lost. Human perfection was lost, which includes not only perfect physical health, but perfect mental power; for mental power depends upon the brain, is affected by the brain, as well as by the body, so that men are now in a dying condition, mentally, morally and physically.
None will be fully raised, from imperfection to perfection, until the end of the thousand years. All who will respond to the beneficent arrangements will secure that which Father Adam enjoyed at first--perfect manhood. Those who will not be obedient to the requirements of Christ's Kingdom will be cut off in the Second Death. They will be destroyed as brute beasts, having had the full measure of Divine favor.--2 Pet. 2:12.
"And the rest of the dead (mankind being deem dead in the eyes of the Lord) lived not again until the thousand years were finished." (Rev. 20:5.) Although this verse is actually spurious, it nevertheless is a true statement.
When the sentence came upon Father Adam he was thrust out of Eden. All of his children have been born dying, and are still in a dying condition. Therefore, the raising of man out of sin and death will be the bringing of him to full perfection--perfect life. This will be a gradual process. They will be made more alive and more alive, and less dead and less dead, as the thousand year’s progress, and none will get the full resurrection life until they are raised to the condition of perfection--perfect life in the image of God, which was lost by Adam.” (R4990)
First question: Am I right in thinking that the first resurrection will take place at the end of the tribulation period?
Actually the first resurrection takes place prior to the great tribulation. At our Lord’s return, which obviously we believe takes place prior to the great time of trouble, the first of those to experience a resurrection will be the sleeping saints.
“For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming (Greek: parousia, presence) of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep (dead). For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ (as one complete body or group) will rise first.” (1 Thess 4:16)
This event like our Lord’s presence will be completely invisible to the eyes of the world; they will have no idea that it’s taking place. Now intervening between the time of this event and the time of that which is mentioned in the next verse, will be the resurrection of individual members of the body of Christ as each faithfully completes their sacrifice even unto death.
For, “blessed are the dead who die in the Lord (finish their course in actual death) from now on.’ ” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.” (Rev 14:13)
We must all die (Psa 82:7), but "we shall not all sleep." In the cases of those remaining alive at the time of our Lord's second presence, there will be no need to sleep--the moment of death will be the moment of resurrection change.
“Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment (that is, at the moment of death), in the twinkling of an eye (such will be immediately transferred to their spirit bodies and joined with the rest of the Church on the other side of the vail)…” 1 Cor 15:51, 52
Rev 14:13 proves the individual resurrection of the living church will take place over a period of time. This, like that of the sleeping saints will be taking place all along without the world’s knowledge, the whole thing happening behind the seen, at the moment of the death of one of the Lord’s saints.
Now we come to the latter half of our text from First Thessalonians the Forth Chapter verse 17
“Then (or subsequent to this) we who are alive and remain (at the moment of death) shall be caught up together (as a company or group) with them in the clouds (symbolic of trouble and persecution upon the faithful) to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”
“Several scriptural references pertaining to the closing days of this age indicate that the very last members of the body of Christ will suffer violence and death, thereby being abruptly caught or snatched up from the earthly fold. Their experience would be comparable to that of Elijah (typically representing not an individual but a class), who was caught up in a fiery chariot and an accompanying whirlwind (2 Kings 2:11).
After careful consideration of these and other Scriptures, the conclusion seems reasonable that there will be no particular individual who can, in the future ages of eternity, be looked back upon as the one last member of THE CHRIST. To have one such individual would detract from the preeminence of Jesus as the Head of The Christ company and would violate, to a certain extent, the principles laid down respecting the office of the High Priest (Lev. 21:17–23). Thus the last members will depart as a company, and the Gospel Age, as it applies to the Very Elect, will have a distinct and abrupt ending, even as the Church had a definite commencement at Pentecost.” (Keys of Revelation, Page 382, 383)
Now it’s important here not to get the idea that we are describing three separate resurrections because that is not the case, this is all one resurrection, the first resurrection. “Blessed is he who has part (a share) in the First Resurrection…” Rev 20:6
Now although the resurrection of the church as a whole is not an instantaneous gathering to Christ, but rather a gradual resurrection of the body gathered to Christ, nevertheless each individual’s resurrection change is instantaneous.
Second question: when does the second (resurrection) take place?
It depends on what specifically you are asking, as there are three more resurrections to follow, viz. the resurrection of the “Great Company”, the resurrection of the faithful of the past (the ancient worthies), and lastly the resurrection of mankind. The order in which we’ve listed them here is the order in which they will follow. We will explain more about this as we continue with our study.
Last question: could you explain what you mean by a gradual resurrection. How does that work?
The world will receive a gradual resurrection "by or through judgments"
"Those who have done evil" (the “un-justified”) will come forth to the resurrection of "judgement" (Greek, krisis), a resurrection of trial, of testing. What kind will it be? The Scriptures show us that it will be a gradual resurrection. During the thousand years of Christ's reign the people will be awakening from the sleep in the tomb. This awakening will be a preparatory work, not the full resurrection, which will require the entire thousand years.
But the Divine provision is that the account will have been settled for the whole world, so that when they shall come forth from the tomb in the future they will be in the hands of the Redeemer, who’s Kingdom will be worldwide. They will have the opportunity of being raised again to that which was lost. Human perfection was lost, which includes not only perfect physical health, but perfect mental power; for mental power depends upon the brain, is affected by the brain, as well as by the body, so that men are now in a dying condition, mentally, morally and physically.
None will be fully raised, from imperfection to perfection, until the end of the thousand years. All who will respond to the beneficent arrangements will secure that which Father Adam enjoyed at first--perfect manhood. Those who will not be obedient to the requirements of Christ's Kingdom will be cut off in the Second Death. They will be destroyed as brute beasts, having had the full measure of Divine favor.--2 Pet. 2:12.
"And the rest of the dead (mankind being deem dead in the eyes of the Lord) lived not again until the thousand years were finished." (Rev. 20:5.) Although this verse is actually spurious, it nevertheless is a true statement.
When the sentence came upon Father Adam he was thrust out of Eden. All of his children have been born dying, and are still in a dying condition. Therefore, the raising of man out of sin and death will be the bringing of him to full perfection--perfect life. This will be a gradual process. They will be made more alive and more alive, and less dead and less dead, as the thousand year’s progress, and none will get the full resurrection life until they are raised to the condition of perfection--perfect life in the image of God, which was lost by Adam.” (R4990)
