The First Resurrection
We will now show from the scriptures that there are three different types of resurrections mention in the scriptures. By “type” of course we mean the manner or way in which the resurrection is to take place.
First off we have already shown that there is to be a resurrection in general of both the just and the unjust, this is what the apostle Paul spoke of in 1 Cor 15:12-24. But notice what the apostle said in the 22nd and 23rd verses,
“For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the first fruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.”
"Every man in his own order"
1) Christ the first fruits: The Christ, Head and Body, Christ Jesus himself being the first-fruit of all, and we who are begotten of the Father through him, “Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first-fruits of his creatures.” (James 1:18) These shall be the first in order of those resurrected.
2) Afterward: Or, next in order, during the thousand years of Christ’s reign, the millennial age. They that are Christ’s at his presence (Greek, parousia): The human order brought to perfection as members of the great restitution class. Mankind will become Christ’s children by the full consecration of themselves.
This scripture shows two of the types of resurrections that will take place, the resurrection of the First-fruits class, first, and later, the resurrection of the restitution class, which will take place in the millennial age. (Restitution signifies to restore, to put back again into a proper condition) See Acts 3:19-21.
So we now see that there is not only to be more than one resurrection, but that there is also to be a time sequence involved between the two different resurrections thus far shown.
We will now take a look at some of the scriptures, which have to do with the first resurrection, and also examine further what will be the type of that resurrection.
First off we have already shown that those who have part in the first resurrection mentioned would have an instantaneous resurrection that is they shall be; “Changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.” (1 Cor 15:52)
But what type of resurrection do they have?
Let’s see what the word of God has to say about this; Revelation 20:6
“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.”
This scripture shows that not all, but only this “blessed and holy” class will have part in this first resurrection, “Those who have done good”
The Greek word for “first” is “protos” and is translated “best” in Luke 15:22 and is elsewhere translated “chief “ in other passages. The word in the original strictly means first in order or quality, i.e. first-class resurrection.
Chief, in that it is a resurrection change to that of perfection of being on the highest of all planes, the divine plane, Immortality, a divine favor which previously was not known nor offered, “But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life AND Immortality to light through the gospel.” 2 Tim 1: 10
The Lord has not only brought to light, made known, that there will be a resurrection in general to life everlasting (eternal life) to those approved in the Millennial age, but he has also made known that, “now in a receivable time; … now in a day (time) of salvation” 2 Cor 6:2, those who follow in his footsteps, that is those who become living sacrifices, acceptable to God through him, Rom 12:1, shall be given the opportunity to experience a change of nature to a nature which is of the highest order occupied previously by God alone.
“…the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the Only God…” 1 Tim 1:17
“Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see…” 1 Tim 6:16
“Our Lord Jesus changed his nature when at the age of thirty he consecrated himself unto death, a living sacrifice, he was then at that time begotten by the Father to a new nature, this New Creature, heavenly, was resurrected on the third day and received, as it pleased the Father—a spirit body, a body of a suitable kind, completely out of death to perfection of life on the highest plane of existence, the Divine plane.
“And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name” Phil 2:8, 9
“For as the Father hath life in himself; (Inherent life, Immortality) so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself.” John 5:26
The Church is to have part in the same resurrection, that is those who are found worthy shall awaken in his likeness, “For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection” Rom 6:5
What does this mean “if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death”?
The answer is this, as it was necessary that the Lord, the Captain of our salvation, should not only make a consecration unto death as a living sacrifice, but necessary also that he should complete that consecration in actual death. The same principle applies to the entire Church, which is his body, “…It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his Lord…” (Matt 10:25) and so the members of his body "fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ" (Col 1:24), becoming living sacrifices themselves (Rom 12:1), in order to be participators with him in the glory and blessing of "his resurrection," the First Resurrection.
It will be necessary for all those who will have part in the First Resurrection to go down into actual death before participating in that resurrection's blessings, because such was their covenant, and such was the Lord's promise to them: "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." (Rev 2:10) There is no escaping this, no secret rapture of the Church as some have suggested.
We will break here due to character limits and will continue with the First Resurrection in our next post.
We will now show from the scriptures that there are three different types of resurrections mention in the scriptures. By “type” of course we mean the manner or way in which the resurrection is to take place.
First off we have already shown that there is to be a resurrection in general of both the just and the unjust, this is what the apostle Paul spoke of in 1 Cor 15:12-24. But notice what the apostle said in the 22nd and 23rd verses,
“For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the first fruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.”
"Every man in his own order"
1) Christ the first fruits: The Christ, Head and Body, Christ Jesus himself being the first-fruit of all, and we who are begotten of the Father through him, “Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first-fruits of his creatures.” (James 1:18) These shall be the first in order of those resurrected.
2) Afterward: Or, next in order, during the thousand years of Christ’s reign, the millennial age. They that are Christ’s at his presence (Greek, parousia): The human order brought to perfection as members of the great restitution class. Mankind will become Christ’s children by the full consecration of themselves.
This scripture shows two of the types of resurrections that will take place, the resurrection of the First-fruits class, first, and later, the resurrection of the restitution class, which will take place in the millennial age. (Restitution signifies to restore, to put back again into a proper condition) See Acts 3:19-21.
So we now see that there is not only to be more than one resurrection, but that there is also to be a time sequence involved between the two different resurrections thus far shown.
We will now take a look at some of the scriptures, which have to do with the first resurrection, and also examine further what will be the type of that resurrection.
First off we have already shown that those who have part in the first resurrection mentioned would have an instantaneous resurrection that is they shall be; “Changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.” (1 Cor 15:52)
But what type of resurrection do they have?
Let’s see what the word of God has to say about this; Revelation 20:6
“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.”
This scripture shows that not all, but only this “blessed and holy” class will have part in this first resurrection, “Those who have done good”
The Greek word for “first” is “protos” and is translated “best” in Luke 15:22 and is elsewhere translated “chief “ in other passages. The word in the original strictly means first in order or quality, i.e. first-class resurrection.
Chief, in that it is a resurrection change to that of perfection of being on the highest of all planes, the divine plane, Immortality, a divine favor which previously was not known nor offered, “But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life AND Immortality to light through the gospel.” 2 Tim 1: 10
The Lord has not only brought to light, made known, that there will be a resurrection in general to life everlasting (eternal life) to those approved in the Millennial age, but he has also made known that, “now in a receivable time; … now in a day (time) of salvation” 2 Cor 6:2, those who follow in his footsteps, that is those who become living sacrifices, acceptable to God through him, Rom 12:1, shall be given the opportunity to experience a change of nature to a nature which is of the highest order occupied previously by God alone.
“…the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the Only God…” 1 Tim 1:17
“Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see…” 1 Tim 6:16
“Our Lord Jesus changed his nature when at the age of thirty he consecrated himself unto death, a living sacrifice, he was then at that time begotten by the Father to a new nature, this New Creature, heavenly, was resurrected on the third day and received, as it pleased the Father—a spirit body, a body of a suitable kind, completely out of death to perfection of life on the highest plane of existence, the Divine plane.
“And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name” Phil 2:8, 9
“For as the Father hath life in himself; (Inherent life, Immortality) so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself.” John 5:26
The Church is to have part in the same resurrection, that is those who are found worthy shall awaken in his likeness, “For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection” Rom 6:5
What does this mean “if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death”?
The answer is this, as it was necessary that the Lord, the Captain of our salvation, should not only make a consecration unto death as a living sacrifice, but necessary also that he should complete that consecration in actual death. The same principle applies to the entire Church, which is his body, “…It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his Lord…” (Matt 10:25) and so the members of his body "fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ" (Col 1:24), becoming living sacrifices themselves (Rom 12:1), in order to be participators with him in the glory and blessing of "his resurrection," the First Resurrection.
It will be necessary for all those who will have part in the First Resurrection to go down into actual death before participating in that resurrection's blessings, because such was their covenant, and such was the Lord's promise to them: "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." (Rev 2:10) There is no escaping this, no secret rapture of the Church as some have suggested.
We will break here due to character limits and will continue with the First Resurrection in our next post.
