Call it what you want, RWB. If you want to be a little more accurate, you can call it my opinion, but I have no problem with either, really. It is what it is.
John writes "first resurrection" to show a dramatic difference between those who are ALIVE after physical death, and those who physically die and will be physically resurrected to damnation.
I'm... really not sure I understand what you mean by this. So some are... or anybody is, really... physically alive after they have physically died? Surely that's not what you mean... If you're talking about those believers who die physically and whose spirits then go home to be with the Lord, then I'm with you there, but I would state that unbelievers go in the same fashion... somewhere else... :) This is what we refer to as the intermediate state. The parable Jesus gives in Luke 16 ~ while, yes, a parable ~ gives us some sort of a picture of what that intermediate state is for unbelievers.
Yes, there is a second death!
Yes, there is; glad you agree...
It is for this reason that in this life, or as John writes time, symbolized a thousand years we must have part in the first resurrection to assure we overcome the second death.
I did say this in my previous post, RWB. For anyone, if they have their part in the first resurrection, it does ensure that they will not be subject to or experience the second death.
Unlike physical death, none will be resurrected from the second death.
Well, right, but they won't be annihilated. They will be resurrected to eternal punishment, and their being sent away into this punishment (by Jesus, upon the final Judgment) for eternity. You don't subscribe to annihilationism, do you, RWB? Or do you?
These martyred are in heaven spiritually alive because in life before death they had part in the first (spiritual) resurrection in Christ.
Well, right, they had conversion experiences, and that was their first (spiritual, yes) resurrection. We all have conversion experiences, some dramatic, some not, but all salvific.
Physical death has no power over them, and because they are spiritually alive when the last trumpet sounds, they shall be bodily resurrected immortal and incorruptible.
True of all of us who have received God's mercy and the quickening (life-giving and faith-working) power of the Holy Spirit and faith. This is the spiritual resurrection Paul talks about in Ephesians 2:4-11...
"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ ~ by grace you have been saved ~ and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages He might show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
This is the first resurrection.
We disagree on this, RWB. I would say the same to you here that you said to me above: this is an assumption... or more accurately, your opinion.
It is simply something assumed that Scripture nowhere speaks of a second resurrection.
Well, there's obviously a physical resurrection at the end of the age, as Jesus says in John 5:28-29, when He says:
"Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment."
Some understand this to be two separate resurrections with some amount of time in between, but that's incorrect. The first resurrection is spiritual, as you said, and happens to each individual member in his/her life at the time appointed by God. There is another resurrection, though, and that one will be physical and general, as Jesus says here. But the outcome will be different for some than it is for others. At any rate, even though it's not specifically called the "second resurrection," it is, nevertheless, the second. :) I'm sure you can count as well as I can... at least to two... :) Sorry, I'm poking a little fun at you (a little good-natured humor), but the point stands.
...there will not be two physical resurrections from the dead. There will be only one bodily resurrection of ALL in the graves for life, or damnation.
Those who have part in the first resurrection before death shall be resurrected to life and those who have not part in the first resurrection before death shall be resurrected to condemnation.
Absolutely agreed. Not sure if or how you ever thought I was saying that, but, no, I agree with this. Of course.
I stopped using this unbiblical depiction (second resurrection)...
Well, I think, RWB, you have made this "depiction" out to be something it never was, at least in my "depicting." I never "depicted" two separate physical resurrections. But you know, there are all sorts of strange depictions out there, and some do believe them... :) Wander away into myths, as Paul says in 2 Timothy 4:3-4 (
"the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths").
Grace and peace to you.
