God forbid i invent some false doctrine (pre-trib rapture) by adding to God's words what HE did not say.
Indeed - the LORD Jesus did emphatically say that the Resurrection of the dead in Christ is the First Resurrection.
These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life: “I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison,
that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days.
Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.” ’
And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them.
Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands.
And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished.
This is the first resurrection.
Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection.
Over such the second death has no power,
but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
Rev ch20
Believers are reigning now
Another example (of many) how Premillennialists reject the tenses in the original Greek, involves the redeemed currently functioning as kings and priests. The Bible shows God’s people reigning now. Ephesians 2:4-6 says,
“God … hath raised us up together (aorist active indicative), and made us sit together (aorist active indicative) in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”
Believers are citizens of a heavenly kingdom (Philippians 3:20–21). They are seated in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:4-6, 11-14, 3:1). They now rule and reign with Him in life and in death.
John says in Revelation 1:5-6,
“Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made (aorist active indicative) us kings and priests unto God and his father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever.”
We are kings now!!! We therefore reign now!!! This is current and occurs before the second coming of the Lord. This shows what we are now positionally and spiritually “in Christ” – which is reigning in delegated authority will be realized in all its eternal glory physically when we are glorified at Christ’s Coming. The elect of God become kings and priests in salvation when they enter into all the riches of Christ and His glorious power. We become joint-heirs with Him in His current reign and marvelous glory. We become imitators of Him in His humble and contrite earthly ministry. Here again Calvary is given as the transaction that enabled believers to enter into the two spiritual offices described here – kingship and priesthood. Without the cross-work we could never have realized these heavenly privileges.
Revelation 5, which is evidently located before the Second Advent, describes the same kingly/priestly reign of the redeemed in heaven, saying,
“they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast (aorist active indicative) redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made (aorist active indicative) us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign (future article) on the earth” (v. 9).
1 Peter 2:9 says of the Church presently – intra-Advent,
“Ye are a chosen generation, a royal (or kingly) priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.”
We are kings and priests today. The demand of a priest was to make a sacrifice and intercede for the people. We fulfil that spiritually, not in an Old Testament sense. The responsibility of a king was to reign and exercise authority and power within the kingdom. We fulfil that spiritually, not in an Old Testament sense.
Revelation 20:4-5 says,
“And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given (aorist active indicative) 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 (aorist active indicative)
and reigned (aorist active indicative)
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.”
The dead in Christ are therefore no longer in Abraham’s bosom since the first resurrection. They are seen in heaven reigning with Christ. Basically, as Satan was banished and the elect were welcomed.
Believers are already partaking in the first resurrection
A final matter may prove our point, John is describing the current reality of believers already partaking in the first resurrection in Revelation 20:6. It says,
“Blessed and holy is he ‘that hath part’ (present active particle)
in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power.” Our part in the first resurrection, shown throughout the Word to be Christ’s resurrection (Acts 26:23, Colossians 1:18, 1 Corinthians 15:20 and Revelation 1:5).
The duplicity of this subject is that everywhere else the presence tense is used, Premillennialists have no difficulty in applying it to the present, when it does not interfere with their pet doctrine. Jesus parallels Revelation 20:6 in John 3:16, teaching:
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth (present active particle)
in him should not perish, but have (present active subjunctive)
everlasting life.”
Currently believing carefully corresponds with currently experiencing “everlasting life." It is a present reality for the elect, not merely a future hope. That is so because God lives within us now.
John 3:36 says,
“He that believeth on the Son hath (present active indicative)
everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God (the second death)
abideth on him.”
If you don't possess eternal life now you will not possess it in the life to come. Only those who possess it now will never die.
Jesus said in John 5:24:
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath (present active indicative)
everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death (or experience the second death)
unto life.”
The transition from death to life both spiritually and physically occurs by way of resurrection. There is no other way. This is demonstrated many times in Scripture in regard to both spiritual and physical resurrection.
This is supported by Revelation 2:11, which similarly says:
“He that overcometh (present active particle)
shall not be hurt of the second death.”
Here is more proof that our escape from “the second death” is not future tense (as Premillennialists claim) but presence tense.