The Resurrections

The Bible shows that there are resurrections to fleshly physical Life, and to spiritual immortal Life. These resurrections occur at various times. There are special circumstances that take place with regard to the three basic types of resurrections.

“… The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.”  (John 5:25)

“… that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.” (Act 24:15)

The First Resurrection

Is to spiritual immortal Life. It pertains to Jesus Christ and the saints.

Jesus Christ is the first resurrection:

“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:”(John 11:25)

“But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.” (1Co 15:20)

“[Jesus is] firstborn among many brethren.”  (Rom 8:29, Col 1:15,18)

Jesus was resurrected to eternal life by the exceedingly great power of the Father.

“Which he wrought in Christ, when He [Father] raised him from the dead, and set Him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,” (Eph 1:20)

We, the saints, are to be a part of the first resurrection:

“But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.” (1Co 15:23)

“For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.” (1Th 4:14)

Those saints, who have died in the faith, will be in the first resurrection:

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first.” (1Th 4:16)

The prophets of old, who had God’s Holy Spirit, will be a part of the first resurrection:

“…ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God.” (Luke 13:28)

For those saints still living at the time of Christ’s return there will be a unique special resurrection. They will not have to taste death, because:

“Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” (1Th 4:17)

At the first resurrection – the saints, become divine, eternal, spirit born children of God, priests of God, ruling with Jesus Christ throughout the millennium.

“And they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. This is the First Resurrection.” (Rev 20:4-5)

The conclusion is this – the saints are being judged now:

“For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God:” (1Pe 4:17)

The saints must “live” in Jesus Christ – it is not enough to simply “believe” in Him.  “And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.” (John 11:26)

The Second Resurrection

Is to fleshly physical Life, for those people never before “called” by God. The second resurrection takes place in the time period represented by the Last Great Day. (John 7:37)

The second resurrection takes place at the end of the one thousand year rule of Jesus Christ over the Kingdom of God established on earth.

“Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” (John 11:24)

The purpose of the second resurrection is for all people to be able to know God, be converted and go on to salvation. All who have ever lived throughout history, not having been partakers of the Holy Spirit, or tasting the good word of God, will be resurrected back to their physical lives:

“And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves, and shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live.” (Ezek 37:13-14)

For most who have ever lived, this will be their opportunity for salvation:

“And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.” (Luke 3:6)

“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh.” (Joel 2:28)

There are also Biblical examples of special resurrections. God resurrected some to temporary physical life to show His glory, His power over death, and for His purposes:

“And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after his resurrection.” (Mat 27:52-53)

“Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.” (John 11:14, :43)

Those people who were baptized and received God’s Holy Spirit, will not be in the second resurrection. If they were faithful, they will be in the first resurrection – if they were unfaithful, they will be in the third resurrection.

The Third Resurrection

The third resurrection is to fleshly physical life at the time of the Great White Throne Judgment. It differs from the second resurrection in that those in the third resurrection were once converted, had God’s Holy Spirit, but were not faithful to the end. For them there will be no resurrection to spiritual life. There is no second chance. They have blasphemed God’s Holy Spirit:

“For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.” (Heb 6:4-6)

They will go into the lake of fire – the second death: (Rev 20:14)

“For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.” (Heb 10:26-27)

Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.”  (Mat 25:41)

“There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.” (Luke 13:28)

“And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.” (Mat 25:46)

“And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Rev 20:15)