Focus: Resurrection of the Dead
Part 3: The Resurrections
Greetings Sons of God:
Revelation 20:4-6: And I saw thrones and they sat upon them
and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the soul 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 and reigned 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. 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.
By examining this Scripture we see there are two resurrections
but two different consequences depending upon which resurrection you are a part
of. Now many people have only heard of
the resurrection spoken of in Thessalonians but few speak of the second
resurrection for those that are not found in the Lamb’s Book of Life and will
be judged at the Great White Throne Judgment.
We will discuss the various judgments when we talk about Eternal
Judgment. So when do these resurrections
happen?
The first resurrection happens when the Lord returns to the
Earth. For the sake of time, these
Scriptures are found in 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18. Now notice in this resurrection, this is the
resurrection of the saints, not the sinners.
If you die in Christ then your soul and spirit goes to be with the
Lord. This is why the Scriptures say
that all those that died in Christ Jesus, shall God bring WITH HIM. When the Scripture says He is riding on a
cloud. This is not the cloud we know in
the sky it is the cloud of Witness who in died in Christ. Now if you go and read our Scripture above in
Revelation it speaks that the second death has no power over those of the first
resurrection but also notice it says that those of the first resurrection shall
reign with Christ for a thousand years.
Of course, this is the Millennial Reign of Christ. Only the saints are resurrected from the dead
to be a part of this. Now let’s look at
the second resurrection!
Now the second resurrection is for all those who did not die
in Christ and they shall be judged at the Great White Throne Judgment. Now notice in our Scripture in Revelation it
says that the rest of the dead did not live until AFTER the thousand year
reign. Who is the rest of the dead? All those who did not die in Christ. It is at the Great White Throne Judgment that
God judges those and anybody not found in the Lamb’s Book of Life are thrown in
the Lake of Fire.
The sons of God shall be resurrected in the first
resurrection. Take comfort in these
words.
Peace, Love and Grace,
Calvin Calhoun, Jr.
