Diagram Seven and Commentary

The Two Resurrections

We are not going into an exhaustive analysis of the resurrections, but a brief summary which may help as a supplement. In Daniel 12:2 we have the first mention of two resurrections, “some to everlasting life and some to everlasting contempt.”

"And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt."

Now, as we turn to the New Testament, in John 5:28-29 we again have the two resurrections mentioned.

"Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. (Acts 24:15) The First Resurrection consists of ALL SAVED and is composed of 5 separate resurrections. The Second Resurrection, which is the Resurrection of Damnation, consists of ALL LOST resurrected to the Great White Throne Judgment.

First Resurrection, All Saved

1. The Resurrection of Christ - First Fruits.
(Locate #1 on Diagram 7.) The Resurrection of Christ, who is the first fruits of them that arose. (1 Corinthians 15:20; 1 Corinthians 15:23)

2. Saints Resurrected After Christ's Resurrection - Sheaf Offering To God.
(Locate #2 on Diagram 7.) A group of saints resurrected after Christ's Resurrection. They appeared in Jerusalem and were offered by the Lord as a sheaf offering to God. (Matthew 27:52-53; Leviticus 23:10-11.) They are in Heaven and will return with Christ to set up the Kingdom.

3. The Resurrection At The Rapture - The Harvest.
(Locate #3 on Diagram 7.) This is the resurrection at the Rapture. Those resurrected are the Christians who have died between Pentecost and the Rapture. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17; 1 Corinthians 15:51-54) They meet Him in the air on the way to Heaven, then return with Christ at the end of the tribulation.

4. The Resurrection Of The Two Witnesses
(Locate #4 on Diagram 7) This is the resurrection of the Two Witnesses in the middle of the Tribulation Period. Their testimony during the first 3-1/2 years is now finished. They are allowed to be killed and their bodies put on display in Jerusalem for 3-1/2 days. After that, they are resurrected and ascend up to Heaven. (Revelation 11:1-12) These would represent the gleanings of the harvest of resurrected bodies of the saved. They will return with Christ at the end of the Tribulation.

5. Old Testament And The Martyred Saints Of The Tribulation - The Gleanings
(Locate #5 on Diagram 7.) This is the resurrection of all the Christians martyred during the 7-Year Tribulation Period. They are resurrected to reign with Christ in the Kingdom. (Revelation 20:4; Revelation 20:6)

Try to memorize the five parts of the First Resurrection, it will help you as you study the Scriptures. Remember, the First Resurrection consists of only the SAVED, none of the lost are included.

Second Resurrection, All Lost There are no saved here, all lost. In Revelation 20:5 we are told, "But the rest of the dead (the lost), lived not again until the 1,000 years were finished." (See Revelation 20:11-15).

Torment of Hades is now emptied at the end of Christ's reign. They appear before the Great White Throne Judgment, then to Hell (“Gehenna”).

Diagram Seven was only inserted to give the reader an overall view of the resurrections of the saved and lost, as they relate to their respective places. It must be noted that there is no one general resurrection of the saved and lost at the same time. The five separate resurrections, which complete the First Resurrection, fulfill what Paul was referring to in 1 Corinthians 15:20; 1 Corinthians 15:23 :

"But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept." (20) ""But every man-in his own order..."(23)

Exception: All Christians At The End Of The Millennium.
Note: ONE EXCEPTION: Notice on Diagram Seven, at the end of the Millennium. At this point, the heavens and the Earth are destroyed and in 2 Peter 3:10 we are told that:

“...In the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” (3:10)“Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”(2 Peter 3:13) (Also see Isaiah 65:17)

You will recall that the Millennial Kingdom is started with all saved people in their human bodies (Matthew 25:34), who will bear children during the Millennium. We have no record of these or any other Christians dying during the Millennium. Longevity will, no doubt, be extended as it existed prior to the Flood and a short time after. The Christian during the Millennium will still possess the old, Adamic nature, just as we have today. So to dwell in the New Heaven and New Earth “wherein dwelleth righteousness,” their sinful bodies must be exchanged for new resurrected bodies.

All Christians at the end of the Millennium will have a resurrection, exchanging their terrestrial bodies for a celestial body (1 Corinthians 15:40.) In 1 Corinthians 15:53 we are told,

“For this corruptible (dead) must put on incorruption (bodies that can never decay), and this mortal (those alive) must put on IMMORTALITY (bodies that will never taste death).

We are told why in 1 Corinthians 15:50, “Now this I say, brethren, that FLESH and BLOOD cannot inherit the kingdom of God...” (Also read Php_3:20-21).