The First Resurrection

[JM]

Jesus said in John 5:24 "Most assuredly I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.†[It seems the “Kingdom Gospel†had eternal security attack to it wink, wink.]

Now in Revelation 20:6 we read “Blessed and holy is he that has part in the first resurrection. Over these the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him for a thousand years.â€Â

I got to thinking about the context in which this is stated (v. 6 & v. 14) and it seems these verses are about a spiritual and not a physical resurrection and death.

It’s always been my understanding of Eph. 2:6 that it’s a literal spiritual resurrection, yet I read Rev. 20:6 in a literalistic manner allow my presuppositions about the rapture to dictate what my understanding of the passage should be. “…and raised us up together, and seated us together in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus,†which means I’m spiritually seated with Christ, the same thing is stated in Colossians 2:12 “having been buried together with Him in baptism, in which also you were raised together through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our trespasses.†Colossians 3:1 reads “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.â€Â

Other verses I have to consider while I study this topic in relation to the new birth are 2 Corinthians 4:6, Romans 12:2 and Ephesians 3:16.

If we deny the new spiritual birth from spiritual death, we can understand Rev. 20:6 as being the first resurrection. If we accept the new spiritual birth from spiritual death, how can we wait for a future first resurrection?

 

[Georges]

IAMB,

There are multiple resurrections (i.ae. Elijah, Lazarus, Jesus, Saints at the crucifixion, Paul etc).

Revelation 20 deals with 2....A first and a second. It deals with 2 in the context of the verses they are talking about.

Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given 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 and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

This scene happens prior to the 1000 years, and determines who (the martyred tribulation saints) is allowed to be resurrected (out of the descriptive category above) to enter the Messianic Kingdom to join the righteous Jews (ie Torah observant pre Christ, ie Patriarchs, Moses etc), and believing Christian's (throughout history) who will be resurrected to enjoy the Messianic Kingdom. The martyred tribulation saints mentioned above are a different group to be resurrected to enter the 1000 year period.


Rev 20:5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This [is] the first resurrection.

Obviously, the wicked dead throughout history are reserved for resurrection and judgment at the end of the 1000 years. The statement "This is the first resurrection" is a reference to verse 4. There are no punctuation marks in the Greek text so the verses should be read in group fashion and not broken down in individual verses (at least in this case).


Rev 20:6 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.


This is a comfort for those who having read this book and are alive to experience the death of martyrdom during the tribulation period, that they will be raised and given a reward for their faithfulness. The second death is the second death....

These 2 resurrections are in regard to the tribulation saints only....those who refuse the mark of the beast will be resurrected into the Messianic Kingdom. Those who accept the mark will be raised along with the wicked dead at the conclusion of the 1000 years.

 

[JM]

There are multiple resurrections (i.ae. Elijah, Lazarus, Jesus, Saints at the crucifixion, Paul etc).

Can we view the above resurrections as spiritual resurrections?

These 2 resurrections are in regard to the tribulation saints only....those who refuse the mark of the beast will be resurrected into the Messianic Kingdom. Those who accept the mark will be raised along with the wicked dead at the conclusion of the 1000 years.

What is the Messianic Kingdom and how is Christ ruling now? What is the Kingdom of God?

 

[Georges]

There are multiple resurrections (i.ae. Elijah, Lazarus, Jesus, Saints at the crucifixion, Paul etc).

Can we view the above resurrections as spiritual resurrections?

If there is a bodily resurrection there must be a spiritual resurrection...but I don't think that is what you are implying...I think you are referencing an old/new man....But I don't believe this is the case in the Rev 20 reference.

[quote:bdfaa]These 2 resurrections are in regard to the tribulation saints only....those who refuse the mark of the beast will be resurrected into the Messianic Kingdom. Those who accept the mark will be raised along with the wicked dead at the conclusion of the 1000 years.

What is the Messianic Kingdom and how is Christ ruling now?

Christ isn't ruling now....He has however earned the right to rule in the future Messianic Millenium. At this time, Christ "our Great High Priest" is interceeding for us to the Father. Having said that, believer's do have a piece of the Kingdom in their hearts....

What is the Kingdom of God?

Everything is God's Kindom....yes, even Hell belongs to the Kingdom of God. In regard to the 1000 year Messianic Kingdom of God, it is that 1000 year period where Christ will rule and teach Torah.....after that, the earth will be purged and the New Jerusalem will be the Kingdom of God.

[/quote:bdfaa]

 

[JM]

Thx G-man, all valid points. I do believe there is something to the 'Kingdom here and now' teaching...

Gospels – “Kingdom is at Hand!â€Â

Acts 2:30-34 - David’s descendant will be seated on the throne.

1 Corinthians 15:22-28 - he Christ must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.

Hebrews 1:1-13 - After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

Hebrews 10:12-13 - “But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet.â€Â

Ephesians 2 - We, as believers, reign with Christ. What is Christ reigning over if not the Kingdom?

Colossians 1 – We are now in the kingdom. "Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:"

Hebrews 12:28 – “Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom a what? A Kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe,â€Â

Rev. 1 – We are a kingdom of Priests going through Tribulation UNTIL Christ’s enemies are made “a footstool.†Where's our kingdom?

Passages that relate to the kingdom before Christ’s ascension are always in the context as being future, those after are viewed as present. In the past I would argue claiming, “the kingdom is for Israel but we are the Church!†This idea is false based on Romans 11, which I commented on. We are grafted into Israel, we are Israel and all Israel will be saved as the scriptures read. Our Lord gave an answer as to the timing of the kingdom, “neither will they say, 'Look here!' or 'Look, there it is!' For behold, the kingdom of God is among you." Just as Nicodemus was told he had to be born again to even SEE the kingdom we find the lesson of Spiritual transformation of the elect, where the kingdom is present but not yet complete. It is present in the lives of the regenerated who are regenerated from spiritual death to spiritual life and will be complete at the resurrection of the body. (The divine order is as follows, born again and then SEE the kingdom. A person dead in sin cannot see the kingdom or its offer.)

Trying to give a definitive statement on what the kingdom is different because the topic is so extensive, but we can rest assured on what Christ has said that it isn’t a physical land mass. The sermon on the mount is a good place to start. The emphasis is based upon the spiritual aspects of believers. Those in attendance were from Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and beyond the Jordan (Matthew 4:24). This was a great crowd of people that had come out to hear Christ proclaim the Gospel and this message wasn’t about a piece of land but a change of heart and the restoration of fellowship with fallen man.

A powerful Bible teacher, Geerhardus Vos, lists three aspects of the kingdom of God:
1. supremacy of God in the sphere of saving power
2. sphere of righteousness
3. state of blessedness

What believer can deny God’s rule in his or her life? “And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure;†sound like the Sermon on the Mount? “For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.†1 Corinthians 4. The nature of righteousness for the kingdom is most clearly expressed in the Gospels and the works of Paul because the kingdom of God is the sphere in which God reigns and is sovereign. Where His dominion is expressed, there is God’s kingdom. Both the Hebrew/malkuth and Greek/basileia words for kingdom refer to the authority, reign and rule of a king…not things that pass away (1 Corinthians 10:31), or the things of the flesh (1 Corinthians 6:9, 15:50; Galatians 5:21; Ephesians 5:5).

There is much to consider.

Peace brother.

jm

 

[JM]

Everything is God's Kindom....yes, even Hell belongs to the Kingdom of God. In regard to the 1000 year Messianic Kingdom of God, it is that 1000 year period where Christ will rule and teach Torah.....after that, the earth will be purged and the New Jerusalem will be the Kingdom of God.

It sounds slightly dispensational if God will once again uses the Torah, what do you believe is the purpose of Torah? When you use the word Torah, do you mean just the 10 or the 613? Does the N.T. tell us the Law was abolished? (Ceremonial law Eph 2:15; Ten Commandments Rom 7:2,6; 2 Cor 3:7,11,13,14) I'm not antinomian, just trying to understand what you're point. How do you view Romans 7:1-7 where Paul writes about the death of self to the Law to be wedded to Christ?

JM

Check it out!
http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Articl ... vance.html

 

[Georges]

Everything is God's Kindom....yes, even Hell belongs to the Kingdom of God. In regard to the 1000 year Messianic Kingdom of God, it is that 1000 year period where Christ will rule and teach Torah.....after that, the earth will be purged and the New Jerusalem will be the Kingdom of God.

It sounds slightly dispensational if God will once again uses the Torah, what do you believe is the purpose of Torah?

To teach us how to live a righteous, Godly life.....That's all it is, a good way to live....Think about it...if everyone obeyed the principles of Torah, every man would love his neighbor and there would be peace.

When you use the word Torah, do you mean just the 10 or the 613?

Obviously, there are Torah laws that only apply to the Temple, priests, and others....I mean the Torah laws as that apply to the appropriate individual and circumstance...for example, there are those laws which are only to be obeyed in the land of Israel, etc....Of course no one keeps the Torah perfectly...but I think it would be good to try....Of course this isn't unto salvation, but it may be.

Does the N.T. tell us the Law was abolished?

I don't think so...I think Christ was the goal of the Torah, not the end of it. The OT is very clear in that he will teach Torah during the Messianic Kingdom. If you have http://www.blueletterbible.com, you can search for all of the "Law, precepts, word etc" in the prophetic books. If Torah Law was abolished, how can these future things come to pass? Also, Chirst fulfilled some of the OT prophecies, but won't fulfill the bulk of OT prophecy until his second coming.

(Ceremonial law Eph 2:15; Ten Commandments Rom 7:2,6; 2 Cor 3:7,11,13,14) I'm not antinomian, just trying to understand what you're point.

We kinda got off the subject matter...so I had to scroll back to see what I was writing...Oh, I see...I mentioned that Messiah would teach Torah in the Messianic kingdom....

How do you view Romans 7:1-7 where Paul writes about the death of self to the Law to be wedded to Christ?

I prefer not to go into Paul....lately I've been bashing him pretty good on other threads. Not a big Paul fan right now...To me, Paul has too many "Gnostic/Mystery terms and concepts mixed in with Judaism" for me to fully trust what he (or those writting in his name) say, so I prefer not to comment on Romans 7:1-7. I am a big fan of James, Peter, John and the boys at the Church of Jerusalem, who weren't dead to the law as they continued to observe it.

JM

Check it out!
http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Articl ... vance.html

 

[JM]

I understand George, thanks for the help.

If you have http://www.blueletterbible.com, you can search for all of the "Law, precepts, word etc" in the prophetic books.

Does the blue letter bible list according the Hebrew/Greek or English words?

Peace.

 

[Georges]

I understand George, thanks for the help.

If you have http://www.blueletterbible.com, you can search for all of the "Law, precepts, word etc" in the prophetic books.

Does the blue letter bible list according the Hebrew/Greek or English words?

Peace.

English words and phrases....or verses for that matter...it really is a neat little study aide...