There is Only One Resurrection

[dwight92070]

Jesus tells us that there is only one physical resurrection, which literally occurs on the last day.

"Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment." John 5:28-29

So He's talking about all of mankind here - which includes both the righteous and the unrighteous and it happens in a single hour in a single day called the last day. There will be no more days after this - except in the New Heavens and the New Earth.

"This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day." John 6:39

"For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day." John 6:40

"No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. John 6:44

"He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day." John 6:54

The famous sisters, Mary and Martha, knew about the last day. Jesus told Martha, "Your brother will rise again." Her response? "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day." John 11:23-24

Paul also spoke of this day in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. He referenced specifically the resurrection of the righteous and the rapture, but you can be sure that he knew that the unrighteous would be raised in that same hour.

"But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those (the righteous) who are asleep (dead), so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. (the unrighteous) For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him (the 2nd Coming) those who have fallen asleep in Jesus (the righteous) (He will bring their spirits, not their bodies- to be united with their resurrected glorified bodies).

"For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive (the righteous), and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep." In other words the dead in Christ will be united with their glorified bodies coming out of the tombs first. Then after that those believers who are alive at His 2nd Coming will be changed instantly into their glorified bodies and will be caught up (raptured) to meet the Lord and the other believers who were dead, in the clouds. All of this happens on the last day.

What happens to the unrighteous who have also been raised from the tomb and reunited with their old earthly bodies - NOT new glorified bodies? Well we know that they will NOT be meeting us in the clouds. So apparently, they will remain on the earth, awaiting judgment. Matthew 25:31

The last day will be an AWESOME DAY. 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10 On that day, His 2nd Coming, the following will occur:

The Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels (their could be millions of them) in flaming fire.

He will also bring with Him all the souls/spirits of the righteous who have previously died, but now have just "put on" their new glorified bodies.

He will deal out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

Paul says back in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 that the Lord will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God.

His return will be a FEARFUL and TERRIBLE day for the unrighteous, but an awesome and glorious and joyful day for the righteous.

It will be a LOUD and POWERFUL day, filled with awesome sights, when Jesus returns for His own - and yet DOOM and weeping and gnashing of teeth for those who rejected Him.

 

[Joe]

Jesus tells us that there is only one physical resurrection, which literally occurs on the last day.

"Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment." John 5:28-29

So He's talking about all of mankind here - which includes both the righteous and the unrighteous and it happens in a single hour in a single day called the last day. There will be no more days after this - except in the New Heavens and the New Earth.

"This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day." John 6:39

"For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day." John 6:40

"No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. John 6:44

"He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day." John 6:54

The famous sisters, Mary and Martha, knew about the last day. Jesus told Martha, "Your brother will rise again." Her response? "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day." John 11:23-24

Paul also spoke of this day in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. He referenced specifically the resurrection of the righteous and the rapture, but you can be sure that he knew that the unrighteous would be raised in that same hour.

"But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those (the righteous) who are asleep (dead), so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. (the unrighteous) For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him (the 2nd Coming) those who have fallen asleep in Jesus (the righteous) (He will bring their spirits, not their bodies- to be united with their resurrected glorified bodies).

"For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive (the righteous), and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep." In other words the dead in Christ will be united with their glorified bodies coming out of the tombs first. Then after that those believers who are alive at His 2nd Coming will be changed instantly into their glorified bodies and will be caught up (raptured) to meet the Lord and the other believers who were dead, in the clouds. All of this happens on the last day.

What happens to the unrighteous who have also been raised from the tomb and reunited with their old earthly bodies - NOT new glorified bodies? Well we know that they will NOT be meeting us in the clouds. So apparently, they will remain on the earth, awaiting judgment. Matthew 25:31

The last day will be an AWESOME DAY. 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10 On that day, His 2nd Coming, the following will occur:

The Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels (their could be millions of them) in flaming fire.

He will also bring with Him all the souls/spirits of the righteous who have previously died, but now have just "put on" their new glorified bodies.

He will deal out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

Paul says back in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 that the Lord will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God.

His return will be a FEARFUL and TERRIBLE day for the unrighteous, but an awesome and glorious and joyful day for the righteous.

It will be a LOUD and POWERFUL day, filled with awesome sights, when Jesus returns for His own - and yet DOOM and weeping and gnashing of teeth for those who rejected Him.

I enjoyed the post brother! It was very edifying, as I have the same understanding with one exception; for those mentioned in Revelation 20:4: "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."

Curious to know your thoughts of Revelation 20:4-6 that mentions a first resurrection for the martyrs who will be beheaded for their witness to Jesus and the Word of God, but the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished?

To me there are two resurrections; one for those beheaded for their witness in Rev 20:4, and a second at the last day for everyone else.

Rev 20:4-6 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. (5) But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. (6) 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.

God Bless

 

[dwight92070]

Thank you Lord. I'm glad to hear that. Regarding Revelation 20:4-6, obviously that is a difficult passage. I have received much help in understanding this chapter from Steve Gregg - thenarrowpath.com. I don't just take everything he says as automatically true. In fact he encourages us not to, but to study the Scriptures ourselves. On the other hand, I don't know another Bible teacher with such knowledge and wisdom.

Here is my current understanding (and I am always open to consider other opinions):

The first resurrection refers to being born again. It's a spiritual resurrection, not the one and only physical resurrection.
Remember Revelation is FILLED with symbolism and yet there are also literal passages (Chapters 1-3 and other places too)

We have "passed out of death into life." John 5:24
"even when we were dead in our transgressions, (He) made us alive together with Christ ... and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus." Ephesians 2: 5-6
"when you were dead, ... He made you alive together with Him, ..." Colossians 2:13
"Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Col. 3:1
"but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, ..." Romans 6:13

The 1000 years is symbolic for the entire church age, from Christ's first coming to His 2nd coming. Obviously, we are IN the church age now. All Christians who "came to life", verse 4, i.e. were born again during the entire church age are currently reigning with Christ (seated us with Him in the heavenly places).

(If the Lord had given us an exact number of years for the church age, instead of 1000, then we would be able to figure out exactly
what year the Lord would be returning - and of course He doesn't want us to know that.)

The last sentence of verse 5 and the first sentence of verse 6 describe this 1st resurrection: "This is the first resurrection. (This refers to the last phrase of verse 4, NOT to "The rest of the dead ...") (We will discuss "the rest of the dead ... in the next paragraph.) Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death (the lake of fire - verse 14) has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years." (Again, the church age)

Obviously we skipped over the first sentence of verse 5 which says:
"The rest of the dead (the unsaved) did not come to life (resurrected) until the thousand years were completed."

Remember that the BOTH the righteous and the evil will be PHYSICALLY resurrected at the one and only physical resurrection, (John 5:28-29) which will happen on the Last Day, when the 1000 years are completed, also called the 2nd Coming of Christ.
If you put this first sentence of verse 5 in parentheses it will help, because it seems to be a parenthetical thought - that is from ("The rest of the dead" ... to "were completed".)

The last sentence of verse 5 does NOT describe the first sentence of verse 5, rather it describes the last sentence of verse 4.

Sorry this is confusing, but the wording there is also confusing, and yet this is my understanding of it.

 

[Red Baker]

@dwight92070 @Joe

Sorry this is confusing, but the wording there is also confusing, and yet this is my understanding of it.

Actually this is not confusing, but the truth, it may be confusing to many who have only heard premillennialism taught, etc., be what the case may be.

The "Idealist" of "allemmiansism camp" are the saints that have a strongest handle on the truth concerning eschatology, for they alone allow scriptures to be their interpreter, by comparing scriptures with scriptures, here a little, and there a little until the spiritual end-time puzzle comes together concerning the end-time events as God's word prophesies.

The preterists must rely heavily on history for their support, which means they must step outside of the scriptures to even get a little support, which should be a warning sign that their house is nothing more than a house of cards, certainly not the truth of God's word, and will certainly fall just a matter of when.

 

[e v e]

Jesus tells us that there is only one physical resurrection, which literally occurs on the last day.

"Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment." John 5:28-29

So He's talking about all of mankind here - which includes both the righteous and the unrighteous and it happens in a single hour in a single day called the last day. There will be no more days after this - except in the New Heavens and the New Earth.

"This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day." John 6:39

"For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day." John 6:40

"No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. John 6:44

"He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day." John 6:54

The famous sisters, Mary and Martha, knew about the last day. Jesus told Martha, "Your brother will rise again." Her response? "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day." John 11:23-24

Paul also spoke of this day in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. He referenced specifically the resurrection of the righteous and the rapture, but you can be sure that he knew that the unrighteous would be raised in that same hour.

"But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those (the righteous) who are asleep (dead), so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. (the unrighteous) For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him (the 2nd Coming) those who have fallen asleep in Jesus (the righteous) (He will bring their spirits, not their bodies- to be united with their resurrected glorified bodies).

"For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive (the righteous), and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep." In other words the dead in Christ will be united with their glorified bodies coming out of the tombs first. Then after that those believers who are alive at His 2nd Coming will be changed instantly into their glorified bodies and will be caught up (raptured) to meet the Lord and the other believers who were dead, in the clouds. All of this happens on the last day.

What happens to the unrighteous who have also been raised from the tomb and reunited with their old earthly bodies - NOT new glorified bodies? Well we know that they will NOT be meeting us in the clouds. So apparently, they will remain on the earth, awaiting judgment. Matthew 25:31

The last day will be an AWESOME DAY. 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10 On that day, His 2nd Coming, the following will occur:

The Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels (their could be millions of them) in flaming fire.

He will also bring with Him all the souls/spirits of the righteous who have previously died, but now have just "put on" their new glorified bodies.

He will deal out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

Paul says back in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 that the Lord will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God.

His return will be a FEARFUL and TERRIBLE day for the unrighteous, but an awesome and glorious and joyful day for the righteous.

It will be a LOUD and POWERFUL day, filled with awesome sights, when Jesus returns for His own - and yet DOOM and weeping and gnashing of teeth for those who rejected Him.

the tombs are the sons in the other reality... it's s not about mankind but about the fall ..

 

[DavidTree]

@dwight92070 @Joe

Actually this is not confusing, but the truth, it may be confusing to many who have only heard premillennialism taught, etc., be what the case may be.

The "Idealist" of "allemmiansism camp" are the saints that have a strongest handle on the truth concerning eschatology, for they alone allow scriptures to be their interpreter, by comparing scriptures with scriptures, here a little, and there a little until the spiritual end-time puzzle comes together concerning the end-time events as God's word prophesies.

The preterists must rely heavily on history for their support, which means they must step outside of the scriptures to even get a little support, which should be a warning sign that their house is nothing more than a house of cards, certainly not the truth of God's word, and will certainly fall just a matter of when.

amillenialism is a false-hood

CHRIST Second Coming is EXACTLY as HE Said it will be = Matthew chapter 24

 

[DavidTree]

Thank you Lord. I'm glad to hear that. Regarding Revelation 20:4-6, obviously that is a difficult passage. I have received much help in understanding this chapter from Steve Gregg - thenarrowpath.com. I don't just take everything he says as automatically true. In fact he encourages us not to, but to study the Scriptures ourselves. On the other hand, I don't know another Bible teacher with such knowledge and wisdom.

Here is my current understanding (and I am always open to consider other opinions):

The first resurrection refers to being born again. It's a spiritual resurrection, not the one and only physical resurrection.
Remember Revelation is FILLED with symbolism and yet there are also literal passages (Chapters 1-3 and other places too)

We have "passed out of death into life." John 5:24
"even when we were dead in our transgressions, (He) made us alive together with Christ ... and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus." Ephesians 2: 5-6
"when you were dead, ... He made you alive together with Him, ..." Colossians 2:13
"Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Col. 3:1
"but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, ..." Romans 6:13

The 1000 years is symbolic for the entire church age, from Christ's first coming to His 2nd coming. Obviously, we are IN the church age now. All Christians who "came to life", verse 4, i.e. were born again during the entire church age are currently reigning with Christ (seated us with Him in the heavenly places).

(If the Lord had given us an exact number of years for the church age, instead of 1000, then we would be able to figure out exactly
what year the Lord would be returning - and of course He doesn't want us to know that.)

The last sentence of verse 5 and the first sentence of verse 6 describe this 1st resurrection: "This is the first resurrection. (This refers to the last phrase of verse 4, NOT to "The rest of the dead ...") (We will discuss "the rest of the dead ... in the next paragraph.) Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death (the lake of fire - verse 14) has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years." (Again, the church age)

Obviously we skipped over the first sentence of verse 5 which says:
"The rest of the dead (the unsaved) did not come to life (resurrected) until the thousand years were completed."

Remember that the BOTH the righteous and the evil will be PHYSICALLY resurrected at the one and only physical resurrection, (John 5:28-29) which will happen on the Last Day, when the 1000 years are completed, also called the 2nd Coming of Christ.
If you put this first sentence of verse 5 in parentheses it will help, because it seems to be a parenthetical thought - that is from ("The rest of the dead" ... to "were completed".)

The last sentence of verse 5 does NOT describe the first sentence of verse 5, rather it describes the last sentence of verse 4.

Sorry this is confusing, but the wording there is also confusing, and yet this is my understanding of it.

@Red Baker @Joe

Rev 20:1-6 is not hard to understand nor is it confusing.

It is exactly as JESUS Said in His Gospel = John 6:37-40

BELIEVE His every word = Matt 4:4

 

[e v e]

this earth not made by God will pass!!!!
The sun will go dark!!!

No more days here.

Can't wait.

 

[Joe]

@Red Baker @Joe

Rev 20:1-6 is not hard to understand nor is it confusing.

It is exactly as JESUS Said in His Gospel = John 6:37-40

BELIEVE His every word = Matt 4:4

How do you interpret Rev 20:1-6? Is there one resurrection or two?

The text certainly implies there are two. If it were not for the passages in Rev 20, I would only hold to one resurrection, being as the Lord said, "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left." (Mat 25:31-33)


God Bless

 

[DavidTree]

How do you interpret Rev 20:1-6? Is there one resurrection or two?

The text certainly implies there are two. If it were not for the passages in Rev 20, I would only hold to one resurrection, being as the Lord said, "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left." (Mat 25:31-33)


God Bless

Good Morning @Joe

KEY = Only One Resurrection = for the Saints = John 6:37-40 is Rev 20:4-6 is Rev 3:21

The separation is Judgment upon the goats = "left hand" = Matthew 25:41

Only the Saints are Resurrected unto Eternal Life with Glorified Immortal Bodies = Gospel , 1 Thess 4:13-18 , 1 Cor ch15

RIGHT HAND = "To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with ME in MY Throne, even as I also overcame, and am sat down with My FATHER in His Throne." - Rev 3:21

SHALOM & God Bless you Today

 

[Joe]

Good Morning @Joe

KEY = Only One Resurrection = for the Saints = John 6:37-40 is Rev 20:4-6 is Rev 3:21

The separation is Judgment upon the goats = "left hand" = Matthew 25:41

Only the Saints are Resurrected unto Eternal Life with Glorified Immortal Bodies = Gospel , 1 Thess 4:13-18 , 1 Cor ch15

RIGHT HAND = "To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with ME in MY Throne, even as I also overcame, and am sat down with My FATHER in His Throne." - Rev 3:21

SHALOM & God Bless you Today

Hello Brother,

I'm not convinced there is only one resurrection; this when taking into account what is written in Rev 20:4-5.
"Then I saw thrones, and the people sitting on them had been given the authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony about Jesus and for proclaiming the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his statue, nor accepted his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They all came to life again, and they reigned with Christ for a thousand years. This is the first resurrection. (The rest of the dead did not come back to life until the thousand years had ended.)"

There is no ambiguity that those resurrected in Rev 20:4-5 were "the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony about Jesus and for proclaiming the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his statue, nor accepted his mark on their foreheads or their hands."

John states it clearly, "They all came to life again, and they reigned with Christ for a thousand years. This is the first resurrection."

It seems the first resurrection in Rev 20 is missing from the gospel accounts. Our Lord even said in Joh 5:28-29, "Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation."

In Rev 20:11-12 we read, "And I saw a great white throne and the one sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from his presence, but they found no place to hide. I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books."

This would match what our Lord said in Mat 25:31-34, “But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left. “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world."

How do you come to one resurrection when it is obvious there are two? One special for "the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony about Jesus and for proclaiming the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his statue, nor accepted his mark on their foreheads or their hands." and the one mentioned by our Lord in the gospels.

God Bless

 

[synergy]

Hello Brother,

I'm not convinced there is only one resurrection; this when taking into account what is written in Rev 20:4-5.
"Then I saw thrones, and the people sitting on them had been given the authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony about Jesus and for proclaiming the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his statue, nor accepted his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They all came to life again, and they reigned with Christ for a thousand years. This is the first resurrection. (The rest of the dead did not come back to life until the thousand years had ended.)"

There is no ambiguity that those resurrected in Rev 20:4-5 were "the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony about Jesus and for proclaiming the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his statue, nor accepted his mark on their foreheads or their hands."

John states it clearly, "They all came to life again, and they reigned with Christ for a thousand years. This is the first resurrection."

It seems the first resurrection in Rev 20 is missing from the gospel accounts. Our Lord even said in Joh 5:28-29, "Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation."

In Rev 20:11-12 we read, "And I saw a great white throne and the one sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from his presence, but they found no place to hide. I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books."

This would match what our Lord said in Mat 25:31-34, “But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left. “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world."

How do you come to one resurrection when it is obvious there are two? One special for "the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony about Jesus and for proclaiming the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his statue, nor accepted his mark on their foreheads or their hands." and the one mentioned by our Lord in the gospels.

God Bless

Personally, the key to my understanding of Rev 20:4-5 is the word "soul", signifying no physical resurrection yet, only their soul is conscious and reigning with Christ, before his 2nd Coming. The Martyrs are explicitly mentioned as such but I do believe that non-Martyred Saints will also be included, otherwise, John would be excluded and that's impossible. Everyone else, non-Saints are not alive until the 2nd Coming and Judgement.

 

[DavidTree]

Hello Brother,

I'm not convinced there is only one resurrection; this when taking into account what is written in Rev 20:4-5.
"Then I saw thrones, and the people sitting on them had been given the authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony about Jesus and for proclaiming the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his statue, nor accepted his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They all came to life again, and they reigned with Christ for a thousand years. This is the first resurrection. (The rest of the dead did not come back to life until the thousand years had ended.)"

There is no ambiguity that those resurrected in Rev 20:4-5 were "the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony about Jesus and for proclaiming the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his statue, nor accepted his mark on their foreheads or their hands."

John states it clearly, "They all came to life again, and they reigned with Christ for a thousand years. This is the first resurrection."

It seems the first resurrection in Rev 20 is missing from the gospel accounts. Our Lord even said in Joh 5:28-29, "Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation."

In Rev 20:11-12 we read, "And I saw a great white throne and the one sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from his presence, but they found no place to hide. I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books."

This would match what our Lord said in Mat 25:31-34, “But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left. “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world."

How do you come to one resurrection when it is obvious there are two? One special for "the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony about Jesus and for proclaiming the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his statue, nor accepted his mark on their foreheads or their hands." and the one mentioned by our Lord in the gospels.

God Bless

Good GREAT Morning @Joe

You said: "It seems the first resurrection in Rev 20 is missing from the gospel accounts"

This is the KEY = JESUS, in fact, Declared the Resurrection of Rev 20:4-6 in His Gospel.

And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” - John 6:35-40

Your Mission is to understand 'Why' JESUS specifically mentioned the martyred Saints of Rev 20:4-6 as the Resurrection

 

[synergy]

Good GREAT Morning @Joe

You said: "It seems the first resurrection in Rev 20 is missing from the gospel accounts"

This is the KEY = JESUS, in fact, Declared the Resurrection of Rev 20:4-6 in His Gospel.

And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” - John 6:35-40

Your Mission is to understand 'Why' JESUS specifically mentioned the martyred Saints of Rev 20:4-6 as the Resurrection

What about John? He was not martyred. Is he part of those who reign with Christ during those "1000 years"?

 

[DavidTree]

What about John? He was not martyred. Is he part of those who reign with Christ during those "1000 years"?

Your Mission is to understand 'Why' JESUS specifically mentioned the martyred Saints of Rev 20:4-6 as the Resurrection

 

[synergy]

Your Mission is to understand 'Why' JESUS specifically mentioned the martyred Saints of Rev 20:4-6 as the Resurrection

You're not the only one who is allowed to ask questions. I'm sure everyone everywhere has their own questions about that passage.

 

[Joe]

Personally, the key to my understanding of Rev 20:4-5 is the word "soul", signifying no physical resurrection yet, only their soul is conscious and reigning with Christ, before his 2nd Coming. The Martyrs are explicitly mentioned as such but I do believe that non-Martyred Saints will also be included, otherwise, John would be excluded and that's impossible. Everyone else, non-Saints are not alive until the 2nd Coming and Judgement.

Hello Brother,

"Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." (Mat 9:28)

The Apostle John was chosen by our Lord to sit on a throne and judge Israel; therefore, in my perspective he is exempted in Rev 20:4-5 along with the other Apostles who were actually martyred.

To go with this we read in Rev 20:4 "And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them."

The sequence of events related to "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." starts at chapter 13 and ultimately ends in Chapter 19 with our Lord depicted on a white horse.

Only the souls of those martyred during this span are part of the first resurrection. The rest of humanity does not resurrect until the end, which matches what our Lord said in Mat 25:31-34, “But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left. “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world."

And as our Lord said in Jon 6:39-40, "This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day."

God Bless

 

[synergy]

Hello Brother,

"Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." (Mat 9:28)

The Apostle John was chosen by our Lord to sit on a throne and judge Israel; therefore, in my perspective he is exempted in Rev 20:4-5 along with the other Apostles who were actually martyred.

I'm still not convinced that John's appointment as Judge means that he doesn't take part in the first resurrection.

To go with this we read in Rev 20:4 "And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them."

The sequence of events related to "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." starts at chapter 13 and ultimately ends in Chapter 19 with our Lord depicted on a white horse.

Only the souls of those martyred during this span are part of the first resurrection. The rest of humanity does not resurrect until the end, which matches what our Lord said in Mat 25:31-34, “But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left. “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world."

I'm still not convinced that only the souls of those martyred during the Last Days are part of the first resurrection. The text doesn't explicitly say that. Maybe there were more Saints who experienced a first resurrection before the Last Day snapshot that John was given? I don't know.

And as our Lord said in Jon 6:39-40, "This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day."

God Bless

Jesus is talking about "all", as a collection, not individually, this martyred person or that Apostle. He's not going into details.