The purpose of this chapter is to show that instead of two physical resurrections separated by various time periods there will be one physical resurrection which includes all people. The first resurrection is a spiritual resurrection when one is born again.
THE KEY TO OPEN OUR UNDERSTANDING
A study of the two resurrections is a major key to understanding eschatology. In Hebrews the 6th chapter, verses 1 and 2, the resurrection is mentioned as one of the foundation stones upon which our faith is built. Paul said, "If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. " (1 Cor 15:13) This passage speaks of a physical resurrection, but there is also a spiritual resurrection.
Some teach there will be two physical resurrections separated by a period of one thousand years; that the first resurrection will be a resurrection of the just, and the second will be a resurrection of the unjust one thousand years later. All other scriptures conflict with this view. However, there is a way to interpret the two resurrections mentioned in Revelation 20 to agree with other passages that deal with resurrection.
THE TWO RESURRECTIONS
When man was created and God breathed into him the breath of life, he became a living soul. He was alive physically, and he was alive spiritually. He had fellowship with God with no guilt or condemnation. God said that in the day that you eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, you shall surely die. We know that Adam did not die physically that day. He died a spiritual death. That day he was separated from God and was driven from the garden. So the first death mentioned in the Bible was a spiritual death.
Later Adam and Eve died physically. That was the second death. The first death was a spiritual death and the second death physical.
If a person should come back to physical life again he would have experienced a resurrection from physical death. The same is true of spiritual death and spiritual resurrection. "Resurrection" means, 'to be raised from death to life". To receive spiritual life is resurrection!
Spiritual resurrection was introduced by Jesus and it comes to each of us at the new birth. Being born again means being raised from spiritual death to new life. There are therefore, two resurrections, a spiritual and a physical. In the physical resurrection, there are two classes: Those who have experienced spiritual resurrection to eternal life, and those who refuse to accept Christ and have never experienced this first resurrection. They will experience a physical resurrection. That will only lead to their second physical death, an eternal death. "Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power... " (Rev. 20:6)
We see clearly that for the believer Paul recognized a spiritual resurrection. 'We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with him in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless, that we should no longer be slaves to sin. " (Rom. 6:4-6)
"..made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions... " (Eph. 2:5) We were dead. We are made alive in Christ. That is a spiritual resurrection.
We have entered into Christ's death and resurrection. We have been made alive with Christ.
"Having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the Power of God, who raised him from the dead. When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, " (Col 2:12-13) ) You have experienced a spiritual resurrection.
WE HAVE BEEN RESURRECTED!
'We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. " (I John 3:14) 'I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. " (John 5.24) We therefore conclude three things:
1.The first resurrection is spiritual.
2.It is in the present tense. It takes place at the time of the new birth.
3.It only involves believers. You experience the first resurrection when you become a child of God.
In John 11, Jesus was coming to the tomb of Lazarus. Martha was concerned because Jesus had not gotten there in time to save him from death. He had been dead four days.
Jesus said "Your brother will rise again."
Martha said, "Yes, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day." Martha understood that there was going to be a resurrection at the last day. Not resurrections, but a resurrection. And Jesus said, 'I am the resurrection and the life, he that believeth on me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die."
In Christ Jesus we will never die a spiritual death, because we have been resurrected with Him. He is the resurrection.
In the physical resurrection, when Jesus Christ comes, everyone will be raised. Those that were dead and are alive, or have experienced the first resurrection are blessed and holy, and the second death has no power on them. They died one physical death and they will never die another physical death. But those who reject Christ reject the resurrection and are not partakers of the first resurrection. Therefore, they are resurrected to the second death. "Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them ... (Rev. 20:6)
THE NOW IS RESURRECTION
"I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned, he has crossed over from death to life. I tell you the truth, as time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the son of God and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.
Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out-those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned." John 5:24-29
Let's outline this passage in which Jesus teaches resurrection.
1.The first resurrection is spiritual, and is only for the believer.
2.The first resurrection is now in progress but there is a future time when all will be called back to physical life. (verse 25)
3.All life, both spiritual and physical is given by God and only God is capable of judging. (verses 26,27)
4.There will be a physical resurrection for both the good and evil. The good will be resurrected unto life and the evil unto damnation. (verses 28,29)
BORN TWICE - DIE ONCE, BORN ONCE - DIE TWICE
'At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people-every- one whose name is found written in the book-will be delivered. Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. " (Dan. 12:1-2)
From this scripture we learn three things:
1. The resurrection follows a time of widespread and unparalleled trouble and persecution.
2. It includes saints and sinners. Some will be raised to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting con- tempt. These two classes obviously are raised at the same time. Nothing is said about a separation of time between the two classes of people.
3. It speaks of finality, separation, and the end of time. "However, I admit that I worship the God of our fathers, as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that agrees with the Law and that is written in the Prophets, and I have the same hope in God as these men, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. " (Acts 24:14-15) There will be a general resurrection of the dead, both the just and the unjust. One resurrection with two classes of people.
"unless it was this one thing I shouted as I stood in their presence: 'It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today. "' (Acts 24:21) Two classes of people, but there is a total silence regarding any separation of time. The passage that refers to two resurrections is only found in vision form in the book of Revelation. And according to the rules of Biblical interpretation, the plain statement, and the consistent scriptural teaching will interpret or throw light on the vague or unclear passage.
According to I Corinthians 15, death is the last enemy that is destroyed, and it is destroyed at the resurrection when Christ returns. All the scriptures point to one general resurrection which will include both the just and the unjust. The teachings of Jesus in Matthew 13, and Matthew 25 definitely preclude any possibility of a literal thousand year interval between the two resurrections.
HOW TO HANDLE A VISION
As we look at the 10th chapter of Acts, we see what Peter did when he had a vision. Here we have a clue as to how we should treat visions. Visions, in scripture, are just as inspired as any scripture. However, it requires an interpretation which cannot disagree with other scriptures. If it does not agree, then we must doubt the interpretation. Peter had a vision of a sheet that was let down by the four corners with all types of four footed beasts and fowls and creeping things. And a voice said to him, "Arise Peter, kill and eat." Three times this happened. The Bible says he doubted in himself what the vision meant.
In verse 17, 'While Peter was still thinking about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon's house was and stopped at the gate. " Notice that Peter didn't take the vision literally Even though a vision is recorded in scripture, we cannot take it literally and force the other scriptures to agree. We have to interpret a vision in the light of plain scriptural teaching. Therefore, we should do like Peter. He doubted in himself what the visions meant. He said, "God hath showed me that I should not call any man common or unclean. " In vision the unclean creatures represented Gentiles. God was simply correcting his attitude toward world evangelization. So also in the interpretation of John's vision in Revelation 20 we must interpret the two resurrections in the light of clear statements of scripture.
SUMMARY
First, there is a spiritual resurrection which takes place at the time of the new birth. This is only for believers.
Second, there is a physical resurrection to include all people, this takes place when Christ returns.