The Resurrections

Articles

Rick Fleeman
12/28/00 - Judgement

Many false doctrines are taught on the book of Revelation which has caused much confusion. One of them is that there will be a resurrection of the righteous, then many years later in time a resurrection of the evil.

One of the verses that caused this confusion is

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

This is a figurative verse talking about Christ reigning on his throne for 1000 years. 1000 is a number that referred to "a long time", "forever", or "for an entire period." This actually refers to Christ and His kingdom. Christ kingdom is the church. It was established on the day of Pentecost. Peter made it clear that Christ ascended to the right hand of God in Acts 2 and is now seated and ruling on his throne over his spiritual kingdom.

Acts 2:30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;
Acts 2:31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
Acts 2:32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
Acts 2:33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
Acts 2:34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
Acts 2:35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool.
Acts 2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

Notice that Christ was going to be raised to sit on His throne. Who sits on a throne? One who has a kingdom. That is why Peter could say he is both Lord and Christ. Lord means "supreme authority".

Yet many say the kingdom is "yet to come" and that this 1000 years is a literal 1000 years. I emphatically disagree.

In part, this belief that the kingdom does not yet exist is behind the false belief we mentioned earlier about the resurrection. Since they believe the kingdom does not yet exist they are looking for a time in the future when it will exist. Also, many believe it will be an earthly kingdom. This being the case they look at Rev 20:5 and read about "the first resurrection". They then believe this refers to a physical resurrection and that later in time another physical resurrection will occur.

I believe a statment of Jesus recorded in John 5 clears up the whole misunderstanding.

John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

We see clearly that the "first resurrection" is spiritual in nature. It has happened all through out time. When people obey or listen to God they are saved from spiritual death or are "resurrected".

As Jesus sits on His throne over the kingdom, the church, any who "call on his name" or obey him as is specified in the Bible take part in the first resurrection, the spiritual resurrection.

John and Jesus go even further to let us know that there will be a resurrection, an hour, when both the just and unjust shall come forth from the grave.

John 5:25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
John 5:26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;
John 5:27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.
John 5:28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
John 5:29 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.

There is only 1 physical resurrection yet to come. For more details see some of the articles on the end of time.