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Are there two resurrections?/

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skydreamers:
Hi everyone,

I've recently been in a discussion in which the two resurrections came into question.

I know this has been discussed before in this forum and I didn't want to resurrect (pardon the pun) an old thread that is already extremely long so I'll just post the link to it:

http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,4215.0.html

Some things that were said in this discussion I had outside of this forum really made me think, and I just wanted to see what all of you think.

A point that was made is, isn't there just ONE resurrection?:

John 11:25
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life.

Jesus is THE resurrection...and as Ray stresses everything is ONE.

Now I don't want to start splitting hairs here but I've been thinking of this non-stop though I don't entirely know why it would be important to figure out.  I suspect though it would help identify the “second death”.

Revelation 20:5-6
5  The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection.
6  Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.

As verse 5 is suspected to be spurious than we have only verse six in the entire bible which mentions a “first” resurrection...and in the same scripture we have the indication that those first will “reign” with Christ. 

When you look at the word first we find in it's Greek definition this: 
1) first in time or place
1a) in any succession of things or persons
2) first in rank
    a) influence, honour
    b) chief
    c) principal
3)first, at the first

So it is possible that we can look at this as not chronological but that there is one resurrection  of two ranks of people...the chosen can be said to be first in rank/influence/honour.  This makes sense because they will be Kings and Priests who reign with Christ.

This is the same way in which the word "first" is used in "first love".  Jesus may not be our first chronological love but He certainly is our chiefest/best/principal and most honoured Love.

The unjust are raised to shame/contempt and judgment as they are still in need of having the carnal mind put to death and to learn righteousness. 

Daniel 12:2
And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

John 5:28-29
28  Do not marvel at this, for AN HOUR is coming when ALL who are in the tombs will hear his voice
29  and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.


None of these verses clarifies whether these are two resurrections happening at separate times.  It could still be ONE resurrection of two different groups of people happening in the same hour...

Here's what I found in a e-mail response from Ray to someone who was confused in thinking two resurrections happens to the same person:

There are not two resurrection for the same person, but rather two classes of people who are resurrected, and the Elect are said to be in the "first" or "former" resurrection.  "But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the FIRST [or former] resurrection" (Rev. 20:5). Now this is some question as to whether this verse is really Scripture or whether it was added to the manuscript. We still have conformation of two classes of people resurrected from other Scriptures:

        "...that there shall be a resurrection of the [1] JUST, and [2] UNJUST" (Acts. 24:15).

        "And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, [1] some to everlasting [eonian] life, and [2] some to shame and everlasting [eonian] contempt" (Dan. 12:2).

        "And shall come forth; they that have done good unto [1] the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto [2] the resurrection of damnation" (John 5:29).

http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,5028.msg39466.html#msg39466


But as I've pointed out I'm still not sure that these passages confirm there are two separate resurrections occurring at different times.  And Ray seems to stress the "two classes of people" rather than the two resurrections.

Same with this verse:

Acts 24:15
having a hope in God that there will be A resurrection of both the just and the unjust.

Why wouldn't this be made clear here that there will be “two resurrections, one for the just and one for the unjust”.  But that's not what it says.  It looks more like it says A resurrection which includes both the just and the unjust.

So if the unjust are raised to immortality as the just are, then they cannot die...”the second death” could then only be the death to the carnal mind.  They can be born of the spirit but still be carnal, as satan and the demons are spirits and are carnal.  The carnal mind (not physical flesh) is what needs to be eliminated.  So this would put to rest the belief out there in some Christian circles that the “second death” is a physical death that is permanent.

What do you all think?  Sorry for the length of this.

Peace,
Diana

Chris R:
Hi, Diana

We dont have to guess what the second death is,  Rev 20:14  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This IS the second death.

 Rom 11:32  For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

 Rom 11:33  O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable [are] his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

 Rom 11:34  For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?

 Rom 11:35  Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?

The truth of the matter is, We dont know the way in which God will judge men, Or the method in which He will do it.

There is coming a promise, to those who have been chosen, A promise to rule with Christ a "thousand years" [parable]..I dont know what this parable might mean.

 Rev 20:13  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

Every man is judged. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire

Sounds to me like Every man..INCLUDES those chosen..who else would have their name written in this book of life?...Who other than Gods Chosen have part of this book of life?

Peter Said, Judgment must begin at the house of God, But the Scriptures speak nothing of that judgment being final.

Anyway..just a thought

Peace

Chris R

hillsbororiver:
Hi Chris,

I see we were posting simultaneously.....

Great response by the way!

Peace,

Joe

Redbird:
Dear Diana,

After reading your post.  I tend to agree with your train of thought.  The following verse comes to mind;

Isaiah 11: 4-6  But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.  And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.  The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.

Glory and Honor to God the Father, and Jesus Christ, the Son.
Lisa

jacieleigh:
I don't really understand all about these things. It is a bit hard for me to think about at this time in my life just having my time of mourning passed and trying to pick up the pieces. Daddy and I talked a little about it. He said I didn't have to struggle over the answers and the questions. As anyone could imagine, my thoughts centered on Daddy's passing. I wanted to know how I was going to live alone, without any parents, where Daddy was going and when I would see him again. He told me that " God, the Father of us all has it. To rest in knowing that the Father in heaven loves me more than anything and He would take care ofthe details. To be comforted by the Spirit."
I miss him and my other family so much but I try to focus on the fact that God has it all under control. I am amazed at the study done on these topics. I can tell that many here have a gift of discovery through hard work. Thank you to all who share that wisdom.

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