I find this a very interesting subject as well and it does come to my mind quite often.
As I look at this Scripture passage in Matt. it makes me think that the the first resurrection and the resurrection of the dead happens at the same time.
Mat 25:31 "When the Son of man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne.
Mat 25:32 Before Him will be gathered all the nations, and He will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats,
Mat 25:33 and He will place the sheep at His right hand, but the goats at the left.
Mat 25:34 Then the King will say to those at His right hand, 'Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world;
Mat 25:41 Then He will say to those at His left hand, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels;
Rev 1:7 Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.
Christ's return in His glory and "every eye will see Him.." Isn't this referring to
all people and this must be after the resurrected of the dead, because it also says, "even they who pierced Him." This probably has a spiritual meaning of all people, but I think it means those that actually did do this physically at His crucifixion. So all have already been resurrected and are seeing Him.
Now in Matt. 25 when He separates the sheep from the goats, isn't this the great white throne judgment?
Rev 20:11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it; from
His presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them.
Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Also another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, by what they had done.
Well there are a few things to consider here, as there would have to be an order of events. Because we know it says the saints come WITH Christ.
1Thes 3:13 so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at
the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.
So maybe it's that the white throne judgment happen before Christ actually reaches the earth. And He brings all people before Him for judgment and I don't think that it would necessarily take Him a long period of time to pronounce judgment. Maybe that's what this Scripture is talking about.
Rev 20:11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the
earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them.
So there is the white throne judgment, where all are brought before Christ and judged. And it seems to be before Christ is on earth and also where Christ gathers His Elect and then He is to return to the earth with His ELect.
Mark 13:26 And then they will see the Son of man coming in clouds with great power and glory.
v. 27 And then He will send out the angels, and gather His elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.
I think all these events so far could actually happen in rapid sequence. He has separated the Elect and as He judges the rest of humanity, now they will be cast into the Lake of fire, which is Christ and the Elect. 'THE LAKE OF FIRE - Part XII - GOD JUDGES THE WORLD IN A POND'
http://bible-truths.com/lake12.htmlRev 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.
Rev 20:13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.
Rev 20:14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Rev 20:15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
Now that Christ has gathered His Elect and all have been cast into the Lake of fire, then the world will go through judgment. At least that's what it seems like is being said in Rev. 14.
Rev 14:1 And I looked, and lo, the Lamb stood on Mount Zion. And with Him were a hundred and forty-four thousands, having His Father's name written in their foreheads.
Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints. Here are the ones who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
Rev 14:14 And I looked, and behold, a white cloud. And on the cloud sat one like the Son of man, having a golden crown on His head, and a sharp sickle in His hand.
Rev 14:15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying in a great voice to Him sitting on the cloud, Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth was dried.
Rev 14:16 And He sitting on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.
Rev 14:17 And another angel came out of the temple in Heaven, also having a sharp sickle.
Rev 14:18 And another angel came out from the altar, who had authority over fire. And he spoke with a great cry to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in your sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe.
Rev 14:19 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the anger of God.
This is just the beginning of the process when Christ shall judge the world. The Elect are with Him, but as musicman pointed out they are newly born. So maybe His holy angel are helping out here, as they are mentioned in Rev. 14.
There is so much to think about here. This is not to be consider as a teaching of Truth, but I'm just looking at all these Scriptures and it's what I can make out of it. But it's just my opinion
mercy, peace and love
Kat