Hi Lin,
I never thought of it like that. But that is a good second refutation that he was not in heaven that day.
Darren,
Is there just one resurrection? What is the difference between the first to rise in Christ and the great white throne judgement? After the first fruits are risen is there another resurrection for the rest?
One resurrection, but called by two different names.
John 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.
Act 24:15 I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be
a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust.
In this Scripture it says "for the
hour is coming." Now what this indicates to me is that "a resurrection" will happen in a short period of time, because an hour would mean less than a day. Jesus states here that "
all who are in the graves," this would mean the Elect and everybody else are raised at that time. Because it goes on to state that this includes the first resurrection "the resurrection of life" and "the resurrection of condemnation." This "condemnation" is judgment that will come upon the world at that time.
1Co 11:31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged.
v. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.
"The resurrection of condemnation" of the world is the great white throne judgment.
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.
v. 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.
But there will be an order of things at that "hour."
1Co 15:23 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming.
1Th 4:15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.
v. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And
the dead in Christ will rise first.
v. 17 Then
we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
So the first resurrection takes place, the Elect are with Christ and now on the same day the rest are raised and judged at the great white Throne judgement. Again John 5.
John 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.
Well I hope you can follow my reasoning there, but that's what I see in the Scripture.
mercy, peace and love
Kat