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"Resurrection"
It is written in (Revelation 20:5
But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.). Resurrection in the Greek is, anastasis (an-as'-tas-is), it has three meanings, (1). a resurrection from death, to live again. (2). a (moral) recovery (of spiritual truth) (3). to raised to life again.Several resurrections are spoken of in the New Testament. These have all to be rightly divided if we would learn the truth of the Word. Like the Coming of Christ, Resurrection was always the hope of God`s people.
And this Resurrection was two fold, and its hope consisted of a first resurrection, as distinct from a second. These were distinguished as that of the "just" and the "unjust", (Acts 24:15
And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.). "Life" and "condemnation", (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.).And they were distinguished also as to the time at which they shall take place. Both are connected with the Advent: the one being immediately before the thousand years, and the other at the end of the thousand years. (Revelation 20:4-6
And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. Revelation 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.).These are referred to by our Lord: and the times and their order are very definitely stated in, (1 Corinthians 15:20-28
But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all).Christ and the firstfruits are already raised. These are the 144,000, of the nation of Israel, whom will come to the knowledge of the truth. (Revelation 14:1-4
And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb).Then there will be those who will be raised in their own ranks, or order: "they that are Christ`s at "the first resurrection", of (Revelation 20:5-6
But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.).Then there will come "the end" or last rank, at the end of the thousand years, (1 Corinthians 15:23-24
But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.). When after the judgment of the great white throne, Christ will deliver up the kingdom to God.But in (1 Thessalonians the 4th chapter) we have a special revelation as to another resurrection at the time of the gathering of the saints on earth. We must not confuse it with the "first" and "second " Resurrection of (Revelation the 20th chapter). These are both connected with the Advent, the one we have seen, immediately before the thousand years, and the other immediately after. Both are a subject of Old Testament prophecy: while the Resurrection of (1 Thessalonians 4:16
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:). Was a secret, then for the first time, made known in a special revelation "by the word of the Lord." This formula always denote a special and specific prophetic announcement. Moreover, it is not called a "Resurrection." The word is not a noun, but a Verb. "The dead shall rise first." The word "first" has nothing to do with the "first resurrection of (Revelation 20:5-6 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years). But only the fact that it would be the former of the two there spoken of: in their mention, following closely, one on the other.But in (1 Thessalonians the 4th chapter), two events are spoken of, not two resurrections: first "the dead in Christ shall rise": and second, the living who remain shall be caught away in the clouds together, with them, unto the meeting of the Lord in the air: "and so we shall be ever with the Lord." Thus, the rising, or gathering revealed in (1 Thessalonians the 4th chapter), though it is still future, it will be the great closing event of this dispensation, and will usher in the succeeding Dispensation of Judgment.
In (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord). Paul, not being a Greek scholar, spoke colloquial Greek. His usage of the word “cloud” and “air” are not used in a manner that one would normally use them. (Hebrew 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us). He was not referring to an visible mass of condensed watery vapor floating high above the ground: but the gathering of witness, or a crowd, or group of people. His use of the word “air” in the Greek is, aeôr (ah-ayr'), which means, to breathe unconsciously. Paul was teaching us that when the Lord Christ returns, all shall be changed into their celestial or heavenly bodies, at the last trump, (1 Corinthians 15:51-52 Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed).The cloud or crowd of witness, will be the result of the fourth invitation to The Great Supper, which is yet future. It will be sent forth by "the Lord", (Luke 14:23
And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.). By Him Who has all power in heaven and earth, (Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.).
This will be a ministry of compelling, carried out in the "highways and hedges" of the world: and it will effectual like the last in the preceding cases. All, in turn, receive the call, but it is the last who "hear and understand," (Matthew 13:23
But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty). Who "hear and receive," (Mark 4:20 And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred). Who "hear and keep," (Luke 8:15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience). And who "bring forth fruit". For this, special wisdom and understanding is needed, as foretold in (Daniel 11:33 And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days. Daniel 12:3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. Daniel 12:10 Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand).____________________________________________________________________________________
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