Rev 20:4 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.
5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
6 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.
When John spoke of the "first resurrection" he was obviously speaking of FUTURE events from his point in time (first century). Remember, after Rev. 4:1, John was recording the FUTURE! So, when he referred to the "first resurrection," he was obviously speaking of a FUTURE resurrection. Of course he would not take into account past events, like Jesus' resurrection! If I said to you, "Go stand on the curb, and the FIRST car that comes by will be me," do you understand that I mean no other car has ever driven by on that road? Of course not! You understand that "first" applies only to the time following your arrival at the curb! One must view my words from the perspective that I intended them. In the same way, John was speaking of the first future resurrection from his point in time, some six decades after Jesus was raised! And his intended audience knew full well that he was seeing and recording FUTURE events! Therefore, in their thinking his words would necessarily exclude the resurrection of Jesus, which Paul said was the "firstfruits" of our resurrection to come. However, if John wrote that this future resurrection after the tribulation is the "first resurrection," and yet there would be another future resurrection for the Church 7 years before this one, that makes John a liar! There can be only one "first resurrection" after John wrote Revelation! And it is AFTER the tribulation.
John 6:39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again..... AT THE LAST DAY. [ not seven years earlier]
John 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up..... AT THE LAST DAY. [ not seven years before]
Above we see the the Apostles are promised to be raised at THE LAST DAY.
John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up... at the last day.
[ here we see that Christians are promised to be resurrected AT THE LAST DAY.]
Johh 6:54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up.... at the last day.
[AT THE LAST DAY]
John 11:24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again IN THE RESURRECTION AT THE LAST DAY.
[my Friends it does not get any clearer than this]
In each case above, Jesus stated clearly that the Apostles and the rest of the Christians would be resurrected "AT THE LAST DAY". This prohibits any possibility of there being a future resurrection prior to THE LAST DAY, if so then it could not be last.
In 1 Thess. 4: 16 Paul clearly stated that the "Dead in Christ" will be resurrected PRIOR to the Rapture.
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:
And since Christians are resurrected on the LAST DAY which includes Tribulation Saints in the FIRST Resurrection.... necessarily requires the Resurrection to be Post Tribulational since John stated with absolute clarity that the FIRST Resurrection includes those Christians who suffered and died during the Tribulation.
Just curious... What do you do with the two witnesses [Rev 11] if the resurrection is ON the last day and AFTER the tribulation? These two suffered and died during the tribulation and are clearly resurrected from the dead and BEFORE the trib has ended.
The two witnesses aren't actual "people". Not in my opinion anyway...I think it's talking about the law and the prophets/old and new testament/commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus. The word of God was trampled on and made to no effect during the dark ages. The catholic church removed the bible from the people and replaced it with the "church fathers. But even if it was actual people. Jesus resurrected a few. A bunch were resurrected with Him after the cross. The apostles brought people back from the dead. It's not a problem.
Walter....Not just the saints who suffered and died during the trbulation but the persons who died in Christ will rise first
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
1 Thessalonians 4:16
And the saints who are alive then they'll go to heaven second
After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
1 Thessalonians 4:17
This is no secret rapture.
DontHitThatMark...The apostles did resurrect people but they are not in heaven according the scriptures.
I need to do some more research about the two witness but the 1260 days I think it talks about the rule of the papacy from 538 AD from 1798 AD. Keep in mind, a day in bible prophecy is equal to one literal year.
After you have finished this, lie down again, this time on your right side, and bear the sin of the house of Judah. I have assigned you 40 days, a day for each year.
