FIRST RESURRECTION

• I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom authority to pass judgment was given. And I saw THE SOULS OF THOSE WHO HAD BEEN BEHEADED FOR THEIR WITNESS OF JESUS AND FOR THE WORD OF GOD, WHO HAD NOT WORSHIPED THE BEAST OR HIS IMAGE, AND THEY HAD NOT RECEIVED HIS MARK ON THEIR FOREHEADS OR ON THEIR HANDS. They lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. Revelation 20:4
• But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished.
• This is the first resurrection. He that has a part in the first resurrection is blessed and holy. The second death has no power over them, but THEY SHALL BE PRIESTS OF GOD AND OF CHRIST, AND SHALL REIGN WITH HIM A THOUSAND YEARS. Revelation 20:5-6

The time frame is after thrones are set up, government is established, and authority to judge is given out and appointed. The only mention of a "First Resurrection" is given following the description of the "Great Tribulation" which was concluded by the "Second coming of Jesus" at the "Battle of Armageddon."

After the Great Tribulation there are two resurrections. The first is for the "Tribulation Saints who faced the Antichrist and the False Prophet. The last is after the end of the Millennium Kingdom at the Great White Throne Judgment and it includes all the wicked of all ages including those of the final rebellion who were killed by fire and brimstone from heaven. Revelation 20:7-9 and Revelation 20:11-15

The First Resurrection is made up of those who faced the Antichrist and had been beheaded for the witness of Jesus and for the Word of God. These are Christians of every race, who have faced and rejected the Mark of the Beast, choosing to remain faithful to God to the death. The ones who take part in the First Resurrection are the ones spoken about as the "Great Multitude out of Great Tribulation in" Revelation 7:9-14 .

All other martyrs fail to qualify for taking part in the "First Resurrection" because none of them fit the description. Many of them had been beheaded for their testimony of Jesus and for the Word of God; but none of them were required to face the Antichrist, his image and the Mark of the Beast. Only the Tribulation Saints faced that time and test.

MULTITUDES OUT OF THE GREAT TRIBULATION
Revelation 7:9-17

· After these things I looked, and saw a GREAT MULTITUDE THAT NO ONE COULD NUMBER, OF ALL NATIONS, KINDREDS, PEOPLES, AND TONGUES, standing before the throne and before the Lamb clothed with white robes, holding palm branches in their hands. They cried out with a loud voice saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb!" Revelation 7:9-10

· One of the elders spoke to me saying, "Who are these clothed in white robes? And where did they come from?" I said to him, "Sir, you know." And he said to me, "THESE ARE THE ONES WHO CAME OUT OF GREAT TRIBULATION, AND HAVE WASHED THEIR ROBES AND MADE THEM WHITE IN THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB." Revelation 7:13-14

THEIRS IS A SPECIAL REWARD

• THEREFORE, THEY ARE BEFORE THE THRONE OF GOD AND SERVE HIM DAY AND NIGHT IN HIS TEMPLE. He who sits on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall never hunger nor thirst anymore. The sun shall not strike upon them, nor any heat. The Lamb, who is in the midst of the throne, will be their shepherd. He will feed them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." Revelation 7:15-17

A SPECIAL BLESSING

· Here is the patience of the saints. These are the ones who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
Revelation 14:12

· And I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, "Write, BLESSED ARE THE DEAD WHO DIE IN THE LORD FROM THIS TIME ON. Yes, says the Spirit, THAT THEY MAY REST FROM THEIR LABORS, AND THEIR WORKS DO FOLLOW THEM." Revelation 14:13

VICTORY SONG

• I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire. THOSE WHO HAD GAINED THE VICTORY OVER THE BEAST, OVER HIS IMAGE, OVER HIS MARK, AND OVER THE NUMBER OF HIS NAME were standing on (or beside) the sea of glass holding harps of God. And they sang the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying:

· "GREAT AND MARVELOUS ARE YOUR WORKS, LORD GOD ALMIGHTY! JUST AND TRUE ARE YOUR WAYS, O KING OF SAINTS! WHO SHALL NOT FEAR YOU, O LORD, AND GLORIFY YOUR NAME FOR YOU ALONE ARE HOLY. ALL NATIONS SHALL COME AND WORSHIP BEFORE YOU. FOR YOUR JUDGMENTS ARE MADE MANIFEST (DISTINCT)." Revelation 15:2-4

RESURRECTION TO LIFE

· Truly indeed, I say to you, the hour is coming and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and they that hear shall live. For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has given to the Son to have life in Himself, and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man.

Do not marvel at this for the hour is coming in which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice and come forth, they that have done good, to the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, to the resurrection of damnation (judgment and condemnation). John 5:25-29

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

EACH IN HIS OWN ORDER

• Now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the first fruits of those who have died. Since death came by man, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But EVERY ONE IN HIS OWN ORDER: CHRIST THE FIRST FRUITS THEN, AFTERWARD THEY THAT ARE CHRIST'S AT HIS COMING. 1 Corinthians 15:20-23

PURIFIED AND MADE TO UNDERSTAND

• And he said, "Go your way Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end. Many shall be purified, made white, and be tried (refined); but the wicked shall do wickedly, and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand." Daniel 12:9-10

PARTICIPANTS IN THE FIRST RESURRECTION

This is not a general resurrection. All the saints who died BEFORE THE TIME OF CHRIST were taken with Him when He was raised from the dead, LEADING CAPTIVITY CAPTIVE (Eph 4:8). Those who died IN CHRIST THROUGHOUT THE CHURCH AGE went immediately to be with the Lord at the time of their death (1 Cor 5:3). Those who DIED, and those who were ALIVE AND WATCHING AT THE TIME OF THE RAPTURE, were caught up to meet the Lord in the air 1 Thes 4:17.

The only ones remaining in the grave at the end are the TRIBULATION SAINTS (those who missed the rapture and had to face the Antichrist, but were victorious), and the wicked dead of all ages. After the Great Tribulation there are two resurrections:

• The FIRST RESURRECTION is for the Tribulation Saints.
• The SECOND and LAST RESURRECTION is for the wicked dead.

These Tribulation Saints occupy a very special place of service in the Thousand Year Reign of Christ as they SERVE GOD DAY AND NIGHT IN THE TEMPLE AS PRIESTS. THEY ALSO ENJOY COMPLETE COMFORT AND REST IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD AND OF THE LAMB. Revelation 7:15 and Revelation 20:6

This service in the temple is only during the Thousand Year Reign, not at the time of the New Heaven, New Earth, and New Jerusalem. There will be no temple in the New Jerusalem, nor will there be any night time. Revelation 21:22-25