Isaiah 26:19-21,“Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.”

There is much confusion and debate today concerning the resurrections. Such terms as “pre-tribulation, mid-tribulation, post-tribulation” have confused many people, not knowing which they are. None of these terms are found in the Bible.

Isaiah 26:19-21 teaches that the dead shall be raised up in the End Times. The New Testament gives us further details, teaching that there will be a resurrection of Christians (Revelation 20:4-6) and a separate resurrection 1,000-years later of the unsaved (Revelation 20:10-15)...

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.”

Here's Revelation 20:10-15...

Revelation 20:10, “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 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. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”

The Bible is very clear concerning the resurrections. Every Christian believer will be raised up at the FIRST resurrection before the 1,000-year Millennium, and all the unsaved at the SECOND resurrection after the Millennium.

It is important for the Christian to understand that the FIRST resurrection of only believers includes FIVE DIFFERENT RESURRECTIONS. The following excellent, concise and eye-opening Biblical information is from my friend, Pastor Max D. Younce (see his book, A BIBLICAL EXAMINATION OF HELL)...

FIRST RESURRECTION — ALL SAVED

(Locate #1 on Diagram 7). The resurrection of Christ Who is the first fruits of them that arose (1st Corinthians 15:20,23).

(Locate #2 on Diagram 7). A group of Saints resurrected after Christ's resurrection. They appeared in Jerusalem and were offered by the Lord as a sheaf offering to God (Matthew 27:52,53; Leviticus 23;10,11). They are in Heaven and will return with Christ to set up the Kingdom.

(Locate #3 on Diagram 7). This is the resurrection at the Rapture. Those resurrected are the Christians who have died between Pentecost and the Rapture (1st Thessalonians 4:13-17; 1st Corinthians 15:51-54). They meet Him in the air on the way to Heaven, then return with Christ at the end of the Tribulation.

(Locate #4 on Diagram 7). This is the resurrection of the two witnesses in the middle of the Tribulation Period. Their testimony during the first 3-1/2 years is now finished. They are allowed to be killed and their bodies put on display in Jerusalem for 3-1/2 days. After that, they are resurrected and ascend up to Heaven (Revelation 11:1-12). These would represent the gleanings of the harvest of resurrected bodies of the saved. They will return with Christ at the end of the Tribulation.

(Locate #5 on Diagram 7). This is the resurrection of all the Christians martyred during the 7-year Tribulation Period. They are resurrected to reign with Christ in the Kingdom (Revelation 20:4,6).

Try to memorize the five parts of the First Resurrection, it will help you as you study the Scriptures. Remember, the First Resurrection consists of only the SAVED, none of the lost are included.


SECOND RESURRECTION — ALL LOST

There are no saved here, all lost. In Revelation 20:5 we are told,

"But the rest of the dead (the lost) lived not again until the 1,000 years were finished..." (Revelation 20:11-15).

Torment of Hades is now emptied at the end of Christ's reign. They appear before the Great White Throne Judgment, then to Hell ("Gehenna").

SOURCE: Dr. Max D. Younce; A BIBLICAL EXAMINATION OF HELL.

The Bible teaches about the Millennium in Revelation 20:5...

Revelation 20:5, “..they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.”

The FIRST resurrection is only for Christians. There is much debate concerning the Rapture. Most adherents of the trustworthy King James Bible believe in a pre-tribulation Rapture (that is, that the saints will be “caught up” into the clouds to meet with the Lord before the 7-yeat Tribulation period). A popular argument is that the word “Rapture” is not in the Bible. That is true; however, the teaching of the Rapture is certainly found in the Bible in 1st Thessalonians 4:17...

1st Thessalonians 4:17, “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.”

Did you read those Words... “CAUGHT UP” to meet the Lord. That's exactly what the word “Rapture” means, so the word is appropriate to use. Albeit, if it offends you, then tell people that you believe all Christians will one day be CAUGHT UP when the Lord returns.

The teaching of a post-tribulation Rapture (that is, that the Rapture happens after the 7-year Tribulation) is flawed chronologically. It makes no sense, because why would the Lord rapture all the saints at the same time He's coming again at the Second Coming when every eye shall see Him...

Revelation 1:7, “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.”

Clearly, the Bible teaches a pre-tribulation Rapture.

Another popular argument these days is that the doctrine of the pre-tribulation Rapture didn't exist until a couple centuries ago. That is simply not true, as you just read for yourself in 1st Thessalonians 4:17. God penned this Scripture through the Apostle Paul 2,000 years ago. There are numerous Biblical Scriptures evidencing a pre-tribulation Rapture of the saints.

Also, the Judgment Seat of Christ (2nd Corinthians 5:9-11) and the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:9) happen during the 7-year Tribulation. We learn about the Tribulation in many Scriptures, such as Daniel 9:25-26...

Daniel 9:25-26, “Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.”

And again in Matthew 24:21...

Matthew 24:21, “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.”

While God is pouring out His wrath upon the earth and Israel is being prepared to receive her King during the Tribulation period, the saints will be in Heaven with the Lord enjoying the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. This will follow the Judgment Seat of Christ. Every believer will stand account at the Judgment Seat of Christ for the GOOD and the BAD done in the flesh. Tears will flow. 1st Corinthians 3:11-15 teaches that our earthly works will be tried with fire, and only that done for Christ and the gospel will last. Every believer will be given a new, glorified, incorrupt, immortal body that is without pain, tiredness or suffering...

Romans 8:22-23, “For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.”

Aren't these wonderful teachings? The Word of God is so precious. Oh how lovely is the truth! Jesus is the truth (John 14:6). Jesus is precious (1st Peter 2:7). Amen!

Are you ready to meet your Maker? Are you ready to meet Jesus Christ? Have you been born-again by the Spirit of God?

At my mother's funeral in August of 2001, the following precious promise from Revelation 14:13 was read...

Revelation 14:13, “And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.”

Blessed are the dead which DIE IN THE LORD. Jesus said in John 8:24, “I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall DIE IN YOUR SINS.” Oh listen my friend, you will either DIE IN THE LORD or you'll DIE IN YOUR SINS. It's Heaven or Hell. There are no other options. Where will you spend eternity? Do you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God? John 20:31, “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” Whew, what an awesome Savior! I get excited in my heart every time I read that Scripture! God is so good to humanity. Jesus is the Light (John 8:12). John 1:9, “That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.”

In his blockbuster movie, HEREAFTER by Clint Eastwood, the legendary actor promotes New Age demonic heresies? Deuteronomy 32:17, “They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not.” The world today is worshipping devils. There is only one true God (Deuteronomy 6:4 ) Who manifest Himself to the world in three Persons; namely, God the father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit (1st John 5:7; Matthew 28:19-20). The Bible refers to this as the “Godhead” (which you'll find mentioned in your trustworthy King James Bible in Acts 17:29; Romans 1:20 and Colossians 2:9). All modern Bibles are corrupt, such as the New International Version which completely removes the word Godhead. That is so sinfully wicked.

The Bible teaches that there will be a resurrection for every human being one day. The question is which resurrection will you partake of? I am going to be raised up in the FIRST resurrection, at the Rapture, eternally to be with my precious Lord Jesus. Praise be to my God and Savior!