© F. O’Donoghue 2006
Many seem confused as to what is meant by ‘the first resurrection’ and this is due to the fact that so many diverse doctrines abound these days. For this paper, I shall endeavour to use that most sound hermeneutic, which is to let the scriptures interpret themselves. The term ‘first resurrection’ is only mentioned twice in the Bible, both times in Revelation 20:
Rev 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.
The first resurrection is only experienced by the souls of those who are in Christ, though they be dead and buried as far as this world is concerned. The ‘rest of the dead’ do not partake of the first resurrection, but rather face what is termed the ‘second death’. It is important to note that there is no reference in the Bible to a second resurrection (though some doctrines claim as many as three). Note that the first resurrection is only ever mentioned in conjunction with the second death.
Though the term ‘first resurrection’ is only mentioned twice, scripture contemplates a single bodily resurrection of the dead, which, because it refers to the raising of all men, has customarily been known as the general resurrection. Therefore it is doctrinally sound to refer to ‘the first resurrection’ as that pertaining to believers only. Those who do not partake of the first resurrection are nonetheless resurrected, though they are resurrected unto damnation, as is explicitly announced by Christ himself in John’s gospel:
John 5:28-29 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 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.
This confirms what we read in Daniel:
Dan. 12:2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
(Note; this is also consistant with scripture with regard to an immortal soul)
The teaching on resurrection is not clearly developed in the Old Testament, although there is a definite expectation of future life in the presence of God for those who fear him. It is the New Testament that brings clarity and new understanding to the subject, which is due to the centrality in the gospel message of the bodily death and resurrection of Jesus. Nonetheless, confusion has arisen over the passage in John (chapter 5) where Jesus talks about the resurrection of both the justified and the wicked, and some have taken this to mean two separate resurrections. However, Jesus is speaking of only one resurrection involving these two distinct groups. This is also confirmed by the parable in Matthew 25 concerning the separation of the sheep and the goats at the return of Christ, and Paul’s admonition “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.” (Acts 24:15)
The nature of the resurrection is implicitly stated in Christ’s admonition to his disciples in Matthew:
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (Mt. 10:28)
This is a clear reference to the second death, which brings us to another doctrine where contention has arisen. Those whose souls live and reign with Christ during the millennium are awaiting the general resurrection, when the nakedness of separation from their bodies will cease. Clothed with spiritual bodies, these souls are conformed to the body of Christ’s glory. Yet even now, as they await this great and ultimate transformation, they are said to share in the first resurrection:
2 Cor. 5:1-4 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.
1 Cor 15:42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
Phil. 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
Plainly, therefore, there is a resurrection that precedes the general resurrection. And the New Testament does indeed have much to say about another earlier resurrection; itself the pivotal event of all events. That event is the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. This is the only other resurrection, and it is well qualified to be designated “the first resurrection.” Christ’s resurrection is the first resurrection not only in point of time but also in point of significance; for, as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:
1 Cor 15:20-21 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.
As Christian believers, we share in the blessedness of this first resurrection. Through faith and by God’s grace we become one with Christ. So intimate is this identification, that his destiny becomes our destiny. This is the deep significance of Christian baptism; his resurrection from the dead is our resurrection from the dead, even now in this present life, and even in the interval between physical death and the glorification of the second (general) resurrection. In baptism we are not only buried with Christ, but are “also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead” (Col. 2:12).
In Romans 6 Paul says:
Rom. 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
John’s vision of the souls of believers living and reigning with Christ, is confirmed by the assertion in Ephesians 2:
Eph. 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Col. 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
As I have mentioned, there are theologians who use Rev 20:5 to support the erroneous idea that there are at least two physical resurrections divided by a literal earthly millennial reign. The scriptures however, teach a single future resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.
John 5:28-29 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 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.
This is the second Resurrection, which is what is described in Revelation 20:12:
Rev 20:12-14 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.
The First resurrection is in Christ. The above passage is clearly speaking about the souls of those martyred who were Saved, and died (physically) and “the rest of the dead” (the unsaved, who died physically). As Christ’s believers, those martyred, immediately go to live and reign with Christ after they die. The above passage relates to believers who die, yet their souls living and reigning with Christ, while unbelievers (the rest of the dead) who die, don’t live again until the second resurrection.
The first Resurrection refers to every believer who has been raised up in Christ to new life. The scriptures refer to Christ as the “first begotten from the dead.” which is the first Resurrection from the dead (the new birth in Christ). Christ is the Resurrection, and all those raised with Him have a part in that first Resurrection, since they are the Church of the firstborn, On which the second death has no power. The second Resurrection, is at the second coming, when we that are alive (in Christ), will be raised up to meet Jesus in the air on the day of Judgment, when the rest of the dead (the unsaved who have physically died) are raised up to stand before Judgment.
The first Death is the death that came through Adam whereby mankind is seperated from God, and which if they are not resurrected in Christ from that spiritual death, all suffer judgement in the second resurrection. The second Death refers to the Judgment that is passed by God upon all of the unrighteous.
