Featured How Many Resurrections In Revelation? Two

I am still trying to understand you calling everybody who holds a dispensational view as Darbites since we have shown that even Paul taught Pre-Trib Rapture. The early church Fathers were looking for His Pre-Trib return.

 

Technically speaking there is only one resurrection mentioned in the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ,

The word "resurrection" (Grk. anastasis) is used twice in the Revelation and both times it refers to the "first resurrection".

Revelation 20
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.
7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,

Notice the use of the definite article the used of the "first resurrection" in both cases.

If one wants to argue that in verse 7 "the thousand years" does not exist then can we (to be consistent) state that "the first resurrection" therefore does not exist for the sake of exegetical consistency? If not, why not?

But if we do accept "the first resurrection" as a reality then this statement implies that there must be subsequent resurrections.

But nowhere else in the Book of Revelation do we see the word "resurrection" again either in English or koine Greek.

Implied? maybe, but Paul was taken to heaven without a "resurrection".

So my answer to the question is - we don't know how many resurrections there are in the Book of Revelation.

We know there is at least one - the "first" resurrection and that's all we can say IMO.

HankD

 

I Voted 4 in the poll

 

Yes the voice as a trumpet and the call to come up hither plus the 24 elders enthroned with their crowns obviously they have faced the Judgment seat of Christ and received Gold, Silver and Precious stones and others wood hay and straw.

 

Well, the last citation you gave is the one I mentioned (the first resurrection) from Revelation 20 verses 5 and 6.

But as for the "resurrection" which produces an eternal body prepared for the New Jerusalem perhaps is not the same as just coming back to life in the flesh or a body which will endure eternal separation from God.

I could be wrong,and I suspect I am.

My purpose was to be purely technical as to the use of the word "resurrection" (Grk. anastasis) in the Book of Revelation.

Also, I don't think we can dismiss the reality of "the thousand years" without also dismissing the reality of "the first resurrection" of Revelation 20:5-7 since they are in explicitly bound together in the meaning of the passage.

HankD

 

Yes that is true. But does being caught up to heaven prove the eternal resurrection of the two? Yes, perhaps in the case of the two witnesses it does.

But Paul was also "caught up" to heaven (the third heaven at that).
Yet he lived on in the flesh afterward to talk about it.

2 Corinthians 12:2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth; such an one caught up to the third heaven.


HankD

 

We don't know when Paul was caught up to the third heaven, not that it matters but Lazarus is another example. Jesus called him back from heaven??

Also Enoch and Elijah.

I suppose they can be consigned to Abraham's bosom which we then would have to say is different than heaven (the abode of God).

It would appear that the two witnesses had the resurrection of the just in eternal bodies but I'm still not 100% sure. However the word "resurrection" Is not used of them to be totally technical.

Even if they were technically resurrected then I would say they were resurrected in the meaning of the verses of Revelation 20:5-6 and were part of that resurrection.

Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God may not preclude a visit such as Paul had. He did not at that time "inherit" the kingdom of God but was taken up for a visit to the 3rd heaven.

Otherwise, OK then there are two resurrections in the Book of Revelation.

BTW, the word "first" (Grk. protos) does not necessarily mean first in a series within the timeline but could mean first in the sense of priority and importance.

So RE: those saints "resurrected (or taken to heaven)" pre-pentecost (Enoch, Elijah, Lazarus) resurrections recorded in the Bible take second place to the final resurrection of the last day.

In any event the word "first" (in whatever meaning) indicates a second, third, who knows how many, etc...

Anyway, I liked your post, it made me think, and I appreciate your responses.

Thanks brother.

HankD

 

What Paul told the believers in 1 Thessalonians 1:10 he also said to the believers in Rome,
Romans 5:8-10, 8 "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

Notice "we shall be saved from wrath through Christ" then, "being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life."

Revelation 6:17 "For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?"

Not one place do see the Church or churches mentioned after Revelation 3 until Revelation 21 verse 2. There the church is mentioned as the Bride.

Jesus said to the church at Philadelphia, Revelation 3:10 "Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth."
Paul says we are saved from the wrath of God, God's wrath coming upon the earth is seen Revelation 6:17. The call to come up hither goes out with the voice like a trumpet and John is carried into heaven where he sees twenty four elders seated and crowned which would fulfill multiple passages where Paul taught of the rewarding of Believers.
1 Corinthians 3:12-14,
12 "Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward."

Romans 14:10 "But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ."

2 Corinthians 5:10 "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad."

Appears in Revelation 4 the twenty four elders have faced the judgment seat and have their reward, their crowns.

thus this is where the resurrection of the dead and living church age believers are caught up.

1 Corinthians 15:52 "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."

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:
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."

Revelation 4:1-2, 1"After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.
2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne."

a beautiful picture of the calling home of the Church here in Revelation 4 to fulfill what Paul said would happen. This is a resurrection and a Translation of both the living and dead Saints of the church.

 

Thanks for the response Darrell.
I have wondered - at the end of the thousand years will we be further changed when we go into eternity in the New Jerusalem?

HankD

 

What I wonder is when you read that the tree of life is there and the leaves are for the healing of the nations. Will the folks physically alive in the millennial stay physically alive and eat of the tree of life as God intended that Adam and Eve would have done.

 

Thanks Darrell. In the prophetic realm there are as many interpretations as there are believers. You and I are close in our views.

God is not the author of confusion but I think the differences of opinion among believers concerning eschatology is not confusion per se but a reminder from God that we need Him for wisdom and we need to be kind to one another when it comes to prophetic discernment.


HankD