Sister Linda70,
If you could please tell me in your own words, what is your explanation of 1 Cor 15:23-24.
1 Corinthians 15:23: Jesus Christ was the first to be raised from the dead to die no more (to immortality) No other man had been raised from the dead to immortality up to that point in time. Christ is the firstfruits from the dead. Those who die in Christ (saved) during the dispensation of the Church, will be resurrected (raised to immortality) when Christ returns FOR His Church at the time of the Rapture (catching up of all Church age saints)...."the dead in Christ shall rise first
(1 Thess. 4:16).
1 Corinthians 15:24: This verse states that Christ’s reign as mediator in heaven is to last until every enemy that shall be destroyed is dead. Then Christ delivers up his kingdom to his Father. “The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand [that is, in the kingly position], until I make thine enemies thy footstool.” This will be the fulfillment of Psalms 110:1.
How many resurrections are there?
The Bible says there are TWO resurrections, not one general resurrection.
Daniel 12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
Daniel 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.
John 5:29 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.
Acts 24:14 But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:
Acts 24:15 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.
First Resurrection:
All saved people will be a part of the resurrection of life (the first resurrection). Those who take part in the first resurrection (saved people) are not all raised up at the same time.
1. Christ is the firstfruits
(1 Cor. 15:23).
2. The "dead in Christ" (members of the Church who have died) will be raised up (resurrected) at the time of the rapture
(1 Thessalonians 4:16 and 1 Corinthians 15:52). Those Christians who are living on earth at the time of the rapture will also "be changed" and receive new bodies
(1 Corinthians 15:51-52).. Then all the saved will be "caught up" (raptured) together.
3. Old Testament believers will be raised up after the seven year tribulation period
(Daniel 12:1-2). Believers who die during the tribulation will also be raised up at this time
(Revelation 20:4).
Second Resurrection:
1. All of the unsaved people will be part of the resurrection of damnation (or judgment).
2. Those who take part in the second resurrection will all be raised at the same time. They will be raised to stand before the Great White Throne and before the Holy God who sits upon it.
3. This will include all the unsaved who have ever lived, from Cain
(1 John 3:12) to the last group of rebels in
Revelation 20:7-9. These people will be given a resurrection body that will be perfectly designed for hell so that they will be able to suffer the torments of the lake of fire forever (to suffer and to burn but to never be consumed in the burning).
The Great White Throne judgment of the unsaved takes place AFTER the 1,000 year reign of Christ, the final battle of Gog and Magog and AFTER Satan is cast alive into the eternal lake of fire
(Revelation 20:11-15).
Revelation 20:11 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.
Revelation 20:12 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.
Revelation 20:13 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.
Revelation 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Revelation 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.