....explain why John called the resurrection of tribulation martyrs the FIRST resurrection in Rev 20:5. Because a number of verses clearly teach that there is just ONE resurrection of the saved.....
Since there is only one resurrection of the saved and one for the unsaved (Acts 24:15), one must be very careful where on the timeline of history they place that resurrection of the saved.
Where you're trying to place it gets refuted by Rev 20:5, plus 2 Thess 2:1 and 1 Cor 15:23.
Before I begin to address the other two passages as you have given them - being 2 Thessalonians 2:1 and 1 Corinthians 15:23 can you show me in any semblance of a chronology from Revelation 20 (including your verse five) where the first resurrection fits with the thousand year kingdom? Does the first resurrection precede or proceed the thousand year kingdom?
I'll answer your race theory question when I think you have the stomach to eat it without vomiting.
This matter of the first resurrection and the rapture ought to be a singularly simple matter to resolve. I'm sure that you believe that you have done. And assuming I do in fact understand the simplicity of what you are citing as truth on the matter from the Scripture - then the obvious difficulty is how can there be a rapture prior to the first resurrection - seeing as the first resurrection is in direct relationship to the Lord's return and could, therefore, be said to be simultaneous to the first resurrection [the rapture you understand] in rather the same way it could be said that all men rise at the sound of the Kings Trumpet. When the King arrives - all men must rise up to meet Him, whether they are at sleep or whether they are yet alive in their bodies - who are seated in His Kingdom.
So then, the difficulty, seeing as your answer is already clear - is how can there be a rapture and a
meeting the King that precedes the trumpet sound (the last trumpet) that heralds His entry into the seat of His government and His 1000 year Kingdom.
Beginning with Revelation 20:1-15
Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain. And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years were ended. After that he must be loosed for a little while. Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom judgment was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony to Jesus and for the word of God, and who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life, and reigned with Christ a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and they shall reign with him a thousand years. And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be loosed from his prison and will come out to deceive the nations which are at the four corners of the earth, that is, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. And they marched up over the broad earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city; but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulphur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night for ever and ever. Then I saw a great white throne and him who sat upon it; from his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Also another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, by what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead in them, and all were judged by what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire; and if any one’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
Chapter 21 of Revelation speaks about the new heavens and the new earth. And all that is in chapter 20 of Revelation precedes that newness. Also, that Revelation chapter 20 proceeds the great tribulation must be self evident - else we can have no origination of common sense at all. No point of reference and so no fixed or worthwhile answer other than to say what the Lord has told ourselves - f we have asked Him or indeed if we have need to ask Him.
So I ask:
Before I begin to address the other two passages as you have given them - being 2 Thessalonians 2:1 and 1 Corinthians 15:23 can you show me in any semblance of a chronology from Revelation 20 (including your verse five) where the first resurrection fits with the thousand year kingdom? Does the first resurrection precede or proceed the thousand year kingdom?
