So, again, from your point of view, the resurrection of the dead in Christ is Past, and ongoing?
Whatever you call this "rising" of the dead in Christ, when do you say it took place and what scripture can you point to for support for the timing?
It's not the "He led captivity captive" verse is it?
Because if so, it does not mean what you think it does, and doesn't support the view at all.
There are two pivotal resurrections spoken about in the NT. There is our initial spiritual resurrection "in Christ," upon salvation, where we are raised to newness of life. At conversion, the Christian dies to the desires, control and governance of the “old man” or the old nature, and enters into the new man – Christ. He loses all rights to self-rule and yields to the impulses and authority of the Holy Spirit, who’s office it is to conform us to the image of Christ.
What results from this great eternal transaction is our eventual physical resurrection, where we are delivered from this body of death, from corruption to incorruption, and transformed into the glorious likeness of Christ, when Jesus returns at the end.
Revelation 20:6 simply says,
“Blessed and holy is he ‘that hath part’ (present active particle) in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power.”
This passage is describing the result of our mystical union with Christ.
The Greek word for "first" (as in first resurrection) is
protos. It is a contracted superlative meaning foremost (in time, place, order and/or importance). So which is the "first" (or protos) resurrection - Christ's or the resurrection that occurs at the Second Coming? This is a pretty simply question.
Which is the foremost resurrection in time?
Which is the foremost resurrection in place?
Which is the foremost resurrection in order?
Which is the foremost resurrection in importance?
Christ's resurrection is the "first" or foremost resurrection in time.
Christ's resurrection is the "first" or foremost resurrection in place.
Christ's resurrection is the "first" or foremost resurrection in order.
Christ's resurrection is the "first" or foremost resurrection in importance.
What many overlook the phrase
"hath part." Whatever that refers to will seal this debate. The unfortunate thing for Premils is that it is present tense. So whatever resurrection it is speaking of, believers currently have their "part" in it. Whatever “the first resurrection” is, participation in it qualifies humans’ to escape the horrors of eternal punishment (the second death). In this experience Christians identify with Christ’s victorious resurrection.
The Greek for “that hath part” is
echo méros. The Greek verb echo correctly interpreted
“that hath” in the King James Version is written in the present tense and in the active voice. Therefore, we can view the relevance and vitality of “the first resurrection” as being both current and ongoing. Christ’s victory over death is not simply a past event that has no active bearing upon what we are today; it is ongoing reality in the lives of God’s people. The Greek word translated “part” in the text is the word
meros meaning
share, allotment or portion. This reading tells us that all those that have come to the joy of saving faith in Christ have become partakers in the resurrection life, and through this will escape the horrors of the second death – eternal wrath.
When we get saved we become one with Jesus Christ spiritually. We identify with Christ and the victory He won over sin, death and the grave. As He died, was buried and conquered death, we also have our “part” in His success.
This is supported by Revelation 2:11, which similarly says: “He that overcometh (present active particle) shall not be hurt of the second death.”
The word "overcometh" here is actually written in the present active particle meaning it relates to the here-and-now. It is an experience that is realized in life. When you have "eth" in the KJV it means it is a present reality.
Anything that we are, or anything that we possess, that is of any spiritual worth, emanates solely from what Christ has done for us and how we partake in that
, “For in him we live, and move, and have our being” (Acts 17:28). The fact is,
“we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones” (Ephesians 5:30). This is indeed a deep spiritual mystery. Christ is our representative head who has obtained victory over sin, death, condemnation, guilt, fear, Satan and every other enemy of our soul. Romans 11:36 says,
“For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever.”
Hebrews 3:14 records of those that are saved,
“we are made partakers of Christ.” Peter says of us now, that we are
“partakers of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4).
We cannot comprehend the authority of the child of God outside of this spiritual union, because without this oneness we are powerless. Christ is our representative head who has obtained victory over sin, death, condemnation, guilt fear, Satan and every other enemy of our soul. We reign because He reigns. We exercise authority because He exercises authority, at the right hand of majesty on high.
Romans 5:18-19 says,
“as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous."
The awful “condemnation” that afflicts every man since the fall through inherited sin is completely removed “in Christ” through the new birth experience. Through salvation the penitent is fully justified and “made righteous” in the eyes of God. He is taken instantly from spiritual death into spiritual life by being raised from a horrible spiritual grave.
Romans 6:4 says,
“we are buried with him by baptism into death.”
Colossians 2:12 agrees, saying, we are
“Buried with him in baptism.”
Romans 6:4 says,
“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.”
Colossians 2:12 again concurs, saying,
“ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.”
The new birth that results, which is described in Romans 6:4 as a “newness of life,” is expressly associated with, and likened to, the resurrection of Christ. The old man dies and the new man rises in supernatural resurrection power. The exact wording reads, “like (or)
hoósper (or) ‘exactly like’ as Christ was raised up from the dead …
hoútoos (or) ‘in like manner’ (or) ‘on this fashion’ we also should walk in newness of life.”
This resurrection comes through Christ alone. That’s why Jesus said, in John 11:25,
“I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die."
