Originally posted by Ben johnson
The "SECOND RESURRECTION" is the RAPTURE??? I would like you to re-examine that. In Rev20:4, the MARTYRS are resurrected---this is the FIRST. In verse 6, it says "blessed and holy is he who has a part in the FIRST, against these the second death has no power". I understand the SECOND, to be for the UNSAVED.
Let me restate. The "Second Resurrection" took place at virtually the same time as the "Rapture".
We will not all die, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. (I Corinthians 15:51)
There you have it. There are two seperate events: the "raising of the dead" and the "changing of the living".
The "raising of the dead" is the "second resurrection" and the "changing of the living" is the "rapture". Not the same event, but they happen at virtually the same time.
Originally posted by Ben johnson
In 1Thess4:15-17 it says, "we who are alive SHALL NOT PRECEED THE DEAD---for the dead are raised FIRST, and THEN we are raptured". If the FIRST RESURRECTION occurs at the end of the Tribulation, at the start of the 1000 year reign, how then could there have been a PRIOR RESURRECTION? There can only be ONE "great or mass first resurrection". If "BLESSED AND HOLY is he who has a part in the FIRST", if the FIRST is the RAPTURE, then can the SECOND be anything but, "only for the unsaved, to participate in the judgment"?
The first resurrection happens AT THE START the 1000 year reign and ONLY applies to those who were martyred for their testimony to Christ.
I also saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony to Jesus and for the word of God. They 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...This is the first resurrection. (Revelation 20)
It is quite clear that those who took place in the first resurrection would reign with Christ for 1000 years. These were martyrs for the testimony of Christ.......they would NOT be even considered for the "Second Death"
What is the "Second Death"?
This is the second death, the lake of fire; and anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.
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Then we see the SECOND resurrection happening AFTER the 1000 year reign which seems to apply to ALL of the *dead*. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.
The dead of the SECOND resurrection WOULD be exposed to the Second Death.
And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Also another book was opened, the book of life. And the dead were judged according to their works, as recorded in the books. And the sea gave up the dead that were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and all were judged according to what they had done.
I'm not saying all the dead experienced the SECOND DEATH, just that they were exposed to it. Fortunately, those who had "good works" were not cast into the lake of fire (second death).
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Taking into account what Paul stated (above) the "Rapture" as we know it happened at the same time as the "second resurrection".
The rapture was merely a spiritual change in the lives of Christians at the time of Christ's return.
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Here is a timeline of how I perceive this to have happened
1) Christ was resurrected
2) 1st Resurrection (Matthew 27:52)
The tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints
who had fallen asleep were raised. After His resurrection
they came out of the tombs and entered the holy city and
appeared to many.
3) Figurative 1000 year reign from circa 33AD to circa70AD
4a) 70AD - 2nd Resurrection (of the dead)
4b) 70AD - Judgement of the dead (those from the 2nd res)
4c) 70AD - Rapture -> "changing of the living" Christians
4d) 70AD - End of old covenant, beginning of the NEW
Of course I am presenting the above as my interpretations.
-Tallyn
