Was Christ's resurrection not the first resurrection and don't Christians all have part in His resurrection?
Acts 26:23 That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.
Are believers not already "priests of God and of Christ" and do we not already reign with Him, as written here:
Revelation 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
According to Revelation 1:5-6, Revelation 20:6 is a current reality for believers (not only those whose souls are with Christ in heaven, but also those who are alive on earth today). We should use scripture to interpret scripture to determine the meaning of any given verse or passage.
Also, notice that Rev 20:6 indicates that the second death has no power over those who have had part in the first resurrection. Does the second death have power over the souls of the dead in Christ who are in heaven now? I don't believe so.
Is a bodily resurrection required in order for the second death to not have power over someone? I don't believe so. I'm pretty sure the second death does not have any power over any of the dead in Christ. So, why would we think that their future bodily resurrection would be required in order for the second death to not have power over them?
The difference between the rapture and the second coming...
1. The rapture will not be well announced
2. The second coming will
Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. - Matthew 24:44
Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not. - Luke 12:40
Those holy, both alive and dead, will rise together to meet the Lord Jesus in the air...
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: 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.- 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
Those blessed and holy will return with Christ to reign a thousand years and will escape the second death...
And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. - Revelation 20:4
But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. - Revelation 20:5
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. - Revelation 20:6
When we return with Christ after the rapture we will do so with garments white and clean....
And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. - Revelation 19:14
At the rapture
1.