Dear Peggy,

 

    Yes, I did miss your post on the Doves.  I was in the midst of moving and was offline for over two weeks.  Your email this morning is the first time that I have seen your post about these Scriptures. 

 

    Sister, there are at least two things in Revelation 20:4 that relate to your question that most Christians have never adequately studied and don't really understand. 

   

    The first thing is the resurrecton itself.  Most Christians have the concept of one resurrection taking place at a given time and that is it.  That is wrong!  Some Christians do believe that there will be two resurrections, one for the saved and one for the lost.  While this is correct, it is also not the full story.

    Sister, the Lord Himself pointed out that there will be only two resurrections, "Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice,  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," John 5:28-29.  It is obvious from this statement of the Lord Himself that there is only two resurrections, one for the saved and one for the unsaved.  For any real Bible believer that ought to settle the question of how many resurrections there are.  The Lord said there are two.  The "first resurrection" [Revelation 20:4-5]  is then for true believers.  The second resurrection ["the rest of the dead"...Revelation 20:5] is for unbelievers.     

    But when we study the resurrection in the Bible, especially in the New Testament, it also become obvious that all of those involved in these two resurrections are not resurrected at the same time.  This is made quite clear by the inspired Apostle in 1 Corinthians 15:20-23, "But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept.  For since by man [Adam] came death, by man [Christ] came also the resurrection of the dead.  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.  But every man in his own order [rank; band; troop; class]:  Christ the first fruits; afterward  they that are Christ's at His coming."  Notice that these verses clearly state that each individual will be resurrected according to their rank or class, and in the order that the Lord Himself has planned.  This rank or order of the resurrection of believers is clearly demonstrated in the Scriptures.   

    The Scriptures specifically state that Christ is "the first born from the dead," Colossians 1:18.  This means exactly what it says.  Christ was the very first person to be resurrected from the dead with a new-born glorified body, never to die anymore.  

    Then after His resurrection "the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,  And came out of the graves after His resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many," Matthew 26:52-53. 

   

    Sister, the second thing a lot of Christians don't understand is that the  resurrection of believers is based on the outline of the Jewish harvest season.  Such an analogy is clearly stated and demonstrated in 1 Corinthians 15:35-44.  The Jewish harvest season begins with the "sheaf of the firstfruits" being offered to the Lord "to be accepted for you," Leviticus 23:10-11.  The Lord Jesus Christ Himself, along with the saints that arose after His resurrection, make up the "firstfruits" of the resurrection, 1 Corinthians 15:23. 

    No one has been resurrected since these first two phases of the "first resurrection" took place.  But very soon now the rapture will occur.  Intricately involved with the rapture, but actually preceding it, will be the resurrection of "the dead in Christ," 1 Thessalonians 4:13-16.  They come forth before we are all "caught up together" to meet the Lord.  This phase of the resurrection and rapture is why Paul is using  "harvest terms" in 1 Corinthians 15 in reference to believers.  Some grain ripens early, and a sheaf is gathered and offered to the Lord which begins the "harvest season," but the bulk of the harvest is not ready until later.  The soon coming resurrection and rapture of believers is the main "harvest" taken up to the "barn" of the Lord, Matthew 13:30.  Remember that the Parables of the Kingdom are also based on the Jewish harvest season, with the first parable being about the Sower and the seed.  The resurrection that occurs in conjunction with the rapture will be the third phase of "the first resurrection." 

    But in the Jewish harvest season there were always "gleanings" left in the field that need  to be gathered, Leviticus 23:22.  So after the main harvest of believers at the time of the rapture, there will be "gleanings" gathered during the Tribulation.   

    It is plainly stated in Revelation 11:11-12, "And after three days and a half the Spirit of life from God entered into them [the Two Witnesses], and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.  And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them,  Come up hither.  And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them."  Here the very first of the "gleanings" are gathered up to glory during the Tribulation.  I highly suspect that the "144,000" will be "gleaned to glory" at the same time, making up the "firstfruits" of the Tribulation, Revelation 14:1-5.  This will be phase four of "the first resurrection."  

    

    Finally, we come to Revelation 20:4, "And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them:..."   There is nothing said about this group being resurrected in this verse.  This group was resurrected at the time of the rapture, spent the Tribulation in glory, and returned with the Lord in Revelation 19:14.   Who is it that the Lord promised that they should rule and reign with Him during His coming Kingdom?  The Church!  And the redeemed of Israel!  Read Revelation 1:4-6, 2:10, 2:26-27, 3:21, 4:4, 4:10-11, 5:8-10, and rejoice.  Praise the Lord!  In this verse this group of believers are receiving what the Lord has promised them, and beginning their reign.  Glory! 

    Again in Revelation 20:4.....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 [were resurrected and glorified] and reigned with Christ a thousand years."  This group is the saints which were martyred during the Tribulation.  Here they are resurrected and given glorified bodies.  They don't have to be "caught up," for Christ has returned to begin His Kingdom rule, and these Tribulation saints will share in that rule right along with the church and redeemed Israel.  This is the fifth phase of the resurrection of believers. Being the fifth phase, it is the GRACE phase, five being the Bible number for GRACE.  Glory!   It is also the final phase of "the first resurrection."   This totally completes "the first resurrection.  And it also fulfills all the types of the resurrection set forth in the Jewish harvest season.  Glory!  Hallelujah!  Praise the Lord! 

   

    Sister, I hope this answers your questions and clears up the matter for you.  May I kindly and lovingly suggest that your translation caused a lot of your confusion?  If you are going to continue to use that translation, I would encourage you to at least get a program that will permit you to compare the various translations in order that you can find the real meaning and intent of the verse.  I personally still use the KJV, not because I am a fanatic, but simply because no one in fifty-two years has ever showed me one that was any better.

    God bless you.  Thanks for writing.  Pray for me.

 

                       Pastor F. M. Riley