Are There Three Resurrections or Just One?
The Bible tells of three resurrections. These three resurrections are known as The Rapture Resurrection, The First Resurrection and The Second Resurrection. Those resurrected during The Rapture Resurrection are those that are saved by believing the gospel of the grace of God. Those resurrected during The First Resurrection are the saved from the prophetic program (all saved from the past) prior to the dispensation of the grace of God, and also those who are martyrs during the Tribulation. Those resurrected during the Second Resurrection are the unsaved of all generations.
The Rapture Resurrection
This resurrection is only for the saved believers of the “gospel of the grace of God.” These saved believers are “dead in Christ.” These believers are members of the “body of Christ.” Their salvation was secured by their belief of the gospel of the grace of God as written of in I Corinthians 15:1-4. These saved ones believed that Jesus Christ died for their sins, was buried and rose on the third day. We see in I Corinthians 15:51-52 of this resurrection. We see that this resurrection was a “mystery,” meaning that it was not prophesied of and was kept hidden by God until it was revealed to the Apostle Paul by Jesus Christ.
I Corinthians 15:51-52
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
Additional description of the Rapture Resurrection is found in I Thessalonians 4:13-17.
I Thessalonians 4:13-17
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 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:
17 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.
The First Resurrection
Those resurrected in the first resurrection includes all those saved from the prophetic program (all saved from the past) prior to the dispensation of the grace of God, and also those who will become martyrs during the Tribulation. The first resurrection will occur after the Tribulation and before the Millennial Kingdom. These saints will reign with Christ during the Millennial Kingdom.
We see in Matthew 24:14 where Jesus Christ foretells that the gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all of the world, and then the end shall come.
Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
We see the Tribulation martyrs mentioned in Revelation 20:4-6.
Revelation 20:4-6
4 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.
5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
6 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.
In Luke 14:11-14 we see Jesus Christ tell the parable of The Great Banquet. In these verses, Jesus Christ refers to the first resurrection as the “resurrection of the just.”
Luke 14:11-14
11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
12 Then said he also to him that bade him, when thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee.
13 But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:
14 And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.
Below, we see in John 5:28-29 where Jesus Christ says that the hour is coming when all that are in the grave shall hear His voice, with those who have done good to come forth to the resurrection of life (first resurrection), and those who have done evil to the resurrection of damnation (second resurrection).
John 5:28-29
28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
29 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.
The Second Resurrection
This resurrection is comprised entirely of unbelievers from every period of history. As seen above in John 5:29 Jesus Christ tells of those who have done evil will come forth unto the “resurrection of damnation.”
In Daniel 12:2 we see where the prophet Daniel speaks of both the first and second resurrections, saying that some (the second resurrection) will awake to shame and everlasting contempt.
Daniel 12:2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
Please be a part of the Rapture. Please be saved by believing the gospel of the grace of God as seen in I Corinthians 15:1-4.
I Corinthians 15:1-4
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.