ABOUT FIRST RESURRECTION (1)

0. Introduction

a) What is the FIRST resurrection of the dead taught in the Bible? When does it occur? Who is in it? What did Jesus teach about it? What is the order in which the dead are resurrected? In Hebrews 6 we find one the foundational doctrines of Christianity - the resurrection. 

i) "Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment." (Hebrews 6:1-2).

b) In this we will examine what happens, in God's great plan, to those who die faithful to God.

1. Second Coming 

a) The resurrection of the dead occurs during the time of Jesus' second coming. "The dead in Christ" or "those who sleep in Jesus," deceased Christians, are resurrected at Jesus' return. 

i) "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words." (1Thessalonians 4)

b) When Jesus returns Christians will "always be with the Lord" (1Thessalonians 4:17). Jesus ascended to heaven from the Mount of Olives (Acts 1:9-12). When He returns, He will return to the Mount of Olives, and His Saints will be with Him (Zechariah 14:1-5). After the return of Christ, the resurrected Christians will reign as Kings and Priests on earth (Revelation 20:4-6; 5:9-10; Daniel 7:13-14, 18, 22, 27).

c) Specifically, the resurrection takes place when the "last trumpet" sounds. 

i) but when the last trumpet sounds, we shall all be changed in an instant, as quickly as the blinking of an eye. For when the trumpet sounds, the dead will be raised (1Corinthians 15:51-52, see also 1Thessalonians 4:16-17)

d) This "last trumpet" is referring to the last of the seven trumpets of Revelation (Revelation 8:1-9:21; 11:15-18).

e) As Jesus Christ returns to earth "with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. . . ." the dead in Christ will rise first. Then those still living at the time of the second coming are "caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air" (1Thessalonians 4:16-17).

f) According to Matthew, as Jesus comes with the "clouds of heaven," He "will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other" (Matthew 24:30-31). After meeting Jesus in the atmosphere above the earth, the Saints will descend to the earth with Jesus, coming to the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem (Zechariah 14:4-5).