12/28/14 IN YOUR PROPER COURSE

12/28/14 IN YOUR PROPER COURSE

A good question to ask ourselves...
EVERYONE WILL BE RAISED FROM THE DEAD, BUT WHEN WILL IT BE MY TURN?

Everyone (the saved and the unsaved) will be raised from the dead in two different resurrections. The First Resurrection is for the saved (the righteous), and Second Resurrection is for the unsaved (the unrighteous). Jesus said,
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.

A. THE FIRST RESURRECTION
The First Resurrection has Three Phases, depicted in an agricultural model; the First Fruits (the early portion), the Harvest (the main portion), and the Gleanings (the last portion).

1) THE FIRST FRUITS
(Jesus and others raised on the third day).
Matthew 27:52-53
(52) And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
(53) And came out of the graves after his (Jesus) resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

2) THE HARVEST
(Resurrection and Glorification of the dead and living believers at time of rapture).
1 Corinthians 15:50-54
(50) Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
(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.
(53) For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
(54) So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

1 Thessalonians 4:14-17
(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 (precede) 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.

3) THE GLEANINGS
(those who will die for their faith during the Tribulation).
Revelation 7:13-14
(13) And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
(14) And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

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.

B. THE SECOND RESURRECTION
The Second Resurrection, the resurrection of the unsaved, who are called "the rest of the dead.".
Revelation 20:5-6
(5) But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.

Paul wanted to be raised from among the dead. He wanted to be in the First Resurrection, and he was willing to make whatever sacrifice necessary, so that he might attain to the resurrection of the dead.
Philippians 3:8-14
(8) Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
(9) And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
(10) That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
(11) If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
(12) Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
(13) Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
(14) I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Addendum...
The righteous, "those who have done good," according to God, are those who are saved from sin by faith in Christ.
Ephesians 2:8-10
(8) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
(9) Not of works, lest any man should boast.
(10) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.