Two Resurrections

In trying to piece together a timeline for Daniel's 70th week, and related events from Revelation, I've always tried to make sense of the following verses from Revelation 20.  They have never quite sat right with me... I couldn't justify the placement of the verses, in view of a timeline, and something about them has always bothered me.

The timing revolves around the start of the Millennial Kingdom and the martyrs:

[Rev 20:4-5 LSB]  Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their witness of Yeshua and because of the word of God, and who also had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand. And they came to life [aorist tense] and reigned [aorist tense] with Christ for a thousand years. [5]  The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

The "aorist tense" noted above defines exactly when the action takes place... at the beginning of the Millennium.  Technically, the passage above doesn't mention anything about the 5th seal... only martyrs who had been beheaded.  These are souls who had:

[1] been beheaded because of their witness, [2] they didn't worship the beast, and [3] hadn't received the mark.

The 5th seal martyrs are only mentioned as being "slain".  Perhaps some of them were beheaded, but we're not specifically told that in reference to the 5th seal martyrs.

[Rev 6:11 LSB]  And a white robe was given to each of them; and it was told to them that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow slaves and their brothers who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also.

If you've read my other blogs, you'll see that I claim that there are ONLY two coming resurrections as defined by Scripture.  [1] The resurrection of the righteous, and [2] the resurrection of the unrighteous (notice how I worded this).

Paul gives us guidelines:

[1Co 15:21-4 LSB]  For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. [22]  For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. [23]  But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming [parousia]. [24]  Then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power.

I have always looked at this passage in the following manner.  I see a "quantity" of "three" resurrections:

[1]  Christ - the firstfruits

[2]  the righteous - those who are Christ's at His coming

[3]  the unrighteous - after the Millennium at the consummation.

Now, back to how I worded the paragraph above... resurrection of [1] righteous, and [2] unrighteous.  This is how my brain has always seen it... righteous & unrighteous.

However, look at how John refers to the resurrections:

[Joh 5:29 LSB]  and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.

I've read this verse a hundred times, and used it in my blogs everywhere.  I've never realized what John actually said.  Instead of resurrections of the righteous & unrighteous... he refers to them as:

[1] resurrection of life, and [2] resurrection of judgment.

Notice also - I have always used the phrase "two resurrections" in the past (as in quantity).  I won't be doing that any longer.

Here's where things get interesting.

I've recently come across the idea that the Revelation 20 martyrs do not receive their bodies at the rapture, what I've always considered the "first" resurrection of the righteous dead.  

If the rapture is the "first" resurrection then what does this mean?

[Rev 20:5b] ...This is the first resurrection.

Is this the first resurrection specifically of the Millennium?  It's not the "first" resurrection of Yeshua's parousia.  That occurred at the rapture.

In other words, I've always claimed that the 5th seal martyrs are included in the rapture resurrection because they were physically dead before the 6th seal - which is the coming [parousia] of Yeshua:

[1Th 4:15-18 LSB]  For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming [parousia] of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. [16]  For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. [17]  Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up [harpazo - rapture] together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. [18]  Therefore comfort one another with these words.

Why does Revelation 20 describe the martyrs coming to life, while contextually speaking of the beginning of the Millennium, as the "first" resurrection?  These must be martyrs who were beheaded after the rapture.

Are these referred to in the Church of Smyrna?

[Rev 2:8-11 LSB]  “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: This is what THE FIRST AND THE LAST, who was dead, and has come to life, says: [9]  ‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. [10]  ‘Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. [11]  ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will never be hurt by the second death.’

Note the mention of specifically "ten days".  Is this related to the ten days of repentance, also know as "Days of Awe"?  There are ten days between the fall feasts of trumpets and Yom Kippur - the day of atonement.  I cover this in other blogs.

 

When studied carefully, within the context of Revelation 20, it is clear that the "first resurrection" in this instance refers to the general resurrection of all believers "unto life". 

At the same time, however, this specific resurrection "unto life" will occur at the beginning of the Millennium and is limited to the martyrs who have been "beheaded" because they are the only ones referred to in Revelation 20:5.  The Bride of Christ, and the 5th seal martyrs (in my opinion), have already been resurrected to life at the rapture.

Perhaps God has a special, unspoken, set of circumstances for the martyrs.

[Psa 116:15 LSB]  Precious in the sight of Yahweh Is the death of His holy ones.

Why specifically mention two different classes in the following verse?

[Rev 17:6 KJV]  And I saw the woman drunken with the [1] blood of the saints, AND with the [2] blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.

Scripture shows us there are several "resurrections to life".  Christ was "resurrected to life".  The Bride of Christ were "resurrected to life" at the rapture.  The Revelation 20 martyrs will be "resurrected to life" at the beginning of the Millennium.  Those who live through the 70th week, and are separated as "sheep" (versus goats) will eventually need to receive their glorified resurrection bodies also. 

The resurrection of Yeshua, the dead in Christ (at the rapture), the beheaded martyrs of Revelation 20, and the millennium saints are all part of the "first resurrection" - that is, the "resurrection to life".

The "resurrection to judgment", stands in stark contrast, and will occur at the Great White Throne Judgment at the conclusion of the Millennium.  This resurrection also has "first-fruits" - the Antichrist and the false prophet will be the first to experience the Lake of Fire at the beginning of the Millennium.

It has been claimed that the Revelation 20 martyrs are those believing Jews who were witnesses, throughout Israel, during the 70th week.  They were  beheaded because:

[1]  "their witness of Yeshua;"

[2]  "and because of the word of God";

[3]  "had not worshiped the beast or his image";

[4]  "had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand."

The above criteria makes it clear that they were present during the second half of the 70th week.  Again, I believe these are martyrs killed after the rapture.

[Mat 10:22-23 LSB]  “And you will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved. [23]  “But whenever they persecute you in this city, flee to the next; for truly I say to you, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel until the Son of Man comes [erchomai].

Notice above that Matthew does not use "parousia".

erchomai - literal: Physical travel, arrival, or approach (e.g., people coming to Jesus, journeys, or even "growing" in some idiomatic uses).

In other words, "you will not finish" until "I'm physically set foot on the earth prior to the Millennium".

Without the faithfulness of these faithful Jews, the remnant of Israel, that follows Yeshua into the Millennium, would have died in unbelief.

Daniel spoke of these faithful Jews during this specific time (70th week):

[Dan 12:3 LSB]  “And those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.

These are "those who have insight".  My understanding is that these are educated Jews who recognized the 70th week events around them and realized... "whoa!  This is our Messiah according to Scripture!"

When the rapture occurs, there will still be faithful martyrs beheaded afterwards until "the Son of Man comes [erchomai]".  Which could partially explain the "from now on" in Revelation 14:13:

Write, ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!’” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them.” 

Because of their faithfulness, these Jewish martyrs will come to life and will reign with Christ for the Millennium.

Yes, there are two resurrections - but, not two in quantity - they are two resurrection types.

[1] resurrection of life, and [2] resurrection of judgment.

Even after thinking this through, I still can't be dogmatic about this.  I feel confident enough to post this though...