There will be the "First Resurrection" of all Saints (which will occur after the Great Tribulation) who will reign with Christ a thousand years (Millennium); subsequently, not until the end of the thousand years will the rest of the dead be raised (Rev 20:5).

Former resurrections

The coming "first resurrection" in Revelation 20:6 might seem to be a paradox to some, since there have been previous resurrections. After studying and "...rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Tim 2:15 KJV), one will better understand what the Lord is saying through John the Beloved concerning this "first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power." John was one of the eyewitness of the resurrections and the miracles that Jesus performed during His ministry. This is another resurrection that the Lord has informed us about by the hand of John. To begin I would like to discuss some former resurrections to clear up some things that are possibly on your mind.

Most Christians should have read or at least heard about the following who were raised: Lazarus who had been dead four days (John 11:39-44), of daughter Jairus (Mark 5:21-24, 35-43), son of a widow from Nain (Luke 7:11-15), and when Jesus yielded up the ghost, "...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" (Mat 27:50-53 KJV).

Not one of those raised out of their sleep had changed bodies fashioned like unto His glorious body (Phil 3:20-21), or did they put on immortality (1 Cor 15:51-54), essentials for the First Resurrection of the last day (John 11:24-26) whereby they could live bodily in the presence of the Lord forever. Jesus, who died and rose from the grave the third day (Mat 16:21) and is now at the right hand of God (Mark 16:19; Rom 8:34), is the only one at this time who has received such a body and who alone has immortality (1 Tim 6:14-16).

"Change our vile body" (Phil 3:20-21)

Those previous resurrections had already occurred before the information in Revelation was recorded. The First Resurrection will be upcoming when all believers will rise and have changed (Job 14:12-15) bodies (1 Cor 15:51-54). We should long for that day when our bodies will "...be fashioned like unto his glorious body..." (Phil 3:21 KJV).

Hidden specifics

There are some important hidden specifics in the bread and grain of three of seven Israelite festivals (Lev 23) that pertain to the body of Christ and the resurrection, which contributes toward understanding the First Resurrection. Portrayals are in the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Exo 12:17-20), Sheaf of the First fruits of Harvest (Lev 23:9-14), Feast of Weeks (Deu 16:9-12; (Lev 23:15-21) in the two wave loaves (Lev 23:17), bread of the first fruits (Lev 23:20) on Pentecost, and Feast of Ingathering.

Some of the information in this study has been removed and re-edited, and is included in the "Last Trump Gathering Bible Studies Volume One." Some links may not work. Please forgive me for the inconvenience. Thank you for viewing these studies.

With love in Christ!
Al