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FIRST AND SECOND RESURRECTIONS
(v. 4) "I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
(v. 5) (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection.
(v. 6) Blessed and holy are those who
have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over
them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with
Him for a thousand years."
First and second do not necessarily demand first or second in sequence, nor one time only for either. First and Second could have in view a kind rather than a strict chronological sequence of events.
For example, in a swim meet the first place finishers in heats of various swim events qualify for the finals of each particular event. All first place finishers make it to their respective finals - not the same final event.
They are a group of a kind of swimmers - each one is called a first place finisher, but they will not all swim in the same final event - but each in his particular type of event final.
In the same way the believers of all ages can be classified as first resurrection candidates and will each be resurrected in his time unto "priests of God and of Christ, (Rev 20:6)". The first resurrection here is defined by "The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years."
Since the newly born again millennial saints became born again during the millennium - they did not have the opportunity to reign with Christ for a thousand years, but consider that they will fit the rest of the definition of the first resurrection because all believers will not be subject to the second death and will be priests of God and of Christ.
True, they will not reign with Him for a thousand years because they lived under His reign as mortals, but that does not put them in the category of the second death which it is implied is under the power of the second death.
The classification "first resurrection" demands the qualification "The second death has no power over them…" to the exclusion of the other kinds of resurrection, i.e., the second.
That’s the way language and context works.
For example, in the world of golf: "We will refund first round players the greens fees. Now can one say in view of this that second round players will also get greens fees refunded?"
So we are left with the conclusion that all other rounds will not be receiving refunds for greens fees.
In the same way, we are left with the conclusion that all other resurrection types will not avoid the power of the second death in the light of the direct statement, "The second death has no power over them…"
And since believers of the millennial period are not condemned to the second death and hell we must conclude that they are not classified as partaking in The Second [type of] Resurrection.
(v. 1) "And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
(v. 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.
(v. 3) And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever."
[Dr. Renald E. Showers, 'The Most High God', A Commentary on the Book of Daniel, 1994, The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry, Inc, Bellmawr, NJ, p. 172-3]:
"When Jesus Christ will return to end Israel's great time of distress, the great majority of Jews of the one-third remnant will believe in Him Whom their nation had pierced."
(v. 10) "And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for Him as one grieves for a firstborn son.
(v. 11) On that day the weeping in Jerusalem will be great, like the weeping of Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo.
(v. 12) The land will mourn, each clan by itself, with their wives by themselves: the clan of the house of David and their wives, the clan of the house of Nathan and their wives, 13 the clan of the house of Levi and their wives, the clan of Shimei and their wives, 14 and all the rest of the clans and their wives."
[Showers, cont.]:
"They will be cleansed from their sin."
"On that day a fountain will be
opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse
them from sin and impurity."
[Showers, cont.]:
"At that time (the Second Coming of Christ) those saved Jews (whose names will be found written in the book of life) will be rescued by Christ from the great distress (v. 1). Christ will end the time of great distress, will purge out from the remnant any minority of Jews who still refuse to believe in Him and will send the saved Jews into the Millennial Kingdom of God."
(v. 33) "As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD , I will rule over you with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with outpoured wrath.
(v. 34) I will bring you from the nations and gather you from the countries where you have been scattered-with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with outpoured wrath.
(v. 35) I will bring you into the desert of the nations and there, face to face, I will execute judgment upon you.
(v. 36) As I judged your fathers in the desert of the land of Egypt, so I will judge you, declares the Sovereign LORD .
(v. 37) I will take note of you as you pass under my rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant.
(v. 38) I
will purge you of those who revolt and rebel against me. Although I will
bring them out of the land where they are living, yet they will not enter
the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD."
[Showers, cont.]:
"Thus, all of Israel left on the earth to enter the future Kingdom of God will be saved."
(v. 25) "I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.
(v. 26) And
so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:
"The deliverer will come from Zion;
he will turn godlessness
away from Jacob.
(v. 27) And
this is My covenant with them
when I take away their
sins."
[Cf. Isaiah 59:20,21; 27:9; Jer. 31:33,34]
(v. 28) As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, 29for God's gifts and his call are irrevocable.
(v. 30) Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience,
(v. 31) so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God's mercy to you."
[Showers, cont.]:
"Is it only the Jews who will be alive and saved at the Second Coming who will enter the Millennial Kingdom of God to enjoy its blessings? What will happen to those Jews who were saved and died during the seventieth seven of years and Old Testament times? Christ gave revelation answering these questions in Daniel 12:2. There He referred to bodily resurrection from the dead:"
"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."
[Showers, cont.]:
"The fact that Christ said 'many' rather than all indicates that He was not teaching a general resurrection of all the dead at the same time. The Bible teaches that there are different orders of resurrection, separated from each other by time."
(v. 20) "But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
(v. 21) For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.
(v. 22) For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.
(v. 23) But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to Him.
(v. 24) Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power."
[Showers, cont.]:
"It would appear, then, that Christ was saying that many will be resurrected at one time, but others will be resurrected at another time. It is obvious that the many who will be resurrected at one time died as beleiveres, for they will be resurrected 'to everlasting life.' The others who will be resurrected at another time died as unbelievers, for they will be resurrected 'to disgrace and everlasting contempt.' When will these different orders of resurrection take place? Revelation 20:4-6, 11-15 gives the answer."
(v. 4) "I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
(v. 5) (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection.
(v. 6) Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years."
[Showers, cont.]:
"That passage teaches that the resurrection of those who will get saved and die during the seventieth seven of years will take place at the Second Coming of Christ. These Tribulation saints will be resurrected to enter the Millennial Kingdom of God with Christ. Later it will be seen from Daniel 12:13 that Old Testament saints will also be resurrected at this time)."
(v. 1) "And at that time shall
Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy
people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since
there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people
shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
(v. 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.
(v. 3) And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
(v. 4) But thou, O Daniel, shut up the
words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to
and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
(v. 5) Then I Daniel looked, and,
behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the
river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river.
(v. 6) And one said to the man clothed
in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to
the end of these wonders?
(v. 7) And I heard the man clothed in
linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right
hand and his left hand unto heaven, and swore by him that liveth for ever
that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have
accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things
shall be finished.
(v. 8) And I heard, but I understood
not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?
(v. 10) Many shall be purified, and
made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the
wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.
(v. 11) And from the time that the
daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh
desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.
(v. 12) Blessed is he that waiteth, and
cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.
(v. 13) But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days."
A
cont.) [Compare Dan 12:1-3 KJV cont.]:
(v. 1) "And at that time shall
Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy
people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since
there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people
shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
(v. 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.
(v. 3) And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever."
[Showers, cont.]:
"Revelation 20 also teaches that all the unsaved of all ages of time will be resurrected at the Great White Throne Judgment after the Millennium has been completed. Thus, Christ was revealing to Daniel that Jews who were saved and died during the seventieth seven of years and Old Testament times will be resurrected at the Second Coming of Christ to take part in the blessings of the Millennial Kingdom of God (v. 2).
Some people of the coming Tribulation Period will have enough insight into the lies of Antichrist and the truth of God to reject and oppose Antichrist and to believe in Christ unto salvation. They also will lead many other people away from Antichrist and to Christ ('to righteousness', [Dan 12:3]). They will do this while facing the horrors of persecution by Antichrist. Thus, their activity will be similar to that of the Maccabeans during the persecutions by Antiochus Epiphanes (Dan 11:33, 35). These Tribulation saints will be rewarded for their service. They will be given the capacity to shine forth the glory of God forever, just as the present expanse of heaven shines forth that glory through its luminous bodies (v. 3)."
9) [Compare Mt 13:24-30, 36-43]:
(v. 24) '''Jesus told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.
(v. 25) but while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away.
(v. 26) When the wheat sprouted and
formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.
(v. 27) The owner's servants came to
him and said, 'Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where then did
the weeds come from?'
(v. 28) 'An enemy did this,' he
replied.
"The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them
up?'
(v. 29) 'No,' he answered, 'because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them.
(v. 30) Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.' '''
(v. 36) '''Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field."
(v. 37) He answered, "The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man.
(v. 38) The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one,
(v. 39) and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.
(v. 40) As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age.
(v. 41) The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will weed out of His kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil.
(v. 42) They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
(v. 43) Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear."
(v. 8) '''And I heard, but I understood
not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?
(v. 10) Many shall be purified, and
made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the
wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.
(v. 11) And from the time that the
daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh
desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.
(v. 12) Blessed is he that waiteth, and
cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.
(v. 13) But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days." '''
[Showers, op. cit., p. 178-9]:
"Daniel had heard the revelation and Christ's answer to the angel's question, but there were things about the revelation that he still was not understanding. In his desire to gain more understanding, Daniel asked Christ the following question: 'My LORD, what will be the outcome of these events?' Daniel's question differed in two ways from the question asked by the angel in verse six. First, Daniel asked 'what' instead of 'how long.' He was requesting an explanation or event, not a length of time. Second, the word used by Daniel for 'outcome' was different from the word used by the angel for 'end' in verse six. Daniel's word referred to the last part or closing stage of events. Thus, Daniel, was asking, not about all the events related to Antichrist's persecution of Israel, but about the last event related to that persecution - namely, the final deliverance of Israel as foretold by Christ in Daniel 12:1. Daniel wanted an explanation of how that deliverance will be accomplished. As an Israelite who loved his nation, he was intensely interested in that (v. 8).
Christ refused to give Daniel any further explanation. He commanded him to go on in life without further inquiry. Christ gave the following reason for that command: 'for these words are concealed and sealed up until the end time.' As noted in verse four where the same terms were used, this meant that the revelation was preserved for the duration of the end time. The purpose for preserving something for the duration of a period of time is that it might have significance at the end of that time. Christ's point, then, was this, Daniel should not be concerned any further about the revelation of the final end of these events, because it would not be significant to him. There was no need for him to know all the details, for the revelation would not be fulfilled while he lived. It will be significant to those who will live during its fulfillment at the end of the end time. This preserved revelation will help them and given them insight into the events of their day (v. 9) Thus, the revelation was not given primarily for his benefit.
Christ indicated that many Jews will get saved during the latter half of the seventieth seven of years. Antichrist's persecuting activity will purge out their rebellion and prompt them to turn to Christ. But the rest of the Jews will be characterized by wickedness - they will continue in their wickedness. Those who get saved during that time will understand the revelation that was given to Daniel, but the wicked Jews of that time will not understand it (v. 10).
In verses eleven and twelve Christ referred to two different amounts of future days - 1,290 days and 1,335 days. Both sets of days will begin at the same time - the middle of the seventieth seven of years when Antichrist will end the regular sacrifices at the Temple and will set up his image in that holy place. Since the latter half of the seventieth seven of years iwll consist of 1,260 days, both of these sets of days will extend beyond the end of the Tribulation Period and Second Coming of Christ. The 1,290 days will go thirty days beyond; the 1,335 days will extend to seventy-five days beyond.
Christ did not give the significance of these two sets of days, but the fact that He referred to them seems to indicate that they will end on the dates of important events. At this time only an educated guess can be made concerning what those important events will be. First, it may be that the 1,290 days will end on the day that will conclude the judgments to take place after the Second Coming. The Scriptures teach that Christ will judge Israel and the Gentiles (the people who will survive the Tribulation Period alive) after His return and before the establishment of the Millennial Kingdom of God."
1) [Compare Ezek 20:33-38]:
v. 33) "As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD , I will rule over you with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with outpoured wrath.
(v. 34) I will bring you from the nations and gather you from the countries where you have been scattered-with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with outpoured wrath.
(v. 35) I will bring you into the desert of the nations and there, face to face, I will execute judgment upon you.
(v. 36) As I judged your fathers in the desert of the land of Egypt, so I will judge you, declares the Sovereign LORD .
(v. 37) I will take note of you as you pass under my rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant.
(v. 38) I will purge you of those who revolt and rebel against me. Although I will bring them out of the land where they are living, yet they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD."
2) [Compare Mt 25:31-46]:
(v. 31) ''' "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His throne in heavenly glory.
(v. 32) All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
(v. 33) He will put the sheep on His right and the goats on His left.
(v. 34) "Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.
(v. 35) For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,
(v. 36) I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
(v. 37) "Then the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?
(v. 38) When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?
(v. 39) When did we see you sick or in
prison and go to visit you?'
(v. 40) "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
(v. 41) "Then he will say to those on His left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and His angels.
(v. 42) For I was hungry and you gave Me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me nothing to drink,
(v. 43) I was a stranger and you did not invite Me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe Me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after Me.'
(v. 44) "They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help You?'
(v. 45) "He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me.'
(v. 46) "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life'''
[Showers, cont.]:
"The purpose of this judgment will be to separate the believers and unbelievers so that the believers can enter the Millennial Kingdom of God and the unbelievers can be removed from the earth in judgment. It may take thirty days after the Second Coming of Christ to finish these judgments.
Second, perhaps the 1,335 days will end on the day that will begin the Millennial Kingdom of God. Once the judgments determining who can enter that kingdom have been concluded, it may take another forty-five days to form the government structure necessary to operate the kingdom. The Scriptures indicate that the saints will reign with Christ in the Millennial Kingdom (Rev 20:4-6). After the saints and unbelievers have been separated, it will take time to appoint saints to different government posts and to inform them of their various responsibilities.
Christ said: 'How blessed is he who keeps waiting and attains to the 1335 days!' In light of this strong statement, it is apparent that whatever will happen or begin on the 1,335 day is both 'good and desirable.' The word translated 'he who keeps waiting' means one who waits earnestly. Certainly the Tribulation saints will wait earnestly for the Kingdom of God to come as they face the horrors of the war that Antichrist will wage against them. As a result of the preserved revelation of the Book of Daniel, they will understand that, once the Kingdom of God begins, never again will they be threatened by the terrors produced by man's attempt to rule the earth apart form God.
The sets of 1,290 and 1,335 days are significant for at least two other reasons. First, they indicated that some Jews will survive God's chastening program and will enter the Millennial Kingdom of God to enjoy its blessing. This would have reassured Daniel that, in spite of the horrors of the future, a remnant of Israel would be preserved. The nation would survive. Second, the fact that these sets of days will extend beyond the seventieth seven of years and Second Coming indicates that time will not end and the future eternal state will not begin at the Second Coming of Christ. The twenty-four hour day cycle of the solar system and the history of the earth will continue after the Lord's return (vv. 11-12).
Once again Christ commanded Daniel to go on in life without further inquiry until he died. The Lord clearly indicated that he would die ('will enter into rest'), but He also declared that Daniel would be resurrected from the dead. The time of Daniel's resurrection would be 'at the end of the days.' This meant that Daniel would take part in the resurrection of believers at the Second Coming of Christ at the end of the days of the seventieth seven of years - the resurrection which Christ had foretold in Daniel 12:2. Since Daniel was an Old Testament saint, this would seem to imply that the resurrection of Old Testament saints will take place at the Second Coming of Christ at the end of the Tribulation Period.
Christ told Daniel that he would be resurrected for his 'allotted portion' ('to receive his inheritance lot'). Since he will be resurrected at the Second Coming, certainly part of his inheritance lot will be to enter and enjoy the blessing of the future Kingdom of God which God had made known to him in chapters two and seven (v. 13) [of the Book of Daniel]. In light of the clear demonstration of God's sovereign rule over kingdoms, events and persons witnessed by Daniel during his lifetime, he had every reason to believe that these personal promises to him would be fulfilled."