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What Is the First Resurrection?

In this video we are going to explain what the Bible says about the first resurrection. 

Although there are three general resurrections, the Bible mainly focuses on the first.

So we will dive into this topic and answer key questions such as:

• When does it take place?
• What is going to happen?
• Who will be in the first resurrection?

This video is a must-watch for anyone interested in what the Bible says about the reward for those who turn to God before the end of this age.

So, let's dive in and discover the awesome truth about the first resurrection. And remember, don’t just believe us. Look up these verses in your own Bible.

The First Resurrection Happens When Jesus Returns

First, let’s answer the question:

1. When will the first resurrection take place?

1 Thessalonians 4 says:

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 (1 Thessalonians 4:16).

Here we see that the dead in Christ (or those who have died in the faith) will be resurrected when Jesus descends from heaven. And notice that this event is accompanied by the sound of a trumpet.

1 Corinthians chapter 15, also known as the “Resurrection Chapter,” says that the resurrection will take place:

 …at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible(1 Corinthians 15:52).

Again, we see that the resurrection is signaled by the sound of a trumpet, but this verse says it will occur “at the last trumpet.”

Jesus Returns After All 7 Trumpets of Revelation 

So when will this last trumpet sound?

Well, the book of Revelation reveals a series of trumpets being blown at the end of the age and prior to Jesus’ return.

In chapter 8, John saw in vision:

Seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets (Revelation 8:2).

The blowing of the seventh and final trumpet is then highlighted in Revelation 11 describing the return of Jesus Christ.

Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever (Revelation 11:15).

And finally, we see in Revelation 20 that the resurrection takes place at the end of this age and the beginning of the Millennium.

And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them… And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years… This is the first resurrection (Revelation 20:4–5).

In short, the first resurrection takes place at the seventh and final trumpet blast, to kick off the 1,000-year reign of Jesus Christ and His saints.

Changed to Spirit “in the Twinkling of an Eye” | 1 Corinthians 15 Explained

Now, let’s see what the Bible says will happen at the first resurrection.

Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 15 that our bodies are:

Sown a natural body, [and] raised a spiritual body… the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual… And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man [speaking of the glorified Jesus Christ] (1 Corinthians 15:44–49).

Flesh and Blood Cannot Inherit the Kingdom of God

Continuing on he says:

Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory” (1 Corinthians 15:50–54).

Becoming Full Sons of God | Romans 8

In regard to this transformation, Paul says in Romans 8:

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For… the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God… because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God… even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body (Romans 8:18–23).

So we see those in the first resurrection will be raised as spirit, immortal, incorruptible beings, as the children of God.

Called, Chosen, and Faithful Christians Become Full Children of God

And the final question we’ll answer is: who will be in the First resurrection?

We may have already picked up from some of the verses answering our first two questions that the first resurrection will be made up of faithful Christians, while the rest of mankind will be raised in the second resurrection. (You can watch our video about the second resurrection by clicking here.)

As we’ve already seen, 1 Thessalonians 4:14–16 highlights it will be made of those who “believe that Jesus died and rose again…” and “those who sleep in Jesus,” calling them “the dead in Christ,” that is, those who died in faith.

Revelation 20:4 adds some more detail, saying: 

I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God.

Again, faithful, obedient Christians. And in Romans 8 we see:

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God… The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together (Romans 8:14–17).

True Christians Keep the Commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus

Revelation 14 says:

Here is the patience of the Saints: here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus (Revelation 14:12).

In Matthew 19 we see Jesus tell the rich young ruler, “If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”

And the entire chapter of Hebrews 11 describes many of the faithful men and women of the Old Testament who will be in the first resurrection, calling it the “better resurrection.”

But it won’t just be those who have already died. It will also include the faithful Christians who are still living when Jesus returns.

Notice 1 Corinthians 15 says:

For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed (1 Corinthians 15:52).

And:

We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye… (1 Corinthians 15:51–52).

In other words, those faithful Christians who are still alive at the seventh trumpet will be  changed from physical to spirit beings without having died.

Also, in 1 Thessalonians 4 it says:

We who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep… 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 (1 Thessalonians 4:15–17).

And in Hebrews 11:40 we see that the men and women who have already died in the faith “should not be made perfect apart from us.”

So we see that those who rise in the first resurrection will be those who have lived and died in the faith, as well as those faithful Christians at the end of the age.

So in this video, we’ve seen the first resurrection will take place at the return of Jesus Christ and the beginning of the Millennium, announced by the seventh and final trumpet. It will be made up of the faithful men and women of the Old Testament, some of whom are described in Hebrews 11 and of faithful and obedient Christians, both those who have lived and died, as well as those who are alive at His return. And all those who rise in the first resurrection will be raised to incorruptible spirit beings, as the Children of God with eternal life.

Job asked the question:

If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait, till my change comes. You shall call, and I will answer You; You shall desire the work of Your hands (Job 14:14–15).

If you enjoyed this video, please give us a like, leave a comment, and subscribe to our channel for more videos on Bible topics, because we want to help more people understand this world through the pages of the Bible.

If you’re interested in learning about the second resurrection, then, watch our video about the second resurrection.

Thanks for watching!