Posted in case anyone is curious about what I've been going on about and of course your comments and criticisms are welcome. Bear in mind it is a forum opening presentation (OP), by no means exaustive, but designed to touch enough important points to stir the opposition into discussion.
Rev 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.
(KJV)
The purpose here is to show cause why the 'First Resurrection' is the regeneration (born-again) of the believer and not a resurrection of the body.
The believer today meets all the requirements of the definition.
He is 'blessed and made holy '(II cor 5;21) because he is a partner in the Resurrection of Christ. This is how we become joint -heirs. The work of the cross ,the blood sacrfice, has no value unless Christ is raised (bodily) from the dead.
Pete refers to the Church as;
1 Pet 2:5
5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.(KJV)
John of course concurrs; (note the tense)
Rev 1:6
6
And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.(KJV)
This 'priesthood' is entirely populated by those who 'overcome'. As Paul writes;
Rom 8:36-37
36
As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.(KJV)
Conquerors and overcomers are translated from the same original word. Every christian is expected to be faithful even unto death, so being 'more than conquerors' is the status of all believers in Christ, whether events demonstrated this in life (martyerdom) or not. Every believer is passed from death unto life. And is securely covered under the Blood of Christ. This renders him free from the power of the 'second death' and allows him to' reign in life by one, Jesus Christ'.
Thus each requirement as liniated in v6 is already accomplished in the believer.
It is as important as it is common to refer to the born-again believer as being 'raised up',formerly dead...
Eph 2:5-6
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:(KJV)
Eph 2:1
1
And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;(KJV)
I Jn 3:14
14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.(KJV)
The pattern here follows;
Num 19:11-12
11 He that toucheth the dead body of any man shall be unclean seven days.
12 He shall purify himself with it on the third day, and on the seventh day he shall be clean: but if he purify not himself the third day, then the seventh day he shall not be clean.(KJV)
With our 'patnership' in the 'First Resurrection', which came on the Third day. We gain newness of life through the righteousness of Christ imputed judically. This is common to all believers and without it we cannot be seen as 'clean' on the seventh day (last day).
All must participate in the 'third day cleansing' or 'First Resurrection' . Every believer must have a part here. But not every believer will be raised bodily. By the same token every believer must be raised spiritually.
Of course Christ offered up His body as a Sacrfice and neeeded not be raised in the spiritual sense, as we do. So His Resurrection does not require the second step. Thus for the believer, the First Resurrection is first in order and importance.
Take care
Hitch
