Jesus refers to the concept of resurrections, however, the difference between the first and second resurrection must be determined by the reader, as he or she considers the context of the verses.
Jesus mentioned the First Resurrection many times without using the specific term. Most of His references to a resurrection are to the First Resurrection.
When we, as Christians, pray the Lord’s prayer we are asking that “God’s kingdom come”, Matt 6:9-13.
Mt 6:9 ¶ After this manner, therefore, pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
This means that when Jesus described the “Kingdom” we are asking God to do things as Jesus said they would be done in the Kingdom parables.
One of His clearest references to the First Resurrection is in John 5:25.
John 5:25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
Jesus made the statement from John 5:25 before His Crucifixion, which happened in John 19:18.
Notice that Jesus Himself said that the time that this would happen is “Now” or currently. Not in the future but at that “present time” when He made the statement.
“Now” if a “dead” person hears Jesus’ voice they will live.
John 5:25 is where Jesus Himself refers to the First resurrection.
John also refers to this in Revelation 20:5, calling the First Resurrection the “thousand years” or millennium period (Obedient Christian life).
Rev 20:5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
Jesus says that people can hear Him even if they are dead spiritually.
People who hear but fail to pay attention are not resurrected. The resurrection is only for those who hear and pay attention. Only Christians are resurrected.
Every person faces a choice and must decide whether to hear and pay attention or ignore Jesus.
The Bible teaches us in Rev 1:7 that every Eye will see Jesus coming and wail. This is a reference to what we are told in Luke 21:34-35.
Luke 21:34-35 shows that all people will see the “Day”.
Lu 21:34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
Lu 21:35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
This refers to the “Day of the Lord”, in other words, we will all see Jesus’ judgment upon sin, Isaiah 13:6 and 2 Pet 3:10.
Isa 13:6 ¶ Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.
2Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which, the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
However, everyone will not see what is called the First resurrection.
Only “those who Hear” Jesus’ voice and respond will be resurrected. Refer to the phrase “they that hear” from John 5:25.
John 5:25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
Only those who look for Jesus will see His Second Coming (Acts 3:20) and then participate in the First Resurrection, Col 3:1 and Heb 9:28.
Ac 3:20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
Heb 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many, and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
Col 3:1 ¶ If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man loves me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. (KJV)
In addition to John 5:25, our decision to either ignore Jesus or pay attention to Him is illustrated through Romans 14:11.
Ro 14:11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
Just as John recorded the choice we must make in John 5:25, the two differences in “Voice” in Romans 14:11 (Active and Middle) indicate a “Choice in confession” and a “lack of Choice in “bowing”.
The phrase “shall bow” is in the Active Voice or condition of the Greek language, which is Strong’s number 5784.
The active voice represents the subject as the doer or performer of the action.
The phrase “shall confess” is in the Middle Voice or condition of the Greek language, which is the Strong’s Greek word numbered 5785.
The middle voice indicates the subject acting upon himself (reflexive action) or for his benefit.
This “bowing” aspect or submission is not in a “voluntary” sense as “confession” is.
Our submission in this verse means that every person will “reap what they sow”, Gal 6:7.
Ga 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
(KJV)
The “confessing” aspect of the verse is “a choice” that people make.
All people are responsible to God, however, only those who choose to do so will confess to Him.
Only those who hear and pay attention will see Jesus’ Second Coming.
Thus, His judgment is made clear to all people, however, not all people will confess Him as Lord.
If a person does not pay attention they remain spiritually dead, while they are alive in this earthly lifetime.
John 5:25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
John 5:28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
John 5:29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation/judgment (Strong’s # 2920).
Jesus used the word “Now” in John 5:25. Continuing the address to those present at that time Jesus’ words recorded in John 5:29 show that “now” those who “Rise” will come forth into either life or judgment.
The time when they came forth into a resurrection in John 5:29 was also a “present reality” at the time Jesus made the statement. It is a reality for us at this time as well.
Paul also commented on the first resurrection but did not use the exact term “First Resurrection”.
The First Resurrection happens on earth as Romans 6:4 and 5 and Col 3:1 show.
Ro 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so, we also should walk in newness of life.
Ro 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Col 3:1 ¶ If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
We are in the body during the first resurrection as the Apostle Paul mentioned in Romans 6 and Col 3:1.
He explained that we are not in the body after the second resurrection in 2 Cor 5:8.
2 Corinthians 5:8 KJV — We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
Paul goes into detail regarding this subject in 1 Cor 15.
In 1 Cor 15, the sleep Paul refers to is the sleep mentioned in 1 Thess 4:13.
The “twinkling” or “casting of the eye” in 1 Cor 15:52 is an uninterrupted gaze at Jesus, as occurred with Peter when He walked on the water, Matt 14:28-31.
In addition to His Gospel record of this concept, John commented on this concept again specifically using the term “First Resurrection” in Revelation 20:5 and 6.
Re 20:5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
Re 20:6 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.
At this point in the study, I want to say that the first resurrection (which happens in our lifetimes on earth) is when the separation of the sheep and goats happens, Mt 24:31.
The First resurrection is when the separation of the sheep and goats occurs. It is when the angels/messengers separate the obedient Christians from the disobedient Christians, Mt 13:49.
Keep in mind here that God used both good and fallen angels to bring about His will, 1 Sam 16:14.
1Sa 16:14 ¶ But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.
1Sa 18:10 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul’s hand.
Mt 4:11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
Mr 1:13 And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts, and the angels ministered unto him.
(KJV)
Mt 13:49 So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, Mt 25:32; Eze 20:38; 34:17,20; Ro 14:10; 2Co 5:10; Re 20:12
Eze 34:17 ¶ And as for you, O my flock, thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I judge between cattle and cattle, between the rams and the he goats. Eze 20:37-38; 34:20,22; Zec 10:3; Mt 25:32-33
The goats are the disobedient Christians who must learn obedience through experiencing God’s judgment as 1 Cor 11:32 states.
The people that Jesus refers to in John 5:29 have done evil and are resurrected into “punishment”, these are the goats.
This punishment can refer to those who knock but don’t enter the kingdom because they are “workers of iniquity”.
Jesus compares the inhabitants of the Kingdom of God to wise and foolish virgins or “Christians” in Matt 25.
The “foolish” are exposed to the fire of the Devil and His angels which can scripturally be referred to as Hellfire.
The wise virgins in the kingdom encourage the foolish virgins to “buy more oil”.
Telling them to “buy oil” shows that this judgment or “door being shut” is not a finality in their lives.
They are encouraged to do something afterward so that they will be prepared the next time.
The “foolish Virgins” are not permanently banned from the Kingdom of God.
The foolish have simply been unprepared to advance in the kingdom of Righteousness, Joy, and Peace in the Holy Spirit at that time, Rm 14:17.
Ro 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. (KJV)
At a point of evaluation when a person “passes under the Rod” (Ez 20:37), which can be referred to as a “Day of the Lord”, they were unprepared to advance into the kingdom of righteousness joy, and peace in the Holy Spirit.
Eze 20:37 And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant:
They require correction in the fire, Ez 20:37, and 1 Cor 11:32.
Ezekiel 20:37 KJV — And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant
1 Cor 11:32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
The correction here is of course designed to bring about the Christian’s repentance, 1 Cor 11:32.
This process of bringing a Christian back to obedience is what is referred to in 1 Thess 4:13-5:11.
Those who are involved in delusion call this correction “The Rapture”.
Just as Jesus spoke of hearing His voice “Now” or at that time, (John 5:25) four verses later He speaks of the resurrection into damnation or more accurately into “Judgment” in John 5:29.
The resurrection was also happening at that present time.
The Greek word translated as “Punishment” in John 5:29 is Strong’s word # 2920 meaning a “decision”.
They are resurrected into a position where their actions are judged by God and a decision is rendered concerning them.
To convey this concept in a corresponding verse notice that the Strong’s word # 2851 is used in Matthew 25:46 to indicate a “Penal infliction” which is the same concept being conveyed by the word #2920 in John 5:29.
Mt 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. Da 12:2; Joh 5:9,29; Ro 2:7
John 5:29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation/judgment.
He uses the same phrase regarding people going into “punishment” in both John 5:29 and Matt 25:46.
The literal meaning and concept are to be found in Young’s literal translation of John 5:29 and means “rising again” into judgment.
John 5:29 (YLT) and they shall come forth; those who did the good things to a rising again of life, and those who practiced the evil things to a rising again of judgment.
Mt 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
Only Christians are resurrected. Some are resurrected into Life, and some into judgment based on their behavior.
The word “punishment” in the verse is translated more accurately as judgment.
In the context of a First resurrection, this is seen in 1 Cor 11:32.
1 Cor 11:32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
Jesus separates the “Sheep from the Goats” within His kingdom and likens that to His distributing differing rewards or talents in another kingdom parable or message in Tongues.
Jesus of course had all of what we call “spiritual gifts”. While He was on the earth and in His flesh/spiritual body.
This includes the conversation regarding the talents where we hear Jesus speaking in Tongues.
This judgment is not everlasting but age-during. As the following comparison shows.
Mt 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
John 5:29 (YLT) and they shall come forth; those who did the good things to a rising again of life, and those who practiced the evil things to a rising again of judgment.
Mt 25:46 And these shall go away to punishment age-during, but the righteous to life age-during.’ (YLT)
This punishment or more accurately discipline is not eternal in the sense that Christians remain there as Matthew 5:26 illustrates.
Mt 5:26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.
The Old Testament parallel verse of Isaiah 26:19 (awake and sing ye that dwell in the dust) adds to the discussion of the First resurrection. As does Daniel 12:2 (some of the dead awake to life and some to reproach or judgment Mt 25:46; Joh 5:28-29; Ac 24:15.
Particularly interesting is Isaiah 66:24.
Isaiah 66:16 and 24 refer to these things happening to “flesh” which is a reference to the happenings in this lifetime.
Isa 66:16 For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many.
Isa 66:24 And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcasses of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh. Isa 66:16; Mr 9:44,46,48
Isaiah 66:24 illustrates that believers will look at the carcasses/bodies of the transgressors, this is a reference to the “First Resurrection”.
Since that which devours the transgressor (their worm/fire) does not die it can be said that they are being demonically tormented by the fallen angels, because angels do not die, Heb 2:9. Eternal punishment/fire is also a similar concept in that the Punishment is eternal since it is defined as being sent into the condition which the Devil and His angels (Beings that do not die, Heb 2:9) occupy, Hell.
Heb 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
The story of the valley of dry bones in Ezekiel 37 also provides insight into what is mistakenly referred to as the rapture concept of 1 Thess 4:13-5:10. There we see the dead begin to live again, as with the spiritually sleeping believers who have awoken from a sinful condition and met their fellow believers in the clouds in 1 Thess 4:13-5:10.
In another similar case, the sacrifice had ceased in Judges 14 due to Samson’s willful sin (Samson had “sinned willfully” and unapologetically done what He knew was wrong by wanting to marry an unbeliever), and He had become ” backslidden”, Dan 9:27 and Rev 20:3.
The sacrifice ceasing refers to an Old Testament follower of God who would not seek to be forgiven through making a sacrifice.
In the New Covenant, this would be likened to a believer not wanting to confess the sin to Jesus to be forgiven.
This refers to the willful sin of Samson who wanted to marry a worldly woman.
Which is specifically forbidden in Ex 34:16 and Deut 7:3-4. This indicates that His obedience to God or the concept of the millennium (obedient Christian life) had ended in His life.
Ex 34:16 And thou take of their daughters unto thy sons, and their daughters go a whoring after their gods and make thy sons go a whoring after their gods.
De 7:3 Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son. 4 For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly.
This willful disobedience results in imminent judgment because if sin is not forgiven/confessed to Jesus the person will have to go thru judgment to encourage them to repent, Heb 10:26 and Rev 20:3.
The Lion had roared against Samson in Judges 14:5, which is a similar concept to Jesus descending in a shout to bring about judgment in 1 Thess 4:16.
When Samson (a follower of God/Israelite) defeated the lion or beast (the devourer of their fleshly nature, Gen 3:14 and Judges 14:14) the resulting victory provides something sweet which they can share with others, 1 Thess 4:17.
The two resurrections can be understood in the following way.
The First resurrection happens on earth and the Second is the Ascension into Heaven.
It should be remembered that saying that the First resurrection happens on earth and conforms to Jesus’ pattern/example.
Jesus died on earth and was then resurrected on earth and then ascended to heaven, just as Christians die to the flesh nature and are resurrected the first time on earth and then ascend to heaven when we die in faith.
To my understanding, Jesus refers to the Second Resurrection only once in Matt 22:30.
Mt 22:30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.
Some Old Testament references to the concept of the First Resurrection are found in Isaiah 29:19, Ez 37:13, and Dan 12:2.
Isa 26:19 Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.
Eze 37:13 And ye shall know that I am the LORD when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves,
Da 12:2 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. Isa 66:24; Mt 25:46; Joh 5:28-29; Ac 24:15; Ro 9:21
The confusion of these two resurrections produces many misunderstandings.
A person needs to understand which resurrection is being referred to. Again, Most of Jesus’ references in the Gospels are to the First and not the Second resurrection.
Ac 24:15 And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.
The following verse, in particular, causes people to think that the unbelieving dead are resurrected with the believers and then separated from Jesus’ followers at a final judgment event.
Mt 25:46 And these shall go away to punishment age-during, but the righteous to life age-during.’ (YLT)
As has been shown Mt 25:46 refers to obedient and disobedient believers, who can also be referred to scripturally as sheep or goats or wise and foolish virgins.
The separation is speaking about separating obedient Christians from disobedient Christians, as can be seen from Eze 34:17.
Eze 34:17 ¶ And as for you, O my flock, thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I judge between cattle and cattle, between the rams and the he goats.
This understanding leads to another misconception, wherein the sheep and goats parable is incorrectly thought to be a separation of believers from unbelievers.
The events which Jesus spoke about and occurred in this earthly life occur during the First Resurrection of His people.
The events that Jesus spoke of in Mark 12:24-26 refer to the Second Resurrection.
Continuing with the concept of the Second Resurrection 1 John tells us that this has not been fully revealed.
Mr 12:25 For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven.
1Jo 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.