Saturday, July 14, 2012

Question 22 -Pre-Trib's Version of the "First Resurrection"
Exploring Pre-Trib's view of the, "First Resurrection" uncovers several Un-Answered and Un-Answerable Questions to Ponder. Let's look at the only places the words, "First Resurrection," appear in Scripture.


 "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 who had not worshiped the Beast (Antichrist), neither his image, neither had received his Mark in their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived (were resurrected)(at FIRST resurrection) and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again (were NOT resurrected) until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection; on such the second death hath no power, but they [those in the first resurrection] shall be Priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years" (Rev.20:4-6)!
WOW! The Pondered Questions here for Pre-Trib are many! Let's look at three:

1. Most Pre-Trib Ministers tell us the people who, "reign with Christ a thousand years" will be mortal Jews that survive the Tribulation. Pre-Trib says these Jews will then be rewarded by receiving the Old Testament promises and prophecies God made to their nation. Pre-Trib says there'll be a new Temple in Jerusalem, and that Temple will be staffed by mortal Jews from the Tribe of Levi. PROBLEM - John said these Millennial Priests will come from the, "First Resurrection." For Pre-Trib to be correct about the Priests being mortal, some resurrected people must be reverted back into mortal bodies. 
2. John also saw that the the Priests that, "reign with Christ a thousand years," will be from, "Every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation" (Rev.5:9-10).

3. Pre-Trib says that the, "First Resurrection" cannot include anyone who has had any dealings with Antichrist (the Beast). Pre-Trib says that Antichrist is not allowed to do any of his evil work until after the First Resurrection. According to Pre-Trib, millions of Grace Age believers will be resurrected seven years before Christ's Second Coming, but, again, according to Pre-Trib, Old Testament believers must wait seven years before they are resurrected. PROBLEM - John said many who are resurrected in the First Resurrection will those, "who had not worshiped the Beast (Antichrist), neither his image, neither had received his Mark in their foreheads, or in their hands." 
 
Dear Reader, if you are a Pastor, this subject is very important to you! The Pre-Trib view of when Antichrist will be allowed to work does not match John's Prophecy. We cover this Pondered question several times in our Blogsites. One simple question should be sufficient concerning Antichrist. If Antichrist is already, at the present time, diligently doing his work of deceit, and Pastors are declaring that Christian believers need not be concerned with his delusions, would these Pastors be held responsible if members of his congregation are lead astray by the Powers of Darkness? Please pray about this!!

Let's get back to Pre-Trib's version of the, "First Resurrection." Daniel closes his Book by prophesying the following:"And at that time shall Michael stand up, that Great Prince who 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 shall Thy people be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the Book. And many of those that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt" (Dan.12:1-2). Pre-Trib has designed a view of the First Resurrection that adds to Daniel's Prophecy. Pre-Trib Promoters claim that Daniel's Prophecy does not include Christians from the present time. Pre-Trib says we are in a Dispensation called the, "Church Age," also called the, "Grace Age." If the Reader is not a Pre-Trib Pastor or not a well studied Pre-Trib Layman, you will conclude from Daniel's prophecy that Pre-Trib must be wrong about the First Resurrection occurring before the Tribulation. You'd be correct, but, Pre-Trib has an answer. Pre-Trib says that Old Testament Saints will be excluded from being resurrected in the First Resurrection and must wait seven more years. Let's take a moment and Ponder this. Pre-Trib says a person must live in the time period between Christ's death and Christ's coming in order to be in the group that becomes Christ's Bride. The Bride of Christ will eternally be the highest and most honored position that a created being will ever occupy in God's Universe. 
     If we accept that there are only two general resurrections, and that all of Christ's Redeemed will arise in the First Resurrection, and all of the lost wicked will arise in the Second Resurrection a thousand years later, then everything involved in the Resurrections is fair to everyone. If we attempt to create a view contrary to this, we create for ourselves a host of Un-Answerable Questions. For example, how is it that the people who lived during the Great Tribulation, resisted the Mark of the Beast, and endured all of the persecution from Antichrist and his followers, yet they are somehow not qualified to become part of the Bride of Christ? Jesus and Daniel said this Tribulation would be the most horrible and trying time in the history of our planet. We suggest that the most honored people in God's Universe will certainly include those who stand up for Christ during the Great Tribulation. A careful examination of everything John saw in Revelation concerning the Tribulation bears out that John saw exactly this. 
     In closing, let's look at Daniel's conclusion about those living through the Tribulation. Immediately after describing the two resurrections and Tribulation, he prophesied the following concerning those who lived during the Tribulation: "And they that be wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness, as the stars that shine forever and ever" (Dan.12:3). Daniel is saying that those who stand firm for God during the Tribulation will, "forever and ever" be given the highest honor available in His Universe, yet Pre-Trib says these are not qualified. Dear Reader, let's look at what Pre-Trib is saying. They tell us that God has seven Dispensations, and that during six of these Dispensations, He requires obedience, but in one, He desires for His people to set aside obedience in favor of,  "Grace," and then, immediately after that, "Grace Dispensation" is over, God again requires obedience. "For I am the Lord, I change not" (Mal.3:6). For more information on how this "Grace Dispensation" doctrine has a direct connection to a false understanding of the Bride of Christ, see, "The Real Bride of Christ."


 Actually, Pre-Trib promoters have many varied views as to how many Resurrections there will be for the Righteous Saved. They believe there will be one at the Rapture, one at the Second Coming, and then Pre-Trib Promoters are divided as to what happens during the Millennium. For more on this, see, "Pre-Trib's Resurrections."

Let's pray that God will send a double portion of His Spirit to us as we prepare for Christ's soon Coming!
Thank you SO much for your time!
Your Brother in Christ
Walter C. Martin Jr.

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Check Our Other Blogsites:
Pre-Tribulation Rapture
Post-Tribulation Second Coming of Jesus
Will We Eat Pigs During the Millennium?

Planet Earth WILL be Destroyed After the 1000 Years!
New Jerusalem - How BIG is It?
Great White Throne Judgment Seat - When and Where
Christ's Kingdom - Millennial or EVERLASTING?

 Hell Fire
Is God Torturing People Now
Did Jesus Suffer ALL of Your Hell?
The Rich Man and Lazarus?
Death
The Dead - Dead or Alive - What is Death?
Did Jesus Die YOUR Death for You?
Will Satan Ever Die - Bible Says "YES!"
Testing Our Doctrine About Death
The Dead Stand Before Great White Throne Judgment Seat

 The Gnostics Attack the Sabbath
Were Gnostics Really Christian?
Were Gnostics Satan's Implants into the Church?
Is Gnosticism Alive and Well in Today's Churches
Church is Israel - Israel is Church
Is the Church Israel and Israel the Church?
Is the Bride of Jesus the 144 Thousand?
Did Jesus Offer the Jews a Millennial Kingdom in His Ministry?
Will New Jerusalem Sit in Israel? How Big is It?
Christ's REAL EVERLASTING Kingdom is for ALL Believers!

The Sabbath
Is it a Sin to Observe the Sabbath?
Is There a Connection Between the Rapture and the Sabbath?
Will the Sabbath Be Observed By God's People During the Tribulation?
Who REALLY Changed the Sabbath in Early Christianity?
Un-Answered and Un-Answerable Sabbath Questions For Popular Preachers
How to Test Your Doctrine Concerning the Sabbath

Heaven
Marriage in Heaven - Millennial Kingdom?
Strange Animal/Demons the Millennium?
Why Jesus Hasn't Come to Take Us To Heaven?
Teachers of Anomia (Law Annulling)
Good Ministers Teaching Against God's 10 Commandments?
Teaching of Anomia - The Reason Jesus Hasn't Come Yet?
Pre-Trib Rapture and Sabbath
Pre-Trib Rapture and the Sabbath?

Walter C. Martin Jr.
Everlasting Gospel Ministries

These are just a few of the questions we examine in our Blogsites.
Thank you, Dear Reader,  for checking them. Please feel free to give us your comments and feedback if you look at our Sites.  If you send us your questions or comments, we will try to answer and add your question to these Websites. We will Not give your name or E-Mail address to ANY ONE or ANY Church Group or Denomination! Nor will we send you ANY annoying E-Mails!! It is NOT our purpose to get you to withdraw from your present Church, but to invite you to present things you learn here to your Pastor and Friends.
Let's pray that God will continue sending His Holy Spirit to guide as we prepare for Jesus to come. Thank You!
Your Brother in Christ!
Walter C. Martin Jr
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