by Timothy W. Burnett
Both events involve God�s saints. Remember, the word saint as used in the New Testament after the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:4) refers to people who have been filled with holy spirit. To the best of my understanding, it will be available to be filled with holy spirit from the time of Acts 2:4 all the way until the �great and notable day of the Lord� comes (Acts 2:20). The condition for being filled with holy spirit is believing with the heart that God raised Jesus from the dead (Romans 10:9-10).
We currently live in another period of time known as the administration of the grace of God (Ephesians 3:2, dispensation = administration). This period exists parallel in time with the period of the notable day of the Lord. The grace administration is directly related the new birth and salvation from the terrible time of tribulation that is yet to come (Acts 2:4, 1Peter 1:23, Romans 8:29, Acts 2:21 and 1Thessalonians 5:1-5).
The grace administration will end at the day of Christ, which is also referred to as the rapture. Yet, the administration of the notable day of the Lord will continue.
Reading through Revelations, we can see a number of references to innumerable saints washed by the blood of the Lamb (Jesus Christ). Many of them will suffer through the tribulation period. The born-again saints have the hope of the day of Christ. The saints during the Revelations period will have the hope of the resurrection of the just and the unjust (see Acts 24:15).
Let�s look at a reference to the first resurrection, �But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection� (Revelation 20:5). There doesn�t seem to be a direct reference to a second resurrection, but it is strongly denoted in the reference to a �first� resurrection.
The reference to the first resurrection in Revelations is interesting because I have long thought the rapture would involve a resurrection. According to Romans 6:5, �For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall also be of his resurrection.� Jesus Christ was given a new and glorious body. God�s born-again children will also be given a body like Jesus Christ�s (Philippians 3:21).
The resurrection prophecies recorded in Revelations were prophesied of throughout the Old Testament period. The day of Christ was hidden from the prophets of the Old Testament period (Ephesians 3:4-6). This would explain why Revelations 20:5 refers to the �first� resurrection. Because of God�s loving promise, all of mankind will be resurrected with an opportunity to believe unto righteousness and everlasting life in paradise, the new earth (Revelations 21:1).
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