The First Resurrection

 •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 9
 
IN the churchyard of Onchan, a village in the Isle of Man, on a tombstone, is the following inscription:
“I bought this grave in my day,
Not to be opened to the judgment day;
When the Judge will come, and glory crown,
The dead shall hear the trumpet’s sound.”
God does not always take people at their word. If that grave holds the body of one of “the children of God,” one of “the children of the resurrection,” (Luke 20:3636Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection. (Luke 20:36),) one of “the dead in Christ,” (1 Thess. 4:1616For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: (1 Thessalonians 4:16)) one who has “fallen asleep in Christ,” (1 Cor. 15:1818Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. (1 Corinthians 15:18)) then, according to the word of Him, who is “the resurrection and the life,” that one is to be raised at the resurrection of life, (John 5:2929And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. (John 5:29)) the resurrection of “the just,” (Acts 24:1515And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. (Acts 24:15)) at “the first resurrection,” (Rev. 20:55But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. (Revelation 20:5)). That grave will be opened, for it is then the trump of God shall sound, and those who sleep through Jesus shall be raised, and be forever with, and like the Lord. 1 Thess. 4:1717Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:17); Phil. 3:2121Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. (Philippians 3:21). A thousand years before the wicked dead stand before God at the judgment, at the great white throne. Rev. 20:11,1211And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. (Revelation 20:11‑12).
But if, on the other hand, the one whose body lies mouldering there, never came to Jesus to get life, (John 5:4040And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. (John 5:40),) never was “born of God,” and therefore not a “child of God,” (John 1:12,1312But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:12‑13),) if having died “in sins,” “without God,” “without Christ,” “without hope,” then, indeed, that grave will not be opened by divine power till the judgment, when the dead, small and great, shall stand before God; and when the books are opened, and another book is opened, which is the book of life, and the dead are judged out of those things written in the book, according to their works, “and whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” Rev. 20:12-1512And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:12‑15). Well, reader, although God does not always take people at their word, will you take Him at His word? John 3:3333He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true. (John 3:33). For He says, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life,” and shall not come into judgment; but he that believeth not the Son, shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
W. R. H.