THREE RESURRECTIONS

Most students of the Bible are familiar with the fact that there are two Resurrections, but I would suggest that there are at least three. And while the Bible specifically mentions only two Resurrections, I believe there is another Resurrection clearly presented in Scripture. I will try to present them in the order they occur, but such a task is made difficult by the fact that the First Resurrection takes place over at least three thousand years.

The First Resurrection

The First Resurrection, the Resurrection to eternal life, began with the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, and will be complete when death itself is cast into the Lake of Fire (Rev. 20:14). Jesus identified Himself as "the Resurrection and the Life" for all who believe in Him (Jn. 11:25). Jesus is called "the Firstfruits of them that slept" (1 Cor. 15:20), and according to the Apostle Paul, all those who have trusted in the Lord during their lifetime, from the creation of Heaven and Earth, until it is "replaced" by the New Heaven and the New Earth (Rev. 21:1), will be raised from the dead, in like manner, after Him (1 Cor. 15:20-23). The Bible identifies this multifaceted event as the First Resurrection (Rev. 20:5-6).

The Second Resurrection

As early as the Book of Daniel, the Word has described two Resurrections. Daniel 12:2 says, "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." John mentioned two Resurrections, the one unto Life, and the other unto Damnation (Jn. 5:29). While the phrase "the Second Resurrection" does not appear in the Word of God, it is clearly presented in Revelation. That there are at least two, is indicated by the phrase "the First Resurrection" found in Revelation 20:5. The Second Resurrection is certainly the one to which John refers in verses 11-15.

The Resurrection of Israel as a Nation

For all practical purposes, Israel ceased to be a free nation from its captivity by the Assyrians in 722 B.C., until the United Nations declared them a sovereign state in A.D. 1948. That is about 2700 years, give or take, wouldn't you know it, the Word provides some interesting facts, that when considered together, lead us to see God's plan for His people. First, we read in the Book of Hosea, the following prophecy concerning the "rebirth" of Israel: "Come and let us return unto the Lord for He hath torn, and He will heal us; He hath smitten, and He will bind us up. AFTER TWO DAYS will He revive us; IN THE THIRD DAY He will raise us up, and we will live in His sight" (Hos. 6:1-2).

Clarence Larkin, in his book Dispensational Truth, suggests that we consider 2 Peter 3:8 as an explanation of the "two days" mentioned by Hosea. It is also interesting that the Psalmist seems to be connecting the Lord's destruction of man, with His raising them up again; note that the day - thousand year comparison is mentioned (Ps. 90:3-4). Ezekiel 37:1-10 is a description of a Resurrection. In verse eleven, we are told who it is that is being raised: "Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel...." And finally, the Apostle Paul wrote three chapters in the Book of Romans, which explain what has happened to Israel, why, and their final "Resurrection" (Rom. 9 - 11).