Q - What is the first and second resurrections?

A - Well that's a big question let me explain.

Daniel 12:2 summarizes the two very different fates facing mankind: "Many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt." Everyone will be raised from the dead, but not everyone will share the same destiny. The New Testament reveals the further detail of separate resurrections for the just and the unjust.

The first resurrection:

(Revelation 20:4-6) mentions a "first resurrection" and identifies those involved as "blessed and holy." The second death "the lake of fire," (Revelation 20:14) has no power over these individuals. The first resurrection, then, is the raising of all believers. It corresponds with Jesus' teaching of the "resurrection of the just" (Luke 14:14) and the "resurrection of life" (John 5:29).

The first resurrection takes place in various stages. Jesus Christ Himself the "first fruits" (1 Corinthians 15:20), paved the way for the resurrection of all who believe in Him. There was a resurrection of the Jerusalem (Old Testament) saints (Matthew 27:52-53) which are included in our consideration of the first resurrection. Still to come are the resurrection of "the dead in Christ" at the time of the Rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:16) and the resurrection of the martyrs at the end of the Tribulation (Revelation 20:4).

The second resurrection:

Revelation 20:12-13 identifies those comprising the second resurrection as the wicked judged by God at the great white throne judgment prior to being cast into the lake of fire. The second resurrection, then, is the raising of all unbelievers; the second resurrection is connected to the second death. It corresponds with Jesus' teaching of the "resurrection of damnation" (John 5:29).

When does the first resurrection end and the second start:

The event which divides the first and second resurrections is the millennial kingdom of Christ. The last of the righteous are raised to reign "with Christ a thousand years" (Revelation 20:4), completing the First Resurrection that began in the Garden Tomb some 2000 years earlier.

But the "rest of the dead [that is, the wicked] lived not again until the thousand years were finished" (Revelation 20:5).

What great rejoicing will attend the first resurrection! What great anguish at the second! What a great responsibility we have to share the Gospel to this lost and dying world "And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire" (Jude 23).

Some teachers say that the dead in Christ will not rise until Revelation 20:4, this is false teaching and as you can now see Revelation 20:4 is the end of the first resurrection. The "dead in Christ" will rise seven years before Revelation 20:4 at the time of the Rapture and then the tribulation saints will be resurrected at Revelation 20:4 and then the first resurrection will be over.

If we read the Bible and believe what it says then we can know there will be a rapture and it will happen before the tribulation.

There is a great day coming people, we're coming back with Jesus, and let nobody trouble you or deceive you, as Paul said to the Thessalonians, with rumors that Antichrist had come, for he cannot come to power till there be a catching away first, and he that restrains him, which is the church, will restrain him, until he be taken out of the way, then shall that man of sin be revealed.

Some say that's the Holy Spirit. Well, they have a right to be wrong. The Holy Spirit is still here. The Holy Spirit empowers the two witnesses; the Holy Spirit gives the strength to the 144,000. God is not ever going to leave - the only place He leaves a vacuum with none of His Spirit is in that bottomless pit, and "He" holds the key to it.

The Holy Spirit does not disappear - it's the Church! The raptured Saints and the dead in Christ of all ages that go up with them. But it's the church that restrains Antichrist, the first seal can't open until the Lord says "Come up hither", as He said to John in Revelation chapter 4, this is the rapture.

Then come the seven seals, and the seven trumpets, and when the seventh trumpet comes, up goes the man child, the 144,000. Then comes the three and a half years, and that great northern army, will descend, as we have seen, the woman will flee to the wilderness, a remnant will be persecuted and as they gather in Megiddo, the Lord will come with thousands of His Saints to execute judgment, then comes millennium and Satan and all of his bunch are back into that bottomless pit for a 1000 years, but we are still not done with that northern army.

Anyone that believes and teaches that the rapture will happen at the end of the tribulation is wrong and a false teacher, may God have mercy of them for the harm they are doing!

What I am saying here is true and straight from the word of God, you can believe it and be taken in the rapture or deny it and risk being left behind because of your lack of faith in Jesus Christ to remove you from harm as he promised he would do, that's up to you, as for me and my family we are going to be with Jesus at the time of the rapture BEFORE the start of the tribulation, what you do is up to you.