Lesson 25
The First Resurrection
Christians can never see each other for the last time. Although they may be separated by years
of time, distance of miles, or the shadow of death, they know that they will meet again because
they have the promise of resurrection to immortality. The believer's blessed hope is to be
raised from the dead to immortality when Jesus comes.
When Jesus comes, all true Christians, "the dead in Christ," will be resurrected to
immortality. This raising of believers from death will constitute the first resurrection.
Believers who have died are unconscious in their graves; they will remain in death until the
resurrection. In the first resurrection, all believers will be raised from the dead to
immortality and will receive their rewards at the same time. Living Christians will be changed
instantly from mortality to immortality at the time of the first resurrection, and, with the
resurrected Christians, they will be caught up to meet Christ in the air. They will be
glorified with Christ and will be made joint-heirs with Him.
1. Time of First Resurrection. The first resurrection will occur at the second coming of
Christ. "For 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: then 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 Thess. 4:16, 17).
2. Participants in First Resurrection. The first resurrection is for Christians. Dead
sinners will remain in their graves until the final resurrection. Those who take part in the
first resurrection are designated as: "the dead in Christ" (1 Thess. 4:16), "they that are
Christ's" (1 Cor. 15:23), "they that have done good" (John 5: 29), and "the just" (Acts 24:15).
When Jesus comes, all Christians will have been divided by life and death into two groups.
First, believers who have fallen asleep in death during the centuries will be waiting
unconsciously in their graves until Christ's return. Second, some believers will be alive when
Jesus comes. The benefits of Christ's return will be bestowed upon both groups of Christians,
those who are living and those who are dead. "Whether we wake or sleep, we should live together
with him" (1 Thess. 5:10).
Dead Christians. During the apostolic age, believers began to die as martyrs in the
persecutions which Christians experienced. Believers in the church at Thessalonica began to
wonder whether dead Christians would receive any benefit from Christ's second coming. By
falling asleep in death, would Christians miss immortality, glory, and joy which will result
when Christ returns? Paul wrote his first church letter, a letter to the church at
Thessalonica, to explain that living Christians will have no priority over dead Christians when
Jesus comes. He said, "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which
are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus
died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this
we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of
the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep" (1 Thess. 4:13-15). Living Christians will
have no advantage over dead Christians when Jesus comes. In fact, dead Christians will be
resurrected before living Christians are transformed. "The dead in Christ shall rise first"
(1 Thess. 4:16). Believers, therefore, need to have no fear to fall asleep in death because
they have hope of resurrection to immortality. Death is like dreamless sleep; one has no
knowledge of the passing of time. After death, the Christian's next conscious experience will
be his resurection from death. It matters not how long one has been dead nor where he may be
buried. God knows the resting place of each saint. One may be buried in some obscure cemetery;
his grave may be covered with weeds; his tombstone may have crumbled to dust; men may have
forgotten his name. But that matters not. God has not forgotten; He will always remember. At
the appointed time, He will raise that believer from the dead to immortality.
Living Christians. Christians who are living when Jesus comes will be glorified with
those raised from the dead. Living Christians will be transformed, transfigured, changed from
mortality to immortalitv. This change will occur instantly when Christ returns. Paul explained
this fact: "Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the
dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed" (I Cor. 15:51, 52). Living
Christians will be transformed before they realize what has happened. The transforming change
will occur "in the twinkling of an eye." Whether believers are walking down a street, working
in a factory, washing dishes in a kitchen, sitting at a desk in school or an office, or fishing
in a boat on a lake, they will be changed instantly from mortality to immortality and will
be caught up to meet the Lord in the air. Jesus said, " I tell you, in that night there shall
be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken and the other shall be left. Two women shall be
grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two men shall be in the field;
the one shall be taken, and the other left" (Luke 17:34-36).
3. Nature of First Resurrection. When resurrected or changed, believers will possess
immortality. Immortality is inability to die. An immortal person is one who is not mortal, not
subject to death. He cannot be tempted, cannot experience suffering, and cannot die.
Man needs to experience a physical change in order to dwell in God's eternal Kingdom. Paul
wrote, "Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God;
neither doth corruption inherit incorruption" (1 Cor. 15:50). Suppose one were mortal during
eternity and one's body were still subject to disease, deterioration, and decay. Before a
person were six hundred years of age, he would be weak and frail; his sight would be poor; and
he would be unable to get around very well. He would not be in proper physical condition to
enjoy the coming Kingdom. Men, therefore, need more than extended duration of life; they need
a new physical nature.
What will believers be like after they have been made immortal? Will they be transformed into
angels? Will they have bodies? If they have bodies, will they be immaterial, invisible, and
ghostly? Will the redeemed become like some science fiction mythical creature from another
solar system? Will they be reincarnated in another person? Speculation is unneeded. The
Bible reveals what immortal believers will be like. In immortality, believers will have real,
literal, material bodies of flesh and bones. They will be like the glorified Christ. "We know
that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is" (1 John 3:2).
He "shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body"
(Phil. 3:21).
One can know what Christians will be like in immortality by knowing what Christ is like. After
His resurrection, Jesus had the same body He had before He died, except it had been changed from
mortality to immortality. When Jesus appeared to His disciples, they recognized Him as their
beloved Master who had risen from the dead. During the forty days between His resurrection and
ascension, Jesus appeared to His disciples many times and revealed Himself in His resurrection
nature. He wanted the disciples to know that He had really risen from the grave and that He
had a real body. He told them that He was not immaterial, indistinct, and ghostly, but that He
had a real body of flesh and bones. (Luke 24:36-39.) The disciples, saw Him (Luke 24:40) and
touched Him. (Luke 24:39.) He walked among them and talked with them. He ate fish and honey in
their presence. He showed them the nail prints in His hands and feet.
When believers become immortal in the first resurrection, they, too, will have real bodies.
They will be able to walk and talk; they will recognize one another and will be reunited with
loved ones. Suffering, sorrow, and sadness will be removed. The redeemed will have eternal joy
in God's perfect eternity. God's plan of salvation for believers includes not a redemption
from the body, but a redemption of the body. The believer's body will not be
exchanged; it will be changed. Christians will be glorified, not apart from their
bodies in some indistinct, misty, immaterial condition, but in their bodies which will be
transformed from mortality to immortality.
God intends for Christians to be "conformed to the image of his Son" (Rom. 8:29). He plans for
them to become like Christ today in their thoughts, attitudes, and actions. He plans for them
to become like Christ in His immortal physical nature at the resurrection.
(1 John 3:2; Phil. 3:21.) If a person wants to experience a change in physical nature at the
resurrection, he must experience a change in standing before God and a change in character and
conduct today. Outward transformation in God's Tomorrow depends upon inward transformation in
the Christian life today. One's having a spiritual body at the resurrection depends upon his
having a spiritual mind today.
If a person wants to be with Christ (1 Thess. 4:17; Rev. 3:21; 17:14; 20:6) at His
return and in His future Kingdom, he must be in Christ
(Rom. 8:1; 2 Cor. 5:17; John 15:4, 7; 1 Thess. 4:16) and permit Christ to dwell
in him. (Gal. 2:20; John 15:4; Rev. 3:20; Rom. 8:9, 10; Col. 1:27; 2 Cor. 13:5.) The
believer enters into Christ at conversion; Christ enters into the believer when He dwells in Him
through His Spirit.
(Adapted from Systematic Theology, by Alva Huffer, published by Church of God General
Conference, Oregon, Illinois 61061, U.S.A.)
© Church of God General Conference. This lesson may be reproduced
without change for non-commercial purposes without prior permission.