Could a key to understanding the first and last resurrections, be to consider the first and second death, in Revelation.
The second death referred to the casting into the lake of fire of all the resurrected wicked, after the final judgment. So the first death referred either to the death of the body, or to the spiritual death which all men inherited from Adam. So the second death contrasted the future, eternal state with the present state of the lost.
Could the same contrast apply to the resurrection also. The second resurrection seems to be the general, future resurrection of the dead, to their eternal state. So could the first resurrection describe the present scenario in which believers are privileged to participate? That is, believers are already seated already in heavenly places with Christ, so that although they die, they live in Him.
The second death referred to the casting into the lake of fire of all the resurrected wicked, after the final judgment. So the first death referred either to the death of the body, or to the spiritual death which all men inherited from Adam. So the second death contrasted the future, eternal state with the present state of the lost.
Could the same contrast apply to the resurrection also. The second resurrection seems to be the general, future resurrection of the dead, to their eternal state. So could the first resurrection describe the present scenario in which believers are privileged to participate? That is, believers are already seated already in heavenly places with Christ, so that although they die, they live in Him.
No comments:
Post a Comment