The FIRST Resurrection Explained | Revelation 20:4-5 | 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 | 1 Corinthians 15

In this video we are going to explain what the Bible says about the First Resurrection.
Although there are 3 general resurrections, the Bible mainly focuses on the First. So we will dive into this topic and answer key questions such as... When does it take place? What is going to happen? And… Who will be in the 1st Resurrection?
This video is a must-watch for anyone interested in what the Bible says about the reward for those who turn to God before the end of this age.
So, let's dive in and discover the awesome truth about the First Resurrection… And remember, don’t just believe us, but look up these verses in your own Bible!Show more

First, let’s answer the question:
When will the first resurrection take place?
1 Thessalonians 4 says, “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.” (v. 16).
Here we see that the dead in Christ (or those who have died in the faith) will be resurrected when Jesus descends from heaven. And notice that this event is accompanied by the sound of a trumpet.
1 Corinthians chapter 15, also known as the “Resurrection Chapter,” says that the resurrection will take place, “at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible” (v. 52).
Again, we see that the resurrection is signaled by the sound of a trumpet, but this verse says it will occur “at the last trumpet.”
So… when will the “last trumpet” sound?
Well the book of Revelation reveals a series of trumpets being blown at the end of the age and prior to Jesus’ return.
In chapter 8, John saw in vision “seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets” (v. 2).
The blowing of the seventh and final trumpet is then highlighted in Revelation 11 describing the return of Jesus Christ, “Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!”
And finally, we see in Revelation 20 that the resurrection takes place at the end of this age and the beginning of the millennium. “And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them… And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years… This is the first resurrection” (vv. 4–5).
In short, the First Resurrection takes place at the seventh and final trumpet blast, to kick off the 1000 year reign of Jesus Christ and His saints.
Now, let’s see what the Bible says will happen at the First resurrection
There are a couple points we can take away from this question.
First, those raised to life in this resurrection will have a body made of spirit. They will not be raised to physical bodies.
Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 15 that our bodies are “sown a natural body, [and] raised a spiritual body… the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual… And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man (speaking of the glorified Jesus Christ)” (vv. 44–49).
Continuing on he says, “flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell 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 trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” (1 Cor 15:50–54)
In regard to this transformation, Paul says in Romans 8, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For… the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God… because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God… even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.” (vv. 18–23)
So, we see those in the first resurrection will be raised as Spirit, immortal, incorruptible beings, as the Children of God.
And the final question we’ll answer is: who will be in the First resurrection?
We may have already picked up from some of the verses answering our first two questions that the First resurrection will be made up of faithful Christians, while the rest of mankind will be raised in the second resurrection. You can watch our video about the Second Resurrection by clicking here.
As we’ve already seen, 1 Thessalonians 4 highlights it will be made of those who “believe that Jesus died and rose again…” and “those who sleep in Jesus.” Calling them “the dead in Christ.”