Article by: Kenneth J. Ester
The Dead Who Come to Life
Revelation 20:1-5 NASB
1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he took hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; 3 and he threw him into the abyss and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time. 4 Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their foreheads and on their hands; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection.
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Most every believer who studies the Bible, will agree that in the very least, Revelation chapters 19 and 20 are in perfect chronological order. I have even seen Post-Tribbers try to use that fact against the Pre-Tribbers. When you write down all the events in these two chapters, this is what happens....
Chapter 19
1) A large multitude praises God. -- I would argue this is the church appearing in heaven when they are raptured. But I cannot prove it.
2) The Marriage of the Lamb.
3) Jesus is prepared for the second coming.
4) An angel calling for the birds and wildlife to come and feast on the carnage as armies assemble to make war against the Lord and His armies.
5) The Beast and False Prophet are cast into the Lake of Fire. The wildlife is filled on the flesh.
Chapter 20
6) The devil is bound and thrown into the abyss for a thousand years.
7) They sat on thrones and the dead come to life. The first resurrection is completed.
8) Satan is released for a short time after the thousand years are done.
9) The armies are destroyed with fire.
10) Judgment Day before the white throne.
From a Pre-Tribulation point of view, all of these events are in a perfect chronological order. From a Post-Trib view, the only things that are not in order are the first event if it is the rapture, and the dead coming to life.
Every Post-Tribber insists that the dead coming to life is the rapture when the dead rise first. But look at the position of this event. It happens 'after' the second coming, 'after' the beast and false prophet are thrown into the lake of fire, and 'after' the devil is cast into the abyss. Which means it would be literally impossible for these to be the dead coming to life in the rapture event. Even according to the Post-Trib view, this event needs to happen during the second coming. Not after it all.
In order for Post-Tribbers to make this work for their view, they have to claim this event is out of order in scripture. Its not their understanding that is wrong. It is scripture that has it in the wrong place.
Now take note of something else that is important here. Verse 4 actually tells us just who the dead who come to life are. Something most Christians dont notice here is that it actually lists two groups who come to life. Not just one. They are those who were beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus, and it is those who did not worship the beast or take his mark.
Those who are beheaded because they keep the testimony of Jesus comes from the 5th Seal.
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Revelation 6:9 (NASB)
9 When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained;
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The second group is exactly who it says they are. They refuse to take the mark of the beast or worship the beast or his image. For that they are killed.
In either case, both of these groups are killed during the 70th week of Daniel, which we commonly call the Tribulation. There is no mention of anyone dying of old age. There is no mention of dying from disease or in accidents or anything else we die from over the last 2,000 years. It only mentions those who die during the Tribulation!
Yet the Post-Tribbers will boldly claim it is all the Christians from all time who have died. Even when you clarify it only mentions those who die during the Tribulation, they insist it is all believers from all times who have died. They arrogantly add to God's word and they do it proudly.
There are times when God's word does not clarify something and we have no choice but to put two and two together to figure out the answer. In truth, we all have to do that to say when the rapture happens. It never tells us it is Pre-Trib or Post-Trib or Mid-Trib or Pre-Wrath. We are forced to put all the information together and figure out when it happens. That does not constitute as adding to God's word. However, in this case, the Bible does tell us very clearly who comes to life. We know it is those who die during the Tribulation. For the Post-Tribbers to ignore what God's word plainly states, and insist that God's word is wrong and it is actually all believers from all time? That is adding to God's word. Scripture is already clear about who comes to life. If it included the believers who died over the last 2,000 years, it would have mentioned them. So not only do they claim scripture has this event in the wrong place because the chronology does not fit their belief, but they are also adding to Gods word because the Bible doesn't say that the dead who comes to life is who they want it to be.
They change the order of scripture. They add to God's word. It is clear that this event simply does not allow for the Post-Trib rapture to be correct. Yet they insist it must be. Why? Because the end of Revelation 20:4 says "This is the first resurrection."
Post-Tribbers have this idea in their head that the first resurrection happens all in one felled swoop. He comes and resurrects the dead and the first resurrection is done. But that is not what the Bible actually teaches. Have you ever wondered why Paul refers to Jesus as the First Fruits?
In Leviticus, God gives instructions to the Jews how to harvest their wheat. He lays out two rules with them.
1) Take the first swath from the crops and present it to the priests as an offering.
2) Do not harvest the entire field right away, but leave the outer edges for the poor and for weary travelers to pick from.
The first swath that is presented to the priests is called the "First Fruits" of their labors. Now look at this verse...
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1 Corinthians 15:20-23 NASB
20 But the fact is, Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. 21 For since by a man death came, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming,
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The offering presented to the Priests is called the "First Fruits". Jesus is called the "First Fruits" of those who have died. This teaches us two things.
1) Jesus' resurrection is part of the First Resurrection.
2) The First Resurrection is connected to the Wheat Harvest of the Jews.
Even to today the Jews follow those rules when harvesting their wheat. This harvest is done in three phases. The First Fruits, the main harvest, and the gleanings. The First Resurrection is fashioned after this harvest. This is how it all fits together...
First Fruits --- Today the Jews present their first swath to the master who then decides if the crop is ready to be harvested or if it needs more time. In the First Resurrection this is represented by Jesus coming to life, then ascending to heaven and presents Himself to the Father.
The Main Harvest --- The Jews will bring in all of the crops except for the outer fringes. In the first resurrection this is represented by the rapture.
The Gleanings --- After the poor have had time to pick at the outer fringes, but before what is left has a chance to over ripen and rot, the jews go out and bring in the last of it, which is called the gleanings. This is represented by the dead coming to life in Revelation 20.
The Wheat Harvest happens in three phases. So does the First Resurrection. In Rev 20:4 where it says "This is the First Resurrection", this can be better understood as "This is the completion of the First Resurrection".
The First Resurrection is not just the dead Christians coming to life. It is the Resurrection of Christ 2,000 years ago. It will include the rapture when the dead believers are caught up with the living. It will also include the dead coming to life after the second coming.
Post-Tribbers will struggle to understand how that is possible. From their understanding it isn't. From a Pre-Tribulation stance it works perfectly.
Return to the Real Rapture Truth
Go to the Marriage of the Lamb
Go to the The Wrath of God
1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he took hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; 3 and he threw him into the abyss and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time. 4 Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their foreheads and on their hands; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection.
-----
Most every believer who studies the Bible, will agree that in the very least, Revelation chapters 19 and 20 are in perfect chronological order. I have even seen Post-Tribbers try to use that fact against the Pre-Tribbers. When you write down all the events in these two chapters, this is what happens....
Chapter 19
1) A large multitude praises God. -- I would argue this is the church appearing in heaven when they are raptured. But I cannot prove it.
2) The Marriage of the Lamb.
3) Jesus is prepared for the second coming.
4) An angel calling for the birds and wildlife to come and feast on the carnage as armies assemble to make war against the Lord and His armies.
5) The Beast and False Prophet are cast into the Lake of Fire. The wildlife is filled on the flesh.
Chapter 20
6) The devil is bound and thrown into the abyss for a thousand years.
7) They sat on thrones and the dead come to life. The first resurrection is completed.
8) Satan is released for a short time after the thousand years are done.
9) The armies are destroyed with fire.
10) Judgment Day before the white throne.
From a Pre-Tribulation point of view, all of these events are in a perfect chronological order. From a Post-Trib view, the only things that are not in order are the first event if it is the rapture, and the dead coming to life.
Every Post-Tribber insists that the dead coming to life is the rapture when the dead rise first. But look at the position of this event. It happens 'after' the second coming, 'after' the beast and false prophet are thrown into the lake of fire, and 'after' the devil is cast into the abyss. Which means it would be literally impossible for these to be the dead coming to life in the rapture event. Even according to the Post-Trib view, this event needs to happen during the second coming. Not after it all.
In order for Post-Tribbers to make this work for their view, they have to claim this event is out of order in scripture. Its not their understanding that is wrong. It is scripture that has it in the wrong place.
Now take note of something else that is important here. Verse 4 actually tells us just who the dead who come to life are. Something most Christians dont notice here is that it actually lists two groups who come to life. Not just one. They are those who were beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus, and it is those who did not worship the beast or take his mark.
Those who are beheaded because they keep the testimony of Jesus comes from the 5th Seal.
-----
Revelation 6:9 (NASB)
9 When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained;
-----
The second group is exactly who it says they are. They refuse to take the mark of the beast or worship the beast or his image. For that they are killed.
In either case, both of these groups are killed during the 70th week of Daniel, which we commonly call the Tribulation. There is no mention of anyone dying of old age. There is no mention of dying from disease or in accidents or anything else we die from over the last 2,000 years. It only mentions those who die during the Tribulation!
Yet the Post-Tribbers will boldly claim it is all the Christians from all time who have died. Even when you clarify it only mentions those who die during the Tribulation, they insist it is all believers from all times who have died. They arrogantly add to God's word and they do it proudly.
There are times when God's word does not clarify something and we have no choice but to put two and two together to figure out the answer. In truth, we all have to do that to say when the rapture happens. It never tells us it is Pre-Trib or Post-Trib or Mid-Trib or Pre-Wrath. We are forced to put all the information together and figure out when it happens. That does not constitute as adding to God's word. However, in this case, the Bible does tell us very clearly who comes to life. We know it is those who die during the Tribulation. For the Post-Tribbers to ignore what God's word plainly states, and insist that God's word is wrong and it is actually all believers from all time? That is adding to God's word. Scripture is already clear about who comes to life. If it included the believers who died over the last 2,000 years, it would have mentioned them. So not only do they claim scripture has this event in the wrong place because the chronology does not fit their belief, but they are also adding to Gods word because the Bible doesn't say that the dead who comes to life is who they want it to be.
They change the order of scripture. They add to God's word. It is clear that this event simply does not allow for the Post-Trib rapture to be correct. Yet they insist it must be. Why? Because the end of Revelation 20:4 says "This is the first resurrection."
Post-Tribbers have this idea in their head that the first resurrection happens all in one felled swoop. He comes and resurrects the dead and the first resurrection is done. But that is not what the Bible actually teaches. Have you ever wondered why Paul refers to Jesus as the First Fruits?
In Leviticus, God gives instructions to the Jews how to harvest their wheat. He lays out two rules with them.
1) Take the first swath from the crops and present it to the priests as an offering.
2) Do not harvest the entire field right away, but leave the outer edges for the poor and for weary travelers to pick from.
The first swath that is presented to the priests is called the "First Fruits" of their labors. Now look at this verse...
-----
1 Corinthians 15:20-23 NASB
20 But the fact is, Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. 21 For since by a man death came, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming,
-----
The offering presented to the Priests is called the "First Fruits". Jesus is called the "First Fruits" of those who have died. This teaches us two things.
1) Jesus' resurrection is part of the First Resurrection.
2) The First Resurrection is connected to the Wheat Harvest of the Jews.
Even to today the Jews follow those rules when harvesting their wheat. This harvest is done in three phases. The First Fruits, the main harvest, and the gleanings. The First Resurrection is fashioned after this harvest. This is how it all fits together...
First Fruits --- Today the Jews present their first swath to the master who then decides if the crop is ready to be harvested or if it needs more time. In the First Resurrection this is represented by Jesus coming to life, then ascending to heaven and presents Himself to the Father.
The Main Harvest --- The Jews will bring in all of the crops except for the outer fringes. In the first resurrection this is represented by the rapture.
The Gleanings --- After the poor have had time to pick at the outer fringes, but before what is left has a chance to over ripen and rot, the jews go out and bring in the last of it, which is called the gleanings. This is represented by the dead coming to life in Revelation 20.
The Wheat Harvest happens in three phases. So does the First Resurrection. In Rev 20:4 where it says "This is the First Resurrection", this can be better understood as "This is the completion of the First Resurrection".
The First Resurrection is not just the dead Christians coming to life. It is the Resurrection of Christ 2,000 years ago. It will include the rapture when the dead believers are caught up with the living. It will also include the dead coming to life after the second coming.
Post-Tribbers will struggle to understand how that is possible. From their understanding it isn't. From a Pre-Tribulation stance it works perfectly.
Return to the Real Rapture Truth
Go to the Marriage of the Lamb
Go to the The Wrath of God
