- The Bible clearly shows that man does not ascend into heaven, but is resurrected, or changed at the return of Jesus Christ to this earth at the sounding of the seventh trump.
- The Bible reveals that there will be a resurreciton of all who are in the grave to either eternal life or eternal judgment. See; “Just What Do You Mean – Born Again“
- The Church believes the Bible account of three resurrections.
- Jesus Christ, as first of the firstfruits was resurrected after 3 days, and 3 nights in the grave, according to the prophecy of Jonah.
- Those that have been called to repentance in this life and have overcome, shall be part of the first resurrection, called in scripture, “firstfruits”.
- The scriptures declare the 1st resurrection to be the special domain of those 1st-fruits saints who shall rule & reign with and under Jesus Christ, the 1st of the 1st-fruits.
- It is the culmination of a process that involves true repentance and conversion and an acknowledgment that Jesus Christ is sovereign. This resurrection will take place at the last trump in which the dead in Christ, the firstfruits, the elect, shall rise and take on incorruption, and those who remain and are alive at His return shal be instantaneously changed from corruptible mortal flesh and blood, to incorruptible spirit born sons. At that time, these first fruits shall be a part of God’s family for all eternity.
- The second resurrection is for all those who have not been called in this life. This resurrection, which will take place at the conclusion of the Millennium, and will enable the billions who have never heard God’s word, or been called to be taught God’s way, and to choose to follow God at that time. This is a physical resurrection in which those who are in the graves shall be made mortal comprised of flesh and blood and bone.
- The third resurrection is reserved for the incorrigible, the unrepentant, as well as all of those who were called, received a laying on of hands and begettal of God’s Holy Spirit, and would not heed, hearken or obey God during this time, who were given the gift and promise of eternal life, but committed the unpardonable sin by quenching this gift of God’s Holy Spirit. This would include those who live during the Millenniu.
- During the third resurrection, these people will appear before Christ for final judgment, to be cast into the lake of fire and experience the second death.
Some Scriptures of Relevance: Matthew 6:33; Job 14:12-14; 19:25-27; Psalms 146:4; 88:5; 49:14-15; Ecclesiastes 3:19-20; 12:7; Isaiah 26:19; Ezekiel 37; Hebrews 11:35; John 3:13; 5:24-29; Luke 14:14; Acts 2:34; 26:23; Colossians 1:15, 18; Revelation 20:4-6, 11-15; 1 Corinthians 15:20, 23,35-54; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17; Obadiah 16; Malachi 4:3; Hebrews 6:4-6, 8; 10:26-31, 38-39; 12:12-17, 25. II Peter 2:20-22; Romans 8:23, 29;
