Page 52 - Jesus is coming - Class version

ORDER OF THE RESURRECTION. 49

and the heaven fled away; And I saw the dead, small
and great, stand before God; and the sea gave up the
dead which were in it, and death and hell (Hades) delivered
up the dead which were in them
These three passages are so plain that the wayfaring
man need not err therein.
In the first, we are told the order of the resurrection
each "in his own order" (Gr. Band.). The figure is taken
from troops moving by bands or regiments.
First, Christ ("the first born from the dead." CoL 1:
18).
Next, the godly, who die in Christ and who are His at
His coming.
Next, the end, when "the rest of the dead" (who are not
Christ's) shall come forth and death itself be destroyed.
The second passage reiterates and emphasizes the fact
that the dead in Christ shall rise first and that they rise
when the Lord descends from Heaven with a shout. The
resurrection of the ungodly is not spoken of, for they have
no part in this blessed first resurrection.
In the third passage we have~tne first resurrection com-
pleted by the resurrection of the Tribulation Saints (see
page 101) and the reign with 'Christ for a thousand
years is stated to occur before the rest of the dead are
raised. And after the thousand years the rest of the dead,
who lived not again until the thousand years were finished,
stand before God, and death and Hades deliver up the
dead in them.
This one thousand years is the Millennium (Latin, mille
annum). What could be plainer than this proof that
Christ's coming is to be pre-millennial ? The dead in Christ
are raised at His coming and they are raised before the
millennium. Therefore His coming must be pre-millenniaL