In Defense of the Faith

Isn’t the Resurrection on “The Last Day”?

Question: When speaking of the resurrection of those who believe on Him, Christ said that He would “raise [them] up at the last day” (John:6:40And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
See All...,44,54). Doesn’t Revelation:20:4And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
See All...,5 teach that the “first resurrection” takes place after the Battle of Armageddon, and couldn’t this be what Christ meant by “the last day”? Certainly a pre-trib resurrection couldn’t be on “the last day”! In view of such scriptures, how can one reconcile a resurrection (and its accompanying rapture) at the beginning of the great tribulation?

Response  (Part 1): Nor could a post-trib rapture be on “the last day” if that expression refers to a 24-hour period, for an entire millennium of subsequent days follow. Beware of teaching built on one isolated verse. What do “first resurrection” and “last day” actually mean? The answer can only be found in the context of all Scripture. In John:5:28Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
See All...,29 Jesus spoke of two resurrections: “The hour is coming in which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice and shall come forth: they that have done good unto the resurrection of life, and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation.” That this does not all occur in the same “hour” is clear, for the resurrection of the wicked doesn’t take place until the millennium.

Yes, it says of the resurrection after Armageddon of those martyred by Antichrist, “This is the first resurrection” (Revelation:20:5But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
See All...). Obviously, however this can’t be the entire “first resurrection,” or Wesley, Spurgeon, and even Paul (who, though martyred, was not slain by Antichrist) will never be resurrected, because the only resurrection that remains is of the wicked in verses 12-15. As we shall see below, those resurrected at that time are judged and sent to the lake of fire. Then what about  Abraham, Moses, Daniel, and the millions of other saints, both from Old Testament and New Testament times, who lived and died before Antichrist came on the scene? One can only conclude that the statement “This is the first resurrection” must mean that this event is part of and concludes the resurrection which occurred at the rapture. Consequently, these martyrs are also part of the church.

That the rapture and resurrection described in 1 Corinthians:15:50-52 [50] Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. [51] Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, [52] In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
See All... and 1 Thessalonians:4:13-17 [13] But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. [14] For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. [15] For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. [16] For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: [17] Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
See All... take place previous to the resurrection of the tribulation martyrs is clear from the fact that in Revelation:19:7Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
See All... we have the church in heaven as Christ’s bride at the “marriage of the Lamb” (not the marriage supper, verse 9, which takes place later on earth, when Christ introduces His bride to those who enter the millennium). Christ’s bride, composed of the saints of all ages to that time (as we have seen), has already been resurrected, is in heaven with Christ, and accompanies Him at Armageddon, as Zechariah:14:5And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee.
See All... and Jude 14 declare.