The Thousand Years, Part 6: The First Resurrection

Jesus' resurrection is the foundation of the new creation. All who have been united to Christ are that new creation is its embryo form (2 Cor. 5:17). In a real sense, all who are "in Christ" share His resurrection and new life so that they are indeed "raised with Him" (Eph. 2:4-6; Col. 2:12, 13; 3:1, 2).

Jesus expounded on this truth in John 5, showing two stages of the resurrection. The first stage is the raising of the dead sinner to spiritual life (vv. 19-27). The second stage is when "all that are in the tombs shall hear His voice and come out" (vv. 28, 29). That is the general resurrection of all mankind (Dan. 12:1-3).

Therefore, the first resurrection is a spiritual resurrection (regeneration to new life in Christ). No one who is raised in the first resurrection need be concerned about the second death.