Dispensational Proof 19

19. Resurrections

An understanding that there is more than one resurrection supports premillennialism because there is a resurrection for the church right before the tribulation, one for Old Testament saints at the end of the tribulation and finally one at the end of the millennium which brings the dead before the Great White Throne judgment of God. The biblical teaching of the resurrections shows that there is not just one big event at Christ’s return but that there is a chronological order of events which becomes clearer when the topic of resurrections is properly studied. The Church is called up and the dead in Christ arise first before the great tribulation. The resurrection of the church is at the rapture spoken of in 1 Thessalonians 4 and 1 Corinthians 15. The idea of the Old Testament saints at a separate time is supported by Daniel 12:1-2 where he describes a resurrection after a time of trouble like has never been on the earth before and then a time of eternal joy and shining. Daniel gives a chronological order of the tribulation, a resurrection to life and then those resurrected to life will shine like stars forever. Ezekiel 37:12 speaks of a resurrection right before Israel is restored to their land (this would fit with the return of the Messiah, Jesus second coming). Revelation 20 also teaches that there is a resurrection to a life of ruling and reigning with Christ and another separate resurrection at the end of the millennium for the unbelieving to the Great White Throne Judgment and the Lake of Fire.

CAM