The word “resurrection” as used in the bible simply means a dead person restored to life. The word “rapture”(which is not in the bible) as used in modern prophetic discourse also means resurrection but includes physical change from a mortal body to a glorious immortal one at Jesus’s second coming. (1 Corinthians 15:51-52).
Resurrections are detailed three time in the Old Testament, all in 1st and 2nd Kings at the hands of the prophets Elijah and Elisha. Included are the widow Zarephath’s son, the Shunammite womans son, and a dead man contacting Elisha’s bones. In the gospels, there are the resurrections of the widow of Nain’s son, Jairus’s daughter, Lazarus, many holy people at Jesus’s death, and, of course, Jesus Himself. The gospels also imply many resurrections that are not described. The Book of Acts details Peter’s raising of Tabitha, and Paul’s raising of Eutychus.
Of utmost importance is the fact that all of us are going to experience a resurrection from death with the exception of those who belong to Christ and are alive at His coming. Then, everyone will be judged. “….it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.” (Hebrews 9:27). Paul said: “…. there will be a resurrection of the dead both of the just and the unjust” (Acts 24:15). These resurrections are commonly termed the “general” resurrections as they will encompass all mankind in our future. Jesus taught us about this: “…. for the hour is coming when all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth-those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.” (John 5:28-29).
These two general resurrections are clearly described in John’s vision in the Book of Revelation. “Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the Word of God, who had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. (But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished.) This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power.” (Revelation 20: 4-6). Please note that if you read the above scripture without the parenthetical insert, it’s obvious that those who endured and were martyred during the “great tribulation” take part in the “first” resurrection. This first resurrection is clearly the general resurrection of all believers (the just, the resurrection of life) when Jesus comes in all His glory. The parenthetical insertion states that the second general resurrection will take place 1000 years after the first. This is called the “Great white Throne Judgment” (Revelation 20:11-15) when all those not raised in the first resurrection will be raised to face judgment. Scripture is clear, there will be two general resurrections.
Unfortunately, many prophecy teachers posit that there will be at least three general resurrections, and some even more. Many exegetical gymnastics are required to come to these conclusions, all which do violence to the scriptures. A basic understanding of end time events will give the student of prophetic scripture clarity as to when these resurrections (raptures?) will occur. For an in depth look at the “when” of the first resurrection as related to other end time events please look up and read the scriptures referred to in this previous post. The “When” of the Resurrection of the Righteous – Jim’s Eschatological Info
Maranatha, Jim