The Daily Word of Righteousness

Aspects of the Resurrection of the Saints, #14

For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. (II Peter 2:20,21)

Those who participate in the first resurrection are "blessed and holy."

Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. (Revelation 20:6)

The Sixth Aspect of the First Resurrection. Another aspect of the resurrection of the victorious saints has to do with the appointing of them to the high thrones of rulership and judgment.

The central concept of the first resurrection from the dead, the resurrection of the victorious saints, is the transfer of the rulership of the nations of the earth from the disobedient angels to the conquering saints. The conquering saints are those who have cooperated with the Holy Spirit until Christ has been fully reaped in their personalities. The adamic nature has died and the Nature of Christ has taken its place.

The first part of the first resurrection is taking place in us now as the Holy Spirit is working in us to remove King Self from the throne of our heart and to place King Jesus on that throne. If the first part is not brought to maturity now we cannot participate in the resurrection of the saints in the Day of the Lord. No human being who is ruled by self can participate in the first resurrection. Man was created to be the throne of God.

And 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. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. (Revelation 20:4,5)

What is the purpose of the first resurrection ? It is to place saints on the thrones that govern the world. There is no resurrection (other than that of the Lord Jesus) before this resurrection. It is the first resurrection.

Who will participate in the first resurrection? The believers who have remained faithful to the point of martyrdom for the witness of Jesus, for the Word of God. They have refused to think like the world, to act like the world, to be a part of the world system. They are the Lord's elect and will rule with Him over the nations of saved peoples of the earth (Revelation 3:21).

In reviewing the rewards offered to the victorious saints it is interesting to note that the greatest reward of all—that of sitting with Christ in His throne—is given to those who overcome the world and Satan during the spiritually lazy, pleasure-loving, self-centered, weak-minded age of Laodicea. Where the greatest temptation is, there the greatest glory is possible.

To be continued.