The Daily Word of Righteousness

Aspects of the Resurrection of the Saints, #18

He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. (Revelation 3:5)

And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness [righteous deeds] of saints. (Revelation 19:8)

The first resurrection is the perfection in Christ that cannot be attained to until the last member of the elect has attained to the glory prepared for him or her (Hebrews 11:40; I Corinthians 13:10).

It appears many of the rulers of the world to come will be appointed from the group of saints who remained faithful to God throughout the reign of Antichrist—especially during his mature manifestation in the last days. This is in fulfillment of the words of Jesus: "But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first" (Matthew 19:30).

Truly, the Lord Jesus has "kept the good wine until now" (John 2:10; Haggai 2:9).

Some of the greatest heroes of faith of the Kingdom of God will be those who bear witness during the closing days of the present age. "The people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits" (Daniel 11:32).

Let us review the aspects of the resurrection of the saints we have discussed in this brief article.

The concept of there being necessary elements in attaining to the first resurrection from the dead. These elements are described in Revelation, Chapters Two and Three.

The resurrection "in the Spirit" as the Spirit of wisdom and revelation abides on us and we learn to walk in heavenly places in Christ.

The open testimony to the peoples of the earth as the despised remnant are revived from the dead and brought up to the heaven (Revelation 11:12)—probably into the region of the clouds (compare Acts 1:9-11).

The formation in the saints, through eating Christ's flesh and drinking of His blood, of the Conqueror, of the Resurrection, of Christ—the Ruler of the ages to come.

The concept of the firstfruits of the Wife of the Lamb. The first resurrection is for the overcomers, for those whose love for Jesus is so strong and consistent they faithfully have left all else to cleave to Him alone. Their reward is to be with Him forever. Christ and His firstfruits are together always. It is the romance of which all other pure romances are miniature examples.

Gathering to the heavenly Farmer what He has sown in the earth; the separation between what is of God and what is not of God.

The changing of the thrones that govern the earth from the authority of the rebellious angels to the authority of the saints who are filled with Christ and who live and move and have their being in obedience to Christ.

The final event in the first resurrection from the dead, which is the clothing of all the saints, including Enoch and Elijah and also those saints who rose from the dead after Jesus' resurrection, with a body like that of the glorified Jesus. We all shall be made perfect together.

Each of the ruling saints has been crucified with Christ. King Jesus has been enthroned in each of their personalities. They are the victorious saints.

To be continued.