The First Resurrection (I Corinthians 15:23)

(Class Notes)

• "CHRIST, the FIRSTFRUITS" (I Corinthians 15:23)
  • CHRIST is "the FIRSTFRUITS of them that SLEPT" (I Corinthians 15:20), i.e. of "them which SLEEP in JESUS" (I Thessalonians 4:14)
    • CHRIST, as "the CAPTAIN of their SALVATION" perfected "through SUFFERINGS" and, thereby, "bringing MANY SONS to GLORY" (Hebrews 2:10), i.e. RESURRECTION GLORY (Romans 8:19-21)
  • The RESURRECTION of CHRIST was PROPHESIED:
    • HIS SOUL DID NOT remain in Hell (Hades) and HIS BODY DID NOT see corruption for "Thou wilt show Me the path of LIFE ... IN THY PRESENCE ... AT THY RIGHT HAND" (Psalms 16:10-11)
      • LAZARUS' BODY saw CORRUPTION being in the TOMB for FOUR DAYS (John 11:17)
      • CHRIST'S BODY saw NO CORRUPTION being in the TOMB for THREE DAYS (Mark 8:31)
    • "He BROUGHT ME UP also OUT OF an HORRIBLE PIT" (Psalms 40:2)
    • "SIT THOU AT MY RIGHT HAND" (Hebrews 1:3; Psalms 110:1)
    • "The inhabitants of JERUSALEM" (Zechariah 12:8) "SHALL LOOK UPON ME WHOM THEY HAVE PIERCED"
      (Zechariah 12:10)
  • The RESURRECTION of CHRIST was TYPIFIED:
    • The OFFERING UP and RECEIVING UP of ISAAC on the THIRD DAY (Hebrews 11:17-19 cf. Genesis 22:3-5,10-12)
    • "The SIGN of the PROPHET JONAH" concerning the INTERMENT (BURIAL) of THREE DAYS (Matthew 12:38-40 cf. Jonah 1:17)

• "AFTERWARD they that are CHRIST'S at HIS COMING" (I Corinthians 15:23)
  • RESURRECTION - the HOPE of CHRIST'S OWN at "HIS COMING in the CLOUDS OF HEAVEN" (Matthew 26:64)
    • JOB declared that "I KNOW that MY REDEEMER LIVETH, and that HE SHALL STAND AT THE LATTER DAY UPON THE EARTH and though ... WORMS DESTROY THIS BODY, YET IN MY FLESH I SHALL SEE GOD" (Job 19:25-26)
    • DAVID declared that "I shall be SATISFIED, WHEN I AWAKE, WITH THY LIKENESS" (Psalms 17:15)
    • DANIEL was ENCOURAGED by these words: "THOU SHALT REST (SLEEP), AND STAND IN THY LOT (INHERITANCE) AT THE END OF THE DAYS" (Daniel 12:13)
    • HIS COMING "to sit upon THE EARTHLY THRONE OF HIS GLORY" (Matthew 19:28; Matthew 25:31-32), i.e. THE ETERNAL THRONE OF DAVID (Acts 2:29-30 cf. II Samuel 7:12-13) - will be THE TIME OF ISRAEL'S NEW BIRTH (John 3:3,7-8 cf. Ezekiel 37:9-14; Matthew 24:29-31)
  • Just as MESSIAH was IDENTIFIED WITH ISRAEL'S FIRST BIRTH OUT OF EGYPT (Matthew 2:15 cf. Hosea 11:1; Exodus 4:22), so shall MESSIAH be IDENTIFIED WITH ISRAEL'S SECOND BIRTH OUT OF "ALL THE LANDS" (Jeremiah 16:14-15 cf. Hosea 6:1-2; I Corinthians 15:4-5)
    • "BLESSED and HOLY is he who hath part in THE FIRST RESURRECTION: on such THE SECOND DEATH HATH NO POWER" (Revelation 20:6)
    • There are TWO RESURRECTIONS mentioned in PROPHECY:
      • The RESURRECTION unto EVERLASTING LIFE (John 5:28-29 cf. Daniel 12:2)
      • The RESURRECTION unto SHAME and EVERLASTING CONTEMPT (John 5:28-29 cf. Daniel 12:2)
    • These TWO RESURRECTIONS are SEPARATED BY THE MILLENIAL REIGN OF MESSIAH
      (Revelation 20:4-5)

Study Outline

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