1. Who is resurrected in the first resurrection? Jesus and the church are resurrected first. Act 26:23 (NKJV), “that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead…” James 1:18 (NKJV), “Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of His creatures.” Revelation 14:4 (NKJV), “…These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.”
2. Why does the second death have no power over them? Because the saints are resurrected immortal – death proof. 1 Corinthians 15:54 (NKJV), “So when this corruptible (the saints’ human bodies are perishable) has put on incorruption (cannot decay), and this mortal (the saints’ present life) has put on immortality (cannot die), then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’” 1 John 3:2 (ESV), “Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.”
3. Why are the saints priests of God and of Christ? The purpose of the 1,000 year reign of Jesus and the saints is to restore to mankind all that was lost when Adam sinned. Acts 3:21 (CSB), “Heaven must receive him (Jesus) until the time (Christ’s 1,000 year reign) of the restoration of all things, which God spoke about through his holy prophets from the beginning.” God’s law of love and righteousness will be written in mankind’s hearts. (Jeremiah 31:33-34) Finally, God and man will be reconciled and live in harmony. This reconciliation process is the role of the saints as priests.
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