Page 15 - Watchman- What of the Night
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judgment‖ (John 5:29). We learn from Scripture that there is an interval of at least one
thousand years between these two resurrections (Rev. 20:5). Let it be noted that where
there is a distinction in time or in the character of the participants, the scripture is
unmistakably clear. The resurrection before the millennium is called by Christ ―the
resurrection of the just‖(Luke 14:14) and John the Apostle says ―Blessed and holy is
he that hath part in the first resurrection‖ Rev. 20:6. The Apostle Paul implies the two
resurrections, of the just and the wicked, when he expresses his great hope: ―If by any
means I may attain unto the out-resurrection from among the dead,‖ meaning of
course the first resurrection, of those upon whom ―the second death hath no power.‖
The same author assures us that Christ is the first-fruit, the norm of all holy
resurrection, and tells us in the great chapter on that subject: ―Each in his own order:
Christ the first-fruit, (then) afterward they that are Christ‘s at his (parousia) coming.‖
Obviously ―they that are Christ‘s at His Coming,‖ makes the resurrection of the just,
one event. There is not a hint in the New Testament that the ―resurrection of the just‖
can be split into two or more stages. It is one event, that occurs at the time of Christ‘s
parousia, or coming, or presence. The attempt to split it, is one of the assumptions of
the devotees of the Darby theory of a preliminary rapture three and one-half years
earlier, and was invented to cover up some of the objections to that false theory.
Now let us proceed to examine some of the resurrection passages to see whether we
can get any indication of when that event will occur. First let us look at Daniel 12:2,
which has already been cited. We note in the last verse of the preceding chapter, an
unmistakable reference to the Beast who will set up his kingdom in Jerusalem, and be
destroyed at the return of Christ. The twelfth chapter, verse one continues:―And at
that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince that standeth for the children of thy
people:and there shall be a time of trouble such as there never was since there was a
nation even to that same time:and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one
that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the
earth shall wake…‖ We see from this that after the Beast has come to his full
manifestation, and has established his kingdom, and has begun to ―destroy the mighty
and holy people, at that time,‖ Michael will ―stand up‖ for the elect of Israel, whose
names are in the book. In the days of terrible suffering and ―trouble,‖ the days of the
outpouring of the vials of divine wrath, the ―hour of trial that shall come upon the
whole earth‖(Rev.3:10), Michael will see to it that the elect of Israel are protected,
that they ―enter into their chambers and shut the doors, and hide themselves until the
indignation be over past‖ (Isa. 26:20-21). It is following this that the Lord will appear
and bring to a complete end the reign of Antichrist, and it is in this setting that the
resurrection is mentioned, the resurrection of ―many‖ including the righteous dead of
the age of the church, as well as the sainted dead of Israel. But the clear indication is
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