Question: One question that I do not have a clear mind on is the subject of three resurrections. I believe three resurrections could be true, but I want to support my beliefs with scripture.
Thanks again for the continued encouragement and support you have given me with all of my questions to you over the past months.
In Christ’s love,
Nancy
Answer: Dear Nancy,
The three resurrection teaching rests on flimsy biblical evidence, basically the 20th chapter of Revelation (see vs. 5, 12-13). While there can be other passages that may seem (to proponents of this view) to support this teaching, they all reply on this chapter, with some underlying presuppositions.
Revelation 20 has long been used by dispensational pre-milleniallists as "proof" that a literal 1000-year reign of Jesus Christ will take place on this earth. In order to take this view, one must 1) read this chapter selectively, seeing as literal only those passages that "fit" with one’s theology. For example, note verses 4 and 5. The only ones, according to a literal reading of this passage, that will live and reign with Christ for a thousand years are those who have been beheaded. 2) One must also determine, by some subjective criteria, not using normative hermeneutic methods, that the "thousand years" mentioned in this chapter are literal, and not symbolic. One must take or accept this view, in spite of the fact that the entire book of Revelation is filled with symbolism, from colors, to numbers, to beasts that are known in the animal world, to apocalyptic beasts unknown to the created order. Revelation is written in the literary genre called apocalyptic, not intended to be read as a detailed and exact blueprint of future events, timelines, how many, how much, when, where and why. To subject Revelation to such a view is to do violence to the manner in which God inspired the book, and how he decided to give it to John. 3) Those who take such a view must consider whether the 1000 years seem to become the goal, and that eternity with God is not what is preached as the ultimate goal of a believer (as is taught in the Bible) but instead a physical, earth-bound and earth-centered specific period of time. 4) While the vast majority of those who believe in a future physical 1000 years as the rule of the Lord, following his second advent, do not believe in three resurrection – those who do believe in three resurrections must believe in this 1000 years as the fulcrum around which the three resurrections can be "positioned".
There are a number of other concerns – but at the end, we must ask – under what criteria does one undertake, assume, and defend such conclusions?
The majority Christian opinion, that of the historic, orthodox Christian church, is that there is one resurrection, and that all individuals will be judged at that time – (for example, the parable of Matthew 25, that of the sheep and goats, suggest judgment of sheep and goats taking place at the same time).
On the other hand, this is not an issue that the orthodox and universal body of Christ has determined to be a core teaching. Like other speculative matters having to do with eternity, (including for Adventist influenced sabbatarians of all stripes – soul sleep and annihilationism), we do not know, and will not know all specifics and details until the other side of eternity.
These issues are interesting matters to discuss, but we must consider where such conclusions might lead us, upon what biblical and doctrinal foundation they rest, and whether they begin to be more important (to us) than they ought.
Hope this helps. May God bless you.
In Christ,
Greg Albrecht