- Order Of Events - Come Out Of Babylon - Sunday Law - Close Of Probation - 7 Last Plagues - Voice of God - Special Resurrection - Second Coming
| Daniel 11:44-Daniel 12:1 | Revelation 14-16 | Great Controversy |
| But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: | Three Angels Messages | Final Warning - Chapter 38 |
| Therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many. | Because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. | The church appeals to the strong arm of civil power...papists and Protestants unite |
| And at that time shall Michael stand up | Behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened: | Michael Stands Up - Opening text of Chapter 39 |
| There shall be a time of trouble | Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth. | The Time Of Trouble - Chapter 39 |
| People shall be delivered | And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell | God's People Delivered - Chapter 40 |
Daniel 12:2 "And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt."
Which Resurrection are we talking about?
There are two main resurrections, one for the just and one for the unjust.
Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. (John 5:28-29)
When do these take place?
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. (1 Thes 4:16-18)
The just are raised when Jesus comes again.
What happens to the unjust when Jesus comes again?
And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: (2 Thes 2:8)
When is the resurrection for the unjust?
But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. Rev 20:5 (Note: the end of this verse belongs at the beginning of the next one)
So if all of the Saints are raised when Jesus comes again and the rest are raised after the 1000 years, how is it that we only see SOME are raised before this time?
Lets look at the verse again.
Daniel 12:2 "And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt."
Here is shows both the just and the unjust are raised at what looks to be the same time but only SOME OF THEM.
This we call the special resurrection.
This happens shortly before Jesus comes again.
Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. (Rev 1:7)
And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee? But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. Mat 26:62-64
Graves are opened, and "many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth ... awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt" (Daniel 12:2). All who have died in the faith of the third angel's message come forth from the tomb glorified to hear God's covenant of peace with those who have kept His law. "They also which pierced Him" (Revelation 1:7), those that mocked and derided Christ's dying agonies, and the most violent opposers of His truth and His people, are raised to behold Him in His glory, and to see the honor placed upon the loyal and obedient. - The Great Controversy, 636, 637 (1911). {LDE 271.2}
Revelation 14:
| Mark Of The Beast - Rev 14:12 | Special Resurrection - Rev 14:13 | Second Coming - Rev 14:14 |
| Here are they that keep the commandments of God | Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord | Upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man |
Conclusion
I'll admit it is hard to find the special resurrection in the Bible without Ellen White.
We do know from Mat 26:62-64 that some of the wicked will see Christ second coming that were alive at the time when they crucified Jesus.
But finding a passage showing some of the dead saints raised early is not made plain.
I will say during the earthquake at the time Jesus died many were raised. (Mat 27:52-53)
So why not again during the earthquake or what we believe to be the Voice of God when he says It Is Done?
Rev 16:17-18 "And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great."
Yes Ellen White makes it much plainer that some saints will be there amongst the 144,000 when Jesus comes the second time.
I saw that she [Mrs. Hastings] was sealed and would come up at the voice of God and stand upon the earth, and would be with the 144,000. I saw we need not mourn for her; she would rest in the time of trouble. - Selected Messages 2:263 (1850). {LDE 222.4}
There are living upon our earth men who have passed the age of fourscore and ten. The natural results of old age are seen in their feebleness. But they believe God, and God loves them. The seal of God is upon them, and they will be among the number of whom the Lord has said, "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord." - The S.D.A. Bible Commentary 7:982 (1899). {LDE 223.1}
This problem could be just my understanding of the 144,000.
My assumption is that the 144,000 is special group that is translated into heaven that never sees death.
But lets say the 144,000 are just the same as the Great Multitude (which many of that group have seen death) that we see in Revelation seven.
If that is the case then there could be only one resurrection, those raised by God's voice just before Jesus comes again.
So every saint would already be raised to see Jesus coming in the clouds and all would be part of the 144,000.
The voice of God is heard from Heaven declaring the day and hour of Jesus' coming, and delivering the everlasting covenant to his people. Like peals of loudest thunder, his words roll through the earth. The Israel of God stand listening, with their eyes fixed upward. Their countenances are lighted up with his glory, and shine as did the face of Moses when he came down from Sinai. The wicked cannot look upon them. And when the blessing is pronounced on those who have honored God by keeping his Sabbath holy, there is a mighty shout of victory. {4SP 458.1} Soon there appears in the east a small black cloud, about half the size of a man's hand. It is the cloud which surrounds the Saviour, and which seems in the distance to be shrouded in darkness. The people of God know this to be the sign of the Son of man. In solemn silence they gaze upon it as it draws nearer the earth, becoming lighter and more glorious, until it is a great white cloud, its base a glory like consuming fire, and above it the rainbow of the covenant. Jesus rides forth as a mighty conqueror, and the armies of Heaven follow him. With songs of triumph, a vast retinue of holy angels escort him on his way. The firmament seems filled with shining forms, ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands. No pen can picture, no human mind conceive, the glory of the scene. As the living cloud comes still nearer, Jesus can be clearly seen. He does not wear a crown of thorns, but a crown of glory rests upon his holy brow. His countenance shines as the noonday sun. Upon his vesture and thigh is a name written, "King of kings, and Lord of lords." {4SP 458.2}
Currently I'm studying Revelation six and will move on to Revelation seven soon after that.
Although I may study more into the 2027 ending the 6000 years timeline.
So it might be a while before I get to the 144,000.
Still this does open up some good questions for the study.