The first resurrection is the resurrection of all believers, who will live and reign with Christ for a thousand years.
In Revelation 20, the first resurrection is the resurrection of the saved only, from Adam through the end of the Tribulation. 'The rest of the dead,' meaning the lost, do not live again until the thousand years are finished. Les Feldick teaches that those who have part in this resurrection are blessed and holy, and the second death has no power over them.
Revelation 20:5-6 — These verses explicitly identify the first resurrection and describe those who take part in it.
John 5:28-29 — Jesus speaks of a resurrection of life and a resurrection of damnation, which Les connects to the two resurrections separated by the thousand years.
In Revelation 20, John describes the first resurrection. He writes: 'And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years' (Revelation 20:4). Verse 5 then says, 'But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.' Verse 6 adds, 'Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.'
Les Feldick teaches that the first resurrection is the resurrection of all believers, from Adam clear through the end of the Tribulation. He builds this from Revelation 20, noting that while verse 4 sounds like it is only about Tribulation martyrs, verse 6 broadens it to everyone who has part in the first resurrection. Les says, 'That's all the believers from Adam through the end of the tribulation' (Clip 4). He also explains that the first resurrection is not a single event but includes three groups: the saints who came out of their graves at the time of Christ's resurrection, the Church Age believers caught up at the rapture, and Old Testament and Tribulation believers raised when Christ returns (Clip 3).
Les teaches that the first resurrection is not limited to Tribulation martyrs. It includes all believers from Adam through the end of the Tribulation. He identifies three groups: the saints resurrected at the time of Christ's resurrection, the Church Age/body of Christ at the rapture, and Old Testament and Tribulation believers. This is why Revelation 20:6 can call everyone who has part in the first resurrection blessed and holy.
The rest of the dead are the lost. Les says, 'the lost who have not experienced resurrection... live not again until the thousand years were finished' (Clip 1). He reminds us that there are only two groups of people from God's perspective—the lost and the saved—so if the saved are already resurrected, the rest of the dead must be the lost (Clip 5). Their resurrection, the second resurrection, takes place after the thousand years and is connected to the Great White Throne and the second death (Clip 7).
No. Les teaches that the first resurrection includes all the saved, but it happens in stages. Old Testament, Church Age, and Tribulation believers are raised before the kingdom, while the rest of the dead are not raised until the thousand years are finished (Clip 3, Clip 7). Jesus Himself spoke of a resurrection of life and a resurrection of damnation in John 5, and Les connects that to the two resurrections in Revelation (Clip 7).
Kingdom Activity and Responsibility
Les shows that those who reign with Christ in the kingdom will be given real activity and responsibility, not passive leisure.
The First Resurrection Is Only Believers
Les directly states that the first resurrection is only believers and that 'the rest of the dead' are the lost who will not live again until the thousand years are finished.
Resurrection to Life or Second Death
Les teaches that the lost are resurrected to the second death, an eternal existence separated from God, not annihilation.
Three Groups in the First Resurrection
Les identifies three groups in the first resurrection: the saints raised at Christ's resurrection, the Church Age at the rapture, and Old Testament and Tribulation believers.
All Believers from Adam to the End of the Tribulation
Les clarifies that the first resurrection includes all believers from Adam through the end of the Tribulation and warns against building doctrine from just one verse.
The Rest of the Dead Are the Lost
Les explains that since only two groups exist—lost and saved—and the saved are already resurrected, the rest of the dead must be the lost.
First Resurrection Includes Believers from Every Age
Les shows that believers from every age who have part in the first resurrection will be priests of God and reign with Christ for a thousand years.
Two Resurrections Separated by a Thousand Years
Les connects Revelation 20:14 to the second death and teaches that the resurrection of the just and the unjust, as Jesus called them, are separated by the thousand-year kingdom.
Revelation 20:4: And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Sets the scene for the first resurrection, showing faithful believers living and reigning with Christ.
Revelation 20:5: But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
Explicitly names the resurrection of believers as the first resurrection and separates it from the resurrection of the lost.
Revelation 20:6: Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Describes the blessing, immunity from the second death, and thousand-year reign of those in the first resurrection.
John 5:28-29: 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.
Jesus distinguishes the resurrection of life and the resurrection of damnation, which Les connects to the two resurrections in Revelation.
It is the resurrection of all believers, from Adam through the end of the Tribulation. They are called blessed and holy, the second death has no power over them, and they will reign with Christ for a thousand years.
Yes. Les teaches that the first resurrection is only believers. 'The rest of the dead,' the lost, do not live again until the thousand years are finished, when they face the second resurrection and the Great White Throne.
They are the lost who are not resurrected until after the thousand years. Their resurrection is to the second death, the lake of fire, not annihilation.
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