Friday, August 22, 2025
First, today, note the level of unprecedented peace negotiations that began on August 15, 2025 with US President Trump meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, followed by President Trump meeting with Ukraine President Zelensky and numerous European leaders converging at the White House on Monday, August 18, 2025. This is an unprecedented peace summit regarding the Russia/Ukraine war which should never have begun. There’ve been hundreds of thousands on both sides killed, worse than any war since WWII. If escalation is not stopped it will become WWIII. This could be the war event to which the Scripture points saying “when they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape” (1 Thess. 5:3). We must ensure that our spiritual condition with the Lord Jesus is in order and be discerning of His end-time words.
While President Trump has done this country a great service in reversing the many ungodly and nation-killing policies of former presidents Obama and Biden, I must admit that I’m not thrilled with all things Trump. In particular, I’m very concerned for what appears to be a very unhealthy level of pride in himself and his own image. He remarks about it frequently. New images of him are beginning to adorn the White House, one of which, in my opinion, reeks of pride before his fall. (Source). Such boastful imagery does not lend itself to even a micro level of Godly humility befitting a born again heart. This feature gives me great pause and concern for both him and this nation. God said “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Prov. 16:18). Then there’s his admitted concern about the afterlife. “If I can save 7,000 people a week from being killed, I think that’s a pretty… I want to try to get to heaven if possible, I’m hearing that I’m not doing well”. (Source) ONLY, a true born again heart gets one to heaven, John 3:3. Amen.
Not only is the world invested in finding a sustainable peace between Russia and Ukraine, but we can’t forget the simultaneous development and integration of AI, robotics, bio-tech and the pursuit of sentient AI with humanity as going full speed ahead. All these global issues of war, peace, AI and bio-tech must concern the true Christian Church with regular updated ministry instructing and equipping the saints in knowledge and discernment of the signs of the times.
Now, for today’s main points about only two resurrections.
There are only two resurrections of the dead and those two events are separated by 1,000 years. The first resurrection is at the end of this present age “Immediately after the tribulation” (Matt. 24:29–31), at the resurrection rapture and the second resurrection occurs 1,000 years later after the millennial reign of Christ. There is NOT a secret resurrection rapture of believers followed by yet other resurrection raptures for other less fortunate groups of people in this present age.
Christ taught that the first resurrection would raise up both the redeemed of Christ and wicked unbelievers of this present age. And as believers we have a mandate to teach truth instead of the popular but deceptively false pre-trib rapture narrative that teaches several resurrection raptures in this present age which cannot be found in Scripture. Believing the truths of the resurrection is absolutely imperative. Because of Christ’s resurrection from the dead we who truly believe have the glorious hope of our own resurrection from the dead should we die before the resurrection rapture at the Lord’s return “Immediately after the tribulation” (Matt. 24:29–31). We believers should earnestly yearn for the second glorious appearing of our God and Savior Jesus Christ.
No one is qualified to teach the resurrection like Jesus who said “For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, [who were born again, John 3:3] to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, [who rejected Christ] to the resurrection of condemnation” (John 5:26–29). [My bold emphasis] In one hour two people groups are raised from the dead: first, the believers who died in true faith in Jesus Christ, and then also the unbelieving wicked confirming the Holy Spirit’s teaching that, “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation” (Heb. 9:27–28). [My bold emphasis] Christ already came once as the Son of Man and it’s imperative that we believe that “He will appear [only] a second time, apart from sin, for salvation”. In this present age Christ returns only once more, “a second time”, at which time the wicked shall be gathered first by the angels, then secondly, the saints, made righteous by faith in the shed blood of Christ are gathered, in that order. What the Scriptures teach us in these passages “is the first resurrection” (Rev. 20:5).
The Holy Spirit taught of the first resurrection that “We shall not all sleep, [meaning we will not all have died] but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. [which is “the trumpet” of Matt. 24:31, and the “trumpet of God” of 1 Thess. 4:16, and “the seventh trumpet” of Rev. 11:15–19] For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (1 Cor. 15:51–52). Note that the rapture does NOT occur “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye”, as pre-trib rapture teachers falsely say, but rather, it’s the changing of our physical body from the mortal to immortality, 1 Cor. 15:53 that occurs in the “twinkling of an eye”! And before we are “caught up” (1 Thess. 4:17) meaning to be raptured in our glorified bodies, in that singular hour of resurrection we will see with our eyes the wicked being carried off to their eternal punishment. Maybe you’ve not been taught the truth of this, but Scripture teaches it. Read the parable of the Wheat and Tares at Matt. 13:24–30, which Christ explained at Matt. 13:36–43. Jesus said of the saints and of the wicked “Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares [unbelievers] and bind them in bundles to burn them, but [then] gather the wheat [which is the rapture of believers] into my barn” (Matt. 13:30). [My bold emphasis] In explanation then, Christ said “Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” (Matt. 13:40–43). Do we hear?
That we, the righteous in Christ, will see the wicked carried off to their eternal punishment is confirmed in that “A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you look, and see the reward of the wicked” (Psa. 91:7–8). Please discern this closely: Psa. 91:7–8 does not apply to us believers while living in this age because in this life we do NOT “see the reward of the wicked”, but at the first resurrection we will see it when we are raised in our immortal bodies. Yes, we will see the wicked carried off to eternal judgment. That will be a horrifying moment. Therefore, as we see that moment of judgment and “reward of the wicked”, in His mercy “God will wipe away every tear from their [saint’s] eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away” (Rev. 21:4). For the saints of the Lord Jesus, after that Day of resurrection rapture there will be no more memory of former things. What the Scriptures, again, teach us in these passages “is the first resurrection” (Rev. 20:5).
In discovering “the first resurrection”, the above Scriptures do not reveal when that occurs. But Jesus in His faithfulness to believers told us when that would occur. Here’s how we know. Jesus said “And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:40). And again, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:44). And again, “Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood [obviously speaking spiritually] has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:54). And again, when Martha mourned the death of Lazarus, she remembered what the Lord Jesus taught and said “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day” (John 11:24). [My bold emphasis] Therefore we know the “first resurrection” occurs “at the last day” of this age, and not seven years before the last day as the false pre-trib rapture narrative teaches. Jesus also said “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only” (Matt. 24:36). What these Scriptures, again, teach “is the first resurrection” (Rev. 20:5).
There is a second resurrection of the dead which occurs at the end of the millennial reign of Christ, which is not part of this present age and pertains to the great white throne judgment. The Holy Spirit said by the prophet, “Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire” (Rev. 20:11–15).
At the second resurrection saints will have already been in the presence of Christ reigning with Him in our glorified bodies for 1,000 years. Therefore the Holy Spirit said “Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years” (Rev. 20:6). My dear fellow believers, set these truths before you and teach them to your loved ones being certain that you have done all you can to prepare to endure to the end as Christ taught at Matt. 24:13 because to the end of this present age we must faithfully endure no matter how difficult the times. Christ promised that “’I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’ Amen” (Matt. 28:20).
My second book “ON EAGLES’ WINGS” explains in detail how to know Christ and find God’s Bozrah sheepfold of safety and place of provision for the last 1,260 days of the great tribulation.
Marlin J. Yoder
