What is the Mark of the Beast ?

[3 Resurrections]

Rev. 7:1-4) This passages introduces the 144,000. They are sealed/chosen by God, before the four angles bring harm upon the earth, sea and trees. We are informed they are “servants” that will serve God. (Rev. 10:7) informs us they will serve God as prophets. The office as a prophet according to scripture is one in which God appoints one to.

SOME of the resurrected 144,000 First-fruits did serve as prophets in the early church, but others served as apostles (meaning "sent ones"), evangelists, pastors, and teachers. We know this because these specific roles were filled by that "multitude of captives" which the ascending Christ led out of the grave on the day of His own resurrection (Ephesians 4:8-12). Christ gave these resurrected 144,000 Jewish First-fruits - the Matthew 27:52-53 saints - as "gifts to men", to edify the body of Christ in the early church at Jerusalem, and to perfect the saints for the work of the ministry.

These servant/prophets are chosen from the 12 tribes of Israel. Is the term “Israel” to be understood as literal, symbolic or analogous, the three types of language used in apocalyptic prophecy. This is very controversial question.

Those were 12 literal tribes of Israel, since Revelation 7:5-8 went to the trouble to list 12 specific tribes that composed that group of 144,000. In the last 3-1/2 years after Christ's ascension, (the last 3-1/2 years of Daniel's 70th week), God was still "confirming the covenant with many" of Daniel's people. The "lost sheep of the house of Israel" were being given an opportunity to get on board with the New Covenant conditions.

The astonishing ministry of the resurrected 144,000 JEWISH tribal members was the bridge that connected the Jews' own nation with the "better promises" of the New Covenant. What better means could God have chosen to confirm the New Covenant with His own ethnic people than to resurrect 144,000 of their fellow ethnic Jewish tribal members from their graves? A believing "remnant" of Jews did come on board in those 3-1/2 years, but "the rest were blinded". At the close of that 70th week, Paul was the herald that led the evangelistic surge of the gospel into the Gentile nations instead, after God commissioned him to depart from Jerusalem and to go "far hence to the Gentiles" according to Paul's vision in the temple (Acts 22:17-21).

(Rev. 16) Speaks of the seven bowl judgements (the full wrath of God) that will be poured out on the wicked just before the return of Christ. In vss. 4&5 it states the wicked deserve to drink blood, because they shed the blood of the saints and prophets. Therefore, one must understand that the 144,000 will be serving God in the closing events, because those who kill them will suffer in the seven bowl judgements. To understand it differently puts the prophecies in a state of eternal conflict.

The 7 bowl judgments were poured out on the land of Israel in particular - not the globe. We know this because the victorious ones in heaven are singing the Deuteronomy 32 "Song of Moses" in Rev. 15:3, just before those 7 bowl judgments were poured out on the earth (tes ges - the land of Israel). These judgments were in vengeance for Israel and Jerusalem having historically slain God's servants and prophets that were sent unto them - including the Son of Man whom they betrayed and murdered.

The "Song of Moses" was supposed to be memorized by the Israelites as a prediction of the judgments that God would impose on themselves at their "latter end" if they departed from Him and worshipped idols instead. The "Song of Moses" list of punishments in Deuteronomy 32 is repeated among the Revelation 16 judgments that would fall on the land of Israel, and these judgments were passed upon them before Israel's "latter end" came to a close in AD 70.

There is NO "eternal conflict" as you suppose in these arguments from scripture. These scriptures all reconcile with each other.

 

[Tigger Boy]

SOME of the resurrected 144,000 First-fruits did serve as prophets in the early church, but others served as apostles (meaning "sent ones"), evangelists, pastors, and teachers. We know this because these specific roles were filled by that "multitude of captives" which the ascending Christ led out of the grave on the day of His own resurrection (Ephesians 4:8-12). Christ gave these resurrected 144,000 Jewish First-fruits - the Matthew 27:52-53 saints - as "gifts to men", to edify the body of Christ in the early church at Jerusalem, and to perfect the saints for the work of the ministry.

TR, neither of your supporting texts support your reasoning. Yes, (Mat. 27: 52,53) mentions that, "many" saints were resurrected at the same time as Christ. I have accepted this teaching for decades. But for you to say it is the 144,000. can't be supported by either text. Certainly, Matthew and Paul would have used the term "Many Thousands" if actually there were 144,000 saints raised, even though they my not have know the actual number. Too, you should consider that if that actually were true why didn't other writers of the new testament record such huge resurrection. Why weren't their personal testimonies every recorded? In truth the new testament is void of any record of such a large resurrection.

(Ephesians 4:8-12) Here Paul mentions again, "many" captives were taken to heaven when Christ ascended, and gave gifts to his people, (those left on earth belonging to the church) apostles, prophets, evangelist, pastors and teachers. Certainly no mention of the "many" having these gifts.

I can only reason your insistence in thinking as you do, is perhaps you are a Preterist. Would that be correct?

 

[Tigger Boy]

The astonishing ministry of the resurrected 144,000 JEWISH tribal members was the bridge that connected the Jews' own nation with the "better promises" of the New Covenant.

Been a christian for over fifty years, never heard this thought expressed. What proof in the form of writings biblical or historical would support such a claim???

 

[Paradise Haven]

Been a christian for over fifty years, never heard this thought expressed. What proof in the form of writings biblical or historical would support such a claim???

Justin Martyr:
In his dialogue with Trypho, Justin Martyr discusses the fulfillment of God's promises to Israel through Christ, suggesting an ongoing role for the Jewish people in God's redemptive plan. (Dialogue with Trypho, Chapters 11-13).

Irenaeus of Lyons:
In "Against Heresies," Irenaeus speaks of the importance of Israel in God’s salvific history and how the promises to Israel are fulfilled in Christ. (Against Heresies, Book IV, Chapters 23-26).

John Walvoord:
Walvoord, in his commentary on Revelation, interprets the 144,000 as Jewish evangelists who will play a pivotal role during the Tribulation, connecting Israel with the New Covenant promises. (The Revelation of Jesus Christ, John F. Walvoord).

Tim LaHaye:
In his works, including the "Left Behind" series and accompanying theological writings, LaHaye presents the 144,000 as key figures in the end times who bridge the gap between Jewish tradition and the New Covenant. (Revelation Unveiled, Tim LaHaye).

Messianic Jewish Perspective:
Messianic Jewish theologians often emphasize the special role of Jewish believers in Jesus in the redemptive plan of God, seeing them as a bridge between Jewish and Christian faiths. For example, David H. Stern’s "Messianic Jewish Manifesto" discusses the unique calling of Jewish Christians.

 

[3 Resurrections]

TR, neither of your supporting texts support your reasoning. Yes, (Mat. 27: 52,53) mentions that, "many" saints were resurrected at the same time as Christ. I have accepted this teaching for decades. But for you to say it is the 144,000. can't be supported by either text. Certainly, Matthew and Paul would have used the term "Many Thousands" if actually there were 144,000 saints raised, even though they my not have know the actual number. Too, you should consider that if that actually were true why didn't other writers of the new testament record such huge resurrection. Why weren't their personal testimonies every recorded? In truth the new testament is void of any record of such a large resurrection.

No, the NT is not exactly "void" of teaching about the many Matthew 27:52-53 resurrected saints. I believe Paul wrote about these resurrected Matt. 27:52-53 individuals. He wrote to the Romans that "ourselves also, which HAVE the First-fruits of the Spirit..." These "First-fruits" of the Spirit's work of quickening the mortal bodies of the saints were still present in the early church. Along with the rest of the saints, these 144,000 "First-fruits" were also waiting for the next resurrection event when they would all meet the Lord together in the air and be taken with Him back to heaven.

Paul also wrote about Hymenaeus and Philetus who had been mistakenly teaching the believers that "the resurrection is past already" (2 Tim. 2:17-18). How do you think these two men even got that idea that the resurrection was already past? It was because the many Matthew 27:52-53 resurrected saints had been such a remarkable, massive number of OT believers raised from the dead by Christ on that day that these two men presumed that this was the only resurrection event which was ever scheduled to take place, and that the resurrection was over and done with. Of course, these two men were wrong; there would be another much, much larger resurrection that would follow, as Paul also taught.

The literal number of 144,000 OT Jewish saints raised from the dead was what composed the "remnant (loipoi) of the dead" which John wrote about in Revelation 20:5. This "remnant of the dead" came to life again as the "FIRST resurrection" event when the millennium had finished (in AD 33).

John also wrote about this resurrected group of saints in Revelation 6:9-11. They were the elect saints under the altar begging for vengeance upon those in Israel who had shed their blood. A white robe (of resurrected righteousness) was given to every one of them, and they were told to "rest yet for a little season" (they would remain on earth for just a little season after they were resurrected in AD 33) until more of their fellow-servants and their brethren died who were "about to be killed" just as they had been themselves. This was the very same group of "elect" that Jesus mentioned in His parable about the unjust judge. Jesus said then that God would "avenge them speedily", even though He had borne long with their pleading for vengeance up until then.

I also believe that the "messenger" who gave John the visions was one of these resurrected men from the Matthew 27:52-53 group. After all, he told John that he himself was a "fellow-servant" of John and "of thy brethren the prophets" (Rev. 22:9). This was no celestial angel giving John the visions. It was a man in a glorified condition who was a "messenger" passing on the interpretation of God's visions which John was seeing.

This group of resurrected Matt. 27:52-53 saints are described in other places in Revelation, (the "remnant of the woman's Seed" that Satan was making war against in Rev. 12:17, and the righteous "remnant" which gave glory to God from inside Jerusalem as the 6th trumpet judgment was being fulfilled in AD 67/68, as well as the "holy messengers" in Rev. 14:10 before whose faces Jerusalem's wicked citizens were being tormented. Likewise, the 144,000 First-fruits Matt. 27:52-53 saints were the first sickle harvest of Christ being "reaped" from the earth in Rev. 14:14-16).

This is not the end of the list of scriptures that refer to these Matthew 27:52-53 individuals in the NT. I'd list them all, but I don't want to be tedious to everyone.

Been a christian for over fifty years, never heard this thought expressed. What proof in the form of writings biblical or historical would support such a claim???

The resurrected Christ on being anointed by God as our Great High Priest in heaven that morning was required to offer "gifts" as well as a sacrifice. Hebrews 8:3 tells us this. "For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man" (Christ Jesus) "have somewhat also to offer." Ephesian 4:8-12 tells us that the ascending Christ led "a multitude of captives" out of the grave that day and gave them as "gifts" to men. Those "gifts" were composed of that "multitude of captives" serving in the role of apostles (meaning "sent ones"), prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers, for the purpose of edifying of the body of Christ, to perfect the saints for the work of the ministry.

Satan was loosed in full fury in the world for that "short time" after Christ had ascended (as John warned the church was then a threat for them in the world in Rev. 12:12). To counter this rampant activity of an enraged Satan "walking about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he could devour", God mercifully granted the blessing of the resurrected Matthew 27:52-53 saints who, as the "remnant of the woman's Seed", were well-equipped to do battle with Satan's devices on behalf of the believers.

The resurrected Matt. 27:52-53 saints were part of the answer to the prayer Christ had taught the disciples - to "pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest that he will send forth laborers into that harvest". These Matthew 27:52-53 resurrected individuals were a major part of the reason why Paul said that the gospel had been preached "to every creature under heaven" in those days (Col. 1:23). There was almost no limit to the evangelism that even a single resurrected individual person of those 144,000 First-fruits could have accomplished in those first-century years, when compared to a normal person with the natural limitations of a corruptible flesh body that could get sick, tired, hungry, suffer injury, die, fall into sin, - or have the responsibility of a wife and children to support.

 

[Spiritual Jew]

The 144,000 First-fruits became a subset among the later unnumbered group of saints standing in resurrected righteousness before the throne of God in Rev. 7:9. The 144,000 First-fruits of Rev. 14:4 were the first group of saints to be resurrected from the grave - the Matthew 27:52-53 saints who rose from out of those broken-open graves around Jerusalem on the same day that Christ arose from the dead.

These 144,000 Jewish tribal First-fruits were not the only ones who would be raised from the grave - they only composed the "FIRST resurrection" group of resurrected saints. They would eventually be joined by others at Christ's second coming, who altogether composed the great unnumbered group who came out of every nation, kindred, people, and tongue, all standing before the throne of God and the Lamb in heaven.

You know I don't agree with any of that nonsense. Paul gave the order of bodily resurrections unto bodily immortality here and your doctrine contradicts what he taught.

1 Corinthians 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. 24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.

So, here is the order, which is very simple. Christ was the first to be resurrected unto bodily immortality. In Acts 26:23 He is specifically said to be the first that rose from the dead, yet Lazarus and others were resurrected before Him. It should be obvious that the context was in terms of Him being the first to be resurrected unto bodily immortality. Next in order, according to Paul, are those who are Christ's at His second coming. In 1 Thess 4:14-17 he said the dead in Christ will be resurrected and they, along with those who are a alive and remain, will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air.

So, that's it. Christ was the first to be resurrected unto bodily immortality long ago and next in order are those who belong to Him at His future second coming. Those described in Matthew 27:52-53 are not mentioned there by Paul at all and therefore they must have died again like Lazarus did. That is, if you trust Paul to have known what he was talking about, as I do.

 

[Tigger Boy]

Justin Martyr:
In his dialogue with Trypho, Justin Martyr discusses the fulfillment of God's promises to Israel through Christ, suggesting an ongoing role for the Jewish people in God's redemptive plan. (Dialogue with Trypho, Chapters 11-13).

Irenaeus of Lyons:
In "Against Heresies," Irenaeus speaks of the importance of Israel in God’s salvific history and how the promises to Israel are fulfilled in Christ. (Against Heresies, Book IV, Chapters 23-26).

John Walvoord:
Walvoord, in his commentary on Revelation, interprets the 144,000 as Jewish evangelists who will play a pivotal role during the Tribulation, connecting Israel with the New Covenant promises. (The Revelation of Jesus Christ, John F. Walvoord).

Tim LaHaye:
In his works, including the "Left Behind" series and accompanying theological writings, LaHaye presents the 144,000 as key figures in the end times who bridge the gap between Jewish tradition and the New Covenant. (Revelation Unveiled, Tim LaHaye).

Messianic Jewish Perspective:
Messianic Jewish theologians often emphasize the special role of Jewish believers in Jesus in the redemptive plan of God, seeing them as a bridge between Jewish and Christian faiths. For example, David H. Stern’s "Messianic Jewish Manifesto" discusses the unique calling of Jewish Christians.

PH, appreciate this info. This better helps me to understand your mind set, which I'm assuming is Catholicism. Just finished reading TR, post 205, do you believe any of what he had to say?

 

[Paradise Haven]

PH, appreciate this info. This better helps me to understand your mind set, which I'm assuming is Catholicism. Just finished reading TR, post 205, do you believe any of what he had to say?

I am definitely not Catholic.

 

[3 Resurrections]

1 Corinthians 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. 24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.

But I agree with this ranked order of resurrections. "Christ the First-fruits" (as well as the Matt. 27:52-53 resurrected 144,000 First-fruits raised that same day) were ranked the FIRST in order of the group resurrection events. The "FIRST resurrection" of the "remnant of the dead" coming to life again, as Rev. 20:5 presented them.

The "FIRST-fruits" title was given not just to Christ, but also to a group that were "harvested" from the grave on the same day. The 144,000 First-fruits and Christ the First-fruits shared the same title because they shared the same group "First resurrection" event in AD 33. They were the fulfillment of the symbolism behind the OT ritual of the wave sheaf of First-fruits barley grain offered in the temple at Passover along with a single He-Lamb without blemish (Leviticus 23:10-12).

There would be another group resurrection event to follow that "First resurrection" group of "First-fruits". That next group resurrection event was going to be those raised at Christ's second coming, as Paul confirmed in 1 Cor. 15:20-24.

So, here is the order, which is very simple. Christ was the first to be resurrected unto bodily immortality. In Acts 26:23 He is specifically said to be the first that rose from the dead,

No, that is not what Acts 26:23 said. Christ by being raised from the dead was "the first to proclaim light to the Gentiles" - not the first to be raised to an immortal life. You and many of the translations are having the word "First" modify the wrong verb: "...and how, by the resurrection of the dead, he would be first to proclaim light both to these people and to the Gentiles". Before the resurrected Christ commissioned the disciples to "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" in Mark 16:15, the gospel message had been concentrated on "the lost sheep of the house of Israel" up until then.

Those described in Matthew 27:52-53 are not mentioned there by Paul at all and therefore they must have died again like Lazarus did.

That is a continual assumption being made by many like yourself that has NO scripture backing to prove it. Moreover, that mistaken idea goes against all the rules of scripture for the resurrection process which can never be undone by dying twice. NOBODY goes through the physical death of the body twice. ONCE ONLY, according to Hebrews 9:27-28. The righteous who are resurrected are not capable of dying again. "...Neither CAN they die anymore, but are equal unto the angels..." (Luke 20:35-36). Lazarus never died twice. Neither did Jairus' daughter, nor the widow's son, nor Dorcas whom Peter raised, nor the Matt. 27:52-53 saints, etc., etc.. ALL of these had the gift of incorruptibility and immortality in that glorified, resurrected state.

 

[Spiritual Jew]

But I agree with this ranked order of resurrections.

No, you don't.

"Christ the First-fruits" (as well as the Matt. 27:52-53 resurrected 144,000 First-fruits raised that same day) were ranked the FIRST in order of the group resurrection events. The "FIRST resurrection" of the "remnant of the dead" coming to life again, as Rev. 20:5 presented them.

Paul said Christ Himself is the firstfruits (of them that slept). You are trying to change what Paul said.

This goes with what Paul said here:

Acts 26:23 that the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles.”

Jesus was the first to rise from the dead unto bodily immortality. Next in order are those who are His at His future second coming. That's it. Paul made no mention of any other resurrection in 1 Cor 15:20-23.

The "FIRST-fruits" title was given not just to Christ, but also to a group that were "harvested" from the grave on the same day. The 144,000 First-fruits and Christ the First-fruits shared the same title because they shared the same group "First resurrection" event in AD 33. They were the fulfillment of the symbolism behind the OT ritual of the wave sheaf of First-fruits barley grain offered in the temple at Passover along with a single He-Lamb without blemish (Leviticus 23:10-12).

Total nonsense. You are not accepting what Paul taught. I can't take your doctrine seriously. It's just utter nonsense.

 

[3 Resurrections]

Jesus was the first to rise from the dead unto bodily immortality.

No, He wasn't. Christ Jesus was the first to ascend to the Father in a resurrected body. That made Him the "First-born" and the 'First-begotten". The word "First-fruits" is not the same title, because it is describing a group "harvest" of resurrected that is the first to rise. The "First-fruits" is not a single stalk of grain. It's a plural term that describes the first time a plural group of many was harvested together.

You are getting your false idea of Christ being the first to be raised immortal from a bad translation of this Acts 26:23 verse. The word "First" does not modify "to rise from the dead". The word "first" in this verse modifies the phrase "to proclaim light" instead. I challenge you to look at the literal translations which do a better job of translating this verse.

Unfortunately, you are certainly not the only one who tries to sweep those 144,000 First-fruits, Matthew 27:52-53 resurrected saints under the carpet to get rid of their story. Nor are you the only one who tries to teach that anyone resurrected in scripture just died again later. This goes totally against scripture's teaching about the resurrection process.

 

[Spiritual Jew]

No, He wasn't.

Scripture says He was. Very clearly. You can't win this argument. This is a waste of time. Explaining this to you would be like explaining why 1 + 1 = 2. Why should I bother explaining what scripture teaches so clearly and explicitly? It's just a waste of time. If you can't understand something simple like this, then I'm not sure what you can understand. Paul made it clear that the rest of us (everyone but Jesus) will be changed to have immortal bodies at the same time which will be when the last trumpet sounds. And not any time before that. So, if you want to insist on contradicting clear scripture, that's on you.

 

[3 Resurrections]

Scripture says He was. Very clearly. You can't win this argument. This is a waste of time. Explaining this to you would be like explaining why 1 + 1 = 2. Why should I bother explaining what scripture teaches so clearly and explicitly? It's just a waste of time. If you can't understand something simple like this, then I'm not sure what you can understand. Paul made it clear that the rest of us (everyone but Jesus) will be changed to have immortal bodies at the same time which will be when the last trumpet sounds. And not any time before that. So, if you want to insist on contradicting clear scripture, that's on you.

It's true...when you and I are making our points from different translations of the scripture, these can vary and our positions will be opposed to each other. I prefer to use the more literal translations when it comes to reconciling the scriptures with each other.

It is YOUR position that creates a scripture contradiction. There were quite a few individuals raised from the grave before Christ's resurrection in scripture (Lazarus, all those raised from the dead by Christ and His disciples during His earthly ministry, and the few OT examples). If all of th ese did not receive an immortal, incorruptible body form in that resurrection process, then you have to claim that they died twice.

This supposed "dying twice" is clearly against scripture teaching in Heb. 9:27-28 that "it is appointed unto men ONCE TO DIE", and after that a judgment - not another death experience. It is clearly against scripture teaching that in the resurrection process, "Neither CAN they die anymore, but are equal to the angels..." (Luke 20:35-36). It is incumbent upon you to reconcile your position of saying Christ was the first to have a resurrection to immortal life with these other texts that refute your position. The scriptures cannot be broken. They must agree. My position and translation of Acts 26:23 does reconcile with these other texts Your position doesn't.

 

[Spiritual Jew]

It's true...when you and I are making our points from different translations of the scripture, these can vary and our positions will be opposed to each other. I prefer to use the more literal translations when it comes to reconciling the scriptures with each other.

It is YOUR position that creates a scripture contradiction. There were quite a few individuals raised from the grave before Christ's resurrection in scripture (Lazarus, all those raised from the dead by Christ and His disciples during His earthly ministry, and the few OT examples). If all of th ese did not receive an immortal, incorruptible body form in that resurrection process, then you have to claim that they died twice.

This supposed "dying twice" is clearly against scripture teaching in Heb. 9:27-28 that "it is appointed unto men ONCE TO DIE", and after that a judgment - not another death experience. It is clearly against scripture teaching that in the resurrection process, "Neither CAN they die anymore, but are equal to the angels..." (Luke 20:35-36). It is incumbent upon you to reconcile your position of saying Christ was the first to have a resurrection to immortal life with these other texts that refute your position. The scriptures cannot be broken. They must agree. My position and translation of Acts 26:23 does reconcile with these other texts Your position doesn't.

Your rigidness is ridiculous. There can be exceptions to general rules taught in scripture. There is scripture which teaches that people will reap what they sow even during this lifetime before you die. But, that doesn't happen in every case. Sometimes people die before they experience any reaping of what they sowed or some other circumstances keep that from happening. It's a general rule that is true most of the time. So, it is with Hebrews 9:27. A vast majority die once, but there are exceptions.

As for your nonsense about Acts 26:23, what translation of that verse are you using? Show me. Apparently, you think none of the translators of non-literal translations knew what they were doing. I guess you think you know Greek better than all of them.

Also, scripture very clearly teaches that no believer will have bodily immortality until the last trumpet sounds when ALL of us will be changed at the same time (1 Corinthians 15:50-54). What do you do to get around that?

 

[Aaron112]

This supposed "dying twice" is clearly against scripture

No supposed.
Those who sleep in Jesus have no fear of the second death Scripture tells .
Most alive today will die twice according to Scripturel

 

[Aaron112]

DNA is composed of 6 protons, 6 electrons and 6 neutrons, which equates to 666.

the ideas, conceptions, teachings, thoughts, dreams, nightmares, movies, science about
some things
is not from the Creator, but
from the flesh, or worse.

Or is it something spiritual ?

What a hoot!
The flesh (world , authorities, forums) cannot see nor recognise the spiritual anyway, so why ask ?

 

[3 Resurrections]

.So, it is with Hebrews 9:27. A vast majority die once, but there are exceptions.

There was a single exception to this rule - Enoch who was translated that he should not see death. No other exceptions are mentioned in scripture. Nobody else gets off this planet without passing through the death process of all who are "in Adam". "As in Adam all die; even so, in Christ shall all be made alive." If you are going to make all kinds of exceptions to this one-time-only death appointment rule for all mankind, then you have opened the door to admitting there are many exceptions to ALL in Christ being made alive.

As for your nonsense about Acts 26:23, what translation of that verse are you using? Show me. Apparently, you think none of the translators of non-literal translations knew what they were doing. I guess you think you know Greek better than all of them.

All you need to do is a biblehub.com search of all the available translations, and you will see the various ones who recognize that through His resurrection from the dead, Christ was "the first to proclaim light both to these people and to the Gentiles." I invented none of these translations. I was raised from early childhood onward to only being allowed to use the KJV, but I have found that depending on a single translation alone cripples one's understanding of the text on many occasions.

Also, scripture very clearly teaches that no believer will have bodily immortality until the last trumpet sounds when ALL of us will be changed at the same time (1 Corinthians 15:50-54). What do you do to get around that?

Scripture never says that this 1 Cor. 15:5--54 occasion is the one and ONLY time that the resurrection process to bodily immortality takes place. Indeed, it speaks of "the FIRST resurrection" in Rev. 20:5, so of necessity there is more than one group resurrection event.

No supposed.
Those who sleep in Jesus have no fear of the second death Scripture tells .
Most alive today will die twice according to Scripturel

That "Second death" was NOT referring to humans dying twice. John equates the "Second Death" with being the Lake of Fire (Rev. 20:14). That location was the "furnace of fire" that was in Jerusalem when the city was being utterly destroyed for the second time since the Babylonian invasion back in 586 BC. Death and Hell were cast into Jerusalem twice - once back in Isaiah 28:14-19 when Death and Hell (the grave) came to overwhelm the inhabitants of Jerusalem in the Babylonian invasion, and once again in AD 70 when Death and Hell (the grave) were cast into that Lake of Fire as a plague on the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

Those who remained faithful, even unto death, in the first century's persecutions of the saints were spared having to pass through the "Great Tribulation" period of disasters that overcame the city of Jerusalem for the city's second death in AD 70.

 

[Spiritual Jew]

There was a single exception to this rule - Enoch who was translated that he should not see death. No other exceptions are mentioned in scripture. Nobody else gets off this planet without passing through the death process of all who are "in Adam". "As in Adam all die..."

So, you can allow for exceptions, but I can't? That's quite hypocritical of you. Thanks for revealing your doctrinal bias, though.

All you need to do is a biblehub.com search of all the available translations, and you will see the various ones who recognize that through His resurrection from the dead, Christ was "the first to proclaim light both to these people and to the Gentiles." I invented none of these translations. I was raised from early childhood onward to only being allowed to use the KJV, but I have found that depending on a single translation alone cripples one's understanding of the text on many occasions.

You can't show me even one of them? You're the one making this claim, so show me what you're talking about. It isn't just the KJV that translates it as Jesus being the first to rise from the dead. Many other translations translate it that way as well. But, you somehow know Greek better than all of those translators, apparently.

Scripture never says that this 1 Cor. 15:5--54 occasion is the "one and ONLY" time that the resurrection process to bodily immortality takes place.

What other scripture speaks of that happening at some other time? None. Paul said WE ALL will be changed at the last trumpet. All believers all at the same time. And why wouldn't it be that way?

The following refers to how OT saints did not receive the promise of an inheritance from God yet:

Hebrews 11:39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: 40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

This, too, shows that they (OT saints) were not to be made perfect (changed to have immortal bodies) without us (NT saints).

 

[3 Resurrections]

So, you can allow for exceptions, but I can't? That's quite hypocritical of you. Thanks for revealing your doctrinal bias, though.

This is SCRIPTURE'S LONE EXCEPTION to the rule - not mine. If you can come up with another example of an individual in scripture who escaped the one-time-only physical death sentence passed upon all men, feel free to submit it here (and Elijah is not one of them, as he died just like any other man). If there is any "bias" it is SCRIPTURE that is doing this.

You can't show me even one of them? You're the one making this claim, so show me what you're talking about.

I am still in my workroom today, and don't have time to print off all the translations. Do some work yourself. Look up biblehub.com, and compare all the available translations that differ from the way you have interpreted this Acts 26:23 verse.

Hebrews 11:39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: 40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

Hebrews 11 gave a list of "these all" named persons from the OT who had not received their promised bodily resurrection yet. That doesn't mean there were NO OT individuals yet who had been resurrected to bodily immortality. We know of 3 examples in the OT, as well as those Christ and the disciples were raising from the dead during His earthly ministry, and Lazarus who were all raised to immortal life before Christ was. None of these were allowed to ascend to heaven yet in those immortal bodies (John 3:13, Rev. 15:8), but "remained" on earth in those immortal body forms until the next bodily resurrection which would rapture all the resurrected saints together off the planet at that time.

What other scripture speaks of that happening at some other time? None. Paul said WE ALL will be changed at the last trumpet. All believers all at the same time. And why wouldn't it be that way?

Of course those who had already been made alive and changed in a bodily resurrection process would not need to repeat that process along with all the rest of the newly-resurrected saints.

 

[Spiritual Jew]

This is SCRIPTURE'S LONE EXCEPTION to the rule - not mine.

LOL. If you allow for at least one exception, then there can be more than just one.

If you can come up with another example of an individual in scripture who escaped the one-time-only physical death sentence passed upon all men, feel free to submit it here (and Elijah is not one of them, as he died just like any other man). If there is any "bias" it is SCRIPTURE that is doing this.

I showed where Paul gave the order of resurrections unto bodily immortality and he taught that Christ's was first and next in order are those who belong to Him at His second coming (1 Cor 15:20-23). I'm sure Paul would not have left anything out there. If Lazarus or those referenced in Matt 27:52-53 or anyone else who was resurrected in the past was resurrected unto bodily immortality then I'm sure Paul would have referenced that in 1 Cor 15:20-23, but he didn't. Also, those who are alive and remain until Christ's second coming at the last trumpet will not die but will be instantly changed to have immortal bodies (1 Cor 15:50-54). So, there's more exceptions. To try to act as if there can only be one exception is just ridiculous.

I am still in my workroom today, and don't have time to print off all the translations. Do some work yourself. Look up biblehub.com, and compare all the available translations that differ from the way you have interpreted this Acts 26:23 verse.

LOL. You are the one making the claim. You do the work. I don't need to because I know you're wrong about how that verse should be translated. Interpreting a verse literally word for word like Young's Literal Translation does leads to some incomprehensible translations because English is different than Greek.

Hebrews 11 gave a list of "these all" named persons from the OT who had not received their promised bodily resurrection yet. That doesn't mean there were NO OT individuals yet who had been resurrected to bodily immortality.

Why would there have been? Why talk about how they (OT saints) would not be made perfect without us (NT saints) if some OT saints had already been made perfect? That makes no sense. We shouldn't draw conclusions that defy all logic and reason. Clearly, the intention was for all saints of all-time to be made perfect at the same time because that's how God wants to do it. He doesn't show favoritism. Paul said we will all be changed at the same time at the last trumpet and that means all saints from all time.

We know of 3 examples in the OT, as well as those Christ and the disciples were raising from the dead during His earthly ministry, and Lazarus who were all raised to immortal life before Christ was.

No, they were not. You are blatantly contradicting what Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:20-23 which is that Christ was the first to be raised to bodily immortality and next in order are those who belong to Christ. That's it. Stop trying to add to scripture while making it as if you don't trust that Paul knew what he was talking about. I've seen people like that on here. They undermine Paul's teachings. It's truly unbelievable, but those people exist. Don't be like them.

None of these were allowed to ascend to heaven yet in those immortal bodies (John 3:13, Rev. 15:8), but "remained" on earth in those immortal body forms until the next bodily resurrection which would rapture all the resurrected saints together off the planet at that time.

LOL. Are you kidding me with this? Where were they hanging out on earth while waiting for that? My goodness. I can't take your doctrine seriously because of things like this.