"Make it plain upon tablets. . ."

The Lord says, "Write the vision and make it plain upon tablets." The Chinese have a proverb, "One picture is worth a thousand words." On the topic above we are trying to do what the Scripture says (Hab. 2:2). We are giving you an article of two thousand words with one thousand, because the chart supplies the value of the other thousand. Let us ever remember that this picture proves nothing; it is prepared to let the light in on what the Lord says on the subject.

"Both of the just and unjust. . ."

Any teaching that would embrace less than all the dead is a false doctrine, for Jesus said, "All that are in the tombs shall hear His voice, and shall come forth" (John 5:28-29). Paul says, "There shall be a resurrection both of the just and unjust" (Acts 24:15); also, "For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive" (I Cor. 15:22). Not all will die — there is an inspired exception (I Cor. 15:50-57); also inspired illustrations (Heb. 11:5; II Kings 2:11); but all that die will be raised to life, and death will be abolished (I Cor. 15:26; Rev. 21:4).

"But each in his own order. . ."

All will be raised, but all will not be raised in one group and at the same time. Each in his own order certainly means different bands or companies. Christ said that they that have done good will come forth "unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of judgment" (John 5:29). This statement regarding the resurrection of the unsaved is most accurate. The righteous dead do not come forth to "judgment" because Jesus Christ exempts true believers from judgment (John 5:24). The same is true in Hebrews 9:23-28. The order and general rule is death and then judgment, but Christ's coming is for the salvation of His people and judgment on sinners. The saved, "they that are Christ's," have an order all their own (I Cor. 15:23).

"Christ the first-fruits. . ."

Take a look at the chart and see what we have been saying. The heavy black space running the entire length of the chart represents the earth wherein all the unsaved have returned to dust. It terminates in the space marked "OPEN TOMBS" at the close of the thousand years. Just above this is shown the earth wherein the "bodies of the saved dead" sleep. This space is broken in three places by spaces, each of which is marked "OPEN TOMBS." The unsaved dead will not come forth in the same company, nor at the same time, with the saved dead. All the saved dead will not come forth in the same company or at the same time. Let the reader follow the exact quotation of Scripture quoted on the chart. In this you have the order of the resurrection of both the just and the unjust, in word and picture.

"This is the first resurrection. . ."

The use of the word "first" implies more than one resurrection, and the plain and express words of inspiration teach this to be true. The "first resurrection" consists of three stages: firstfruits, harvest, gleanings. It embraces all the blessed and holy dead. The firstfruits embrace Christ and those raised and carried off to heaven, when He arose and went to heaven (I Cor. 15:23; Matt. 27:51-53; Eph. 4:7-10). The harvest embraces all "they that are Christ's at his coming." At His coming includes the martyrs at the close of the end of the tribulation period. This group is specified as the tribulation dead by John in Revelation 20:4-5. The "they" who are enthroned at the first of verse four are those with Christ, raised in the harvest period and seen in Revelation 17:12, 14 and 19:11-16. After these are enthroned the martyred dead are raised and enthroned, and both groups reign with Him the thousand years. This completes the first resurrection (Rev. 20:4-6).

"The rest of the dead lived not. . ."

The blessed and holy dead live again prior to "the thousand years"; and the rest of the dead lived not at this time. The Bible says plainly how long it was, or will be, until they live: "The rest of the dead lived not until the thousand years should be finished." This, by the word of the Lord, puts one thousand years between the resurrection of the blessed and holy dead, and those not blessed and holy. Any man, or group of men, who say otherwise will have to reckon on meeting Revelation 22:18-19 face to face one day. The final resurrection, after the thousand years, is shown in Revelation 20:11-15. On the chart, and in the Scripture, there is an inspired "THEN" between firstfruits and harvest. This "then" covers more than 1900 years. Between harvest and the end of raising the dead is another inspired "THEN." This "then" covers the thousand years. This thousand years is the reign of Christ.

"Then cometh the end. . ."

Revelation twenty shows the thousand year reign of Christ between the resurrection of the saved and unsaved dead. The reign of Chris' stands between. Revelation is said to be "symbolic language" and the literal meaning is not sure. Well I Corinthians 15:20-28 presents exactly the same order. Here is the order of plain literal language: Raising of them "that are Christ's". . . "For he must reign". . .. "The last enemy that shall be abolished is death.' The reign of Christ stands between two resurrections. This, briefly said is the inspired order of the resurrection both of the just and unjust.