NT Promise 159: Blessed and Holy in the First Resurrection

Revelation 20:6a Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power.

Blessing and holiness in eternal life forever is promised for believers in Christ. The bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ is the ”first resurrection.” Jesus is the first and only person ever to rise again from death, and stay alive forever. There have been other resurrections, or ”resuscitations,” but they died again later. He who believes in Christ and is baptized in His name has a part in His resurrection.

Then there will follow the general resurrection (the second) of all human beings: ”All that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth…unto the resurrection of life, and…unto the resurrection of damnation [john 5:28-29].” Everyone will rise, but some to eternal life, and some to eternal damnation, or the “second death.” The second death, eternal damnation, has no hold on those who believe in Christ and have a part in His resurrection. This is the quintessential promise for Christians: eternal life and no eternal death.

There will be a resurrection of the body; the promise is that the resurrection of believers will be blessed and holy. We shall be blessed in every imaginable way, even beyond comprehension. And we can’t even imagine the boundless joy and incredible peace that will come from being holy. And a greater truth is that “resurrection life” is ours today in the midst of the sin, misery, and evil of this life on earth. Faith makes this Hope real and alive and overcomes today’s problems.