What is the first resurrection?

Scripture describes the first resurrection in Revelation 20, where John says he saw the souls of those who were beheaded for the witness of Jesus and for the word of God, and who had not worshipped the beast or received his mark, and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. It says plainly, "But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection." Those who share in this resurrection are called blessed and holy, for on them the second death has no power; instead they become priests of God and of Christ and reign with Him for the thousand years.

This resurrection is tied to the order Paul lays out concerning the dead in Christ. Christ Himself is the firstfruits of resurrection life, and afterward come those who are His at His coming. This includes both those who died in Christ before the Rapture and those who are alive and remain, who are caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, so that they are ever with Him. In this way, the first resurrection gathers together the redeemed of God, whether they died earlier in the faith or were taken up at His return, and joins them to reign with Christ.

The reign that follows this resurrection is not merely spiritual but is described as ruling on the earth alongside Christ during His thousand year Kingdom. Those who are part of the first resurrection sit on thrones and are given judgment, fulfilling the promise that the redeemed are made kings and priests unto God and shall reign on the earth. This stands in contrast to the rest of the dead, the wicked, who do not live again until after the thousand years are finished, at which point they are raised in a later resurrection to face judgment.