As there is a difference in the issue (John 5:28, 29; Dan. 12:2,
cf. literal Hebrew rendering below) so there is as to time between
the resurrection of the righteous and that of the wicked. Phil.
3:11--"If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of
(lit. out of) the dead." It was no incentive to Paul simply to be
assured that he would be raised from the dead; for he knew that
all men would be thus raised. What Paul was striving for was to be
counted worthy of that first resurrection--of the righteous from
among the wicked. The resurrection "out from among" the dead is the
resurrection unto life and glory; the resurrection "of" the dead
is to shame and contempt everlasting.
1 Cor. 15:21-24. Note the expressions used, and their meaning:
"Then," meaning the next in order, the Greek denoting sequence, not
simultaneousness--each in his own cohort, battalion, brigade (cf.
Mark 4:28--"First the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn
in the ear"). Nineteen hundred years have already elapsed between
"Christ the firstfruits" and "they that are Christ's." How many years
will elapse between the resurrection of "they that are Christ's"
and that of the wicked ("the end") we may not be able to definitely
state, but certainly long enough for Christ to have "put all enemies
under his feet" (v. 25). Three groups or ranks are here mentioned:
"Christ," "they that are Christ's," "the end" (the resurrection of
the wicked). (Cf. vv. 5, 6, 7--"Seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
after that . . . after that . . . then . . . and last of all he
was seen of me also.") First Christ, afterwards (later than) "they
that are Christ's" then (positively meaning afterwards, a new era
which takes place after an interval) "cometh the end."
Dan. 12:2--"And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth
shall awake, some (lit. those who awake at this time) to everlasting
life, and some (lit. those who do not awake at this time) to shame
and everlasting contempt." Some of the most eminent Hebrew scholars
translate this passage as follows: "And (at that time) many (of thy
people) shall awake (or be separated) out from among the sleepers
in the earth dust. These (who awake) shall be unto life eternal,
but those (who do not awake at that time) shall be unto contempt
and shame everlasting." It seems clear from this passage that all
do not awake at one (this) time, but only as many as are written
in the book (12:1).
Eevelation 20:4-6 shows that at least a thousand years--whatever
period of time may be thereby designated--elapses between the
resurrection of the righteous and the wicked.
John 5:28, 29; Dan. 12:2; Rev. 20:12 all show that the resurrection
of the wicked is always connected with the judgment, and that takes
place at the close and not at the beginning of the Day of the Lord.
Whatever difficulties may present themselves in connection with the
resurrection, whatever obstacles of a miraculous or supernatural
nature may present themselves in connection therewith are to be
met by remembering the truth enunciated by Christ in connection
with this very subject: Matt. 22:29--"Ye do err, not knowing the
scriptures, nor the power of God." (Cf. v. 23.--"The same day came
to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection,"
etc., and the following verses for the setting of v. 39.)