The Third Aspect of the First Resurrection
Another aspect of the first resurrection is found in the twelfth chapter of Revelation. It is the forming of Christ in the saints. Christ Himself Is the Resurrection from the dead. As He is formed in us the resurrection is formed in us.
And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. (Rev 12:5)
The Greek word for "caught up" in the above verse is the same term employed in 1 Thessalonians 4:17: "Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, . . . ."
Rev 12:2-5, which uses the figure of the woman (the Church) and the male Son (Christ formed in the believers), is closely aligned with the sixth chapter of the Gospel of John. John, Chapter Six declares several times that our resurrection from the dead is associated with eating the flesh and drinking the blood of Christ.
Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. (John 6:54)
The above verse is speaking of Christ who Himself Is the Resurrection and the eternal Life. Christ is being formed in us as we learn to live by eating His flesh and drinking His holy blood.
Christ is the Ruler of the ages to come. As soon as He is formed in us He is caught up to the right hand of the Father in Heaven because that is where He must remain for now. He is waiting for the Father to make His enemies His footstool.
As we stated previously, each true Christian already has experienced a spiritual resurrection and ascension. Our spiritual life is hidden in Christ at the right hand of the Father.
When we receive Christ we are raised to the highest of all thrones. It is not possible to be raised any higher.
The struggle of the saint is not to be raised higher for there is no higher throne. The struggle is for the purpose of maintaining that which is already true and to be able to bring down the throne-life into our daily walk in the earth.
Day by day the warfare continues. Satan uses every device to tear us down from the throne. As Christ is formed in us He is caught up to the throne. Satan seeks continually to occupy us with life on earth so that our personality thinks, speaks, and acts in the appetites of the flesh. By prayer, reading the Word, and obedience we strive to keep our attention and affection on things above where our life is hidden with Christ in God.
The struggle is a travail that Christ, who is the Resurrection and the Life, may be formed in us.
We must always be vigilant so no person will be able to take our crown. Keep in mind that the talents given to us will be given to another if we do not put them to good use. It is entirely possible to be predestined to be a ruler in the Kingdom of God and have someone else receive our crown of life and righteousness because we were careless and foolish.
If we overcome Satan, our life will be established in the throne of God in Heaven and we then will be able to return with Christ in glory to set earth's captives free. This is the meaning of Revelation, Chapter Twelve.
But if Satan is successful in persuading us to live our life in the appetites and things of the flesh, then we will lose our own position with Christ and be of no use to those on the earth whom Satan has bound.
But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. (Hebrews 3:6)
We must endure to the end in order to participate in the glory of the sons of God.
For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end; (Hebrews 3:14)
Sometimes it is taught that we cannot possibly lose what was given to us when we received Christ. This is an error and it may be destroying many who might have lived in victory had they understood that it is only those who endure to the end who finally will be partakers of the first resurrection from the dead.
When Paul was seeking to attain to the out-resurrection (Philippians 3:11, Greek text) it was this aspect—the full realization of the power and Glory of Christ's resurrection in him— that he was seeking to experience; although the last verse of Chapter Three of Philippians reveals clearly that Paul had in mind the ultimate resurrection—the redemption of his mortal body.
There is an initial resurrection and ascension of our inner nature that we experience upon receiving Christ. The initial resurrection must be cultivated each day in a series of deaths and resurrections of our soul until our entire inner nature has experienced crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension to the right hand of God.
We are seeking to establish our place among those who stand by the Lord. Because of envy and jealousy, Satan and those whom he influences are always attempting to remove us from our place near the Lord. This is where they used to be and they are furious at the thought of "man" taking their place in the throne room of the palace of the King.
Thus saith the Lord of hosts; If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou shalt also judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by. (Zechariah 3:7)
The Levitical feast of First-fruits portrays the initial reaping of our spiritual nature. The feast of Tabernacles speaks of the full reaping of the inner nature of the mature saint (Leviticus 23:10, Lev 23:34)
In John 6:54 (above) Jesus stated, "I will raise him up at the last day."
All the dead, both the righteous and the wicked, will come forth from their graves at the voice of Christ (John 5:28-29).
But we are speaking now primarily of the first resurrection, the resurrection of the victorious saints. It is Christ Himself—His Life—who raises up those in whom He has been formed. It is that body and blood, that eternal Life, that will raise them up at His appearing.
This is the "oil" that we must possess if we would go with Him to the feast (Matthew 25:4). It is the indwelling body and blood that will cause the young eagles to seek and find the "body" (Luke 17:37).