Truah: the first of only two resurrections

Silver trumpets being blown on Truah, the time of the first resurrection.

The first day of the seventh month for many is still known to them as Trumpets. However, there are also many who understand that the word that has been translated as trumpets in many different versions of the Bible, is simply the Hebrew word truah. This word means a tumult, to make a great noise with shouting.

Speak unto the sons of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, on the first of the month, ye have a sabbath, a memorial of shouting [truah], a holy convocation; ye do no servile work, and ye have brought near a fire-offering to Jehovah (Leviticus 23:24-25 YLT).
And in the seventh month, in the first of the month, a holy convocation ye have, ye do no servile work; a day of shouting [truah] it is to you (Numbers 29:1 YLT).

However, since that day is the first day of the month, there are also two silver trumpets that are blown.

And Jehovah speaketh unto Moses, saying, Make to thee two trumpets of silver; beaten work thou dost make them, and they have been to thee for the convocation of the company . . .And in the day of your gladness, and in your appointed seasons, and in the beginnings of your months, ye have blown also with the trumpets . . . they have been to you for a memorial before your God (Numbers 10:1-10 YLT).

Therefore, the first day of the seventh month is a day of making a great noise with both shouting and with the blowing of two silver trumpets, not one or the other.

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Messiah returns with a shout and a trumpet

It is because of the reference to this shouting and blowing of the “last” trumpet that we understand the day to represent Christ’s return and the resurrection of the dead in Christ.

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven, with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we that are alive, that are left, shall together with them be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord (I Thessalonians 4:16-17 ASV).
Behold, I tell you a mystery: We all shall not sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed (I Corinthians 15:51-52 ASV).
. . . but in the days of the sound of the seventh angel, whenever he is about to trump, and the mystery of God should be initiated, which good news was announced by his bondmen the prophets (Revelation of John 10:7 ABP).
And the seventh Angel sounded the trumpet. And there were great voices in heaven, saying: “The kingdom of this world has become our Lord’s and his Christ’s, and he shall reign forever and ever (Revelation 11:14,15).

The first resurrection

In chapter 5 of John (John 5:21-22), Jesus tells us that he has been given authority to raise the dead. “For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son.”

The gospels tell us that he did raise certain individuals to life, including Lazarus. John 12:1 says, “Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.”

But in chapter 5 of John he tells us about coming resurrections from the dead which will include large numbers of people. He plainly distinguishes one resurrection from another.

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live (John 5:24-25).

There is much information in these two verses about a particular resurrection.

“An hour is coming” when “those who hear will live.” Not all people who have died will be in this resurrection. Only those who hear his voice at that hour. Who are they? He tells us, “whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me.”

Jesus says, “Whoever is of God hears the words of God (John 8:47).”

Those who “hear” his word are those who understand and believe and practice what he tells them. And they believe God who sent him. Jesus tells us they are justified and qualified now to receive eternal life. They “have eternal life,” and will not “come into judgment.” (John 5:24)

When they are resurrected it will not be to mortal life. The ones he is speaking of will be resurrected to eternal life. This particular resurrection is called in the book of Revelation, “the first resurrection.”

This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years (Revelation 20:5-6).

Revelation chapter 20 assures us that it will occur before the “thousand years” because those in that resurrection will reign with Christ for the whole thousand years. And the parenthetical statement that begins verse 5 in Revelation 20, “But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished” makes it certain that there will be no resurrections during the thousand years. It also assures us that there will be only one more resurrection after the thousand years.

The second resurrection

Jesus describes the second resurrection also in chapter 5 of John.

For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment (John 5:26-29 ESV)

This passage is all about judgment.

Some translations miss that point altogether because they mistranslate the Greek word for judgment, “krisis” (G2920). For example the KJV translators knew that the word means judgment in verse 26. But in verse 29 they chose to translate the same word as “damnation.”

Verses 28 and 29 tell us about a single particular resurrection, not two separate resurrections. We know this because all people spoken of here are resurrected in the same “hour.” All who are in their tombs (ESV and others) or graves (KJV and others) will hear his voice. Except for those who were in the first resurrection, all who have ever lived and died will be brought back to life in this second and last resurrection.

Even the ESV translation, which recognizes that krisis means judgment, misses something important here, just as others do. They say, “the resurrection of life” and “the resurrection of judgment.” But the word “the” is not in the Greek in either case.

Adding that word strongly implies two resurrections. But this is one resurrection, at one time, after the thousand years are over—just as we were told in Revelations 20 verse 5: “But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished”.

In John 5:28 and 29, Jesus tells us that there are two different groups of people in this one resurrection, but all who are in their graves are resurrected at the same time.

Daniel mentions this resurrection in Daniel 12:2

“And many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, some to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace [H2781 rebuke] everlasting contempt.”

This is the second resurrection. Some to eternal life. Others to judgment, of which some will receive the rebuke (correction) and repent and others will not. Two types of people.

Darby says, “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame, to everlasting contempt.”

The Almighty God, whose goal is to be “all in all” (1 Cor 15:28), does not have everlasting contempt for people. The everlasting contempt is coming from those who are unashamed and will not repent. It is they who have contempt for Almighty God and His word and His people (Psalm 123:3-4). Even in the judgment when they see the City of New Jerusalem they will have contempt. Their contempt is everlasting, so to speak. They have never repented and they will never repent.

Those who are shamed and weep are those who accept the correction (rebuke) and repent (2 Kings 22:19). This is what is meant by Jesus’ statement, there will be weeping (those who are shameful & repentant) and gnashing of teeth (those who have everlasting contempt and are unrepentant). Matthew 8:10-12

Paul mentions this second resurrection of two types of people in Acts 24:14 and 15:

But this I confess unto thee, that after the Way which they call a sect, so serve I the God of our fathers, believing all things which are according to the law, and which are written in the prophets; having hope toward God, which these also themselves look for, that there shall be a resurrection both of the just and unjust.” (Acts 24:14-15)

Jesus also mentions “the resurrection of the just” in Luke 14:14. He has already judged that they are “just.” Thayer says the word means, “upright, righteous, virtuous, keeping the commands of God.” That is why they do not need to “come into judgment” as John 5:24 says. But the other group that is resurrected at the same time, “the unjust”, will need to come into judgment.

There will be only two resurrections. Let’s compare these two resurrections

The first resurrection—when, who, and how many?

In the following quote, words enclosed within asterisks are not in the original text.

But now Christ has been raised from * the * dead; He became the firstfruit of those having fallen asleep. For since death * is * through man, also through a Man * is * a resurrection of * the * dead; for as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in * his * own order: Christ, the firstfruit, afterward those of Christ at His coming. Then * is * the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God, even the Father, when He makes to cease all rule and all authority and power. for it is right for Him to reign until He puts all the enemies under His feet;” (I Corinthians 15:20-25 LITV)

So this is the order: first Christ, the first of the firstfruit (the wave sheaf), then those at his coming—chosen to be firstfruit to Yahweh and to be priests.

“Of his own will he hath begotten us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first-fruits [singular G536] of his creatures. (James 1:18 Webster)”.

But the rest of mankind are not resurrected until after Christ has put all the enemies under his feet. Paul just calls this time the end–when Jesus delivers the kingdom to the Father.

We already know from 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 and other scriptures that the first resurrection is at Christ’s return.

Now let’s look further at who and how many are in the first resurrection.

And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God. (Revelation 14:1-5 KJV)

And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convict all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have impiously committed, and of all their hard [speeches] which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. (Jude 1:14-15 Webster)


The words “ten thousands” in Jude is the Greek word murias (G3461 myriad, plural).

The ABP says this: “And also Enoch the seventh from Adam prophesied to these ,saying, Behold, the Lord came with his holy myriads (Jude 1:14 ABP).” Myriads is plural.

It is thousands that reign with Christ, not millions. In Greek, millions can be expressed as in Genesis 24:60, where, in the ABP version, millions is written as a thousand myriads:

And they blessed Rebekah, and said to her, You are our sister become for a thousand myriads, and let your seed inherit the cities of your opponents! (Genesis 24:60 ABP)

And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of ten thousands, and let thy seed possess the gate of those that hate them.” (Genesis 24:60 ASV)

It will not be millions in the first resurrection. It will be thousands.

And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. (Revelation 7:3-4 KJV)

Rev 20:2-6    And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,  And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. ( But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.) This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

This is the first resurrection. We know it is the first resurrection because it says, “This is the first resurrection.” This first resurrection occurs before Satan is bound. Those in the first resurrection have been sealed, and they reign with Christ a thousand years. It says the number is 144,000.

The second resurrection—when, who, and how many?

Now, if the first resurrection is of those chosen as firstfruit–the 144,000, chosen to reign with Christ 1000 years as priests–then who is in the second resurrection which comes after the 1000 years? As we saw in John 5:28-29, all who are still in their graves after the first resurrection a thousand years earlier, will hear his voice and come forth.

Jesus tells us who some of them will be.

The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here. The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here. Matt 12:41,42 

And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city. Mark 6:11  

The day of judgment is the same day for the unjust men of Nineveh, the queen of the south, the people of Sodom, and all who are in the grave. This is the time of the second resurrection.

And as shown in John 5:24-29, Luke 14:1-14, and Acts 24:15, in contrast to all the unjust, all the just from every age who were not in the first resurrection will be raised to eternal life. They will not enter into judgment.

Let’s remind ourselves what Jesus said in John Chapter 5 verses 28-29:

Marvel not at this: for the hour cometh, in which all that are in the tombs shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of judgment.  ASV

Remember, there are no definite articles; in both cases it is only “resurrection,” or “a resurrection.”    But Matt 12:42, quoted above, does say “the judgment,” so there will only be one judgment period.

Coming out of the great tribulation

But weren’t we taught that there is also an “innumerable multitude” raised at the same time as everyone else? This idea comes from Revelation chapter 7. The first 8 verses refer to the sealing of the 144,000.

Then verse 9 begins, “After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues.” Are these resurrected saints? Are they already spirit beings? Not according to verse 17:

For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes (Rev 7:17 ).

All future tense. These people are still flesh and blood human beings. This is the judgement period, as described in chapters 21 and 22. The throne of God is on earth, within the City. This is a separate vision from the one in the first 8 verses. The 144,000 are not mentioned again until chapter 14. The visions that John reports in Revelation do not all occur in a strict time sequence. If the chapter break had been made 8 verses later, the sealing of the 144,000 would have seemed directly linked to the the last verse of chapter 6, “For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” It would be seen as an answer to that question, and not directly related to the vision of the “innumerable multitude.”

Continuing on:

These are those who are coming out of the great tribulation, and they did wash their robes, and they made their robes white in the blood of the Lamb; because of this are they before the throne of God, and they do service to Him day and night in His sanctuary, and He who is sitting upon the throne shall tabernacle over them;”  (Rev 7:14-15 YLT)

Some translations say, “have come out of”. But it is more correctly translated as “coming out”, as the YLT says.

Coming out of “the” great tribulation—it is great in length of time, size. The tribulation described in Matthew 24:21 is just “great tribulation”. There is no definite article “the” in front of great tribulation. The great tribulation is great in its length of time. This great tribulation mentioned in Matthew 24 is an intensifying of tribulation just before Christ’s return. Jesus says not since the beginning has there been such tribulation. So there has always been tribulation. This is not “the” great tribulation mentioned in Revelation 7, where the definite article is used but the KJV leaves it out.

The great tribulation has continued every century from the time of Adam. It is called the great tribulation because it will last 7100 years. Even the coming millennium is part of the great tribulation. They are coming out of it by overcoming the effects of having lived in this evil world. In this world, the evil is limited. In the millennium it will be minimized. Satan will be bound, and his angels will be taken out of the way. But most people during that age will not be called. Most will not have the Holy Spirit. There will need to be a temple with daily sacrifices, as Ezekiel describes. Since Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, all their descendants have been learning good and evil from their own experience and experiencing the devastating consequences.

So those in Revelation 7:14 are those that are “coming out of the great tribulation.” They are in the second resurrection. They are resurrected to judgment in the the day of judgment. They will finally be able to choose to walk after the spirit, to be cleansed, and to overcome (Rev 22:14).

We see in Rev 7:14 that an innumerable multitude who were in the second resurrection will have washed their robes, and will inherit the promise—including the men of Nineveh, the people of Sodom and Gomorrah, the Queen of the South, and the thief on the cross. This day of judgment is foreshadowed by the feast of tabernacles.