A Christian goes through three stages of spiritual life. Salvation is a moment in time when a person understands that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God who died for our sin then accepts Him as Savior and Lord (John 3:16-17). See Invitation. Sanctification is a day-by-day life long process growing in our relationship with God and one another through knowing and applying the Bible, prayer, fellowship with other Christians in a local church. We work for the Kingdom of God as we live through life (John 15:5). At the end of our temporary life, God promises glorification, transition to eternal life through resurrection and rapture (1 John 3:2).

Resurrection

Resurrection is when God transforms the dead back to life. There are three types of resurrections.

Physical Life: God uses the prophets or disciples to bring a person that is dead back to physical life. Moses and Joshua establish the Law and settle the Promised Land (Exodus 24:12). Elijah and Elisha reestablish the law during the divided kingdom. Jesus Christ heals the sick and raises the dead to fulfill prophecy and begins the new covenant of grace (Matthew 11:4-5, Luke 4:18-19, 21). Jesus gave disciples the Holy Spirit and power to do miracles to start the Church (Matthew 10:1). There are eight resurrections back to life.

When he had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go (John 11:43-44).

Eternal Life: God brings back the dead to eternal life. The firstfruit is Jesus Christ. He died, was buried and rose again for our sin (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). The second is the resurrection and rapture of the Church (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). The third is two witnesses during the Tribulation (Revelation 11:3, 7, 11-12). The fourth is the resurrection of the Old Testament and Tribulation Saints that were martyred during the Tribulation (Revelation 20:4).

Now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive (1 Corinthians 15:20-22).

Eternal Death: Unbelievers are resurrected from death back to physical life to stand before Jesus Christ at the Great White Throne judgment. Without accepting Jesus Christ as Savior and receiving mercy and grace, they receive justice and judgment (Hebrews 9:27, Revelation 20:11-12, 13-15). If life was fair, all of us would be in Hell.

Two Resurrections?

Some Bible scholars merge all the resurrections into one at the end of the Tribulation. This ignores the resurrection of Jesus Christ and contradicts promises of God (Isaiah 26:19-20, Revelation 3:10). There are two types of resurrections of the dead: eternal life or eternal death. Since Jesus Christ is the sinless offering of firstfuits, the rest of the bread is holy (Romans 11:16). Jesus Christ is first part of the whole: the Church, two witnesses, Old Testament, Tribulation and Millennium Saints. The last (gentiles) will be first and first (Jews) will be last (Luke 13:30).

The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years (Revelation 20:5-6).

Rapture

The Rapture is when God transforms the living to eternal life without dying. Harpazo (Greek), rapturo (Latin) is caught up. It is not just another sunny day but a rescue followed by judgment on humanity that is in rebellion against God (2 Peter 3:3-4, 6-7). Believers are sealed with the Spirit and rescued from impending disaster (Isaiah 26:20-21). Enoch and Elijah go from physical life to eternal life without dying. The Church Age begins with Pentecost and ends with the Rapture.

On the 1st of Tishri, the synagogue prayer service includes a hundred blasts of the shofar with four sounds. Paul said when the last trump (Tekiah Gedolah) sounds on the Feast of Trumpets, we will transform from temporary life to eternal life. Our glorified bodies will be free from the curse of Adam and our hearts will be perfect like Jesus Christ (John 14:1-3, Revelation 12:1-2, 5-6).

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. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality (1 Corinthians 15:51-52).

All believers transform from mortal to immortal. Paul says the dead in Christ rise first and the alive in Christ rise second. Then all believers meet Jesus Christ in the air.

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 which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).
.

In Daniel's vision, the Ancient of Days is God the Father and Son of Man is Jesus Christ (Daniel 7:13). White garment is His righteousness and white hair is His wisdom and authority. Fire represents His righteous judgment. Many angels minister to Him, while many people are judged before Him. Revelation 20 describes the Great White Throne judgment of humanity. There are four books: righteous (Lamb's Book of Life), wicked, intermediates, remembrance (deeds). It is better to judge yourself guilty now and accept a pardon Jesus Christ freely gives than to be judged later, found guilty and suffer punishment.

I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool: his throne was like fiery flame and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: judgment was set, and the books were opened (Daniel 7:9, 10).

The prophet Isaiah sees God on His throne. Despite circumstances on earth, God is sovereign over all. The length of robe describes a king's importance. He is surrounded by angels. Cherubim serve God while seraphim worship God around the throne. God is three times holy. That emphasizes His holiness and the Trinity. God the Father, Son and Spirit are holy. God is exalted above all angels, humans and other created beings, worth of glory and praise. Isaiah saw God as holy but saw himself as a sinner. He repented, was restored and called to ministry.

In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory (Isaiah 6:1-3).

The prophet Ezekiel has a vision of the throne of God. Words cannot express the magnificence he experiences. The living creatures and wheel are described (Hebrews 8:5). Ezekiel sees angelic beings of a lion, ox, man and eagle. They are four mascots of four tribes of Israel: Judah, Ephraim, Ruben, Dan (Genesis 49:1-2, Numbers 2:2-3, 10, 18, 25). The tabernacle curtains at the Holy of Holies were purple, red, white and blue (Exodus 26:1). The high priest's robe has twelve gemstones of the twelve tribes (Exodus 28:21). The Gospels depict four themes of Jesus Christ: King, Servant, Son of Man, Son of God. Symbols in the Bible reveal prophecy.

As for the likeness of their faces, the four had the face of a man, the face of a lion on the right side, face of an ox on the left side, and the face of an eagle. Now as I beheld the living creatures, behold one wheel upon the earth by the living creatures, with his four faces. And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it (Ezekiel 1:10, 15, 26).

Years after Jesus Christ, Paul had special revelations from God. Jesus Christ called him on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:3-4, 5-6). He went to Arabia to be personally taught (1 Corinthians 15:8). He was caught up (harpazo) to heaven but returned to be an apostle to the Gentiles (Romans 11:13). Three years later, he met Peter (Galatians 1:17-18).

I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knows;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. And I knew such a man, that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter (2 Corinthians 12:2-4).

As a disciple, John knew Jesus. He lives with Him and ministered with Him. For one short moment during the transfiguration, he sees the glory of Jesus Christ (Matthew 17:1-3). Yet this vision was different view of the Son of God (Revelation 1:13-14, 15-16).

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is (1 John 3:2).

Later, John is called to heaven. Whether a vision or personally in heaven, he returns back to write the Revelation of Jesus Christ so we can get a glimpse of our time.

After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will show you things which must be hereafter. And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne (Revelation 4:1-2).

John the disciple witnesses a glorious view of God in Heaven. First, he saw God Almighty seated on the throne but describes His glory as jasper and sardine, gems in the priestly breastplate. An emerald rainbow is God's unbroken covenant of redemption surrounds the throne. Although sovereign over Heaven and earth, God is goodness and truth (Exodus 34:5-6). He fulfills His promises.

And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind (Revelation 4:5-6).

John sees angelic beings that Ezekiel saw. The lion, ox, man and eagle are symbols in the Old Testament, but reveal the Gospels and epistles in the New Testament. Everything starts in Genesis, is fulfilled by Jesus Christ and complete in Revelation. Our new eternal life begins with rapture without dyeing.

The first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.The four beasts had six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come (Revelation 4:7-8).

References: 21st Century Revelation: World Wars, Iraq Wars & End Wars - Chapter 3: The Throne of God, Chapter 6: Symbols Revealed, Chapter 10: Seven Days of God, Chapter 11: The Feast of Trumpets, Chapter 12: Fall Jewish Feasts, Jewish Calendar, Revelation Outline, Covenant, Tribulation, Revelation, 21st Century View, Daniel, America, Cities, Resurrection, Timeline of the Tribulation