As we understand the Scriptures, Revelation 19:8 is speaking of the resurrection of the dead, the first resurrection, the resurrection that will take place when the Lord returns. The resurrection that will take place at the appearing of the Lord is the clothing of God's people with the garments of salvation, the garments of righteous behavior created in Heaven as the saints have cooperated with the Holy Spirit in experiencing Christ's death and Christ's resurrection.

Their whole personality has been brought down to death and then raised again in Christ. The process of continual crucifixion and resurrection has created a garment of righteousness that will be given to them at the coming of the Lord. As they have sown they now are reaping. Their mortal body has been sown to the death of the cross and a body of righteousness has been raised before the throne of God in Heaven.

It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. (I Corinthians 15:44)

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. (Isaiah 61:10)

This is the marriage of the Lamb.

We have for so long pictured the resurrection only in terms of the catching up that the concept of resurrection as a change from mortality to immortality may be difficult to grasp. Revelation 19:8 is speaking of the change from the filthy robes of the flesh to the radiantly white robes of righteous behavior. This is the first resurrection from the dead, the resurrection the Apostle Paul was striving to attain.

Let us look once more at Paul's statements in I Corinthians, Chapter 15. As we know, this is the "resurrection chapter" of the Scriptures.

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. (I Corinthians 15:50)

The above statement that "flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God" is an important concept for the believer in the "rapture" to consider. Those who teach the any-moment pre-tribulation "rapture" imagine that Christian people will ascend into the air as unchanged flesh and blood creatures, much as Enoch and Elijah did.

Let us continue:

Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, (I Corinthians 15:51)

"We shall all be changed."

The crucial aspect of the resurrection is the change that will take place in our body.

Paul is saying some believers will be left on the earth unto the coming of the Lord. They will not "sleep," not die, as did all the other believers of history. However all will be "changed." All will pass from mortality to immortality. This is what it means to be resurrected from the dead.

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 15:52)

"At the last trumpet."

There are seven trumpets mentioned in the Book of Revelation. The seventh trumpet, which is discussed in the tenth and eleventh chapters of the Revelation, is the last trumpet.

And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. (Revelation 11:15)

To be continued.