This is the program of salvation. We are being saved from Satan and brought fully into God's person by means of all the Virtue, Substance, wisdom, and power of God that have been given us through Christ in order to save us from the world, from Satan, from our own lusts, and from our stubborn self-seeking.

We are in the process of being saved and it is very difficult for us to cooperate with the Holy Spirit in every detail. We can succeed through the grace of God in Christ, but only as we pay full attention to the program. Many are called but few are chosen. The chosen few are then tested rigorously in the area of faithfulness.

Those who will ride with the Lord Jesus in that Day are called, chosen, and faithful.

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. (Revelation 20:4-6)

The first resurrection is the first resurrection. There is no resurrection of the saints prior to the first resurrection.

The first resurrection is not the resurrection of salvation but the resurrection of the royal priesthood, of those who have attained this preliminary resurrection by accepting crucifixion so Christ may live in them. The ruling priests are given back their bodies so they may govern the nations of the saved from the city of Jerusalem along with the Lord Jesus.

The first resurrection is only for the victorious saints—God's true witnesses of every period of history.

And thou, O tower of the flock, the strong hold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem. (Micah 4:8)

The former kingdom, the kingdom of David and Solomon, shall be given to the "tower of the flock."

Consider the following in which the mature of the Church are compared with the less mature "sisters."

I am a wall, and my breasts like towers: then was I in his eyes as one that found favour. (Song of Solomon 8:10)

The types of the coming of the Lord, such as the events attending the attack by Gideon's army of 300, show that the Lord Jesus will govern first with a small part of His elect. There also are other major types that portray the same concept, such as the separation of the Ark from the Tabernacle of the Congregation and the three anointings of King David.

To be continued.