Psalm 108: Those Who Will Awake Early

by Wayne Blank

"O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory. Awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early"

According to the Holy Scriptures, there are two major resurrections of salvation coming. The first, to eternal-life spirit (see What Was The Lesson Of John 3:16?and the Fact Finder question below), will occur on the day of the Messiah's return. It will be composed of all of the people, from all time, who were given the means to understand the Truth and who accepted it by living a repentant life thereafter. Along with them will be those of that same category who will be alive that day – they will instantly be changed from physical life to spirit ("We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed"; see Those Who Won't Sleep).

"^4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. ^4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. ^4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. ^4:16 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: ^4:17 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. ^4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words." (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 KJV)

"^15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.^15:21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. ^15:22For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. ^15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming." (1 Corinthians 15:20-23 KJV)

"^15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. ^15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, ^15:52 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." (1 Corinthians 15:50-52 KJV)

The second resurrection will occur 1,000 years later, after those of the first resurrection "shall reign with him a thousand years" (see Why Love A Dictator? and the Fact Finder question below).