The Two Resurrections
- (primary) Revelation 20:4–6
- (secondary) Matthew 5:19
- (secondary) Revelation 11:15
- (secondary) Revelation 5:10
- (secondary) Matthew 5:5
- (secondary) Genesis 1:26–28
- (secondary) 1 Peter 4:12
- (secondary) Job 1:6–12
- (secondary) Acts 19:13–16
- (secondary) Philippians 3:10–15
- (secondary) Acts 24:15
- (secondary) John 3:18
- (secondary) Matthew 22:14
- (secondary) Mark 13:27
- (secondary) Genesis 2:21–23
- (secondary) 2 Thessalonians 1:11
- (secondary) 2 Thessalonians 1:5
- (secondary) 1 Thessalonians 2:12
- (secondary) Colossians 1:10
- (secondary) John 4:31–34
- (secondary) 2 Timothy 2:3
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Summary
1. Introduction to the two resurrections — 00:00–02:54 Vaughn introduces the subject by explaining that many Christians do not understand the distinction between two resurrections. He argues that this misunderstanding contributes to confusion about the Sabbath, the holy days, and the purpose of salvation. He urges listeners to consider which resurrection they desire to participate in and turns to Revelation 20. 2. The meaning of thrones — 02:54–05:05 Vaughn reads Revelation 20:4 and emphasizes John's vision of thrones. He explains that he understands a throne in Revelation as a symbol of governmental authority. He contrasts the promise of kingdom government with the popular Christian desire simply to enter heaven. 3. The responsibility of judgment — 05:05–08:18 Vaughn teaches that those who reign with Messiah will exercise judgment over the nations. He argues that believers must therefore learn to judge according to Yahweh's law. He criticizes judgment based on church traditions, personal opinions, emotional reactions, and political loyalties. He specifically challenges religious standards that emphasize outward appearance while disregarding biblical dietary commandments. 4. Self-government as preparation for the kingdom — 08:18–10:18 Vaughn explains that believers must learn to govern their own desires before receiving governmental responsibility. He identifies appetites, sexuality, financial ambition, and personal conduct as areas requiring discipline. He presents self-government as preparation for ruling during the millennium. 5. The first resurrection and the thousand years — 10:18–13:29 Vaughn returns to Revelation 20:4–5. He emphasizes that only a particular group of people lives and reigns with Messiah during the thousand years. He identifies this event as the first resurrection and places it at the beginning of the seventh prophetic millennium. He describes the present period as a transition between ages. 6. The blessed and holy — 13:29–15:46 Vaughn reads Revelation 20:6 and emphasizes the description of those who participate in the first resurrection as blessed and holy. He associates these characteristics with commandment keeping and righteous conduct. He teaches that this group will serve as priests and reign with Messiah for a thousand years. 7. The kingdom will be on earth — 15:46–17:32 Vaughn quotes the announcement that the kingdoms of the world become the kingdom of Messiah. He also quotes the promise that the redeemed will reign on the earth. He connects these passages with Adam's original responsibility to exercise dominion over creation. He argues that Messiah's kingdom restores Yahweh's original purpose for humanity. 8. Trials as preparation for government — 17:32–20:39 Vaughn discusses suffering, persecution, and the testing of believers. He refers to Job and the sons of Sceva to illustrate spiritual testing and the importance of genuine authority. He argues that Satan's opposition can expose rebellion and demonstrate whether believers will remain faithful. He encourages listeners to overcome rebellion rather than concentrate exclusively on opposition from the adversary. 9. Paul's pursuit of the resurrection — 20:39–23:48 Vaughn reads Philippians 3:10–12. He emphasizes Paul's desire to know Messiah, participate in his sufferings, and attain the resurrection. Vaughn interprets Paul's language as referring specifically to the first resurrection. He argues that even Paul pursued this resurrection without assuming that he had already attained its qualifications. 10. Pressing toward the prize — 23:48–25:22 Vaughn continues through Philippians 3. He emphasizes forgetting the past, pressing forward, and pursuing the prize of the high calling. He applies Paul's determination to obedience, prayer, holiness, and perseverance. He urges believers to make participation in the first resurrection a central spiritual goal. 11. The second resurrection — 25:22–27:35 Vaughn reads Acts 24:15 concerning the resurrection of the just and the unjust. He teaches that the second resurrection includes those not selected for the first resurrection. He connects the second resurrection with the great white throne judgment. He argues that some believers will participate in the later resurrection rather than the millennial government. 12. The called and the chosen — 27:35–28:28 Vaughn emphasizes the distinction between being called and being chosen. He teaches that many enter the church but fewer qualify for government with Messiah. He presents the first resurrection as the resurrection of the chosen overcomers. 13. The gathering of the elect — 28:28–29:14 Vaughn reads Mark 13:27 concerning the gathering of the elect from the four winds. He associates the gathering with the 144,000 and the first harvest. He teaches that Yahweh is awakening scattered Israelites and preparing them for the coming kingdom. 14. The bride and the body — 29:14–30:48 Vaughn distinguishes the bride of Yeshua from the larger body of believers. He uses Eve's creation from Adam's body as an illustration of the bride being selected from the body. He teaches that the Holy Spirit is preparing a faithful, obedient bride for Messiah. 15. Walking worthy of the calling — 30:48–33:18 Vaughn reads 2 Thessalonians 1:11, 2 Thessalonians 1:5, 1 Thessalonians 2:12, and Colossians 1:10. He emphasizes being counted worthy of the calling and the kingdom. He distinguishes salvation by grace and faith from the continuing responsibility to mature in knowledge, good works, and obedience. 16. Spiritual maturity and perseverance — 33:18–34:39 Vaughn challenges believers who remain dependent upon emotional worship experiences without developing biblical knowledge. He calls for sustained study, forgiveness, perseverance, and faithful service. He presents these disciplines as essential to becoming an overcomer. 17. The word bride and final exhortation — 34:39–36:38 Vaughn closes by emphasizing what he regards as Yahweh's restoration of truth concerning the Sabbath, commandments, and divine identity. He rejects denominational labels as the defining identity of Messiah's bride. He describes the bride as clothed in obedience and faithfulness and encourages believers to continue pursuing the first resurrection.
Core doctrine
Dr. Shane Vaughn teaches that scripture reveals two distinct resurrections and that understanding the difference is essential to understanding the purpose of salvation, the Sabbath, the millennial kingdom, and the calling of believers. He argues that many Christians have been taught to expect one general resurrection of believers, whereas Revelation 20 distinguishes between those who participate in the first resurrection and the remaining dead who are raised after the thousand years. Vaughn identifies the first resurrection as the resurrection of a specially qualified group of believers who will rule and reign with Yeshua during the millennium. He interprets the thrones in Revelation 20:4 as symbols of government rather than literal seats. In his understanding, the central promise to overcoming believers is not merely entrance into heaven but participation in the government of Yahweh over the nations of the earth. He teaches that the first resurrection occurs at the conclusion of the sixth prophetic day and the beginning of the seventh millennium, which he calls the grand Sabbath. He connects this period with the thousand-year reign described in Revelation 20. He also characterizes the present age as a transition toward that future kingdom and compares the changing ages with terminology sometimes associated with the age of Aquarius. Vaughn emphasizes that judgment is an essential responsibility of those who will reign with Messiah. He rejects the common interpretation that believers must never judge. Instead, he argues that future kingdom rulers must learn righteous judgment in the present life. The standard of that judgment, according to his teaching, is the Torah, the law of Yahweh, rather than personal opinions, denominational rules, emotions, or political preferences. He teaches that preparation for kingdom government begins with self-government. Believers must learn to govern their appetites, sexual desires, financial ambitions, emotional responses, and personal conduct. He argues that someone who cannot exercise righteous judgment over personal behavior is not yet prepared to judge the nations. In this framework, obedience to Yahweh's commandments is training for future governmental responsibility. Vaughn connects this governmental calling with the original commission given to Adam. He teaches that Yahweh instructed Adam to exercise dominion over the earth and that this divine purpose has not changed. He identifies Yeshua as the final Adam who restores humanity's intended dominion. The first resurrection therefore becomes, in his interpretation, the means by which qualified believers enter the restored administration of the earth. He cites Revelation 5:10 and Revelation 11:15 to support the earthly location of the kingdom. He emphasizes that believers will reign on the earth and that the kingdoms of the world will become the kingdom of Messiah. He also refers to the promise that the meek will inherit the earth. These passages support his rejection of the idea that heaven is the ultimate destination or principal reward of the resurrected saints. Vaughn interprets Revelation 20:6 as identifying those in the first resurrection as blessed and holy. He treats these words as characteristics required for participation in that resurrection. He connects blessedness and holiness with keeping Yahweh's commandments, overcoming sin, and remaining faithful through suffering. He teaches that the second death has no power over this group and that they will serve as priests and rulers with Messiah. He distinguishes initial salvation from qualification for the first resurrection. In his teaching, a person is called through grace and faith, but being chosen for kingdom government requires continued spiritual growth and obedience. He argues that not every believer who experiences salvation will participate in the first resurrection. Some, he teaches, will be raised in the second resurrection. Vaughn appeals to Philippians 3:10–15 to explain the believer's pursuit of the first resurrection. He interprets Paul's desire to attain the resurrection as a desire to qualify for the special resurrection of the overcomers. He emphasizes Paul's acknowledgment that he had not yet attained perfection and his determination to press toward the prize. Vaughn applies this example to believers who must continue pursuing holiness without assuming that their calling guarantees their selection for kingdom government. He identifies the second resurrection with the resurrection of the remaining dead after the thousand years. He cites Acts 24:15, which speaks of a resurrection of both the just and the unjust. Vaughn concludes that the second resurrection includes not only unbelievers but also believers who were not chosen for the first resurrection. He connects this event with the great white throne judgment and the opening of the books. Vaughn further teaches that those in the first resurrection do not appear before the later judgment in the same capacity as the remaining dead. Instead, they immediately begin their assigned governmental responsibilities. He argues that these believers have already learned to judge themselves by Yahweh's law and have been prepared for the administration of the kingdom. He interprets the biblical distinction between the called and the chosen as a distinction between ordinary participation in the church and qualification for millennial government. He teaches that many are called into the body of Messiah but relatively few are selected for the first resurrection. He associates this chosen group with the 144,000, the first harvest, and the overcoming bride of Yeshua. Vaughn distinguishes the bride of Messiah from the larger body of Messiah. He uses the creation of Eve from Adam's body as a prophetic illustration. Just as Eve was taken from Adam, Vaughn teaches that the Holy Spirit is selecting a bride from within the larger body of believers. In his interpretation, the bride is a specially prepared company of obedient and faithful believers who will reign with Messiah. He connects the gathering of the elect in Mark 13:27 with the future assembly of this chosen company. He also associates the gathering with the scattered house of Israel and teaches that people who presently identify as Gentiles may possess an Israelite covenant identity that Yahweh is awakening. He interprets this process as the formation of the first harvest before the coming kingdom. Vaughn teaches that trials and spiritual opposition are part of the preparation of future rulers. He uses Job's testing and the confrontation involving the sons of Sceva to illustrate the importance of genuine spiritual identity. He argues that Satan functions as an adversary through whom believers are tested and their faithfulness demonstrated. In his application, the believer's most important enemy is personal rebellion rather than the adversary alone. He emphasizes that suffering must produce perseverance, forgiveness, humility, and obedience. He encourages believers not to abandon their calling when friends leave, ministers are rejected, or circumstances become difficult. He teaches that the ability to remain faithful under pressure is evidence of preparation for the first resurrection. Vaughn cites passages from 2 Thessalonians, 1 Thessalonians, and Colossians to emphasize walking worthy of the calling. He distinguishes receiving a calling from living in a manner appropriate to that calling. He identifies increasing biblical knowledge, bearing good fruit, performing good works, and persevering in obedience as characteristics of believers seeking to become chosen. He criticizes religious environments that emphasize emotional experiences, spiritual manifestations, and repeated altar ministry without sufficient biblical instruction. Although he expresses gratitude for his Pentecostal heritage, he argues that spiritual excitement must be accompanied by knowledge of Yahweh's commandments. He presents daily study of scripture as necessary preparation for spiritual maturity and future kingdom service. Vaughn concludes by describing the bride as faithful to the word rather than to a denomination. He calls believers to reject religious idolatry, examine inherited traditions, embrace the Sabbath and commandments, and pursue the first resurrection. His central doctrinal distinction is that salvation introduces a person into the body of Messiah, while overcoming obedience prepares the chosen bride for government with Messiah during the thousand-year kingdom.
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