There are two resurrections, corresponding with the two kingdoms. The difference is in the degree of death that has taken place. Those, in whom all sinful flesh has died, take part in the first resurrection. 

I know thy works, that thou has a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen [be strong about] the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect … Revelation 3:1,2

The word of God was made flesh. When that flesh, being without sin, died, there was a resurrection, an illustration of the first resurrection. Our word of error is also made flesh, a sinful flesh formed inside of our physical flesh, the wages of which is death, the second resurrection associated with “the second death”; the death of the the things that remain; the false beliefs that formed this sinful flesh.  

Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold thou desirest truth in the inward parts…  Psalms 51:5,6

We were shaped by false perceptions and beliefs; in iniquity, and in sin. To purify our inward parts, symbolizing our mind and heart, requires truth, which takes away sin, removing the internal layers of sinful flesh formed by the false perceptions of our mind and the false beliefs of our heart.  Our external layer of sinful flesh is removed from our soul upon our physical death.   

The First Resurrection

And I saw thrones, and they that 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 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.  Revelation 20:4,5

The thrones represent seats of judgment and they that sat upon them are those that have gone through this righteous spiritual judgment, cast into a spiritual lake of fire, through which the spiritual beast of their heart was consumed.     

And Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.  Matthew 19:28

We sit upon twelve metaphorical thrones as we judge (overcome) the negative aspects of the twelve tribes of Israel, which is the regeneration; the restoration of truth, the throne symbolizing the heart.  The Sonsits in thethrone of his glory when truth rules our heart, which is the outcome of this spiritual judgment. We will still die a physical death because the physical body is sin, and the wages of sin is death, the consequence of accepting the error in the garden. But we will not be subject to the second death if we die to all of our sin through the resurrection of truth, having taken part in the first resurrection while on earth.  

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 20:6

We are made holy through the purification of our heart. We become priests of God and of Christ by offering the spiritual sacrifices of God that purify our heart. We are of Christ when our heart is ruled by God’s holy spirit and word; love and truth, whereby we reign with Christ. The thousand years is not about a literal period of time.  It refers to the seventh day, in which this purification of the heart is to take place, which is now!  

The Second Resurrection

And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison.  Revelation 20:7

This is the beginning of the second resurrection, which has already begun, in type. Satan, that old devil, the serpent, symbolizing man’s iniquity, has been loosed from prison, no longer bound, running rampant. These are perilous times for those without understanding (Daniel 12:10), without the light of truth, the spiritual wedding garment that keeps us from dwelling in outer darkness (Matthew 22:12,13).    

Then, if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Matthew 24:23,24

Religious iniquity has no bounds, carnal interpretations continuing to distract and deceive the people, many of whom are still looking for a physical return of Christ, for a show of great signs and wonders, or for a physical rapture that will take them out before the tribulation begins. 

And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.  Revelation 20:14

If we live in death and hell on this side, we will live in death and hell on the other side. Those existing in this state will be cast into the lake of fire, symbolizing the spiritual judgment that brings them into a new state, where there is no more sea, no more pain, and no more death (Revelation 21:1-4). This spiritual judgment is the second death.

And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.  Revelation 20:15

If we are living a life that is no life, living in a mental and emotional hell, we are spiritually dead in the bad sense, our name not written in the book of life.  But we can gain spiritual life through God’s spiritual judgment, which results in a spiritual death in the good sense. This is the second death.

But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death.  Revelation 21:8

The word brimstone goes to the Greek word theos, meaning godlike. It is through the fire of this spiritual judgment that we replace fear with love and lies with truth, restoring God’s spirit and word from within, becoming  godlike.