Is It True That the First Resurrection Happens First Before the Seven Thunders Utter Their Voices?
1) Direct Answer
No. The seven thunders must utter before and in the very season of the Lord’s descent, and that prepares and gathers the Bride for the first resurrection. The first resurrection does not come before the thunders.
2) Scriptural Explanation
- Revelation 10:1-4 shows the Mighty Angel descending and the seven thunders uttering their voices. John is told to seal up what they said. Then verse 7 says, “in the days of the voice of the seventh angel… the mystery of God should be finished.” So the thunders belong to the time when the mystery is finishing—before the close and before the Bride is taken.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 says the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven “with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God,” and then “the dead in Christ shall rise first.” Notice the order: descent, then resurrection.
- 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 places the resurrection/change at the last trump.
- Revelation 20:4-6 identifies those who live and reign with Christ a thousand years—the first resurrection. This is the Bride. Revelation 7:9-17 also identifies that redeemed multitude as the Bride whom the Lamb leads.
3) Simple Clarifying Logic
- Revelation 10 shows the Lord descending and the thunders sounding in that very timeframe. 1 Thessalonians 4 shows the Lord descending, and then the dead in Christ rise. Therefore the thunders are part of that descent season that finishes the mystery and equips the Bride, and only then does the first resurrection take place.
- If the first resurrection happened before the thunders, to whom would those sealed utterances minister, and how would they “finish” the mystery for a Bride that was already raised?
4) Reinforcing Statement
Now notice, the Bible keeps the order straight: descent with hidden utterance and finishing of the mystery (Revelation 10), then the dead in Christ rise (1 Thessalonians 4), and those in Revelation 20:4-6 reign with Him. The thunders precede and accompany that gathering—so the first resurrection does not come first.
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Ranked passages from the local William Branham sermon and Church Age Book database. Relevance is relative, not a statement of doctrinal certainty.
Seals 10: The Seventh Seal
63-0324E §83
Now, why? Let us prove it. Why? It is the secret that no one knows about. John was forbidden to write about it---even write a symbol about it. Why? This is why. There was no activity in heaven. It might give away the secret. Do you see it now? If it is so great it must be included, because it's got to happen, but when the seven thunders... Now notice, when the seven angels come forth to sound their trumpets, there was one thunder. When Israel was gathered, there was a trumpet. When time shall be no more, the last t...
The Rapture
65-1204 §100
one day there'll come a blast from heaven, and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Them Old Testament saints back yonder who are waiting will blast forth and come out of there first and go into the resurrection; we'll drop right in line going in to the skies, these old mortal bodies changed and made like unto His own glorious body. What a parade that'll be when it starts heavenward some of these days in that rapturing time that lays ahead, oh, proudly displaying the blood of Jesus Christ upon their chests, the mes...
Revelation, Chapter 4a
60-1231 §70
Over in this place, then, he saw the coming, or the rehearsal. And what was the first thing he saw? The first thing he saw in the coming was Moses, representing the dead saints that would be resurrected. Elijah was standing there. Oh, I want you to notice what will take place. There was Moses, first. That's all these six ages that they slept, six church ages. Not only that, but Elijah was there, the messenger of the last day with his group all transfigured, the raptured (Amen!), now in the future, awaiting the comi...
An Exposition Of The Seven Church Ages
CAB 7:E-89
It is the second resurrection that the "souls under the altar" as set forth in the fifth seal (Revelation 6:9-11) are given white robes, and of course eternal life, or there would be no point of white robes. "And when He had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the Word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost Thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And whi...
Church Ages, part 9: The ten virgins, and the 144,000
60-1211M §64
There's your hundred and forty... Now if you want to see the bride come up after that, to show that the 144,000 is not the bride, just continue to read now on down, from the 8th chapter on ... or, yes, the 8th chapter---or, the 8th verse, I mean, from the 7th chapter. Let's start at the 9th verse, 'cause the 8th verse is the sealing of Benjamin, twelve thousand. After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number [here comes the bride], of all nations, ... kindreds, ... people, and tongues, s...