ANSWER: No to both questions! Those mentioned in Matthew 27:51-53 were certain followers of Christ who, apparently, had recently died and were known of those to whom they appeared in Jerusalem. Further reason for their resurrection is not stated. However, that it attests, along with the resurrection of Christ, to our future resurrection cannot be denied. Another blessed assurance for the faithful child of God!

The “first” resurrection spoken of in Revelation 20:5-6 is symbolic and involves only those previously described in Revelation 20:4, i.e., the disembodied souls who had been slain for the cause of Christ. In Revelation 6:9, these same souls are seen as being under the altar. They are symbolically resurrected (the first resurrection) from under the altar to enthronement in order to reign in figurative judgement with Christ for a “thousand years,” a period of time typical of an indefinite, but complete period of time. This “first resurrection” has no reference to you and me. Note in verse four; “And ‘they’ (those slain for His cause) lived and reigned . . .”

1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 reads as follows: “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: 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.” This passage needs to be read in context. The idea of two resurrections, one for the righteous and one for the wicked, is not under discussion. The two groups of people under discussion are those who are dead in Christ and those who are alive in Christ before the promised meeting with the Lord in the air! The Thessalonians apparently believed that only the righteous living would benefit from Christ’s return. Paul corrects this misunderstanding by saying that the dead in Christ will rise first (before the meeting with Christ in the air), then after having been resurrected, they will join those who are alive in Christ. Both groups then will ascend as one group to meet the Lord in the air at the same time.

In John 5:28-29, we read, “marvel not at this: for the hour is coming. in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice, And they shall come forth; they that have done good unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil to the resurrection of damnation.” This passage speaks of a single hour (the hour) when all (doers of good and doers of evil) that are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth. They that have done evil will be resurrected to damnation; they who have done good will be resurrected to life This passage clearly teaches the truth of one general resurrection!