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"But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in
marriage: Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the
resurrection."
(Luke 20:35-36)
"That world" will be the world of the thousand-year reign of Christ as mentioned in Revelation 20:4-6.
Verse 4:
"And I saw thrones, and they 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 and reigned with Christ a thousand years."
Those that worshipped God, lived according to His laws, that did not bow down to anything from Satan, etc., that lived in such a way to be
accounted worthy will rule and reign with Christ during the millennium. Of course there will also be people living that survived the tribulation
period, those are the ones that will be reigned over by those worthy saints.
"But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 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."
Unbelievers that are in the grave will stay there. As far as Christians go, only those who are raised from the dead or translated at the First
Resurrection can share that thousand years and reign with the Lord.
"flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God" (I Corinthians 15:50). So only by resurrection or translation can the heavenly
kingdom be reached. And resurrection here will be only for those "accounted worthy of attaining."
In Philippians, Paul also talked of the resurrection and it's needing to be won.
"But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of
the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win
Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the
righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings,
being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead." (Philippians 3:7-11)
Here Paul states he counted everything but loss to know Christ better and the power of His resurrection and, get this, by any means he might
attain unto the resurrection of the dead! Then, in verse 12 he says he is not talking as already attaining that, nor is he perfect.
"Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I
am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things
which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of
God in Christ Jesus."
So he tells the brethren he doesn't count himself to have gotten a hold of that prize, but that he forgets everything that is past and reaches forward
with everything to work toward that point of gaining the prize of the resurrection, as he terms "the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." And
what could be a bigger prize than to be accounted worthy of ruling and reigning with Christ for a thousand years?!
This hope that Paul had expresses an end that can come, but a possibility of failure is still there.
"And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to depart thence also, if by any means they might attain to
Phenice, and there to winter; which is an haven of Crete, and lieth toward the south west and north west." (Acts 27:12)
The same phrase used in both Philippians and Acts convey a hope of completion, but historically, the hope from Acts 27:12 was not attained.
If you look at the passage in Philippians, you will find that the goal that Paul was reaching for with every part of his being was the resurrection of
the dead. With that he prayed to the Thessalonians "that our God would count you worthy of this calling," (II thessalonians 2:11). This is not
for salvation from hell but "That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory." (I Thessalonians 2:12).
Now, if this calling is assured to all Christians who believe in God and are assured of heaven no matter how
they live, why would Paul even think about praying that they are counted worthy of the Kingdom, since they
should be already worthy of it solely by faith?
marriage: Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the
resurrection."
(Luke 20:35-36)
"That world" will be the world of the thousand-year reign of Christ as mentioned in Revelation 20:4-6.
Verse 4:
"And I saw thrones, and they 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 and reigned with Christ a thousand years."
Those that worshipped God, lived according to His laws, that did not bow down to anything from Satan, etc., that lived in such a way to be
accounted worthy will rule and reign with Christ during the millennium. Of course there will also be people living that survived the tribulation
period, those are the ones that will be reigned over by those worthy saints.
"But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 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."
Unbelievers that are in the grave will stay there. As far as Christians go, only those who are raised from the dead or translated at the First
Resurrection can share that thousand years and reign with the Lord.
"flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God" (I Corinthians 15:50). So only by resurrection or translation can the heavenly
kingdom be reached. And resurrection here will be only for those "accounted worthy of attaining."
In Philippians, Paul also talked of the resurrection and it's needing to be won.
"But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of
the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win
Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the
righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings,
being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead." (Philippians 3:7-11)
Here Paul states he counted everything but loss to know Christ better and the power of His resurrection and, get this, by any means he might
attain unto the resurrection of the dead! Then, in verse 12 he says he is not talking as already attaining that, nor is he perfect.
"Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I
am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things
which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of
God in Christ Jesus."
So he tells the brethren he doesn't count himself to have gotten a hold of that prize, but that he forgets everything that is past and reaches forward
with everything to work toward that point of gaining the prize of the resurrection, as he terms "the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." And
what could be a bigger prize than to be accounted worthy of ruling and reigning with Christ for a thousand years?!
This hope that Paul had expresses an end that can come, but a possibility of failure is still there.
"And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to depart thence also, if by any means they might attain to
Phenice, and there to winter; which is an haven of Crete, and lieth toward the south west and north west." (Acts 27:12)
The same phrase used in both Philippians and Acts convey a hope of completion, but historically, the hope from Acts 27:12 was not attained.
If you look at the passage in Philippians, you will find that the goal that Paul was reaching for with every part of his being was the resurrection of
the dead. With that he prayed to the Thessalonians "that our God would count you worthy of this calling," (II thessalonians 2:11). This is not
for salvation from hell but "That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory." (I Thessalonians 2:12).
Now, if this calling is assured to all Christians who believe in God and are assured of heaven no matter how
they live, why would Paul even think about praying that they are counted worthy of the Kingdom, since they
should be already worthy of it solely by faith?
Thoughts from "The First Resurrection" by G. H. Lang
The First Resurrection pt. 2