BETTER-- FIRST

BETTER-FIRST
The word "better" occurs 117 times in the New Testament. Perhaps the book of Hebrews uses it to be best advantage-- such as Jesus being made so much better than the angels. (1:4) 7:19-- Better hope. 7:22-- better testament. 8:6-- better covenant, better promises. 9:23-- better sacrifices. 10:34-- better substance. 11:16-- better country. 11:35-- better resurrection. 11:40-- better thing. 12:24-- better speaking.
All of these but one, the better resurrection, are comparing the Old Covenant with the New Covenant.
The better resurrection is defined as the reward given to individuals who meet the requirements to be eligible for it.
We have certainly been taught error when we were taught that ALL Christians would take part in the First Resurrection.
Likewise, it has been error for us to have been taught that ALL Christians would be "caught up" at the Last Trumpet.
Those teachings have served more as an opiate to Christians than anything else. It has fostered an attitude, "So what? I won't be here for the trouble. I can "just trust in Jesus" and everything will be all right. I'll fly away, Oh, Glory."
Look at Revelation 20:5 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.
Compared with Hebrews 11:35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
Also, we should look at a scripture very rarely explained. Philippians 3:11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. The word translated resurrection here is used only once in the Bible-- right here. It is speaking of a special resurrection (the first), a "standing out from among the dead."
Not all Christians will be raised at the Trumpet sounding. They do not all qualify.
The "Better", "First", "Standing out" resurrection will be God's response to a life lived in very close harmony with the Principles of Jesus Christ.
If we hope to have a part in the event, we should earnestly strive to incorporate Godly Principles into everything we do. Then, we should walk in an attitude of constant repentance toward God for the things we are not able to do because we are hindered by our flesh.
None of us are able to walk completely free of the frailties of our flesh, but most of us are falling far short of what we are capable of doing to overcome those frailties.
Only God knows what our individual capability is. BUT HE DOES KNOW. If I am slacking my ability, He knows it. I can not fool Him. Lame excuses will get me nowhere.
It is the height of foolishness for me to compare myself with someone else. I can not know the extent of his ability. His accomplishments may be for him what the widow's two mites were to her-- the best he can do.
If he does his best, and I do more than he does, even if I don't do my best-- hey, I'm in deep trouble. He is more of a candidate for the "better", "first", "standing out" resurrection than I am.