Two Resurrections

1 Corinthians 15:13‑14; 1 Thessalonians 4:13‑16; Revelation 20:4‑6  •  4 min. read  •  grade level: 10
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The Bible teaches in the clearest terms that all the dead will be raised. No doctrine of the faith rests upon a more literal body of Scripture authority than this, nor is any more vital to Christianity: "But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: and if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain" (1 Cor. 15:13-1413But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: 14And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. (1 Corinthians 15:13‑14)).
But it is important to observe that the Scriptures do not teach that all the dead are raised at one time. A partial resurrection of saints has already occurred: "And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after His resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many" (Matt. 27:52-5352And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, 53And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. (Matthew 27:52‑53)).
Two resurrections—differing in respect of time, and of those who are the subjects of the resurrection— are yet future. These are variously distinguished as "the resurrection of life" and "the resurrection of damnation," as "the resurrection of the just and the unjust." The following Scriptures refer to this important event:
"But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: and thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just" (Luke 14:13-1413But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: 14And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just. (Luke 14:13‑14)). In this passage, our Lord speaks of the first resurrection only. In 1 Cor. 15 the distinction further appears: "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the first fruits; afterward they that are Christ's at His coming" (vv. 22-23).
"But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 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" (1 Thess. 4:13-1613But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16For 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: (1 Thessalonians 4:13‑16)).
This "resurrection of life," of "the just," of "the dead in Christ," is that of which Paul speaks in Phil. 3:1111If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. (Philippians 3:11) (RV): "If by any means I may attain unto the resurrection from the dead" (not "of the dead" as in the KJV). The resurrection of the dead would imply that all the dead were raised simultaneously; but "from the dead" necessarily implies a selection, that some of "the dead" remain. Literally it is "the resurrection out of the dead ones." If the Apostle had in mind a resurrection of all the dead, how could he speak of attaining it "by any means" since he could not possibly escape it?
In Rev. 20:4-64And 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. 5But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6Blessed 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 20:4‑6) the two resurrections are again mentioned together, with the important addition of the time which intervenes between them: "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 and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. Thus 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." In verses 12 and 13 the second resurrection is "unto damnation."
The testimony of Scripture, then, is clear that believers' bodies are raised from among the bodies of unbelievers, and caught up to meet the Lord in the air one thousand years before the resurrection of the latter. It should be firmly held that the doctrine of the resurrections concerns only the bodies of the dead. Their disembodied spirits are instantly in conscious bliss or woe (Phil. 1:2323For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: (Philippians 1:23); 2 Cor. 5:88We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:8); Luke 16:22-2322And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. (Luke 16:22‑23)).