The concept of resurrection, or rising from the dead, is central to Christian belief. The Bible speaks of two future resurrections: the first resurrection and the second resurrection. Understanding what these are is crucial for comprehending biblical end times prophecy.
The First Resurrection
The first resurrection is described in Revelation 20:4-6. It says, “Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.”
Based on this passage, the key points about the first resurrection are:
- It happens before the thousand-year millennial reign of Christ.
- Those who take part in it are believers who refused to worship the beast or take his mark.
- These believers come to life and reign with Christ for the millennium.
- The first resurrection provides immunity from the second death.
- Those who participate will be priests of God and rule with Jesus.
The first resurrection is a literal, bodily resurrection that believers in Christ will experience. It honors their faithfulness to Christ in the face of persecution and death. As a reward, they will be raised to life and given authority to rule with Jesus during the millennium described in Revelation 20:1-6.
The Second Resurrection
The second resurrection is described in Revelation 20:11-15. It says, “Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”
The key points about the second resurrection include:
- It happens after the thousand-year reign of Christ.
- All the dead are resurrected to face judgment before God.
- They are judged based on their deeds in life.
- Unbelievers whose names are not in the Book of Life are thrown into the lake of fire.
- The lake of fire represents the second death.
In contrast to the first resurrection of believers, the second resurrection includes all those who rejected Christ in their lifetimes. They will be raised to face God’s judgment and condemnation to the lake of fire. This resurrection ushers in eternal punishment for the wicked after they face judgment.
Why Two Resurrections?
An important question is: why are there two resurrections? Why are they separated by the thousand-year reign of Christ?
The reason relates to God’s justice and mercy. The first resurrection displays God’s reward and blessings for His faithful people. Although they may have lost their lives on earth, they gain eternal life and rulership with Jesus in the millennium. On the other hand, the second resurrection displays God’s justice and judgment on the wicked. Although they seemed to get away with evil on earth, they must eventually face God’s righteous condemnation.
The thousand years between the resurrections allows time for God’s purposes to unfold. The first resurrection gives believers rest as a reward for their faithfulness (Hebrews 4:1-11). They participate in Christ’s millennial reign on earth. Meanwhile, the rest of the dead remain just that – dead, awaiting the final judgment.
Once the thousand years are over, it is time for God to wrap up human history. The second resurrection of the wicked dead ushers in the last judgment before eternity begins. No more chances will be given after that; judgment is final.
God’s mercy is shown in that He doesn’t condemn the wicked immediately. There is a thousand year gap between the resurrection of the righteous and the resurrection of the unrighteous. But in the end, His justice wins out. The wicked are judged according to their deeds.
Contrasting the Resurrections
Looking at the resurrections side by side highlights the contrasts between them:
First Resurrection | Second Resurrection |
---|---|
For believers in Christ | For unbelievers |
Before the millennium | After the millennium |
Brings eternal life and reward | Brings eternal punishment |
Exemption from the second death | Lake of fire is the second death |
Reigning with Christ | Being condemned by Christ |
Clearly, who takes part in the first resurrection versus the second resurrection makes a dramatic difference in one’s eternal destiny. The timing also matters, showing God’s sovereignty over history and the unfolding of His redemptive plan.
Old Testament Hints About Resurrection
Although Revelation 20 provides the most detail about the first and second resurrections, the concept of resurrection appears earlier in the Bible.
In Daniel 12:2, Daniel prophesies, “And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” This prediction speaks of two outcomes – everlasting life for some, but contempt for others. This hints at the bifurcated resurrection of believers to life and unbelievers to judgment.
Isaiah 26:19 also foresees a resurrection: “Your dead shall live; their bodies shall rise. You who dwell in the dust, awake and sing for joy! For your dew is a dew of light, and the earth will give birth to the dead.” The emphasis here is on the resurrection to joy for God’s people.
Finally, Jesus Himself referenced two resurrections in John 5:28-29: “Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.” Here Jesus confirms the eventual resurrection to two distinct eternal outcomes.
So the seeds of the double resurrection are planted in the Old Testament and Gospels before coming to fruition in Revelation.
The Order of End Times Events
Looking at how the resurrections fit into the broader sequence of end times events is helpful:
- The rapture happens when Christ returns to take believers to heaven (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).
- Believers receive their glorified bodies and eternal rewards (1 Corinthians 15:51-57).
- A 7-year tribulation ensues on earth under the Antichrist’s rule (Daniel 9:27).
- Christ returns at Armageddon to defeat His enemies (Revelation 19:11-21).
- Satan is bound and the millennium begins (Revelation 20:1-3).
- Believers are resurrected to reign with Christ (Revelation 20:4-6).
- After the thousand years, Satan is released and humanity rebels (Revelation 20:7-10).
- Satan is defeated and cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10).
- The wicked dead are resurrected and judged (Revelation 20:11-15).
- Unbelievers are thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:14-15).
- Believers dwell with God forever in the new heaven and earth (Revelation 21-22).
Placing the resurrections in this timeline demonstrates when they will occur in relationship to other end times events. This provides greater understanding of the overall prophetic timeline.
Premillennialism Versus Amillennialism
How people interpret Revelation 20 impacts their view of the resurrections. Premillennialism holds that Christ will literally reign on earth for 1,000 years between His second coming and final judgment. This view takes the resurrections and chronology of Revelation 20 literally.
Amillennialism, on the other hand, believes the millennium is symbolic and is the current church age. In this view, no future millennium or two-staged resurrection is needed. Only a general resurrection at the end occurs.
So while premillennialists see Revelation 20 as teaching two future, physical resurrections, amillennialists interpret it symbolically in an ongoing, spiritual sense.
Are the Resurrections a Motivation for Holiness?
Knowing about the first and second resurrections should motivate Christians to pursue holiness, righteousness, and readiness for Christ’s return. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:58: “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”
Being steadfast for Christ gains us rewards at the resurrection. As 1 John 3:2-3 states: “Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.”
The hope of resurrection and eternal life with Christ motivates us to stay faithful and cultivate purity now.
The Blessed Hope
The resurrection is called the “blessed hope” for the Christian. Titus 2:13 says we are “waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.”
No matter what we face in this life, we can take courage that our labor for Christ is not in vain. Better and more alive days are coming through the resurrection! The resurrections give us strength to endure hard times while looking forward to our inheritance as sons and daughters of God.