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Answer
The Bible is clear that resurrection is a reality, and this life is not all that there is. While death marks the end of physical life, it does not signify the end of human existence. Many mistakenly believe in a single general resurrection at the end of the age, but the Bible actually teaches that there will be not just one resurrection, but a series of resurrections. Some will lead to eternal life in heaven, while others will result in eternal damnation (Daniel 12:2;John 5:28-29).
The first significant resurrection was that of Jesus Christ. This event is documented in each of the four Gospels (Matthew 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20), referenced multiple times in Acts (Acts 1:22;Acts 2:31;Acts 4:2,33;26:23), and repeatedly mentioned in the epistles to the churches (Romans 1:4;Philippians 3:10;1 Peter 1:3). The significance of Christ’s resurrection is emphasized in 1 Corinthians 15:12-34, which recounts that over five hundred individuals witnessed Him during one of His post-resurrection appearances. Christ’s resurrection serves as the “first fruits” or assurance to every Christian that they too will experience resurrection. Furthermore, Christ’s resurrection forms the foundation of a Christian’s assurance that all deceased individuals will one day be raised to face a just and impartial judgment by Jesus Christ (Acts 17:30-31). The resurrection to eternal life is referred to as “the first resurrection” (Revelation 20:5-6); the resurrection to judgment and punishment is termed “the second death” (Revelation 20:6, 13-15).
The initial significant resurrection of the Church will take place at the time of the rapture. All individuals who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ during the Church Age and have passed away before Jesus’ return will be resurrected during the rapture. The Church Age commenced on the Day of Pentecost and will conclude when Christ comes back to bring believers to heaven with Him (John 14:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). The Apostle Paul clarified that not all Christians will experience death, but all will undergo a transformation, receiving resurrection-like bodies (1 Corinthians 15:50-58), some without facing death! Both living Christians and those who have already passed away will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air and be with Him forever!
Another significant resurrection will take place when Christ returns to earth (His Second Coming) at the conclusion of the Tribulation period. Following the rapture, the Tribulation is the subsequent event after the Church Age in God’s timeline. This period will be characterized by severe judgment on the world, extensively depicted in Revelation chapters 6-18. Despite the absence of all Church Age believers, numerous individuals remaining on earth will awaken during this time and will put their trust in Jesus as their Savior. Sadly, most of them will pay for their faith in Jesus by sacrificing their lives (Revelation 6:9-11; 7:9-17; 13:7, 15-17; 17:6; 19:1-2). These believers in Jesus who perish during the Tribulation will be resurrected upon Christ’s return and will rule with Him for a thousand years throughout the Millennium «And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of those who were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God.d, and who had not worshiped the beast, nor his image, nor had received his mark on their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.” , (Revelation 20:4,6) “Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection: over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him for a thousand years.” , (Revelation 20:4,6). Old Testament believers such as Job, Noah, Abraham, David, and even John the Baptist (who was assassinated before the Church began) will be resurrected at this time as well. Several passages in the Old Testament mention this event (Job 19:25-27; Isaiah 26:19; Daniel 12:1-2; Hosea 13:14). Ezekiel 37:1-14 primarily describes the regathering of the Nation of Israel using the symbolism of dead corpses coming back to life. However, from the language used, a physical resurrection of dead Israelis cannot be excluded from the passage. Once again, all believers in God (in the Old Testament era) and all believers in Jesus (in the New Testament era) participate in the first resurrection, a resurrection to life. “And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the witness of Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.” , (Revelation 20:4,6) “Blessed and holy is he who has a part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him.At the end of Christ’s reign, believers shall reign with Him for a thousand years (Revelation 20:4,6).
There might be another resurrection following the Millennium, although it is implied rather than explicitly stated in Scripture. It is conceivable that some believers may experience physical death during that period. Through the prophet Isaiah, God proclaimed, “No longer will there be an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his days; for the youth will die at the age of one hundred and the one who does not reach the age of one hundred will be thought accursed” «There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed. », (Isaiah 65:20). On the contrary, it is also plausible that death during the Millennium will be reserved for the disobedient. In either scenario, believers will require some form of transformation to inhabit their natural bodies in the Millennium for an unblemished existence throughout eternity. Each believer will need to possess a “resurrected” type of body.
Scripture clearly indicates that God will obliterate the entire universe, including the earth, with fire (2 Peter 3:7-12). This purification is necessary to cleanse God’s creation of its inherent evil and decay caused by man’s sin. In its place, God will establish a new heaven and a new earth (2 Peter 3:13;Revelation 21:1-4). But what will transpire with those believers who survived the Tribulation and entered the Millennium in their natural bodies? And what will occur with those who were born during the Millennium, put their trust in Jesus, and continued to live in their natural state?
Real bodies? Paul has made it clear that flesh and blood, which is mortal and able to decay, cannot inherit the kingdom of God. That eternal kingdom is inhabitable only by those with resurrected, glorified bodies that are no longer mortal and are not able to decay (1 Corinthians 15:35-49). Presumably, these believers will be given resurrection bodies without having to die. Precisely when this happens is not explained, but theologically, it must happen somewhere in the transition from the old earth and universe to the new earth and new heaven (2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1-4).
There is a final resurrection, apparently of all the unbelieving dead of all ages. Jesus Christ will raise them from the dead (John 5:25-29) after the Millennium, the thousand-year reign of Christ «But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. », (Revelation 20:5), and after the destruction of the present earth and universe (2 Peter 3:7-12; Revelation 20:11). This is the resurrection described by Daniel as an awakening “from the dust of the ground … to disgrace and everlasting contempt” «And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. », (Daniel 12:2). It is described by Jesus as a “resurrection of judgment” (John 5:28-29).
The Apostle John saw something that would happen in theFuture. He saw a “great white throne” «And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. », (Revelation 20:11). Heaven and earth “fled away” from the One sitting on it. This is evidently a description of the dissolution by fire of all matter, including the entire universe and earth itself (2 Peter 3:7-12). All the (godless) dead will stand before the throne. This means they have been resurrected after the thousand years «But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. », (Revelation 20:5). They will possess bodies that can feel pain but will never cease to exist (Mark 9:43-48). They will be judged, and their punishment will be commensurate with their works. But there is another book opened—the Lamb’s book of life «And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.», (Revelation 21:27). Those whose names are not written in the book of life are cast into the “lake of fire,” which amounts to “the second death” (Revelation 20:11-15). No indication is given of any who appear at this judgment that their names are found in the book of life. Rather, those whose names appear in the book of life were among those who are blessed, for they received forgiveness and partook of the first resurrection, the resurrection to life «Blessed”And blessed is the one who shares in the initial resurrection; over these individuals, the second death holds no authority. Instead, they will serve as priests of God and of Christ, and will rule with Him for a thousand years.” », (Revelation 20:6).
