The resurrection has been the hope for believers throughout history. We see examples of that throughout scripture. Job declared, “As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will take His stand on the earth.Even after my skin is destroyed, yet from my flesh I shall see God; whom I myself shall behold, and whom my eyes will see and not another. My heart faints within me!” (Job 19:25-27). And Martha said concerning her brother Lazarus, “Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” (John 11:24). A literal resurrection is not a new concept for believers, but it has sadly been neglected in the modern church and replaced with the idea that we float around forever in an over-spiritualized heaven.

In the Bible we hear of two types of resurrections. One is considered a temporary resurrection, as the person is raised from the dead, back to their former living state in their fleshly body that is still subject to sin and death. An example of this is Lazarus in John 11, who was raised from the dead. He was raised back to the same kind of life he had before, and would have died again later. 

The other type of resurrection is eternal. This is where the person is raised to a new life in a glorified body that will not die but will live forever. An example of this is the resurrection of Jesus. When Jesus was raised from the dead His disciples did not recognize Him at first until He opened their eyes to see Him. The resurrected Jesus ate natural, earthly food, yet walked through walls. His body was spiritual, yet tangible and tactile. Thomas touched the hole in His hands. The Bible tells us that those who love the Lord will undergo this same glorification, to be like Christ. In this article we are focusing on the eternal resurrections. 

The Four Resurrections in Scripture

  1. Jesus’ Resurrection (The 1st First Fruits, Matthew 27:52-53)
  2. The Rapture of the Bride of Christ (The 2nd First Fruits)
  3. The First General Resurrection
  4. The Second General Resurrection – White Throne Judgement

Jesus’ Resurrection (The First Fruits)

This resurrection was the greatest event in world history. It required Jesus laying down His life to make atonement for all who believe in Him. Jesus’ resurrection is referred to as the First Fruits offering. Along with Him, there was also a number of Hebrew saints who came out of their tombs and joined Jesus in the first fruits company.

“2 And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. 3 And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. 4 The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men. 5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. 6 He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying. 7 Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you.” Matthew 28:2-7

“20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. 21 For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming, 24 then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power..” 

1 Corinthians 15:20-24

“52 The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; 53 and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many.” Matthew 27:52-53

The Rapture of the Bride of Christ and the Resurrection of the Dead

This resurrection takes place shortly after the Antichrist sets up his Abomination of Desolation in the Temple (2 Thessalonians 2:3). Those who died in Christ will be resurrected first to glorified bodies, followed by the believers who are alive at that time. This is commonly known as the Rapture (which comes from the word “rapturo”, the Latin translation of the Hebrew word “harpadzo” which means catching up). It is for those who devoted their lives to the Lord, their Bridegroom.

“13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

“51 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.” 1 Corinthians 15:51-52

The First General Resurrection

This resurrection occurs after the Tribulation period, at the beginning of the Millennial Reign (1000-year reign of Christ on earth). This resurrection is for the tribulation saints, those who put their faith in Jesus during the last three and a half years of this age. The reason they are in a separate resurrection than the Bride of Christ is because their lives were not fully surrendered to Jesus at the time of the rapture. The tribulation will be a time of testing for the whole world to see who will turn to Jesus in the face of immeasurable suffering and turmoil on earth.

“Then 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 because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and 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 completed. This is the first resurrection.” REV 20:4-5

The Second General Resurrection – White Throne Judgement

This resurrection occurs at the end of Jesus’ Millennial Reign. It is known as White Throne Judgement, based on Revelation 20:11-15. This is the final judgement, where the people who are still awaiting glorification or eternal condemnation receive what is due to them. It is not just for those who will be sent to the lake of fire (which up until this point only holds the Beast and the False Prophet). The people that are apart of this final resurrection are those who did not take part in any of the previous resurrections. This includes all of the unrighteous from the beginning of creation and those who were in mortal, earthly bodies during the time of the Millennial Reign. These will be resurrected and brought before the Lord on His throne to see if their name is written in the book of life.

11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” REVELATION 20:11-15

Conclusion

The key take away from these different resurrections and judgements is this: God is merciful, kind, and slow to anger. He is giving mankind many opportunities to turn to Him so that they can receive eternal life with their Creator.

“Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.” 1 John 3:2

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