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What are the 2 Resurrections in the Bible?

As most people are not familiar with the two resurrections mentioned in the Bible, I want to shed some light on these, and how they fit into God’s timeline for man. First of all, I want to clarify that the rapture or “catching up” of the bride of Christ into Heaven is a completely different event, and has no association with the two resurrections. In order to be “resurrected,” one must have already died. In the rapture, believers in Christ will not experience death, but rather, simply be taken up into Heaven and transformed into our new eternal bodies at the sounding of the Trumpet of God.

The 1st Resurrection

The first resurrection takes place at the end of the 7 Year Tribulation which concludes the 6th day (or 6,000 years) of God’s timeline for man. Known as Tribulation Saints, these are the ones who did not take the mark of the Beast on their right hand or forehead, and were beheaded for their witness, or professing of their faith, in Christ as their Savior. As these persons are martyred for their faith, Christ resurrects them and they will live on through the coming Millennial Kingdom. Just wanted to mention the sharp contrast between the Tribulation Saints and the Church Age Saints (as we are currently in the Church Age). Tribulation Saints will have to give their life in order to be saved. By contrast, Church Age Saints are saved because Christ gave his life at the cross and we simply accept His free gift of eternal life by trusting in his death, burial and resurrection.

The 2nd Resurrection

The second resurrection is for non-believers who never placed their faith in Christ. It takes place at the end of the 1,000 year Millennial Kingdom. which concludes the 7th day (or 7,000 years) of God’s timeline for man. At this event, all those who died throughout time, from the beginning, will be resurrected from Hades (ie. Hell) to be judged according to their works, at the Great White Throne Judgment, to receive their level of punishment, before being thrown into the Lake of Fire for all eternity. These are the ones who never read their Bible to understand that we are saved by faith, and not by works, as Ephesians 2: 8-9 states ever so simply.

Ephesians 2: 8-9

⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not of works, lest anyone should boast.



The following verses in Revelation Ch 20 clearly describe these two resurrection events.

Rev 20:4-6

The Saints Reign with Christ 1,000 Years

⁴ And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to 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. ⁵ But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished.  This is the first resurrection. ⁶ Blessed and holy is he who has 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 a thousand years.

Rev 20:11-15

The Great White Throne Judgment

¹¹ Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. ¹² And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. ¹³ The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. ¹⁴ Then Death and Hades (ie. Hell) were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. ¹⁵ And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

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