The Resurrection

There are actually 2 main Resurrections mentioned in the Bible. The first one happens just before the Rapture and the second one happens 1000 years later and just before the Great White Throne Judgement. The following verses go on to explain it.

 

Rev. 20:4-5

4  And 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.

5  But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

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Verse 5 is slightly confusing when it throws in the last sentence that says “This is the first resurrection.”, but it is addressing those in verse 4, NOT “the rest of the dead” in verse 5.

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Now lets take a look at the second Resurrection 1000 years later. And take note that the first Resurrection precedes the First Judgement just like the second Resurrection precedes the Second Judgement. The Judgments always follow after the Resurrections.

Rev. 20:11-13

11  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.

12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

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Although it doesn’t say in a literal way that these dead are raised; it is implied. After all what is the point of judging a dead body. Furthermore they are standing before God showing that these that were once dead, are now alive and on their feet. Also the wording is similar to the First Resurrection when it says “and I saw the souls of them“. Rev. 20:4

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So the Resurrections are 1000 years apart.

The First one is for the Christians since it says that they “were beheaded for the witness of Jesus”. And the Second one is referred to as “The Great White Throne Judgement”, and no wonder, it is many many times larger than the First Resurrection.

The vast majority of the world will be judged at The Great White Throne Judgement. Everyone who has ever lived since Adam and Eve and that were not part of the First Resurrection will be raised here. The First Resurrection will be small in comparison. Think about it, that is almost 6000 years of human history since Adam and Eve, and most of the world all during this time have not been part of Gods family. Just think about how big this Great White Throne Judgement really is.

 

 

 

One small point I would like to make though is that many Christians believe that this Great White Throne Judgement will only be for the ungodly, but this is not true.

While this is by far the majority that make up this judgement, some of Gods people will also be judged here. They will be those who are saved during the Millennial Kingdom. That’s right, there will be people being saved all during the 1000 year reign of Christ. Their judgement must also be at the Great White Throne Judgment because the First Resurrection and judgement will have already passed.

 

To learn more about this and other prophecies please see the Prophecy page.