The Resurrection of Life
and the Resurrection of Judgment
The Words of Jesus
“He who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me
has everlasting life,
and does not come into judging,
but has passed out of death into life.”
— John 5:24
Jesus promised that those who hear and believe God’s message through Him already possess life.
They have peace with God.
And they will not come into judgment.
Two Resurrections
Jesus said a time is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear His voice.
Every human being will be raised.
But not all at the same time.
“Those who do good,
to a resurrection of life;
and those who commit bad things,
to a resurrection of judging.”
— John 5:29
What Does It Mean to “Do Good”?
To do good is to hear and believe what God says through His Son Jesus Christ.
Those who trust God’s testimony will take part in the first resurrection.
They will reign with Christ during His thousand-year kingdom.
What Does It Mean to “Commit Bad Things”?
Those who do not hear and believe God’s message are not raised in the first resurrection.
They remain in death until the thousand years are complete.
Then they are raised to stand before the Great White Throne.
The First Resurrection
“They lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
The rest of the dead did not live until the thousand years were finished.”
— Revelation 20:5
“Blessed and holy is the one
who has part in the first resurrection.”
— Revelation 20:6
The Great White Throne
After the thousand years, the rest of humanity is raised.
They stand before God.
The books are opened.
And each is judged according to their works.
“I saw a great white throne...
and the dead, great and small,
standing before the throne.”
— Revelation 20:11–12
The Second Death
The second death is the final end of mortality and corruption.
Death itself will be abolished.
God’s purpose is restoration.
Not endless rebellion.
God’s Ultimate Purpose
“As in Adam all die,
so also in Christ
all will be made alive.”
— 1 Corinthians 15:22
“The last enemy to be abolished is death.”
— 1 Corinthians 15:26
“That God may be all in all.”
— 1 Corinthians 15:28
Universal Confession
God has decreed that every knee will bow.
Every tongue will confess.
Jesus Christ is Lord.
“Every knee shall bow...
and every tongue shall acclaim
that Jesus Christ is Lord.”
— Philippians 2:10–11
Christ Abolished Death
“Christ Jesus...
abolishes death
and brings life and incorruption to light.”
— 2 Timothy 1:10
Hope for Humanity
Life in this present age can be painful.
Faith does not remove every hardship.
But it gives us hope.
The hope of resurrection.
The hope of reigning with Christ.
The hope that death will be abolished.
The hope that God will become all in all.
The Promise
Those who believe now will reign with Christ in the coming kingdom.
Those who do not believe now will still be raised and brought before Him.
In the end, every knee will bow.
Every tongue will confess.
And God’s purpose for humanity will be fulfilled.
Death Will Be Abolished.
Every Knee Will Bow.
Every Tongue Will Confess.
God Will Be All in All.