Introduction
The Bible teaches that the two resurrections that will take place at Jesus’ return will divide humanity into the saved and the damned. But are these the only groups that will be resurrected? When exactly will each resurrection occur? And who will be part of each? As we explore the Scriptures, we will discover surprising details about these events and a little-known revelation that indicates some people will have a different fate than expected.
Different Resurrections
The Bible presents different resurrections. Many of us long to be part of the first resurrection, which will include all those who are saved and will live forever. The apostle Paul tells us that this event will take place at the return of Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 4:16 – “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“
At that time, Christ will resurrect all the righteous to live eternally with Him. They will reign with Him for a thousand years (Revelation 20:5). After that period, God will carry out the great judgment, in which all remaining lost souls will be resurrected to receive their due condemnation (Revelation 20:14-15).
Only Two Groups
The Bible categorizes those who will be resurrected into two main groups. The first is the resurrection of the righteous, which will take place at the second coming of Jesus. The second is the resurrection of the wicked, which will occur after the thousand years.
However, there are some exceptions that slightly deviate from these two major events. I would like to highlight one of these exceptions concerning a group of wicked individuals who, according to expectation, should be part of the second resurrection-the one that will occur after the thousand years.
Shortly before His death, when the high priest questioned Him to determine whether He was truly the Messiah, Jesus responded with the following words:
Matthew 26:63-64 – “But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to Him, ‘I adjure you by the living God, tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God.’ Jesus said to him, ‘You have said it. But I tell you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.’“
A Group Apart Along with the First Resurrection
Notice that, according to Jesus’ words, the high priest who condemned Him would also see Him “sitting at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven“. Unlike the thief on the cross, who showed repentance for his deeds, there is no indication in the Bible that this high priest repented. He certainly will not be part of the group of the righteous who are saved. Yet, Jesus stated that he will witness His return on the clouds of heaven, an event that will accompany the first resurrection. This provides strong evidence that two resurrections will take place at the return of Jesus.
Even Those Who Pierced Him
There is another passage in the Bible on this subject, which states the following:
Revelation 1:7 – “Behold, He cometh with the clouds, and every eye shall see Him, and they also who pierced Him; and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen“
The verse above, speaking of the return of Jesus, declares that “every eye will see Him“, including those who “pierced“. Him. This suggests that all the people involved in the crucifixion of Jesus will be resurrected to witness what they did to the Son of God. Among them will certainly be the high priest who confirmed Christ’s death.
The High Priest Will Also Be There
The high priest had questioned whether Jesus was truly “the Christ, the Son of God“. Jesus affirmed that He was, but already knowing the hardness of the priest’s heart, He assured him that he would one day see “the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven“.
However, as we read in Revelation 1:7, it will not be only the high priest who will be part of this resurrection. Many will be resurrected to witness who He truly was. Instead of the crown of thorns they placed on His head, they will see Him wearing a crown of glittering gold. With their own eyes, they will recognize that they treated the King of kings as a mere sinner, condemned to die in shame.
This group will include the entire Roman class, such as the soldiers who wounded Him, Herod who despised Him, Pontius Pilate who cowardly failed to uphold justice, the Jews who condemned Him, the priests who plotted His death, and all others involved. They will be resurrected for a short time, only to perish at the sight of Christ’s glory. Then, after the millennium, God will resurrect them once more so they may receive the final judgment for their lives.
This resurrection is distinct from the two main ones. It is an intriguing detail presented in the Bible, and we do not always pay close attention to these facts.
Conclusion: The Two Resurrections That Will Occur at Jesus’ Return
The Scriptures reveal that the two resurrections at Jesus’ return will determine the eternal destiny of all humanity. In addition, God will momentarily resurrect a specific group of people who participated in Christ’s crucifixion so they may witness His glory.
May the Spirit of God guide our lives along the paths of righteousness, and through the blood of Christ, may we be part of the first resurrection.
May God bless the reader.
