The Resurrection. You are GOING to WANT to Read This!!!

The resurrection is the process by which a person’s body and spirit are reunited in a perfected, immortal state. According to Christian belief, this will occur through the power of Jesus Christ, who overcame death through His own resurrection. Unlike mortal life, a resurrected body will be free from sickness, pain, and death. To move into a PERFECT state. This event is central to the hope of eternal life and is promised to all people, with judgment determining their final state in the afterlife.

Jesus’ Resurrection – Jesus Christ was the first to be resurrected, overcoming death and receiving a glorified body. His resurrection serves as a promise that all people will also be resurrected (1 Corinthians 15:20-22).

This process transforms mortal bodies into incorruptible, immortal ones, free from pain, suffering, and death (1 Corinthians 15:51-53).

In addition to Jesus’ resurrection, there are TWO upcoming resurrections that are planned to take place. Where do you feel that you fit in regarding the two?

1. The First Resurrection (Resurrection of the Righteous)

This resurrection is for the faithful believers in Jesus Christ. It is often referred to as the “resurrection of life” (John 5:29) or the “first resurrection” (Revelation 20:5-6). It occurs at different times:

• The Resurrection at Christ’s Return: When Jesus returns, the dead in Christ will rise first, and living believers will be caught up with them (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
• Resurrection of Tribulation Saints: Those martyred during the Tribulation will be raised (Revelation 20:4).

Those in the first resurrection reign with Christ and are not subject to the second death (Revelation 20:6).

Will these righteous people be judged?

Yes, those in the First Resurrection will face judgment, but their judgment differs from those in the Second Resurrection.

The First Resurrection is for the righteous—those who have accepted Jesus Christ, repented of their sins, and are faithful. Revelation 20:6 says, “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power.” This means that those in the First Resurrection are already justified through Christ. However, they will still stand before God’s judgment seat (Romans 14:10, 2 Corinthians 5:10), not to determine their eternal destiny but to be rewarded for their faithfulness and works (1 Corinthians 3:12-15, Revelation 22:12).

So, while those in the First Resurrection will be judged, it will not be a judgment of condemnation but rather one of rewards and responsibilities in God’s Kingdom.

What Happens to the Righteous at the End Times?

When Jesus returns, there will be two groups of righteous people:

1. The dead in Christ – Those who have already died will be resurrected.
2. The living believers – They will be instantly transformed without experiencing death.

Paul describes this in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17:

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.“

So, righteous people living in the end times will not be resurrected because they will never die—they will be changed and taken up to be with the Lord! They too will have perfect glorified bodies, just the same as those who have been “resurrected”. This is based on 1 Corinthians 15:51-52:

“Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”

Key Difference:

• Resurrection is bringing the dead back to life in a glorified state.
• Transformation is changing the living directly into their glorified state.

2. The Second Resurrection (Resurrection of the Wicked)

This occurs after the 1,000-year reign of Christ (the Millennium). It is referred to as the “resurrection of damnation” (John 5:29) or the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15).

• All the unsaved dead will be resurrected to stand before God.
• They will be judged according to their works, and their names will not be found in the Book of Life.
• They will be cast into the Lake of Fire, which is the second death (Revelation 20:15).

The “Lake of Fire” is a biblical concept found primarily in the Book of Revelation. It is described as the final place of punishment for Satan, the Antichrist, the False Prophet, and all those whose names are not found in the Book of Life.

Biblical References

• Revelation 20:10 (KJV) – “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.”
• Revelation 20:14-15 (KJV) – “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”

What is the Lake of Fire?

It is often interpreted as:

1. A literal place – A real, fiery place of eternal torment for the wicked.
2. A symbolic representation – Some believe it represents eternal separation from God, rather than a literal fire.
3. Final Judgment – Unlike Hell (which is often seen as a temporary holding place), the Lake of Fire is considered the ultimate and final judgment.

Where is It?

The Bible does not give a physical location for the Lake of Fire. It is often considered part of the spiritual realm, existing after the final judgment. Some theologians see it as distinct from Hell (Hades/Sheol), suggesting that Hell itself will be thrown into the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:14).

In contrast, the Second Resurrection is for those who rejected Christ and lived in wickedness. Their judgment will determine their eternal condemnation (Revelation 20:11-15).

This is a great deal of information to process, yet it gives us specific answers to how we all will be resurrected, but with very different outcomes as far as Judgment, and where we will spend our eternity.

Since those who are evil will be resurrected and cast into the Lake of Fire, I have wondered, will they feel pain and suffering…Something that should not be possible for those with a resurrected body? My studies have led me to consider this.

In many religious teachings, particularly in Christian theology, the concept of the “lake of fire” is often associated with eternal separation from God and punishment for the wicked. The idea is that this state involves suffering, but it is often described metaphorically, with various interpretations.

From a biblical perspective, suffering in the lake of fire could be more spiritual and psychological than physical. The suffering could be the result of the anguish of being eternally separated from God, which many believe is the ultimate form of pain.

For example, in the book of Revelation (20:15), it speaks of the “second death” as a final fate for those who are cast into the lake of fire, and while it is not explicitly stated whether there will be physical suffering, the spiritual torment is a common theme in interpretations.

There are different views on whether resurrected bodies would feel pain in this state. Some interpretations suggest that in the afterlife, people’s bodies are changed and no longer subject to the same physical limitations, so suffering could be more about the state of the soul or spirit rather than physical pain. Others, however, maintain that the suffering of the wicked could involve both emotional/spiritual anguish and perhaps some form of physical torment.

It’s a deep and complex question, and different religious traditions and scholars might interpret it in varying ways.

On a final note, there are concepts based upon logic which are important to consider. God is a loving and Fair Father. It makes a great deal of sense to me to think that if I try to be the very best version of myself, using the atonement and repenting of my sins, and striving to improve, then God will in turn reward me by living with Him in a “heavenly” place.

It also makes sense to me that if a person spends their life defying God, and following Satan, doing heinous acts, then their “reward” should be something very different than what God’s followers will receive. Sounds fair, right?

Don’t you want the very best “life” possible when you leave this earth? I do! We spend a great deal of time and effort to provide the “best that we can” for our family, why not do the same thing preparing for the afterlife?

I invite you all to “Come unto Christ.” Get to know Him. Be baptized, and repent for the mistakes that you have made. Ask for God’s help in guiding you through this process. You do not need to be perfect. God loves you just the way that you are, but too much to leave you there. He will help transform you into something far greater than you could ever imagine.

With His help, you will see your life change “right now” into something greater than you are today. You will experience His love, as well as peace as the world continues to fall apart. The consequences of your decision today will be INCREDIABLE.

I invite you all to Praise God for the gift of the resurrection that He will give to all of us. We will become “perfect” through this glorious act. Thank Him for giving you this tremendous gift.

For those of you who desire to know more about Jesus Christ, you can find additional writing on my blog at  www.riverwilde.blog.