The Two Resurrections

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · May 27, 1913

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 40, No. 21.

The Two Resurrections

1. What promise has been given to man in order that he may be redeemed from death?

“I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from Mine eyes.” Hosea 13:14.

2. Through whom will be given this redemption from the grave?

“For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. . . . But every man in his own order: Christ the first-fruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at His coming.” 1 Cor. 15:21, 23.

3. At the command of whose voice will the dead come forth?

“For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 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.” 1 Thess. 4:14–16.

4. Are the wicked as well as the righteous raised from the dead?

“Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth.” John 5:28, 29.

“I . . . have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.” Acts 24:14, 15.

5. Is the resurrection of the righteous called by a different name from the resurrection of the wicked?

“Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” John 5:28, 29.

6. What is the resurrection of the righteous called?

“And they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power.” Rev. 20:4–6.

NOTE.—The expression “the first resurrection” would clearly indicate a second. Then we have the text which plainly states that there is a resurrection of “the just,” also a resurrection of “the unjust,” that there is a resurrection of “life,” and a resurrection of “damnation.” The evidence is conclusive that the wicked will, together with the righteous, be resurrected at the coming of Christ.