When Are the Wicked Raised from the Dead?

No, the wicked dead are not raised at the second coming of Christ; rather, they remain in their graves for a thousand years until the second resurrectionARSH November 29, 1864, page 6.6+1. While the righteous dead are raised to immortal life at the second advent, the rest of the dead do not live again until the millennium has concluded Revelation 20:5DAR1909 738.3+1.

The Order of the Resurrections

The Scriptures explicitly teach that there are two distinct resurrections separated by a specific duration of timeARSH November 29, 1864, page 6.6+2:

• The First Resurrection: This occurs at the second coming of Christ and consists exclusively of the "blessed and holy" who are "Christ’s at his coming" 1 Corinthians 15:23+1ARSH November 29, 1864, page 6.6. These individuals are raised in immortal bloom and are never subject to the second death Revelation 20:61SG 214.1+1.

• The Thousand-Year Interval: During this period, the righteous reign with Christ in heaven and participate in the judgment of the wicked 1 Corinthians 6:2GC 660.4+1. The wicked remain in the "prison house" of the grave in an unconscious stateGC 660.4+2.

• The Second Resurrection: At the close of the thousand years, Christ descends to earth a third time, and the wicked dead of all ages are called forth to receive their final punishmentEVRR693+2.

The Condition of the Resurrected Wicked

When the wicked are raised in the second resurrection, they do not possess the glorious, immortal bodies given to the saintsHvn 123.1+1. Instead, they come up with the same physical defects and "marks of the curse" they carried into their graves7BC 986.4+2.

• Antediluvians: Those who lived before the flood come forth with their original giant-like stature, standing more than twice as tall as men today7BC 986.4+1.

• Later Generations: Those from later ages appear in a state of continual decrease in stature, being a comparatively dwarfed and feeble race3SG 83.2.

• Spiritual Continuity: They resume their existence with the same rebellious spirit and current of thoughts they held at the moment of death1SG 214.1+1.

The Final Judgment and Second Death

The purpose of raising the wicked after the thousand years is for the execution of the "judgment written"GC 660.4+1. Following their resurrection, Satan deceives this vast host one last time, leading them to surround the "beloved city," the New Jerusalem, which has descended from heaven Revelation 20:8-9EVRR693+1. It is at this moment that fire comes down from God out of heaven and devours themARSH May 6, 1858, page 197.2+2. This final destruction is the "second death," an everlasting punishment from which there is no further resurrection Revelation 20:14-15ARSH January 5, 1865, page 46.3+2.