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What Does the Bible Teach About Premillennialism’s Two Resurrections?
What Does the Bible Teach About Premillennialism’s Two Resurrections? By Derek Long
The theory of Premillennialism is a view held by many people claiming to believe in the Bible. Premillennialism basically would teach we are living in a period of time prior to when Jesus will come to earth and reign for a literal thousand years. Many variations exist among those who would consider themselves to be premillennialists on various details. One common idea among many premillennialists though is the idea there will be multiple resurrections. Some premillennialists would say there will be a rapture of living saints and a resurrection of those who died faithful prior to a period of tribulation. They would then teach another resurrection at some other point of the wicked and perhaps others who convert to Christ after the rapture. Does the Bible endorse the concept of there being multiple resurrections of the dead? Jesus makes it very clear one resurrection will take place for all the dead. John 5:28-29 says, “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth - those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation” (NKJV). If an hour is coming when all who are in the graves will be raised, we clearly do not have a resurrection of the righteous dead preceding the resurrection of the wicked by several years as many premillennialists teach. Jesus in John 5:28-29 places the resurrection of those who have done good and those who have done evil at the same time. In the next chapter, Jesus speaks of raising the righteous from the dead. John 6:44 says, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day” (NKJV). John 6:54 says, “Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day” (NKJV). If Jesus says He will raise the righteous at the last day, how can Premillennialists, when they teach Jesus will raise the righteous and then a period of tribulation followed by a thousand year reign of Christ, be true? Paul in his defense of Felix said, “I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust” (Acts 24:15, NKJV). He did not speak of several resurrections but rather of “a resurrection.” He did not separate the resurrection of the just from the resurrection of the unjust but taught they would take place together. Acts 24:15 shows the fallacy of those who claim there will be two separate resurrections one for the righteous and another for the wicked. A common passage used by some to speak of a resurrection of the righteous without a resurrection of the wicked in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 says, “But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will be no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words” (NKJV). 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 does not specifically address the subject of the resurrection of the wicked. The reason for such is the purpose of the passage is not to address that topic but to provide comfort to Christians regarding those who have died in Christ. The passage speaks about “the dead in Christ will rise first.” Does that mean the dead in Christ rise and then at some later time the wicked dead rise? The dead in Christ rise prior to those Christians who are alive and remain being caught up to meet the Lord in the air is the point of verses 16-17. The point is not to say the dead in Christ rise before the wicked dead. The events described in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 do not fit into the concept of the rapture as is generally taught by Premillennialists either. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3 shows us the events described in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 do not precede the judgment upon the wicked by several years but instead take place at the same time “sudden destruction” comes upon the wicked. 1 Thessalonians 4-5 agree with John 5:28-29 and Acts 24:15 that there will be one resurrection of all the dead.
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