When will we receive our resurrected bodies?

The concept of a future bodily resurrection is found throughout Scripture (Job 19:25–27; Isaiah 26:19; Daniel 12:2; Matthew 22:23–33; John 11:24–25; Revelation 20:4–6, 11–14). The Bible reveals two categories of resurrection: the first resurrection (of the saved) and the second resurrection (of the unsaved). The first resurrection includes the redeemed of every age. The timing of the first resurrection is conditional and does not occur at the same time as the second resurrection. Each resurrection will occur according to a specific order. God has appointed a future time to raise all the dead.

Jesus declared the truth of the resurrection in opposition to the Sadducees’ denial of it (Matthew 22:23–33). He referenced Exodus 3:6 as proof. On another occasion, Jesus declared the certainty of resurrection: “Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment” (John 5:28–29, NASB 1995).

The first resurrection includes “Christ, the firstfruits,” that is, the first one to be resurrected from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:23a), with many more to follow (Romans 6:9; Colossians 1:18; Revelation 1:18). “Those who are Christ’s [are resurrected] at His coming” (1 Corinthians 15:23b, NASB). The resurrection of church age saints (living and dead) will occur at the rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:16). The resurrection of Old Testament believers (Jew and Gentile) will occur at the second coming (Daniel 12:2; Isaiah 26:19). The resurrection of all martyred tribulation saints will also be at the second coming (Revelation 20:4). The resurrection of every millennial believer will not be “until the thousand years were completed” (verse 5, NASB).

The intermediate state is the time between one’s death and receiving one’s resurrected body. While it is a state without a body (2 Corinthians 5:3–8), it is a time of conscious joy with the Lord (verses 8–9). Scripture reveals that the soul is conscious when the body dies. Though disembodied, it has not entered its complete and final condition. The body and soul must be united again in order that the entire person may inherit the imperishable. The intermediate state for the believer is described as a condition of bliss, in contrast to the torment experienced by the unbeliever. The state of the faithful after death is described as a condition of rest.

The believer has two prospects of hope awaiting him or her: 1) the resurrection of the body should death occur, or 2) translation from corruption to incorruption if alive at the coming of the Lord. Paul said he was reluctant to die and thus be temporarily disembodied (“found naked,” “unclothed,” “absent from the body,” 2 Corinthians 5:3–4, 8, NASB). His hope was to receive a new, glorified body without having to experience death—the hope of all believers who survive to the coming of the Lord for His church. At the rapture, the living will receive glorified bodies through translation (transformation) and the deceased through resurrection.

There are multiple times of resurrection that comprise the first resurrection of Revelation 20:1–6. All of these are associated with the second coming of Christ. After that, verses 11–15 refer to a second resurrection—the resurrection of the unjust. The first resurrection involves multiple events. The word first does not imply only one resurrection, but refers to a certain kind of resurrection (i.e., the one that is “blessed and holy,” verse 6).

The resurrection of the unjust will occur at the end of Christ’s millennial reign (Revelation 20:11–14). That resurrection will include all the unjust from all ages, together with those who die during the tribulation and the millennium. God will judge all unredeemed humanity, in addition to Satan and the fallen angels. The result is that those whose names are not found written in the book of life will be cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11–15).