Little Red Book Ministry

Resurrection, Judgment, and the Final State

“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after
this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).

There are several resurrections that could be inferred from scriptures and several stages to what we call the first resurrection. There are also several corporate judgments for groups such as the nations (Matthew 25:31–46). However, in this lesson we will deal only with the resurrections and judgments that will be likely to affect you as an individual.

There are essentially two resurrections, two judgments, and two final states possible for each individual. You may exercise your free will to select the outcome that you prefer. If you have been saved, you have already made this selection.

“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).

I. The First Resurrection
We have discussed the post-death state of the soul and the spirit in lesson 8. In that lesson we established that when you die and are not saved, your spirit returns to God, your soul is condemned to eternal damnation and your body goes to the grave. Happily, God has graciously provided a way to escape this terrible outcome.

For a saved person, your spirit remains in its state of communion with the Holy Spirit of God, your soul ascends to heaven to be with our Lord, and your body enters the grave to await the midtribulation rapture when it will be reunited in a glorified state with your soul and spirit (1 Thessalonians 4:16). Therefore in this lesson we will deal only with the resurrection of the physical body. Contrary to what some may teach, the resurrection of the body is well established in scripture.

“And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God” (Job 19:26).

Acts 2:31; Romans 6:5; John 5:28–29; Acts 24:15; Romans 1:4; 1 Corinthians 15:27; Hebrews 11:35