22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.

23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming.

24 Then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power.

— 1 Corinthians 15:22-24

11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sits upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them.

12 Then I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.

13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them, and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds.

— Revelation 20:11-13

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Grace, mercy and love from Christ to you.

John mentioned “the first resurrection” that includes all believers. What does John mean when he refers to the “first” resurrection? Does this imply at least one more? There appear to be two resurrections in verses 4 and 5, one before and one after the one thousand years: the first involves God’s people and the second “the rest of the dead” — all unbelievers.

The apostle Paul explained the two resurrections when referring to the terrible destruction brought upon humanity by Adam’s first sin. He wrote, “For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.” Then he added, “But each in turn,” giving a sequence of resurrections to come: First, “Christ, the firstfruits”; then, when He comes, “those who belong to him”; and then “the end will come.” This suggests a separation between the resurrection of those who belong to Christ and “the end,” or final judgment of all who ever lived.