Biblical Reasons for Two Resurrections

The Bible teaches two future resurrections and not one single resurrection of all the dead!

Daniel 12:2 says, “Many of those who are sleeping,” meaning all the dead are not raised at the one time.

The NT uses a particular phrase: “from the dead” (ek nekron) — literally “out from among the dead.” This implies the resurrection of some, I.e., Christians “firstfruits” (1Cor 15), followed by “the rest of the dead” (Rev 20:5).

In Luke 14:14 Jesus says, “You will be rewarded at the resurrection of the righteous.” That is the first resurrection. Similarly, Luke 20:35: “those who are considered worthy to attain to that future age and the resurrection from the dead.” Cp. Acts 4:2: “proclaiming the resurrection from the dead through Jesus.”

In John 5:28-29 there are two resurrections — a “resurrection of life” and “a resurrection of judgment.”

Paul agrees with Jesus in 1 Corinthians 6:14 “he will also raise us up,” literally “out-raise or preeminently raise.”  1 Corinthians 15:23: Christians are raised at Jesus’ coming, not everyone.

Philippians 3:11: Paul’s goal is “to attain to the out-resurrection [ex-anastasis] from among the dead.” Note that one would not strive to “attain” to the second resurrection when everyone is raised, whether they like it or not! And John describes “the rest of the dead” (Rev. 20:5) which would make absolutely no sense if there is a single resurrection of all the dead.

If you’ve eaten “all the pie” there is no “the rest of the pie”!