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Resurrected at Christ’s Coming The first resurrection, that of the righteous, takes place at the second coming of Christ.
When Jesus comes to this earth again, He raises “the dead in Christ” and takes them, along with the righteous who are alive, to heaven (John 14:1-3). At that time He transforms all the righteous and they become immortal—no longer subject to disease, old age, or death (1 Corinthians 15:51-57). What happens to the wicked people still alive when Jesus comes? Because they still cling to sin and haven’t accepted Christ, they can’t exist in God’s presence; they are destroyed “by the brightness” at the return of Christ (Luke 17:29, 30; 2 Thessalonians 2:7, 8). (You may wish to review in guide 8 the events surrounding Jesus’ return.)
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“For
the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with
the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and THE
DEAD IN CHRIST WILL RISE first. After that, WE WHO ARE STILL ALIVE and
are left WILL BE CAUGHT UP TOGETHER WITH THEM in the clouds TO MEET
THE LORD IN THE AIR. And so we will be with the Lord forever.”
