Resurrection at the Second Coming Explained Through Scripture

The sorrowful lyrics of Psalm 6 strike a hidden chord in all of us:

“I am weary with my groaning; all night I make my bed swim; I drench my couch with my tears. My eye wastes away because of grief . . . ” (verses 6–7)

In some capacity, death has touched us all. The ensuing grief is like a black hole, pulling us into oblivion. But for those who place their faith in Jesus, that oblivion holds no real power.

A resurrection awaits us at the Second Coming of Christ! And Scripture reveals that this resurrection means more than life again—it signifies completed redemption, eternal victory, and a powerful hope we can carry with us today.

The Order of Events at Christ’s Second Coming

No one but God knows the exact time of Christ’s Second Coming (Matthew 24:36). But God’s Word—primarily the gospels and the sequence of events described in Revelation—tell us how this glorious event and the resurrection will play out:

1. Before Jesus returns to Earth, the “gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations” (Matthew 24:14). The Three Angels’ Messages described in Revelation 14 will reach everyone, and each person will have a chance to choose the righteousness of Jesus, bought by His death on the cross, or the wickedness of Satan.
2. Before Christ’s Second Coming, the world will mirror the “days of Noah,” characterized by worldly prosperity and a wide disregard for God’s instructions (Matthew 24:37–39). Those who keep God’s commandments will face fierce persecution (Revelation 12:17; Matthew 24:9).
3. In a short period of time just before Jesus’ return, God’s wrath will scourge the Earth through horrible plagues (Revelation 16). Angels will protect God’s people (Psalm 91:10–11).
4. When the time of deliverance has come, God’s voice will “roll through the earth,” announcing the time of Jesus’ return—as described by Christian writer Ellen G. White (whom Seventh-day Adventists believe had the spirit of prophecy) in her book Darkness Before Dawn. She continues by writing that a small black cloud will appear in the east, and as it draws nearer, it will grow more majestic, “its base a glory like consuming fire” (p. 49).
5. Surrounded by all the holy angels, Jesus will appear in the clouds (Matthew 25:31), surrounded by glory and dressed as a conquering king. Every eye will see Him (Revelation 19:12–13; 1:7).
6. With a shout and the trumpet of God, Jesus will raise all dead believers back to life! They will join their Savior in the air, followed by the living believers (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17). All of the righteous will be transformed, made perfect and immortal (1 Corinthians 15:52–53). The resurrection at the Second Coming will be an event of indescribable joy—reuniting loved ones and swallowing up death in victory (verse 54).
7. Terrified, the wicked will pray for the rocks and mountains to fall on them (Revelation 6:16). The glory of Christ at His Second Coming will destroy everyone who rejected Him (1 Thessalonians 1:9).
8. The righteous will ascend with Christ to their home in heaven, where they will enjoy the “wedding supper of the Lamb” (Revelation 19:9).

Resurrection of the Righteous Explained

The most clear explanation of the resurrection at the Second Coming resides in 1 Thessalonians 4:14–17:

“For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.  For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.” 

If the wages of sin is death, as Paul wrote in Romans 6:23, how can humans—all of whom have sinned—rise again at the Second Coming and gain eternal life?

Those same verses in 1 Thessalonians give us the answer: because Jesus died and rose again!

Jesus came to Earth the first time as a human. He was severely tempted yet never sinned. He lived a perfect life, then died, becoming sin itself (2 Corinthians 5:21). God raised Him up, “having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that [Jesus] should be held by it” (Acts 2:24). Jesus is alive, serving as our Mediator and High Priest, ensuring His blood covers our sins. He makes us righteous. That is why we don’t have to fear the grave and why Christ will resurrect those who fell asleep in Him.

“Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? . . . Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” (Romans 8:34–37)

Sequence of Events in Revelation

The final book of the Bible contains visions, prophecies, bold descriptions of end-time events, and beautiful pictures of God’s ultimate plan for humanity. To understand the importance and timing of the resurrection at the Second Coming, we need to understand the sequence of events in Revelation:

• The Great Controversy, evolution of the church, and major religio-political conflicts

Revelation details the war between God and Satan, between truth and falsehood, and describes the pollution of the church throughout its history—leading many to honor the dragon (Satan) and human authority over their Creator. However, this book also unmasks Satan’s deceptions and proclaims that God’s people, “those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus,” will be saved (Revelation 14:12).

• The last days

Revelation tells us that Satan will make war with God’s people before Christ’s Second Coming (Revelation 12:17; 13:7), but he and Babylon (the universal apostate religious system) will ultimately fall (Revelation 18).

• Jesus’ Second Coming and the resurrection

With vivid imagery, Revelation declares the good news of Jesus’ return and the first resurrection, the raising of the righteous (Revelation 20:4–6).

• The millennium in heaven

Revelation 20 also explains that the righteous will reign with Christ in heaven for 1,000 years to review the cases of lost souls.

• The final judgment and destruction of the wicked

Revelation 20 continues to describe what will happen after the millennium: Satan will be released from his prison, and the wicked will be resurrected. Jesus will return to Earth once again to judge the wicked, permanently destroy them and Satan, and establish the New Earth.

• The eternal kingdom of God on the New Earth

Revelation ends by explaining that God will dwell with humanity on the New Earth forever.

“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:4)

The sequence of events in Revelation demonstrates that the resurrection of the righteous at the Second Coming is:

• An answer to the wiles of Satan
• A testament to the power of Jesus
• A comfort in times of grief
• A hope in times of trouble
• The beginning of eternal life with God

Start an in-depth study of Revelation today!

The Physical, Embodied Nature of Eternal Life

The resurrection and eternal life described in the Bible are not spiritual, mythical, or symbolic as some claim. The bodies of the righteous who died will be literally restored, and the bodies of all the righteous will be physically perfected so that they can enjoy true life with Christ.

How do we know this? The Bible tells us that:

• Jesus, “the firstfruits” of the righteous who will be resurrected, rose from the dead to a tangible body (Luke 24:39; 1 Corinthians 15:20). He is our predecessor and example.
• Our bodies and identities will be preserved through the resurrection (Job 19:26; Romans 8:23). Even though we will be significantly changed—both physically and mentally—we will recognize others, just as Mary and the disciples recognized Jesus (1 Corinthians 13:12; John 20:14–16; Luke 24:30–35).

The physical nature of the resurrection and eternal life forms a key Seventh-day Adventist belief about God’s plan for humanity.

What Do Seventh-day Adventists Believe About Resurrection?

The Seventh-day Adventist movement has always emphasized the importance of having a personal relationship with Jesus, relying on God’s Word for truth, and using Scripture to interpret Scripture. 

Concerning the resurrection of the righteous, Seventh-day Adventists believe:

• The righteous dead will be literally, physically awakened to eternal life.
• Their identities will be preserved. We will recognize one another in God’s kingdom of glory.
• This resurrection will occur exclusively at the Second Coming. The righteous dead do not go to heaven at death but sleep in the grave until the Lord calls them forth.

Resurrection as God’s Answer to Death and Injustice

Seventh-day Adventists also believe that the resurrection at the Second Coming of Christ is the “blessed hope” that completes the work of redemption (Titus 2:13; Philippians 3:2–21).

Death came into the world through sin, a grave injustice to God’s loving character. When humanity chose to sin, they separated themselves from God and doomed themselves to death . . . but Jesus’s death on the cross and subsequent resurrection redeemed humanity and conquered death. 

The resurrection of the redeemed proves Jesus’ victory. He holds the “keys of Hades and of Death,” not Satan (Revelation 1:18)!

Resurrection at the Second Coming: The Heart of Christian Hope

As Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 4:13, we don’t have to “sorrow as others who have no hope.” Because of God’s Word, we know that death, misery, and sin will be wiped away. At Christ’s Second Coming, those who sleep in Him will rise, and all of the redeemed will journey into life and joy forevermore!

In her most well-known book, The Great Controversy, White describes that astonishing moment:

“Oh, wonderful redemption! long talked of, long hoped for, contemplated with eager anticipation, but never fully understood. . . . Angels ‘gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.’ Little children are borne by holy angels to their mothers’ arms. Friends long separated by death are united, nevermore to part, and with songs of gladness ascend together to the City of God.” (p. 644)

Related Articles:

• The Second Coming of Christ Explained for Today’s Believers
• Will We Ever See Our Loved Ones Again? The Bible’s Answer
• How the Resurrection Shapes Christian Grief

The Bible holds so much hope for the grieving. Learn more by diving into our Bible study resources!

Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.