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The following chart will outline the events occurring at the first and the second resurrections of Revelation 20 & 21:
FIRST RESURRECTION | SECOND RESURRECTION |
| 1. Second coming of Jesus for the saints (John 14:3). | 1. Third coming of Jesus with the saints (Rev. 21:2-5). |
| 2. Saints raised to life (1 Thess. 4:16). | 2. Holy city descends onto the mount of Olives, which becomes a great plain (Zech. 14:4, 9). |
| 3. Righteous given immortality (1 Cor. 15:53, 54). | 3. Wicked dead raised (Rev. 20:5, first part) |
| 4. All righteous (alive and dead) caught up into clouds (1 Thess. 4:17). | 4. Satan loosed (Rev. 20:7-8). |
| 5. Living wicked slain by the Lord’s presence (2 Thess. 2:8; Lu. 17:26-30). | 5. Satan deceives all nations. They surround the holy city (Rev. 20:8-9). |
| 6. Wicked remain in their graves (1 Thess. 4:16, last part). | 6. Wicked destroyed by fire (Rev. 20:9). |
| 7. Jesus takes righteous to heaven (Jn. 14:1-3; 17:24; 1 Thess. 4:16-18). | 7. New heavens and earth created (Rev. 21:1-5; 2 Pet. 3:10-14). |
| 8. Satan bound (Rev. 20:2-3). | 8. God’s people enjoy eternity with Jesus (Rev. 22:5). |
The first resurrection of the saints takes place at the second coming of Christ (Thessalonians 4:16, 17; 1 Corinthians 15:51-53). The 1,000-year period begins at the second coming of Christ, when Jesus takes the righteous from this earth to heaven to live and reign with Him “a thousand years” (Revelation 20:4).
At the close of the 1,000 years “the holy city, new Jerusalem” (Revelation 21:2) will down from heaven to the earth with all the saints (Zechariah 14:1, 4, 5) and the wicked dead of all ages will be raised to life (Revelation 20:5). They will surround the holy city to capture it (Revelation 20:9), and God’s fire will come down from heaven and devours them.
This fire will purify the earth and burns up all sin and sinners (2 Peter 3:10). Then, God will create a new earth (2 Peter 3:13; Isaiah 65:17; Revelation 21:1) and gives it to the righteous, and “God… will dwell with them… and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God” (Revelation 21).
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
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