The Narrow Path Ministries

Acts 24:15
I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust.

Paul mentions here the resurrection of the just and the unjust. I am aware that many (most?) Christians believe that both the just and the unjust will be resurrected simultaneously when Christ returns. Until recently I had believed this also, but now I am not so sure. One reason I now have doubts is the following passage from Romans Chapter 8...

Rom 8:18-23
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.

This passage seems to imply that the unjust must wait to be resurrected (delivered from the bondage of corruption) until after the just have been resurrected.

1 Cor 15:22-25
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 23 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming. 24 Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet.

Paul, in 1 Cor 15, mentions an order to the resurrection, saying that Jesus is first, followed by "those who are Christ's at His coming" (the just). But, what about the unjust? I think it is possible that he speaks of the unjust in the next verse when he says, "Then comes the end..." It seems to me that Paul is saying that the unjust cannot be resurrected until all of Christ's enemies are put under His feet. This idea seems to be confirmed in verse 28 which says...

1 Cor 15:28
Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.

This idea also makes sense when Paul says, "the last enemy that shall be destroyed is death" (v26).

I am curious what any of you think about this. Does Paul deal with the unjust in 1 Cor 15 or are they not mentioned? If he does deal with them here, what conclusions can be drawn about their situation?

My take on this is that Paul does deal with them, and it seems that all sin issues with the unjust are dealt with prior to their resurrection.

Todd

And let's not forget this passage from Rev 20:4-6

They came to life, and reigned with Christ a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who shares in the first resurrection!

Those whom John saw in his vision who came to life and reigned with Christ, he explains as being indicative of the first resurrection. They are blessed and holy. The words "This is the first resurrection" is the explanation of the vision of those who came to life.

The explanation continues in the verses that follow. The verbs in those sentences are written in the future tense indicating the meaning of the vision.

The rest of the dead, in his vision, who did not come to life until the thousand years were ended, represent those who will share in the second resurrection, 1000 years later.

Preterists, historicists, and other symbolists will reject this, since they consider that everything in Revelation is figurative, not only what John saw in his vision, but John's explanations as well.