What is the SECOND resurrection?

There are several resurrections that occur throughout the pages of the bible. However, these must not be confused with the TWO TYPES of resurrections that are also referred to. The two types of resurrections referred to are (1) the resurrections of the Righteous and (2) the resurrection of the Unrighteous. Jesus and Paul plainly declared these two basic resurrections:

John 5:28 "for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29 and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned."

Acts 24:15 having hope toward God, which they themselves also wait for, that there is about to be a rising again of the dead, both of righteous and unrighteous; (Also see: Daniel 12:2)

As you can see, there will be resurrections of both the righteous and unrighteous. This doesn't mean, however, that there will only be two resurrections in number, just that there are two TYPES of resurrections:

The resurrection of the righteous

(called "first resurrection", Revelation 20:5-6)

(This resurrection type has multiple resurrections, including Jesus' resurrection, the resurrection of the bible saints, and the resurrection of the tribulation saints. These resurrections occur before the Millennial Kingdom and participants enter into LIFE in that kingdom. (Open for debate: There may even be a resurrection of Millennial kingdom saints (who were in natural bodies) at the end of the Millennium who will also partake in life in the eternal state.))

Revelation 20:4-6 4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

The resurrection of the unrighteous

(the "second resurrection", Revelation 20:5a)

(This resurrection type occurs only once at the end of the Millennial Kingdom. Participants of this resurrection are sentenced to DEATH. At that judgment, called the Great White Throne judgment, Jesus will judge all who have rejected Him and His salvation.)

Revelation 20:11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from His presence, and there was no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.

This massive judgment concerns every dead soul in the grave (Hades (Grk.) or Sheol (Heb.)) after the thousand-year reign of Christ on this earth, which means it involves every unredeemed person throughout history.

The event which divides the first and second resurrection types is the Millennial Kingdom. The righteous are "raised to reign with Christ for a thousand years" (Revelation 20:4), but the "rest of the dead [that is, the wicked (cursed)] lived not again until the thousand years were finished" (Revelation 20:5).