The belief that the second resurrection will occur at the end of the millennium is based on Revelation 20:5, “But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.”
However, the first portion of verse 5 has been questioned by Greek authorities and is likely an unfortunate addition. It is not contained in the Codex Sinaiticus (from around 330–360 AD). Although it appears in later manuscripts, Bible Students generally consider it to be spurious.
The context supports this conclusion. The previous verse (verse 4) describes how the saints will live and reign with Christ for 1,000 years. The following verse (verse 6) also refers to the saints sharing in the first resurrection and again states they will reign with Christ for 1,000 years. The immediate context is focused on the saints reigning with Christ. Therefore, by removing the first portion of verse 5, the passage is consistent.
The passage should properly read as follows:
Revelation 20:4: “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.”
Revelation 20:5: “This is the first resurrection.”
Revelation 20:6: “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.”
To answer the question directly, then, the second resurrection takes place at the beginning of the Millennium. In 1 Corinthians 15:25,26, the Apostle Paul describes the purpose of Christ’s millennial reign. “For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.”
The Apostle Peter also connected the Second Advent of Christ to the work of restoring mankind’s lost relationship with God. “…He shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: whom the heaven must receive (retain) until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began” (Acts 3:20,21)
In Isaiah 35, the prophet describes the millennial kingdom as a highway leading to holiness, with the opening of blind eyes and deaf ears. This will not only be a literal healing of the nations, but more importantly, their spiritual healing as well. “And the ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”
The Revelator then reveals what will take place at the end of the Millennium. “And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison and shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea” (Revelation 20:7,8).
Releasing Satan from his prison will serve as a final testing of the human family. Those who foolishly choose to follow his leading will be eternally destroyed in the second death, pictured by the lake of fire, mentioned in verses 10 and 14. The remainder, and likely majority, of mankind will be granted eternal life on a fully restored earth.
Image Credits
Featured Image – Bible open to Revelation; Image generated by ChatGPT (OpenAI), 2025
