Will All People Be Resurrected? Today if you hear his voice, consider what Jesus truly promises about resurrection.
The Truth Most People Miss
Most people assume death ends the story. Many believe that once a person dies, everything simply goes dark.
Jesus taught something radically different.
In John 5:28-29, Jesus declares that every person who has ever lived will one day hear His voice and rise from the grave.
Some will be resurrected to eternal life. Others will be resurrected for judgment.
The question is not will all people be resurrected. The question is which resurrection you will be part of.
How Hearing His Voice Will Shake Death to Life (John 5:28-30)
Bible Study Guide
(Verses 28-30) Let’s look closely at these verses and compare them to what Jesus just said in verses 24-25. Can you see the transition taking place between these two sets of verses? What can we draw from what Jesus is trying to explain?
In verses 24-25, Jesus speaks of those hearing His words and accepting Him as their Lord and Savior. Those who do will find their way from death (unbelief) to eternal life. But for those who don’t, they will hear a different voice calling them from death (grave). This death is a physical death.
Take careful notice of what He’s saying. Jesus is telling those who are alive but don’t believe, if they hear His voice and harden not their hearts they will be saved.
Jesus is speaking of the hope of eternity for salvation. Why is the idea of eternity so relevant? Let’s listen to Jesus and find out.
If they choose not to hear His voice but choose to harden their hearts they will not be saved. Instead, when they pass away they will hear a voice calling them from the grave. This voice of God will be heard at the end of the age. Then all will be resurrected and face judgment. This is not a voice that anyone will have the ability to exempt themselves from.
Death Does Not Cancel Accountability
Many people believe death allows them to escape God. This could not be further from the truth.
Jesus teaches the exact opposite.
Death is not the end of accountability. It is actually the beginning. It is the doorway into eternity. Let that sink in for a moment. A brief life of sin amounts to an eternity of accountability.
Every person who rejects Christ today will still hear His voice one day.
The difference is that hearing His voice now leads to salvation. Hearing His voice from the grave as an unforgiven sinner leads to judgment.
That is why Jesus repeatedly calls people to respond while they still have time.
The Two Resurrection Groups Jesus Points To
Have you ever been in a conversation sharing the gospel of Jesus with someone? Especially if your sharing events of the last days. Then somewhere along in the conversation, the other person seems to lose interest in your sharing of the gospel. They blurt out something to the effect of, “It doesn’t matter, when I’m dead I won’t have to worry about any of that stuff!”
I have and it’s sad to think how lost some people are. Many of these people are our loved ones.
So many people think that it’s all over when they die and they don’t have to answer for anything. As if death is some hiding place where unbelievers can escape the consequences of their unbelief and sin.
This idea could not be any further from the truth.
Which brings us to a great question. Will all people be resurrected? Yes, according to Jesus!
The prophet Daniel foreshadowed this coming event 500 years before the birth of Christ.
“Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.” (Daniel 12:2)
King Solomon foreshadowed this even before Daniel:
“and the dust returns to the ground it came from,
and the spirit returns to God who gave it.” (Ecclesiastes 12:7)
King Solomon was speaking of the body. Flesh returns to the dust of the earth. The spirit returns to God to for eternal damnation or eternal glory. Two groups. Two different destinations.
- Those who hear His voice will rise from death to eternal life.
- Those who are deaf to His voice will rise after death to face the second eternal death.
Now the question becomes when will each resurrection take place.
Will All People Be Resurrected? Which Resurrection Will You Be a Part Of?
Jesus will confirm and reiterate with a bit more clarity the words given to Daniel hundreds of years ago that all will be resurrected. Compare Jesus words.
“Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 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.” (John 5:28-29)
In verses 28-29, Jesus says look, don’t be amazed by what I just told you. Listen carefully, I’m about to tell you something even more amazing than that.
- Those who’ve come to faith in Christ will rise at the rapture. What Is the Rapture and When Will It Happen?
- Those who had a heart for God before Christ was born will be raised at the end of the Tribulation Period.
- Anyone who died and never accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior will be resurrected at the end of the Millennial Kingdom. This will be the Great White Throne Judgment.
I hope that all those who have ears will hear what Jesus is teaching about the resurrection. There’s no escaping eternity.
Reflect & Apply:
- How does knowing that death is not the end change the way you think about eternity?
- Why do you think so many people believe they won’t have to answer to God after death?
- Is there someone in your life who needs to hear the truth that all people will one day be resurrected?
- How should this reality influence the way you live today?
This Is How All Will Be Resurrected (Resurrection Timetable)
| PEOPLE GROUP | RESURRECTED WHEN | WHICH RESURRECTION |
| People who died believing in Christ. | At the Rapture | First Resurrection |
| People alive believing in Christ before Tribulation. | At the Rapture | First Resurrection |
| People Who Came to Believe in Christ during the Tribulation. | End of the Tribulation | First Resurrection |
| Old Testament Saints who never knew Christ but loved God. | End of the Tribulation | First Resurrection |
| All those who never believed in God or Jesus Christ from creation. | End of the 1000 year reign of Christ | Second Resurrection |
Reflect & Apply:
- Which resurrection group surprised you the most, and why?
- What does God’s resurrection plan reveal about His justice and mercy?
- How does the promise of resurrection encourage you during seasons of loss, suffering, or uncertainty?
Today If You Hear His Voice, Do Not Harden Your Heart
Throughout this passage Jesus speaks of two moments when people hear His voice.
First, there are those who hear His voice today through the gospel and respond in faith.
These pass from death to life and receive eternal salvation.
Second, there are those who refuse His voice during their earthly lives.
One day they too will hear His voice, but it will be from the grave when they are summoned to judgment.
Every person will hear His voice eventually. The difference is whether you hear Him today as Savior or later as Judge.
Hear His Voice Before the Tribulation
If you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior before the events of the Tribulation begin, you’ll be a part of the rapture or the resurrection of those who have passed away believing in Jesus Christ.
All of these will be brought into eternal life.
Hear His Voice During the Tribulation
If you come to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior during the Tribulation, you will not be condemned to eternal death but will be resurrected at a future time. I don’t recommend waiting this long to come to Christ. In the Tribulation, you’ll face the wrath that will come upon the world to test the inhabitants of earth. Then you will be persecuted for your belief.
Those who have died before Jesus Christ came to earth to save mankind, but believed in God, will be resurrected after the Tribulation when Jesus returns.
If You Choose Not To Hear His Voice
You’re time will be reserved for after the Millennial Kingdom. Then all remaining people in the grave will be resurrected to face judgment. The foolish notion of imaging you have nothing to worry about after you pass away is exactly that, a foolish notion.
Actually, if you haven’t accepted Christ by the time you pass away, you have a lot to worry about. Unfortunately, worrying will not save you.
This final resurrection leads directly to what Scripture calls the Great White Throne Judgment: Who Will Stand Before God?, where every unbeliever will give an account before the Lord.
Reflect & Apply:
- Jesus teaches that all people will be resurrected. What does that truth mean for you personally?
- If you stood before God today, would you be confident in your relationship with Jesus Christ?
- What is God showing you through this passage that you need to respond to today?
Closing Reflection
Jesus did not reveal these truths to frighten us. He revealed them to save us.
One day every grave will be opened. Every person will stand before God. Every person will hear His voice.
The invitation of the gospel is to hear Him today.
If you have never placed your faith in Jesus Christ, don’t wait for the day when He calls the dead from their graves.
Respond to Him now while the door of grace remains open.
Ready to learn how to begin a relationship with Jesus?
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Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for the truth of Your Word and the hope found in Jesus Christ. Thank You for warning us that this life is not the end and that one day all will hear His voice and rise from the grave.
Help us not to harden our hearts when You speak to us today. Give us faith to trust You, courage to follow You, and wisdom to live with eternity in view.
We pray for those who do not yet know You. Open their hearts to the gospel and draw them to Jesus while there is still time.
May we be ready for the day we stand before You, confident not in ourselves, but in the saving grace of Jesus Christ.
In His name we pray, Amen.