The concept of resurrection to immortal life is intricately tied to the order of resurrections as described in Scripture. There is a defined sequence where Christ is the firstfruits, followed by those who belong to Him at His coming. For the faithful, the promise of eternal life is a transformation into immortal spirit beings, achieved in the twinkling of an eye at His return. This change signifies the corruptible putting on incorruption and the mortal embracing immortality, marking a profound shift from physical existence to eternal life. In contrast, the third resurrection holds a starkly different fate for the incorrigible who have rejected God across all time periods. These individuals, upon being raised, face the second death in the Lake of Fire, with no hope of crossing the great gulf into immortality. This permanent death underscores the finality of their rejection, ensuring that no further resurrection or salvation is possible. The purpose of this resurrection is rooted in God's justice, ensuring fairness by holding all accountable for their actions. It serves as a necessary event to apply equal measure to everyone, preventing the wicked from escaping judgment while others strive to overcome. Moreover, the terror of this judgment acts as a powerful deterrent for those still under judgment, motivating them to remain close to God. Even in the horror of destroying those who refuse to repent, God uses their fate as an example to encourage others to avoid such a path. While His primary draw is love, the fear of His judgment, both awe and terror, serves as the beginning of wisdom, guiding individuals toward righteousness through the stark reality of the consequences faced in the third resurrection.

God's Plan for humanity includes a profound transformation through resurrection to immortal life. I Corinthians 15:53-54 reveals a significant step in this Plan, where mortal man puts on immortality at a designated time, each in his own order, as stated in I Corinthians 15:23. Revelation 20:4 teaches that all mankind who have died remain in their graves until they are resurrected, with the righteous experiencing a resurrection to eternal life, while evildoers face a separate resurrection of condemnation for their sinful lives. Daniel 12:1-2 supports this future resurrection, indicating that the dead will arise to a period of judgment, and God will grant salvation and eternal life to those who live His way. The Bible also indicates that some will reject immortality, choosing their own selfish lifestyle despite knowing God's truth. Revelation 20:13-15 reveals their fate, showing that to live forever, humans must partake of the fruit of the Tree of Life, which is God's Holy Spirit. As Paul writes in Romans 6:23, the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Ephesians 1:13-14 further confirms that believers are sealed with the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of their inheritance until the resurrection, to the praise of His glory. God's pattern of life, death, and resurrection is evident in all humanity, with a glorious future planned for those who choose to live according to His way.

The Bible reveals two main types of resurrection, with the resurrection to immortal, spiritual life being the one Jesus Christ experienced and the one Christians anticipate. This type, often called the First Resurrection, is less detailed in scripture compared to the resurrection to mortal, physical life. Jesus Christ stands as the first of God's firstfruits, His resurrection and initial ascension represented by the Wavesheaf Offering. The resurrection of the saints, pictured by the Feast of Trumpets, occurs later at Christ's return, separated by a significant period from His own resurrection. This sequence underscores that only Christ has been raised to eternal life thus far, while the saints await their transformation at the sounding of the seventh trumpet when He returns.

The hope of the Christian lies in the resurrection of the dead, a promise rooted in the same power that raised Jesus Christ from the grave nearly two thousand years ago. God will raise all the dead to life again, offering the vast majority of mankind the opportunity for salvation and the gift of eternal life through resurrection. Only a few who willfully reject God's way of life will not receive this gift. The Bible identifies resurrections to spiritual, eternal life, contrasting resurrection to life with resurrection to judgment. Our resurrection to eternal life is made possible because Jesus Christ died to pay for our sins and rose as the firstborn of many brethren. His resurrection ensures that we can be saved and given eternal life, as we are saved because Christ lives now and forever. There are distinct resurrections of the dead. The saints of God will be part of the first and better resurrection, rising at Christ's second coming. Only the just, the righteous, will rise at that time, including the martyred saints and true Christians alive at His coming, transformed through the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in them. The unjust dead will not be resurrected until a later period. Paul speaks of the redemption of our body, expressing his willingness to suffer the loss of all things to experience the power of Christ's resurrection. Our hope lies in heaven, where our citizenship is, and Christ our Savior will change our corrupt bodies into bodies like His glorious body, from mortal flesh to immortal, incorruptible spirit. Jesus promises the overcoming saints a new name known only to the recipient, as well as the names of God and His city, New Jerusalem. God will grant them power over the nations under Christ, clothe them in righteousness, and allow them to sit with Him on His throne. The resurrection of the saints is so certain that it is spoken of as already accomplished. God has established an order of resurrections, with His saints rising first in the better resurrection, to live as eternal spirit beings in the God Family, filled with God's own character and incapable of sin.