Those believers and followers of Jesus who were converted during The Tribulation
Period, and had been put to death–the martyrs of The Tribulation Period–will be raised from the
dead (Revelation 20:4). They are the brave ones who would not receive the Mark of the Beast,
and will have been put to death for their faith in Christ. They are raised again as part of the “first
resurrection.” Jesus himself was the “first-fruits” of this first resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:23).
At the rapture believers of the Church Age are raised as part of this first resurrection (1
Thessalonians 4:13-18). Now we see these believers also joining the ranks of this first type of
resurrection.
In Daniel we read that Old Testament Saints are also resurrected to eternal life.
“At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time
of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time
your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered. 2 Multitudes
who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and
everlasting contempt. – Daniel 12:1-2
In John Chapter 5, Jesus also spoke of the coming day when the dead would rise in two
separate resurrections, at his command:
I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the
Son of God and those who hear will live. 26For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted
the Son to have life in himself. 27And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of
Man.
28″Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his
voice 29and come out—those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil
will rise to be condemned. – John 5:25-29
This resurrection of the saints of Israel who lived and died before Christ’s first advent will
probably take place at the same time as the resurrection of the Tribulation martyrs since they are
a continuation of believing Israel during the last “week” of Daniel’s “Seventy Weeks.”
– Judgment of Believers
Believers of the Church Age will have already appeared at the Bema Seat Judgment
where whatever was sincerely done for Christ will be the basis of rewards. Those who receive
these rewards will, in turn, give them to Christ to prove their love to him (1 Corinthians 3:10-15;
Revelation 4:10-11).
The exact nature of the judgment of other believers–the Old Testament believers and
Saints of The Tribulation–is not described. It is possible that it will be similar to the Bema Seat.
The other type of resurrection is explained below where the ungodly are raised to stand at their
judgment.
Postscript to the Period
The last part of Revelation 20 is about Rebellion (verses 7-9) and Retribution (verses 10-
15). Since these events take place after the Millennium is past, they will be considered later
under the heading “The Last War.”
