Throughout the Bible there are various mentions of the dead living again, but to different fates.  For example, Daniel spoke of people awaking from their sleep, that is being resurrected from the dead, but having different fates, some to everlasting life, and others to everlasting shame.

Dan 12:2  And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt.

The first mention in the Bible of someone being resurrected from the dead is when Elijah raised the widow’s son.

1Ki 17:17  Now it happened after these things that the son of the woman who owned the house became sick. And his sickness was so serious that there was no breath left in him.

1Ki 17:21  And he [Elijah] stretched himself out on the child three times, and cried out to the LORD and said, “O LORD my God, I pray, let this child’s soul come back to him.”
1Ki 17:22  Then the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came back to him, and he revived.
1Ki 17:23  And Elijah took the child and brought him down from the upper room into the house, and gave him to his mother. And Elijah said, “See, your son lives!”

This wasn’t a resurrection to eternal life or contempt, but a resurrection back to physical life.  Although it is the first mention of someone being resurrected from the dead, it is not what the Bible refers to as “the first resurrection”.  What the Bible refers to as “the first resurrection” is really a type of resurrection.  The Bible mentions the first by name; the others are not given names but described.

So what are the three types of resurrection mentioned in the Bible?

The First Resurrection

The first resurrection is mentioned in the book of Revelation.

Rev 20:4  And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 
Rev 20:5  But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 
Rev 20:6  Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

The sentence in verse 5, “But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished” is a parenthetical statement.  “This is the first resurrection” that follows it does not refer to “the rest of the dead” but those who “lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years” mentioned in verse 4.  This is clarified in verse 6 which reiterates that the first resurrection refers to those who “shall reign with Him a thousand years”.

Another resurrection (the rest of the dead) occurs after the thousand-year reign.  This is the second resurrection which is covered later.

The first resurrection occurs at Christ’s return to earth.

1 Thes 4:13  But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 
1 Thes 4:14  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 
1 Thes 4:15  For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 
1 Thes 4:16  For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 
1 Thes 4:17  Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 

1 Cor 15:20  But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 
1 Cor 15:21  For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 
1 Cor 15:22  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 
1 Cor 15:23  But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. 
1 Cor 15:24  Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. 

The first resurrection is called the resurrection of life.

John 5:28  “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 
John 5:29  “and come forth; those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation [judgment – krisis].

Those in the first resurrection will be resurrected to a spirit body in the likeness of Christ’s glorious body:

Rom 4:5  For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, 

Phil 3:20  For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 
Phil 3:21  who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. 

1 Cor 15:42   So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. 
1 Cor 15:43  It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. 
1 Cor 15:44  It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 

1 Cor 15:49  And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man. 
1 Cor 15:50  Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 
1 Cor 15:51  Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed; 
1 Cor 15:52  in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 
1 Cor 15:53  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 
1 Cor 15:54  So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 

This is the resurrection to eternal life that Jesus taught.

John 5:28  “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 
John 5:29  “and come forth; those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation[judgment – krisis].

John 6:39  “This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. 
John 6:40  “And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

John 11:23  Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
John 11:24  Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
John 11:25  Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.
John 11:26  “And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

This is the resurrection to eternal life that the apostles preached.

Acts 4:1  Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, 
Acts 4:2  being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

Acts 23:6  But when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!”

Acts 24:15  “I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust.

Acts 24: 21  “unless it is for this one statement which I cried out, standing among them, ‘Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am being judged by you this day.'”

Philippians 3:10  that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,
Philippians 3:11  if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Here are some more references to the first resurrection from the Old Testament.

Job 14:14  If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait, Till my change comes. 
Job 14:15  You shall call, and I will answer You; You shall desire the work of Your hands.

Job 19:25  For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth; 
Job 19:26  And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, That in my flesh I shall see God, 
Job 19:27  Whom I shall see for myself, And my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!

Psa 16:9  Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope.
Psa 16:10  For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.

Psa 17:15  As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.

Isaiah 26:19  Your dead shall live; Together with my dead body they shall arise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in dust; For your dew is like the dew of herbs, And the earth shall cast out the dead.

Dan 12:2  And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt.
Dan 12:3  Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever.

Dan 12:13  “But you, go your way till the end; for you shall rest, and will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days.”

Hosea 13:14  “I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. O Death, I will be your plagues! O Grave, I will be your destruction! Pity is hidden from My eyes.

The Second Resurrection

We read earlier about those who are resurrected immediately after the thousand-year reign. 

Rev 20:5  But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. …

This is a different resurrection to the first resurrection.  Although the Bible does not call this different resurrection the second resurrection, it is convenient to refer to it as such.  A few verses later, the Bible explains that those resurrected at this time will be taught and judged by the “books”.  It is a resurrection to judgment.

Rev 20:11  Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 
Rev 20:12  And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 
Rev 20:13  The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 

Jesus also taught about this second resurrection and referred to it as the resurrection of judgment. 

John 5:28  “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 
John 5:29  “and come forth; those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation [judgment – krisis].

The Greek word translated condemnation is krisis, which means decision, accusation, condemnation, damnation, judgment.  This is a time where those who have lived a life without the knowledge of God and His ways will have their opportunity to learn God’s truth and accept it or reject it, and thus will be judged on that basis.

Jesus also referred to this resurrection of judgment when he rebuked the various cities that refused to repent.

Matt 10:15  “Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment [krisis] than for that city! 

Matt 11:20  Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent:
Matt 11:21  “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 
Matt 11:22  “But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment [krisis] than for you. 
Matt 11:23  “And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 
Matt 11:24  “But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment [krisis] than for you.” 

Jesus gave more information about this resurrection to judgment a little later.

Mat 12:41  “The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment [krisis] with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here.
Mat 12:42  “The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment [krisis] with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here.

Jesus described a time when the long dead people of the ancient Assyrian capital of Ninevah and the Queen of Sheba will live again alongside those from Christ’s generation.  Those who lived at different periods of history will be resurrected to judgment at the same time.

The second resurrection was also something that the apostle Paul taught.  He referred to it as the resurrection of the unjust.

Acts 24:15  “I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust.

But what kind of resurrection is this resurrection of judgment?  It is a resurrection to physical life.  This is made clear in Ezekiel.  Ezekiel 37 describes a resurrection to a physical life of Israel, but also by implication all peoples because Israel has no spiritual advantage over others, as the apostle Paul explained.

Gal 3:26  For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
Gal 3:27  For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Gal 3:28  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Gal 3:29  And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Ezekiel was given a vision of a valley of dry bones coming back to life.

Ezek 37:1  The hand of the LORD came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones.

There were lots of bones indicating a lot of dead people.

Ezek 37:2  Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry.

The bones were very dry indicating that the people had died a long time ago.

Ezek 37:3  And He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” So I answered, “O Lord GOD, You know.”
Ezek 37:4  Again He said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD!
Ezek 37:5  ‘Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: “Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live.
Ezek 37:6  “I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the LORD.”‘ “

The dead people represented by the bones will live again and know God.  They will learn about God and His way of life and the way to salvation.

Ezek 37:7  So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone.
Ezek 37:8  Indeed, as I looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over; but there was no breath in them.
Ezek 37:9  Also He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.”‘ “
Ezek 37:10  So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army.
Ezek 37:11  Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, ‘Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!’

The dead went to their graves with no hope of eternal life.

Ezek 37:12  “Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.
Ezek 37:13  “Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves.
Ezek 37:14  “I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken it and performed it,” says the LORD.'”

Although the dead went to their graves with no hope of eternal life, God will give them hope of eternal life in this resurrection to physical life.  God will give them His Holy Spirit, just as He gives true believers His Spirit now (upon repentance, baptism, and the laying on of hands).  This is their opportunity for salvation, at this resurrection of judgment.

The resurrection of judgment (the second resurrection) is a resurrection to a physical life, and a chance for salvation to eternal life.

The Third Resurrection

There is within the Scriptures an implied third resurrection.  It’s not explicitly mentioned, but it does allow for the fulfillment of various prophecies or statements regarding the future.  This third resurrection relates to the fate of the incorrigibly wicked, that is, those who refuse to repent.  The fate of the incorrigibly wicked is complete destruction.

Matt 10:28  “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 

Matt 25:41  “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: 

Mark 9:43  “If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched; 
Mark 9:44  “where ‘Their worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched.’ 
Mark 9:45  “And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched; 
Mark 9:46  “where ‘Their worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched.’ 
Mark 9:47  “And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire; 
Mark 9:48  “where ‘Their worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched.’ 

Heb 10:26  For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
Heb 10:27  but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.

Rev 20:14  Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 
Rev 20:15  And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. 

The fate of the incorrigibly wicked is very clear.  But before considering a third resurrection we need to bear in mind some other important points.  All who are in the graves will hear God’s voice.  Every knee shall bow before the Lord and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.  Everyone shall give an account of themselves to God.  Here are the Scriptural references for these points.

All who are in the graves will hear His voice

John 5:28  “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice  
John 5:29  “and come forth; those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation [judgment – krisis].

Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess

Isa 45:23  I have sworn by Myself; The word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness, And shall not return, That to Me every knee shall bow, Every tongue shall take an oath.

Rom 14:11  For it is written: “As I live, says the LORD, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.”

Phil 2:9  Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,
Phil 2:10  that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,
Php 2:11  and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Each of us shall give account of himself to God

Mat 12:36  But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.

Rom 14:11  For it is written: “As I live, says the LORD, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.”
Rom 14:12  So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.

When will the incorrigibly wicked do these things?  Such a person living in the millennial reign of Jesus Christ or in the in the second resurrection period could possibly do these things while they are living in the flesh.  But what about the incorrigibly wicked who live in this present evil age?  When will they rise and hear the voice of God?  When will their knees bow before the Lord and their tongues confess that Jesus Christ is Lord?  When will they give an account of themselves to God?  They are in their graves.  The only way for these things to happen is for them to be resurrected (to a physical life).  This is the third resurrection.

Those in the third resurrection are raised from their graves to a physical life, where they give an account of themselves to God (as all men must do).  They will be forced to acknowledge their creator and to bow their knees (as all men must do).  And then they are cast into the lake of fire and cease to exist. 

Hopefully, the number of people in this third resurrection is very few indeed.