The Resurrection of the Righteous and the Wicked

July 21, 2025

One day at the Pearly Gates, St. Peter sees a street gang approaching. St. Peter runs to God and asks, “God, there are some evil thieves at the Pearly Gates. What do I do?”

God replied, “Try re-directing them down to hell.”

St. Peter goes back to the Pearly Gates, only to come back a few moments later, yelling, “God, God, they’re gone, they’re gone!”

God responds, “Who, the gang members?”

Peter nervously says, “No, the Pearly Gates.”

The sure hope of resurrection to an eternal life with God is a cornerstone of Christian faith, The Apostle Paul declared in Acts 24:15, “I have the same hope in God as these men themselves have, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.” This profound truth underscores two distinct destinies: one of everlasting joy for the righteous and one of judgment for the wicked.

For those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ, the resurrection is a glorious promise. It is the assurance that death is not the end, but the beginning of an eternal life in the presence of God. The righteous will rise to live, their bodies transformed, their souls united with Christ in a place prepared for them. As Jesus promised in John 14:2, “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?

Yet, Scripture also speaks of a resurrection for the wicked, a sobering reality that calls us to reflect on the consequences of rejecting God’s grace. The prophet Daniel foretold, “Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt” (Daniel 12:2). Jesus reinforced this truth in John 5:28-29, saying, “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.”

Jesus’ parable of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:27-31) illustrates the stark reality of this judgment. The rich man, suffering in torment, pleads for someone to warn his brothers, lest they face the same fate. Yet, Abraham’s response is telling: “If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.” This underscores the urgency of heeding God’s Word now, for the opportunity to repent and turn to Christ is limited to this life.

These Scriptures offer three vital lessons for our lives. First, the reality of hell is undeniable and horrific. It is a place of eternal separation from God, so terrible that we should be compelled to do everything possible to ensure that we, our families, friends, and even acquaintances do not end up there.

Second, this truth should ignite an evangelical zeal within us. Through prayer, sharing the Gospel, and living out our faith, we are called to lead others into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ.

Finally, the promise of heaven should fill us with uncontainable joy and gratitude. As Billy Graham proclaimed, “The moment we take our last breath on earth, we take our first in heaven.” This hope anchors our souls and fuels our worship.

I got to hear Billy Graham speak in Louisville, KY in 2001, when he was 82 years old. I remember watching this old, weak and frail man walk up to the microphone. As he spoke about heaven, it was as if he had forgotten about the 55,000 people in the stadium and was simply describing a vision of heaven that God was giving to him. He said things like, “I’m going to heaven and I know it. Not because I’ve done anything good or preached to a large crowd of people or read the Bible, I’m going because of what Christ did on the cross and what God did in raising Him from the dead. Heaven is a wonderful place and the benefits for the believer are out of this world!”

Graham’s words remind us that our hope is not in our own merits but in Christ’s redemptive work. The resurrection of the righteous and the wicked calls us to live with eternity in view. Do you? When was the last time you shared the Gospel with urgency, or loved others with Christ’s compassion? How do you rejoice in the promises of heaven? May this truth transform our lives and inspire us to proclaim, as Paul did, “To live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). (To learn more about Al Earley or read previous articles, see www.lagrangepres.org. You can purchase my book, My Faith Journal, at Amazon.com, a compilation of 366 articles as a daily devotional).