The Bible teaches that everyone will rise from the dead to face the final judgment.
But is that resurrection a gift for those who did not believe in Jesus?
For Latter-day Saints, the answer is emphatically yes. The resurrection is seen as a universal gift from Jesus Christ — a baseline blessing extended to all, regardless of faith or obedience. Exaltation and eternal life, however, are conditional, achieved through obedience, ordinances, and covenants.
Elder Holland put it this way:
“Some gifts coming from the Atonement are universal, infinite, and unconditional. These include His ransom for Adam’s original transgression so that no member of the human family is held responsible for that sin. Another universal gift is the Resurrection from the dead of every man, woman, and child who lives, has ever lived, or ever will live on earth.”
But in reality, the Bible never describes the resurrection of the wicked as a blessing or a fruit of Christ’s saving work. To the contrary, it portrays their resurrection as an act of judgment, not mercy.
John 5:28–29 speaks of “a resurrection of life” for some and “a resurrection of judgment” for others.
Daniel 12:2 says, “Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.”
Revelation 20:12–15 describes the dead being raised for judgment, with those not found in the book of life cast into the lake of fire.
There isn’t a single Bible verse that describes the resurrection of the wicked in positive terms as a blessing.
Some Latter-day Saints point to 1 Corinthians 15:21–22 — “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive” — as evidence that resurrection is a universal blessing. Yet context is crucial. In the very next verse Paul specifies, “But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; then those who belong to Christ at his coming” (v. 23). Paul’s focus is not on a general resurrection of all humanity, but on the resurrection of believers who share in Christ’s victory over death. The entire passage celebrates resurrection unto life — the glorification of those united to Christ — not the resurrection unto judgment that awaits the unbelieving. The rest of humanity is at most mentioned in passing as part of Christ’s dominion over the universe when he will “put all his enemies under his feet.” (v. 25).
Scripture therefore consistently distinguishes between resurrection unto life for believers and resurrection unto judgment for the wicked (John 5:28–29; Dan 12:2; Rev 20:12–15). The resurrection of the unrepentant is never described as a gift, benefit, or blessing, but as the moment when God’s justice is revealed.
This isn’t just an academic point — how we understand the resurrection shapes how we understand salvation itself.
Why Does This Distinction Matter?
If you see the resurrection as a universal blessing, it sets you up to fall into a whole host of other theological errors:
1. Two (or Three)-Tier Salvation
In LDS thought, resurrection is free, but exaltation is earned — leading to the idea that there are “degrees” in the resurrection. LDS leaders speak of people rising with celestial, terrestrial, or telestial bodies corresponding to their eternal reward. In this view, the resurrection itself is graded, and differences in eternal outcome begin at the moment of rising rather than after judgment.
Elder Holland again::
“Although the Resurrection of the body is a free and universal gift from Christ, the nature of the resurrected body (or ‘degree of glory’ given it), as well as the time of one’s Resurrection, is affected directly by one’s faithfulness in this life.”
Paul, by contrast, emphasizes the miraculous and instantaneous nature of resurrection: “We shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye” (1 Cor 15:51–52). Paul’s point highlights a sudden, uniform transformation for those in Christ, not a graded, merit-based sequence of rising.
2. Greater Emphasis on Works
Viewing resurrection as a universal gift regardless of faith subtly shifts the focus from Christ’s saving work to human effort. In the Bible, the resurrection is first and foremost about our unity with Christ. As Paul puts it, “If we have been united with Him in a death like His, we shall certainly be united with Him in a resurrection like His.” (Romans 6:5).
Once you separate union with Christ from the Resurrection, it becomes less about union with Christ and more about what one earns. By contrast, if resurrection is understood as a gracious act of union with Christ, then it is entirely about grace — not merit.
3. Minimizing the Role of Resurrection in God’s Justice
In Scripture, the resurrection of the wicked upholds God’s justice. Everyone is raised, but for those outside Christ, resurrection is not a blessing — it is the moment when God’s righteous judgment is revealed (John 5:28–29; Dan 12:2; Rev 20:12–15). By raising the dead to face judgment, God demonstrates that sin will not escape scrutiny. The universal resurrection is also the vindication of Christ as judge. He has the power both to “give[] life to whom He will,” and to “execute judgment.” John 5:21, 27-29. Treating resurrection as a universal human gift downplays how God’s justice is vindicated through Christ’s judgment of the wicked just as much as in the salvation of those in Christ.
4. Separating Atonement and Salvation
If resurrection for the wicked is viewed as merciful, it paves the way toward universalism — a salvation detached from faith in Christ. LDS thought reflects this with the idea that even the wickedest of men will eventually “pay the penalty for their sins” and be resurrected to the Telestial Kingdom. (See D&C 19, D&C 76). That framework weakens the Bible’s tight link between faith in Christ and salvation where Christ’s resurrection is closely linked to our justification and ultimate salvation: Hence Romans 4:25 says that Christ “was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.” Only those who embrace Christ experience the blessings that come from Christ being raised up.
5. Foreclosing the Question of Definite Atonement
One of the most significant theological debates among Protestants is whether Christ’s atonement is general for all or particular for the elect. While this question is complex and worthy of deep study, the belief that resurrection is a universal gift of Christ essentially shuts down that discussion. In my own journey, I had to correct my assumptions about the resurrection before I could even begin to consider whether the atonement itself might be more particular in its scope and intent.
Conclusion
In the end, the Bible portrays the Resurrection not as a universal human blessing but as the decisive act by which God either fulfils his promise of salvation for those united to Christ or displays judgment for the unrepentant. Reading the Resurrection as a universal gift cheapens both grace and justice. The good news of the gospel is not simply that everyone will rise, but that those who are in Christ will rise to everlasting life.