1 Corinthians 15:20-23 (NKJV), 20 “But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 23 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming (Greek word is parousia and means presence).”
Everyone who was “resurrected” before Jesus died again. They were essentially resuscitated out of death. The Greek word for resurrection is anastasis and it signifies more than a reawakening. Scripturally, it means a restanding to full life. Consider John 11:24 (NKJV), “Martha said to Him (Jesus), ‘I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.’” Rise simply means to awaken, but the purpose of the reawakening is to restore to mankind the perfect life (a restanding in life) that Adam lost.
Jesus was the first fruit of the resurrection. A first fruit implies more fruits will follow. All “after” fruits will occur during the 1,000 year Judgment Day of Christ’s reign.
Jesus said, “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come forth, those (only true Christians) who have done good (because their sins are forgiven through Jesus’s blood), to the resurrection of life (a heavenly resurrection), and those who have done evil (the vast majority of mankind), to the resurrection of judgment.” John 5:28-29 (RSV)
At our Lord’s return, the dead in Christ will be resurrected first. After this, faithful Christians will receive their divine resurrections at the death of their human bodies (1 Corinthians 15:52). Then Jesus and His Bride will begin the resurrection of judgment for mankind. This will be a long process.
The concept of judgment includes a trial and a verdict. The first man Adam stood trial in the Garden of Eden. He (and all his offspring in him) were found guilty and received the death sentence. Everyone, now, is dying under Adam’s trial and verdict. Jesus died to ransom Adam and all his children from death.
On the Judgment Day, mankind will be awakened from death. The willing will be taught righteousness (Jeremiah 31:33-34) and restored to human perfection. (Isaiah 35, Acts 3:21) During this period, each person will be individually tried (as was Adam). Most of mankind will pass the test of obedience. They will rejoice to live in righteousness and love as perfect human beings. Any who fail to love God supremely will die the second death. This is a state of non-existence.