The celestial resurrection and terrestrial resurrection are both part of the resurrection of the just,¹ or the first resurrection.² The first resurrection began with Christ and will continue for about three thousand years until the end of the millennium.³ The millennial conditions of this earth will end when both the celestial and terrestrial resurrections are complete.⁴

The stages of resurrection are sequential and in descending order with no overlap,⁵ which means the terrestrial resurrection will occur only after the celestial resurrection is complete. The celestial resurrection will be complete only when the last celestial-worthy person is resurrected at the end of the millennium.⁶ For this to occur, the mortal saints of the millennium must complete all the required temple ordinances by proxy⁷ for every celestial-worthy person⁸ going back to Adam and Eve.⁹ When the last person worthy of the celestial kingdom has received his or her earthly ordinances,¹⁰ either vicariously or while still living as a millennial mortal,¹¹ the celestial resurrection will end. At that point, all remaining celestial-worthy people then on the earth can be changed in the twinkling of an eye and taken to heaven.¹²

The millennial city of Zion (New Jerusalem) will also be taken to heaven with all her resurrected and celestial-worthy inhabitants at the end of the millennium.¹³ This is sometimes called the end of the earth,¹⁴ although‒in the most precise sense‒the end of the earth will not occur until after the millennium, plus the end of the little season nearly 100 years later.¹⁵ Zion's return to heaven at the end of the millennium is foreshadowed by Enoch's city of Zion¹⁶ that was translated¹⁷ and taken from the earth¹⁸ before the flood.¹⁹ The city of Salem is also a foreshadow because it was also translated in the time of Melchizedek after the flood.²⁰ Once the millennial city of Zion is taken up at the end of the millennium, there will be a little season of wickedness that John describes in Revelation 20:7-9. The true end of the earth will occur when the earth literally dies after the little season. When the earth is resurrected the city of Zion will descend back to earth as a celestial city.²¹

The city of Old Jerusalem will also have a prominent role with Zion as one of two world capitals during the millennium.²² However, Old Jerusalem will not be taken up to heaven with the city of Zion after the millennium. Instead, Old Jerusalem will remain on earth during the little season and will be the center of conflict during the battle of Gog and Magog.²³