by Jim Josephsen
Good Afternoon! At the setting of the sun and the commencement of the night, last night, the 7 days of the Feast of Tabernacles were complete. As we, in a type, lived out the Millennium, we gained a better understanding of the meaning of the Feast of Tabernacles as it pertains to the plan of salvation.
And now here we are, on the Last Great Day or as called, the 8th day of the Feast.
Now that we’re here, let us once again project ourselves ahead in time to learn the meaning of this Holy day. We are commanded to keep this day Holy and we do so in order to understand, to ponder and reflect, to learn the meaning of this day as it foreshadows a future fulfillment.
God’s merciful plan of salvation is not yet quite finished; God’s purpose for humankind has one more step to take before completion. This is a Holy Day and it takes on meaning; it will have a future fulfillment, a future reality. Just what is that reality?
In the 20th chapter of the book of Revelation John explains that there is a resurrection called the first. He says that those in the first resurrection are blessed and holy and upon those individuals, the second death has no power.
Those in the first resurrection can never die again. Those in the first resurrection, which the writer of Hebrews calls, a better resurrection, which Christ calls, the resurrection to eternal life, will reign and rule with Christ for a thousand years. Not only do these individuals enjoy an extra 1000 years of life, but they are also coronated to become co-rulers with The Messiah, The King, Jesus Christ Himself.
Those individuals brought up in the first resurrection will be given the gift of eternal life, of spirit life. We learned, as we understand the fulfillment of the Feast of Trumpets, that the first resurrection occurs at the day of Christ’s return, His second coming at the blowing of the 7th trumpet (Revelation 11:15), called the last trumpet (I Corinthians 15:52). It is at the last trump (I Thessalonians 4:16) at Christ’s return when the saints, the select, elect, the firstfruits of God are brought back to life, given eternal life and of course, all that implies that they are resurrected. And of course after resurrected, rising to meet Christ in the air, the saints with Christ will descend to the Mount of Olives (Matthew 24:30-31, Zechariah 14:4-9) to begin the rule of the Kingdom of God.
Moreover, of supreme importance, the names of those in the First resurrection are found written in the Book of Life (cf. Philippians 4:3).
While writing about the First resurrection, John very briefly mentions something quite interesting. It is almost as though in passing, in a sense as an interjection, like, as an aside, as a secondary comment John writes; “But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.”
In the 20th chapter of Revelation, John explains that not only the saints are to be resurrected but other dead people will live again. There were those dead who were brought up in the first resurrection and then there are those who are “rest of the dead.” In other words, those who were not brought up in the first resurrection – all the remaining dead, every one that ever died, both good and bad, religious, agnostic and atheist alike, will live again but only after the thousand years are finished.
Now for these “rest of the dead” who died and somehow were not good enough or somehow did not qualify to be in the First resurrection nor were given eternal life, what would it matter whether or not they were resurrected?
Why do “the rest of the dead” need to live again after the 1000-year period is over if they didn’t qualify for the First Resurrection, the resurrection to eternal life at the time of the First resurrection? Why should God, why would God resurrect these “less than qualified” or “non-saved” perhaps even to say “evil” or “corrupt” individuals?
This question baffles the minds of many Christian theologians. All you need to do is read the volumes of commentary available today. To most scholars and seminary graduates, the 20th chapter of Revelation contains mysterious scriptures. There is much uncertainty and as we shall see, confusion and deception on the part of many Christian scholars, when it comes to understanding these scriptures.
When the world at large is confronted with questions of death and what happens after one dies, those within the realm of religion (throughout the world), secular education, philosophy, not to mention individual’s possessing their own unique personal preference and opinions, all base their answers on what we shall learn are false concepts, fiction and deception.
Let us understand that it is not as though these individuals, educators, clergy, evangelists, etc are purposely, of genuine intention and a heart’s desire, set out to deceive their lay members, their students, etc. No, they teach deceit because they themselves have been deceived. Year after year, generations after generation, the deceit goes on. The chain of deception goes all the way back to the Garden, and more specifically from the days of Noah. The chain of deception regarding the subject of death originated with the father of all lies, Satan. Satan as god of this world has deceived this world, especially through the medium of religion.
Let me give a few brief examples. When it comes to death and “life after death,”
some religions believe that upon death the individual’s spirit is reborn.
Ancient religions in
Egypt, Greece and Rome taught that the soul departed the body. In some African
traditions, the spirit of the dead person becomes part of the life force of a
descendant.
In Buddhism and Hinduism, the dead may be reborn into any form of life, human or nonhuman. Shintoism, a Japanese religion per se, worships nature, ancestors and life forces, with no concept of punishment or reward after death. These religions do not teach a heaven as the last step for a person’s life but rather an eventual and permanent liberation from the cyclical round of birth, death and rebirth.
In Christianity, Islam and Judaism along with Hindu Srivaishnava a common doctrine taught by these four religions is that some type of heaven is the permanent home of eternal life for the dead – with qualifications of course.
Rather than focusing on the non-western religious traditions, let us reflect on the prominent traditional religion of the United States of America and northern Europe, where are found the descendants of Israel, scattered though they may be.
Specifically in the USA, in this supposed god-fearing religious country, composed mostly of those professing some form of the Christian-Judaic tradition, we are aware of the various doctrines relating to life, death, the afterlife, of heaven or hell and of course judgment as taught by the various Christian traditions.
At bottom, Christianity teaches heaven or hell to those who die. Without going into detail, a thorough examination of the concept of heaven and hell teaches us that the foundation of the doctrines of the “life after death” lay in ancient pagan philosophy and tradition.
With that said, we in America see death all too frequently and readily these days. Death becomes impersonal because it happens all the time and through many different venues. With the exposure that TV and the internet provide, death is available to the viewing 24 hours a day.
We in America know what the Christian tradition teaches because we live in this country. The Christian dogma with all its component parts makes up an American tapestry, an American ethos.
The push to teach going to heaven and the drive to get people saved now is found
from bumper stickers, evangelical ministries, to Gospel singing in the deep
south. It is the Christianity not only of America but also around the world,
which teaches “salvation now” and “one chance only today” theology. Of course,
the Catholic Church goes as for to say that unless you confess Catholicism, you
are damned to hell.
You try to explain to your neighbor or co-worker, or friend the concept that the dead do not go to heaven nor hell-fire upon death, but that Jesus Christ promised a literal resurrection of all the dead. We live in a world that advocates the concept of the immortal soul. It is this pagan philosophical concept, which was forced upon the apostate universal Christian church in the 4th Century AD. The immortal soul is a doctrine never found in the Bible. The truth that the dead are not living in heaven but “asleep” as it were in death, awaiting the resurrection, is a concept hard for the human mind to grasp.
God has promised to resurrect all the dead. Some at the First Resurrection and the rest after the 1000 years are finished. God promises that all mankind will have a chance to be saved and will be given a chance to accept eternal life. Those who were brought up in the First resurrection are already saved, had already passed the test. Those brought up in the second resurrection will be given a chance to be saved. They will be given a chance to choose salvation.
Now on the contrary, nominal Christianity teaches that unless one is “saved now” in their lifetime, one will never have a chance for salvation. Nominal Christianity teaches that unless you give your heart to the Lord at this time, meaning in your lifetime, you are doomed to hell fire, because unless you are saved now, you will not get another chance.
Christianity believes this life now is the only opportunity to be saved. Christianity calls the doctrine of the resurrection of “the rest of the dead,” which the Church of God teaches, which is clearly a doctrine revealed in the Bible, a doctrine of “a second chance.” It seems that many Christian theologians do not like to give people a second chance.
Let us review the Scripture, the very same Scriptures that the Christian community reads, to learn why the rest of the dead will be resurrected. By reading these Scriptures together, we will see what God is accomplishing and why He has decided to give the rest of the dead an opportunity to be saved.
God is not concerned with the biases of “Christianity” so called. He created man for the hope of salvation, the hope of Eternal Life.
Let us read scriptures that have been available now for almost 2000 years, which are bedrock truth, bedrock Words of God. These scriptures apply to every human ever born. The issue of timing as to when each person will be allowed to participate in the process of these scriptures is what confuses humanity and particularly the Christian world, today.
Let us start out by reading Titus 1:2 where Paul teaches, “In the hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began.” God, from the beginning initiated the process that would lead to Eternal Life. Eternal Life is the purpose for creating man. Jesus Christ came to secure and insure that promise, to offer eternal life.
Notice II Timothy 1:10. “But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.”
Notice the following scriptures; all which are true and all will be fulfilled:
I Timothy 2:4 (1-6). “Who will have (Greek: thelos, meaning desires, wills that, would have, prefers, would want) all men to be saved and come unto the knowledge of the truth.”
II Peter 3:8-9. verse 9 “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”
Romans 8:18-23. Verses 20-21 “For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly but by reason of him who subjected the same in hope, because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.”
Romans 11:30-32 “For the gifts and the calling of God are without repentance. For as ye in times past have not believe God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they may also obtain mercy. For God has concluded them all in unbelief, that he may have mercy upon all.”
Romans 11:26 “And so all Israel shall be saved …”
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14. “Let us hear the whole conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every work into judgment, whether it be good or whether it be evil.”
John 5:28-29 “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming in which all that are in their graves shall hear his voice and shall come forth; they that have done good unto the resurrection of life and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of judgment.”
Hebrews 9:27. “And it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.”
John 3:16. “For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son that whomsoever should believe in him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
These Scripture verses have been extant for close to 2000 years now. No amount of Catholic or Protestant doctrinal exegesis will take away from the plain and simple fact that God has a purpose and a plain He is working out. In God’s mind and time frame, death (the first death, of which all mankind is subject to) is only a short interruption, which does not terminate one’s opportunity for salvation and reward.
Now something interesting that Jesus Christ taught which needs to be understood as viewed from God’s perspective and not from the perspective of mere mortal, fallible man; consider Mark 3:28. “All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme.”
Christ taught that all manner of sin and blaspheme can be forgiven. Compare Mark’s writing with Matthew 12:31. There exists no sin which cannot be pardoned.
There is however, a spiritual condition or state of mind and attitude and consequential practiced behavior that God will not tolerate, for which God will call the person on the carpet and from which there is no forgiveness. That condition is the blatant and practiced disregard for God, for God’s forgiving power which is blasphemy against the Power of His Spirit (Mark 3:29 and Hebrews 10:29).
However, we need to understand that before one’s sins can be forgiven, before God will forgiven, one must acknowledge and understand what sin is (I John 3:4). Then one must repentant of sin, of breaking God’s Law and ask for forgiveness. One must choose to want to be forgiven. One must choose to live a life of obedience to God. At that start of the salvation process, one must be baptized (Acts 2:38 and 3:19).
God offers those whom He is calling at this period in time (John 6:44) an opportunity to repent, by showing them their sins and in essence rebuking them. Consider the principle found in Luke 17:3. It is God’s will to forgive all manner of sin; consequently, it is God’s will to forgive all people. But He requires that a person make the conscious, informed decision to repent and accept His Son as Savior. God’s will is to forgive you but HE will not forgive you until you ask Him to.
Once one asks God to forgive him or her of his or her sins and then goes under the waters of baptism, one is forgiven and God gives to that person His spirit (to those that obey him Acts 5:32) which among many things, helps the person keep the law (Hebrews 10:14-18).
In addition, once forgiven, a person lives with the responsibility of avoiding sin and living a life which is one of overcoming sin (consider Romans 6:1-2). If a sin if committed while one is in the salvation process, Christ will still forgive the sin, if one asks to be forgiven. (I John 1:8-2:6; Hebrews 4:16).
Now notice the life of Paul: I Timothy 1:15-16. “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptations that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to everlasting life.”
Paul said of himself, I Timothy 1:13. “Who before was a blasphemer and a persecutor and an injurious: but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.”
Paul’s life is a witness of the mercy of God. Paul’s life is a witness to every human being.
Consider what Paul did, and what he did in particular to the members of the Sect of the Nazarene, the members of the Church of God. Before Paul was called, Paul’s life was worthless; Paul was a sinner worthy of death (Romans 6:20-21).
Was Paul any more or any less corrupt than the billions who died, those rest of the dead, who have never known the truth of God, never known the knowledge of the Truth, the knowledge of the Son of God and who were never given a chance to accept or reject salvation?
Paul’s life will be a witness to the rest of the dead when they are resurrected and given a chance to understand the process of salvation and come to understand the truth, just as Paul came to understand it.
We are aware of what the Scriptures teach. If a man die shall he live again, asked Job (Job 14:14), while David said, what man is he that lives and shall not see death (Psalm 89:48). As in Adam all die, spoke Paul (I Corinthians 15:22). Solomon taught that all go to the dead. Sinner and righteous alike, all have one event in common. They all die (Ecclesiastes 9:3)!
And so death is inevitable. Now we know that there is a resurrection. For us in this room the assurances of being in the First resurrection to eternal life are set. We have gone under the waters of baptism, we have covenanted with God of a new way of life, under a new covenant. There now is no new condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1).
However, unless we decide we do not want to finish the course, unless we want out, unless we have our names taken out of the book of Life (by not overcoming – Revelation 3:5) then the First resurrection is sure, it’s as good as gotten. Eternal Life is given to those who accept, believe in, follow and obey the Son of God, Jesus Christ, of God Himself.
Then what about the resurrection of the rest of the dead and how does their life and death square with the Scriptures we have just read? Is it true, as some believe that if you do not accept the Lord Jesus today in your lifetime, then you are destine to go to hell?
According to the Word of God, the answer to that Christian (nominally so called) concept is a resounding No!
Let us go back to the book of Revelation 20:11-15 and consider – the following:
Key Points – Books were opened!
Another book, the Book of Life was opened!
The dead were judged according to the things written in the books and according to their works!
Those at the end of it all that were not found written in the Book of Life were cast into the Lake of Fire, which is the second death.
Why then are the rest of the dead brought back to life? Because, even though it is appointed for all men once to die, as in Adam all die, for death is a necessary part of the cycle of life which God devised, never the less God is not willing that any should perish.
The first death is not a death of perishing for the wages of sin (Romans 6:23); it is a death all men must face (Hebrew 9:27) and a death from which there will be a resurrection.
The second death, which will occur after the resurrection of the rest of the dead, is the death to perishing, to eternal destruction in the Lake of Fire. The second death is the reward, the wage for sins of the individual who refuses to ask forgiveness, who rejects salvation and the forgiving power of Jesus Christ.
God’s desire is that all should come to repentance, to a knowledge of the truth and finally it is God’s desire that all men should be saved, because before the beginning of creation, it has been God’s desire to offer Eternal Life to His creation. He created man for the potential of living forever. God is going to give the rest of the dead their chance.
Since Adam until the return of Christ, the billions of human beings, from Judaism, from Christianity, from some far off distant Polynesian cult, from Asian Middle-eastern and eastern religions, of Islam and Buddhism, who are brought up in the second resurrection all have one thing in common. None of them were called by the Father to come to Jesus Christ in their lifetime (John 6:44).
Consequently, they never had a chance at salvation in their lifetime. They had all been held captive by Satan at his will (II Timothy 2:25-26). These billions from the beginning of creation, will all be brought back to life at that Last Great Day to be given an opportunity to fulfill God’s desire, coming to understand and accept salvation through the only Savior, the Real Jesus. And it will be their choice, their decision to accept or reject the Only Savior, the Creator God, Jesus Christ.
Now based on the scriptures we have just read and by understanding our calling and our converted way of life, our lifestyle, which is an example of salvation to the rest of the world, let us learn what will happen to these “rest of the dead,” those who are brought back to life.
First Key point - the books were opened. What are these books that were opened? John 12:47-48. II Timothy 3:15-17. The books are the same books which we use today. These books are what make up our Bible, both old and New Testament. The books are the reading tools of salvation. The books are the words of life, of Christ, of God and are everlasting words, words of truth. These books contain the words which these rest of the dead will hear, read and learn and by which their works will be judged. The words of the Bible are instructions and guides to the Good Life, to the walk of salvation. The Bible directs a person in the walk of ‘good works.”
Speaking of works – the question I submit is: are their “works,” works that they performed before their death, or works that they will perform once brought back to life?
You know the answer to that question – because you and I, we in this room are aware of our converted walk of life, our walk in the salvation process, our walk of life after going under and coming up from the waters of baptism.
At one time we were dead spiritually. We had to be called out of this world of sin and into a covenant relationship with God. We were dead; our lives consisted of dead works (Hebrews 6:1, Hebrews 9:14) and we had to be reconciled to God (Romans 5:10, II Corinthians 5:18, Colossians 1:21). No works of the flesh will get us in right with God. Our works (our life style) whether as religious in nature or carnal in nature could not save us prior to our calling and conversion; prior to the time we went under the waters of baptism.
Our works, prior to our baptism, could not nor did not save us. God had to call us out of the world of sin and selfishness, self-centeredness into His righteousness, to begin the “getting right” process, the reconciliation process, the salvation process.
We did not find God, He called us, He drew us to Christ (John 6:44). The rest of the dead will be called to the “getting right” process when they are called out of the graves and hear the voice of the son of God. None of their past works will matter, just like none of our past works prior to baptism, mattered for us. Their works, works of death, got them to where they ended up, six feet under. Our dead works would have gotten us six feet under, had not God called us and saved us in Jesus Christ during our lifetime.
Yes, it is true that the faithful do die (Psalm 116:15, I Thessalonians 4:14-16). However, the difference between the faithful and the unconverted is that the faithful, those in the salvation process, you and I today, will be brought up, resurrected in the First Resurrection. The unconverted will be brought up in the “second resurrection” period (or as called – after the 1000 years were finished), the resurrection for “the rest of the dead.”
Romans 3:10-20 and in other of Paul’s writings as well as other Scriptures, all explain the fact that our past works were worthless. Our works of the past, let’s call it what it is “our sinful carnal life style of the past” are of no value and do not count in the process of salvation. Our past works according to the Scriptures are called “dead works.”
At one point in time in our lives, we acknowledged that our dead works, our corrupt life was worthless and amounted to nothing. We realized that our works of the flesh could only earn us death. As God was calling us, once we understood all this, we realize we needed a Savior. It was the goodness of God that led us to repentance. Consequently, we accepted Jesus Christ as our only and personal savior. We die with him in baptism (Romans 6) and coming up anew we began living a life of righteousness consisting of righteous or good works.
You and I have been called out of sin. Jesus Christ who said all manner of sin can be forgiven unto men, has forgiven us of our sins.
Now that we are in the faith, converted and living with the Spirit of the Father and the Son in us, we are now being judged according to our current works, not that our works will save us, but they are a gage to judge performance and to test our commitment of our faith as we are in this calling. James 2:14-26, “by works faith was made perfect … so faith without works is dead.”
Our works on that side of baptism were not the works by which we are being judged. Our life, our works on this side of baptism are the works by which Jesus Christ judges us.
I Peter 4:17-18. Each day of our lives is now a judging day, a preparation day. Our works are being judged. We know we have to overcome and improve our lives. And we know the very first principle to accomplishing that task is to make sure that we remain with God and have Christ living in us, lest we be reprobate. II Corinthians 13:5.
Paul refers often to “our good works” (Ephesians 2:10, Titus 2:14, Titus 3:8, Hebrews 10:24) and Christ taught that we must keep the commandments (Matthew 5:17-20, 19:17). He said let your lights so shine before men that they may see your “good works and glorify the Father (Matthew 5:16). Because the scales of deceit have been removed from our eyes, we are now responsible to obey and do “good works.” We are being judged according to our works now, to determine whether or not we will remain faithful to God in this our converted walk of life. We are doing what is required of us, to work out of our salvation with serious concern (Philippians 2:12). If we do the works required of a converted, Firstfruit, then eternal life, salvation eternally is given to us, and our rewards will follow and our names will remain written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
Concepts like once saved always saved are not valid in the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Gospel of salvation (Hebrews 6:4-6, Hebrews 10:26-29, II Peter 1:9-10). The concept of once saved always saved will not even apply for those who are “the rest of the dead.”
The same principles as we today adhere to, will apply in the resurrection of the rest of the dead. They too will have to maintain “good works” in their second shot at life in order to have those works provide the proof that they really want salvation (I Corinthians 3:12-15, Titus 3:8, Revelation 14:13), that they will be obedient to God (Romans 12:1-2). God is perfecting character. That is what the salvation process is all about, that is what life is all about.
Their works at the time of their “second shot” at life will be judged. They get a “do over.” And if they “do it over” right at that time, according to God’s laws and the knowledge of the truth (I Timothy 2:4) and according to the words written in “the books that were opened,” then they too will be rewarded with Eternal life and their names will be written in the Book of life.
Just like us here today, called into the Church of God, the body of Christ, have been called out of our world of sin. Today, now, we have been given a “do over” in this lifetime. God has had mercy on us now as opposed to holding us in unbelief, for a later time of salvation (Romans 11:29-32). We have been given a new chance at life, now living reconciled to God and in the care and grace of God, under the protection of the Great Shepherd, Jesus Christ.
We no longer have to live a life of deception, evil consequences and sin. Even though our struggles are more demanding in this ever-aging flesh, our rewards are better. It is through much tribulation we must enter into the Kingdom (Acts 14:22, I Peter 5:10). Remember those brought up in the First resurrection are brought up to a better resurrection, one to eternal life a thousand years sooner that the rest of the dead. We are brought up to rule with Christ. This is a privilege the rest of the dead do not have. This is a privilege given to God’s Firstfruits only.
We today are being judged (I Peter 4:17-19). And so will those who are brought up in the resurrection be judged. Let’s review that judging process. You will see how familiar it is to what you and I go through today.
The word judge as found in Revelation 20:12-13, written in the Greek, in both verses is Krino, meaning to distinguish, to try, to decide, to call into question, to determine. This same Greek word is used in I Corinthians 11:31-32.
Those called and baptized have to learn to judge themselves, to discern and distinguish their behavior. They are required to practice judgment and to overcome.
Interestingly and by design the Greek word Katakrino was not used in Revelation 20. Katakrino means to judge against, to sentence, to pass sentence on as a result of evil works, to conclude a sentence, to pass a judgment.
The rest of the dead when living their lives, after having been resurrected, will at that time live their lives with the spirit of God available to them. Consider Ezekiel 37:14, those brought back to life will have to be cognizant of their lives and give an account of their lives before Christ. Just as we are required to give an account of our lives each and every day, so too will they (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, Romans 14:10-12, II Corinthians 5:10, Hebrews 9:27-28).
They will learn how to judge themselves, just as we do (I Corinthians 11:31-32, Matthew 7:1-5) in becoming practiced and obedient to God. Once empowered with the knowledge of the truth, they will become accountable for their works, activity, and life style. Just as we in this room, those of us having gone under the waters of baptism and having received the Hagios Pneuma, the sanctified spirit, God’s spirit, are today!
Finally, to what end is all this judging important?
It is important so God can fully and assuredly know, as He said to Abraham, Genesis 22:12, that those to whom He will give eternal life, will truly and completely honor, obey and fear Him. Judging is testing. It is the way God determines faithfulness to His calling, to His gift of Eternal Life. If judged faithful, the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ will be given. Eternal Life once given is something God will not, nor can take back. Therefore, God wants you to prove your faithfulness. As James said, “faith without works is dead.” God requires living faith.
We realize that the Last Great Day pictures the time when the rest of the dead come back to life. The billions who never knew God, going back to the beginning of creation, are all one under the umbrella of “for God so loved the world.” God so loved the world of His creation, a creation with the potential of the “promise of eternal life,” that he is willing to go the extra mile to see that they are given a clear and undeceived opportunity to make it into his Kingdom, to be born into His family. But each individual has to choose to want it.
God requires every human to make the choice. You and I had to decide! So too will the rest of the dead! The principle found in Deuteronomy 30:15-20 is given to all humanity.
Let us now understand that other book, the Book of Life, which was opened.
Why was it opened? Why would God allow the Book of Life to be opened?
It was opened so more names could be written in. Can we prove that fact?
First consider, if the name of a person that was written in the Book of Life can be taken out (Revelation 3:5), would it not be logical that a name could be written in at any time? The book of Life was needed to store the names of those in the first resurrection. Those in the second resurrection obviously were not in the first resurrection; their names were in the book. Why then is the book opened (again) at the time of the second resurrection unless it were not for the intent that more names be written in.
Why? Because it is God’s desire that all should come to repentance and be saved, that all would be given eternal life.
In the 20th chapter of Revelation, John explains to us that there is a First resurrection. Those brought up in First Resurrection are the saints, God’s elect, followers of Christ. These individuals had their names written in and their names remained in the Book of Life. Those in the First Resurrection did not have their names taken out of the Book of Life.
Now in Revelation 21:24-27 we read that the nations (or the people of nations) which are saved have their names written into the book of life.
Here is a thought. Why are these people “saved,” if today (as is believed by many Christians) in this lifetime, is the only day of salvation?
Here we are talking about many people, those from the rest of the dead. These people (as referred to in Revelation 21:24-27) are not the saints, are not the firstfruits, are those who were long ago, at the beginning of the thousand-year period were granted eternal life in the First resurrection. The “saints” are defined as the elect, called out ones, those of the Church, the body of Christ, who were given salvation prior to Christ’s second coming, prior to the Millennium.
The “nations” are defined as those who are saved, who give their honor and glory to the Lamb and to God after the Millennium.
The “saints” and the “nations” are two distinct groups of people.
Here we see that those brought up in the second resurrection (not the saints) had the opportunity to have their names written in the book of Life. These billions of people who compose the nations of every generation of mankind since the time of Adam and Eve will be resurrected. Their “do over,” their “works” of a converted life, having the knowledge of the truth, for the first time knowing and worshipping the Only True God and His Only True Son will be judged. If judged faithful then their names will be written in the book of Life of the Lamb.
The books (biblos = Bible) were opened so the rest of the dead could understand and live a life under the guidance of the words of God as they are written in the books. If judged faithful to the words, their works will prove them faithful. Once acknowledged by God as faithful to the words of God and obedient to His commands, having accepted and being obedient to His Son, these individuals will be given eternal life. And all of the nations that are saved will give glory to God and to the lamb. The rest of the dead will have a chance to be given eternal life.
Finally then, as we read in Revelation 21:27 and Revelation 21:8, there will be the fearful and the unbelieving, the corrupt and these individuals will go into the Lake of fire, which is the second death. Those whose names were not found written in the Book of Life were cast into the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:15). These individuals have chosen to not want to repent. These have chosen not to accept God’s gracious gift of salvation.
How can this be? How could people possibly neglect so great a salvation?
Well, just think about it. Think about some of the examples found in the Scriptures. Consider the children of Israel after witnessing the miracles of God in Egypt, yet many did not remain faithful. Many murmured shortly after the tremendous miracles they actually lived through and saw with their eyes. Consider the history of Ancient Israel during the times of the Kings and prophets. Many went back into pagan Baal worship. They knew the true God, the mighty Yahweh Himself, yet they went back into corruption. They went back into the worship of other gods. They did not humble themselves before God Almighty. They were not faithful.
Their living examples stand as a witness for us today (I Corinthians 10:1-12). Of course, these people back then did not have God’s Holy Spirit in them. They were in the flesh and died of the flesh. They died having no hope. They will be resurrected as God promises (cf. Ezekiel 37). However, the example is plain; people can fall away and reject God, even after knowing Him.
Paul’s writings in Hebrews 6:4-6 and Hebrews 10:26-29 are strong warning and an indication of the wrong kind of attitude for an individuals to have, who has been called to the salvation process today. Even individuals who have been given God’s Holy Spirit can decide to throw away their salvation, to quench God’s spirit.
The strongest witness for us today that has happened before our eyes involves members of the Worldwide Church of God. Those once enlighten within the Church of God, who knew the Law, knew to keep the Sabbath have now gone back to Sunday keeping, Christmas and eating pork, to name just a few of the Biblical doctrines they once accepted but no longer do. These people are examples of those who truly, consciously and knowingly have rejected God after receiving the knowledge of the Truth.
If indeed, they ever were really called and not just tares planted by the enemy, these individuals have chosen to reject salvation and eternal life. They have chosen to believe the lie and to disobey God. They do not any longer humble themselves before God. These have blasphemed God’s Holy Spirit. These will have the ultimate fate of the second death, the Lake of Fire. The Lake of fire is there for a reason.
Now where there is life there is hope and so as long as these rejecters are alive, they can still bow before the living God who is ever merciful. May he grant them mercy, if they want it!
So too it can be for individuals who come up from the grave in the second resurrection and simply decide they do not want God. Their hearts are hardened and their minds are made up. They do not want to overcome their willful flesh. They do not want to humble themselves before their Maker. Moreover, they will not have their names written in the Book of Life, for they have chosen not to want it there.
That possibility exists because God has given every human being the opportunity to make a choice. God has given mankind free moral agency; the right to choice their own destiny. Christ said, “if” you will enter into life, “then” keep the commandments. God operates from “if then” clauses. You must choose. It is God’s desire, His will that all come to repentance. But He will not make the choice for you. You must want to repent and you must want eternal life. So it will be offered to those who never had that chance in their first lifetime experience.
So finally, on the Last Great Day, the rest of the dead will be brought back to life. The rest of the dead will live life and learn according to the books that are opened before their eyes. And based on their works, they will be judged. If they are judged faithful, they will be given the gift of eternal life.
There is still another fact we learn about the Last Great Day. If you recall in reading Genesis 17:12 (cf. Luke 2:21), that God presented a covenant to Abraham, called a covenant of circumcision. Circumcision was to be performed on the eighth day. On that day, the foreskin of the flesh was to be cut off.
Now God could have required that the ritual of circumcision occur on the third day or the seventh day or the tenth day or the fortieth day; any of which would have had a spiritual numerical significance. But God chose the eighth day. Why?
As we know, the Last Great Day, The Last Great Eighth Day, occurs on the eighth day of the Feast (cf. Leviticus 23:34-36, 39). It is called the eighth day for a reason. Just as God required the male children of Abraham to have their foreskin of their flesh cut off on the eighth day, so God will cut off all flesh from the earth on the symbolic eighth day of fleshy life.
It has been Christ’s responsibility, because of the first sin ever committed, to do a work to remove all sin from the earth. All have sinned and come short of the Glory of God (Romans 3:23). Christ’s duty is to sanctify the earth, to cleanse its inhabitants from all unrighteousness, from all sin, to eliminate all carnal flesh and fleshly mind by replacing the flesh with perfect, righteous spirit, spirit beings, human beings who have been given eternal life, born into the family of God.
When sin is removed from the earth, then the Glory of God will be fulfilled and evident. When a human being has sin removed and consequently the flesh taken away, then that individual will have the Glory of God (cf. I Corinthians 1:29). The absence of sin is the Glory of God. God will only dwell in Glory and will only allow Glory to dwell with him.
Paul said all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God. When sin is removed then the Glory of God is fulfilled.
All flesh will be removed from the earth and there are only two ways flesh can be removed from the earth.
One, flesh will be removed when it is changed into Spirit Being and is born into the very family of God as a spirit being (John 3:3-8). The other way flesh will be cut off from the earth is by being burnt in Hell fire, which is the second death, from which there will be no resurrection.
Hell fire is a reality. The difference between the Hell Fire Satan teaches and the Hell Fire of the Bible is that God’s Hell Fire (of the bible), called the Lake of Fire, is that the Lake of Fire destroys the flesh and the life quickly and leaves nothing left.
The soul (as so called – actually should be called the psyche, the mind, the spirit of a man – see the Greek word Psuche), which is not immortal, will be destroyed and never have life any longer (Matthew 10:28).
Satan has deceived the world and the Christian faith in believing in the Dante-like hell in which the person never dies. God in His infinite mercy will never allow a member of his creation to suffer forever. God just simply ends the life, forever in the second death. Such a person in the second death has an eternal judgment/punishment of death, which is forever. The judgment or punishment is forever and can never be changes. The suffering is not forever. The suffering is as long as the flesh feels the pain before it is over. And with fire, the pain is short indeed and destruction is complete. The memory of them is forgotten.
Again, Satan shows no mercy. God is forever merciful.
One way or the other, flesh will be cut off from the earth on the Last Great Day. And for what reason does flesh have to be removed?
Finally, what Christ had set out to accomplish since the very creation, will be completed. He will have destroyed sin and death from creation, from the earth. He will have cleansed the earth and of course, it will be purged with fire and made ready for the Father to come down to the earth.
There will be no more sin, no more flesh, only Glory on the earth when the Father comes down. And His children will live with Him in Glory.
The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death and the Son will have put all things under His foot (I Corinthians 15:24-28). Then He will deliver up the Kingdom to the Father. It is clear in the Book of Revelation (chapter 21 and 22) that Heavenly Jerusalem and the very Father Himself will come down and take His position on this earth. The earth will be the celestial, heavenly headquarters, the Throne of God. Christ is cleansing the earth for the Father’s arrival.
On this Last Great Day, when all is prepared, when there is no more sin, when there is no more flesh and when the Glory of God dwells on the earth then the Father will come to the earth and we shall see his face(for the first time) and his name shall be written in our foreheads (Revelation 22:3-4).
In summary, the I AM, the very God of Israel, the very God of the Old Testament, the one who we know as Jesus Christ of Nazareth, will prepare this world for the arrival of God, the Father. Of God, the Father, the Scriptures teach us that His voice has never been heard nor has He ever been seen by any human being (John 5:37). God the Father was not known until Jesus Christ revealed Him. This very same being, God our Father will be seen and heard for the first time when Christ presents, as in a splendid ceremony, His brethren, the very children of God to the Father, when the Father comes down to the earth. It is on the Last Great Day when all this is fulfilled.
There is a lot to be accomplished on this day. What a Great Day it is. Each one of us have a personal interest in this day as we will once again see those who we personally know, family and friends, who having died, never had the opportunity to come to the knowledge of the truth. Many in this lifetime, may have known of Jesus, but they did not know Him. They did not have knowledge of the truth of the Real Jesus, enough so as to faithfully obey Him.
Though today they are dead, they, as the Scriptures assure us, they are “asleep” awaiting to be awakened (John 5:28-29). No doubt, the dead are dead. The dead are unconscious, no longer having any input into or awareness of life (Ecclesiastes 9:5-6, 10). To us they are gone. Their bodies have decomposed, having returned to the dust, to the very elements and minerals of the earth. Their spirit (the spirit in man – I Corinthians 2:11) is with God who gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:7) awaiting to be resurrected. Their lives will be intact at the time of their resurrection and they will be given a chance for salvation. They will be given their first chance to understand the knowledge of the truth and in addition, they will be healed, given a fresh, healthy and purposeful body. The blind will see, the lame will walk and the rest of the dead will be given a healthy physical body, with which to work.
Many details are left outside of our scope of knowledge, as God has not given very many specifics regarding what the reality of second resurrection world will be like. Never the less, it seems only fitting that Jesus Christ will employ our help and experience in the process of working with these billions who compose the rest of the dead.
In any event, the rest of the dead will live again and in the process, God will be Glorified as more sons and daughters will be received unto glory.
Once the Last Great Day is completed and the Father is with his family, as He sets up His headquarters on this earth, then eternity with the Father will begin. Moreover, of the Kingdom of Christ there will be no end.
What a blessing it is to know God’s plan of salvation. Comfort one another with these words.
Now for us today, after this day is over and we head back home – well, until we meet again, may God Bless and protect you. It has been a joy to share the Feast of Tabernacles 2005 with you.