BIBLE TEACHINGS MADE PLAIN part 27
Two Resurrections
Last week in lesson 26 we dealt with the state of the dead and in the end we said something about the first resurrection. We quoted the words of Jesus in John 5:28, 29 that there will be two resurrections, one for the believers in Christ and the other one for the unbelievers. The believers in Christ will receive eternal life, the other group eternal damnation. Between these two resurrections is a period of one thousand years which is also called the millennium. This will be the topic for this lesson, what will happen at the beginning of this period of time, what will happen during that time and what will happen at the end of that time. If we know the answer to these questions it should urge us to make a decision today for Christ and to be His follower.
The chapter in the Bible dealing with this matter in particular is Revelation 20. So let’s turn to that chapter. We will analyse this chapter and become acquainted with its contents. In 20:1-3 we find that Satan is bound; 20:4 is a judgment scene and those who have been resurrected are in charge of the judgment, during the one thousand years, 20:5, and this is declared to be the first resurrection. Then in 20:6 those who have come up in the first resurrection are called blessed, because they will not die a second time which is called second death, they will reign with Christ for a thousand years. The ones not resurrected will come back to live after the one thousand years.
20:7 after the one thousand years Satan will be loosed, unbound again. This gives a bit of a clue what his binding was like. From 20:4 we have learned that those who have suffered death, for Christ’s sake and are now alive and with Christ in heaven We learn the same from 1 Thess.4:15-17 When Jesus comes He will send His angels the world all over to gather together the living saints, and the dead saints will be resurrected. Together they will meet with Jesus in the air and go with Him into heaven, and be there with the Lord. They will have new bodies coming out of the grave and those living have been changed, read 1Cor.15:42, 43 and 51-54, the change will be from corruptible bodies to incorruptible ones. All those who had accepted Christ as their Saviour and Lord and had died in Christ, called saints, are now in heaven with Christ
.
What about the ones who are left behind on earth? Read 2Thess.2:8 they will be destroyed with the brightness of His coming. Read also Rev.6:16, 17 and 1Thess.5:3. There will be sudden destruction for those who are not ready, 2 Thess.1:7-10.
Let’s stop here and make a conclusion. All the believers in Christ are in heaven; all those who were not ready are dead bodies on earth, how much work is left for Stan to do? Before this happened he went around as a roaring lion seeking to destroy,
1 Pet.5:8. But now there is nothing to do, he is so to speak imprisoned by loneliness and bound by circumstances. What he is bound with is stronger than iron which he could break before, read Luke 8:26-29. The earth surrounding the Devil and his angels is also changed in a wilderness. The seventh plague was with hail stones of a weight about 150 kg. You can imagine what kind of damage that will do and may well be described by Isa.24:3, 21, 22 and also Jer. 4:13-26. To be gathered in the pit means in their graves. In Rev.19:17, 18 it is called the supper of the Great God, all the vultures having a feast on the dead bodies. Better make a decision today to have part in the marriage supper of the Lamb, Rev.19:9.
What is happening in the mean time in heaven? We go back to Rev.20:4, judgment is given to “them”. Who are the “them”? They are the saints to whom judgment is given as we read in Dan.7:22. You will notice that other translations read, “in favour of the saints”. The saints are judged first in the pre-advent judgment before the return of Jesus Read Hebr.10:30 and 1Pet.4:17.When they have been found to be in Christ, Rom.8:1 they have nothing to fear and will be given the task to judge during the thousand years. Who will they judge? Read 1Cor.6:2, 3 they judge those who are lost, the world, and even angels. Books are opened before them, Rev.20:12 and they will learn the reason why these people are lost
You read in the same text that also the book of life is opened, be sure your name is in the book of life by choosing Jesus today and make plans to seal it in baptism. Those who do not have their name in the book of life have their record in the other books and they are the ones coming up from all places in the second resurrection, after the one thousand years, Rev.20:5 and 12, 13, and will than be judged according to what is written about them in the books. You will notice this is pretty serious business. But at the same time it is a true vindication of God the He is just and true and also that He is just in justifying those who believe in Christ, Rom.3:26. God can not be accused of doing something in the dark or mysterious, it is all open and transparent for the universe and everybody. Satan’s accusation will fall on dead ground. Read Rev.15:3.
What will the saints judge about regarding those who are lost? Most likely the measure of punishment they will get. Read Luke 12:46-48. It will all be according to what is written in the books, Rev.20:12, 13. When this is all finished the second resurrection can take place and Satan will be loosed from his prison situation or circumstances.
Read 20:5 and 7. When Satan sees all these people alive again he immediately returns to his old job of deceiving the nations, 20:8. What else has also happened in the mean time? God’s Holy City, New Jerusalem has descended from haven down to earth,
Read 20:8, 9 and 21:10. It is not an empty city but is inhabited with the saints whose names are written in the book of life, Rev.21:27. It is another strong and urgent reason to have your name written in the book of life.
Satan sees the city and deceives the nations that they will be able to conquer it and invade it for their own habitation, Rev.20:8, 9. He goes into organising an attack, but when they are ready for the attack fire and brimstone comes down from heaven and destroys them all, 20:9b, 10, 14 and 15. When that is all done John sees in Revelation 21 a new earth and a new heaven which will be our topic for next part. In conclusion of this lesson we put it all in proper order.
What happens before the one thousand years start?
1. Jesus comes down from heaven with all His holy angels, but He stays in the air.
2. Angels are going around the earth to awake the sleeping saints.
3. The living saints, believers in Christ will be changed.
4. The two groups go with the angels to Jesus in the air and are with Him in heaven
5. The unbelieving ones whose names are not in the book of life are killed.
6. Satan is now bound by circumstances he cannot change, and is in loneliness
7. The earth is left behind in a state of chaos and wilderness and the vultures having
their feast.
During the one thousand years the books are opened and the saints are getting insight why the left behind ones are lost, and will judge them in regard to the measure of their punishment, some receive more than others.
After the one thousand years:
1. Jesus descends with the saints in the Holy City, New Jerusalem, down to earth.
2. The dead unbelievers are now resurrected.
3. Satan gets out of his loneliness with which he has been bound.
4. Satan sees the Holy City and marshals all the nations together and deceives them
again, making them believe that they can invade and occupy the city.
5. Fire and brimstone comes from heaven to destroy and burn them to ashes.
6. The earth is made new with a new heaven surrounding the earth.
7. The gates of the Holy City are opened and the saints inherit the new earth and are
there for ever and ever.
Dear reader, don’t you like to be there? I am sure you will like to be there. Jesus loves you to be there. He died for you in your place and if you accept Him now, today, by His grace you will be there. Be ready for the first resurrection and accept John 3:16 now and make a firm commitment to Jesus and have it sealed in baptism
In the next lesson we will go through the Bible and learn more about this new earth and heaven and what it will be like. The Lord has made it very attractive for us to be there and nowhere else, and to make the right decision for Him and our salvation.
God bless and choose today whom you will serve, Joshua 24:15
Commitment: By God’s grace and through faith in Jesus I commit myself and will seal it in baptism, to be ready when Jesus comes and have my name written in the book of life which will assure me to be a dweller for ever on the new earth.
no comments