Revelation chapter 20 is the study text for this series. Since there is so much symbolism in this chapter to define, we began with only one verse...and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years...verse 4. Together we have been searching the scriptures to find out what they tell us about this very important event - when it began, who participates, and when it will end.
And in 8 blogs we carefully outlined the answers. to: when did the first death occur and when did the first resurrection take place. Since I have new followers everyday, I urge you to go back and examine the evidence that will bring you up to date.
Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection...over such the second death has no power...verse 6. We have already learned that human beings who have experienced the first resurrection have accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior - they are born again. At this moment, they began to reign with Christ on the earth. This verse says these people are blessed and holy and the second death has no power over them. They will not experience the second death.
Job said...Your hands have made me and fashioned me...clothe me with skin and flesh...10:8-11. So when death comes to the physical body of a born again believer in Christ, he will simply throw off his earth clothes - the skin & flesh that anchors him to terra firma - and his spirit will soar effortlessly to the heavenly city where he will continue to reign with Christ. No second death will be experienced by him. What in the world is the second death?
Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire....this is the second death...and anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire...verse 14. On Judgment Day all human beings who lived on the earth will appear before Jesus Christ at the Great White Throne judgment. This includes human beings who rejected the blood sacrifice for their sins under the Law of the Old Testament - and - the blood of Jesus Christ of the New Testament.
Those who rejected God and His blood sacrifice for their sins, are waiting in Hades for the end of the world when Jesus returns. Now they are standing before Jesus Christ at the Great White Throne judgment. How do we know this?
Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away...Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them...and they were judged according to his works...verse 11-13. People from generations past, who rejected God's plan of redemption, were delivered to Hades until the end of the world. These are the people described in verse 5...the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished.
When are the thousand years finished? The thousand year reign with Christ on the earth will be finished when no human being is left to accept Jesus Christ as his Savior. At this time this prophecy will be fulfilled - finished - ushering in the return of Jesus Christ, who will gather together all of His saints and bring them to the Great White Throne judgment. Also at this time the rest of the dead will appear at His throne - those abiding in Hades.
Let's recap. All human beings born on the earth will experience the first death. How do I know? Just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned...Rom. 5:12. How can men be redeemed from death - the first death and live again? But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ...by grace you have been saved...Eph. 2:5.
The blood of Jesus Christ redeemed us from the penalty of the first death. Only those who repent of their sins and accept the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ for their sins, will be acquitted from the penalty of the first death. God always gives men a choice - he never forces anyone to accept Him - He offers them the free gift of salvation.
What is the penalty for the first death? The second death is the penalty for the first death.
The rest of the dead have not been acquitted from the penalty of the first death. Their names will not be found in the Book of Life at the Great White Throne judgment. Because of this, all human beings abiding in Death and Hades...were cast into the lake of fire. The Lake of Fire is the second death, where men...will be tormented day and night forever and ever...verse 10.
Why were Death and Hades cast into the Lake of Fire? The first heaven and the first earth and all the evil related to its existence have passed away, so there is no further need for Death and Hades - they fulfilled their purpose and are now done away with.
Are you curious about what happens to the people who are still standing at the Great White Throne judgment - the born again believer? Stay tuned...
God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question~~~
No comments:
Post a Comment