- Apr 18, 2020
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Perhaps I can explain that with this question.
Can we be sure there are only two resurrections?
No, God's Program can be repeated over and over and over, with dozens of resurrections over the everlasting eternity.
But for me, according to what the Scriptures teach, there is only ONE resurrection after physical death that prolongs my life. And I am instructed to be diligent, to Labor that I am raised in that resurrection.
Let's build on what you know.
The kings and priests are resurrected to heaven to rule and judge with Christ for 1,000 years. You know those scriptures.
Yes.
The unrighteous are resurrected, and there is a thousand year judgment where these ones get a fair chance to do deeds based on knowledge, which they will be judged on.
This is not my belief, I'm sorry my speech left this impression. It wasn't the "unrighteous" that is said to be resurrected in Ez. 37, as I referenced. It was the "Whole house of Israel".
Ez. 37: 11 Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts.
My understanding is lacking on a few points here, by lacking I mean, "I know what day God's Sabbath is", but I am sill questioning who this "whole house of Israel is", according to scriptures. "Not all Israel is of Israel". "A Jew is not a Jew outwardly".
I have thought that they are resurrected and taught by the Kings and Priests of God in the 1000 year reign. But God already knows the "heart" of true Israel. And the "Promised Land" is symbolic for the Kingdom of heaven.
It is written also;
23 Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwellingplaces, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God. 24 And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them.
But then I also know that "EVERY" person ever born, with the exception of Jesus, has engaged in this unrighteous behavior at some point in their lives. This includes you and I, this I know. Including the "Dead in Christ" that will be raised first, and be Kings and Priests in the 1000 year reign.
I really haven't spent a lot of time on this issue, but now that you brought it up, the more I study and dwell on it, the more I believe that the "Whole house of Israel", includes not only Israel, but those who chose to sojourn with Israel, as the Commandment states.
34 But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for "ye were strangers" in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.
They would be the "Saints" who had all been in Egypt, (Lived in Sin), but had repented and turned to God.
Rev. 14: 12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith "of Jesus".
These would be the dead in Christ, the more I ponder and study.
The confusion, often comes fromRevelation 29:5Revelation 20:5
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, "and" for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
This would include Noah, Abraham, Caleb, David, Peter, James, and all the men who, as Paul teaches,
Eph. 2: 2 Wherein "in time past" ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
Abraham walked according to the course of this world, before God called him out of sin/egypt/ the course of this world. He died "In Hope" that God's Promises were true and that he would be forgiven his sins.
However, rather than break down what is built, keep building.
We read Revelation 20:11, 12
11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Now we ask a question or two....
- Who are the dead standing before the throne?
I think now, that this would be all those who were not of the first resurrection.
- How can they be dead if they are standing?
Paul said EVERY man will stand before the judgment seat of Christ. Wouldn't these then be the dead that are raised, as opposed to the dead that are not raised?
"5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection." 6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
The last question is a hint.
I'm grateful for the topic, and the study. I was wrong I think, about "Israel" being raised and taught by Priests in the 1000 year reign of Christ. I didn't connect the dead in Christ with the Children of Abraham (Israel inwardly) being those who did the "works of Abraham" which was defined by Scriptures as Faith, the same Faith Jesus had from a child.
Thank you.
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