Peace in Christ.
There are 2 groups of Christians: the many perishing (the “Esau” group…the first) and the few non-perishing (the “Jacob” group…the last).
Mat 19:30 KJV
(30) But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.
The MANY first shall be last and the last shall be first. Jesus spoke about the order of both groups of Christians in the resurrection.
The FIRST group of Christians (who mortally perish) shall be LAST in the resurrection...to be resurrected AT the last day of this age.
They did not know the truth of the gospel and mortally perished. They suffered loss. They “sleep” because they experience an intermission from this earth as they mortally perished from it. They are not perished forever. They will be resurrected AT the last day of this age when death is defeated completely. But they will miss out on ruling with Christ…gathering all things in heaven and on earth in Him.
The last group of Christians….Christ the first fruits…shall be first in the resurrection (the first resurrection) as they will inherit an age-lasting life now in this earth. They will never mortally die but will be kept standing (alive and remaining) here…and ruling with Him as He gives them power over the nations of this world. They will continue to stand mortally (the first resurrection) TO THE LAST DAY of this age.
1Th 4:13-15 KJV
(13) But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
Jesus died and rose again for both groups.
The first group perishes. They mortally die from this earth. They “sleep” as they mortally perished from this earth…but we are assured that God will raise them again AT the last day of this age. They will not be totally lost as Jesus died and rose again for those who mortally perish. He will lose nothing.
(14) For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
The LAST group is first in the resurrection as they stay here on earth standing…”alive and remaining.” This group will never mortally die/perish.
(15) For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
For Christ both died and rose so that He might be Lord of BOTH groups: the dead (the mortally perished) and the living (the never mortally dying group).
Rom 14:7-9 KJV
(7) For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.
(8) For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.
(9) For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
Let’s look at what Jesus said to Martha:
John 11:23-26
(23) Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.
(24) Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
The perishing group of Christians believed in Christ but did not hear the gospel of truth as their church rulers did not have the knowledge of it. They mortally perish because of a lack of knowledge of the gospel.
They were led down the broad way by false prophets to their mortal destruction.
They mortally die…but the Lord shall not lose anything for they will be raised again AT the last day of this age when death (the last enemy) is defeated. He is Lord of the dead.
(25) Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
But the second group of Christians shall NEVER DIE…as they will continue to live into the age (this present age we are living in). They hear the gospel of truth and believe in Him who speaks to them as He gives them His knowledge. He is Lord of the living.
(26) And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die into the age. Believest thou this?
What we have witnessed so far in the Christian history is the MULTITUDES going down the broad way to their mortal destruction. They have not inherited “eternal life”…that is, an age-lasting life for they have suffered loss: their mortal bodies. They will not participate in the blessings that come with having an age-lasting life in this world.
They are being deceived and being led down that way because of the many false prophets who do not have the knowledge of the truth of the gospel.
Mat 7:12-15 KJV
(12) Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
(13) Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
(14) Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
(15) Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Again, the perishing group of Christians are of the “Esau” group of believers...the vessels of His wrath.
The non-perishing group of Christians are of the house of “Jacob”...the vessels of His mercy . They are the few that will receive the mercy of God and inherit an age-lasting life and the blessings that come with it.
Rom 9:13 KJV
(13) As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
The “Esau” group of Christians were the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction. They have and are mortally perishing under His wrath.
Rom 9:22-23 KJV
(22) What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:
The “Jacob” group of Christians are the vessels of His mercy who are prepared for glory in this earth for the outside people of this world shall see His glory appear over us and believe in Him…praising God.
(23) And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
The “Jacob” group of Christians….who receive His mercy…shall obtain an inheritance in this earth. They will KNOW the mystery of His will. They will be to the praise of His glory in this earth.
Eph 1:9-14 KJV
(9) Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
(10) That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
(11) In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
(12) That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
(13) In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
(14) Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
They will reign with the Son as the Son will reign over the house of Jacob (the vessels of God’s mercy)…into the age (this present age)….and His kingdom/government shall not end.
Luk 1:32-33
(32) He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
(33) And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever (into the age); and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
There are 2 groups of Christians: the many perishing (the “Esau” group…the first) and the few non-perishing (the “Jacob” group…the last).
Mat 19:30 KJV
(30) But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.
The MANY first shall be last and the last shall be first. Jesus spoke about the order of both groups of Christians in the resurrection.
The FIRST group of Christians (who mortally perish) shall be LAST in the resurrection...to be resurrected AT the last day of this age.
They did not know the truth of the gospel and mortally perished. They suffered loss. They “sleep” because they experience an intermission from this earth as they mortally perished from it. They are not perished forever. They will be resurrected AT the last day of this age when death is defeated completely. But they will miss out on ruling with Christ…gathering all things in heaven and on earth in Him.
The last group of Christians….Christ the first fruits…shall be first in the resurrection (the first resurrection) as they will inherit an age-lasting life now in this earth. They will never mortally die but will be kept standing (alive and remaining) here…and ruling with Him as He gives them power over the nations of this world. They will continue to stand mortally (the first resurrection) TO THE LAST DAY of this age.
1Th 4:13-15 KJV
(13) But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
Jesus died and rose again for both groups.
The first group perishes. They mortally die from this earth. They “sleep” as they mortally perished from this earth…but we are assured that God will raise them again AT the last day of this age. They will not be totally lost as Jesus died and rose again for those who mortally perish. He will lose nothing.
(14) For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
The LAST group is first in the resurrection as they stay here on earth standing…”alive and remaining.” This group will never mortally die/perish.
(15) For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
For Christ both died and rose so that He might be Lord of BOTH groups: the dead (the mortally perished) and the living (the never mortally dying group).
Rom 14:7-9 KJV
(7) For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.
(8) For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.
(9) For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
Let’s look at what Jesus said to Martha:
John 11:23-26
(23) Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.
(24) Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
The perishing group of Christians believed in Christ but did not hear the gospel of truth as their church rulers did not have the knowledge of it. They mortally perish because of a lack of knowledge of the gospel.
They were led down the broad way by false prophets to their mortal destruction.
They mortally die…but the Lord shall not lose anything for they will be raised again AT the last day of this age when death (the last enemy) is defeated. He is Lord of the dead.
(25) Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
But the second group of Christians shall NEVER DIE…as they will continue to live into the age (this present age we are living in). They hear the gospel of truth and believe in Him who speaks to them as He gives them His knowledge. He is Lord of the living.
(26) And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die into the age. Believest thou this?
What we have witnessed so far in the Christian history is the MULTITUDES going down the broad way to their mortal destruction. They have not inherited “eternal life”…that is, an age-lasting life for they have suffered loss: their mortal bodies. They will not participate in the blessings that come with having an age-lasting life in this world.
They are being deceived and being led down that way because of the many false prophets who do not have the knowledge of the truth of the gospel.
Mat 7:12-15 KJV
(12) Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
(13) Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
(14) Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
(15) Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Again, the perishing group of Christians are of the “Esau” group of believers...the vessels of His wrath.
The non-perishing group of Christians are of the house of “Jacob”...the vessels of His mercy . They are the few that will receive the mercy of God and inherit an age-lasting life and the blessings that come with it.
Rom 9:13 KJV
(13) As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
The “Esau” group of Christians were the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction. They have and are mortally perishing under His wrath.
Rom 9:22-23 KJV
(22) What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:
The “Jacob” group of Christians are the vessels of His mercy who are prepared for glory in this earth for the outside people of this world shall see His glory appear over us and believe in Him…praising God.
(23) And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
The “Jacob” group of Christians….who receive His mercy…shall obtain an inheritance in this earth. They will KNOW the mystery of His will. They will be to the praise of His glory in this earth.
Eph 1:9-14 KJV
(9) Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
(10) That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
(11) In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
(12) That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
(13) In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
(14) Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
They will reign with the Son as the Son will reign over the house of Jacob (the vessels of God’s mercy)…into the age (this present age)….and His kingdom/government shall not end.
Luk 1:32-33
(32) He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
(33) And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever (into the age); and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
