The resurrection from the dead is divided into two parts. The first part will take place when the Lord returns. This aspect of the resurrection is for the royal priesthood only. Each of these people has been judged previously. The second death has no authority over him.

The second part is for the remainder of mankind. Each person will stand before Christ and His saints and the books of record will be opened. Each individual will be judged according to the things written in the books, according to his works. If a person's name is not found written in the Book of Life he shall be thrown into the Lake of Fire.

We assume, therefore, that the remainder of those who stand before the great white throne will be saved from destruction and brought into the new world of righteousness. These are the inheritance of the royal priesthood.

Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life. (Matthew 25:46—NIV)

Here is a most remarkable and alarming idea. It is that of the many Christians of Sardis, only a few had not soiled their clothes. What does this mean? This means they were not careful to confess and renounce the sins the Holy Spirit showed them. They were careless, justifying their behavior, or too spiritually lazy to do anything about it. Thus the robe prepared for them in Heaven remains filthy.

The royal priesthood, the army that will follow the Lord Jesus in the Battle of Armageddon, will be clothed in fine linen. The fine linen has been woven by the righteous deeds of the saints.

It is quite obvious numerous Christian people will not walk with Jesus Christ in the white garments of the royal priesthood. They are not careful to gain the victory over sin. They have been called to the priesthood but then have responded so as to prevent their passing to the ranks of the chosen and then on to the ranks of those who have been proven faithful.

The Christian church of Sardis was like so many today. It was considered to be alive because it was growing rapidly in numbers and filled with excitement.

Now it was spiritually dead because its activities proceeded from human talent and energy.

Such an assembly would not press the believers to keep their garments clean. The leaders know that if (at least in America) you want to collect many people under your roof, you do not stress putting to death the sins of the flesh through the Holy Spirit. If you speak pleasant things to the members of the congregation and curry favor with them you gather the people but you do not qualify them to be members of the royal priesthood of God. You betray their trust in you.

To Have the Eternal Assurance of Life, and Recognition in the Court of Heaven

. . . I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels. (Revelation 3:5—NIV)

How wonderful to never again have to worry about having our name blotted from the Book of Life! But such assurance is guaranteed in writing only to the victorious saint.

The Evangelical preaching of today is that once we "accept Christ" it is not possible to have our name blotted from the Book of Life.

To be continued.