We shall receive such righteousness, and shine as the stars forever, provided we have sought after God in the present life. It is those who turn many to righteousness who will shine as the stars. Those who neglect their salvation, even though at one time they had made a firm profession of Christ, are facing destruction along the three lines we mentioned earlier.

The above passage is not addressed to the unsaved but to Christians who at one time had been firmly saved and committed to the Lord. We know this from various statements made in the Book of Hebrews. They were "holy brethren." But they were not pressing into the rest of God's perfect will. They were beginning to neglect their salvation (which includes deliverance from sin and, in this instance, becoming a governing heir of salvation along with Christ). The author of Hebrews is pointing them toward the Day of the Lord, counseling them to not grow weary in their fight against sin because when the Lord comes to us He will remove all of our sin as a climactic act of redemption.

Conclusion

Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. (John 5:28,29)

Please notice that the distinction is between those who have done good and those who have done evil, not between those who have believed in Christ and those who have not believed in Christ. Those who have done good will receive eternal life. Those who have practiced evil will be judged in that day.

As we have stated, the resurrection to life takes place at the beginning of the thousand-year Kingdom Age. The resurrection to judgment, the time when the books are opened, will occur at the end of the thousand-year Kingdom Age.

It is taught commonly that all who are raised in the second resurrection will be thrown into the Lake of Fire. The Scripture does not teach this. The viewpoint that all who are raised in the second resurrection will be thrown into the Lake of Fire causes serious problems of consistency with other passages of the Scriptures. We believe it is an erroneous interpretation. Is every individual who is not a victorious saint cast into the Lake of Fire? We do not think so.

The distinction is not between those who have "made a decision for Christ" and those who have "not made a decision for Christ." We put this expression in quotes because it is not scriptural and is misleading. It implies that we make a decision in favor of Christ at one point in our life. The truth is we never will inherit Christ unless we keep on making a decision for Christ until the end of our discipleship. Every true saint understands this well.

The distinction made at the second resurrection is between those who have done good things and those who have done evil things.

To be continued.