The inference is clear that the majority of Christians in Sardis were not worthy to walk with Christ in white, as was true also of some of the members of the other churches in Asia.

Yet those who attain the first resurrection from the dead (Revelation 20:4-6), the blessed and holy royal priesthood of God, most assuredly have been found worthy to walk with Christ in the white robes of the priesthood.

It appears that the majority of the Christians in Sardis do not qualify for the first resurrection from the dead, according to what is written in Revelation 20:4-6 or according to what is implied by the Apostle Paul in Philippians 3:11,12. The commonly taught doctrine we mentioned previously as being in error insists that only those who participate in the first resurrection are saved, and all other persons who have lived on the earth are doomed to eternal torment in the Lake of Fire.

Therefore the second and third chapters of Revelation added to verses four through six of the twentieth chapter indicate (if we are to hold to the current belief) that only the victorious saints are saved from the Lake of Fire. It follows, then, that all other persons, including all weak Christians, and all who have never heard the Gospel, are doomed to eternal torment in the Lake of Fire.

The following two verses speak of the salvation of Christians who are not victorious saints:

If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. (I Corinthians 3:15)

To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. (I Corinthians 5:5)

We see from the above that it cannot be true that only the victorious saints are saved. Since those who attain the first resurrection obviously are the victorious saints, according to Revelation 20:4-6, we are brought to the conclusion that the majority of those who are saved are brought to life, not in the first resurrection from the dead but in the second resurrection from the dead.

But we have ground even more solid than the above argument. We have the very words of the twentieth chapter of Revelation to demonstrate that many—perhaps most—of the people who are saved will be raised in the second resurrection, not in the first.

In beginning the study of Chapter Twenty, let us examine the text of verses four through six.

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. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power [authority], but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. (Revelation 20:4-6)

To be continued.