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The Daily Word of Righteousness
The Second Resurrection, #4
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of [be harmed by] the second death. (Revelation 2:11)
He will have boldness in the Day of Judgment. Blessed and holy indeed is he who has part in the first resurrection.
If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection [Greek, out-resurrection] of the dead. (Philippians 3:11)
To attain the first resurrection from the dead requires the total dedication of all we are and all we possess. But the sufferings we endure, as all we are and all we possess pass through the process of death and resurrection in Christ, are not to be compared with the incomprehensible glory that will be revealed in the sons of God (Romans 8:18).
The first resurrection from the dead is the gathering to Jesus of His "mighty men" so they may be with Him and reign with Him forever. They are free from all the authority of the second death, the Lake of Fire.
Let us examine what the Scripture states concerning the second resurrection from the dead. Does it state that all who participate are doomed to the Lake of Fire, as is commonly taught, or does it state that only some will be cast into the Lake of Fire?
The current Christian position is that everyone who is to be saved will be raised at the beginning of the thousand-year period, while all who are raised in the second resurrection will be cast into the second death, which is the Lake of Fire. The writer's position is that at the last judgment only a few will be assigned to this most dreadful of fates while the majority will enter life in the new age.
What does the Scripture state? The Holy Spirit certainly would be clear in describing anything as important as the eternal destiny of a human being. Let us not add to or subtract from what is declared in the written Word.
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. (Revelation 20:12)
This precisely is what will take place. In the second resurrection, each human being (except the victorious saints, God's kings and priests of the first resurrection, who already have been judged) will be judged according to his works. This is what the Scriptures state. It cannot be changed.
Perhaps the principal argument of those who hold that all who appear at the second resurrection will be cast into the Lake of Fire is that the dead, at the second resurrection, are judged according to their works. Much present-day doctrine claims that God does not judge the works of the believer. Therefore no believer is present at the second resurrection.
This may be a "logical" conclusion but it is not supported by Scripture. The Scripture teaches that all persons, believers and nonbelievers alike, will be judged and will receive the consequences of their behavior.
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. (II Corinthians 5:10)
To be continued.