Jesus plainly stated that all shall be raised at one time or another.

How could a flesh and bones body be in the spirit realm? How could Elijah and Enoch be caught up in their flesh and bones? There is an lot we do not know, isn't there?

It is the exception who is cast into the Lake of Fire. We know this from the statement, "if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire." The wording implies that only a minority were assigned to this fate that is dreadful beyond comprehension. Otherwise it would say, "if anyone's name was found in the book of life he was not thrown into the lake of fire."

The current Evangelical position that this is only a mock judgment and everyone without exception will be cast into the Lake of Fire is based on an unscriptural philosophy that does not correspond to the exact wording of the passage. Nothing of the kind is implied in the text itself.

The fact that each person was judged according to what he had done does not mean he was lost! In several places in the New Testament we are told that we will be judged according to what we have done.

We have previously quoted the following:

I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds. (Revelation 2:23—NIV)

We are in need of a midcourse correction in Evangelical theology.

We have discussed the judgment of Israel, of the sheep and goat nations, and of the rest of the people of the world.

The one group remaining consists of the members of God's elect who did not attain the first resurrection.

Their judgment is special because they are the Lord's servants. We already have set forth thirteen examples of the judgment of the elect. These thirteen aspects of the judgment of the elect may take place during the present life, after they die, during the thousand-year Kingdom Age, or after the judgment of the White Throne.

A great deal of time (if time is a factor in the eternal age) may be devoted to the final preparations of the Bride of the Lamb, and also to the introduction of the members of the sheep nations to the Lord Jesus so they may receive the eternal life promised to them.

Then the King will say to those on his right, "Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world." (Matthew 25:34—NIV)

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

All of this activity may take place after the last verse of Chapter Twenty and before the first verse of Chapter Twenty-one, of the Book of Revelation.

To be continued.