I Saw The Light Ministries
John 4:23-24
The following is a quotation from:
http://www.ptgbook.org/index.html and I do agree totally with what he says about this particular issue except that it is NOT even to even. To learn Why it is NOT even to even, please read the When Does the Day start article. Also, the first day of the month when to start counting the days of the month should be according to the New Moon events. The Last Great Day - the White Throne Judgment During this six thousand year age of man, almost complete, only a few are called by God to salvation. The rest are blinded by Satan. After the return of Christ, Satan will be removed and salvation will be opened to all mankind. But what about all of humanity that has lived and died without ever having a real chance for salvation? What about the billions of people who have lived on the earth since Adam and Eve without even hearing the name of Jesus Christ? Will they have an opportunity for salvation? The answer is yes. Every human being that has ever lived will have the opportunity to accept God's way of life, to repent, to exercise faith in God and in Jesus Christ, to have their sins forgiven, and to be saved and receive eternal life. For those who have lived and died before Christ returns, this will require a resurrection from the dead, not to immortality as with the saints in the first resurrection when Christ returns, but a future resurrection back to physical life so they can be taught the truth of God and have an opportunity, free from Satan's deceptions, to choose life. As Paul says, "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming" (1 Corinthians 15:22-23). Everyone will be resurrected, but there is an order to the resurrections. "For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all. Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!" (Romans 11:32-33). There is a specific prophecy in the Bible that describes this resurrection back to physical life of those who lived and died without being converted in this life. This prophecy applies to Israel specifically, but it can be shown that this prophecy about Israel will also apply to all mankind. "The hand of the Lord came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones. Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry. And He said to me, 'Son of man, can these bones live?' So I answered, 'O Lord God, You know.' Again He said to me, 'Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, "O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! Thus says the Lord God to these bones: 'Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the Lord.' " ' So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone. Indeed, as I looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over; but there was no breath in them. Also He said to me, 'Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, "Thus says the Lord God: 'Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.' " ' So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army. Then He said to me, 'Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, "Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!" Therefore prophesy and say to them, "Thus says the Lord God: 'Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves. I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken it and performed it,' says the Lord" ' " (Ezekiel 37:1-14). This has to be a different resurrection than the first resurrection to immortality and spirit life of the saints at the return of Christ. This is a physical resurrection back to physical, mortal life. Those that are resurrected in this resurrection need the breath of air to enter their lungs before they can live. Does this apply only to Israel? God judges all without partiality (1 Peter 1:17, Ephesians 6:9). "Then Peter opened his mouth and said: 'In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him' " (Acts 10:34-35). "For there is no partiality with God" (Romans 2:11). Jesus gave examples of gentiles who would rise in a resurrection with Israel. "The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here. The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here" (Luke 11:31-32). The men of Nineveh that Jesus referred to, and the "queen of the South" who sought the wisdom of Solomon, are dead and in their graves. The only way that they can rise up in the judgment with Israel is to be resurrected from the dead when Israel is resurrected from the dead. So even though the prophecy of the valley of dry bones given to Ezekiel mentions only Israel by name, the gentiles must be resurrected at the same time. When does this take place? Notice again Revelation 20:4-6: "And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years." Notice that it says, "the REST of the dead" did not live again until AFTER the thousand years are finished. Now, a few verses later, Revelation 20:11-13 says, "Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works." This is where the name "White Throne Judgment" comes from. It is a time when the valley of dry bones prophecy will be fulfilled, and when, as Jesus said, the men of Nineveh, will also be resurrected. It is the time when the billions who have lived and died will rise from their graves back to physical life, and each individual will be judged. But it will be a time when men can learn the truth of God, and repent, and be forgiven. Note that the above verses say that the Book of Life will be opened, implying that men's names can be written in it. Note also what God says in Ezekiel 33:18-20: "When the righteous turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, he shall die because of it. But when the wicked turns from his wickedness and does what is lawful and right, he shall live because of it. Yet you say, 'The way of the Lord is not fair.' O house of Israel, I will judge every one of you according to his own ways." Those that come up in this resurrection will have every opportunity to learn the truth. They will be able to learn and know the history of mankind, both the six thousand year age of man in which there was war and suffering, and the one thousand year reign of Christ, in which there was peace and joy. They will be able to see and know that living according to the "get" way of life in rebellion and disobedience to God and His law leads to suffering, destruction, and death, but living according to God's law of love and submitting to God's rule over them leads to peace and happiness. They will learn that they are guilty of sin they have committed in their past life ("for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" - Romans 3:23), but they will also learn that Jesus Christ paid the penalty for their sins so that they can be forgiven if they repent and turn to God. And then each individual can make his own choice. Those who repent and are forgiven can have their names written in the Book of Life and receive eternal life. Those who choose not to repent will die in the second death. "And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire" (Revelation 20:15). There they will be destroyed so that they cannot continue to bring suffering upon themselves and others by their evil ways. After that will be fulfilled what is written in Revelation 21:1-4: "Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, 'Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.' " No wonder Paul said, "Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!" (Romans 11:33). As the White Throne Judgment follows the one thousand year period, so the eighth day of the feast follows the seven-day Feast of Tabernacles. Note what Jesus said on the eighth day of the Feast: "On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, 'If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.' But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified" (John 7:37-39). During the White Throne Judgment following the one thousand years, for the first time all mankind, all those who have died without knowing the truth and having a chance for salvation, will have the opportunity to repent and come to Christ and receive the Holy Spirit, thus fulfilling Jesus' words which He spoke on the last day of the Feast. The Church of God calls this "the Last Great Day" and observes it as a Sabbath day of rest and assembly for church services immediately following the seven-day Feast of Tabernacles. |