The First and the Second Resurrections

[8thdaypriest]

Will only the righteous be resurrected at the next "return" of Christ our LORD? 

 

When will the LORD judge "the nations" ?? 

 

I certainly believe that a judgment (execution of judgment) WILL take place on the day that Christ returns in glory.   Daniel 12:1-3 suggests to me that BOTH redeemed and condemned will be resurrected on THAT DAY, but the verse does NOT say that "all" who "sleep in the dust" will be resurrected on that day.

 

Daniel 12:1-3  “There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then.  But at that time your people – everyone whose name is found written in the book--will be delivered.  Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.” NIV

 

Acts 24:15  “I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust.”

    NOTE: “a resurrection” - singular - involving BOTH the just and the unjust.

 

John 5:28-29  “Do not marvel at this; for the hour  is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth – those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.”

    This verse might seem to speak of two resurrection events - one to life, and the other to condemnation - but Daniel 12:2-3 tells us that this is ONE resurrection event - at “the hour” - when TWO types of people are raised - those who have remained faithful to covenant, and those who refused or have forsaken covenant (Hebrews Chapter 6).  But this leaves room for those individuals for whom probation continues BECAUSE their sins were committed in ignorance.  The death of Christ covered all sins of ignorance.  They were not counted against the individual.  I do not believe they are written into the records of heaven. 

 

"He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still." (Rev 22:11 NKJ)

 

The Revelation cry is addressed to the living - yes -

and I believe is also describing a fixed judgment based upon the record of "works" of those who KNEW of God and that His will is supreme,

but that record does not list those sins committed in ignorance. 

 

I believe probation will continue for the ignorant or immature.  The vision of Ezekiel's Temple is all about that probation for "the nations".  So is Zechariah 14, where "the nations" are invited to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles with Israel.  That probation will continue for "the rest of the dead" who will be raised AFTER the 1000 years of the 7th millennium.  

 

Respectfully

Rachel Cory

Prophecy Viewpoint