In John 14:3, Christ said, “I will come again.” Revelation 5:10 explains that the saints will rule with Christ. Acts 15:16-17 expands on Christ’s promise to return and what will happen after He does: “After this I will return, and will build again the Tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: That the residue [remainder] of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom My name is called, says the Lord, who does all these things.”
This is a powerful scripture, revealing much about God’s Plan to later call the whole world. But before Christ can call all humanity and reveal His truth to it, He must train a small inner team of “firstfruits.” The modern nations that have descended from ancient Israel and Judah are not being called now. They remain blinded.
The entirety of Romans 11 offers much insight into how those blinded now will be saved later. This inspiring chapter should be carefully studied.
It speaks of all the tribes of Israel. Almost none understand who the tribes of Israel are. They suppose that the Jews, just one tribe of twelve, comprise all of Israel today. Because many Jews have continued, to some degree, to loosely keep God’s Sabbath and annual festivals, they have retained their identity in a way that the other tribes have lost.
Romans 11 describes how God will one day call and save the entire twelve tribes of Israel. Verse 26 states, “And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion [Zion] the Deliverer [the soon-coming Jesus Christ], and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob.”
The modern-day nations (just tribes grown larger) of Israel have not yet had ungodliness removed from their spiritual condition. Soon they will. They are now blinded. Soon they will see.
Many hundreds of millions of Israelites—past, present and future—will then come to understand the glorious purpose of God’s Plan. Though it is coming soon, that time is not yet here. (Ezekiel 37 describes the physical resurrection of all the vast numbers of deceased Israelites.)
God is not now working with the nations of Israel (the 10 lost tribes do not know their identity today, but God does; however the one tribe that is known today is the tribe of Judah, the 'physical' bloodline of the Messiah. This has much to do with the fact that they kept God's 7th day Sabbath, however they do not accept God's Passover, the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Traditional Christianity says that it accepts Christ as their Messiah and Passover, yet they don't keep God's 7th day Sabbath (as Christ did) nor God's Passover (as Christ commanded His followers 'disciples' to do in remembrance of Him; when He introduced the 'new' symbols of the Passover-the 'unleavened bread' and 'wine'). In verse 25, Paul warns the Gentile Romans to be careful: “For I would not, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.” God does not want us to be ignorant of this “mystery.” (His plan). God actually shows His people an 'outline' of His plan for the salvation of man through His annual and weekly Sabbaths.
God is dealing with many Gentiles in this age, along with many physical Israelites scattered throughout the nations. But in the future He will deal with “all Israel” to the end that they will be saved! And we will see that later He will also deal with all Gentile nations.
In front of most traditional churches stands one or more crosses ('STAUROS'). This has become the quintessential symbol of professing Christianity, supposedly serving as a reminder of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
However, aside from its pagan overtones, it is used as a trite, superficial symbol that trivializes a pivotal event—Christ’s resurrection—into nothing more than a marketing gimmick.
In its simplest form, when the Bible references resurrections, it is referring to restoring life to someone after he has died. This could be from a physical death to a physical life, or, as with Jesus Christ, from a physical death to spirit—the goal for all of God’s people [and eventually mankind].
Like every other biblical truth, religions of this world blur, distort or hide the clear teachings of the resurrections as found in God’s Word. The confusion stems from their misunderstanding of resurrections, and of when and how often they occur.
The most known attempt to justify their understanding is the popular false doctrine of the immortal soul. This feeble effort does nothing but add confusion.
Imagine one has within him an immortal soul—inherent life. What would be the need or purpose of a resurrection? Upon death, he would already be alive as a spirit being, “looking down from heaven,” as the thinking goes. This would mean that any resurrection would bring a supposed immortal spirit back to a PHYSICAL body! How awful! Freed from the bonds of the physical body, and supposedly living in heaven for decades, centuries or millennias, one would be forced to return to a physical form!
The Bible is Clear
God’s people understand that we do not have an immortal soul. When we die, we are dead. ['spiritual sleep-only God can awaken us, for it is His 'breathe' which gives life, by His word all things are sustained; man was created mortal, human beings-"for a purpose, according to the plan of God", while angels were created immortal spirit beings "for a purpose, according to the design of God".]
But without a resurrection, each of us will simply remain dead!
God’s purpose for mankind, the reason for Christ’s Church, the truth of the gospel, warning the nations of Israel, and countless other doctrines would be irrelevant without a resurrection to eternal life (I Cor. 15:13-19). Christianity serves no purpose if nothing exists for us beyond this physical, limited and temporary life.
Clear instruction and basic logic did not stop false ministers in the first century from teaching against the concept or need for the resurrection.
However, Jesus was most plain—and repeated His teaching on the matter throughout the New Testament: “Marvel not at this [a growing number did!]: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation” (John 5:28-29).
GOD also inspired the prophets and patriarchs to teach of a coming resurrection in Job 14:14-15 and Daniel 12:2.
As the “Firstborn among many brethren” (Rom. 8:29), Christ’s resurrection is extremely important for all true Christians. Many in the world understand Jesus’ death paid for our sins—but they miss the all-important reason for His resurrection: “We were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life” (Rom. 5:10).
Jesus Christ now lives in and through His servants (Gal. 2:20). God the Father, through the power of His Holy Spirit, resurrected Christ to a glorious spirit body—and will do the same for those following His truth and who live the way of “give.”
Three Resurrections
Much confusion has arisen about the purpose and number of resurrections, because most fail to understand that God’s plan is done decently and in order (I Cor. 15:22-23).
The First Resurrection will consist of 144,000 saints with whom God has been working for the last 6,000 years, those begotten with the Holy Spirit (vs. 20-23; also see I Thessalonians 4:16.) The term “First Resurrection” is found in Revelation 20:5-6, a wonderful moment that will usher in the Millennium.
Verse 5 also references the Second Resurrection in an inset or parenthetical thought: “But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.” Obviously occurring after the Millennium, the magnitude of this event is almost impossible to comprehend. Scores of billions of people who have never understood or known the true God will be resurrected to physical life and given a chance to obey Him and develop His character. Read Revelation 20:13 to understand the colossal scope of this larger resurrection. Ezekiel 37:1-14 will further build a picture in your mind of all that will be needed as billions are resurrected and taught the truth. They will be given 100 years to grow in holy, righteous character and be born into the God Family as spirit beings (Isa. 65:20). [first 'created' in the image of God 'as physical' beings-temporary but God's plan is for us to be 'created' in the image of God 'as spirit' beings-eternal in His family].
Regrettably, not everyone will be willing to obey God. After the 100 years, some, few will actually choose the Third Resurrection (THOSE GIVEN ETERNAL LIFE AT THE END OF THE 100 YRS AND THOSE WHO CHOOSE ETERNAL DEATH 'STILL GO AGAINST GOD-HIS WILL, HIS WAY, HIS WORD-AS SATAN HAS AND MAN HAS "OVERALL" FROM THE BEGINNING'-- AT THE END OF THE 100 YEAR JUDGEMENT PERIOD "KNOWN AS THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGEMENT". Both Daniel 12:2 and John 5:29 reference this event, but it is covered in more detail in the book of Revelation: “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire” (Rev. 20:14-15).
Finally, notice that God mercifully erases even the memory of those who are cast into the lake of fire: “They are dead, they shall not live; they are deceased, they shall not rise: therefore have you visited and destroyed them, and made all their memory to perish” (Isa. 26:14).
FIRST RESURRECTION (AFTER 6,000 YRS-AT THE RETURN OF CHRIST-144,000 WILL HAVE BEEN REDEEMED BACK TO GOD THROUGH CHRIST AND BORN AGAIN SPIRIT BEINGS INTO GOD'S FAMILY, KINGDOM. (THIS IS THE EARLY "SPRING" SPIRITUAL HARVEST OF GOD-represented by the two loaves with leaven that were offered on Pentecost).
because they can no longer die. Being children of the Resurrection, they are like angels; indeed, they are children of God. (Luke 20:36 CJB )
SECOND RESURRECTION-AFTER THE 1,000 YRS MANY WHO LIVED DURING THE REIGN OF CHRIST WILL BE RESURRECTED AS 'SPIRIT' BEINGS INTO GOD'S FAMILY-WILL HAVE BEEN "REDEEMED BACK TO GOD (AND 'THE APPOINTED TIME' WHEN ALL WHO HAVE EVER DIED-AND NOT YET BEEN BORN AGAIN AS SPIRIT BEINGS- AFTER 7,000 YEARS ARE RAISED BACK TO "PHYSICAL" LIFE AND LIVE FOR 100 YEARS).
THIRD RESURRECTION-(AFTER THE 100 YEARS THOSE WHO CHOOSE "LIFE" WILL BE BORN AGAIN NOW AS SPIRIT BEINGS)-THIS IS THE GREAT "FALL" HARVEST. AND THOSE NOT FOUND IN "THE BOOK OF LIFE" SHALL DIE, BE THROWN INTO THE FIRE-TREE BRANCHES THAT BREAK OFF NO LONGER BEAR FRUIT AND ARE CAST INTO THE FIRE- (THAT WHICH WAS PREPARED FOR THE 'SPIRIT, IMMORTAL BEINGS' WHO REBELLED AGAINST GOD'. IT IS APPOINTED TO ALL MAN TO DIE "ONCE", BUT THE SOUL THAT CHOOSES LIFE RECEIVES GOD'S GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE AND THE SOUL WHICH SINS, DIES, FOR ALL ETERNITY. GOD WILL NO LONGER PROVIDE HIS SPIRIT TO THE "WICKED" AT THIS POINT. WE CHOOSE LIFE OR DEATH, GOD'S WAY OR DEATH, FOR GOD IS LIFE!
REMEMBER a loving, merciful God gives every human being a chance to be born into His Family.
LET'S REVIEW
The State of Man after Death
(1) Is it appointed unto all mankind once to die? Hebrews 9:27; I Corinthians 15:22.
(2) When Christ became human, was He subject to death as was all mankind? Hebrews 2:14.
(3) Was Christ assured that His soul (being or body) would not be left in hell 'THE GRAVE' Psalm 16:10; Acts 2:27.
Comment: In Psalm 16:10, the term “hell” comes from the Hebrew word sheol, meaning “grave.” Likewise, the term “hell” in Acts 2:27 comes from hades in the Greek, also meaning “grave.” [Hell is an Anglo-Saxon word used to translate one Hebrew word and three Greek words in the King James Version of the Old and New Testaments. The Hebrew word that “hell” translated was Sheol. The three Greek words often translated “hell” are hades, gehenna, and tartaroo.]
(4) What is the destiny of every mortal body upon death? Genesis 3:19.
(5) Does a common event befall both man and beast upon death? Ecclesiastes 3:19-20.
(6) Does a common event befall both the righteous and wicked upon death? Ecclesiastes 9:2.
(7) Are the dead conscious or able to think? Ecclesiastes 9:5, 10; Psalm 115:17; 146:4.
Comment: If man is not able to consciously think after he dies, then neither is he able to feel pain or suffering. Therefore, the concept of eternal suffering in hell is contrary to what Scripture indicates about man’s fate.
Resurrection and Judgment
(1) Is judgment a certainty for all men, just as the certainty of death? Hebrews 9:27.
(2) How did Christ defeat death? Acts 2:31.
(3) Does the way one lives his life determine which resurrection awaits him? John 5:28-29; Daniel 12:2; II Peter 2:9.
Comment: Also read the following scriptures: Prov. 24:12; Jer. 25:14; Matt. 16:27; II Cor. 11:15; II Tim. 4:14; Rev. 2:23, especially noting “according to…works.”
(4) Does the Bible refer to a first resurrection? Revelation 20:6; I Corinthians 15:51-52; I Thessalonians 4:16.
Comment: The dead in Christ come up in the first resurrection, which occurs at the seventh and final trumpet of the seven trumpet plagues. [THOSE 144,000 REDEEMED BACK TO GOD THROUGH CHRIST DURING THE FIRST 6,000 YRS OF MANKIND. THE TWO LOAVES FOR "PENTECOST" REPRESENT THIS, THEY HAVE "LEAVEN" BUT ARE REDEEMED BACK THROUGH THE OFFERING OF THE HIGH PRIEST, CHRIST. ONE LOAF REPRESENTS THOSE WHO LIVED DURING THE 1ST 4,000 YRS-BEFORE CHRIST AND THE OTHER LOAF REPRESENTS THOSE WHO LIVED DURING THE 2,000 YRS AFTER THE COMING OF CHRIST-MOST WILL BE "SLEEP" BY HIS 2ND COMING YET THERE WILL BE SOME WHO LIVE AT HIS 2ND COMING AND WHO WILL BE RESURRECTED FROM MORTAL LIFE TO IMMORTAL LIFE IN 'A TWINKLING OF AN EYE' BUT NOT BEFORE THOSE (IN CHRIST) WHO SLEEP-ARE ALREADY DEAD AT HIS 2ND COMING. JOHN SAW THIS 'GREAT MULTITUDE' AND GOD THROUGH CHRIST, GAVE IT'S NUMBER.
(5) How much time elapses between the first and the second resurrection? Revelation 20:5.
Comment: The first sentence in verse 5 states, “But the rest of the dead lived not until the thousand years were finished.” This sentence is a parenthetical thought, discussing a resurrection following the first one. The next sentence states, “This is the first resurrection.” This short statement applies to verse 4, which discusses the first resurrection. It also ties in with verse 6, but is not related with the parenthetical expression, which breaks the flow of thought.
(6) Are those who are qualifying for the first resurrection being judged now? I Peter 4:17.
(7) Where is the reference to the second resurrection? Revelation 20:11-12.
Comment: Verse 12 is discussing the billions of people coming up in this resurrection standing before the judgment seat. They are not being sentenced. Rather, the people in this general resurrection live one hundred years (Isa. 65:20) and are judged as to how they live their lives. The “books” that are opened to them are the books of the Bible, which are opened to their understanding. These billions of people will then learn God’s truth for the first time, and most will overcome sins that plagued them throughout their lives. Yet, their reward will not approach that of those in the first resurrection.
(8)What does it mean to be in the third resurrection? Revelation 20:13-15; Matthew 25:41, 46 (first part).
Comment: This is the resurrection in which people are destroyed in the lake of fire. This is the second death, mentioned in Revelation 20:6.
(9) Is it God’s will that anyone suffer the fate of the lake of fire? II Peter 3:9; I Timothy 2:4.
Sin Leads to Death—Not Everlasting Punishing
...EVERLASTING DEATH 'PUNISHMENT' FOR SIN
(1) What happens to the soul (person or being) that sins? Ezekiel 18:4, 20; Hebrews 10:26-27.
(2) What does the act of committing sin earn such a person? Romans 6:23 (first part); James 1:15.
(3) What did Christ say would be the fate of anyone who did not repent? Luke 13:5.
Comment: “Death” means the cessation of life. “Perish” means to suffer death or destruction.
Neither term implies a type of existence in a state of perpetual torment or torture.
ETERNAL PUNISHMENT IS NOT ETERNAL PUNISHING, THE WAGES OF SIN ARE DEATH, ETERNAL DEATH AND THE REWARD FOR OBEYING THE WORD OF GOD (TO THE END OF ONE'S LIFE) IS THE "GIFT" OF ETERNAL LIFE. A "GIFT" IS FREELY GIVEN, BUT NOT RECEIVED UNLESS "ACCEPTED"
Summary
GOD IS PREPARING HIS FAMILY, THE ELOHIM FAMILY AND DESIRES THAT ALL TURN FROM SIN (THROUGH REPENTANCE-THROUGH THE PASSOVER OFFERING)-WE MUST TURN TO GOD. HE IS OUR CREATOR, AND HE CREATED US FOR A PURPOSE, OUT OF LOVE. BUT GOD IS HOLY AND HE WILL NOT DWELL IN SIN (HE LIES NOT). FOR US TO HAVE HIS ETERNAL LIFE WITHIN US WE MUST TURN FROM 'SIN', OUR WICKED WAYS-THAT WHICH GOES AGAINST GOD, HIS WORD, HIS WAYS!!
In God’s Plan of Salvation, He intends for mankind to fulfill the great purpose for being by seeking to grow in righteous character.
A comparative few will be in the first resurrection, and be honored with great responsibility as kings and priest.
Next will be billions who live in the time of the millennium without the deception of Satan, except for a little season after the end of the thousand years.
Then comes the opportunity for the many billions who lived since the time of the creation of man down through the course of history without the true knowledge of God. They too will be given their chance for salvation—this time without Satan’s deception.
Yet, in all the stages of opportunities for salvation, there will be those who willfully reject God’s Way (Heb. 10:26-27).
In order to develop His character in mankind, God had to create them as free moral agents, who could potentially choose or reject His way. This possibility has always existed. Those who reject His Way would be forever miserable as spirit beings, remaining unteachable and unhappy with God’s Way. God would not allow additional rebellious beings to live forever, as will Satan and his demons.
Many believe that being “born again” means having a “religious experience” or “accepting Christ.” Also, this is believed to constitute the process of conversion. Anyone having “experienced” this is said to be “saved.” Yet, is this what the Bible says?
Therefore, out of mercy and justice, God will eliminate such people quickly, rather than have them exist forever in a miserable state. These people will not be tormented and tortured for all eternity—they will quickly perish in the fire, which will erase their existence.
GOD IS A GOOD AND JUST GOD, HE WILL GIVE EVERYONE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR AND RECEIVE HIS WORD. CHRIST IS GOD'S FAITHFUL AND TRUE WITNESS AND SHALL JUDGE ALL ACCORDING TO THEIR WORKS, ACCORDING TO GOD'S WORD. GOD KNOWS IF WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACCEPT TRUTH AND GOD KNOWS THE HEART [GOD TRULY KNOWS "ALL THINGS"], SO THIS IS WHY HE IS THE ONLY JUDGE OF HIS CREATION 'MANKIND' AND HE GAVE ALL AUTHORITY TO JUDGE (HIS PEOPLE) TO HIS FIRST HEIR (OF THE KINGDOM) JESUS CHRIST [Y'SHUA THE MESSIAH]-THE ONE WHO FIRST CAME AS OUR PASSOVER, SO THAT WE COULD BE REDEEMED BACK TO GOD THROUGH HIS BLOOD, FOR ALL HAVE SINNED AND WOULD HAVE HAD TO PAY THE PENALTY FOR THOSE SINS.
GOD SAYS THAT HIS THOUGHTS ARE NOT OUR THOUGHTS, FOR HIS WAYS ARE HIGHER THAN OURS, GOD ALSO SAYS THAT WE CAN NOT EVEN CONCEIVE 'WITH OUR MORTAL, PHYSICAL, HUMAN BRAINS-ABILITIES (THOUGHTS, IMAGINATIONS) WHAT GOOD HE HAS IN STORE FOR HIS FAMILY. HE LOVES US, HE LOVES ALL AND DESIRES THAT NONE "PERISH"...BUT THAT ALL HAVE ETERNAL LIFE, IN HIS KINGDOM, HIS FAMILY....THE NEW JERUSALEM 'HEAVEN ON EARTH'!
IT NEEDS TO BE UNDERSTOOD THAT WE CAN ONLY KNOW WHAT GOD HAS REVEALED TO US (OUR HEARTS, MINDS AND 'SPIRIT' ESSENCE) FOR A REASON, THROUGH HIS WORD, HE INSPIRED THE WRITING OF THE HOLY BIBLE THROUGH HIS HOLY SPIRIT, HE INSPIRED HIS O.T. PROPHETS THROUGH HIS HOLY SPIRIT AND HE INSPIRED HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST, WHOM HAD THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD POURED OUT ON HIM WITHOUT MEASURE. NO SCRIPTURE IS OPEN FOR PERSONAL INTERPRETATION, ALL OF SCRIPTURE MUST BE USE. ONE CAN NOT SEE THE FULL PICTURE WITH JUST ONE PIECE OF THE PUZZLE, YET GOD ALONE SEES THE FULL PICTURE "KNOWS ALL THINGS". CHRIST MADE IT CLEAR WHILE HE WAS IN 'FLESH' STILL, THAT HE NOR EVEN THE HOLY ANGELS OF GOD KNEW THE TIMING OF 'THE END OF THE AGE OF MAN'S SELF RULE'. BUT GOD DOES NOTHING WITHOUT REVEALING IT TO HIS PROPHETS, JESUS HAS BEEN IN HEAVEN WITH GOD FOR ALMOST 2,000 YEARS. JESUS IS THE ONE WHO OPENS THE SEALS IN REVELATION; HE WILL KNOW EXACTLY HOW MANY DAYS ARE B/T HIS OPENING OF THE SEALS AND HIS SECOND RETURN TO REIGN ON THE EARTH. SCRIPTURES TELL US THAT THERE HAS BEEN A PLACE PREPARED FOR THE ETERNAL TORTURE AND PUNISHMENT OF SATAN AND THE ANGELS (DEMONS) WHO REBELLED WITH HIM. NOW RATHER OR NOT 'THE WICKED' ARE CAST HERE AFTER "THE FIRST DEATH" OR "THE SECOND DEATH" GOD HAS NOT REVEALED THAT IN AND THROUGH HIS WORD. THE QUESTION WE NEED TO ASK IS WHY WOULD GOD NEED TO REVEAL SUCH A THING TO HIS TRUE CHURCH, WOULD IT BE SOMETHING PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO KEEP THE FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST AND THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD, NO OF COURSE NOT! GOD WANTS US TO COME TO HIM BY FREE WILL, HE CREATED US OUT OF LOVE, EACH ONE CREATED TO ONE DAY BE 'CHILDREN IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD', HOW BLESSED ARE WE. GOD IS GOOD. WE SHOULD WANT TO OBEY HIM OUT OF LOVE, OUT OF HIS LOVE FOR US AND OUR LOVE FOR HIM-AS HE WANTS TO SPEND ETERNITY WITH US WE SHOULD WANT THE SAME-WE SHOULD WANT, DESIRE TO SPEND ETERNITY WITH OUR FATHER (WHICH ART IN HEAVEN). IF IT WASN'T FOR GOD NONE OF US WOULD BE HERE, NO ON DESERVES LIFE, YET GOD GAVE LIFE TO ALL WHO LIVE AND HE GIVES MORE BLESSINGS AND THE PROMISE OF ETERNAL LIFE TO THOSE WHO CHOOSE HIS WAY. MAN HAS LIVED THE 'WAY OF SATAN' FOR ALMOST 6,000 YEARS NOW. YET, WE SEE THE WORLD, IT'S WICKED, FULL OF CONFUSION AND HATRED, FULL OF LIES AND MISUNDERSTANDINGS, FULL OF POVERTY, PAIN AND GRIEF. GOD DID NOT INTEND THIS. HIS LAWS ARE AS REAL AS THE LAWS OF 'GRAVITY AND INERTIA'. WHEN 'PEOPLE', 'NATIONS', 'INDIVIDUALS', HOLD TO THEM, TRUE PEACE, PROSPERITY, HAPPINESS, JOY AND LOVE COMES ABOUT.
BUT WHAT IS THE WITNESS: MAN HAS ALWAYS RESISTED 'THE WAY OF GOD' (SINCE THE TIME OF ADAM AND EVE), THOUGH GOD'S WAY IS THE ONLY WAY. FOR HE IS BOTH CREATOR AND SUSTAINER OF THE UNIVERSE AND ALL WITHIN IT.
"At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, Even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, Every one who is found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever. "But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase." (Daniel 12:1-4 NJK)
And he said, "Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand. (Daniel 12:9-10 NKJ)
But you, go your way till the end; for you shall rest, and will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days." (Daniel 12:1 NKJ)
And he said, "Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand. (Daniel 12:9-10 NKJ)
But you, go your way till the end; for you shall rest, and will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days." (Daniel 12:1 NKJ)
GOD IS A GOOD AND JUST GOD, HE WILL GIVE EVERYONE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR AND RECEIVE HIS WORD. CHRIST IS GOD'S FAITHFUL AND TRUE WITNESS AND SHALL JUDGE ALL ACCORDING TO THEIR WORKS (RATHER GOOD OR EVIL-FOR THEIR ARE BUT 2 WAYS-GOD'S WAY AND SATAN'S WAY), ACCORDING TO GOD'S WORD.
ReplyDeleteThen the Temple of God in heaven was opened, and the Ark of the Covenant was seen in his Temple; and there were flashes of lightning, voices, peals of thunder, an earthquake and violent hail. (Revelation 11:19)
ReplyDeleteknowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, (2 Peter 1:20 NKJ)
ReplyDeleteAll Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, (2 Timothy 3:16 NKJ)
ReplyDeleteONLY GOD CAN REVEAL TRUTH TO OUR HEARTS, MIND AND SPIRIT.
ReplyDeleteMan was always a 'temporary' being, but the reduced life spans came about when God saw the necessity of destroying mankind because of wickedness (Gen. 6:1-7).
ReplyDeleteADONAI (The LORD) said, "My Spirit will not live in human beings forever, for they too are flesh; therefore their life span is to be 120 years." (Genesis 6:3 CJB)
Before God destroyed all but eight humans in the Great Flood, people lived for hundreds of years. The first man, Adam, lived for 930 years. Genesis 5 records that Methuselah, Noah’s grandfather, lived for 969 years! If anyone lived longer, the Bible does not mention him. Even Noah, who was 600 when the flood occurred, lived another 350 years after the flood first began—950 years total.
ReplyDeleteThe average age of the pre-flood patriarchs (Genesis 5), excluding Enoch (who was taken away for his protection) and Noah (whose life extended well beyond the flood) was about 907 years.
Interestingly, from the time of the flood until the destruction of the tower of Babel, the average lifespan was approximately half. This is figured from the patriarchs who are listed in Genesis 11, when the average lifespan was about 459 years.
The average lifespan from the time of Peleg (who lived during the destruction of the tower of Babel) until and including the times of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob comes to about 194 years—less than half the lifespan of the previous era. Thus, both at the time of the flood and the tower of Babel’s destruction, the life spans were drastically changed. It has been speculated that this could have resulted from God removing some of the protective layers of the stratosphere that filtered out dangerous radiation, thus affecting man’s lifespan.
Later, Moses’ life ended at the age of 120. Deuteronomy 34:7 mentions that “his eye was not dim nor his natural force abated.” Aaron, Moses’ brother, lived to the age of 123 (Num. 33:39), and Joshua lived to the age of 110 (Josh. 24:29). God’s servants were often granted additional years to complete the crucial mission He had given them to carry out. Only on rare occasions after Joshua’s time does the Bible record anyone living beyond 100 years of age.
Psalm 90:10, written by Moses, states, “The days of our years are threescore years and ten and if by reason of strength they are fourscore years.” Even in Moses’ time, it was well understood that the average lifespan was usually 70 years, and occasionally in the range of 80, if one were in good health.
Although King David lived a relatively few years (age 70), by comparison to the patriarchs, the Bible still records “he died in a good old age, full of days…” (I Chron. 29:28).
Evidently, it requires no more than a few decades to observe the futility of mankind’s efforts in a world cut off from God. In addition, it does not require many decades to prove ourselves to God and to qualify for salvation through overcoming. This process demands more commitment and intensity than time.
Today there are few people who approach the age of 120. The apostle John had served God until he was about 100 years old. Another example is Simon, son of Cleopas (referenced in Luke 24:18 and John 19:25), who was martyred at the age of 120 in the year A.D. 107
A prophecy, the word of ADONAI (The LORD) concerning Isra'el - here is the message from ADONAI, who stretched out the heavens, laid the foundation of the earth and formed the spirit inside human beings: (Zechariah 12:1 CJB)
ReplyDeleteGod’s Holy Spirit is the crucial element that makes the New Covenant workable, in contrast to the Old Covenant that failed because of Israel’s disobedience. Hebrews 8:10 (which quotes Jeremiah 31:33) states, “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord; I will put My laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to Me a people.”
God inspired Moses to record, “O that there were such a heart in them, that they would fear Me, and keep all My commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children forever” (Deut. 5:29). The reason Israel failed to fear and obey God was that “the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be” (Rom. 8:7). Spiritual survival depends on the following conditions: “But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man has not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His” (Rom. 8:9).
ReplyDeleteScripture shows that the Holy Spirit is the power that emanates from God. The resurrected Christ promised His disciples, “But you shall receive power, after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you” (Acts 1:8). Christ had a full measure of that Spirit during His physical life, with which He healed the sick, crippled and blind. He also stilled a violent storm and even raised the dead, yet He explained, “I can of mine own self do nothing…” (John 5:30). Christ performed miracles after acknowledging where the power came from (He made sure we knew that all things He said, did, gave....where from and of God, God's will...“… the Father that dwells in Me, He does the works” (John 14:10). The Holy Spirit is the means through which the Father transmitted power to Christ. An earnest amount of this Spirit of power is made available to each true Christian in this age.
ReplyDeleteIt is clear that the Holy Spirit is the very power of God by which He created all things. Scriptures actually compare the Holy Spirit to flowing water—even, “rivers of living water” (John 7:38).
ReplyDeleteGod sustains His creation by the power of the Holy Spirit (Nehemiah 9:6);(Psa. 139:7-9); (Hebrews 11:3); (Job 26:7); (Jeremiah 32:17); (I Chronicles 29:11); (Psalm 62:11)
The miraculous acts of creation show the unfathomable power of the Holy Spirit. It was by this power that Christ was able to keep the Ten Commandments perfectly. What is most fascinating of all is that a measure of this very power can enter our minds, and even this measure can grow and expand.
The Tree of Life offered access to the Holy Spirit and to eternal life. The Scriptures show elsewhere that the Spirit gives life (II Cor. 3:6); “he that sows to the Spirit shall reap life everlasting” (Gal. 6:8); and “to him that overcomes, I will give to eat of the tree of life which is in the midst of the paradise of God” (Rev. 2:7).
Did Adam have access to God's Holy Spirit? Genesis 2:9
Genesis 3:6. God’s instructions to Adam were to not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This tree represented man’s determination of what is good and what is evil, and what is right in his own eyes, independent of God’s instructions.
Under the sway of Satan, Eve chose to eat of the wrong tree, and so did Adam, shortly thereafter. Satan contradicted God by his assertion in verse 4, “you shall not surely die.” Satan was saying in effect, “you can’t rely on God’s word.”
Besides the influence of Satan, Adam and Eve’s own human reasoning also led them to make the wrong choice. In the ecstasy of intellectual vanity, they used human reason in choosing the forbidden tree. They rejected the Tree of Life, by which they would have received God’s Spirit and eternal life. Instead, since they chose to follow Satan’s lie, they eventually died. Since that time, mankind has followed the same path.
You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe--and tremble! (James 2:19 NKJ)
ReplyDeleteAnd demons also came out of many, crying out and saying, "You are the Christ, the Son of God!" And He, rebuking them, did not allow them to speak, for they knew that He was the Christ. (Luke 4:41 NKJ)
It happened one day that the sons of God came to serve ADONAI, and among them came the Adversary [Hebrew: Satan]. 7 ADONAI asked the Adversary, "Where are you coming from?" The Adversary answered ADONAI, "From roaming through the earth, wandering here and there." (Job 1 6-7 CJB)
Another day came when the sons of God came to serve ADONAI, and among them came the Adversary to serve ADONAI. ADONAI asked the Adversary, "Where are you coming from?" The Adversary answered ADONAI, "From roaming through the earth, wandering here and there." (Job 2 1-2 CJB)
Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.' " (Matthew 4:10 NKJ)
And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. (Romans 16:20 NKJ)
Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. (Revelation 19:20 NKJ)
ReplyDeleteThe devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. (Revelation 20:10 NKJ)
Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. (Revelation 20:14 NKJ)
And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:15 NKJ)
David wrote, in Psalm 5:4-5, “For You are not a God that has pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with You. The foolish shall not stand in Your sight: You hate all workers of iniquity [sin].
ReplyDeleteand the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; (Matthew 27:52 NKJ)
ReplyDeleteFor the Lord loves justice, And does not forsake His saints; They are preserved forever, But the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off. (Psalms 37:28 NKJ)
You who love the Lord, hate evil! He preserves the souls of His saints; He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked. (Psalms 97:10 NKJ)
But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.' (Daniel 7:18 NKJ)
The enemy who sowed them is the devil, THE HARVEST IS THE END OF THE AGE, and the reapers are the angels. (Matthew 13:39 NKJ)
ReplyDeleteKEEP YOURSELVES IN THE LOVE OF GOD, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ UNTO ETERNAL LIFE. (Jude 1:21 NKJ)