Sometimes we need to look at the books of prophecy for some practical answers to life and also for some comfort and encouragement. This has been that kind of week for me, as I have had to attend three funerals to speak and listen to those words that give meaning to such a time of profound loss.

Yesterday I spoke at a funeral for a man who had no formal religious affiliation. By all accounts he was a good man who worked hard, loved his family and loved to fish. But he did not go to church. The question for some is, what is his fate? What happens now?

Some give vague answers like "God knows those who are His and has a plan for everyone." But what is the future for those who profess no religious faith? What about those who deny God and profess atheism? What about those who live truly evil lives? What does the Bible say? The fact is, we can have answers.

Two passages from Revelation help give us the answers. Revelation 20:5 says, "But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished." The rest of the dead are those who died never having been called to the true knowledge of God and His great plan. They include the billions who have lived and died through the ages and never professed the name of Jesus Christ.

Revelation 21:1-4 describes a later time, but gives comfort in showing God's heart and His intent for us all.

"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.'"

This describes the kind of loving God the "rest of the dead" will meet when they awake in the resurrection. They will be raised in a world different from this present evil world that is not governed by the divine will of God and is filled with far too much sorrow and suffering. The Bible shows they will be raised in a physical resurrection to a life that will allow them to have the books of the Bible opened to their understanding and to have the their names written into the "Book of Life" (Revelation 20:11-12; Ezekiel 37:1-14).

If you have not read our booklet What Happens After Death? then be sure to do so for a full understanding. We need not worry about the eternal fate of those who have died.

The book of Revelation has been on my mind a lot lately. Now more than ever we need to look at this book to gain an understanding of the large trends that are shaping our world. I wrote a short piece about the need to look at its teachings in a manner that opens up our present world and our life to a greater dimension of understanding. You can read "Don't Mess With Revelation" in the May issue of World News and Prophecy.

Sometimes God takes us to the house of mourning to show us the need to slow down in our fast-paced lives and consider the larger questions of life—our purpose and God's great plan. This has been such a week for me.

Keep watching,