Leave No One Behind

That was wonderful, wasn't it? Some of us are going to have to wait for our voices to be healed to be in a choir. Let's face it. Including me. But some of your voices have been healed when you were born. Isn't that something? I was singing the other day, and good morning, everybody! Happy eighth day! All right. And I was singing the other day, how many people really have good singing voices? One out of ten, one out of fifty. It kind of works out.

Even in a smaller congregation, you always have basically a choir. We just started one in Boise. Sixty members in Boise, and we have about eight or nine or ten in the choir. So that works. Well, it's not a small congregation. Sixty, I guess, but still we have enough voices to do that. And then those of us who are not blessed with good voices, we have good ears. Right? Somebody's got to listen.

So we're blessed to have both the givers and the takers, but to God's glory. Well, very fine. You know, we used to live in Minnesota, Wisconsin. We've been in Michigan, Iowa, all that, upper west. And there's an expression a lot of you Northerners will understand, but those of you who aren't from there, you'll understand with snow and the colder, we have an expression up north. Many are cold, but few are frozen.

Now that's our byword right now. We're a little chilly, but inside it's very warm. God's Spirit is flowing good. I know one individual who flew in here from down in the southwest, and he can't fly out probably until Thursday because that's when the ceiling lifts. This is true story. There's no joke here, folks. But anyway, it was Mr. Dick Lee that just gave the opening prayer, pray for Dick and a passenger because they can't get out of Dodge until the ceiling lifts, right?

So they're kind of grounded literally until all of that happens. So anyway, those of you leaving tonight or tomorrow, we ask for God's blessing, certainly. Well, many hands make for like work, and that's truly true at the feast, brother. God has a lot of brethren around the world working. By the way, up here on the screen, that UCG FOT site, just on the member side, the UCG site, as I did yesterday, there's hundreds of photos of the elect of God around the world.

And they're really thrilling to see and happy faces, children, seniors. And if you get a chance, tomorrow or the next week or two, they'll be up there for quite a while. But it's really delightful to have so many faces and opportunities to praise God around the world. So we also thank the Molliers. That's a lot of work being a feast coordinator, but all of you have really assisted and helped. Again, he's gone through a list. We thank each and every one of you. We really do fill this room, don't we?

350 people. So kind of back-to-back and shoulder-to-shoulder and elbow-to-elbow. But it's been a wonderful feast here for seven-plus days now. All right, I'd like to start with a couple of slides here. So the background to this story is April 2008, US Army Captain Matt Zeldner found himself in an ambush pinned down by an enemy fire, low ammunition and questioning whether he would even see his family again. At that critical moment, Afghan interpreter Janice Shinmari and an American Quick Reaction Force arrived to rescue Captain Zeldner and his team. Interpreter Janice calmly addressed the situation and joined the fight just in time to shoot two Taliban fighters who had flanked Zeldner's position and were closing in for the kill.

Captain Zeldner is one of five US soldiers, an Afghan interpreter, that this individual helped out and actually saved the lives, this interpreter, of five soldiers during his nine years of service as an interpreter. Now, we often don't think of a combat interpreter, but we've had them over there in the Middle East, and they've literally saved quite a few soldiers over the years.

Now, before the interpreter's bravery that day, the Taliban placed Janice at the top of the kill list, along with his family. And that was in early 2009. Distressed knowing that the Taliban were hunting Janice and his family, and the captain now over in the United States, he had retired, he decided to do something about it. He appealed to the media, Congress, Department of State to take action. Well, things moved slowly at Washington, D.C.

It took five years, but thankfully, Janice's case was five... Finally worked through the US government bureaucracy, and in October 2013, Janice and his family arrived safely in Washington, D.C. Well, Zeller thought about all that happened, and he offered his interpreter money to help him and his family resettle. Initially, he refused, but enough money came in that, again, he came over with the family. And they started, together, co-founders of No One Left Behind.

It's an interesting phrase, No One Left Behind. It's the only organization in America that is dedicated to resettling the translators who served with the US forces in Afghanistan or Iraq. Again, it could take up to five years, even now, for these brave men and their families to receive approval to enter the United States.

But 5,000 interpreters and families are now safe and sound in the US of A because of the work of this organization. So what I'd like to do, brethren, is to tie that theme in of No One Left Behind with this wonderful Holy Day, this festival, the eighth day, a separate day, as we've heard, and know.

And we are going through some scriptures today about this last great day or eighth day of the feast. And it's really a day, brethren, when God leaves no one behind. That's a very encouraging thing for each and every one of us. Every person in this room, as well as everyone around the world, is going to be affected by this day. No one's going to be left behind and not affected by God's wonderful plan.

I'd like to turn over to John 3 and verse 16. So please join me over there to John 3 and verse 16. And I think, brethren, these two verses, 16 and 17, really give us a basis for the meaning of this day in terms of God's love, His power, and His generosity. So John 3 and verse 16 says, They're givers. They so love the world, the Father gave up His begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. This is really, brethren, for today, this meaning of today. Whoever believes. Verse 17, for God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. I find myself, brethren, as you contemplate world news, U.S. news, and I've been on a news fast, I guess since the U.S. presidential elections, whenever that was, two and a half years ago. I don't honestly remember. Like I say, if it's more than three weeks ago, I don't remember it, right? It's kind of a good thing there. But, you know, politics is, you know, poly means many and ticks means ticks, so that's many ticks. I kind of got ticked off and left that, because I've been a geopolitical viewer and reader since I was a teenager, and I used to get U.S. news and world report, time we looked at. And I just thought, it doesn't do me any good, so I'm not really current on everything, but you really think about the plan of God. God is current. He understands what's happening, but sometimes it's very interesting and easy, brethren, to get negative about people. Now, we should not do that, because God has a plan for rescuing all of us, the world, indeed. Now, the number seven to God is very important. Just as the week is not complete without the seventh-day Sabbath, God's Master Plan is not complete without His seventh and final annual festival, the eighth day. The number seven in the Bible indicates completion and perfection. This seventh festival of God reveals a perfection of God's Master Plan. The God's love and mercy toward humanity is extended way out there, far beyond the thousand-year reign of Jesus Christ, which we've just celebrated, and that ended at sunset last night. Now, we are celebrating that extension of God's love in John 3, 16-17, for all of mankind. It really is a very fascinating and encouraging theme that we are celebrating today. Years ago, I was asked to do a funeral. I had no connection with the family, and before the funeral began, a couple of family members took me and said, Can we talk? I said, sure. And they said, our beloved here that's deceased had some issues. And I said, okay, you know, almost like don't we all? No, they said, we're serious. They had some issues. And they explained the issue. And they said, well, He burned and held fire forever. I said, no. He knows nothing until the day of the resurrection. They explained the meaning of this day, and that comforted them. How often does that come up in a funeral? And what about our deceased, our loved one? What is their status? Are they burning and held fire? I remember Grandma Knudtsman died. I didn't know her well. But at the Protestant church, and I was good friends with the minister's son, and we were up on the front row as a family, and I remember the minister looking down at our family, and he said, don't cry. He said, Grandma is in heaven right now. That was the first time I really heard that phrase preached, Grandma is in heaven right now. Well, I got to learn the Bible, as you did. Grandma is not in heaven. She's in the grave. And so, waiting for a resurrection.

And that's what this day really encourages us to look forward to. You know, brethren, timing is everything with God. I don't know about you, but I know some people, including myself, are time challenged. That's a nice way of saying they're late. And God is never late, and He's never early. He's precisely on time, every time.

That includes prayers, and that sure includes today. That's why God is not calling everybody to salvation now. It's not their time.

Some of us have prayed over the years, well, God, please call my siblings and parents and all of that. And those are good prayers, but remember, the Father's will is always perfect. His timing is exquisite.

So His timing is perfect, and that's, brethren, about this day. It's the right time. It's the right place with the right group. God the Master Timekeeper. And I think we find evidence of that in 2 Peter chapter 3 verse 8. So join me over there. 2 Peter chapter 3 and verse 8.

This really is about time. I don't imply that I understand these two verses about time, because how do we understand eternity? We've all had a beginning. That's your birthday. And yes, we'll all have an end, or a change if we're alive when Jesus Christ returns.

So we're not infinite. We're finite. But we worship an infinite God. Now in verse 8, See, those verses are about this time in the future, aren't they? They all come to repentance. You know, from a thousand years to God is like a day to us. Isn't that fascinating? You're talking about a memory chip. God remembers eternity. And so a thousand years to God is nothing. It's like one day. And a day, a thousand years.

Time to God, brethren, is so different than what we understand. We can't understand how God deals with time. But he does say that I don't forget. I think that's implied in this verse. So a thousand years back, you had family. And frankly, most of our families did not die in the faith.

Now who knows? Someday you'll be resurrected in that coming of Christ, first resurrection. Wouldn't it be something to find out you actually had family a thousand years ago? Wouldn't that be awesome? It's possible. You're probably not a probable thing. But God remembers your family. He remembers those who will be in the first resurrection, and certainly those who will be in the second resurrection.

So a thousand years is like yesterday to God. Frankly, as far as I'm concerned, I don't remember exactly what I had for lunch. I do. I was with my sons. We had a good sandwich. But you know what I'm saying? The memory chips aren't so good after a few years, particularly. So it's an act of mercy on God the Father's part, not to call billions of people throughout the ages.

It's not their time. It's an act of mercy. So there is one commonality of all these generations, brethren, that have lived and died without God, who come up in the second resurrection. What is that commonality? They've all settled for less. A lot less. But again, God was not opening their mind, but they sure settled for far less than what they'll enjoy and be blessed with in the Kingdom. So join me in Ezekiel, please, chapter 37. This is certainly a benchmark Scripture this day. The eighth day, or last great day. Ezekiel 37, starting in verse 1.

So Ezekiel, seeing this in vision, he says, The hand of the Lord came upon me and brought me out in the spirit of the Lord, and sent me down in the midst of the valley, and it was full of bones. Then he caused me to pass by them all around. It's kind of like a 360.

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? And so I answered, O God, you know. You know, it's a brilliant answer, right? Ezekiel's clueless. Again, he said to me, Prophesy that these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Now this is from God. This is what's going to be happening. Thus says the Lord God of these bones, Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live.

I will put sinews upon you, and bring flesh upon you, and 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, and as I was commanded, and I prophesied, and 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. Verse 9, and he said to me, Prophesy to the bones, and prophesy, Son of man. And say to the breath, Thus says the Lord God, Come from the four winds, and breathe, 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 they stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army. What a thrilling vision that Ezekiel was given, and that we share here by reading these words.

So the Valley of Dry Bones, brother, we know is symbolic of ancient graves, some of them up to 6,000 years old. This will be the greatest reclamation project ever on planet Earth, in terms of human beings. Now there will be other reclamation projects in terms of terraforming by Jesus Christ from Jerusalem as he reshapes this world of ours after his coming. But in terms of human beings, this will be an amazing thing, a resurrection of untold billions.

Now if you do a Dr. Google on that, how many people have ever lived, I found about 110 billion as one estimate. But you can take your estimate. What I get from Dr. Google is a lot of people. God is having a big family. Now of course there will be the... do we call them the Millennials in the thousand year reign? I know, I said that at one camp. But they're really true Millennials.

And so you add how many billions will be during that thousand year reign. We have no clue, but a lot more will be added. So maybe around 110 billion so far, and many billions to go. Let's continue here in Ezekiel 37. Let's go on to verse 11, please.

Again, I think that video kind of captures the essence of what's going to be taking place. It will have a photo, another person's interpretation of Ezekiel 37. Verse 11. Then he said to me, Son of Man, these bones are the whole house of Israel.

So in context they include ancient Israel. They indeed say our bones are dry, our hope is lost. That's why I said one thing that's common for all of those coming up in the second resurrection, brethren, is they had no hope. They died without hope. They had no clue what life was about. And yes, they did settle for a lot less. So they did talk about the lack of hope here. And then verse 12, therefore prophesy and say to them, Thus says the Lord God, behold, all my people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves and bring you into the land of Israel.

Now this, rather contextually, is ancient Israel, but it applies to all people, you know, from Scripture. There is universal salvation applied in the second resurrection. It doesn't mean everyone will accept that and apply God's way, but their minds are open to God. And all people will be there that have never had that opportunity and blessing. Then he says in verse 13, Then you shall know that I am the Lord. So that's the point. They're going to be converted. That's their opportunity. 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.

And then, as you shall know, that I, the Lord, have spoken it and performed it, says the Lord. Well, who are these billions? Some are the Romans who nailed Jesus Christ to the stake. Some would be, of course, the person Pontius Pilate, who washed his hands of everything and condemned Jesus to death. Well, it's our great-great-great-great grandparents Adam and Eve. And then we get a chance, brethren, in the kingdom to ask him, Why did you do that? And they'll say, Because we made a bad choice, as we heard yesterday, a bad choice.

And there are the 75 million that were dead from World War II. There are the billions who will die at the hands of the beast, the false prophet, the Asian army, and the battle of Armageddon. There are the ancient Egyptians of Moses' time. There are the people who saw Noah build the ark and then pounded on the ark of the door that was sealed. There are those who died in 9-11. There will be, of course, the pre-flood men and women. And there will be those yet unborn between now and that juncture of Jesus Christ's return.

And yes, brethren, there's going to be your relatives. You're going to get a chance to see them. It will be by far the world's greatest family reunion. There will also be the murders and those who have saved someone's life, the good folks and the not-so-good folks.

They will include the good, the bad, and the ugly. Everybody that has not yet had a chance to learn God's way. This is all proved here, brethren, in Romans 11. Let's turn to Romans 11, please, in verse 7. Romans 11 and verse 7. A fascinating area that Paul wrote here to the church at Rome. Again, specifically, the audience at that time was to the Israelites or the Jews, but yet for all of mankind. Because they have been cut off from God. Romans 11, verse 7, please. What then? Paul writes, Israel has not obtained what it seeks, but the elect have obtained it. What a special thing, brethren, by God's grace. You've obtained that. But the rest were blinded. Just as is the written God has given them a spirit of stupor, eyes that should not see, and ears that should not hear, to this very day.

And David said, let their tail become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a recompense for them. Let their eyes be darkened so that they do not see. And then in verse 11, I say then that they stumbled. Have they stumbled? That they should fall. And he said, certainly not. But though they fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles. Now verse 26. So all Israel will be saved, as is the written, that the deliverer will come out as I am, and he will turn away ungodliness from Jacob. And for this is my covenant with him, and I will take away their sins. That has to be, brethren, a future resurrection. These folks are long gone, and they never understood the truth. And Paul is making that very clear. There is a resurrection for all those. In fact, he says God blinded them. They never really got it. Because they were not called to eternal salvation. Well, blindness is also applied to all nations, every race, every background, and the vast, vast majority of mankind. A lot of you have had relatives die. Last time I saw my mom alive, she was 70, actually, and she was dying of cancer. Now, I've told this story a number of times. And you kind of fascinated me. Why have so many left? You ever had that question go through your head? Well, my mom and dad were baptized, and a few years later they stopped keeping the Sabbath. It was like their lives before. And yet, at one point, my dad said, Stephen, he said, that booklet, the Sabbath, was really fascinating. But I'm not my parent's judge by any means. But my mom asked me, well, the worst mistake I ever made was leaving the church. I said, Mom, God will take care of this, not to worry. And so we read a little bit of Revelation, probably what we've already heard about, and the various messages so far and this afternoon. But I think, brethren, God got a lot of people ready for the Second Resurrection. Their time was not yet. I'm no one's judge. But why have so many left the faith?

I don't know fully. I just know possibilities. And I think this day, brethren, is a very encouraging day or theme for a lot of people who supposedly gave it up. Now, again, I don't know. I'm just speculating. I know with my own parents, they understood a little bit, they attended a little while, and then it was as if back to normal.

Anyway, personal story about, I think, what this day means in terms of family and all of that. So let's go on, continue with some Scriptures. But I wanted to really go through some slides at this juncture and then into some more Scriptures. But I'll just go through a couple of slides. Of course, the meaning of this day, the Second Resurrection, based on Ezekiel 37 and other Scriptures. And no one left behind. Now, this scene, pictures, the Resurrection, family, togetherness, reunion. Many, many died, billions over the centuries, in renewal and hope.

Now, this is by artist David Teague. He lives in Cincinnati, last I heard. Remember, in the United Church of God. And this painting of Mr. Teague is there at the home office, or at least it was. And it's fascinating. That's the overview of what he did, what he drew. Now, this is basically the Second Resurrection. People coming from all over, and from up on high in the mountain tops, in the plateaus, the valleys. And then I'll zero in, because I know it's very hard to see. I'll zero in to a couple of these interesting depictions. Over on the left, there's a lot of babies there that you see, little infants. That could be, again, it could be a cemetery for babies. It could be where they died in an orphanage. Frankly, it could be abortions. Those who died in abortions, but many babies in that area. And then, just to the right of that, you see those three gentlemen. They look like they're former prisoners to me. So, we're just talking about all types who have lived over the centuries, all races. And then in the middle, sort of left-middle, there's a string of children. I'm not sure what Mr. Teague had pictured there, but a lot of little ones. And then to the middle right, there's a mother and a little baby. She's, of course, welcoming. So, interesting depiction. There on the left, those appear to be doughboys. They have the World War I soldier hats, a grouping there. Of course, they died together, maybe in France, and buried there, as many soldiers are buried abroad. And then we see the two ladies over there doing a jig, you know, happy days. And then we see some soldiers at the top, it appears. All kinds, all kinds of people. So some are just coming out of the graves, and others, of course, have been maybe out of the graves a few minutes. But, however, all of this, you know, is by God's direction. We do see, of course, life again for untold billions of people. Now, I see on the left here, there's two skeleton figures who have yet to have the sinew and all of that arrive. But they're hugging each other. Could be husband, wife. You know, what are we doing here? What are we doing here? The three others over on the right, they appear to be conquistadories from their garments. So again, just depicting Mr. Tigez, various generations and peoples around the world from all areas. It's a very fascinating picture. I just want to share that with you. Now this, and we're going to go to Romans, but notice the lady that appears to be pregnant, again, died in pregnancy. Died in birth, perhaps. And perhaps that's a husband. Notice over on the right, though, the tree. Now, that's a very unusual thing. I've never seen anything like that. The tree appears to be with child. Now, what's that based on? Well, I'll show the slide. Let's read that together. This is from the NIV, Romans 8, verse 19. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of men to be revealed. Verse 22, we know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth. So that's what Mr. Tigez is depicting there, right up to the present time. Groaning as in the pains of childbirth.

Not only so, he says, but ourselves, we have the first fruits of the Spirit groaning inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons and the redemption of our bodies. As God looks forward to this day for all people. Join me over now in Revelation 20, please, in verse 5. Revelation 20 and verse 5. We certainly celebrated this two weeks ago or so. Verse 5, but the rest of the dead did not live again until a thousand years were finished.

This is the first resurrection. Now, we're going to do a little logic here, brother, because God doesn't call this day the second resurrection in the Bible, nor does he call the third resurrection a third resurrection. But there is a logic here.

As we all know, if there's a first resurrection, what does that mean? There's at least another resurrection, so it's appropriate to call it second. It's logical. But we do acknowledge there is no second resurrection, per se, in that phraseology in the Bible, but it's implied and directly implied and given in many scriptures. So this is the first resurrection. The lesson, 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.

Now verse 10. The devil who deceived them was cast in the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, or should be were. No flesh brother is going to be able to exist more than a millisecond in the lake of fire. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Verse 11. Then I saw the great white throne and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was no place found, no place in them or for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God. Notice, as they come up before this great white throne, books, as it is in the Greek, biblia, which means Bible, books were opened.

So God's way of life, the Bible, the truth, is open to them. They get the Bible. Remember years ago we had this photo. We had, I think it was Basil Wilburton, that infamous photo, or drawing rather. And he had this gentleman, and the Bible was upside down, and he was reading it upside down. I thought it really made the statement, well, you know, how do you read the Bible upside down? We just don't understand it. Again, by God's design, God has to put that Bible the right way, open our eyes, our minds to it, then we understand.

So the books of the Bible, biblia, books, the Bible was open to them for the very first time. As it also says, another book was opened, which is the book of life. So they've not had their time for salvation. It's not too late.

No one is left behind with God's plan, unless they choose to be left behind. We should put an asterisk there. It's not guaranteed salvation, but they'll have a chance to learn, and the book of life will be opened to them. Let's go on in the Scripture here. 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.

So yeah, they will be judged just as we are today, brethren, by what's written in the Bible. That's our standard. You know, brethren, when we came to the church some of us a long time ago, the Bible doesn't change. Doctrines don't evolve. Doctrines don't evolve. Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. So it's not this going back, God shows us the truth, we stay with that truth, and tell death do we part.

The truth is always there. It's always relevant. Generation to generation. We believe, brethren, as Abraham and Sarah believe. We believe the same as Isaac. In fact, that's exactly what Jesus Christ told Adam and Eve. This is the way of life, the book of life. It's the same thing, generation to generation. So these people will all have eternal life if they choose to, and they will come up into the physical resurrection.

The second resurrection is reserved for those who never knowingly rejected God's offer to receive the Holy Spirit. The word knowingly is critical here. I'll repeat that. The second resurrection is reserved for those who never knowingly rejected God's offer to receive the Holy Spirit. So the family asked me years ago, what about our deceased friend who had an issue or two in life? Where is he now? Is he burning up in torture? No. Because that individual evidently never knowingly rejected God's offer to receive the Holy Spirit. They were worried about him. They loved him, but he had problems. And they were just concerned. Is he in torment right now? No, he is not. God loves him. Since there's no other resurrection for these converted sons and daughters of God, we'd logically assume that somewhere during their lives, God will change them to spirit eternal beings. There is no 2.5 resurrection. Correct? There's a second resurrection, and there's a resurrection after that. It's called the resurrection of condemnation. So there's not a 2.5 resurrection. So we assume that God will change all of them when he sees that they're ready for that spirit life and eternity. Now, let's link a couple of chapters in Matthew. Turn with me over to Matthew 11 and verse 21, please. Matthew 11 and verse 21. We can sure logically, brother, carefully go with some Scriptures here and know that Jesus Christ talks about multiple generations over a long period of time in various locations coming up to a resurrection. Matthew 11 verse 21. Woe to you, Cor. Woe to you, Bessaeta. Now these two towns were located on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee. This is Woe to you. He says, if the mighty works which were done in you had been done entire in Sidon, they would repent long ago and sack cloth and ashes. Well, Jesus Christ, brethren, was up in that northern part of the Sea of Galilee during his ministry for the most part. He traveled here in Yawn, but that's why he's saying, you folks know me more. I live here. I've been around. But those coastal towns, Tyre and Sidon, they were not local. However, Jesus Christ did travel up there, but he said they didn't get the witness that you folks did. So verse 22, when I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. So he's talking here about a day of judgment. And Euchapernum, what is Euchapernum? That's his adopted hometown. That's where he lived. Had a house there. Home base there.

He says, but Euchapernum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sidon, or Sodom rather, it would have remained to this day. I mean, what a comparison. Verse 24, but I say to you that it shall be more tolerable in the land of Sodom, in the day of judgment, than for you. And that time Jesus answered and said, I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and the prudent, and revealed them to babes. That's a very revealing area of Scripture, isn't it? So again, multiple generations, different backgrounds and religions. Now, Matthew 12, verse 40. Let's link that with what we just read. Matthew 12 and verse 40, please.

I almost hesitate reading the word Jonah here, but anyway. Verse 44, as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the son of Van be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. We know that was his sole sign of his Messiah's ship. The only one. He asked him, what's your sign? He said, three days, three nights in the heart of the earth. That's it. Now, Jonah lived around in the 700s B.C. Now, verse 41, the men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation. Hmm. Now, interestingly, brethren, there's nothing in the Bible about when people die in the single sense, they go to heaven or they go somewhere. He says, these all come up. He says, again, verse 41, they will rise up in the judgment with this generation. It's a mass judgment or a mass resurrection, not singularly, going somewhere. It's really fascinating, too, and we've had articles in magazines for years, but Satan says, you go off to join God. Actually, part of the God family comes down and joins us. Satanists, rather than just reversing things. So much. No, Jesus Christ, the King, comes to this earth. Let's go on to verse 42. The Queen of the South will rise up. So we're introduced now to the Queen of the South. Will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it with this generation. Well, she lives back in the 900s B.C. and yet coming up with that generation. And for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon. Indeed, a greater than Solomon is here. It's fascinating, brethren, when you link the Scriptures, and there's many more to do that, it's a multiple, multi-generation, around-the-world kind of resurrection that's being depicted by, in fact, Jesus Christ. Now, people ask, how long will the second resurrection last in terms of human life? There's one possibility. It's over in Isaiah 65, starting in verse 17. Let's go to Isaiah 65, please, and verse 17. There's one possible mention of duration. I personally don't think we can be dogmatic about it, but it gives us a sense of the length of time.

Verse 17, this is Isaiah 65, verse 17. For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former shall not be remembered or come to mind. Isn't that fascinating? We're so glad, brethren, we won't remember this first age. The bad memories, the bad circumstances, not being able to fly out of Steamboat Springs when we really want to go home. All those things.

But, you know, God is merciful. He says, you won't remember. Any of my sons or daughters won't remember. Verse 18, but be glad and rejoice forever in what I create. For behold, I create Jerusalem as rejoicing and her people a joy. And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and my joy in my people, in the voice of weeping, shall no longer be heard in her, nor the voice of crying.

Now verse 20, no more shall an infant from there live but a few days, nor an old man who has not fulfilled his days, for a child shall die one hundred years old. In other words, brethren, it's saying that infant will live longer than what we know to be a lifespan today. One hundred is quite up there.

I just put it that way. I mean, that's a very good life, a hundred. We know very few people who actually live to be a hundred. You probably know a few. But in other words, it's saying that youngster won't die prematurely of an accident or illness. They'll live a good, long life.

But then he contrasts that with the sinner. But the sinner, being one hundred years old, shall be a curse. It's almost as if, wow, a bad person will also be blessed with quite a long life. Yes.

And why is that? Because God gives us time to repent, to understand his way. Not just a handful of years, but I think verse 20 is an indicator that God will give a good, substantial amount of years for every person to truly convert and respond and be dedicated.

I think that shows again that God wants people who get it and are in it for their life. They're in it for good. It's not a temporary thing.

It continues here in verse 21, all the way through, verse 25, talking about an idyllic, wonderful life, and that cannot be compared to this life today.

So verse 20 rather conveys a time of longevity. It may or may not be an exact one hundred years. The point is, they have plenty of time to understand, enjoy life, enjoy it, have a family, and see God's way of life and action for themselves, and truly be a part of God for the long term.

Now we can assume that here that one could also expect the same lifespan, not only during the Great White Throne Judgment time, but also during the Thousand-Year Reign of Jesus Christ.

Again, I think that would be logic. It's not dictated to, per se, but again, a long enough life to understand and enjoy life and to have the character of God.

However God determines this, it's obvious that God will make a human life span long enough to decide about the person's true character.

We do have a very good study paper on that subject simply called The Resurrections. It's on the UCG site, and it's very, very helpful.

Let me move into a slide here, the four characteristics of the Second Resurrection.

Obviously, that happens after the Thousand Years are over and after Satan's brief rebellion.

This resurrection is to mortal life, and it's for those who never again knowingly, importantly, rejected God's offer to receive the Holy Spirit and endure to the end.

At number four, they will have a second mortal life, yet first opportunity for salvation received God's Holy Spirit. Minds opened. Very, very important.

Well, does the Bible refer to another resurrection after the Second Resurrection? We all know it does.

So let me briefly just have us turn to Revelation 20 in verse 13, please. Revelation chapter 20 in verse 13.

It speaks of here after Satan's brief rebellion, and in fact, after the Second Resurrection, it also talks about 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 according to their works.

Now, it's fascinating here. Verse 13 does not include the Book of Life being opened like it does earlier in earlier verses.

Neither will books, plural, be opened to them. Therefore, they will be judged for unrepented works.

Verse 14, death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

And that's a wonderful, awesome thing. Rather than death and Hades, they will be done away with, permanently, gone.

Verse 15, anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

So yes, in fact, John describes here two inanimate objects, death and Hades, being cast in the lake of fire, signifying the termination of the grave as well as the destruction of death itself.

1 Corinthians 15, verse 26 also notes that.

It shows that this group of people will have already been resurrected and judged according to their works.

So logically, we can call this resurrection the third resurrection, and it's also called second death.

So if you will, we could call it the resurrection of second death or third resurrection.

It's true, brethren, every man, woman and child, all adults, however, as we grow up in the faith, we will appear before the judgment of God. We will answer it for our works.

Notice what Jesus Christ said in John 5, verse 24.

Please turn with me over to John 5, verse 24 in this regard.

Fascinating, the details Jesus Christ gave to that generation, at least in that part of the world, and of course recorded, for all generations, for all time.

John 5, verse 24, He says, Most assuredly I see to you, he who hears my word and believes in him, who sent me, has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but pass from death to life.

In other words, he's referring back to what we just read in Revelation.

You're not going to come into the judgment of second death.

You come into judgment, but not into that judgment of death.

And then verse 25, Most assuredly I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.

For as the Father has given, has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself, and has given him authority to execute judgment also because he is the Son of Man.

And 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.

So if you will, you could also call the first resurrection the resurrection of life, and you could call the third resurrection the resurrection of condemnation.

Here, brethren, the first and third resurrections are referred to here.

And of course, we've already understood the second one is there in Scripture.

When a person's attitude is beyond repentance, this is an attitude that is hostile to God, refuses to repent, willfully sinning over a period of time, and rejects God, and the Son of God is a Savior.

That person commits what is called in Scripture the incarnable sin, because forgiveness requires repentance.

And if an individual has a, what we call that is a conscience seared, refuses to follow God, does not want God, they will commit the incarnable sin, and blasphemy against the Spirit.

Now, I don't think any of us, brethren, can imagine a person willingly coming into the spirit, into that attitude and that spirit, but it's possible.

It's possible some already at our given time have gone into that mentality, that mood, that attitude, and in fact have qualified, so to speak, for the Third G shall inherit all things. We must be overcomers, and I will be his God, and he shall be my Son.

And notice, brethren, those that we could call having a Third Resurrection attitude in verse 8, but the cowardly, the unbelieving, the abominable, murders, sexually immortal, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake of fire which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second half.

Oh, brother, it doesn't say here that anyone who commits any of these sins will be in the lake of fire. It says those, by implication, those who do not repent of those sins or other sins.

Again, repentance is a good thing. It keeps us close to God. We don't want to sin, but when we do, we seek God's forgiveness as little children spiritually. God certainly desires no one to fail and to be in that third and final resurrection and to be thrown in lake fire. That's not his will. The Son of God died to prevent that. God the Father gave His Son to prevent that.

They gave us His Holy Spirit and an open mind to prevent that.

Now, these are characteristics of third resurrection since it occurs after the second.

We can call it, logically, third resurrection. I have no problem with that. Never have.

We've got to have some logic to this. Resurrection to eternal death.

What a contrast to the first resurrection.

And their unrepentant wicked will be burned up.

What a contrast to those in the first resurrection. They live forever.

They have incorrigible bodies. Not corrigible, but bodies that never end.

And want to be a joy, brother, never to have a flesh and blood kind of issue again.

Oh, my. So they are burned up. Number three, this is the second death. There's no rescue from that.

And then we'll link that with Hebrews 6. Let's read Hebrews 6 together, verse 4.

It says, Someone really is in that attitude. They, brethren, are gone. They will not be remembered.

They will go to that lake of fire. And the remembrance of them will be gone.

Again, we can't imagine that, but it is possible.

When we reject that heavenly gift, as verse 4 says, that is the gift of life through Christ and the Father, the gift of life by them.

And reject that, there's no other way to have eternal life.

So the sequence of Revelation 20 is simply this.

Three separate distinct groups of people, the converted, the blinded, and the wicked.

All in one chapter of the Bible.

You know, brethren, there's no festival, Holy Day, to celebrate the Third Resurrection. Why? Simply because there's nothing to rejoice in.

God wants everyone to be in the First or the Second. Now, of course, our job today, brethren, is not to be in the Second Resurrection. Our calling, generally, is going to be the First Resurrection. The goal is to make sure we're there, and we want to be there for those in the Second Resurrection, such as family members. Who better to work with family than you?

Aunts, uncles, siblings, parents, perhaps, grandparents?

You know, someone a thousand years in the past that we never knew. Who better to work with them than you, a relative?

Again, a good part of our calling today, and learning to be kings and priests, and to be there for them. Be ready for them, to be ready to teach and to serve them.

You know, it says in Revelation, in fact, let's turn to Revelation 19, and we'll conclude here in Revelation 19, about the bride making herself ready. That's our job today with God's help. Revelation 19 talks about that in verse 5.

Then a voice came from the throne, saying, Praise our God, all of you, His servants, and those who fear Him, both small and great. And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters, and the sound of many thunderings, saying, Alleluia, for Lord God, omnipotent reigns, let us be glad and rejoice, and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.

That is very encouraging. That is very encouraging. The wife, the bride, rather, of Christ has made herself ready. That is the saints of God over the ages. So, yes, it definitely appears that the vast majority of God's people, called and chosen, will be there. We hope everybody. But the generalization is that bride has made herself ready. Verse 8, and to her it was granted to be a raid, fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is a righteous axe of the saints. And then we're invited, it says, Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And He said to me, these are the true sayings of God. So, that's what we're called to. We're called to that wonderful meal, that wonderful marriage of Jesus Christ, that way of life, forever and ever and ever. I don't think brethren will ever get tired of forever. Do you? Always be good. Always be something. And, of course, the secret is, Revelation 21 and 22 kind of end abruptly. New heavens, new earth, new Jerusalem, and humans are very curious. And then what? And we heard in the sermon at, we don't know too much. Stay around. It'll be worth it.