The Three Real Resurrections (Heb. 6 series)

(4) Ken Loucks - The Three Resurrections - YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFKZDnVddCg

Transcript:
(00:01) so I'm continuing on in the series I've been working on here on Hebrews chapter 6: 1 and two these are the fundamental doctrines as they are described by the author of Hebrews and you'll recall I've already gone through we've gone through faith we've gone through repentance we've gone through baptism we've gone through the laying on of hands and those are the first four of the six doctrines that are listed the last two let's just quickly turn over there and refresh ourselves because it's been a month since I've been here I I apologize
(00:40) but it's been a month Hebrews chapter 6: 1 and 2 says therefore leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ we've talked about what that meant let us go on to Perfection not laying again the foundation of the following doctrines repentance from dead works of Faith toward God the doctrine of baptisms of laying on of hands we've covered those now the last two of Resurrection of the dead and of Eternal judgment so I will cover today we're going to be covering the resurrection of the Dead in fact we're going to cover
(01:18) I've titled this one the three real resurrections and what they mean the three real resurrections and what they mean so some this is going to for most of us this is a review but again I I remind you that we have some in the baptism process even now and of course others coming to us still that don't know or understand some of the fundamental truths that we do that God has given to us so we're going to go through somewhat carefully today these three resurrections that are that are described in the Bible and what they
(01:50) mean and then as we wrap up I'm going to discuss Choice as that relates to these resurrections so let's begin here over in John chapter 5 John chapter 5 verses 28 and 29 do not Marvel at this John 5:28 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 it's important for us to understand the Bible does in fact describe in various ways three actual
(02:48) resurrections and you we hear just now see two of them now well technically all three do you see how quickly he touched on them though read let's read this again it says here in verse 29 those who have done good to the resurrection of life and those who have done evil to the resurrection of condemnation that's the first and third there's a hint about the second but really it's the first and third that are being described there but I'm going to walk you through today that we know that there are in fact three obviously the
(03:21) question that's on the mind of many people in the world today it's just common everybody still wonders even people who profess to believe in God still don't really know what happens after death we talk about it briefly when we do a memorial don't we we we sum up the it depends on the audience I'll be honest with you it really depends on the audience as to how much detail we go into the old days of worldwide a minister would would preach for an hour at a memorial as he described the entire plan of God and everything that goes
(03:50) into who who what the future of someone who passes away is and it's a chance for them to give a doctrinal thesis we don't really do that anymore so we kind of love people where they are today more in that regard but the fact of the matter is unless we spend some time focused on this we might not remember what these resurrections are all about and that God has a plan for us after death and that he's revealed that to us now here he says Christ himself says that all who are in their graves will hear his voice but not at the same time
(04:30) that's an important thing for us to know and to remember he doesn't he doesn't have them all called at the exact same time out of that Graves so we want to talk about how many rection resurrections there are who's going to rise first what happens to those who lived and died without ever knowing god and so forth God's plans including resurrections of human beings is far greater than any one can conceive certainly the religions of this world have no idea what really happens after death and if you've been to a memorial or a funeral from somebody from
(05:11) any of the mainstream Christian groups you'll know that you'll hear things that don't sound right to us they're it seems like they they grope for a way to explain where is my loved one what's happened to them and it's hard to contemplate for for somebody who doesn't know the truth what are they actually contemplating the loss of somebody they care about that's not in their life anymore every single day and where are they are they lost forever and they have to contemplate because they haven't been given a simple truth
(05:40) they're in the grave asleep something's going to happen for them but when and why and how when we understand that there are three resurrections we have to ask ourselves then why three what's this first Resurrection who's in the first resurrection Revelation 20 and verse 6 Revelation 20 and verse 6 says blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection now it's this is a fundamental of the English language but we don't use first Cavalier if there's a first then there's something after the first it's the
(06:34) second and there may be more after that but if there's a first there's definitely more than one or or we would use something else like a finite term so here we know that there's more than one and over and and it and it continues over such the second death has no power but who's in this Resurrection it says but they those that are in this Resurrection shall be Priests of of God and of Christ and shall reign with him a thousand years so whoever is in this first resurrection is going to be ruling and reigning with
(07:07) Jesus Christ for a thousand year period that tells us a lot doesn't it about what we know about the first resurrection so obviously it must happen when Christ returns when else would that happen it must happen at that return let's look at first Thessalonians chapter 4 1 Thessalonians 4: 16 And1 17 it says for the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God and the dead in Christ will rise first then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the
(08:10) clouds to meet the Lord in the air and thus we shall always be with the Lord so this Resurrection takes place at the return of Jesus Christ his second coming and when he comes with the Shout with the trumpet pictured by the day of trumpets which we are reminded every year when we keep that holy day that Jesus Christ returns to this Earth with a trumpet and the dead in Christ rise first as well as those who are alive and remain now you notice the language here how Paul writes this it's he those of us is is Paul actually thought early in his
(08:57) ministry he was going to be alive when Christ returns it came later in his life he began to realize well that's just not going to happen and so you see the tenor of most of his latter letters he admits to this reality that he's not going to be alive but both of these groups we may well be that group that's alive I mean I am I speaking out of turn to say I hope we're in that group you look around this crazy world and aren't we ready for it I'm ready like we think when we look at the a new Administration and we look at the world and we think
(09:30) maybe there's promise of something better and something different you know let me invite you into a game that I play and you're welcome to play this game with me email me when you think you've come across an article that's written any news article that's written that actually plays on Prophecy that actually relates to in your mind you think it relates to end time prophecy it's it's it's it the world is so distracting we see so many balls in the air that you look at what's going on let's just take the Middle East you look
(10:04) at the Middle East and you see all of the saber rattling and you see Hamas and you see Israel and you see all this stuff and you think that's got to be end time prophecy no it's not you want to know an article that's about End-time prophecy look up Mr zelinsky's comments in a speech he just gave talking about an army for Europe now that is end time prophecy related I like to play this game of what's really related to end time prophecy because we do tend to want to keep our eyes focused on what's happening in the
(10:37) world around us but on the important things that really relate to that it's too easy to get distracted from the the the shiny things that are happening in the Middle East and to lose our focus on what's really relevant in end time prophecy all of that's a diversion I sidestepped all right I went over there on a tangent and I apologize because I always get on people that do that here I go I'm back on subject now we're talking about the first resurrection and we're talking about the first fruits and we've been called out
(11:06) of this world to be a part of that group now I had mentioned Paul was thinking he is and was at the time a a member of that group notice how he writes over here in 1 Corinthians chapter 15 1 Corinthians chapter 15: 52 and 53 where he says in a moment in the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet same trumpet as mentioned in first Thessalonians at the last trumpet for the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised Incorruptible and we you notice again the language Paul's using here it's the it's the uh what's the
(11:55) global we it's the universal we it's hey I'm in there too he thinks he's going to be changed as well so there's a group that's going to be changed there's a group that's called the dead in Christ together they form first fruits this is a Proving Ground for us it's a time of growth and preparation for future leadership in God's government now Jesus Illustrated this in the parable of the talents we do know that we have different talents one amongst each other like we're not the same people we have varying in different
(12:28) degrees of talents don't we Luke chapter 19 just summarizing here this Parable that Christ told about talents Luke 19:17 just one summ just a summary statement for us to understand this issue and he said to them well done good servant because you were faithful and very little have authority over 10 cities so a person given a certain set of talents God puts them to work gives them responsibilities they go about changing their life transforming themselves to be a useful tool in God's hand to do something with the talents that God has
(13:17) given to them and when Christ returns he says to them I look at you and I see what I gave to you and you grew the greatest lesson for us to understand is we all start at a different place we don't start at the same starting line it's different if we all started at the same place then what we would be measuring against each other wouldn't we because that's human nature I'm ahead of you because I started at the same place and look I'm so much better than you because look how much further ahead I am than you are but that's not really the
(13:49) truth the truth is that we start at very different places so God doesn't measure us from the same starting line he measures us from our own starting line thankfully I don't want to be measured against certain people's starting line I will fail I'd like to be measured against my starting line probably some of us are thinking I'd like to be measured against somebody else's starting line okay that's fair we're probably some of us are probably thinking I you know I'm not even happy with where I started uh but our choices our obedience our
(14:22) faithfulness matters as you read the next one what is it it's another person starting at a different place he's not given as many talents he's given two talents but what does he do he turns those into four so the first person is given five and he turns them into 10 the second person doesn't have as many talents but yet he still takes the two he's given and he grows them into something he transforms his life and he's productive different starting place still a productive person he's also given rulership isn't he so this is
(14:54) very illustrative for us to understand that's what God's doing right now he's working with us with us he's training us he's shaping us he's molding us he is actually trying to make us something he can use in his kingdom even if we don't see and understand that the reward of the first resurrection is beyond anything we can fully comprehend we will not only reign with Christ but shine like the stars glorified as members of God's Divine family Daniel 12 real quick on this just to show you what Daniel had to say about
(15:40) it our future Daniel 12:3 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 you know I was just reading in in my uh my daily Bible reader on Moses being wanting to see God so badly and God saids but yeah you you can't handle that so he puts him in the Cliff of The Rock and covers him with his hand and lets him see his backside and even having done that Moses Shone brightly and he had to put a veil over himself because he Shone so brightly
(16:20) that's a hint about the brightness that awaits for us as Spirit beings this incredible future that we have promised to us if we will be faithful today to this calling it's called a better Resurrection because it's more than a resurrection to eternal life it's Resurrection to immortality but also to rulership under Jesus Christ and divine Glory living eternally as a son or daughter of God there's no Sons and Daughters we use that because today we're sons and daughters but we will be children of God eternally in the
(17:01) family of God and the the the incredible thing is and this is why we need to understand that this is our time of judgment because what happens if we're not faithful well if we are faithful it says to us in Revelation 2 Revelation 2:1 this is the promise really to all of God's first fruits Revelation 2:11 says he who has an ear let him hear what the spirit says to the churches he who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death what's the first death if there's a second death that's this body right now you know I I find it
(17:48) interesting when to have the conversation with someone who will Who will get um who will want to talk about uh maybe the perfect place to be buried buried and that kind of thing uh when they pass away in this life and I think I understand there's a certain Romanticism in that idea but if we need this body again we're in deep trouble like deep trouble because we're called to be a part of the first resurrection I don't I should not need this body again I hope when this body is done I never see it again like I'm
(18:24) finished I I don't need it I don't I tried to treat it okay at times there were definitely times I didn't treat it very well not interested in buying it back like Sanara so I want to have an eternal spiritual body I'm not going to need this one anymore so if this body dies that's a death if there's a second death we don't want that one and it says that if we're in the first resurrection we will not be affected by a second death that second death describes what happens in the third Resurrection we don't want that
(19:05) Resurrection we want this one the first one so it's very important for us to understand that we are not going to face if we pass the test today in this life eternity is our gift from God by Grace so we have to treat every single day that we're in this life like we're under a test cuz we are and we we want to pass like now's our time of judgment I want to pass that judgment because I have my eye on being an eternal spirit being a part of the first resurrection not because I crave power but as I'm going to show you it's
(19:43) because this is the only real choice we have right now because God has opened our eyes to the truth the greatest calling any human being can receive is to be a first fruit we didn't call ourselves to that we didn't put that opportunity in front of ourselves God called us and gave us the opportunity and we can never forget that it doesn't come because there's anything great about any of us let's read scriptures I mean I don't have time to do this read scriptures to talk about how God calls the weak and the Bas of
(20:22) this world we look in the mirror cuz he's talking to us right so if I look in the mirror I'm seeing the weak and the base that's who he called in this world and so we need to understand it isn't because I'm special but this is still an incredible opportunity that we're given to be first fruits like that should be something that we think a lot about pray a lot about and thank God a lot about because it is a precious awesome calling but what about the billions who've never had this calling and there are billions of people who've never
(20:55) known truly known God and who will never have had an opportunity to really choose this is a great distinction over in Ezekiel CH 37 Ezekiel 37: 5 and six thus says the Lord God to these bones surely I will cause breath to enter into you and you shall live I will put sin 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 this doesn't talk it about us this is a physical resurrection of human beings coming back as physical beings if we have been given a choice
(21:52) and we're coming back in a physical body we've blown it end of story so this isn't talking about us we happen to know in context that this is talking about Israel in the future resurrected to a physical body people who never had the spirit of God hard-hearted who never chose who constantly resisted God in his way of life who never really had a choice they're going to come up in this second Resurrection it's one of the most misunderstood truths of the Bible modern Christianity thinks that today is the only day of salvation that's why so much
(22:37) missionary work goes on in this world people of honestly of of good intent who truly believe that this is it and if you don't if you don't hear or say or or acknowledge Jesus Christ in this life you're done thankfully God has a plan and it's much simpler than that if you've never had a choice you will have a choice not today in the second Resurrection that's the purpose of the second Resurrection it's a resurrection to physical life the Bible is very clear about this let's go back to Revelation chapter 20 we just read in Ezekiel the
(23:23) description of breath and life so these are physical bodies in Revelation chap 20 verses 11 and 12 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 the 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 second Resurrection takes place after the 10,000 year reign of Jesus
(24:08) Christ and we read that in verse 7 of 20 right where it says now when the thousand years have expired Satan will be released from his prison and previous to that it says but the rest of the Dead did not live again verse 5 but the rest of the Dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished so now we have the timing and we have the rest of the dead so not first fruits everybody not a first fruit who has died coming up in this Resurrection which happens after the thousand years are finished now notice that books are
(24:48) opened what books there's only one set of books by which human beings are judged these are the books by which we are judged the books of the Bible and these books are opened now how do you how are you judged according to books you've never read how are you accountable for behaviors that are in these books which you don't know about well God is not a cruel unfair God who would do that to human beings because he desires everyone to be saved so he's going to give them an opportunity by their Works according to the these books so they're going to have
(25:30) to be taught you know what he has in place to help teach them a group of people called first fruits that we're going to be there to help Jesus Christ and to help these people billions of people who are going to me who are going to need to be taught what's in these books and how to live these books and oh by the way no excuses for misbehavior avior because we lived and walked when it was hard to do that when Satan ruled this Earth and we had to resist him every single day nobody's going to be able to say to us well I have a reason why this is
(26:16) harder for me HH you didn't walk this Earth with Satan like we did so no it is not harder for you we get to be there to help them to see that and to help them and to walk with them and to teach them and to coach them and to Mentor them into passing this judgment if they want to it's going to boil down to Choice that's when they have their choice Isaiah 65 Paints the picture of what this world looks like that they come up into Isaiah 65 verse 20 no more shall an infant from there live but a few days nor an old man who has
(27:14) not fulfilled his days for the child shall die 100 years old but the sinner being 100 years old shall be accursed so it looks like I can't say emphatically and I won't say emphatically but it looks like this could be about a 100e period of time after the resurrection happens the second Resurrection about a it could be it looks like it might be a hundred years or so where people get to live and practice this new way of life see and compare because who was loose which we read in Revelation 7 Satan is loosed for
(27:55) this same period of time so now we've got an earth which is no longer built by Satan and run by Satan but an earth that has been run by God under the power and authority of his son Jesus Christ and those Kings and Priests under Christ us we've been building God's government on this Earth for a thousand years there is no other government there's no competition for God's way of life and Satan comes up in that environment now he's no longer the boss Christ has not yield the kingdom back to Satan at that point he still Reigns over over the
(28:29) kingdom of God on this Earth Satan is going to be trying then to persuade people to come out of that Kingdom he's going to have some success we read in the scripture so we have to take our job very seriously if we're going to be Kings and priest serving with God and with under Jesus Christ to teach as much as we can to help people to resist Satan when he comes to compete and Destroy people's lives and prevent them from choosing God what this means is that God is just he's not condemning people unfairly so someone who dies without ever knowing
(29:11) God's way God has a plan for them and that plan includes giving them a real opportunity to choose life think about the billions of people who've lived under dynasties that had no idea who God was Chinese dynasties that go back you know millennia African kingdoms great civilizations of South America Native American tribes countless people never knew God never knew Jesus Christ never know have never known or ever had an opportunity to choose to live any kind of way that would be the way God has revealed to us God has a plan for
(29:52) them second Peter chapter 3 second Peter chapter 3 3 verse 9 verse n the Lord is not slack concerning his promise as some count slackness but is longsuffering toward us not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance this is why this is such a great understanding that there is a second Resurrection for all these billions of people where God the merciful loving God gives them a fair chance he doesn't try to call them in this world today Christ himself said multiple times we've been blind they've been blinded so that I
(30:38) don't have to bless them because they might not with all their heart turn to me there's a better time for them that's the second Resurrection that's what's going to be fair for the M vast majority of human beings to make their choice and God has a merciful plan to give them the best opportunity to be in his kingdom that's what's awesome about that that's what God cares about Jeremiah chapter 31 verses 33-34 Jeremiah 31: 33-34 it says but this is the Covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those
(31:28) days day says the Lord I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts and I will be their God and they shall be my people no more shall every man teach his neighbor and every man his brother saying no the Lord you know that's interesting is it and when you read that and if you've ever had the experience of the person who knocks on your door to say hey I you know I have this pamphlet I have this flyer I want to talk to you about Jesus Christ do you know know the Lord the missionary world we live in
(32:02) believes that that's the only way to get people saved they have to hear the name of the Lord today or that this is their only day of salvation they won't be in the kingdom and yet we know that's just not the truth and here he says that's not going to be the way that it is for they shall all know me from the least of them to the greatest of them says the Lord for I will forgive their iniquity and their sins I will remember no more it's a beautiful picture of this future that God has in store for all of mankind and we know that different
(32:43) people of different Generations are going to come up together in that Resurrection it's not just a group of people at the end notice Christ himself says and tells us that there's going to be people all the way going back millennia thousands of years will also be in the Kingdom Matthew chapter 12 Matthew 12: 41 and 42 where he says the men of Nineveh will rise up in the Judgment with this generation and condemn it well why is that who are the men of Nineveh you remember the story of Jonah Nineveh was the capital of
(33:31) Assyria you're going back thousands of years to get to this place and yet these people will come up and condemn why because they did not know God and yet they repented when Jonah gave them the warning they repented and yet in the very generation that stood before Jesus Christ the son of God they did not repent and Christ is saying so we see him describing this ancient civilization living and existing at the same time resurrected together with these people 2,000 years ago together in the same Resurrection so this second Resurrection
(34:17) is a demonstration of God's mercy I didn't finish reading that let's finish reading that together 41 and 42 the men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it because they repented at the preaching of Jonah and indeed a greater than Jonah is here he goes on the queen of the South will rise up in the Judgment with this generation and condemn it for she came up from the ends of the Earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon and indeed greater than Solomon is here so we see then all the way back
(34:50) now to Solomon and they will be in the same Resurrection the second Resurrection this is the great hope of the second Resurrection it's the moment when billions will have their first real chance to know God to choose his way and to enter into eternal life so what about those who just choose not to it's hard to picture that isn't it it is for me that someone could look at the way that God wants us to live and see peace Joy love Harmony and think that's not for me but some are going to choose that what is God going to do with that
(35:53) person let's go over here to Revelation chap 20 again again Revelation 20 now verses 14 and 15 verses 14 and 15 says then death and Hades were cast into the Lake of Fire this is the second death and anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the Lake of Fire now it's interesting if you go back and you look uh you will see multiple times at least well I'll just give you one simple example Moses well understood this that there is a second death and a book of life because when Israel sinned remember
(36:43) at the calf what did Moses say to God if you can't forgive this people because of your mercy then lay the blame on me and write me out of blot me out of the Book of Life and give it to them what did Moses know like if you there are so many hints in the scriptures about conversations God had with the forefathers that are so deep so beyond anything that's recorded that we can't imagine but they knew things job knew things about a redeemer God has not been hiding his plan from his people he's been sharing it and here we learn that if you're not
(37:30) written in the book of life then you're going to be in the Lake of Fire which is the second death this third Resurrection is the most sobering and final event in human history because unlike the first resurrection which leads to eternal life and rulership with Christ and unlike the second Resurrection which gives billions their first real chance at Salvation the third Resurrection is not an opportunity it's a resurrection to judgment condemnation and eternal destruction modern Christianity I think is confused about what's going to happen
(38:18) because they think that the encourageable and the wicked are going to burn for something like an eternal Lake Fire or some kind of Eternal fire or something like that um in some kind of a burning hell which we see imagery of throughout Christian literature and art but God doesn't actually say that this Resurrection is not for those who lived and died in ignorance of God's truth we have to understand this if you are in the third Resurrection you had a chance to choose and you rejected God you knew there's no excuse God is not going to be
(38:57) frivolous in this decision in this judgment a person will have had every possible chance to choose God to obey God to follow God it's only those who said nope I see it I get it I'm not interested I know that's hard to picture because it is hard to picture somebody's saying that but there's going to be some that will and God has to deal with that person Hebrews chapter 10: 26 let's go to Hebrews to see what God the warning that were given by the author of Hebrews Hebrews chapter 10 26 and 27 for if we sin Hebrews 10: 26 for if
(39:55) we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins but a certain fearful expectation of judgment and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries the person who truly had the chance to choose who willfully chooses not to having received the knowledge so there's no excuse they will have been told they will have had the chance to to see for them elves compare and choose there's no hope left for that person there's only the third Resurrection there's only judgment and
(40:43) the second death this is why the third Resurrection happens at the very end of God's plan because he's working out salvation for as many sons and daughters as would like to be in his kingdom this third Resurrection is the final Justice after everyone has been given a chance to repent there still are those who have said no I don't want to go God's way well we know that there's going to be some because of Satan himself because who was Satan's Satan the end of the day Satan chose for himself he lived for I don't know
(41:27) there's no such thing is time in the third heaven but billions and billions of years he lived God's way under the authority and Rule of God in the perfect government of God and still chose no so we know some human beings who have not live lived nearly that long are still going to choose no and God says well I'm going to deal with them Malachi chter 4 Malachi 4:1 for behold the day is coming burning like an oven and all the proud yes all who do wickedly will be stubble and the day which is coming shall burn them up says the Lord of
(42:16) hosts that will leave them neither root root nor Branch utterly you destroy root and Branch there's no regrowing that tree those who think that we are we suffer for some sort of an eternal period of time and some sort of a ever burning hell this defies that understanding because it says no they're going to be destroyed and turned to Ash Rubble stubble nothing there's not going to be some eternal torment for people it's just burned up in the second death the Lake of Fire psalm 37 Psalm 37 verse 20 but the wicked Shall
(43:22) Perish and the enemies of the Lord like the Splendor of The Meadows shall vanish into smoke and they shall vanish away that's not the same thing as living eternally burning somehow in suffering Vanishing going away like a vapor which is just gone that's what happens with that they're not going to be tortured forever they're going to be gone forever only those that have willingly chosen God's way will remain 2 Thessalonians chapter 1 where we see God's desires to have peace in his kingdom so 2 the Thessalonians 1:
(44:16) 89 in flaming fire taking Vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ these shall be punished with Everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power God's not going to have them around as some sort of an eternal witness of what it's like to disobey God they're just going to be destroyed forever and all that will be left is people that said yes to God I want to be with God I want to follow God I want to obey God God does not take pleasure in this
(44:56) outcome it's not something that he desires it only exists because some will absolutely refuse to repent and God is going to give everyone every opportunity to repent he gives time teaching and he gives love Mercy forgiveness opportunity to overcome to choose over and over and over again this is what God has done and is doing and will do until it is too late Ezekiel 18 Ezekiel 18:32 where God says I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies says the Lord God therefore turn and live this is the message of the entire Old
(45:52) Testament this is what God wants throughout his entire the entire Bible were given the same message message turn and live that's what God wants every human being to do those who would paint a picture of some sort of an evil mean spirited god of the Old Testament how do you reconcile this turn and live I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies that's why we read in Revelation 2: 11 he who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death because that's what God wants he wants people not to be hurt by the second death he doesn't want people
(46:38) in the third Resurrection it only exists for the purpose of delivering the second death through the Lake of Fire and it will do its worth the wicked will be no more and then after that God will make all things new revelation chap 21 when evil has been eradicated all resistance to God has been destroyed all Rebellion put down Revelation 21: 3 and 4 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
(47:27) God will wipe away every tear from their eyes there will be no more death nor sorrow nor crying there shall be no more pain for the former things have passed away that's the future that awaits on the other side of the third Resurrection what about choice to me this is probably one of the most important things for us to understand and be able to EXP explain we have a choice but it's not the one that some people think we have and perhaps you've had this conversation I've had this conversation with multiple people who've said something like I'm
(48:10) going to be in the second Resurrection why would they say something like that or even believe that L we I would say judge harshly let's think about that for a second because in the conversations I've had it has come from a place of fear one type or another apprehension what's the fears in one case it was the fear of losing or of watching a family member and worrying about them being alone going through the second Resurrection alone without them so that what's the desire they're they're trying to say I I want to be
(48:49) there with them right I want to do this I want to go through that with them I mean I understand where the heart is to say that and to think that but is that the choice that God gives us what about those who say well I don't want to be in the first resurrection because I don't want to be a ruler or Reiner I don't want to be a king and priest I just want to be anybody like everybody else I've had people say that and that's a fear because they fear what what does this mean I don't understand reigning and ruling and being a king or a queen
(49:23) and all of that so what do you think the solution is then that you can choose the answer is some think that's right I can choose then to be in the second Resurrection right I get to choose that because that's where I would choose to be I would like to dissuade people from that thinking Hebrews chapter 3:15 and I think we all need to be very clear-minded about this Hebrews chapter 3:1 15 I wouldn't want us to be harsh with somebody who thinks that way I want us with love to help them to understand the truth so Hebrews chapter
(50:20) 3:15 I'm going to start in verse 14 it says for we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end while it is said today if you will hear his voice do not Harden your hearts as in the Rebellion God is putting a choice before us today that's what we have to understand we today if you are hearing this and you understand what I've just gone through you understand the truth then God has put this calling in front of you today he's given you the choice today it isn't
(50:59) the choice of which Resurrection it's the choice to accept the calling that's the choice either the answer is yes God I accept the calling today or the answer is by default I'll see you in the second Resurrection excuse me I'll see you in the third Resurrection because that's the choice first Resurrection or third which do you want to be in it isn't between the first and second there's a reason for that so before us is a choice right now of whether we want to be in the first resurrection the Bible does not teach
(51:51) that a person can choose the first or the second it reveals a pro God is the one who calls and when he calls he expects a response John 6:44 we do not call ourselves God calls us today John 6:44 no one can come to me that's a definitive we don't come to God he calls us unless the the father who sent me draws him aha we are drawn by God he calls us and I will raise him up at the last day when Christ returns that is what that means it doesn't mean come whenever you feel like you're ready I've given you the calling if you
(52:51) don't answer the phone that's fine maybe you know it's me calling see that's the problem if you know it's God calling and you don't answer the phone you're telling him I'm not interested you don't get to say to God I'll be in the second Resurrection cuz God doesn't give us that choice I'm calling right now first resurrection is up first or third which one do you want to be in some hesitate because they don't feel ready they don't feel capable of ruling of being Kings and Priests in the kingdom of God but you know what's funny
(53:29) to me is that's the point none of us are ready on our own none of us will be ready on our own for that future that's why God's working with us now and if we wait till we feel like we're ready we will never be ready Philippians chapter 1 Philippians chapter 1: 6 being confident of this very thing that he who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ so if God has called us out of this world he's begun a work in us it's it's us that's the problem our inability to see what God's doing with this work
(54:22) in us like we may not see the qualities he's building in US that are going to suit him in the Millennium when we serve under his son Jesus Christ but he sees what he's doing and he knows what he's doing in us to build in the skills and the qualities that we need the other objection I I've mentioned was those who want to be with their loved ones in the second resurrection and it sounds Noble but it really lacks faith if you think about it because if you're an eternal spirit being and I've heard this well I don't
(54:57) want to be existing for a thousand years without them then you don't understand time and being a spirit being because there is no such thing as time for a spirit being that thousand years is going to go like that the difference is when you choose to be a spirit being in the first resurrection the time goes like that and you'll be there for your loved one in the second Resurrection if you think you were going to choose to be in the second Resurrection you're really choosing the third and you won't be in the second Resurrection with your loved
(55:30) one it's as simple as that and this is all about whether or not God has opened your eyes to see the truth and therefore he's saying I have a choice for you to make and it isn't between the first and second it's between the first and third so for us Isaiah 55: six I'm wrapping up here now Isaiah 55 and: 6 I hope this is a little bit sobering for us as it should be Isaiah 55 and verse 6 where the Prophet says seek the Lord while he may be found call upon him while he is near well God is near to us now if he's called us and we need to respond now if
(56:28) he's calling us and we need to let him do a work in us to prepare us for the role that he has for us when Jesus Christ returns he will make us ready we don't have to fear that we don't have to worry about whether we're going to be prepared to be a king or a priest to rule or Reign and we don't have to worry about our loved ones somehow coming up in the second resurrection and we'll never be able to talk with them or meet with them or help them God thought all of that through it's a beautiful plan that God has laid
(57:00) out for all Humanity he's not trying to save the world all at once nor is he trying to cast people into eternal torment without giving them a real opportunity for salvation instead he has perfect order a first resurrection for those called now a second Resurrection for those who never truly knew him and a third Resurrection for those who ultimately reject him the question is not which Resurrection we prefer the question is what will we do with the calling God has given us right now if we've been called into his truth
(57:43) then he has already determined where he wants us if you're hearing and understanding the truth it's because God wants you in the first resurrection he wants you to be a first fruit he wants you to rule and reign with Christ he's going to make that possible for you by giving you the skills that you need I'm going to wrap up here in Revelation chapter 3 in verse 11 where he says behold I am coming quickly hold fast what you have that no one may take your crown this is our time we cannot delay we cannot opt out we cannot let fear
(58:38) hold us back if God is calling us now an answer is required now so let's be in the first resurrection together