(All Scripture References Are KJV)
Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. 17And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
Malachi 3:16-17
In the preceding studies, I have shown my attitude toward and the framework in which I approach the study of God’s word. I regard adjusting your attitude and developing proper suppositions for applying to difficult passages as part of renewing your mind and acclimatizing yourself to the Scriptures.
Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Applying the presuppositions developed in the previous studies, we will examine several doctrines and teachings of the Scriptures.
Two Resurrections, Two Judgments
Many errors arise from assuming there is only one resurrection and final judgment. There are two of each.
John 5:25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
John 5:28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
The above verses describe two resurrections and judgments. One where all live, a second where some live and some are damned. A first and second resurrection.
Revelation 20:5-6 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
The first resurrection is denied along with denying the translation of the Church, or Rapture.
Genesis 5:23-24 And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: 24And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.
Hebrews 11:5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
Colossians 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
Translate is the biblical term for the calling out of the Church.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
1 Corinthians 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
This is the first resurrection which comes with the first judgment, the Judgement Seat of Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
1 Corinthians 3:11-15 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 14If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
This judgment concerns the saved; no one is condemned. The first resurrection begins with Christ’s resurrection, with the Old Testament saints resurrected at His ascension into Heaven.
Ephesians 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
It ends with the resurrection of the Tribulation saints. It occurs in those three stages: Christ’s resurrection with the OT saints, at the Rapture, or more biblically, the Translation of the Church, with the corresponding Judgment Seat of Christ, and the resurrection at the end of the Tribulation. The Tribulation saints are not judged after being resurrected. They all gave their lives for Christ.
Revelation 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
The second resurrection and final judgment is the Great White Throne judgment. This takes place long after the first, after Christ’s thousand-year reign on earth.
Revelation 20:5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
The Lord speaks of His coming with the illustration of one being taken and one left.
Matthew 24:39-41 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 40Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 41Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
The Great White Throne final judgment is described as all that are left being raised, no one is left behind. The lost left behind is speaking of the Rapture where the saints are taken.
Luke 17:34-36 I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. 35Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 36Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Compare this to the Great White Throne judgment.
Revelation 20:11-13 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
No one is left behind; this is the final judgment.
The two resurrections and judgments are completely different. The first, the resurrection and judgment of the saints. The second, the resurrection and judgment of the world.
The Final Judgment
The final judgment before the Great White Throne is not to determine whether you are lost or saved; that is already established. You have either been blotted out of the Book of Life, or in the case of the millennium, will be. It is to give all their day in court.
This is where God is put on trial.
Romans 3:4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
The condemned have but one chance: prove God unjust in His judgment of them.
Job 40:8 Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?
All the condemned will stand before God and attempt to introduce mitigating circumstances to show the Lord misjudged them. The possibility exists that God might be found unjust, which is one reason John states that at the second judgment, some are resurrected unto life.
John 5:28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
Also, some of those living and dying in the Millennial Reign of Christ may be judge worthy of life.
Conclusion
It is obvious from the Scriptures that the righteous and the sinners will not stand in the same judgement.
Psalms 1:5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
There are two resurrections and two judgments. The first judgment is for the saints at the Judgment Seat of Christ, and the second to judge the world.