Comments

Note: The following is a Submission from Pastor Mark Wattchow, Christchurch, NZ:
Thanks for the notes. A comment on the “second resurrection”: I’ve always felt that if there is a bodily resurrection after the millennium, and some of these are “found in the book of life” they must be those who lived righteously during the millenium, not before it (they, as we say, had their chance during their lifetime before the Lord’s return). There is nothing that indicates a “second chance” scripturally that I’ve seen, though it’s popular in wishful thinking perhaps. The fact that it will be a bodily resurrection seems backed up by these two passages: Daniel 12:2 2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. John 5:28-29 28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. Another thing that bears on these thoughts is the question of whether the Old Testament saints are raised in the first resurrection. I’ve always believed they are, though I haven’t made a study of it, but I know of at least one pastor here who recently stated the opposite (I wasn’t present at the time and haven’t brought it up). Your thoughts? Matthew 8:11-12 11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Luke 13:23-29 23 Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, 24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. 25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: 26 Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. 27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. 28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. 29 And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God. If there are folk who live and die righteously during the Millennium and are saved at the end, I suppose that also raises the question of whether some of the people left on earth who survive the Second Coming destruction might later repent and get right with the Lord before they die in the Millennium. (Not something anyone should bet on, obviously.) That also raises the question of who will be left, who will be removed, and how big the “kingdom” will initially be (since it seems to grow to fill the earth after becoming a mountain from a stone): Matthew 13:40-41 40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. 41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; Zechariah 14:16-17 16 And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the
nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. 17 And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain. That last scripture would suggest that some still living, still left, will turn to the Lord (and some will be rebellious still), after the kingdom is cleansed of the tares. All raises some questions. Seems to suggest a difference between those within the city and those without in Revelation 20-22. Revelation 20:9 9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. Revelation 21:23-27 23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. 24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. 25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. 26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. 27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life. Revelation 22:14-15 14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. 15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. So to me the Millennium is still a transitional period where Christ is putting down all opposition and authority before handing the kingdom to the Father, complete and accomplished. 1 Corinthians 15:24-26 24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
To suggest that folk would then be raised up to have a second chance after this (end of millennium) would mean that a bunch of people who may or may not repent this second time around would be loose and messing things up again!