ETERNAL TREASURE - FIRST RESURRECTION

Holy is separation and consecration.  Separation is from the old world of darkness, sin, and death, into the new world of light, righteousness, and life. Holiness is being a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). Consecration is walking in the light, being a disciple (Matthew 28:18-20), priest (1 Peter 2:9), a minister of reconciliation, and ambassador for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:18-20).

“Blessed 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” (Revelation 20:6). Those in the first resurrection are blessed, resurrected, have eternal life, and are in the kingdom of God. Before death, they are experiencing the first fruits of the first resurrection, which is the guarantee of the first resurrection (Ephesians 1:13, 14).

Only the unsaved of the ages will be in the second resurrection. It is called the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15). At the appearance of the Great White Throne Judgment, heaven and earth will pass away. It will be the end of the old world of darkness and sin and the appearing of the new world of light and righteousness. The transition will be past, and the eternal separation will take place.

Peter in his second letter described the earth and the heavens being on fire and melting with intense heat. Then, he wrote, “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what matter of persons ought ye to be in holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hastening unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness” (2 Peter 3:11-13).

The names of those at the Great White Throne Judgment are not written in the Book of Life, and they will be eternally separated from God. They will go into outer darkness. “There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Luke 13:28). Just as the righteous have eternal life with God; the unsaved have eternal death—eternity without God (Revelation 20:11-15). Those without Christ and his word are already dead and will not see life (John 3:36). They are experiencing the first fruits and the guarantee of the coming judgment just as the saved experience the first fruits and the guarantee of eternal life with God.

At Jesus’ glorious appearing, the saints who were in the first resurrection will be with him. He will return at the Battle of Armageddon (Revelation 19:11-16). There will be no resurrection of the dead; there will be a judgment of the survivors of the Battle of Armageddon. Those who are judged worthy will enter the millennial kingdom with those who are in the first resurrection (Matthew 25:31-46).

Satan will be bound during the one-thousand-year reign of Christ, and on this earth where the old world of sin and death tried to defeat the new world of life and light, Christ will reign. Those who love light will reign with him. They will be priests of God and of Christ (Revelation 20:6). They will be doing then what they did on earth before death.

At the end of the thousand years, Satan will be released. He will be able to gather out of the descendants of those who were permitted to enter the millennial kingdom a large multitude who will follow him. Although they lived under the righteous reign of Christ, they will choose to follow Satan (Revelation 20:7-9). If people will choose to follow Satan after experiencing the righteous reign of Christ for a thousand years, how much more so after receiving Him as Savior today?

Satan and his followers hated the Light: God, his word, and those who walk in the Light. They will forever be separated from the Light. They loved darkness and will forever be in darkness (Revelation 20:10-15). Those in the first resurrection loved the Light and served their Lord Jesus Christ. Forever they will walk in the Light and serve him (Revelation 22:1-5).

How easily we can get distracted in the time of transition between the passing of the old world and the coming of the new? How easily we can lose sight of the eternal and sell our birthright for a bowl of soup as Esau did? He discovered too late what he had done wrong and found no place of repentance although he sought it with tears (Genesis 25:29-30; 27:34-38).

 

Robert P. Holland