Bible Studies / Topics


Fact or Fiction - A Second Resurrection
Does the Bible indicate that there will be more than one resurrection?

I Cor. 15:20-23 'For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order': Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. Rev. 20:5-6 the first resurrection will not be the only resurrection. Acts 24:15 . . . 'there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust' . . . John 5:28-29 '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'. The Greek word here for condemnation or damnation (old KJV) is Krisis, and it means condemnation or judgment.

Who will be resurrected at the second coming of Christ?
Rev. 20:4-6 The first resurrection to immortality is distinguished from resurrection of the rest of the dead who did not live again until the thousand years were finished. Heb. 11:13, 39-40 The righteous, faithful Old Testament servants of God will join us in receiving the promise eternal life.
I Cor. 15:49-53; I Thes. 4:14-17 The resurrection to immortality at the second coming of Christ. Phil. 3:21; I John 3:1-2 The change from physical or human to immortal spirit.

Is judgment on all people now?
I Peter 4:17 'For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God'; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? Heb. 6:2 Eternal judgment involves a process, the end of which is the final decision that God will make for each human either to receive eternal life or to be thrown into the lake of fire and to cease to exist.
Heb. 2:3 Eternal judgment involves an opportunity for salvation. How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation . . .

Is this the only day of salvation?
II Cor. 6:2 'In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you'. (This quote is from Isaiah 49:8 where it speaks about a day of salvation.) Acts 4:12 'Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved'.
Rev. 12:9 Satan deceives the whole world . . .
II Cor. 4:4 whose minds the god of this world has blinded . .

Did the nation of Israel have their chance for salvation?
Deut. 29:4- 'Yet the Lord has not given you a heart to perceive and eyes to see and ears to hear, to this very day'.
II Cor. 3:14- their minds were hardened . . . Rom. 11:25-27 'For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that hardening in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel shall be saved as it is written': ‘The deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodli-ness from Jacob; for this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins.’
Heb 3:15 "today if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion".
NOTE: also read Romans 9, 10, 11.

Ezekiel 37:11-14 Then He said to me ‘Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, ‘Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!’ Therefore prophesy and say to them, thus says the Lord God: Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, 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. Then you shall know that I, the Lord, have performed it,’ says the Lord.

Will other nations, in addition to Israel have a future chance or opportunity for salvation?
Mat. 10:15 Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!
Mat. 11:21-22, 24 Tyre and Sodom will have their opportunity in the day of judgment. Mat. 12:41-42 Nineveh and the queen of the South will have their opportunity in the judgment.
John 5:28 "Do not be amazed at this for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear His voice and come out."

Is it plausible and reasonable that a loving, merciful God would do nothing to save the billions of people who have not known or believed in Jesus Christ? II Pet. 3:9 'The Lord is . . . not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance'.
I Tim. 2:4 'God our Savior . . . desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth'.
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life". Heb. 6:18; Titus 1:2 It is impossible for God to lie. John 10:35 "The word of God does not contradict itself, nor can it be broken".

Is there partiality and respect of persons with God? How does God judge? Rom. 2:11 "For there is no partiality with God". Rom. 2:1-16 God’s righteous judgment.
I Pet. 1:17; Mat. 16:27 'First principle of judgment is that we shall be judged according to our works'.
Mat. 25; Luke 19 Parables illustrate a second principle of judgment: God will also judge people according to what we do with what we have been given. Mat. 7:1-2 "Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the same measure you use, it will be measured back to you". James 2:12-13 "So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment".
Luke 12:48 "But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows".
Rom. 14:10-12 "We will be judged as we judge other people. But why do you judge your brother, or why do you show contempt for your brother, for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written": ‘As I live says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God.’ So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.

What do we mean by the terminology Great White Throne Judgment? Rev. 20:11-12 A resurrection to physical life to a period of judgment. Isa. 65:17-20 implies a lifetime, perhaps one hundred years.