p. 4 | A Bible Study on Man by L. A. Reed

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Mar 11, 1913

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 40, No. 10.

A Bible Study on Man

By L. A. Reed

V. Resurrection to Life and Death

THERE are two resurrections, both of which are clearly stated and described in the Bible. And yet there are few Bible teachers and students who recognize the fact. Preconceived ideas must be given the credit or the blame for this, because the words of the Scripture are plain enough for any one. Let us notice these.

"And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust." Acts 24:15.

The above scripture alone might be understood as merely that the resurrection comprehends both classes, both the wicked and the righteous. But the following scripture, in the words of Christ, makes the matter more definite:

"Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice, 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." John 5:28, 29.

Here are plainly two resurrections,—one given the name of the resurrection of life and the other given the title "the resurrection of damnation," or condemnation, or judgment, as some versions give it.

This "resurrection of life" Christ on another occasion called by another title. Speaking of the time when reward would be given to His chosen, He said, "Thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just." Luke 14:14.

What takes place at this first resurrection is very fully and completely described by the apostle Paul:

"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: then 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 Thess. 4:16, 17.

It is evident from this scripture just quoted that the righteous dead are raised at the Lord's second coming. This is also definitely stated in another scripture:

"But every man in his own order: Christ the first-fruits; afterward they that are Christ's at His coming." 1 Cor. 15:23.

By this we see that the resurrection of Christ, which took place nearly 2,000 years ago, constituted Him the first-fruits; He was the first in the sense that He was the chief. Next, at His second coming, the righteous will be raised. But thirdly, the question arises, When will the wicked be resurrected? They are also to come in their order, the last ones to awake out of the dust.

By turning to another scripture, we find that a thousand years intervene between the resurrection of the righteous and the resurrection of the wicked. In this scripture referred to, the resurrection of the just is called the first resurrection. And the following blessing is pronounced upon all those who have part in it:

"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." Rev. 20:6.

This one scripture shows that the wicked are not raised in this first resurrection. Only those who are blessed and holy will have part in it, and upon them will come no second death. This of itself evidences the fact that there is another resurrection in which those who have part will be neither blessed nor holy, and upon whom the second death will have power. This other resurrection is described as follows:

"But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished." Rev. 20:5.

When these thousand years are over with, the wicked are resurrected, and thus the earth where Satan has been confined for the thousand years is no longer to him a prison. We read of what takes place after this second resurrection:

"And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, and shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. 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. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever." Rev. 20:7-10.

During this time between the first and the second resurrection—the thousand years—the cases of all the wicked dead are passed upon in heaven. The living who have been resurrected and transported to glory take part in this work. Thus God's fairness and His justice are made evident to all. The wicked may have righteous relatives who appear in the judgment and go over the books, and see that God has been absolutely true and righteous in all His work. This judgment work during the thousand years between the two resurrections is thus described:

"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. And 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." Rev. 20:11, 12.

When the judgment has thus been determined upon by the written record of men's lives, the second resurrection takes place, ending in a second death, which is final. Reading further, we have this described:

"And 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. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death." Rev. 20:13, 14.

Thus sin and sinners are destroyed. Those who are to have a part in this second death are pointed out and designated in another scripture:

"But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." Rev. 21:8.

This is the victory of righteousness over sin, and this the difference between the righteous and the wicked:

"As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. 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; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father." Matt. 13:40-43.

It was to this that the prophet Malachi referred when he said:

"For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of Hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. But unto you that fear My name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in His wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of Hosts." "Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth Him not." Mal. 4:1-3; 3:18.

By the resurrection of the wicked they are merely raised to receive their punishment. But how different is the resurrection of the righteous! In the resurrection of the just, this first resurrection, which we have already seen takes place a thousand years before the resurrection of the wicked, a great change takes place in the saints. Paul, writing to the Philippians, says:

"For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself." Phil. 3:20, 21.

Writing to the Corinthians, he further described the change:

"So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: it is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: it is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body." 1 Cor. 15:42-44.

And David, hundreds of years before, looked forward to that same hope when he said:

"As for me, I will behold Thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with Thy likeness." Ps. 17:15.

Those who awake thus to immortality and glory shall know no more the effects of sin. "Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection." Luke 20:36. Then this mortal puts on immortality.

This wonderful change takes place at the second coming of Christ, the time to which Paul looked forward when he should receive the crown of righteousness which he declares is not for him only, "but unto them also that love His appearing."