The Bible speaks of two resurrections (Revelation 20:4-6). The first reaches the saved and takes place because the Son of God resurrected in Jerusalem: And raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2.6). Although Jesus spoke at length about this event, His disciples did not understand that it would occur three days after Christ died and was buried in the city of the Great King (Mark 16.9-14). No one understands the Word without the Holy Spirit!
The second resurrection will take place at Jesus’ second coming, when all the dead will be resurrected: And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt (Daniel 12.2). Then, those who have accepted the Lord as Savior will go to eternal happiness, but those who have rejected Him will go to the lake of fire and brimstone, which will burn continually. These people will taste the never-ending torment.
At this coming of the Lord, those who have died in Christ will rise first: For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first (1 Thessalonians 4.16). The living will be transformed into glorified bodies. This happened with Jesus, for although the door was shut, He entered through the wall of the room where the disciples were. Hallelujah!
After the resurrection of the dead in Christ, those who are alive will also meet Jesus: Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4.17). What a moment! This gathering will be wonderful! We will never be separated from God; we will go up with Him to Heaven, where the devil will never enter, and no one will know the works of darkness anymore!
What a glorious day this will be, when we will live next to the Lord – without hearing about the mistakes and filthy things of this life. If our first parents had resisted the serpent – after all, they knew that eating of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was wrong – the Earth would be a paradise. Since they gave in to Satan’s lies, he came into our midst and messed up things around here. There is no remedy for the world, which lies in the evil one! (1 John 5.19)!
Those who refuse the invitation of God’s Spirit will not be in the group of the redeemed. They will hear Jesus say: “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels’ (Matthew 25.41). It will be so sad to see them on the road of no return! Today we are able to preach to them Christ’s victory over the evil one, making them aware to believe in what the Lord did on the cross on their behalf.
The greatest loss for the lost will not only be the endless suffering, but also knowing that they will not inherit the world of perfection, where they would enjoy eternal paradise. We will learn and see things that man never dreamed possible. It will be complete happiness! But they will be tormented day and night. Do your best to win them for Jesus.
In Christ, with love,
R. R. Soares
Father of the mighty and living voice! We eagerly await the day of Jesus' return to Earth, to take us out of this vile world and into Your Kingdom. If we are no longer here, Your Word says that the triumphant voice of Your Son will summon us out of the grave!
It will be wonderful to participate in the second resurrection and see those who are alive transformed into the image of Your Son, joining those who have died in Him, for the eternal procession. It was good to know You and to be born again!
Today, we have no doubt that You will fulfill Your promises to take us out of this wicked world, so that we may enter Your Glory. Thank You for Your immense love, which causes us to renounce the passions of the flesh and live eternally for You!
and Serug lived after he begat Nahor two hundred years, and begat sons and daughters.
(Genesis 11:23)